http://www.hokiesports.com/rothreport/recaps/20130824aaa.html
One week from today, Virginia Techs football team will face top-ranked Alabama at the Georgia Dome to kick off the 2013 season. Its an opener and a season that Hokie faithful have been eagerly waiting to see.
Looking back over the past month, this was one of the most unusual preseason camps ever at Tech. Attrition and injury were among the major stories. Some players left school (both voluntarily and not voluntarily), and others were injured to varying degrees. The biggest loss might be whip linebacker Ronny Vandyke, who suffered a shoulder injury and was poised not only to start against Alabama, but also was poised for a breakout season. Hell be back for 2014.
But more than attrition and injuries, the story of the past four weeks in Blacksburg has been intensity.
I think its the most intense preseason camp weve had here, head coach Frank Beamer told me in a television interview which fans can see tomorrow on the season premier of Virginia Tech Sports Today.
Beamer mentioned the addition of three new assistants as one of the reasons for the hotter-than-normal preseason. But he also credited his players, who still have a bad taste in their mouths over 2012s pedestrian 7-6 record.
As a team, the Hokies have never had supermodel looks during preseason scrimmages. Even Techs highest scoring, most talented offenses were usually shut down in August camp. Thats the nature of how the Hokies and many teams, to be honest run their programs. The defense is usually ahead of the offense. But objectively observing this team from Aug. 5 until today, there has been a huge improvement. Id suggest that trend will continue, and the 2013 Tech football team that takes the field at Charlottesville in November will be much improved over the one well see in seven days at the Georgia Dome.
That, of course, doesnt help much with Alabama looming. But its a fact.
Guys like tailback Trey Edmunds, tackle Jonathan McLaughlin, and defensive backs Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson have never played in a college game. Theyll never forget opening night in a Tech uniform, thats for sure. But as the season progresses, the upswing for those four specifically could be really fun to watch.
As for next week? Well, Alabama has some new players, too, particularly up front on the offensive line, where the Tide lost three linemen (all NFL draft picks). First-time starters will be going up against the strength of Virginia Techs team, its defensive line. That will be a key matchup for the Hokies in this game.
But in many ways, this season is about Logan Thomas for the Hokies. He has prepared extremely well for his senior year and seems to be much improved. While his spring-game and preseason scrimmage stats havent been great, those numbers have never been historically accurate predictors of how the Hokies will be when the real season begins.
Think of the seasons that quarterbacks like Bryan Randall and Tyrod Taylor had as seniors for Virginia Tech. Theres something special about having a senior quarterback, and with his mechanics tweaked and his confidence high, Thomas should have a terrific final year for the Hokies. Traditionally, senior quarterbacks at Tech have excelled during the Beamer-era, going back to Maurice DeShazo and Jim Druckenmiller. Experience is huge at that position, and Beamer is confident that Thomas will end his career as one of the most prolific and successful quarterbacks weve seen in Blacksburg.
By the end of this season maybe by the end of September Thomas will be the career passing leader at Tech. Hes third behind Taylor and Randall, but needs just 921 passing yards to pass both on the all-time list.
Like Beamer, Alabama coach Nick Saban has the luxury of a senior quarterback running the show. A.J. McCarron has led Alabama to back-to-back national championships and led NCAA in passing efficiency last season. He threw 30 touchdowns and had just three interceptions. In fact, during his career, McCarron averages just one interception ever 86.25 passes, which is the best ratio in SEC history. He has enjoyed one of the finest careers in college football history.
As for Thomas? A great sophomore season was followed by a not-so-great junior season.
I think what we need is for the people around Logan to be better, to play better, Beamer said.
Newcomers like Edmunds and several new receivers will have to play well early in this season. What McCarron has, that Thomas doesnt, is really proven skill guys around him. The Tide lost tailback Eddie Lacy a year early to the NFL, but sophomore T.J. Yeldon will be the featured back for Sabans team, and he set an Alabama freshman record last year rushing for 1,108 yards. Receiver Amari Cooper, who had 59 receptions for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns last year as freshman, is back as well.
McCarron has all that around him, and more.
Theyve done a great job of recruiting, Beamer said of Sabans staff. They have players. They have depth. This game is going to give us a great starting point to see where we are this year.
Its also great to get the season going again. Remember, the Hokies begin the 2013 season on a three-game winning streak and hope to get off to a great start to this season with a terrific opening month.
There have been a lot of questions asked about this team since the spring staff shakeup and the opening of camp.
Is this team truly talented enough to reach its goals?
Is it too young at too many positions to expect to be a contender?
Well have a sense one week from tonight. And like you, I cant wait to hear Enter Sandman welcome the Hokies onto the Georgia Dome turf.
