Safety Antone Exum reaches for an interception in April's spring game.
1. BE THE TURNOVER KING
Being the turnover king is nothing new to the Hokies. Last season, Virginia Tech led the Atlantic Coast Conference with a plus-nine turnover ratio.
Winning the turnover battle was much of the reason Tech won some of the games it did in 2009.
In a 16-3 victory over East Carolina, two forced fumbles when the Pirates were in Tech territory and a late interception sealed the deal on a day the Hokies’ offense sputtered.
In a 16-15 win over Nebraska, an interception by Kam Chancellor at the beginning of the third quarter halted a Huskers drive inside Tech territory when Nebraska threatened to go up two scores.
But, just like the turnover category helped the Hokies win games, it also aided losses.
In Tech’s opening game, two fumbles led to two Alabama field goals at inopportune times in a shoot out in Atlanta. One of those miscues, with 12 minutes remaining in a tie-game, took all the air out of the Hokies and gave it right back to Alabama, helping them get the win.
All Hokie fans remember, though they probably don’t want to, Ryan Williams’ fumble with two minutes remaining in Tech’s 20-17 loss to North Carolina. Williams’ gaffe at the Tech 24-yard line set up a game-winning kick, ruining Tech’s run at an ACC title repeat.
This season, Tech returns just four starters on the defensive side of the ball. Critics and fans alike agree that the Hokies’ strength now lies on offense, and not on defense.
Without the services of Cody Grimm and Jason Worilds, amongst others, Tech’s defense will struggle to maintain its dominance in stopping the run. As a result, it’s more than probable that the Hokies will give up more yards than they did last season.
Where games will be won, and hopefully not lost, is in the turnover battle.
The more Tech’s defense can put the ball in the hands of its offense, the better the Hokies’ offense will be positioned to score. The less the Tech offense loses the ball, on the other hand, the less pressure will be put on a less-talented defense.
All of this sounds elementary, but it will truly make-or-break the destiny of a team that head coach Frank Beamer says is one of “two or three” teams he’s coached capable of reaching the BCS National Championship.
2. EMBRACE AN OFFENSIVE IDENTITY
With a less talented defense, the Hokies will have a hard time pulling off close wins in low-scoring games as they have in years past.
While just four starters return on the defensive side of the ball, eight return on the offensive side — including at every skill position except tight end.
Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor enters this season in a luxurious position. After the snap, Taylor can choose to hand the ball off to one of two former Sporting News freshman All-American running backs in Williams and Darren Evans, or he can drop throw to either of his returning starting wide receivers in Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin.
Tech is the only team in the country returning two receivers that had 30 or more catches last season and averaged more than 20 yards per catch.
Along the offensive line, Taylor’s protection shouldn’t miss a beat. The team will miss Ed Wang protecting Taylor’s blind side, but if history means anything, offensive line coach Curt Newsome will find a way to fill that void before the season starts.
The pieces are in place for the Hokies to have one the most electric offensive attacks in years. But, for Tech to win the conference and possibly make a trip to the BCS National Championship game, its offense will have to produce game in and game out.
A version of this article appeared in the Aug 5 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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How about not being so predictable on offense? We can have all the talent in the world but if the play calling is going to be predictable to top tier defenses, then we are not going to be very successful. We have a good ground game AND passing game this year with all the returning talent, I hope we utilize a good and unpredictable pattern of both types of plays. Not "williams/evans up the middle" 8 out of 10 times including 3rd and 10 .
Unfortunately I don't see this changing with Stinespring, I hope it does or we will not reach a BCS bowl let alone a championship.
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Winning the turn over battle is akin to offensive TOP. When the offense can keep the ball and chew up clock like my Jackets do, it redues the opponents score opportunities. Even a fair offense can pull off wins if they can just get the clock time. Turn overs are a short circuit way of giving your offense more TOP, in case they are struggling to keep the 1st downs coming.
Good luck next year, and may the best Tech win, but it will be us ;~).
Go JACKETS! THWG!
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Great Article Alex --
scoring early and often will definitely be needed this season. we cant stick to the old run, run, pass, punt offense this year. Hopefully Tyrod can threaten teams deep when they put people in the box to stop 100 Proof (Evans Williams)
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The Hokies have to be able to beat competitive teams from the SEC. Going three quarters and rolling over dead in the fourth is not a victory.
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1. Get rid of Stinespring,but it's too late for that, dumping him now could hurt the team however if the offense somehow finds a way to sputter out this year, he def needs to go in 2011. He'd have had 10 chances to prove himself after this season. I'd say this year is his last chance, we have tons of talent and have no reason to loose.
Remembering the UNC, GT, and the first 3 quarters of the Nebraska game last year, we can't do that this year on offense.
If anything it will be the defense that will choke because of all the rookies. Even bud can only do so much, we may just not have the talent. We'll see.
Maybe there a way tech can build more depth on both sides of the ball to prevent having so many starters at once ect? Just curious, I guess perhaps it's just the luck of the recruiting every year?
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Virginia Tech's offense is not necessarily "less talented" as much as it is "less proven." Every year the departure of defensive stars is lamented only to be replaced by new ones. These kids are talented or they would not be on a top-10 team. Give them a chance...they might surprise everyone! Sometimes the unnoticed and untested players evolve into stars. Bud Foster will not tolerate bad defensive play, so let's see what they've got before we make assumptions, The BSU game will be an excellent game to evaluate their talent or lack thereof. I think they will step up and be a solid unit for seasons to come.
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