VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES 2002 PRESEASON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
(Game Eleven)
2001 Record: 8-4, 2001 Big East Conference Record: 4-3
Dubious Distinctions: Since 1950, the Virginia Tech Hokies have never defeated a team that has finished among the AP top 10.
Stellar Stats: Virginia Tech is one of 9 teams who have played in a bowl game each of the last 9 years.
OVERVIEW
“Competition, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the starship “Beamerball”. Its mission, to seek out teams actually with winning records, to explore college football stadiums outside of the MAC, to boldly go where no Hokie has gone before. “Come on, it was a little funny. Now first, let’s give credit where credit is due. You don’t average 8-9 wins a year, play in 9 straight bowl games and win 2 Big East Conference titles if your not doing something right. And for 2002, Virginia Tech has put together a schedule that they can actually brag about in the media guide.
That said, the Virginia Tech athletic administration, their coaching staff and fan faithful have had to endure in the opinion of this writer some justified criticism over the last decade for their seeming unwillingness to schedule meaningful opposition (Our beloved Hoos being the notable exception). For those of us who have scoffed at the Hokie trepidation at scheduling top 25 opposition out of conference and for those who have intimated that it wouldn’t have mattered if the men in burnt orange and maroon were playing Texas A & M or Southwest Louisiana State, they’d still be winning 8-9 games a year, I guess we’ll find out who’s right.
Last season, until a visit from the Syracuse Orangemen, over confident Virginia Tech fans were booking hotels and airfare to Pasadena for a trip to the Bowl Championship Series National Title Game in the Rose Bowl. The Hokies lost to the ‘Cuse in Blacksburg and went on to dropped three of their last five games after a 6-0 start last year including a 30-17 setback to Florida State in the Gator Bowl.
Entering preseason practice, the major areas of concern are at quarterback, wide receiver and the interior of the front seven on defense where the linebackers and tackles are talented but untested. The Hokies must replace 11 starters, including six on defense. The losses on the defensive side took away top reserves as well as experienced starters. The teams top five defensive tackles were all seniors, as were the top three inside linebackers. They also took a hit to the receiving corps where new offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring must replace 2nd round NFL draft selection André Davis and the steady Emmett Johnson. The 2002 season is Stinespring's 10th year as a full-time coach on Frank Beamer's staff at Tech, but it is his first as offensive coordinator.
OFFENSE
One of the many lingering questions for Tech entering the 2002 season is the situation at quarterback. Starter Grant Noel (6-2 221 Sr.) returns for the Hokies following an inconsistent 2001 season. While not an assuming player at the position, Noel has filled the role most often required of Virginia Tech's quarterbacks of the past. Let the defense and special teams make the big plays and take the risks, just don't make mistakes that cost us the game. For the most part, Noel has accomplished that. As a junior, Grant went 161 of 281 for 2,095 yards with a 17-11 touchdown to interception ratio. Noel will enter preseason practice wearing a knee brace to protect a torn ACL in his left knee injured during the final week of spring practice. Even though Noel plans to be ready, sophomore Bryan Randall (6-0, 213, So.) is coming off a spring session that saw him take a lot of snaps as he worked on developing into a more accurate passer. He possesses a good arm and is a threat to break a long gainer on the ground. Noel's recurring problems with his left knee will likely give the back up a chance to see plenty of playing time this season. Intense work in the off-season, both on and off the field, transformed Randall into a quarterback with an idea of what it takes to start for a Division 1-A team. "If we protect him and take care of our business, he'll be fine," said Tech center Jake Grove. "It's amazing how much he's changed from last year," said Hokies free safety Willie Pile of Randall. "He's got command of the offense and he definitely has the physical tools to start and be a star.”
According to college football analyst Phil Steele, Virginia Tech has “clearly one of the deepest running back positions in the NCAA.” We could probably write 5 or 6 pages about the 2000 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Lee Suggs (6-0 198 Sr.) or simply say that clearly this young man is the heart and soul of the Virginia tech team. Nicknamed TD Lee, Suggs has scored 31 career touchdowns including a record 27 touchdowns back in 2000. That year, Lee compiled a total of 1,207 yards on 222 carries, an average of 5.4 yards a carry. A preseason All-Big East and All-American selection, Suggs was also named to the Playboy All-America team over the summer and has been listed as the fifth best running back in the nation for the upcoming season by The Sporting News. Were he not sharing time with Big East Rookie of the Year Kevin Jones (6-0, 212, So.), Suggs might gain 2,500 yards on his own. The lightning fast Jones split time last fall with Keith Burnell, gaining 1,012 yards on 198 carries for an exceptional 5.1 yards per carry. If Jones breaks through the line, he’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field as evidenced by his 6 touchdowns from a year ago. Doug Easlick (5-11 235 Jr.) will be asked to lead the way for “The Untouchables”.
