Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Hokies begin season No. 17 in top 25
Another season as defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions finds Virginia Tech with the same old controversy at quarterback, and with holes to fill throughout its lineup.
Whether it's Sean Glennon, Tyrod Taylor or a combination of the two that winds up behind center for the No. 17 Hokies, introductions might be in order once the first huddle is called.
Gone are the four wide receivers who made up the best group in school history, along with one-time all-ACC tailback Branden Ore, who wore out his welcome with off-the-field trouble.
The defense, too, was picked almost bare, losing seven starters to graduation and the NFL.
But as has been the case for many years now in Blacksburg, coach Frank Beamer and his staff are confident that the replacements will emerge, and the Hokies will contend again.
The key, though, will be what happens at quarterback, where Beamer said he hopes one of the two rises as the clear No. 1 and where redshirting Taylor is also a possibility.
"It's just easier when you've got your starter and you've got your backup," Beamer said.
Glennon made a remarkable comeback last season, playing so poorly in a 48-7 loss at LSU that Taylor replaced him for four games. When Taylor got hurt midway through the season, Glennon made the most of his second chance, and was MVP of the ACC championship game.
A superior leader, Glennon is also almost purely a drop-back passer, and several Hokies coaches are far more excited about the ability of Taylor to make plays with his legs.
Either way, the quarterback will have a veteran line with four returning starters to work behind, and a slew of new guys in the skills positions to try and bring along quickly.
Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said it best:
"The key is how quickly we get our younger guys old," he joked as practice started.
Glennon expects to have plenty of options, and soon.
"We've got a dozen receivers and a half dozen running backs that all want to be the guy," the senior said. "We'll see which two or three step up to the plate."
The Hokies' top five receivers last year were the four graduated wideouts and Ore, and the leading returning receiver is tight end Greg Boone, who caught 11 passes a season ago.
One of the prime candidates to step in at receiver, Brandon Dillard, will miss the season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, and another, sophomore Zach Luckett, was suspended indefinitely during preseason camp after he was arrested for driving under the influence.
Kenny Lewis and Jahre Cheeseman figure to get the bulk of the early season work at tailback, and they combined for just 78 carries for 367 yards and five rushing touchdowns a season ago. Heralded freshman recruit Ryan Williams could also play his way into the lineup.
The offense could get a boost, too, from Victor Harris, a starting cornerback and former high school tailback who is likely to be used on the offensive side a bit this season.
Ike Whitaker, whose three career catches rank him fourth among returning players, said the unproven intend to thrive on that distinction.
"We're going to play with a chip on our shoulder," he said.
That might help, especially since the Hokies have a tough road schedule. Among the teams they will visit are Nebraska, Boston College, Florida State, Miami and East Carolina.
During their rise to national prominence, the Hokies hallmark has always been defense, and longtime coordinator Bud Foster has a bigger rebuilding job than ever before. Of the 13 Hokies drafted or signed to NFL contracts, most came from the defensive side of the ball.
The replacements are there, Foster said, but "my biggest concern is our depth."
Orion Martin returns at one defensive end spot, and sophomore Jason Worilds could emerge as the next dynamic pass rusher for the Hokies. He looked ready to dominate in the spring.
The two biggest losses came at linebacker, where Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall formed the best linebacking tandem in school history. Foster used the offseason to challenge Brett Warren and Purnell Sturdivant to be ready to assume the spots, and said he thinks they will be.
Martin, whose brother Cam holds down the third linebacker spot, has been impressed.
"Overall I think we're going to be fine," the senior said. "Our first team looks pretty good. We're just going to have to continue to bring those second team guys along."
The strength of the defense this year could well be the back line. Harris had five interceptions last season to share the team lead, and moves to the boundary corner spot after three seasons at field corner. Stephan Virgil figures to play in Harris' old spot.
Kam Chancellor, perhaps the most athletic player on the unit, moves from rover to free safety, and Dorian Porch and Davon Morgan are likely to both see time at the rover spot.
Chancellor, a junior, asked for the change, Foster said, because the free safety is pretty much the quarterback of the defense and he feels like it's his time to step forward.
"I feel like they're trying to give me a leadership role," he said, "and I'm prepared to take that. The older kids are going to lead by example and show the younger guys."
As always, the Hokies will rely heavily on their kicking game, too, and Beamer will count on fifth-year senior Dustin Keys as his placekicker. Keys won the job in the spring.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
