Shaozhuo Cui/SPPS
Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — This story has been modified from its original version. The Pirates also use a two-quarterback system. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
What may work in the Hokies' favor is the fact that ECU's secondary is inexperienced. Only its strong safety, Van Eskridge, started throughout the entire 2007 season. Eskridge led the team in tackles with 104.
Even though only four starters return for Virginia Tech on defense, Holtz is still wary of the Hokies' ability.
"I don't think anyone can argue with what they've done statistically," said Holtz of the opposing defense. "They lost so many players to the NFL and all I keep hearing is that Virginia Tech's defense is faster and more athletic this year which is really scary to me because I don't know how you improve on last year."
The front seven is anchored by redshirt senior defensive end Orion Martin and redshirt junior Cam Martin at the whip linebacker position. The brothers combined for 136 tackles and eleven sacks last season. Two redshirt seniors, Brett Warren and Purnell Sturdivant, take the places of Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi and fill out the starting linebacker corps.
The new-look secondary will have its hands full this weekend with Bryant and Harris. Filling Brandon Flowers' spot on the field will be junior cornerback Stephan Virgil, who saw action in every game last year but has never started before. Tech still boasts familiar faces in senior cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris who tied for the lead in interceptions with five for the Hokies last season. Junior free safety Kam Chancellor will look to keep the fire burning as he comes off a 79 tackle season. Also keep an eye on true freshman free safety Lorenzo Williams and cornerback Eddie Whitley who will dress and play in Charlotte.
"I've been impressed with those kids," said head coach Frank Beamer of Williams and Whitley. "They're fast, play with a good football sense, and have been playing against the first team group in practice."
Overall, the Pirates are eerily similar to the Hokies on both sides of the football this season. Both teams have a solid "nucleus," as Holtz put it, but each are also throwing new guys into the mix and we will have to wait and see how it all plays out tomorrow.
Virginia Tech will battle East Carolina this Saturday at noon at the Carolina Panthers' Stadium in Charlotte. The game will be televised on ESPN.
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"In what appears to be a mirror image, the Panthers also utilize two-quarterbacks." Don't you mean the Pirates? Your site needs to do better than this, two days, two articles, two mistakes.
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TYROD TAYLOR FOR CHRIST SAKE!
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ONE OF YOUR POSTERS SAID ECU WAS GOING TO BE LIKE PLAYING WILLIAM & MARY HIGH SCHOOL. I SAID WE SHALL SEE.
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The Hokies got plucked good!!!!!!!!!
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Agreed about the gang sign..
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Ed, One of our posters did not say that playing ECU would be like playing W&M High School. Here is the exact quote: Beamer states that all the opponents are tough..."well, they're a tough ball club." He said that last year about William & Mary. I will be honest in saying that ECU will be mroe tough than W&M High School. The poster is pointing out that Beamer showers praise on our opponents regardless of whether it's W&M or USC. Further, the poster says that explicitly "ECU will be mroe tough than W&M High School" Congrats on the win...I mean that sincerely. There's no question ECU was the better team Saturday, and it wasn't close. However, learn some reading comprehension and quit furthering ECU's reputation as a 4 year community college.
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Really good article!
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JAJA, UPYACHKA! UG NE PROIDET, BLYA!
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