A lot of attention was paid to the receiving positions during the spring and preseason as Tech looked to replace veteran wideouts André Davis and Emmett Johnson and with those losses may prove to be the weak link in the Hokie offense this year. The only returning starter is possession receiver Shawn Witten (6-0 192 Sr.). A broken leg limited Witten’s playing time last year as he finished the season with 16 receptions for 161 yards. Ernest Wilford (6-4 217 Jr.) has the frame to be an outstanding receiver but he needs to develop some consistency in his game. A big target with great leaping ability and speed, Wilford battled a nagging knee injury during the early part of the 2001 that limited him to only 8 catches for 100 yards. Like both Witten and Wilford, Richard Johnson (5-10 180 So.) has been injury plagued throughout his career. Johnson has blazing 4.37 speed and good hands. Another Hokie looking for playing time is Terrell Parham (6-0 195 Sr.). An experienced receiver who could help solidify the Hokies' wide receiver position, Parham caught 14 balls for 155 yards last year.
Forty-three of the last 48 passes caught by Hokie tight ends have produced first downs but Tech will need to deal with the loss of Bob Slowikowski and Browning Wynn at tight end. Attempting to continue that production will be Keith Willis (6-5 254 Jr.). Steele says “Willis has amazing speed for a tight end (4.38) and would have contributed more last year were it not for the two seniors ahead of him.”
The subject of much scrutiny in 2001, the Virginia Tech offensive line looks to be greatly improved in 2002. The Hokie line figures to be a more physically imposing and athletic starting unit than last season. Keying this group is returning starter Jake Grove (6-4 292 Jr.) who moves back to his more natural center position after working at guard last year. Anthony Davis (6-4 320 Sr.) will anchor one end of the line. A three year letterman, Davis started for the first time in 2001 and will be looked upon to be a leader for the group in 2002. Jon Dunn (6-7 319 So.) will start at the other tackle position. Dunn is a physical specimen who saw a lot of playing time as a reserve last season. A highly touted recruit coming out of high school, Dunn has a bright future. We project James Miller (6-6, 304, So.) to be the starter at the left guard position. Miller saw action in 10 of the Hokies' 11 regular season games in 2001 and played on 160 offensive snaps on the year. One of four true freshmen to see action last season, Miller should be solid but needs to improve his pass protection ability. At the other guard, Luke Owens (6-3 312, Sr.) secured the starting job from Jacob Gibson in the middle of the season last year and never relinquished it. He is a big, experienced player who should be very dependable opening holes for Suggs and Jones.
DEFENSE
From 1995-1999, Bud Foster’s defense gave up an average of 15.7 points per game so it came as somewhat of a surprise during the 2001 season when the Hokies gave up a seven-year high of 22.4 ppg. The defense was solid, but young. Foster apparently got things turned around last year as the Hokie defense again held their opponents to a staggering 14.8 points per game. What truly sets the Tech defense apart from others are the scoring contributions of the defense. Each of Tech's last eight teams is ranked among the school's top 10 highest scoring teams. During that time, a player at every position on the defensive unit has produced at least one touchdown.
Virginia Tech's secondary returns as strong as ever despite returning just two starters. Free safety Willie Pile (6-3 211 Sr.) led all Hokies in 2001 with 4 interceptions and was 2nd on the team with 94 tackles last year. Rated one of the nation's top free safeties Pile was picked as the No. 10 free safety by The Sporting News as well as the No. 13 safety by Lindy's. He was selected the No. 12 player overall in the BIG EAST Conference by collegefootballnews.com as well as named to the All-BIG EAST teams picked by Athlon and The Sporting News . Pile was inconsistent at times last season, but is a definite playmaker. DeAngelo Hall (5-11 194 So.) is the starting boundary corner who finished last fall with 3 interceptions and 46 tackles. The talented sophomore was listed as the best athlete in the BIG EAST by Street & Smith's preseason magazine. The trash-talking Ronyell Whitaker (5-9 192 Sr.) is Tech’s shutdown corner and can play with anyone in the country. A 2002 Athlon Sports Preseason All-American and 2001 1st Team All-Big East Conference pick, Whitaker led the Hokies with 10 pass breakups and delivered 57 tackles last year. Senior Billy Hardee and redshirt junior Michael Crawford (5-11 206 Jr.) took turns holding the top spot at the rover position during the preseason before Crawford got the nod for the opener.
