Tech opponent breakdown: Virginia Tech
I’d planned to run some more stuff from interviews last week, but my laptop seems to have eaten all my notes. I’ll have more when I transcribe it again. In the meantime, I asked writers who cover the teams on Tech’s schedule for breakdowns of those teams. We’ll start with Virginia Tech and Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times and Virginian Pilot. You can check out his blog here and follow him on Twitter here.
1. In a nutshell, what are Virginia Tech’s strengths and weaknesses?
The defense, as usual, is the strength of the team. The Hokies return nine starters from a group that was riddled with injuries last year yet still finished the season ranked No. 10 nationally in total defense. The entire front seven is back, buoyed by the return of linebacker Bruce Taylor, who was having an All-ACC season before suffering a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 8. The defensive line has the potential to be one of the best the school has had in the last decade. On offense, quarterback Logan Thomas is emerging as one of the nation’s best. In his first year as a starter, he threw for 3,000 yards, accounted for 30 touchdowns and broke the school’s single-season yardage mark.
While the defense is stout, the secondary is not particularly deep. Beyond starters Kyle Fuller, Antone Exum, Detrick Bonner and Kyshoen Jarrett, there aren’t a whole lot of players who are ready for primetime. An injury on the back end could be a serious blow. Offensively, the Hokies are pretty much replacing everybody but Thomas. Four fifth-year starters are gone from the offensive line, as are receiver Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale, who ranked 1-2 on the school’s all-time receiving list, and running back and ACC Player of the Year David Wilson, who went pro early. The line has the biggest question marks. It will need to come together. Virginia Tech has capable players at the other spots, although they’ll need to prove it on the field.
2. What kind of impact can be expected out of wide receivers Marcus Davis and D.J. Coles, the replacements for Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale?
They certainly have the potential. Davis is a physical freak. He’s 6-4, 228, runs a 4.37 time in the 40 and has a 44-inch vertical leap. Consistency has always been his issue. He’ll need to prove he’s capable of being an every-down threat if he wants to advance his game to the next level.
Coles is another big-bodied receiver (6-3, 216) who is a good target for Thomas. He’s coming off PCL surgery this offseason and has been slow in his recovery. The trainer recently said he was “dicey” for the Georgia Tech opener, so that will be something to watch. Don’t forget about Dyrell Roberts, who was given another shot at a senior season after breaking his arm in Week 3 last year. He’s a veteran who has good speed and skills, particularly in the slot. Those three might not be as prolific as Boykin and Coale, but they have enough skills to give Thomas plenty of options in the receiving game.
3. How much of an answer is Michael Holmes at running back (or anyone else) to fill David Wilson’s shoes?
Holmes seems like he’s the frontrunner. He’s kind of the anti-Wilson. Whereas Wilson was a home run hitter, a guy who could amaze on any play and loved the spotlight (I’m sure you’ve seen videos of his backflips), Holmes is a quieter, go-about-his-business back. He’s not flashy, but he produces (he had 2,877 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior in high school).
Oddly, that’s kind of what Virginia Tech’s offense needs. Holmes hits the right hole, runs north and south, has enough speed and enough physicality for the defense to worry about it. Will he make as many eye-popping runs as Wilson did last year? No.
But he also probably won’t run for negative 22 yards on first-and-goal, as Wilson did in the Sugar Bowl, trying to make something out of nothing. Thomas is enough of a star player on offense for the Hokies. If Holmes is a reliable rushing threat, that’ll be good enough.
4. Could Logan Thomas be even better than when Georgia Tech saw him last year?
He could, although that was one of his best games last season. He spent the offseason with quarterbacks guru George Whitfield, who had previously worked with Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton and Andrew Luck. I covered Newton at Auburn, and I, like many who have made the same comparison, see some similarities there.
Although I’d say Cam was a more natural runner, at this point in their careers, Logan seems like a more polished passer. What’ll be key for Thomas this year is how he’ll handle being The Guy on offense. Last year, it was Wilson’s turn (at least early in the season). And Thomas had the benefit of a veteran line and receivers to help him out. That support system isn’t as great this year. So while I think he could be improved as a player, it wouldn’t shock me to see him put up numbers not too different from last year. Honestly, I think Virginia Tech would take that, though.
5. What were one or two of the biggest developments out of spring practice?
The offensive line had some noticeable problems early on. The defense, using plenty of blitzes in an early scrimmage, was in the backfield all day long. Now, that might be a statement about how porous the offensive line is or how good the defensive line is (more likely, it’s both). But it was enough to send die-hard Tech fans into an early panic. The o-line got better as spring went on — particularly the first group — and began to hold its own a bit more by the end, but it’ll still be an area of concern this fall.
