SB Nation - Cam Martin

Bourbon Shots: Virginia Tech vs. Alabama Edition

furrer4heisman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:00:15 -0000

Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic

VT Beat Writers and Columnists

Freshmen Forecast Favorable (Aaron McFarling)
"But today, as the Hokies prepare to take on No. 5 Alabama, Ryan Williams and David Wilson do not represent that hope. They represent the not-so-great unknown, a factor that wasn't supposed to be present so early this year."

Beamer and Players Preview Alabama (Nathan Warters)
"Beamer isn’t trying to downplay the importance of Saturday’s game against No. 5 Alabama. He just doesn’t want his players hanging their entire season on the season-opener. He admitted Tuesday that a win would be a significant thing, but as he has said throughout the preseason, he doesn’t think this is a make or break game for the Hokies."

Notes and Interview with Musberger (Kyle Tucker)
"The Hokies’ defense is clearly concerned with Julio Jones’ jump-ball ability. They spent significant time working on those today, with DBs coach Torrian Gray lofting balls to scout-team receivers and having his players alternate between leaping to make interceptions and making blind break-ups on which the read the receiver instead of the ball to prevent a completion. FS Kam Chancellor and CB Cris Hill really thrived in winning those jump-ball battles. True freshman CB Jayron Hosley, a talented but tiny guy, struggled a bit."

Tech kicker hopes his leg is opener's deciding factor (Randy King)
"For a guy who hasn't played in a real game in five years, Waldron certainly isn't lacking any confidence. The fifth-year senior who transferred from Penn State to Tech in 2006 didn't miss a field-goal attempt in any of the Hokies' spring scrimmages. He was 10-for-10 in three August scrimmages."

Alabama Notes (Darryl Slater)
"Cam Martin, Tech’s other senior whip linebacker, originally injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the 2007 ACC championship game. The knee bothered him all of last season, when he received a pain-killer shot before every game and wore a brace. Martin underwent surgery after the season and missed spring practices. But the knee still is giving him trouble and could affect how much he plays this season."

VT Bloggers

Game Travel (The A-Line)
"An added benefit, something that also happens often during these trips, is that I have the opportunity to engage in extended conversation with the Russian. The close quarters dictate it. I will have the chance to again pick his brain and add his world view to my own, very different one. If it hadn’t been for my conversations with him, I would never have learned that the Golden Horde were actually a peacekeeping force, Rasputin the victim of bad press and Stalin merely misunderstood. I look forward to hearing more such historical nuggets before we turn him loose to pillage midtown Atlanta like a rampaging Cossack."

8 Ways to React to Bammer Fans in the ATL (Beer Control Offense)
"So you are in Atlanta and you get run up on by a bunch of Tiders, talking mad shit (might only be 1 or 2, they are mostly and extremely humble group with no ego.) Don't get in that game with them, you can't win, they've been in the game since before birth. Lower your head and eyes, be humble and kiss their ass, they are College football Gods, didn't you know?"

Anxious Much? (College Game Balls)
"When this post first blasts down the tubes and hits your interwebs there will be less than 10 days until we play Alabama. Wow. Shit just got real. Unlike during the spring, a month ago and even up until yesterday, I can now see the trip down to Atlanta coming into focus. It’s tangible. I’m discussing Saturday’s plans with friends, scrambling to find tickets and mentally salivating over shaking the Georgia Dome to the tune of Enter Sandman."

Put on your Seatbelts (VT Fan)
"But this game, I really have no idea. Doing too much pre-reading probably has clouded my mind. Could Alabama like LSU just have too much SEC talent and speed for the still rather young Hokies from the ACC? Could Saban’s big game legend continue, and Beamer’s recent futility with SEC games as well, resulting in yet another SEC romp over the overmatched Hokies? Plus, the Hokie linebackers are young, the running backs are green, and let’s face it, Alabama’s defense is pretty much all back from last year and they were a top 5 unit. I wouldn’t be surprised, though I will be shocked at another 48-7 type debacle of 2 years ago at LSU."

Preseason Wrap-up (Tech SuperFans)
"To top it all off, unlike most years (2004 excluded), the Hokies open this season against a legendary program. When your football program is in the refrain of a Steely Dan song, you have reached legendary status and the Alabama Crimson Tide intimidate most teams just by showing up. We'll see if the Hokies fall into the same category in a few days. TSF will have much more on this in a game preview later on, so for now (and while I can still type before the DT's set in) let me do a position-by-position breakdown as pre-season practice wraps up."

Why we hate...UVA - Part II (The North End Zone)
"They further the stupid ass southern concept that "if you wear pastel polo shirts/pastel shorts and boat shoes you must be wealthy". You look ridiculous. And if you do wear pastel polos and pastel shorts here is a word of advice: they aren't mix-and-match. Certain colors go with other certain colors. Unfortunately this trend had moved to Tech when I was there and into my fraternity as well. All I could think of is how stupid the people at Tech were for following this dumbass trend brought down from UVA. It was a sad day."

Alabama Bloggers

Tide Offense v. Hokie Defense (Roll 'Bama Roll)
"In the passing game, the Hokies finished last year a solid 28th in the country in passing efficiency defense, but as is usually the case, things aren't necessarily so simple. The entire QB rating statistic has many detractors, shortcomings, and legitimate criticisms, and by analyzing the quality of pass defense based solely on opponent QB rating allows those statistical shortcomings to bleed through, and you can make a valid case that that happens when you look at the Hokies' defense."

Tide Defense v. Hokie Offense (Roll 'Bama Roll)
"And no Alabama fan should underestimate just how deadly Taylor's athleticism can be. Many like to paint Taylor as a typical run-happy quarterback with no real passing skills, and in all fairness that might be true, and in many ways is true. Still, nevertheless, even if that is completely accurate, Taylor is nevertheless such an elite athlete that he is still a very dangerous player. In today's game we often have mobile quarterbacks playing the position with good athleticism, but Taylor isn't just a mobile quarterback, nor does he just have good athleticism. I've been following Alabama football closely since 1990, so this is my 20th year, and I feel confident in saying that we have never faced an opposing quarterback with the kind of ultra-elite speed and athleticism that Taylor brings to the table. Again, he's not just a mobile quarterback, he's the kind of elite athlete who will certainly play in the NFL one day -- and probably be a fairly high draft pick at that -- thanks to that athleticism."

In the Film Room – Virginia Tech (Bama Sports Report)
"Defensively, the Hokies will obviously try to use their depth and experience on the defensive line to create problems for the new starters on Bama’s offensive line. Expect to see numerous stunts and blitzes designed to get some pressure on Greg McElroy as well as shut down the running lanes Mark Ingram and company will be looking to exploit."

