The Virginian-Pilot
©
“We’ve got two good quarterbacks. I think the other pieces will fall in there. I think we’ve got good talent at wide receiver. We’ve just got to get it playing consistently. And I think we’ve got good talent at tailback. We’ve just got to make some calls on who needs to be on the field. ” – Coach Frank Beamer
Tech | High expectations for young Hokies
IMPACT PLAYERS
QBs Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor
If Glennon comes through — and stays healthy — Taylor won’t have to. Taylor will play only if Glennon is hurt or so ineffective that the Hokies have no choice but to burn Taylor’s redshirt year.
TE Greg Boone
With no proven playmaker at receiver, Tech coaches are promising to put the ball in this bruiser’s hands every way possible. He’s a mismatch for almost any defender.
CB Victor Harris
He’s a ball hawk (nine career interceptions) and, as one of only four defensive starters back, he’ll need to be a leader. “Macho” will also be called upon in the return game and, if necessary, as a receiver.
FS Kam Chancellor
His position coach, who played safety at Tech, said Chancellor will be the greatest in Hokies history. High praise, but consider this: Chancellor’s stated mission is for “opponents to fear me.”
RISING STAR
DE Jason Worilds The redshirt soph has had to wait his turn. Playing sparingly behind NFL draft pick Chris Ellis, Worilds had 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 15 QB hurries last season. He runs like a receiver at 254 pounds and will be a serious sack threat.
WANT TO GO?
TECH SCHEDULE
BLACKSBURG
Frank Beamer took it as a compliment to the state of his program.
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster laughed at the notion.
Virginia Tech fans have come to expect nothing less.
Despite losing 13 standouts from last year’s squad – eight were NFL draft picks and five more signed as free agents – the Hokies were picked in a preseason media poll to win the ACC’s Coastal Division.
PREDICTION
6-6 overall, 3-5 ACC
10-4 That would include a 9-3 regular season, a loss in the ACC title game and a bowl win. A young team playing its toughest games on the road could be a recipe for disaster, but Frank Beamer always seems to coach ’em up and Bud Foster’s defenses are never bad. Minus 4 for inexperience; plus 10 for talent and coaching.
“Are you kidding me?” Foster said. “Have you looked at how young we are? Have you seen our schedule?”
His points are valid. Foster has to replace seven starters, including two linebackers and three linemen. A fifth straight top-five finish nationally in total defense will be tough.
The Hokies also lost their top four receivers to graduation. Matters got worse when Brandon Dillard, the team’s fastest player, blew his Achilles this summer and Zach Luckett – Tech’s most physically impressive receiver and a likely starter – was suspended Aug. 18 after a DUI arrest.
“We’ve got as many questions with this team as any I can remember,” Beamer said. “But we’ve got talent. It’s just young talent.”
The problem with that: Youngsters tend to be more easily intimidated on the road and the Hokies play their toughest games away from Lane Stadium. At North Carolina. At Nebraska. At Boston College. At Florida State. At Miami.
“When you have this many young players,” Beamer said, “you’ve got some coaching to do.”
Of course, there’s still a good bit of veteran leadership left . Quarterbacks Sean Glennon, named the starter on Tuesday, has won big games for the Hokies, so Tech should be solid there. The offensive line is more settled than it has been in at least three years, which may help Glennon stay healthy and allow Tyrod Taylor to redshirt.
Cornerback Victor “Macho” Harris is a potential All-American, leading a secondary that also has hard-hitting Maury High School grad Kam Chancellor.
“The cupboard is not bare,” Foster acknowledged.
Expectations have not been lowered. In four seasons in the ACC, Tech has won two titles and played for a third. The Hokies have won at least 10 games four straight years.
“We come here to win championships,” Glennon said. “This year is no different.”
Kyle Tucker, (757) 446-2374, kyle.tucker@pilotonline.com
MIDSHIPMEN READY TO ROLL • TOUGH SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT •
EAST CAROLINA EYES TITLE • A NEW COACH AT HAMPTON • A LOOK AT THE ACC •
A LOOK AT THE CAA • A LOOK AT THE MEAC
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo