2010 NCAA Football Preview: Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies have almost grown accustomed to being one of those teams that always does well. It helps when you have the stability that they do in Frank Beamer; Beamer has headed up the program for the last 21 years. In that time he has led the team to 187 victories, including six consecutive seasons with 10 or more victories. That stability has translated into the third longest bowl game streak (current) in college football, going back to every postseason since 1993.
Last season the Hokies finished up with a 37-14 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in the Chick-fil-a Bowl to finish the season 10-3 and were ranked #10 in the nation by both the AP and Coaches Poll. Early preseason polls have the team ranked as high as #11 in the nation. With the players that are returning, fans of the team are confident that Frank Beamer and the Hokies can do even better in 2010.
Offence
The Hokie offence will revolve around their potential Heisman candidate and running back workhorse Ryan Williams. In his first year as a starter Williams was on the field for every offensive play the Hokies ran, for a total of close to 600 plays. Of those he carried the ball 293 times for 1655 yards and 21 touchdowns. The good thing is that Williams will at least be around for two if not three more seasons.
He will not have to do it alone though. Behind center the Hokies have a veteran quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. The senior has had starts over the last three seasons and is more than capable of directing the run first offense in 2010. He’ll have a pair of good receivers to throw the ball to in juniors Danny Coale and Jarret Boykin. Running back Darren Evans could provide a nice 1-2 punch with Williams; in 2008 he ran the ball 287 times for 1265 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Where they will be faced with a challenge is in filling the holes on the offensive line vacated by Sergio Render and Ed Want. Tight ends Sam Wheeler and Greg Boone will be missed, but senior Andre Smith will do his best to make people forget about them.
Overall, with eight returning starters, the Hokie offense should improve off their 50th ranking in the NCAA and 6th in the ACC from 2009.
Defence
Head coach Beamer had been known to always have two things on his teams: a solid defence and strong special teams. However, with only four starters returning on defense and both the punter and kicker (who were first team selections in the ACC last year) needing to be replaced, Beamer will have his work cut out for him this year.
Their top-rated pass defense is only returning one member of the secondary and two linebackers. Senior Rashad Carmichael has played in every game since 2007, but did not become a full-time starter till last season. Last year he contributed 75 tackles and six interceptions, but will likely need to pick up the pace early while the new starters get acclimated to being on the field full time.
Replacing Cody Grimm is going to be tough, but Barquell Rivers and Lyndell Gibson will do what they can to take up the slack. Between the two they made 98 and 45 tackles respectively. Gibson is only a sophomore and has plenty of upside.
Someone will need to step up in the front four. Senior John Graves is the only returning player, but with just 49 tackles over the last three seasons he does not have much production to speak of. Steven Friday will look to get some more time in 2010 after playing in seven games last season and making 11 tackles.
Generating offence will be tough. However, the Hokies will get tested with all the new starters on defense. If anyone will be able to craft new players into a top flight unit though it will be head coach Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster.
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