A Look at Tyrod Taylor (Eight in the Box)
"Taylor is big, fast, and extremely dangerous in the open field. He has howitzer type arm strength, but accuracy is a little inconsistent; with that being said, Taylor has nice touch on his deep ball and Virginia Tech likes taking deep shots early in drives on first and second down. Part of the reason for taking the shots early in the downs is because Tech's offensive line has given up 97 sacks over the last two seasons. The lack of protection led to the Tech wide receivers registering only 1 touchdown reception in 2008 (game 11 vs. Duke)."

ACC and Opponents

Shinskie still injured (Annette)
"Boston College released its depth chart on Sunday, and at quarterback, it's listed as either redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle or freshman Mike Marscovetra. Codi Boek is No. 3, and Dave Shinskie is still recovering from a broken rib."

Lawnmower Victorious Against App State (Joe Ovies)
"One team’s loss is another team’s gain. Both Edwards and head coach Jerry Moore were pessimistic about the QB’s chances of playing Saturday. Edwards returned to practice this week after a lawnmower mishap, but he has yet to go full speed or take the majority of the reps."

Herzy shirt (Eagle in Atlanta)
"You can now buy a SuperFan like Herzy t-shirt. A portion of each sale goes to the American Cancer Society. I love the Eagle with the Herzy eye black."

Food Chain: Ranking The 2009 Schedule (BC Interruption)
Brian and Jeff take time from deciding on a scent for the guest bathroom... "Brian: Darren Evans or no Darren Evans, Blacksburg continues to be one of the toughest places to play in the ACC. Beamer will have the Hokies ready for this game and despite an anemic Hokie offense, will likely get the job done yet again on defense and special teams."

Its almost time... (Clempson Football)
"I think Ron has it all wrong, as usual. TCU is a toss-up? In any other year I might say yes, but if we can't score on a defense that lost most of what they had, considering its early in the season (I wouldnt want them in November), then the rest of those Ws he predicts are going in the toilet."

"Know your…" Preseason Edition (Block-C)
"Since there aren’t any MTSU bloggers out there, I figured that we should reach out to Mark Packer, of syndicated radio fame. Mark, as you may or may not know, is Class of ‘85 but unfortunately got stuck up in North Carolina trying to entertain the snobs above the border. You can check out his personal sports blog Pack Smack. Also, don’t forget to check out this year’s Southern Fried Football tour and remember to check out the babes sections of seasons past while you’re there too."

Lovin’ It (The Sporting Gnomes)
"This is the kind of year you have an unheralded QB step to the front, behind a line that has potentially gelled and improved, and you smack a few teams down a rat hole before anyone sees you coming. It’s the kind of quiet that should motivate a team. "

A look into Mark Whipple (Tomahawk Nation)
"Whipple is distinctly pro-style. He speaks often of his huge playbook an d his experience in the pro ranks. He's had his players watch film of the Steelers and Eagles. I don't particularly think a huge playbook is important or even good, particularly at the college level where coaches have limited practice time and the players are transitioning from high-school. Whipple definitely won't have most of his offense installed by the time the Canes roll into Tallahassee, but it's a good bet they will have enough. Ultimately, that is Whipple's call. We decided to break down some old game film from his days at U-Mass, with the help of State Champion Offensive Coordinator and frequent Tomahawk Nation commentator, Oline01075."

Offensive Starters Returning Preview (From The Rumble Seat)
"In 2009, GT returns ALL of the starters from the LSU bowl game. However, two linemen (Voss and Claytor) are still fighting for their starting spots and will probably rotate in. Thus adding increased depth to our crusty group of veterans on OL. Concerning the skill position players, Peeples and Allen will definitely be supplemented by Roddy Jones and Lucas Cox. Roddy will most likely return to his starting role when his cast is removed while Cox will probably be relegated to blocking assignments and backing up D-Train. Predicting what CPJ's gonna do with all of his talent is kinda like predicting which direction the wind's gonna blow in a CAT-5 hurricane off the coast of Cuba."

Coaches vs. Cancer Is Now Florida International vs. the Gazelle Group (Carolina March)
"The entire Coaches vs. Cancer "tournament" is a scam, you see. For most of the participants, it's not a tournament at all. The opening games, set at the member institutions of the top 4 "seeds", are even more meaningless than the matchups would have you believe. UNC, Ohio State, Cal and Syracuse are already guaranteed slots in the championship rounds at Madison Square Garden, and are the only four teams who at any point have their games determined by their performance in earlier play."

Fear and Loathing* in Carter-Finley (StateFans Nation)
"At NC State, we are always the most confident before impending disaster. And at least this first week of play, that’s what I fear is looming. Fortunately, we have a coach and a staff with a proven track record, not just that desperate, amorphous "hope" for a better day that we usually have as Wolfpack fans. They can right the ship, beat Pitt, go .500 or better in ACC play, and finish with a solid 7-5 or 8-4 record heading into bowl season. Keep in mind how they got their first two Wolfpack squads back on track after Hindenburg-like starts."

Athletics Department Scraps New Basketball Uniforms (Backing The Pack)
"The athletics department deserves a lot of credit for its quick response to the overwhelmingly negative but less-than-constructive reaction (not that I would know anything about that) to the uniforms. I think they'd be well served to be more interactive on Twitter than they have been, but this is an indication that they understand the two-way nature of the service, and I appreciate their receptiveness to the opinions offered there and elsewhere on the internet. It would've been easy enough to dismiss the online feedback as a typically negative reaction to anything they do."

Don't Feed the Troll (Yet Another...)
"But ignoring the monetary aspect of Doyel's argument, he still falls flat on his face asserting there's no good reason to house players in hotels prior to games. Of course there is! Is the notion that having teams get a good night's sleep and a solid, scheduled meal prior to bedtime and in the morning before the game that foreign of a concept to Doyel? Why on earth would that be in any way insulting to us, the commoner who does not play sports for an education or a living?"

Dennis Dodd's Nebraska Cheap Shot (Corn Nation)
"But wait, I get it, it's okay because it's (hyuk) on Dodd's blog and that's where flippant boob things are supposed to go. In case you're wondering about the format between "blog" and "article", I'll offer an explanation just to make things clear. The "blog" is where media types like Dodd get down in the internet goo with the rest of us, sometimes taking their pot shots, while the "article" is where they get on their high horse and take shots AT us, just like Dodd did a couple of weeks ago when he got all up in the air about Clay Travis asking Tim Tebow whether or not he was saving himself for marriage."

Stuff Only I Care About

Cheap shots or big hits: Sometimes the difference is an inch (George Schroeder)
"But that doesn’t make the Boise State players guilty of more than bad decisions. Things happen very fast on the field. We could keep linking to big hits, and debating what makes one a highlight and the other a cheap shot. The difference is very, very small—an instant, or an inch."