Besides running back, the defensive end unit might be the deepest and most talented position for Frank Beamer. This year's group of ends ranks with the best Virginia Tech has had. The veteran group includes Nathaniel Adibi (6-3 261 Jr.), who has played in 26 games, 23 as a starter; Lamar Cobb (6-2 236 Sr.) who has played in 29 games, 20 as a starter; Cols Colas, who has played in 24 games, four as a starter; and Jim Davis (6-3 265 Jr.), who has played in 23 games, five as a starter. Last season, those four players combined for 49 quarterback hurries, 25 tackles for loss and 11 of the Hokies' 30 sacks. Those numbers are expected to improve this season. Billed as "the next great Tech defensive end" when he signed with Tech out of high school, Adibi has shown some promise but has also been somewhat inconsistent. Cobb moves very well laterally and is a force against the run. Davis has a potent combination of power and speed. He's smart. The Richmond, Virginia native who was not highly recruited has turned into a pass rush specialist. “He's really one of the good defensive ends in the country," says Beamer. Davis is a playmaker who is rapidly becoming a big key - if not the key - for Tech's defensive line. Last year, he tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and forced two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns. According to the Blue Ribbon College Football Forecast by Brassey's Inc. “Fortunately, the Hokies had the foresight to red-shirt Kevin Lewis (6-1 287 So.) last season. Lewis showed he was ready to play as a freshman, but the Virginia Tech staff decided to hold him out last season to give the Richmond native three seasons to start.” Lewis will get his chance this season. The final member of the Tech foursome upfront will be another redshirt sophomore, Jason Lallis (6-0 254).
Three of Tech’s top six tacklers from 2001 were linebackers; Jake Houseright, Ben Taylor and Brian Welch. All must be replaced. Some of the biggest shoes defensive coordinator Bud Foster had to fill during spring practice were at the backer position, but he just may have hit the jackpot with Vegas Robinson (6-0 245 Jr.). Robinson has taken over the spot held the past two seasons by Ben Taylor, a two-time All-American and Butkus Award semi-finalist. Robinson saw action on just 78 defensive plays last season, posting 14 tackles. At whip linebacker Mike Daniels (6-0 197 So.), who was moved from free safety to the linebacker spot during the 2001 season and ended up starting the final three regular-season games there, is battling fellow redshirt sophomore Brandon Manning (6-0 214 So.) for the starting duties this fall. We look for Daniels to get the starting nod due to his experience but both should see significant playing time. After working very hard to make himself a better player throughout 2001 and the off season, Mikal Baaqee (5-10 217 So.) moved into the starting mike linebacker spot during the spring after serving as a special teams starter in 2001.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special is truly the word to define Virginia Tech’s special teams. In the decade of the 90’s “Beamerball” was responsible for blocking 60-plus kicks and a 36-5 record since 1993 when the Hokies scored on a special teams or defensive play. They block kicks and they return kicks for touchdowns. Special teams are as much a part of the field position game Tech coach Frank Beamer likes to play as is his defense or offense.; maybe more so. One of the most dangerous part of the Tech special teams, other than their kick blockers is their return game. Fortunately for Tech opponents, Andre Davis is bugging special teams coaches in the NFL now but we suspect Beamer will find a suitable replacement for this unit. Richard Johnson posted a 22.6 ypr average last year on kickoffs and will be back.
During the Frank Beamer era at Tech, putting points on the scoreboard has always been a team effort — the offensive team, the defensive team and the special teams. 21 different players have scored touchdowns while playing on Tech’s special teams over the last decade or so. Altogether, the defense and special teams have combined for 73 touchdowns since Beamer arrived in 1987, including 56 in Tech's last 100 games.
Richmond, Virginia product Carter Warley is coming off solid spring and preseason camp after suffering through some ups and downs due to back problems last season. Warley connected on just 11 of his 21 field goal attempts in 2001, but we are told has been extremely accurate in spring and fall camp.
FINAL THOUHTS
Even if the Hoos are successful stopping the run and executing on offense, nothing can change the dynamic of a game like a blocked kick or a long return; something Virginia has proven vulnerable and something that the Hokies excel at. Maybe even as much so or more critical than stopping the Tech running attack, is protecting the kickers and kick return coverage. The last thing the Virginia coaching staff needs to see is an effective game plan ruined by special team breakdowns. Since the start of the 1993 season, Virginia Tech is 36-5 in games in which the Hokies score at least one touchdown on defense or special teams. The fact of the matter is Tech will put up yards rushing on everyone this season so the key to a victory; can the Virginia offense respond? Over the last nine years, the home team is 3-6 in this ball game and we think the Cavs will respond and make the mark 3-7.
UVA – 20 VPI – 17
Greg Waters is the producer and co-host of the University of Virginia Sports radio call-in show CavTalk. The program airs from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Wednesday evenings and originates from the studios of AM 950 WXGI and can be heard on the World Wide Web @ www.cavtalk.com.
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