Whereas the theme of last year's fall camp was "transitions", this off-season has been focused squarely on "turnover". Gone are two of the top five receptions leaders in Virginia Tech history; the battering ram, nay gunslinging, starting quarterback; Sam Rogers; the hard-hitting leader of the secondary; and the right side of the offensive line (to name a few missing pieces). With so many fresh faces being relied on from the outset, the 2017 Virginia Tech football season will be filled with plenty of anxiousness and intrigue.
With that in mind, The Key Play's staff decided to once again indulge Hokie Nation with its predictions for the upcoming Hokies' campaign.
Joe Lanza
Season Prediction: Virginia Tech returns an impressive cast of characters on defense. There are depth issues (especially at d-line), but Bud Foster has a fine starting 11 which in the pre-Fuente era was more than enough to get Hokie Nation excited. On the other hand, the offense is woefully inexperienced, but there is certainly talent among the bunch. West Virginia, North Carolina, at Miami, at Georgia Tech, and Pitt are toss-up games. Clemson is the only anticipated loss. The Coastal is wide open. Expect great results if the offense gets up to speed quickly and the defense is as good as expected.
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: Virginia Tech at Miami
Breakout Player: Give me one-or-more of the true freshman wide receivers — Sean Savoy, Hezekiah Grimsley, or Kalil Pimpleton. Tech needs at least one of the lot to step up and help fill the hole at wideout. The opportunity is there. At times throughout August camp, Fuente and Cornelsen spoke highly of Pimpleton and Grimsley, but Savoy is no slouch either. Ultimately, I'll take Pimp because he was an early enrollee, has a decent mass for his height (5-8, 170), and Fuente handpicked a then relatively unknown recruit from well outside of Tech's normal recruiting footprint for this offense.
#Hokies commit Kalil Pimpleton = elusive. He was in our top ten: https://t.co/CeomWxTrgB @TheVTZone pic.twitter.com/kztL3AIreC— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) May 19, 2016
Alex Koma
Season Prediction: In the interest of transparency, I'll remind everyone that I predicted a 7-5 season last year, so I encourage everyone to ignore everything I have to say on this subject! With that out of the way, I'll attempt to justify why my prediction of 8-4 will be right this time around. The Hokies, once more, have a workable ACC schedule, but I worry that things are still so uncertain on offense that predicting a second straight 10-win season might be a bit optimistic. Bud Foster's defense should be exceptional, and I think that can go a long way toward keeping this team afloat as Josh Jackson figures things out. That being said, this squad will have quite the challenging month or so from Oct. 21 to Nov. 18, a stretch I expect will decide the team's season (and likely the ACC Coastal as well). Da U might not be all the way back and there's little in the way of certainty in the division writ large — Duke could win this thing, and I wouldn't be even a little bit surprised. But I just wonder if a brand new quarterback, devoid even of JUCO experience, and a largely new crop of skill position players can replicate last year's immediate success. That's not to say they won't in the future, but this year, 8-4 feels about right.
Final Regular Season Record: 8–4
Key Matchup: I wish I could pick a game other than the trip to Miami, but I just can't. That could very well decide who goes to the ACC title game, but keep an eye on the road trip to Georgia Tech the very next week, win or lose.
Breakout Player: DE Trevon Hill is my pick. He seems to fit the profile of a guy who's had time to learn and shown flashes in a limited role, and is now ready to step up and make a name for himself. He had a ton of hype coming out of high school, even after his big knee injury, and I expect this is the year we see what he's made of.
French
Season Prediction: There is so much mystery associated with this team that it makes the oncoming season exciting and incredibly difficult to predict. If the quarterback play improves (based on Justin Fuente's track record and Josh Jackson's near toppling of Jerod Evans in 2016, that isn't a stretch) and the inexperienced new receivers can replicate 70% of Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges, and Sam Rogers's production, this is an ACC championship caliber team. Fuente's teams in Memphis took a big leap forward in year two. His skill position players may be inexperienced, but they are better suited for the offense.
At the same time, Evans was a record setting quarterback because he had a unique skill set. Hodges and Ford were generational talents. Offensive line, defensive line depth, and corner depth are still issues.
There are numerous questions to consider. Can Jackson be more efficient than Evans? Can Dalton Keene and the young receivers block better and turn easy catches into big gains? Can the right side of the offensive line stay engaged on blocks? Can the defensive line depth hold up against HUHN teams? If the answers are "Yes," the Hokies will run away with the Coastal. If not, they will be a middle of the pack team. Either way, I believe the future is bright if Fuente can restock the offensive and defensive lines consistently.