Holmes established himself as the top guy for the running back job. At one scrimmage, he raced down the sideline 60 yards for a score, out-running the defense and at least somewhat alleviating concerns about his speed. In goal line drills, he showed a physicality the coaches liked and a nose for the end zone. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t the leading rusher this year.
Defensively. Bonner emerged as a guy who could be pretty good at free safety. He was a backup corner last year, filling in on occasion for an injured Jayron Hosley. The coaches like his instincts, range and cover skills at safety, though. Given the opportunity, he could be a breakthrough player on that side of the ball.
6. Georgia Tech players are pretty locked in on the opener. Do you get the same sense from Virginia Tech?
I’d say so, but it’s always tough to tell. They obviously understand the importance of the Georgia Tech game. The winner has always represented the Coastal Division in the ACC title game. And the defense has always put plenty of its focus into the Yellow Jackets and their option offense. Then again, you would have said Virginia Tech was locked in heading into past season openers that it has lost (Alabama and Boise State recently).
I think the Hokies are generally a team you can peg to be pretty good by the end of the season. You don’t win 10 or more games in eight straight seasons without being consistent in that sense. But season openers are always dicey, and the Hokies have had their share of flops to start the year recently. I’m expecting a close game come Labor Day (provided there’s no lightning in the area).
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177 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
1:12 pm
Straight Jacket
July 30th, 2012
1:05 pm
Going to be a long season!
==============================
13 or 14 games is a LONG Season.
people wanting an 8 or 16 game playoff don’t understand how LOOOOOONG of a season that will be.
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
Hell YES…..FIRST on the 2nd page.
GT Lee
July 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Congrats to 5150…..that and 5 dollars will get you a cup of coffee!
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
$5 will get me a 100ml bottle of Jim Daniel’s Whiskey. LOL
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
It is the 31st in Aussie land and Gotsis will be leaving to come to TECH in a few hours.
I will not expect MUCH his first few practices trying to get used to the HEAT(they are in winter) and the Time Change. I think he will be better in a WEEK to the time change and practice schedule. The HEAT I don’t know how long it will take to Acclimate.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
@ UOAD…..that cartoon was priceless
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
1:57 pm
Baaaaah Baaaaah. LMAO
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Super hit Gotsis on FB as a friend. he is On-line right now. i think he is trying to get on the US schedule early so the jet Lag will not hit him so hard.
ToeMeetsLeather
July 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
Hopefully our new emphasis on special teams pays HUGE dividends in this first game. Pin’em deep on most every possession, take advantage of the their new OLine, RB and wideouts deep on their side of the fifty. And them ram it down their throats with relentless triple option, with a few new wrinlkes to the short passing game. I want to see some close-up shots of Foster trying to figure it out. We shall see, on 9/3.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
UOAD, it doesn’t matter what flight he takes, he is going to have a severe case of jet lag. That is a LONG LONG flight, and I don’t envy him one bit.
1 4 GT
July 30th, 2012
2:12 pm
Would NOT like all that time spent cooped up in a big metal tube flying over the ocean. If something happened, I CANNOT drink all of that water!!!!
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
2:15 pm
1 4 GT I feel that way about BOATS. If the Boat is more than a MILE from shore I am not happy. I can Swim but i can’t swim that far.
I can handle flying. but a Boat far from land kinda freaks me. BIG boat not a motor boat on a lake as much.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 30th, 2012
2:17 pm
a cruise ship ain’t bad. At least you can move around all over the ship and sleep in a bed. Those long airplane rides are killers though, and as you know, I just had one 2 weeks ago. I’m not sure I have recovered yet
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
2:17 pm
Helicopter ……6000 moving parts flying with no WINGS or ability to GLIDE and too close to the ground for a parachute. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
July 30th, 2012
2:19 pm
The queen parachuted out of a helicopter Friday night. LOL
Tokyo jacket
July 30th, 2012
2:20 pm
5150, that’s an excuse man. You might be right, but at the level GT football is at, losing one player should not be the difference between winning/losing against AF. No offense to the falcons, but they shouldn’t be in our league.
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
2:20 pm
Super I did the ATL to England Flight and NY to Madrid. those were long enough but I was OK. It is the WATER all the freaking Water if something goes wrong you DIE slow. A plane crash is kinda FAST. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
July 30th, 2012
2:26 pm
@ UOAD…….from the time I woke up in Cape Town 2 weeks ago until I arrived home in Augusta…..36 hours. And I heard from another person on the tour that one of the people in his group, but on a different flight, got pulled off the plane in Senegal for some kind of plane-wide security check, and his total time getting home was 48 hours. ATL to England pales in comparison to that.
WmsbgHokie
July 30th, 2012
2:35 pm
I have a lot of respect for you Jackets – you’re the only team in our division who consistently challenges us every year, and the Labor Day game will be no different – just some old fashioned smashmouth football.
