ACC Blogger Football Preview Countdown – Coastal #1: Virginia Tech
Posted by Brandon Rink on July 20, 2010 under ACC Football | 
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Hokies are my pick in the Coastal and here’s why…
Ryan Williams leads a top notch RB unit in Blacksburg - a unit that could carry the Hokies to an ACC title.
Projected Record: 9-3 (6-2 ACC)
Returning Starters: 14 (9 on offense and 5 on defense; 0 on special teams)
Schedule Difficulty in ACC: Second.
Offense Rides On… Use of playmakers. The Hokies have them – whether its QB Tyrod Taylor or RBs Ryan Williams and Darren Evans—Virginia Tech has the guns to battle in the tough Coastal, but putting them to use effectively will be huge for an ACC title run.
Defensive Deficiency: Linebacker. Hokies are losing a number of big players at the position, and are replacing them largely with inexperience.
Keyword: Gauntlet – the November schedule includes the big Thursday game with Georgia Tech and road trips to Miami and UNC.
Position by Position Grades (2009 Stats)
QB: B
MVP: Tyrod Taylor (2,311 passing yards (370 rush yards), 13 passing TDs to 5 INTs (5 rush TDs).
Gotta Step-Up: Tyrod Taylor
RB: A
MVP: Ryan Williams (1,655 rushing yards and 21 TDs)
Gotta Step-Up: Darren Evans (Injured in 2009)
WR/TE: B
MVP: Jarrett Boykin (835 receiving yards and 5 TDs)
Gotta Step-Up: Danny Coale (614 yards and 2 TDs)
OL: B-
MVP: C Beau Warren
Gotta Step-Up: LT Nick Becton
DL: C+
MVP: DT John Graves (15 tackles and 2 sacks)
Gotta Step-Up: DE Steven Friday (11 tackles and 3.5 sacks)
LB: C+
MVP: Barquell Rivers (96 tackles and 6.5 for loss)*
Gotta Step-Up: Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (3 tackles and 1.5 for loss)
*Rivers is recovering from an injury and could miss the start of the season.
Sec: B-
MVP: CB Rashad Carmichael (55 tackles and 6 INTs)
Gotta Step-Up: CB SS Davon Morgan (47 tackles)
K/P: C
MVP: K Chris Hazley (No stats)
Gotta Step-Up: P Jayron Hosley (No stats)
Schedule Analysis + W/Ls
| DATE | OPPONENT | W/L |
| 9/06 | vs. Boise State | L 31-23 |
| 9/11 | James Madison | W 49-17 |
| 9/18 | East Carolina | W 34-13 |
| 9/25 | @ Boston College | L 24-19 |
| 10/02 | @ North Carolina State | W 34-24 |
| 10/09 | Central Michigan | W 48-16 |
| 10/16 | Wake Forest | W 28-16 |
| 10/23 | Duke | W 42-17 |
| 11/04 | Georgia Tech | W 31-27 |
| 11/13 | @ North Carolina | W 24-20 |
| 11/20 | @ Miami (FL) | L 24-20 |
| 11/27 | Virginia | W 38-15 |
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Bye Week: Before Georgia Tech, November 4.
Toughest Game: Boise State, September 6.
Key Conference Game: at Boston College, September 25.
Season Hinges on… Georgia Tech, November 4.
The Why…
Why First?: Georgia Tech is the safe pick in this division, but Virginia Tech has the knockout-punch opportunity on the Thursday night in November against the Jackets – and I think they take advantage. The Hokies offense down the stretch last season was impressive and they will continue to move the ball effectively with their stable of running backs and go-to-options at wide receiver. The danger in the Virginia Tech pick is the defense where they replace the heart and soul of the ’09 squad with a number of inexperience players. Coaching will be a premium in a Hokies’ run for the ACC title in 2010.
Could be lower if… Georgia Tech proves to be too tough, along with the rest of the tough ACC slate – offense not able to capture the magic of last season, and the defense is mediocre.
Loading ...Will the Hokies take the Coastal back in 2010? Or does the Coastal gauntlet swallow up Virginia Tech? Let me know what you’re thinking below…
Previews So far…
Coastal #6: Virginia
Atlantic #1: Florida State
Atlantic #6: Wake Forest
Atlantic #5: NC State
Coastal #2: Georgia Tech
Atlantic #2: Boston College
Coastal #5: Duke
Atlantic #4: Maryland
Coastal #3: Miami
Atlantic #3: Clemson
Coastal #4: UNC
Intro to the Countdown