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: I don't think the key matchup is against a team. Syracuse created a blueprint for how to attack Bud Foster's defense with a spread offense. The Orange put triple receivers to the wide side of the field. That forced Foster to either play zero coverage with his free safety on the inside slot, or leverage man with Andrew Motuapuaka on the inside slot. Syracuse ran RPO against both looks. If the slot was on Motuapuaka, Syracuse would throw quick stick routes on him and if he wasn't open, the quarterback would run.
West Virginia, Clemson, UNC, and Duke have personnel that can exploit this scheme. Rather than having five corners in the secondary like the Hokies did last year, there is no Chuck Clark. Terrell Edmunds looks like a monster, but with 20 additional pounds, he has struggled in coverage on quick slot receivers in the Hokies social media clips from fall camp. Reggie Floyd and Devon Hunter are more traditional rovers, and Mook Reynolds is better around the line of scrimmage than in coverage. The Hokies ability to lock down receivers allows Foster to play more defenders in the box. I am not worried about the Hokies' corners. However, if they can't take away the slot receivers, Foster's ability to get extra defenders in the box is compromised. I believe four games hinge on it, and those four games can significantly change the trajectory of the season.
Breakout Player: Dalton Keene is my pick for the breakout player. He brings a combination of size, speed, strength, and attitude that makes him an ideal fit at H-Back. Keene isn't a finished product. Few freshmen are. However, if Keene can reach his potential, it makes every other aspect of the offense better.
I also think Trevon Hill is primed for a huge year. But, it is difficult to call him a breakout player as he delivered some stellar performances last year.
Brian Marcolini
Season Prediction: The defense will be great. They have depth at corner, playmakers at linebacker, and serious beef on the line. In terms of pure ability, this could be one of the most talented units Bud Foster's had in 10 years.
The season, as per usual, will come down to the offense. 2017 is actually a fascinating test case for the Fuente/Foster partnership. For the last two decades, Bud's presence has guaranteed a defense that was at least well above average. Though he's often fielded elite groups, his system and his coaching alone can promise good.
Like Foster, Fuente also relies on a system. Yes, it's a system made better by talented players, but he simply wants to put his guys in positions to make plays (regardless of ability). Losing Bucky Hodges, Isaiah Ford, and Jerod Evans hurts. But if this group can put up similar numbers without the star talent, wouldn't Fuente and Cornelsen show a similar consistency to Bud? And if so — and the absolute floor every year is above average production on both sides of the ball — isn't that a recipe for a program that'll win at least eight games a year?
West Virginia will be tough just because it's the first game of the season (I predict a sloppy showing similar to what we saw against Tennessee). Clemson will be tough because they're extremely talented, and Tech's just not there yet. But everything else? Winnable.
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: Let's envision a pessimistic, if not realistic scenario: age and inexperience show in the season opener against West Virginia. Though it'd feel like a kick in the Hokie stones, a loss Week 1 to the Mountaineers is inconsequential to larger season goals. Even the most optimistic among us don't think this team is a playoff contender (though I wrote this before TheFifthFuller wrote his preview, so I could be wrong).
After the loss, Josh Jackson improves, the defense sharpens, and the Hokies roll Delaware, ECU and ODU. And there, in Week 5 sits Clemson. The Tigers come back to Lane Stadium for the first time since Andre Branch perpetually squished Logan Thomas in 2011. This has to be the most important game of the 2017 season, right?
In the words of Pastor Lee, not so fast my friend. The Hokies can still lose to Clemson and win the Coastal. But on Saturday, October 21, Tech will play their most important contest. It's Week 8, Fuente and company will be fresh off a bye week, and host North Carolina in Blacksburg. If they want to head back to the ACC Championship Game, they can't start their conference schedule 1-2, which means beating the Tar Heels borders on must-win.
Breakout Player: It's going to be a receiver not named Cam Phillips (who's already great). I don't know how I feel about Henri Murphy and James Clark, but I'm also hesitant to pick a true freshman to break out — which is foolish considering the work Phillips and Ford did in 2013. So what about Sean Savoy? The dude played receiver in high school, unlike Khalil Pimpleton or Caleb Farley (RIP his knee), and had an impressive offer list. He fits perfectly as a slot receiver who can make things happen after the catch, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him have 40-50 receptions and a few big time plays over the middle.
Pierson Booher
Season Prediction: Despite a number of key departures, the 2017 Hokies have the makings of a formidable group. Each August, we simultaneously gush and fret over how well first-time starters will fare in Week 1. This year is no different. The wide receiver group, which is in dire need of fresh playmakers after the departures of Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges, is flush with talented (albeit inexperienced) options. The quarterback position appears to be settled at the moment, but questions surrounding Josh Jackson's running ability could cause fans and coaches alike to get antsy if even baseline expectations are not met early on. The right side of the offensive line is a bit green. A few guys need to step up along the defensive line to provide rotational depth. And how consistent can Aussie punter Oscar Bradburn be in front of tens of thousands of people?