Men are from Athens, women are from Knoxville (Holly)
"So about a year ago, Swindle and I sat down to discuss the intricacies of makin' love out of college football season. At the time, I was dating a Lakers fan who had no interest in college ball. That didn't end well, you'll recall, but I scored a pretty sweet upgrade a few months later. And now that our relationship is more of a relationship and less of an elaborate inside joke, I find I've grown attached to the guy and I'd kind of like to keep him around. So, we have here two parties, both feverishly invested in the game, but with cheering interests that diverge and converge with equal passion. For our benefit and yours, this will be our survival guide from the bedroom to the stadium for 2009."

Men are from Athens, women are from Knoxville (Doug)
"Continuing the in-depth discussion of maintaining a relationship in the face of seemingly insurmountable football loyalties started here. Not tellin' anybody else how to live their lives, of course, but if you're having to manage a mixed marriage this season, you need to set some ground rules, and ours may at least provide you with a decent starting point."

Syracuse Football Hurts, Dougmarrone Can Help (Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician)
"When you need help, it's not always easy to ask, or even to know where to look. Direct from TNIAAM Studios, I give you the answers you seek."

Faulkner Character, Georgia Bulldog, or Signer of the Declaration of Independence? (Dawg Sports)
"Are Bulldogs fans adequately prepared for football season? Take the Dawg Sports pop quiz to see if you can distinguish Georgia players from William Faulkner characters and signers of the Declaration of Independence."

The Pac-10 better bring its "A" game (Conquest Chronicles)
"I still have no idea how or why USC's success affects the other nine schools so negatively. It is not USC's fault if the other schools can't keep up with USC. Every other coach in the Pac-10 has the same chance and regardless of resources things pretty much balance out. USC can't sign 'em all...It is what you do with your talent regardless what the talent is. Prime example is Oregon St. Stanford is going to be a sleeper too by the way."

Ten Questions For Texas Football: (2) We're Texas (Burnt Orange Nation)
"Everything we've seen from this team in the eight months since, including, perhaps, the team slogan, suggests Mack Brown and his squad are anything but satisfied with last season's success, and hell no they're not interested in playing the victim. Instead they went home pissed off, licked their wounds, and then furiously went to work channeling that anger into becoming better, faster, stronger, smarter. The giant that is Texas football has been awake for some time; now it's angry."

Do the Sabres Rely on Special Teams? (Die By The Blade)
"We all know that special teams are a real big part of winning hockey games. We also know the Buffalo Sabres were pretty good last year on the power play and the penalty kill. At one point late in the season the Sabres were in the top five in both categories. They eventually finished seventh on the power play and 14th on the penalty kill."

DirecTV, Versus war escalates (Puck Daddy)
"Both DirecTV and Comcast, which owns Versus, are engaging in separate public relations campaigns as subscribers suddenly face a world without buck-hunting, cage-fighting and occasional NHL hockey conveniently available on the same network. DirecTV claims the dispute is over Comcast "demanding renewal terms that did not reflect market value for the channel but also demanding carriage terms that were discriminatory.""

Whole Foods is coming OKC…NOT…MAYBE (The Lost Ogle)
"I’m having trouble identifying the bigger story here. Is it Channel 9 getting the story wrong, or OKC Biz actually reporting news? Seriously, OKC Biz is a pretty magazine and all that, but it seems like the only "news" it publishes are articles about social media experts and day-in-the-life diaries of people more boring and more self important than you. I’m pretty sure it also publishes one of those "ADVERTISE WITH US!" 40 Under 40 lists."

The Virginia Tech Preview: Tide Offense v. Hokie Defense

outsidethesidelines — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:00:18 -0000

Editor's Note: This will be the first installment in a four-piece series that will give an in-depth preview of the individual unit match-ups, as well as a special teams preview, and finally ending on Friday with a final wrap-up before the two teams face off on Saturday night.

The Virginia Tech Defense

Longtime Hokie DC Bud Foster

It goes without saying that the reputation of the "Lunch Pail Defense" precedes itself. Few programs in all of college football can boast a defense that has been as consistently successful as the Hokies have been over such a long period of time. No consultation of the statistical indexes is needed to understand that Virginia Tech is annually one of the best defensive units in the country, and the accomplishments of that group are highly impressive over the years. It's a unit that is generally near the top of the country in terms of scoring defense and total defense each and every year, consistently producing big plays, and with over 30 players drafted under the leadership of defensive coordinator Bud Foster, it's fair to say that there is a solid pipeline running straight from the Hokie defense to the NFL. Perhaps even more impressive, during Foster's era in Blacksburg, there has been at least one defensive player each and every year to earn All-American honors.

And, of course, the backbone of the Hokie defense is the aforementioned Bud Foster, the long time Tech defensive coordinator. It goes without saying that this is not an attempt to undermine Frank Beamer in any way, but nevertheless the Hokies have won a lot of games this decade, and it generally hasn't been a prolific offense leading them to victory. No, it's been an outstanding defense, and Foster is at the center of that. The 50-year old Murray State alum became defensive coordinator in 1995, at the ripe old age of 36, and has been an institution in Blacksburg ever since. The Broyles Award is given annually to the top assistant coach in the country, with Foster winning it in 2006, and no other assistant coach in the country has been chosen as a finalist as many times as he has. With such a long reputation of success, Foster could have easily had his pick of many good head coaching jobs, but he has opted to stay at Virginia Tech, and in all fairness he may very well be the best pure defensive coordinator in the country.

As a unit, the Hokies are a very aggressive defense, and Foster himself is very open and honest about wanting to dictate the flow of the game to the offense instead of vice versa. Underlying this aggressive defense is a unit that is built on speed, and one that not so secretly sacrifices size for speed. If you look at the Virginia Tech defensive line, it's a small unit. Many of their defensive ends are 250 pounds and under, and some of their interior players are 280 pounds and under. Likewise, the linebacker corps is light as well, with more than a few players barely hovering above the 200 pound limit. All told, the average size of the defensive line is around 267 pounds and the average size of the linebacker corps is around 220 pounds. By comparison, the Alabama defensive line averages around 300 pounds, and the linebackers almost 250. Tech defensive ends would be playing Jack linebacker at Alabama, and Rolando McClain, if he transferred to Virginia Tech, would instantly be a defensive end. To be sure, some of those disparities are a result in the different type of player needed for the 4-3 and the 3-4, but that alone doesn't explain the disparity in its entirety. Again, it's a unit that is built on speed, and one that openly sacrifices size for speed in the front seven.