That said, it sounds like some of you may be underestimating our O. We just need you to keep thinking that way for the next six weeks…
GT fan
July 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
Offensively, the Hokies are pretty much replacing everybody but Thomas. Four fifth-year starters are gone from the offensive line, as are receiver Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale, who ranked 1-2 on the school’s all-time receiving list, and running back and ACC Player of the Year David Wilson, who went pro early. The line has the biggest question marks.
—————————————-
FOUR 5th year OL starters gone
Not just the top 2 WR from 2011, but the top 2 WRs in school history gone
ACC player of the year gone
And the Media picks VT to win the Coastal?
And on page 1 we’ve got a VT fan telling us the OL will be “solid to good” What kool-aid is he drinking?
I’m not saying GT’s got the DL or DEs to expose this GLARING weakness wit VT, but FSU, Clemson, UNC are just a few that do. VT WILL NOT WIN THE COASTAL IN 2012.
The WRs might be great, and David Wilson’s replacment too. And we know LT is very good. But when you lose FOUR 5th year starters on the OL, you’re looking at trouble.
——————————–
IMO …. AG should blitz much more than he likes to overwhelm VTs new OL, and put LT on skates as much as possible. I don’t care how good VT thinks their D is …. PJ’s O will move the ball plenty. GT’s strength on O is the OL, nuff said.
If blitzes are frequent…and effective, GT wins kinda easy b/c I don’t see VT scoring enough. Especially if GT limits TOs.
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
For sure.
GT fan
July 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
WmsbgHokie ……
Hard not to be optimistic heading into a new season …. everybody is. Just read a UGA blog!
But, unless Beamer has been sandbagging his OLmen, the Hokies are in trouble this season from the Offensive perspective.
Rd gms: Pitt, Cincy, UNC, Clemson, Miami, BC.
FSU at home, but is the 3rd game of the @ Clemson, @ Miami, FSU stretch that will, if they aren’t already eliminated, eliminate the Hokies from the Coastal race.
1 4 GT
July 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
The laws of physics say bumblebees & helicopters can’t fly!!! Bumblebees ain’t big enough for me to ride & I ain’t gettin’ in no stupid helo!!!
Brave Hokie
July 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
Building confidence on a Monday in July ~ & from all 5 GT fans!
Y’all sound like Dawg fans this afternoon
WmsbgHokie
July 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
I’d be happy to resume this discussion around 11:00 PM on Labor Day. If we beat you guys then we’ll win the division, otherwise we don’t. It’s that simple…
1 4 GT
July 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Also have no desire to be stuck on a boat with about 2500 people. They break down too much, or have fires, or legionnaires disease or some other calamity befall them. ROGUE WAVE about 100 ft high. NO THANKS. Now, my 80 mph Skeeter Bass Boat—another story!!! YAHOOOO!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Seeing this play again?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FahX3ShSnAg
1 4 GT
July 30th, 2012
2:58 pm
Brave (Castrated Tom Turkey) Hokie—-confidence been building all year—-that’s what fans do!!! GOOOOO JACKETS
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
3:00 pm
Tokyo jacket….1 lost player was not the difference. The Difference was the 1 player we tried to field punts. Look at the game again and the Second Fumbled Punt GAVE Air Force the win.
1 4 GT
July 30th, 2012
3:01 pm
Don’t know why one would want to castrate a tom turkey, but I read somewhere that is what a hokie is?
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Wmsbghokie…..11pm? That means GT probably wins. I guess you will not be at the game!
09/03/12 at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 8:00 p.m. ET
I will be here Cause I can not make the game this year.
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
3:05 pm
I have never heard a Hokie was a Unick.
GT fan
July 30th, 2012
3:07 pm
WmsbgHokie …..
Take off the rosie specs….Not being disrespectful, but W or L on 9/3, VT WILL NOT WIN THE COASTAL IN 2012 UNLESS Beamer has been saving 4 OLmen that were as good or better than the FOUR 5th year starters lost from the 2011 team. See my post again about VT’s rd gms and where FSU falls on the schedule.
WmsbgHokie
July 30th, 2012
3:12 pm
5150 UOAD – I’ll be watching the game on TV just like you. The only difference is that I won’t be making any excuses after the game. Win or lose I’ll be gracious enough to accept the outcome and tip my hat to the other team for a good game.
WmsbgHokie
July 30th, 2012
3:17 pm
GT fan – no disrespect to you either, but when you have a chance check out which team (and coach) has the best ACC road record since 2004… Road games are not a problem for us. As for our O-line, let’s settle this on the field – OK?
Brave Hokie
July 30th, 2012
3:18 pm
but WmsbgHokie
there’s the late hit on Tyrod, the Special teams breakdown, now “the punch” ~
or should GT should be 8-0 over VTech….