Given the prevalence of high-octane offenses in today's game, I doubt we will see the utter domination from Bud Foster's group that typified the Aughts. They're going to give up some points. Thus, the offense's ability to adjust to their new (elevated) roles is the most critical factor in determining whether this season ends in success or failure. After last year's run to the ACC Championship, Justin Fuente has got all of Hokie Nation drinking the Kool-Aid. Those clad in maroon and orange believe in his system.
So long as the lights aren't too bright for the fresh faces, it's hard not to imagine this team pulling down at least 9 wins. But if things go awry early against the Mountaineers, it could feel like the 2013 season all over again.
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: At Miami. Everyone thinks The U is back (again). All of the pre-season hype focuses on their uber-talented defense, but the offense's ability to pull their weight remains to be seen. Sound familiar? By the time these two teams square off in early November, the Canes will have already endured road trips to Tallahassee, Durham and Chapel Hill (plus challenging defensive match-ups against Georgia Tech and Syracuse). They could easily be on the verge of elimination from the Coastal Division race. Past Miami teams withered against that level of adversity, but maybe Mark Richt has figured out a way to enact change. Games at this point in the season often come down to whose roster is healthiest. If the offseason strength-and-conditioning results are any indication, Ben Hilgart could prove to be this season's real MVP.
Breakout Player: I seriously debated Khalil Pimpleton in this spot, but I'm going to go with freshman H-Back Dalton Keene. I immediately fell in love with Pimp's high school film — don't be surprised if I drop a love letter to the jitterbug sometime this season — but I'm not presently convinced that he will have a big enough role to be the breakout player this fall. Enter Keene, the Hokies' new Swiss Army Knife. The dude is a beast and has shown exceptional athleticism for someone his size. If he becomes a reliable blocker, he could really open things up for this offense. If he shows solid hands and an ability to surprise between the tackles, he could really open things up for this offense.
I have been pretty terrible at picking Tech's regular season record over the years, but I'll hang my hat on my breakout player selection history. Isaiah Ford (2014), Travon McMillian (2015), and Tremaine Edmunds (2016) have come through for me thus far. Here's hoping Keene makes it four straight.
TheFifthFuller
Season Prediction: A Bud Foster defense, highlighted by two brothers, a large, punt returning defensive tackle, and an honorary Fuller in Mook Reynolds? Check. A savvy offensive coordinator who figures out how to succeed with the tools he has, like Cam Phillips, Steven Peoples and Superstar-Freshman-Wide-Receiver-to-be-Identified-Sometime-During-September? Check. A quarterback good enough to seize the starting role as a freshman? CHECK.
All I'm saying is, Michael Vick was the last redshirt freshman to be named starting quarterback for game one. Now, I'm not saying (yet) that Pacey is the second coming of MV7, but how'd that season work out for the Hokies? Tech won every game that didn't feature Peter Warrick, and I'm sure he's out of eligibility.
Final Regular Season Record: All three losses last year happened away from Lane Stadium against teams that wear orange jerseys. This year? Tech's only orange jersey opponent is Clemson, and they're coming to the Terror Dome. Like Marcolini didn't know where I was going with this; 15–0, unreasonable expectations are a GOOOOOOOOO.
Key Matchup: West Virginia. HEAR ME OUT. Every time Tech's opened the season at FedEx, a raging inferno of torment and grief, the Hokies ended up in a BCS Bowl. But why stop there? Aim for the stars, because Tech went to BCS bowls ONLY BECAUSE the playoffs didn't exist yet. And the last time the Hokies played WVU while starting a freshman quarterback with an undefeated record on the line? THE STARS ARE ALIGNING. If the Hokies can shake the curse of Dan Snyder's pit of despair and send the Mountaineers home crying, I believe the momentum will be unstoppable for the remainder of the season.
Breakout Player: Vinny Mihota. With the defense behind him as fearsome as ever, a wildman is needed to step up and wreak unmitigated havoc in opponents' backfield. If he can do a passable impersonation of Corey Moore's crazy eyes, that's just ice cream on the cookie.
Joel Smith
Season Prediction: Fuente's first season certainly set the bar high for the program, but there are reasons to doubt season two will build on that success. Aside from the talent that departed the program, especially at skill positions, the Hokies landed on the winning side of all three one-score games during the regular season. Replacing QB is less of a concern to me; that choice is a balance of making sure you pick the right guy, and getting whoever the guy is enough reps. Last season that balance pushed the decision later and this season seems like it was an easier choice. Whether the RB and WR positions step up enough remains to be seen. I see a successful season that may not be enough to win the Coastal again.