The end result of a defense so heavily reliant on speed is about what you would expect. They are very quick, and running east and west on this unit isn't easy. Moreover, because of the overall speed -- and the general level of hustle consistently displayed by this group -- they tend to pursue well downfield, and the short-yardage quickness does allow them to make more than their fair share of tackles for loss in the running game. Moreover, it goes without saying that the speed first approach means that they are particularly a dangerous team rushing the quarterback off the edge. On the other hand, though, the lack of size does have it's drawbacks, particularly against big, powerful teams who -- when playing technically sound football up front -- can then generally have their way with the relatively light Hokies.

Also, before moving any further, a couple of position specific points should be addressed with regard to their impact on the Hokie defense, and these positions are, in Foster's parlance, the Whip linebacker, the rover, and the boundary corner. The Whip linebacker is an outside linebacker that functions in many ways like Nick Saban's Jack linebacker, playing to the wide side of the field -- the "field" side in Foster's terminology. The Whip linebacker generally plays zone coverage against the pass, but Foster loves to get creative with him and use him as an edge rusher against the passer, and also as a key player in run blitzes. The boundary corner plays to the short side of the field and is almost always locked in man coverage -- as opposed to the field corner, who plays the wide side and is more zone oriented -- and that position has a bit of a special place in Foster's lore because of the quality of players who have been given that designation. Finally, the rover is a hybrid safety player who is generally given a good bit of free reign, and one that has large responsibilities against both the pass and the run.

The Hokie Defense: A Critical Look

That glowing description of the Hokie defense notwithstanding, no defensive unit is perfect, and the Hokies are no different. Every defensive unit has flaws and weaknesses, and the same thing goes for this group as well. On the surface the Virginia Tech defense was outstanding last year, just looking at the major statistical categories, but if you dig deeper you begin to see that there is more than initially meets the eye.

In the passing game, the Hokies finished last year a solid 28th in the country in passing efficiency defense, but as is usually the case, things aren't necessarily so simple. The entire QB rating statistic has many detractors, shortcomings, and legitimate criticisms, and by analyzing the quality of pass defense based solely on opponent QB rating allows those statistical shortcomings to bleed through, and you can make a valid case that that happens when you look at the Hokies' defense.

Looking beyond the 28th placed ranking in passing efficiency defense, things quickly aren't so rosy. Truth be told, passing effiency defense isn't the best way to analyze the quality of a pass defense, the best way to do that is to look at yards per passing attempt (the favored pass defense statistic of many defensive gurus), and by that metric the Hokies really struggled a year ago, allowing roughly 7.14 yards per passing attempt. That number, in fact, put the Hokies at only 77th in the nation. And things were actually even much worse when you consider yards per completion. By that metric, the Hokies allowed 13.54 yards per completion, "good" for only 111th in the country out of 119 Division 1-A teams.

And much of the same criticism can be made of the Virginia Tech run defense as well. It, too, looks good based on the fact that the Hokies finished 14th in the country in rushing defense, but again it becomes a bit suspect the closer you look. The Hokies were a great pass rushing team a year ago (more on that later), and of course yardage and attempts lost as a result of sacks are, thanks to the methodology currently used, counted towards rushing statistics, even though they are really passes. For a great pass rushing team like that Hokies, that arbitrarily makes the run defense look more impressive than it really is. If you factor out the sacks, however, the Hokies 1735 yards on 416 carries, thus allowing about 4.1 yards per carry, not an overly impressive number. Moreover, the Hokies were great at stopping running games behind the line, posting 65 tackles for loss on running downs, and when you factor out those numbers, suddenly the average jumps to about 5.2 yards per carry. Bottom line, when the Hokies were not able to use their outstanding quickness to shoot the gaps and make a tackle in the backfield, their lack of size in the defensive front seven generally meant that their opponents were able to have their way in the running game.

Furthermore, just looking at the data, the Hokies were a team that was generally pretty good at limiting the run to a degree, but not a very good one at stopping the run outright. Even leaving the sack totals into the raw rushing statistics -- which again arbitrarily inflates the quality of their actual run defense -- eight teams rushed for over 100 yards against the Hokies last year, and only three times did the Hokies keep an opponent under 60 rushing yards (and one of those times came against Division 1-AA Furman). By comparison, only two teams cracked the 100 yard barrier against the Tide (one of which was national champion Florida), and Alabama held eight teams to 60 yards or fewer.

What all of this describes is a defense that was generally a good one, but one that became far too reliant on the big play. As mentioned earlier, the Hokies rushed the passer with great success by generating 35 sacks on only 343 passing attempts, giving them an adjusted sack rate of 10.3%, one of the highest in the country. Likewise, by racking up 65 tackles for loss on only 416 carries, Tech averaged a tackle for a loss on about 15.6% of all running downs, a number right on par with what the Alabama run defense posted. Furthermore, even more impressive, by snagging 20 interceptions on only 343 passing attempts, the Hokies were #1 in the country last year in interception rate at 5.81%. And, again, in a sense that's really the problem, they were far too reliant on those big plays. Yes they were generating sacks, tackles for loss, and interceptions in great numbers, but when they weren't doing that they were really struggling as a unit. When they didn't stop tailbacks behind the line, they were giving up well over five yards per pop. And when they weren't able to sack the quarterback or snag an interception, they were giving up over seven yards per passing attempt, and almost more yardage per completion than just about any other team in the country.

And that's the Virginia Tech defense in a nutshell. They are a fine coached unit that is very fast and that plays very hard. They can use their speed to kill you in more ways than one, and they have generally been successful. On the other hand, they are a unit that relies heavily on the big play, and if you as an offense can limit those big defensive plays, you suddenly find yourself facing a unit that you can have a good deal of success against.

The Alabama Offense

No one could have imagined the impact that Jim McElwain would have on the Alabama offense when he arrived a year ago from Fresno State. Most people liked what he had done in the valley, but no one expected that he could come in and immediately turn the Tide's offense into one of the most productive seen in Tuscaloosa in ages. But, of course, football is a constantly renewing game, and each team and each opponent is different from year-to-year, so you must constantly re-prove your merits, and in real terms that means that the accomplishments of 2008 for the Alabama offense are, for all intents and purposes, ancient history. Despite the return of the coaching staff, this is a new offensive unit, and many key faces are missing from a year ago. And considering that in the post-Bryant era, Alabama offenses have rarely been anything particularly special, it indeed is something that we will have to prove all over again in 2009.

Tide OC Jim McElwain

And, oddly enough, as much as we would probably like to think we know the generalities of McElwain and the method to his madness, there is in all actuality a high degree of uncertainty with regard to this offense. In all honesty, who are we? What are we going to do, and exactly how are we going to put points on the board? Can anyone here legitimately answer those questions? I, for one, cannot. And if you think you can, I suggest you head to Vegas.

