2009 Virginia Tech Hokies College Football Team Preview
By Jason Green at Predictem.com
National Rank: 7
Head Coach: Frank Beamer
Offensive Coordinator: Offensive Coordinator
Defensive Coordinator: Bud Foster
Last League Title: 2008
Conference: ACC
2008 Record: 10-4, 5-3 in ACC (1st in ACC Coastal)
Sports Book: ATS 6-7
Stadium: Lane Stadium (66,233)
Odds to Win the BCS Championship: 25-1
Offense
The Hokies run a pro style offense, but they need more balance in the passing game, as last season they ranked 111th out of 119 teams in passing. QB Tyrod Taylor is now the full time starter and he has legit skills picking up yards with his legs but he needs to be more consistent with his arm. The Hokies have young stud RB Ryan Williams who had 1,265 yards and 11 TD last season and highly touted freshman RB Ryan Williams.
The WR corps is very unproven. Sophomores Jarrett Boykin and Dyrell Roberts will be counted on to produce. The offensive line is decent as they return 3 starters, so it is all down to the skill positions to put up points for the Hokies.
Taylor can’t only rely on his legs to move the chains, as if he does opposing teams will stack the line to stop the run. Establishing a passing game would also give some space for the RB’s to pick up some yards. The Hokies can’t get behind in games early, as they simply do not have the type of offense needed to put up a bunch of points late in games. Coach Beamer has ALWAYS had good defenses though, which means we’ll see a bunch of low scoring games this season.
Returning Offensive Starters:
Tyrod Taylor (QB Jr)
Darren Evans (TB SoJerrett Boykin (WR So)
Danny Coale (WR So)
Greg Boone (TE So)
Blake DeChristopher (T So)
Ed Wang (T Sr)
Sergio Render (G Sr)
Defense
The Hokies run a 4-3 defense and their defensive coordinator Bud Foster is one of the best on college football. The front line is solid and DE Jason Worilds is one of the best pass rushers in the nation. Worilds has had injury issues in the past and he has to stay on the field, as he is the leader.
LB Barquell Rivers is the new middle linebacker for the Hokies and he has a ton of talent. New DT Antoine Hopkins looked awesome in spring practice as well.
Even though the Hokies lost All-American CB Victor “Macho” Harris the secondary should still be very good. CB Stephen Virgil is a star in the making and the Hokies have 2 good young safeties in Dorian Porch and Kam Chancellor. The promising CB Rashad Carmichael will step and fill the shoes for Harris and is speedy and has showed a lot of promise.
There are very few holes on the Hokies defense, but another line player to put pressure on the opposing QB’s besides Worilds has to step up. At spring practice DE Nekos Brown was the defensive MVP and he may have a huge senior season, especially since Worilds will attract so much attention.
Defensive Returning Starters
John Graves (DT So)
Cordarrow Thomson (DT Sr)
Jason Worilds (DE Jr)
Stephen Virgil (CB Sr)
Kam Chancellor (FS Sr)
Dorian Porch (SS Sr)
Brent Bowden (P Sr)
Special Teams
Matt Waldron is a 5th year senior and he will take over the kicking duties for Duston Keys. He looked great in spring practice, as he was perfect on his field goals in scrimmages, but he is unproven in game situations.
Brent Bowden will return as the starting punter and he ranked 4th in the ACC averaging 40.4 yards per punt last season.
Ryan Williams will be counted on for kick return duties. The coverage teams have to play better this season, as they gave up 3 TD’s on punt returns and they lost the game against East Carolina because of a blocked punt return.
Breakdown
The Hokies have a great team, especially on D, to contend for the National Title, but they need to have a better passing attack and that falls on QB Tyrod Taylor. They have a tough ACC schedule and their early season games are killer playing Alabama in Atlanta and hosting Nebraska.
Schedule
9/5/09 Alabama (at Atlanta)
9/12/09 MARSHALL
9/19/09 NEBRASKA
9/26/09 MIAMI
10/3/09 at Duke
10/10/09 BOSTON COLLEGE
10/17/09 at Georgia Tech
10/29/09 NORTH CAROLINA
11/5/09 at East Carolina
11/14/09 at Maryland
11/21/09 N.C. STATE
11/28/09 at Virginia
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