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: This feels a little too obvious, but Miami. The Hokies would send a big statement by repeating as Coastal champs, and Miami seems to be the obvious challenger, although Duke seems to be flying way under the radar.
Breakout Player: Chris Cunningham. With question marks at wide receiver, I expect the tight end position to get more involved in the passing game this season. And Cunningham demonstrated he was, at the very least, a red zone threat last season.
Billy Berlin (BilldozerVT)
Season Prediction: I want so badly to temper my expectations and be happy to win 8 or 9 games this season, but of course that is impossible. In the past, a Bud Foster defense of this caliber paired with a lackluster offense had me thinking about 10+ wins and a NY6 bowl. I believe that even with so much talent to replace, a rebuilding Fuente offense is still going to put up points. At least, enough points to keep Tech in, or win, every game on the schedule. This team is probably still a couple years out from a playoff berth so what I am hoping for is another season like the last that shows us how excited we need to be about the future.
Final Regular Season Record: 10–2
Key Matchup: It has to be Clemson. I fully expect the Hokies to beat WVU in the opener, and then cruise to a 4-0 record. I envision a night game at Lane with College GameDay in attendance. The nation's eyes will be upon Virginia Tech. Excuse me while I go take a cold shower now.
Breakout Player: I think I'll go with Dalton Keene here. He already looks the part and will be put in various roles to create mismatches. He will be one of a handful of true freshman who will be difference makers this year.
Joey Coogan
Season Prediction: This is surely redundant by now, but any thoughts I have on the Hokies' chances this season ultimately circle back to the question marks under center. If Tech manages to find a quarterback — not necessarily a replacement for Jerod Evans, but a serviceable quarterback — they've got a chance to be scary good. If not? Well, Fuente and Co. could be staring 6-6 straight in the face.
As usual, I have the utmost confidence in Bud Foster's defense. The secondary is once again loaded with playmakers, and smart money may be on Tremaine Edmunds as the best pure football player in the state of Virginia. If Vinny Mihota and Trevon Hill can stay healthy up-front, this promises to be a vintage Virginia Tech defense.
But with so much unknown until the Hokies take the field in Landover, I'll hedge my bets for now, reserving the right to proclaim this team a playoff contender if Josh Jackson somehow lives up to the seemingly optimistic Marcus Mariota comparisons.
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: A few different routes to go here, but I'll stick with the return of the Black Diamond Trophy. So much hinges on the season opener at FedExField, with the remainder of Tech's September schedule prior to Clemson appearing mostly manageable. Point being, if the Hokies find a way to squeak past the Mountaineers, it could be a clash of unbeatens on Saturday night in Lane Stadium come September 30.
*Goosebumps*
Breakout Player: I'm probably not allowed to pick Tremaine Edmunds, but that's never stopped me before...so Edmunds it is. Before collectively rolling your eyes, hear me out. The youngest of the Edmunds trio garnered Second Team All-ACC honors a year ago, but I see no reason that his ascension to stardom should stop there. I've got Edmunds bursting onto the national scene this year, leaping directly into the first-round draft pick conversation by Thanksgiving. That qualifies as breaking out, right?
Mark Umansky
Season Prediction: I think this year's Hokies will be about the same as last year's, on average. A strong Bud Foster defense should hide some freshmen-sized holes on the offense, but Virginia Tech is replacing way too much firepower on that side of the ball for there to not be a hiccup, especially with the usual craziness that the ACC Coastal tends to produce lately. I fully expect Virginia Tech to give away a game due to the offense still finding their footing.
I don't think this team gets blown out by anyone this year, but a redshirt-freshman QB and offense only in year two (Remember! Only year two!) with a whole year of tape for opposing ACC coaches to study will likely give us a couple headaches for games (Pitt? Probably Pitt. Stupid Pitt.)
Final Regular Season Record: 9–3
Key Matchup: West Virginia. The Hokies have a fantastic chance to stop the early season out-of-conference primetime TV matchup loss streak AND get a win at Dan Snyder's House of Pain, while keeping their hands on the Black Diamond Trophy all at once. Win at FedEx, and it's probably an undefeated Virginia Tech when Clemson rolls into Blacksburg a few weeks later. I'm thinking 8:00 Saturday Night Kickoff.
Breakout Player: Tim Settle for Heisman (and Piesman).
Comments
So basically everybody is the same and you're all boring. /s
(Except you, TheFifthFuller. Never change.)
I expect nothing less from fifth
So here is what I learned:
1. Da U is back
2. We are definitely NOT going 9-3
3. Billdozer gets football boners too
4. Lots of man love for Dalton Keene
My takes:
Hokies come out of the gate strong, giving Clemson a scare in Blacksburg but ultimately falling. The hype is still strong and Hokies continue to roll until GT where we give one away late. Hokies turn that around to beat uva relentlessly (52-0) and finish 10-2. See you all in Charlotte.