I know who Bud Foster is, and I know what the Virginia Tech defense is about. Foster as a coordinator has a particular scheme in place that, while obviously changing in some regards, in many ways remains the same. In a sense he and his defense are known commodities. We know the type of player he is looking for, and we generally know how he likes to use particular players and skill sets. We know, generally speaking, what they need to do in order to be successful within their system, and we generally know how they are trying to go about playing winning football. But we know none of those things, really, when it comes to McElwain, aside from the absolute rudimentary basics.

Of course the easy answer -- and in all fairness, perhaps even the correct answer for 2009 -- is that we will try to replicate the basic strategy employed a year ago: physically dominate our opponents in the trenches in the running game, run it right down their throats, and only throw the football when and where we want to. But the problem with that is that there is no guarantee that the pre-requisites needed to be in place in order to do that will once again be there in 2009. Again, teams change, and many of the key faces that powered such an attack no longer reside in Tuscaloosa. Furthermore, it's almost impossible to overstate how difficult it is to consistently execute such an attack, and how little we threw the football last year... we probably threw the football fewer times last year than any non-option-based SEC team has seen in ages. Thus, even though that's the easy answer, that's not necessarily to say the correct answer.

And making matters more intriguing is McElwain himself and the way the team has conducted itself thus far. With regard to McElwain, In 2007 at Fresno State, his offensive attack operated generally out of the shotgun and threw the football heavily. And back when he was offensive coordinator at Montana State in the mid-1990's, he threw the ball all over the place there too. One way or the other, as a former quarterback, it's hard to say that McElwain is, at his core, anything over than a guy who generally likes to air it out. And moreover, regarding the team thus far, in the A-Day game we operated heavily out of the shotgun and threw the football a great deal. Likewise, in the two scrimmages this Fall, we have relied heavily on the passing attack. Sure the passing game generally needs more work in scrimmages, and yes coaches like to use it more because it can help cut down on injuries a bit, but at some point you have to say that we are working so heavily on the passing game because we actually want to throw the football more.

Moreover, you can just get ready for it, sooner or later the Alabama offense is changing. Nick Saban, sitting on his proverbial throne at 100 Bryant Drive, wants a balanced attack, and it's only a matter of time before we get that balanced attack. And regardless of how productive last year's unit was, it was the antithesis of balanced, so that way of life won't last much longer (if any longer). Rest assured, we aren't recruiting elite pocket passer quarterbacks and high-end receivers galore just so we can suddenly channel our inner Woody Hayes come Saturday afternoon. Ultimately, this isn't even a question of debate, it's a question of the particular specifics of an evolutionary timeframe. We were a very run-heavy attack last year, but we will eventually be a balanced attack. Period. The only question is just how far we will be along our evolutionary path in 2009.

With Julio taking hand offs and talk of a secret Wildcat package, just what will the Tide offense look like this year?

And, again, it could mean that our offensive attack in 2009 could be different than what many expect. It may very well not be as run heavy as many think. The passing game may very well play a more enhanced role. Furthermore, going away from the conservative route, with end arounds to Maze, hand-offs to Julio, and talk of Trent Richardson running the Wildcat, we are seemingly looking to find unique ways within the offense in order to get the ball into the hands of the ever growing amount of high-end athletes that roam Tuscaloosa. And, consider the resurgence of Terry Grant. Most had him set to transfer after going incognito last year, but he returned and has done so well that he's now listed as the #2 tailback on the depth chart. Given his lack of power and size, Grant had no real place in last year's power-driven, smashmouth offense, so what does his resurgence tell us? Among other things, it indicates that the offense itself is changing... he wasn't the right type of physical player last year to get a spot, and if things were staying the same he should be riding the pine this year too, yet obviously he has found at least some role. All the more evidence to think that the scheme is changing.

Either way, things are changing in Tuscaloosa, we just don't know by how much just yet. So, who are we as an offense? I really cannot answer that.

The 'Bama Offense: A Critical Look

While we cannot say exactly what the Alabama offense will be like in 2009, what we can do is analyze the more specific components of the offense and find our their strengths and weaknesses. And with many starters returning from last year's offense, much of the individual components of the offense are fairly well known commodities coming into the season. Mark Ingram should be a slight upgrade over what he was a year ago... a power runner with good speed, and improved pass blocking abilities. Julio Jones, if healthy, will be almost a lock for the All-America teams. Mike Johnson should continue to be a high-end guard, and Drew Davis should continue to be an adequate right tackle. Colin Peek, despite having never played for the Tide, is an experienced player and should be an above average tight end if he can remain healthy. Players like Mike McCoy, Earl Alexander, Brad Smelley, Marquis Maze, and others were all solid players a year ago, and they should continue to develop accordingly as their respective careers progress. Again, those players are relatively well known commodities at this point.

The real question is regarding the replacement players for those now gone from the 2008 team that looked to be replaced by new faces. Specifically, that means the loss of Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell, Marlon Davis, and John Parker Wilson. And by this point, at least, we know who those replacements will be -- respectively, James Carpenter, William Vlachos, Barrett Jones, and Greg McElroy -- so we can at least get a pretty good idea of exactly what to expect in regard to their performance.

LT James Carpenter

James Carpenter will probably play at a pretty high level at left tackle. He has the prototypical frame of a left tackle, good athleticism, considerable time in the system now, and he was a highly pursued recruit by two of the national powers looking for him to start immediately (Oklahoma being the other). He won't be Andre Smith, but he should be a pretty high quality left tackle in his own right, and likely the best we've had in a while not named Andre Smith. And, to a lesser extent, the same likely goes for William Vlachos at center. He's not a superstar, but his lack of height makes it almost impossible to get underneath him, and that combined with his strength makes him a great drive-blocker which is really what Saban apparently wants in a center in the first place. The real linchpin of it all, though, is Barrett Jones at right guard, and frankly any projection on him is going to be nothing more than an outright guess at this point.

It should be noted that the offensive line, in particular, remains a major concern moving forward into 2009. For all of our smashmouth abilities last year in the running game, we still really struggled to protect the passer. Our adjusted sack rate was near the bottom of the SEC again, and edge rushers still gave us lots of problems even with Andre Smith in the lineup. It's hard to see that really improving in 2009 with Smith in Cincinnati, and if the 2009 line loses the ability to consistently manhandle opposing defensive lines in the running game -- something that can easily go away with just one weak link in the line -- then the line as a whole may very well turn into a net liability for the Tide, dragging the entire offense down with it.