I guess some engineers are more outcome based than others…
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
3:32 pm
WmsbgHokie…. I will make EXCUSES if the REFS change the possible out come( the Colorado 5th down kind of game). I will not be happy with a TECH loss but IF VIP plays well then congrats to them.
5150 UOAD
July 30th, 2012
3:34 pm
Orwin Smith
Talking to Jeff Davis high school #givingback
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=505934236087237&set=a.175193229161341.59227.100000119960482&type=1&theater
1 4 GT
July 30th, 2012
3:39 pm
VT Fans—-If (biggest word in the English language, that) ya’ll win & I don’t think you will (how could a true fan think otherwise), if it’s a good, clean win, then the majority of GT fans will say, oh well. VT earned it. But I expect a GT win, so it is a moot question.
Beat UGA
July 30th, 2012
3:43 pm
Good job Kyle!
Tokyo jacket
July 30th, 2012
4:34 pm
5150, I agree with your comment about fielding the punts leading to points for AF (as it has for Miami, UVA, etc). BUT – the second biggest word in the English language – we should never have been in that position to start with. Much like the UVA game last year. We were overconfident but the better physical team. And, we lost. Period. We should have had our second string starting the third quarter. We shouldn’t have had a late error determine the outcome.
NNX Hokie
July 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
I always enjoy seeing our team play GT. If we were 2-6 against another team in conference play and they had scored 247 points to our 160 I would think they had our number. We seem to always tease you guys into thinking you are going to win and then take it away. Your analyses between the two teams is pretty weak.
VT’s O-line is stronger and more veteran than you think. Bud Foster will unleash the hounds from the D-line and linebackers and some referee will be blamed by you for your loss. You could win it but you will have to be a lot more on the edge than you have shown so far.
If we win, I won’t be surprised but I will tune into the AJC Comments section to see what excuses you have this time. VT coaches don’t take teams for granted and they take responsibility when they come up short.
P.S. Please keep Al Groh around. We love playing his teams.
BLT
July 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
Well at least VT fans have some class. Thanks and here’s to a good game and a GT win! Go Jackets!
BLT
July 30th, 2012
4:55 pm
Spoke too soon…dang
Supersize that order, mutt
July 30th, 2012
4:56 pm
@ NNX Hokie…….I would say that each of the games that VT has won over Tech were deserved wins, but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t some things that happened during the games that could very easily have changed the outcome. For instance, you had a good team last year, and you deserved the win. BUT, had Attaochu not thrown the punch, the outcome of the game COULD have been different. That’s not whining or making excuses. That’s fact.
BLT
July 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
“Bud Foster will unleash the hounds from the D-line and linebackers and some referee will be blamed by you for your loss”
As he said while Sims, Smith, Washington, Lee, (insert name here) fly down the field for yet another TD. Or maybe it’s a passing TD when Foster loads the box and your DBs are all looking for a run. It’ll be fun…
BTW, nobody here blamed the referee for the hit on your QB. We all hated it. That changed the game.
List Mama » Virginia Tech: Schedule breakdown – CBSSports.com (blog)
July 30th, 2012
5:09 pm
[...] State among their three Atlantic Division opponents, and they open their season with a …Tech opponent breakdown: Virginia TechAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Virginia Tech Football: 5 Best Defensive Backs of the Bud Foster [...]
GT fan
July 30th, 2012
5:19 pm
Brave Hokie
July 30th, 2012
3:18 pm
but WmsbgHokie
there’s the late hit on Tyrod, the Special teams breakdown, now “the punch” ~
or should GT should be 8-0 over VTech….
——————————————————————
It’s not excuse making BH… it’s pointing out unexpected/anticipated plays, and had the unexpected not happened in 2008 & 2011, then at worst GT is 3-1 vs. VT under PJ.
In 2008 GT outplayed VT on the field. Not only was it a BS call, but CT’s helmet to helmet hit on TT didn’t happen … CT led with his FOREARMS. Alas, an unexpected/anticipated play went VT’s way … and so goes the W for VT.
In 2011, even as VT was playing, had JA not committed the unexpected/anticipated PF on LT you know & I know, it’s ball game. W for GT.
In 2010 the unexpected/anticipated KO return TD broke the 21-21 tie. IDK if GT would’ve won that one or not.
But I do know when GT did win in 2009…. not only did we here VT fans BS’n that GT used illegal blocks, the HC and many of his players were “excuse-making” too.
GT fan
July 30th, 2012
5:26 pm
NNX Hokie
July 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
VT’s O-line is stronger and more veteran than you think
——————————————
I see more of the Hokie “kool-aid” has been consumed.
GT fan
July 30th, 2012
5:28 pm
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