Key game will be against the chop blocking bees, because fuck them and Pat Narduzzi is too easy of a target.
Breakout player is going to have to be J^2 for this to come true and I'll give it to him. I think he's going to surprise a lot of us and I'm calling a 4 TD performance by him in one of the first 4 games. Jalen Holston is a close second. I've voiced my feelings for him already because I really do think we have a special one there.
Go Hokies!
3. Like a diamond in an ice storm.
FTFY
Makes sense considering his "alter ego's" job...
Do a google search for "Billy Berlin videos" and you will see why
FRENCH PREDICTED!
Needed to change things up for luck. If the season goes off the rails, it is my fault.
you heard it here folks
#blameFrench
Scapegoat pick locked in.
My pitchfork is gonna be mighty sharp by the end of the season.
You were spot on with how to exploit Bud's D though. Here's hoping not every play is a 5 WR set with trips right against us.
I agree reading that scared the hell out of me.
I'm ok with trips left though.
I think we roll up to the Clemson game 4-0. We play Clemson close but their depth shows up late and they squeak out a win. We win the next 3 games and head into the stretch at 7-1 and ranked in the top 15. At Maimi at Gt and Pitt is a brutal 3 game stretch and I can see every scenario play out, win all 3, win 2 lose 1, win 1 and lose 2, and lose all 3. I'm going to go with win 1 and lose 2 to take us to 8-3. We then get our game at Lane North and finish the regular season at 9-3.
If anything I think we play out of our asses and beat them in a come-from-behind game!
EDIT: Phrasing. I know...
One of our minds is in the gutter, I'm just not sure which.
"return of the black diamond trophy..."
Are we not doing phrasing anymore? /s
Just come out the gate strong on 3 Sep and the rest will fall into place. Need some good vibes and a little confidence going forward.
Joey-
Do you think JJ is still a good fit for Lefty's scheme, and does sitting for two years behind Lawson have him ready for the big stage?
I have to agree here... 9-3 sounds about right. A loss to Clemson and 2 losses in toss up games should get it done.
That said, it certainly feels like we should start to pull away from the pack in the Coastal this year. Starting next year, there is going to be a more clear division between the top and everyone else, much like the Atlantic.
Completely agreed. I hope to see the offense starting to really roll mid-season as the young guys settle in.
I think Hokie nation has a case of the emotional hedgings, mainly on the offensive side. I agree in not seeing bias, but there's a lot of serious potential on this team/program. It seems like everyone is discounting what Fuente did last year with what people were calling hodgepodge talent, who in hindsight were underperforming under Loeffler.
I'm with Fifth. Drinking the Kool-Aid.
We are a zero loss team until proven otherwise.
We're also a zero-win team until we go 1-0 against WVU.
I won't be disappointed with 8-4 (especially if it includes a win over UVA). More wins is just gravy.
Let's be honest, I won't be overly disappointed as long as the bowl streak continues. Some of the more recent fans will lose their shit if we only come out with 7 wins. Those fans didn't experience the late 80's and early 90's that I saw. (I know there are plenty of folks here that go back even more, and know what a really dreadful stretch can be).
I completely get and respect what you're saying. With that said, our program expectations have risen dramatically over the past 30 years to the point where barely scraping above .500 is so completely unacceptable now that a couple years of such play would lead to the coaching staff being replaced, as we saw 2 seasons ago. As a program, we should be comfortably making bowl games every year and challenging for the Division and Conference title. Anything less should be a disappointment.
Agreed, and not to completely diminish the bowl streak, but just making it to a bowl game doesn't really mean a lot these days. There are myriad bowls, and being .500 or in some cases even below .500 and making it to a low tier bowl game isn't exactly indicative of great success.
VT of today is not the VT of the 70s/80s, so having expectations that low by modern standards is completely unacceptable.
The thing is, we've been consistent. We haven't gone under 6-6 in 24 years, and I'm pretty sure that we've won the bowl games in the 6-6 years, so we still end up with a winning record.
But then you look at the teams under us in the streak. Georgia and Oklahoma are the only other two schools with streaks dating back to the 1990s. Alabama only has a 13 year bowl streak. Florida only has a 3 year streak. These are teams that you expect to see in bowl games every year.
The way I see it, with how easy it is to get to a bowl game nowadays, more teams should have longer streaks.
Seems like most of the longer streaks have ended due to postseason bans, or retroactively due to vacating bowl wins, meaning we've been fortunate enough to have avoided a major violation. Others end due to a random 5-7 season, like Texas, which we were very fortunate to avoid in our 3 6-6 seasons between 2012 and 2015.