Greg McElroy, obviously, remains the x-factor that will have the biggest impact on the Tide. The hope, of course, is that McElroy turns out to be a great player who plays well regardless of what is surrounding him. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to be the case, and McElroy's performance, more than anything else, will likely be a function of the performance of the supporting cast surrounding him. That could be either good news or bad news, depending on how the rest of the team develops. Moreover, questions remain about McElroy's ability to not beat ourselves. John Parker Wilson did that last year -- though in all fairness, he had a bit of luck helping him on the way, as some opponents dropped a couple of relatively easy, potentially game-changing interceptions -- but only time will tell if McElroy can do that this year. It goes without saying that avoiding really bad plays is effectively the same as making really good plays.

Now, in all fairness, when you put it all together, it's hard to see this Alabama offense being a bad one, based on the individual components. We've got a potential All-American at wide receiver, a backfield loaded with star tailbacks, plenty of other high-end athletes for the skill positions, an above average tight end, and at least three or perhaps four good, quality offensive linemen. That's enough to score more than a few points, but again it becomes a question of degree determined by the performances of the new faces. You can take that core group, add good contributions from the newcomers, and get a very good offense. On the other hand, you can take that core group and add some struggles from the newcomers, and suddenly you find yourself with a very middling offense. That distinction alone can easily be the difference between an 11-1 team and an 8-4 team.

And that is really all that we can safely say about or offense moving into this year. Unlike the Foster defense, or the Alabama defense for that matter, the Alabama offense doesn't really fit nicely into a little predictive blurb. We do not know how good it will ultimately be, nor do we really know what form it will take.

What To Look For

So, all things considered, how do things look to play out on Saturday night?

First and foremost, Bud Foster has a bit of an old school mindset as a defensive coordinator, one that places a great emphasis on stopping the run. Mix that with his very open intent to dictate the flow of the game to the offense -- and not the other way around -- and I think you can fairly expect Foster to make his first order of business stopping the Alabama running game. In this game a year ago, Alabama controlled the line of scrimmage from the opening kick-off with a power running game. The Hokies, though, won't let us go easily into that good night for a second year in a row. Their defense is again a small one, built on speed at the expense of size, so if we can get a helmet on a helmet, that's a match-up we ought to win more often than not. Thus, expect Foster to really dial up the run blitzes early, especially with Whip linebacker Cody Grimm, and to also keep the rover near the line of scrimmage for help in run support.

And, of course, if the Hokies can have some success stopping the Alabama running game on early downs, thus getting the Tide into some obvious passing situations, you know Foster and company have to be dying to find out what Greg McElroy is made of. The Hokie defense itself is largely built to take advantage of teams facing obvious passing situations, but the pressure will be even more so for McElroy, especially with the new faces on the offensive line. As mentioned earlier, the Virginia Tech defense is one that has come to rely heavily on the big play, and you know that McElroy is an inexperienced quarterback to whom the Hokies will be doing everything in their power to force him into making a big, negative play.

On the other hand, this approach by Foster and the Virginia Tech defense does present more than a few opportunities for the Tide, particularly in the early stages of the game. If you can say that Virginia Tech will bring the rover near the line of scrimmage and that they will want to -- and perhaps have to -- dial up a high dosage of run blitzes on early downs in order to shut down the Alabama running game, that correspondingly opens up opportunities for big plays in the passing game. Receivers will then likely see a lot of man coverage with little safety help on the outside, and likewise a good tight end like Colin Peek can also have a big day under such circumstances, particularly with play action. Now, to be sure, it goes without saying that doing this will be a very high risk/ high reward strategy, and one that could just as easily backfire on the Tide. Running the ball straight into the line and playing it safe may very well be the smart thing to do -- yes it will likely result in some three and outs, but with the quality of our defense, trading punts isn't necessarily a bad thing -- and avoiding big, negative plays is arguably priority #1 for the Crimson Tide offense. Nevertheless, this preview would be incomplete if it was not mentioned that the possibility exists for the 'Bama coaching staff to try to make some big plays early in the passing game.

Man coverage down field with no safety help spells M-A-Z-E-T-D.

The Virginia Tech boundary corner position also needs to be kept in mind. As opposed to the "field" corner, which is generally stashed on the far side of field with more help from the safety -- and with the quarterback having to make longer throws in his direction -- the Tech boundary corner position spends most of his time in man coverage with little or no safety help, and the position always features the Hokies best corner. And the position has produced a long line of future NFL players, going back to DeAngelo Hall, Jimmy Williams, Brandon Flowers, and most recently Macho Harris. With Harris now in the NFL, that job will fall to senior Stephan Virgin in 2009, and he looks to continue the Hokies' history of high play at the position. Nevertheless, though, it does create the possibility for Alabama to make some plays in the passing game. I doubt Julio Jones will see man coverage -- they'll probably combo him most of the time, and despite general thinking to the contrary, the defense's #1 cornerback generally does not cover the offense's #1 wide receiver anywhere near as much as you would probably expect -- but some Alabama receiver will, and with the Tide's depth at the position, someone will be getting an opportunity to make some big plays in space.

At the end of the day, the biggest single match-up in this game, however, will be Alabama offensive line versus the Virginia Tech front seven, and whichever side wins the majority of those battles will probably have an edge when the clock reads 0:00. And in terms of protecting the passer, this really is not what the Tide wanted to see. Again, we struggled to protect the passer last year, and with three linemen gone, it's a major concern. And now we start the year against a team with great edge rushing abilities and a lot of small, speed pass rushers, so it's far from an ideal scenario. Defensive end Jason Worilds will be playing in the NFL next year, and at 6'2 and around 260 pounds, he's a dangerous player. He has the speed and quickness to beat people on the outside, but he uses his hands well and his fluid hip movement allows him to quickly change direction in route to the quarterback. Starting opposite Worilds is Nekos Brown, and while Brown isn't the caliber of player that Worilds is, by tipping the scales at only about 235 pounds, he's a player with great quickness who will be tough to handle off the edge, if nothing else. Likewise, the same thing goes for the back-ups, Chris Drager and Stephen Friday, both weighing in the 240 pound range. It all presents a daunting task for the Tide, and one that will definitely require very solid play in pass protection by backs and the tight ends.

