Offense
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Defense
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Depth Chart |
Further Analysis
Texas, LSU and Ohio State are examples of high powered programs that
had been knocking on the door for a while and then finally found the
right bouncer to let them into the club. Virginia Tech has five
double-digit win seasons in the last seven, but hasn't been able to
get into the national title mix since Michael Vick was around
hurt by painful losses that even the most hopeful of Hokie fans
have been able to set their watches to. Say this about Tech; when it
goes down, it makes a big splash.
Head coach: Frank Beamer
20th year: 146-79-2
26th year: 188-102-4 |
Ten
Best VT Players
1. LB Vince Hall, Jr.
2. S Aaron Rouse, Sr.
3. LB Xavier Adibi, Jr.
4. DE Chris Ellis, Jr.
5. WR/KR Eddie Royal, Jr.
6. WR David Clowney, Sr.
7. RB Branden Ore, Soph.
8. WR Josh Morgan, Jr.
9. OT Duane Brown, Jr.
10. PK Brandon Pace, Sr. |
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2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 10-2 |
|
9/2 |
Northeastern |
| 9/9 |
at North Carolina |
| 9/16 |
Duke |
| 9/23 |
Cincinnati |
|
9/30 |
Georgia Tech |
| 10/12 |
at Boston College |
| 10/21 |
Southern Miss |
| 10/26 |
Clemson |
| 11/4 |
at Miami |
|
11/11 |
Kent State |
|
11/18 |
at Wake Forest |
| 11/25 |
Virginia |
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2005
Schedule
CFN
Prediction:
9-2
2005 Record: 11-2
Preview 2005 predicted wins |
| 9/3 |
at NC State
W 20-16 |
| 9/10 |
at Duke
W 45-0 |
| 9/17 |
Ohio
W 45-0 |
| 9/24 |
Georgia Tech
W 51-7 |
| 10/1 |
at W Virginia
W 34-17 |
| 10/8 |
Marshall
W 41-14 |
| 10/20 |
at Maryland
W 28-9 |
| 10/27 |
Boston College W 30-10 |
| 11/5 |
Miami
L 27-7 |
| 11/19 |
at Virginia W 52-14 |
| 11/26 |
North Carolina
W 30-3 |
| 12/3 |
ACC Championship
Florida State L 27-22 |
| 1/2 |
Gator Bowl
Louisville W 35-24 |
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But this year has the potential to be different. This might be the
year when everyone assumes a rebuilding job must be done,
and then all of a sudden, it'll be November and the Hokies could be unbeaten
and ranked in the top five. Is this one of the five best teams in
America? Heavens no, it's probably not one of the top 15, but as the
discriminating college football fan has realized by now, it's all
about the schedule.
There's a road trip to Miami for what should be for the Coastal
Division title, but the road team has won the last two games in the
series and Tech has beaten the Canes two of the last three times.
Road trips to North Carolina and Boston College will be battles, but
let's be serious here. If the Tar Heels and the Eagles are two of
your biggest road obstacles to playing in the national title game,
you're going to be in the hunt. Of course, there are some decent home games against Georgia Tech,
Clemson and Virginia, but Tech should be favored in each game.
Does that mean Tech can't
use the nobody-believes-in-us whine that helped carry the team to the
2004 ACC title? No, because just about everyone will pick Miami, Florida
State, or even someone like Clemson, to win the championship because of
all the holes on the Hokies.
The lines will take a big hit replacing some key all-stars with unproven
talents, there isn't the running back depth of past years, and the
quarterback situation is still a question mark. That's not to say there
isn't hope for all the parts to come together, but in a league as good
as the ACC has become, everything needs to be clicking to win the title.
And, to beat this into the ground, that's where the schedule comes in.
Playing Northeastern, at North Carolina, Duke and Cincinnati should
allow the Hokies time to figure out if Sean Glennon, Cory Holt, or Ike
Whitaker will be the right quarterback to lead the team. It'll give the
defensive tackles time to get their feet wet, and allow the offensive
line to mesh
Fine, so it's asking the world for a team this flawed to play for the
national title, but once in a while, everything comes together. Don't be
shocked if this is that year for Beamer.
The
Schedule:
It'll be a major shocker if the Hokies aren't 5-0 going into a
nationally televised road trip to Boston College. This is a tailor-made
national title schedule with only one game, at Miami, that Tech is
likely to be the underdog, and there isn't another killer game to be found.
Outside of the trip to Miami, the road schedule is a light breeze
playing at North Carolina, BC and Wake Forest.
Best
Offensive Player:
Junior WR Eddie Royal. Actually, the entire receiving corps could be
here with David Clowney, Josh Morgan, Josh Hyman, and Justin Harper all
able to put up big numbers. Royal is the most dangerous of the bunch
with the best blend of moves, quickness and home-run hitting capability.
Now he has to actually produce like a big-time weapon.
Best
Defensive Player: Junior LB Vince Hall. Safety Aaron Rouse will be
among the nation's best and linebacker Xavier Adibi is a dangerous
player who could become an All-American if he can be better in
pass coverage. Hall is the heart-and-soul as the team's leading tackler
last season and a do-it-all defender who should be the ring leader of
one of the nation's top defenses.
Key player
to a successful season: Sophomore QB Sean Glennon. While he doesn't
have the upside of Cory Holt or Ike Whitaker, he's the most ready to
step in and start getting the call for opening day. The longer he's solid, the longer the other two
prospects can grow with more practice reps. With a good running game and
an elite receiving corps, there's no reason to not put up big numbers.
The season
will be a success if ... the Hokies go 10-2. The game at Miami might
mean the ACC title might be out of reach, but considering how many holes
Tech has to patch up, winning double-digit games would be a major
success.
Key game:
Nov. 4 at Miami. Assuming Tech can avoid its annual meltdown, brain
cramp game against a team like Boston College or Georgia Tech, the game
against the Canes will be for the division title with a chance to stay
in the hunt for the national championship.
2005 Fun
Stats:
- Fourth quarter scoring: Virginia Tech 123 - Opponents 30
- Rushing touchdowns: Virginia Tech 30 - Opponents 6
- Time of possession: Virginia Tech 32:37 - Opponents 27:23
The Last Time Virginia Tech…
…played in a bowl game…2005 (Gator Bowl vs. Louisville)
…missed a bowl game…1992
…pitched a shutout…2005 (Ohio)
…was shutout…1995 (Cincinnati)
…scored 50 points…2005 (Virginia)
…went undefeated…1954
…won a conference title…2004 (ACC)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…1972 (Don Strock)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2003 (Kevin Jones)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…never
…had a first-round draft choice…2004 (CB DeAngelo Hall and RB Kevin
Jones)