I really hate when we lose but the more I think about it, the more I think the expectations for this season are unrealistic. It's going to be very difficult for JJ to replace Evans' production because of the loss of Ford and Hodges if nothing else. Also I am extremely nervous about the depth along the DL. So while I don't expect us to miss a bowl or anything, I think 7-9 wins is the most likely scenario. I want to add that I think West Virginia might have similarly unrealistic expectations and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the winner of the game gets quite a bit of deceptive hype early in the season.
Man, Fifth put the rest of you all to shame. Look at all the in-depth analysis he did.
not to mention the well-written prose!
I'll take the Fifth.
I'd rather have a handle myself.
Season Prediction: Obvious depth issues aside, the defense returns some serious talent. The offense has been in the system for another year, which should help the OL a bit. Granted, some starters were lost, but I think they'll do passably at least. Skill position players will be put in a position to succeed early regardless of experience level. The big question mark I have is Josh Jackson and the playbook. If Fuente's playbook is "dumbed down" this year due to the inexperience at receiver, we could see defenses get a MUCH better read on plays. That would force JJ to make great decisions as a RS-FR (Side note: completely forgot his scouting report from 2015. ESPN really loved him).
All told, I think some coaches will be able to exploit the weaknesses on the team (DL depth, WR inexperience, coverage secondary depth in order of most to least impact, IMO) along with having more film on Fuente's tendencies, while others just continue to do their thing (PJ and Bronco).
Final Regular Season Record: 8-4. I sat through 13-1 2013 Auburn season in year-1 of Malzahn, which was mostly talent he recruited for his system while OC and was the perfect storm of luck, returning HC who was OC, and JUCO transfer QB uniquely talented for that system. His second and third years he went 8-5 and 7-6. Fuente only got the talented JUCO transfer in his year-1 campaign and went 10-4. Granted, the SECW is probably a bit tougher than the ACCC, but the point remains. I expect a bit of a regression for Fuente's team as inexperience will show up a few times to our detriment.
Key Matchup: Virginia Tech at Miami. If this game comes after a loss to UNC or Duke, watch out. This could be the pin that unravels the season, as UNC, Duke, @Miami, @GT, Pitt is as tough a stretch as the Coastal can dish out without playing the Hokies. Playing Pitt late in the year won't be fun either.
Breakout Player: Tim Settle worked his way into our hearts last season with some playing time. When he was on the field, he was a force. Now that he's the starter, I think he'll have gotten his conditioning to where it needs to be to play 70% of the snaps. Watching the big ugly eat QB lunches and shake RBs upside down trying to find their lunch money is my most exciting prospect of this season. There are few things that are as enjoyable to watch as a truly game changing DT, and I think Settle has a chance to be that guy.
BONUS: Long Term Coastal Outlook: Say what you will about Richt, but the guy averaged 9+ wins at UGA in his tenure there. The only reason he was replaced was because UGA wants to win the SECCG and they think being Saban 2.0 will do it. Going forward, I fully expect Virginia Tech and Miami to be the cream of the crop that is the ACCC. Richt and Fuente are the two best coaches in the Coastal right now, and I don't see teams like UNC, Duke, or GT enticing top-tier guys or finding an up-and-coming coach in the next 5 years. Pitt is a bit of a tweener because while I hate Narduzzi, the dude fielded some stellar defenses at MSU. Like many, I really don't think that Bronco will workout beyond a few 6-6 or 7-5 seasons at UVA. His coaching style seems at odds with the school in general.
WAR DAMN HOKIES!!!
My sister went to Auburn, glad to see someone else do the same thing.
War Damn Hokies
I'm a little worried about Tim Settle's conditioning.
Not that he's out of shape, but he's a big boy and with the DL being one of the thinnest position groups in terms of experience, are we asking too much of him?
1-0
...for 15 straight games.
One of the biggest things I took away from Fuente's first season was that we found a way to win those toss up games. That stretch of consecutive wins vs Miami, Pitt, and Duke really helped shore up the Coastal division for us last season.
I'm hoping that this continues to get better under the new staff, but our biggest enemy sometimes is ourselves. Not being mentally prepared for a game or a lack of focus will earn you a loss pretty easily. Win or lose against Clemson, a trip to sleepy Chestnut Hill the following week for a likely nooner concerns me with focus. Duke at home before the big Miami game, even ODU could catch us looking ahead to Clemson. The trap games are what we need to avoid.
I think Fuente is doing a great job of compartmentalizing each game with his "1-0" mantra every week, and once the team is fully invested in that mindset of not looking ahead or behind, anything is possible.
It's crazy how many close games we lost the previous 2 years before Fuente. I mean just one or two plays in a few different games could have made any of the past 3 seasons look very different.
Said every coach...ever.