Finding a way to neutralize the Whip linebacker will also be key. As mentioned earlier, Foster loves to use him as a rusher, and keeping him out of the backfield will be an absolute necessity for the Tide. Normally the Hokies have co-starters at the Whip position, but injuries have made that a bit more difficult. The two normal co-starters at the position are Cam Martin and Cody Grimm -- Grimm was second in the ACC last year in tackles for loss, trailing only teammate Jason Worilds -- but Martin has been slowed by a knee injury. He underwent knee surgery at the end of last season to, in part, repair a torn PCL, and that caused him to miss all of Spring practice. He is back this Fall, but the knee has not healed completely, and it has turned into a lingering issue that has caused him to miss some time this Fall as well. Bud Foster said last Friday, eight days ago, that, "Right now, Cam Martin is not full-speed. He’s getting better. Right now, if we can get 15 good plays out of him a game early, that would be great for us." So it looks like while Martin will play some, he won't play much, and he'll be far from 100% when he does. That will help the Tide in a sense that it gets redshirt freshman Jeron Gouveia-Winslow on the field a bit more -- a player Foster opently stated was still a year away where from he needed to be physically -- but even so you're still going to have to find a way to stop Grimm. As mentioned earlier, the Alabama backs and tight ends are going to have to pass block especially well to help neutralize a player like Grimm, and the Whip position in general.

That said, worries in the passing game notwithstanding, the opportunities are there aplenty in the running game if we can just get things opened up slightly. John Graves (6'3 and 277) and Cordarrow Thompson (6'1 and 301) start on the interior defensive line, and they are smaller players who Alabama's interior offensive line -- in particular Mike Johnson -- should do well against. Likewise, there are some other new faces in the Hokie linebacker corps in Barquell Rivers and Jake Johnson, and again you have to like how we match up there. Again, if we can consistently get a helmet on a helmet, we have an advantage in the running game, one that we shouldn't have any great deal of difficulty exploiting with the number of high-end tailbacks on the roster.

The real problem in the running game, however, will be getting to that point. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Foster will not just give us the run, we're going to have to earn it. He'll use numbers and run blitzes to shut us down on the ground. And in real terms that means Greg McElroy will eventually have to make some plays in the passing game to open things up -- and in so doing the Alabama offensive line will have to keep him upright and out from under duress. If McElroy can consistently hit some good gains in the passing game, without making the big negative plays, the Hokies will have to retreat and the Alabama offensive line will largely be able to have their way with the Hokie front seven, thus leading to a lot of production in the running game. On the other hand, if McElroy struggles to throw the football -- and, if worse, makes some big mistakes -- the Hokies will keep the Alabama running game in check with numbers and run blitzes, and it will be a long night in Atlanta for the Tide.

And that is the match-up in a nutshell. 'Bama should be able to run the ball well against the Hokies, but Foster will bring numbers and dial-up the run blitzes to stop it. That, mixed with his players quickness, will likely most the Tide's running game not very productive. To counter that, the Tide will have to make some plays in the passing game, and we'll have to get the job done keeping the Hokies furious pass rush at bay. If we do that the running game will come to life, and it will be a big night for the 'Bama offense, mixed with a very likely victory. On the other hand, if we struggle in the passing game, Tech will take away the run, and the Hokie faithful will be having plenty to cheer about with the Tide struggling to move the football all night long. And Alabama will be left having to hope that the Crimson Tide defense is every bit as good as it has been billed to be in order to salvage hopes of pulling out the victory.

Bourbon Shots: I May Have Been Wrong About Carmichael Edition

furrer4heisman — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:00:11 -0000

Hokies

Carmichael Impressive Early (Kyle Tucker)
The Hokies need to find a solid field cornerback during preseason practice. And though I was initially skeptical, it looks like Rashad Carmichael is going to turn into one. Kyle Tucker from the Virginian-Pilot has this observation:

Rashad Carmichael, who the Hokies really need to step up and prove he’s a dependable starter at field corner, looked great in what little I noticed. He jumped a Tyrod Taylor pass to the sideline on what would’ve been a pick-six if it were a game-like situation. Later, he locked down Dyrell Roberts, blanketing him on a slant route and swatting the pass away.

Tucker also has a few notes on speed. Freshmen David Wilson and Nubian Peak impressed him and he thinks either one could return kicks. Frank Beamer also plans on putting fast, tall guys on the punt block team in Marcus Davis, Xavier Boyce, Jarrett Boykin an DJ Coles.

There are also plenty of quotes from offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring and defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Stinespring said TE Sam Wheeler, who tore his ACL in 2007, is finally at full speed. Foster said Whip LB Cam Martin is still getting back into football shape. This could open the door for wild man Cody Grimm, who split time with Martin at the position last year.

Brooks vs. Cody (Norm Wood)
Wood, from the Newport News Daily Press, talks to sophomore offensive guard Jaymes Brooks about his upcoming matchup against Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody. The second start of Brooks' career will also be in his second nationally televised game. But there's a big difference between blocking Cincy's quick defensive line and Alabama's Mt. Cody.

"I'd rather block a quicker guy than a bigger guy," Brooks said. "A bigger guy will lean on you more and try to wear you out. I'm going to have to get out there and move my feet better (against Cody)."

Brooks, center Beau Warren and guard Sergio Render will be the three Hokies primarily responsible for keeping Cody in check (well, as much in check as you can keep Terrence Cody).

Williams in Wild Turkey Mix (Nathan Warters)
"Tommie Frazier" reports freshman running back Ryan Williams could end up taking snaps out of the Wild Turkey formation this year. This would be similar to what Arkansas did with Darren McFadden in 2007. He also has notes on offensive line depth, David Wilson being a much better person than I and Virginia Tech becoming Defensive End U.

Confident Taylor Ready to Lead (Bill Roth)
Tyrod Taylor turned into the Hokies' leader at the end of 2009. He enters his first full season as "the guy" more confident with himself and the players around him.

ACC and Opponents

The Girls of VT (From The Rumble Seat)
Winfield continues FTRS's series on girls from opposing schools. He's finally reached Virginia Tech. All girls look better in Orange and Maroon.

Doomsday Scenario: Chris Turner Goes Down (Testudo Times)
If Chris Turner got hurt, would Maryland fans be comfortable with Jamarr Robinson? Maryland has had a QB get hurt almost every year since 2003.

August 9th Practice Notes (Roll 'Bama Roll)
Notes on the incoming freshman class, an injury update, the No. 2 QB battle that the Tide is also concerned with, a couple of position changes and a tragedy in the Alabama football family.

Could the Gator Bowl be Looking Elsewhere? (Clempson Football)
There could be a change in the ACC's No. 3 bowl. But if the Gator thinks its going to get the No. 3 or No. 4 SEC team, it may be in for a surprise.

Young Cane RBs Competing for Carries (Canespace)
Lamar Miller and Mike James are pushing current co-starters Javaris James and Graig Cooper for playing time in Miami. Also, Dedrick Epps is back from a knee injury and new OC Mark Whipple has Canes fans optimistic about their offense.

