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| TSLMail #356- November 14, 2008 |
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Bud Foster Putting Another Great Defense on the Field by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com
Following the 2007 season, the Hokies lost three starting defensive linemen, two starting linebackers, a starting cornerback and the starting free safety to the NFL. To top it off, Kam Chancellor moved from rover to free safety, while Macho Harris switched from field corner to boundary corner. That's a lot of turnover in one offseason. To make matters even worse, starting rover Davon Morgan was lost for the season in the Nebraska game. Despite those key losses, Bud Foster has his unit playing at a very high level right now. Here's what this defense has done over the last five games of the season.
Tech isn't padding their stats on the ACC's worst offensive teams, such as NC State and Wake Forest. They've gotten it done against the best ACC offenses. This defense isn't as dominant as last year's defense, but the statistical comparison between the two is very similar. In fact, this 2008 defense has the advantage in a couple of categories, and is right there with the 2007 unit in several others.
The 2008 Tech defense is allowing about six fewer yards per game than the 2007 defense. That's hard to believe, but it's true. Granted, the 2007 LSU game skewed last year's stats a bit, but it's still a terrific achievement for a young defense that has so many new players.
Virginia has the #9 offense in the ACC, averaging just 315.8 yards per game. Duke comes in at #5, averaging 332.4 yards per game. Tech will have the advantage in the trenches in both games, and another Top 10 ranking for Bud Foster's defense is within reach. The Hokies would have to
hold Virginia and Duke to a combined 451 yards (225.5 ypg) to reach the 280 ypg
number talked about above, to put them in Top 10 range. That's not out of the
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Updates From the Past Week
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In
case you haven't noticed, Bud Foster's defense is playing at a very high level
right now. After a down game against East Carolina to open the season, the
Virginia Tech defense has gotten better and better as the season has progressed.
The
ACC race is starting to get narrowed down a bit. Miami helped their
chances by knocking off Virginia Tech last night. This weekend North
Carolina travels to Maryland, and one of those teams will leave the field
with their third conference loss.
The
much anticipated 2008-09 season tips off for the men's basketball team on
Friday night. The Hokies host Gardner-Webb, a team that is much more
dangerous than their name suggests. It will be the first of two games Tech
will play in Cassell Coliseum before departing for Puerto Rico.
Multiple
media outlets, including the Columbia (SC) newspaper The State, are
reporting that Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster will meet
with Clemson about their vacant head coaching job. Details are unavailable
as to when and where the meeting will occur.
Losing
two of its first three games, Hermitage (Richmond, VA), a program expected
to contend for a Division 6 state championship this year, was able to turn
its season around. The Panthers finished the regular season at 8-2,
captured a district championship and has earned a berth in the Central
Region semifinals. Theron Norman's senior season may not have gone
as smoothly as he had hoped on an individual level, but the 6-3, 192-pound
prospect has shown leadership and toughness.
Miami,
FL - Virginia Tech's offense played poorly in the second half, Miami got a
couple of nice bounces, and the result was a 16-14 Hurricane win over the
Hokies on Thursday night. As a result, Tech dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-3
in ACC play, and their chances of winning the ACC Coastal Division are now
very small.
The
early signing period for men's basketball began yesterday, and the Hokies
received signatures from all four of their committed prospects for the
class of 2009. There is a chance that Virginia Tech might not be done with
recruiting in the 2009 class as well.
Headlined
by two 300-yard-plus rushing performances, George Washington (Danville,
VA) running back David Wilson gained 2,100 yards and scored 30
touchdowns on 170 carries this regular season, breaking his school's
single season individual rushing record and helping set a new school mark
for team rushing yards in a season. The 5-11, 190-pound senior, a Virginia
Tech recruit, has shown why he is such a coveted prospect.
After
an impressive performance against the Maryland Terrapins last Thursday,
the Hokies ended their two-game skid and vaulted back into the Coastal
Division race. Virginia Tech will face an improving Miami squad this
Thursday in a critical ACC contest that will go a long way in determining
the division champion. The long-time rivals enter this game with identical
records and a lot at stake, so what should we expect Thursday night?
This
week, Chris and Jerry talked about Bud Foster possibly going to Clemson
(or somewhere else), and they reviewed the Maryland game and talked about
Tech's chances to close out the rest of the schedule and go to Tampa. Chris's
segment starts about 5 minutes into the clip (WMA format, approx. 3.0
MB, approx. 13 minutes long).
The
Virginia Tech women's soccer team got on a major roll towards the end of
the season. As a result, they earned an at-large berth to the 2008 NCAA
Tournament, where they will play BYU on Thursday night at 9pm EST.
Brookville
(Lynchburg, VA) senior offensive lineman Devin Bolling will now
focus solely on helping his team capture a state championship, but there
has been some activity on the recruiting front. The 6-5, 270-pound
prospect made an official visit to Boston College last weekend. He
discusses that experience and the possibility of an offer from Virginia
Tech.
Last
week at this time, Virginia Tech was facing a four game season. As a
result of their win over Maryland, they now face a three game season. Next
up is long-time rival Miami, who despite a tough start in ACC play, has
climbed back into a tie for first place in the ACC Coastal Division
standings. Both teams have a lot riding on this game, and neither can
afford a loss.
Monday
night featured a packed house, with five guests: assistant AD for athletic
performance Mike Gentry, men's basketball coach Seth Greenberg, athletic
director Jim Weaver, women's soccer coach Kelly Cagle, and head football
coach Frank Beamer.
All
year long we have heard the Tech coaches talk about the importance of the
running game and how it has been one block here or one assignment there
from busting out. With both starting QB's gimpy and the pressure
continuing to mount on the Tech offense, it was more critical than ever
for the running game to get over the hump and become a reliable and
consistent weapon. It was Thursday night in Lane Stadium. The season was
on the line. It was time to get it done.
Community
High School/John Marshall (Richmond, VA) junior forward Travis McKie
has taken unofficial visits to North Carolina (no offer), Virginia,
Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, but he hopes to visit at least two more
schools before he comes up with a list of finalists. Where does the 6-6,
185-pound prospect plan to visit next?
All
week long, as this game got closer and closer, I found myself thinking
that a Thursday night home game might be just the tonic this team needed.
The Thursday night atmosphere was indeed sweet, but it also helped that
the matchup was one the Hokies could exploit. The rushing game had been
missing all year from Virginia Tech football, and against the overmatched
Maryland Terrapins, it returned, in spades. Now it's up to the Hokies to
use this romp as a springboard to an ACC Championship Game appearance.
Virginia
Tech gained a big-time commitment last Thursday night, when 6-6, 225-pound
Brookville (Lynchburg, VA) star Logan Thomas pledged to the Hokies.
It was the end of what was a long recruitment for Thomas, one of the most
coveted recruits in the country.