16-0.
Don't know how we manage to win more games than we actually play. Don't care.
ALL ABOARD, MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!
#16 is when we win the offseason, securing commitments from KJ Henry, Devyn Ford, Jacoby Pinckney, Ah'Shawn Moore, Savion Jackson, and Ben Smiley
Because we're going to be beating Tennessee for the Championship of Life, duh
They already lost that one to Vandy, who then coughed it up to NC State.
Josh Jackson will be the breakout player. I totally see him being a great 4 year player and leader of this team.
Season Prediction Bourbon, Beer, and Barbecue
Key Matchup In-laws vs my family in high stakes cornhole
Breakout Player Been working on a chipotle flank steak recipe that should be good to go by tailgating season
I'll trade you a great marinated flank steak recipe. It has been served at many Tech tailgates and always disappears fast.
I have nothing to trade but would like to see the recipe. Been looking for a good flank steak recipe for a while.
1 flank steak (1 1/2 to 2 lbs)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. tomato juice - not V8
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. (packed) brown sugar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
I put my ingrediants in a gallon ziplock bag and mix it up good then add the steak. Let it marinade in the fridge for at least 4 hours turning it over once but overnight is best. Grill on medium high gas or hot coals for about 4 minutes max per side to get medium rare. Flank steak I think is best on the rare side so don't overcook it. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into thin strips across the grain. I grill the night before a game and we eat it cold on good rolls if I want to be lazy and just drink at a tailgate. It is still awesome.
1 Flank Steak
1/4 c vegetable oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
3-6 garlic cloves chopped
3-4 chipotle peppers, dried and diced
2 tbsp, mccormacks adobo season with pepper
Coarse ground black pepper to taste
Marinate for as long as you need, but at least 30 minutes.
Use a seasoned cast iron pan, sear on both sides.
Slice thin.
Thank you both.
Just to be clear, they said FLANK steak, not FRANK steak
Edit: Prementive (insert marinades picture here)
HUHN? I think I missed something.....
You definitely missed the reply button.
I did not understand French's reference
In his prediction, and was hoping for some help on the acronym?
I thought about replying to French's comment on making a prediction, but did not think it was related.
Hurry
Up
No
Huddle
I had to look it up the first time I saw it too.
I thought it was a female chicken?
If it had been HUNH I might have picked up on it. Thanks for clarifying - leg.
hurry up ho nuddle
French's analysis in his prediction really strikes me as where the struggles will come from for us. Syracuse killed us, Dome curse or not. There will be teams that will use the same schemes against us and I'm not sure we put up the same points as last year. I can see 7-5, maybe 8-4. Joe's prediction about Clemson walking over us didn't sit well. I have been waiting on Clemson's return to Lane. Their fans acted very poorly on that last night game in 2011. I want Fuente/Cornelsen to light them up.
I really wish I could remember any of Clemson's last visit to Bburg. I remember walking into the stadium and then I remember being in Ho House for what I assume was post-game sulking and I was pouring a pitcher directly into my face and spilling it everywhere.
Other than being sad, my biggest memory from that game is someone dropping their iPhone off of the top of NEZ onto my head.
I the we would have a really hard time if the Hokies went 7-5 this season. Not that its not possible, but with the relatively easy schedule besides Clemson, Miami, and maybe WVU and playing alot of inexperienced QB's, I think 7-5 is the absolute floor with 11-1 being the ceiling (besides theFifthFullers prediction of course).
Hell, we have the talent on defense to stop anybody, including the Syracuses and GTs. If inferior talent defenses, like say a WF team, can stop Syracuse, wouldn't it make sense to gameplan using the style of the team that thwarted them? Now, GT is a little harder scheme to adapt to on a one-week notice, but the spread teams shouldn't be able to roll over us without some risky-assed play calling where we should be able to take a pass or a botched pitch to the house. Those offenses aren't one-way streets - they have their inherent risks that we should try to capitalize on.
I would very much like for us to beat Clemson.
8 wins sounds about right. We slightly overachieved last year thanks to some talented veterans that made the Fuente transition much smoother. But this year we're going to be depending on a lot of new faces, especially on offense so I expect a slight regression. So 8 wins seems likely with us being competitive in pretty much every single game. Even at 8 wins, it's possible we win the Coastal because its a toss up so we could pretty much end up in the same position we were last year, which isn't a bad thing at all considering where we are in Fuente's tenure.
BOLD PREDICTION: CLEMSON LOSES ON 9/30
Very bold to predict an upset for Tech on a Tech fan site. The masses may revolt.
Is it a bold prediction, or a prediction in bold?
Yes.