Kickoff Bonus: East Carolina (Joe Ovies)
A fast start to 2008 and 16 returning starters have the Pirates thinking about a BCS bowl. However, its Jekyll and Hyde defense will need to be more consistent.

Stuff Only I Care About

Ducks' Expectations Similar to Hokies' (George Schroeder)
Oregon won its last four games, including a bowl and lost a lot of talent on defense. Sounds familiar. And like Frank Beamer, Chip Kelly is trying to both sound confident and keep expectations realistic.

Echoing Through the Hall (The Goose's Roost)
From Blacksburg to Buffalo, they're cheering Bruce's entrance to the Hall of Fame. Maybe the most disruptive defensive lineman to ever play the game.

Ortiz Didn't Use Steroids, but was "Careless" (Over the Monster)
I really hope Papi's telling the truth. Of course, I rarely believe any baseball player when they say they didn't use steroids these days.

Keep an Eye on the New SEC Media Policy. (Rocky Top Talk)
The SEC has implemented a new media policy. It will have an immediate impact on how fans and bloggers interact during the game. The new rule that stands out to me is the one outlawing photos at games, including cell phone pictures.

Marketing the Coyotes' 2009-10 Season (From The Rink)
The Coyotes president, chief operating officer and alternate governor since 2002, Doug Moss is charged with attempting to market and sell tickets for a team in the midst of an ugly bankruptcy fight and which could be playing a lame duck season.

Patrick Kane in Custody (The Goose's Roost)
The mancrush allegedly beat up a cab driver over $0.20. WTF?

Matchups That Matter: Virginia Tech's Bud Foster vs. Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson

furrer4heisman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:27 -0000

Matchups That Matter will run occasionally this offseason looking at personnel of our opponents and what the Hokies need to do to stop them. Today we look at how the Hokies match up against Georgia Tech's version of the flexbone offense.

The Hokies had a lot of things go right for them in last year's game against Georgia Tech. The trip to Blacksburg was the Yellow Jackets' third game running Paul Johnson's offense. It also saw GT quarterback Josh Nesbitt commit three turnovers, including two fumbles and the Hokies benefit from two personal foul penalties on its final scoring drive.

The turnovers and the penalties took some of the headlines away from what the Hokies were able to accomplish on defense. They did an excellent job of staying disciplined and playing assignment football to keep the Yellow Jackets out of the end zone until just under midway through the fourth quarter.

Tech's Success

The Hokies got outstanding play from its defensive tackles, especially John Graves and Demetrius Taylor. They were often able to anticipate the Yellow Jackets' snap count and get inside penetration to prevent Nesbitt from making the inside handoff to Jonathan Dwyer.

Virginia Tech 20, Georgia Tech 17 - Game Film (VT Hokie Fans)

Dwyer finished the day with 28 yards on 10 carries with a long of 10 yards. The Hokies also did a good job of playing the pitch man and making Nesbitt be the one to beat them.

Bud Foster told Athlon Sports before the spring that taking the fullback out of the game and forcing Nesbitt to run the ball more may have led to the turnovers.

"Unless they're hitting on all cylinders they're going to turn the ball over. We were able to take the fullback out of it and make the quaterback make all the reads and all the pitches."

In the first half, Georgia Tech ran a lot of option plays to the boundary side of the field. This is the short side of the field where boundary corner Macho Harris and whip linebackers Cam Martin and Cody Grimm play. That side of the field features Tech's best run-stopping cornerback and linebackers.

When the Yellow Jackets ran more option plays to the field side of the field in the second half they had more success. These plays gave Nesbitt more space and had him going against Stephan Virgil and Purnell Sturdivant, who were making the third starts of their careers.

Nesbitt finished the day with 151 yards on 28 carries, his most of the season. He also scored the Jackets' lone TD on an 18 yard run in the fourth quarter.

Dwyer's output was his second-lowest of the season. He ran for 27 yards on 16 carries against Garner-Webb (!) later in the season.

What's Important in 2009

Looking at the Yellow Jackets' box scores from last season boggles the mind. You can get a feel for how up and down the team was at running Johnson's version of the flexbone. They're worst rushing output of the season came against lowly Garner-Webb. The Jackets were without Nesbitt and backup quarterback Jaybo Shaw. The offensive line struggled mightily and Georgia Tech was almost upset by the FBS upstarts.

Three of the Jackets' worst games on the ground came against Garner-Webb, Duke and Virginia. Incredible.

The Jackets had a strong day on the ground against North Carolina, racking up 326 yards. However, they committed more costly turnovers and lost, 28-7.

The key for the Hokies in 2009 will again be getting solid play from the inside players. Defensive tackles Taylor and Taco Thompson need to be able to keep Dwyer in check. He's the Jackets' home run hitter and Foster told Athlon an important thing in defending Tech's flexbone is make them get their yards in smaller chunks. Because the yards will come.

"They don't throw the ball, so you're going to get some yards running the football. You're going to get your self esteem hurt there. The key is to not allow a big play."

While Martin and Cody Grimm are both back at the whip linebacker spot, Stephan Virgil will move to the field corner. This side should be OK against option plays because Martin had a strong game last year and Virgil improved vastly as 2008 moved on.

The key will be on the field side. There's more room on that side, more space for the Jackets to maneuver and more chances for the Hokies to make mistakes. And all three non-secondary players on that side will be new for the Hokies in 2009. Barquell Rivers and Jake Johnson will be the two linebackers on that side. Both are sophomores.

The new field corner could also be a sophomore depending on who wins the job in August. It will be important for these guys to make their reads and react quickly to what Nesbitt does. Kam Chancellor's job against Georgia Tech will be even more important this year on that side of the field to keep the younger plays from making mistakes against the Jackets.

While the Hokies have now seen and been victorious against Johnson's offense, his players also have a year of running it under their belts. They will continue to improve and this year will have their fans behind them. Also, Johnson's offense won't be an exact replica of last year. Now that his players have experience with the offense, he'll be able to open the playbook more. Foster told Athlon he expects to see new tricks from Johnson.

"You're going to see him add a few more variations to the offesne - mid-line, trap and reads. You see him dabbling in other options."

He told the magazine the Hokies have been proactive and already have their Georgia Tech and the flexbone on their minds. He said he had hoped to devote an entire practice in the spring to working on the defending the option.

"We've already designed a game plan for these guys, something different than we did last year because it's such a unique offense."

As Johnson reacts to what defenses are throwing his way, so will Foster to what Johnson comes up with on Oct. 17. The game will have a big impact on the Coastal Division title. It did last year when Virginia Tech's win in Week 3 gave them it the tiebreaker that eventually sent them it to Tampa.

The chessmatch between the two coaches will be not only one of the better matchups to watch on Tech's schedule, but in the entire ACC in my opinion.