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by
Joel Welser
#10 Virginia
Tech Hokies
Atlantic Coast Conference
2006 Record: (10-3, 6-2)
Coach: Frank Beamer (156-82-2 at Virginia
Tech, 156-82-2 overall)
Starters Returning: 16 (8 offense, 8 defense,
0 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: FB Jesse Allen, OL
Brandon Frye, OL Danny McGrath
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Sean Glennon,
RB Branden Ore, WR Josh Morgan, WR Eddie Royal, TE Greg Boone, OL Duane Brown,
OL Sergio Render, OL Ryan Shuman
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Noland Burchette,
LB Brenden Hill, S Aaron Rouse
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Barry
Booker, DT Carlton Powell, DE Chris Ellis, LB Xavier Adibi, LB Vince Hall, CB
Brandon Flowers, CB Macho Harris, S D.J. Parker
Starting Specialists Lost: K Brandon Pace, P
Nic Schmitt
Starting Specialists Returning: none
Football may be the last thing on the mind around
the campus of Virginia Tech, yet a winning team will once again bring the
community together and this time they can rally around Coach Frank Beamer and
his football team. The Hokies return eight starters on each side of the ball
and, for a team that went 10-3 last year, will be the favorites to win the
conference.
Offense:
The offense has some room to improve. Quarterback
Sean Glennon did a decent job of managing the game during his sophomore
campaign, but he did not do enough to win any games. Glennon, at times, just did
enough not to lose. Ike Whitaker, who left the team in December to undergo rehab
for alcohol abuse, will get a look if Glennon continues to struggle. The
quarterbacks have most of their main targets back led by Eddie Royal and Josh
Morgan. Royal has developed into the consistent wide receiver the Hokies
desperately needed and Morgan is a big target who led the team with four
touchdown receptions last season. Fellow seniors Justin Harper and Josh Hyman
add some quality depth to the unit.
At times last year the passing game was not clicking
at all and that put all the pressure on running back Branden Ore. And most of
the time the All-ACC honoree responded. Ore rushed for 1,137 yards and 16
touchdowns as a sophomore, but a little more balance on the offensive end will
make Ore that much more effective. Kenny Lewis, Jr. has proven to be a quality
backup to Ore and could find some more carries this season if Ore’s workload
ends up being too much.
Defense:
The Virginia Tech defense was amazing in 2006 and is
expected to be even better in 2007. The defense allowed just 219.5 yards and
11.0 points per game. It is hard to get better than that, but this group can do
it. The line returns three senior starters in Barry Booker, Carlton Powell and
Chris Ellis. The linebackers are even better with the duo of Vince Hall and
Xavier Adibi. Hall is one of the best in the nation and the speedy Adibi will
make some big plays. Hall and Adibi will be great, but VT does have to replace
linebacker Brenden Hill. Senior Corey Gordon has the experience, but he will
find a battle from Cody Grimm, Steven Friday and former safety Cam Martin.
The return of third-team All-American Brandon
Flowers, the extremely athletic Victor Harris and the experienced Roland Minor
leave few questions at the corner positions. D.J. Parker returns at free safety,
but replacing Aaron Rouse at the rover position is where the questions arise in
the secondary. Sophomores Dorian Porch and Kam Chancellor have some work to do
to replace the production of Rouse, but both have shown they can play at this
level. It is more of a question of confidence and fatigue that will hinder Porch
and Chancellor.
The Bottom Line:
With a little more production out of the quarterback
spot, the Hokies can think big, really big. The team is very experienced and
should be a contender for a BCS Bowl with or without any improvement from
quarterbacks Glennon or Whitaker. As long as the defense only gives up 11 points
per game again, the offense will not have to do that much to win any contest.
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