I don't understand the Miami hype, they are in the same position as us, yet everyone wants to hand them the coastal. I agree the division comes down to us and them, but I don't see how Miami just cruises to to the title considering they have to replace as much if not more skill talent on offense. Screw them we're going 10-2 with a loss to Clemson and a loss to a team where we "crap the bed"...that isn't Miami though. We repeat as coastal champs.
The media still has an infatuation with Miami from their glory days. If they continue to be above average at best under Richt I think you start to see them being treated more like Nebraska and less like Notre Dame. It just will have been way too long since they accomplished anything to continue the charade.
If they keep predicting Miami, sooner or later they'll be right. And then they can crow about how awesome Miami is without looking like idiots.
The Coastal is 6 coin flips and UVA. Someone's going to win 5 of their 6 coin flips and win the division.
I'll worry that Da U is bak when then can win more than three in a row against P5 teams.
says the fan of the team that literally couldn't string together more than 3 wins in a row all of last season (P5 or otherwise). I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm all for mocking Miami, but that just hit a little close to home.
Based on the Instagram clips, I predict:
1. Philip Patterson will be my surprise breakout player. I like his size and his shake. Pimp is also hard to not like in the slot.
2. Dalton Keene looks like the truth. He is blocking first if he can catch, he will be very helpful I really hope his versitility makes him weapon X in this offense.
3. Hendon Hooker is going to be quite good. He has a cannon and his release is quicker than Jackson. If he learns the offense, watch out.
The Fifth Fuller is the only one with a rationale argument - using hard data to support his 15-0 prediction.
No opponents with orange away jerseys. RFr starting against WVU - I mean history always repeats itself, right?
I have not a doubt in my mind that this team is going to go undefeated for the next 3 years
8-4 because depth
9-3 with less depth
10-2 without depth
7-5 extreme depth
10-2, maybe 9-3 for me. Basically everyone that we play except Duke (and possibly BC if they count, I haven't kept track of them) is replacing their QB just like us, and with this roster I trust Bud to take full advantage of that.
Yep, BC replacing their starter as well.
Anyone else gettin' antsy waiting for French's WVU previews he's been teasing us with for weeks?
10-2 guaranteed if we are in the top 3 in the ACC in turnover margins and non offensive touchdowns. Predicted losses to Clemson and GT.
Mark it dude
10-2
We lose to WVU (offense is not ready yet) and we drop one of the three on murderers row...I think Miami.
However, we win the coastal and lose by 2 TD's to FSU in the ACCCG.
Win the Belk bowl against Tennessee and finish 11-3 also causing Butch Jones to get fired.
so...lose to WVU and some random coastal team, but beat Clemson?
Almost as inconceivable as beating Ohio State the year they go on to win a Natty and then losing to East Carolina the next week.
This is so Virginia Tech it hurts.
Lose the opener, beat the best team in a less important game, lose to random weaker team we shouldn't lose to.
No predictions here. Is anyone else just ready to get the dang season started? On a side note, I don't get boners like black diamond ice, but I do get chill bumps and cry when we enter Lane. Hope that counts for something. Go Hokies!
Well I'm not feeling good based on today's press conference. Fuente wants 8 WR's, says team isn't close to having that.
WR's? Not trying to be a dick. Just wondering if there's an AR that I should know about.
OK, going back and adding the picture was just trying to be a dick...
I clicked the W three times and yet still autocorrect thinks it knows better.
"screw you iphone, just do what I say" is a common refrain in my household.
I have alot of
Text messages.
-Hokie Fireman's phone, probably
To be fair, I'm sure he wanted 8 last year, but our top 8 targets consisted of 4 WR's, 2 TE's, a FB, and a RB. In fact, can anyone name 8 WR's from last year?
Admittedly, there are some gaping holes in the running game last year that Evans filled that we have to worry about, but I think there's a large chasm between what Fuente wants and what he can win with.
He said that through most of last season too. Admittedly we were dealing with an entirely different level of talent at the 3 deep.
I can think of 4 solid, Fuente-level WR's (Philips, Patterson, Carroll, Savoy) and a few who have gotten some hype and are likely ready to step up in some way (Kumah, Grimsley, Murphy) after that I have no idea
I'm not sold on Savoy yet. I think he still has some freshmen lessons to learn.
Stating up front that I have no emotional involvement here, I will confidently declare Va Tech to be a bowl team. I see 6 presumed wins in Del, EC, OD, BC, Duke, and UVA. A good or great season will depend on how the Hokies fare against WV, Clemson, NC, Miami, GT, and Pitt. I think the WVU game is critical. Win that one and I think 10-2 is in play. Lose that one and we are looking at 9-3. Beat Miami and Clemson and we are looking at something special.
I just like that you've continued to contribute to TKP since you joined for the Ohio State game!
Bump to remind people of the expectations of the team BEFORE the 7-1 start.