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  TSLMail #394- August 14, 2009    
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 Tech Sports News

Hokies One of the Most Experienced ACC Teams
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Virginia Tech came into last season as one of the least experienced teams in the ACC. The Hokies were replacing most of the 2007 defense, and they were also breaking in new wide receivers and new tailbacks. They overcame that to win their second consecutive ACC Championship, and now they have an experienced team returning in 2008.

Let's compare Tech's returning starting experience with the rest of the ACC.

Total Starting Experience
Team Yrs.
Starting

Miami

23

Clemson

22.5

Virginia Tech

22.5

Wake Forest

21.5

North Carolina

21

Boston College

19.5

Georgia Tech

18.5

Duke

17.5

Florida State

16.5

NC State

16.5

Virginia

16.5

Maryland

9.5

Average

18.75


The Hokies are tied with Clemson for second place in the ACC in total starting experience, and they are narrowly behind Miami. Tech returns 22.5 years of starting experience between their offense and defense.

Most of the ACC is jumbled between 16.5 years and 19.5 years, but the Maryland Terrapins have just 9.5 years of starting experience returning. They are easily the least experienced team in the conference this year, and it looks to be a struggle on both sides of the ball for Ralph Friedgen's team.

Let's break things down further and look at the offense and the defense. First, the offense.

Offensive Starting Experience
Team Yrs. Starting

Wake Forest

16

Virginia Tech

13

Miami

11.5

Clemson

11

Georgia Tech

11

Boston College

10.5

Florida State

10

Virginia

9

North Carolina

8.5

Duke

8

NC State

7.5

Maryland

5.5

Average

10.125


Wake Forest struggled on offense a year ago, but they return senior quarterback Riley Skinner, who has started since his freshman season. They also bring back their offensive line intact. The Demon Deacons are inexperienced at wide receiver, but their offense should be much more effective as a whole this year.

Virginia Tech has 13 years of starting experience on offense. Sergio Render has started since his freshman season, and Greg Boone is entering his third season as a starter. Tech's wide receivers have a year of experience, and the offensive line is seasoned. The tailbacks are not experienced, but they are perhaps the most talented unit on the team.

Miami, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Florida State all return at least 10 years of starting experience on the offensive side of the ball.

Now, let's compare that to the defenses in the ACC.

Defensive Starting Experience
Team Yrs. Starting

North Carolina

12.5

Clemson

11.5

Miami

11.5

Duke

9.5

Virginia Tech

9.5

Boston College

9

NC State

9

Georgia Tech

7.5

Virginia

7.5

Florida State

6.5

Wake Forest

5.5

Maryland

4

Average

8.625


Only three teams in the conference return more than 9.5 years of starting experience on defense. UNC, Miami and Clemson have very experienced defensive units, and they are expected to be near the top of the standings in the ACC this year.

The Hokies return 9.5 years of starting experience on defense, which is tied for fourth in the conference. They lost four full-time starters from the 2008 team, including Macho Harris, who was a three-year starter in Blacksburg.

Overall, offenses in the ACC will be more experienced than defenses this year. ACC offenses have struggled over the past several seasons, but the talent at quarterback is going up, and teams are returning talented offensive players. It looks like it's time for offensive production in the conference to go back up.

 

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   TechSideline.com Updates From the Past Week
2009 ACC Football Preview: NC State
August 14, 2009
NC State was the surprise team of the ACC last year, winning their last four regular season games to qualify for a bowl. Leading the way was r-freshman quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw 17 touchdown passes and just one interception. The Wolfpack are much more experienced this year, and they are considered the sleeper of the ACC's Atlantic Division.
more

Checking in with VT Recruit Jerome Lewis
August 14, 2009
A commitment to Virginia Tech didn't deter other college coaches from pursuing Bishop Kearney (Rochester, N.Y.) tight end/defensive end Jerome Lewis. According to the 6-4, 230-pound rising senior, three programs - Colorado, Oklahoma and Penn State - offered after he committed to Tech back on May 26th. He has been firm on his commitment, though, and seems set on following through and signing with Frank Beamer and company.
more

2009 Virginia Tech Football Preview: Running Backs
August 13, 2009
On Tuesday, Tech fans got the disturbing news that Darren Evans has been lost for the season with a torn ACL. The Hokies lose a player who rushed for over 1,200 yards a season ago, and they must replace him with inexperienced players. Those players have a lot of natural ability, and the upcoming scrimmages will decide how the depth chart shakes out heading into the Alabama game.
more

Countdown to Signing Day: 2010 Class Almost Full
August 12, 2009
Even though football season hasn't begun yet, the Hokies are almost finished with their 2010 recruiting class, which doesn't sign until February. Chris Horne updates us on who has already committed to Tech, and who else is on the radar.
more

2009 ACC Football Preview: North Carolina
August 12, 2009
North Carolina is a very talented football team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Butch Davis has been able to recruit very good players to Chapel Hill, and they hope to challenge for the Coastal Division title this year. The Tar Heels will have to replace three NFL wide receivers, and that will be a challenge.
more

Darren Evans Tears ACL, Will Miss 2009 Season
August 11, 2009
Virginia Tech announced Tuesday evening that starting tailback Darren Evans tore the ACL in his left knee in practice Tuesday and will miss the 2009 season. Evans had already sprained the knee previously Friday in practice.. Evans used a redshirt year in 2007, and his injury opens the door for redshirt freshman Ryan Williams, redshirt sophomore Josh Oglesby, and true freshman David Wilson to step up and contribute.
more

Menchville Star Rising Junior Claims Six Offers
August 11, 2009
Clifton Richardson, a 6-1, 195-pound rising junior who has seen action at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, free safety and returner for Menchville (Newport News, VA), figures to be an important piece if the Monarchs are to rebound from three consecutive 2-8 seasons. A confident Richardson believes the team can be in for a breakout year.
more

2009 Virginia Tech Football Preview: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
August 11, 2009
Last year, Virginia Tech had to get through the entire season with a group of wide receivers who had never played a down in a college game. It was a struggle, and the passing game was non-existent for much of the year as a result. This year there is more experience, as well as a few talented backups who are ready to step up.
more

Star Defensive End Discusses Final Five
August 10, 2009
Roanoke Rapids (N.C.) star defensive end Kareem Martin narrowed his list of schools to five last week. While he doesn't appear close to committing anywhere, one thing is for certain...he'll play college football in the ACC. Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia Tech made the short list for the 6-6, 240-pound rising senior.
more

2009 Preseason Practice Report: Smooth Sailing, So Far
August 10, 2009
The Virginia Tech football team will practice in full pads for the first time this afternoon, but there is already plenty of information flowing out of Blacksburg. Some comes from the newspapers, and some comes from our sources. We'll summarize it all in our first preseason practice report of the 2009 season.
more

2009 ACC Football Preview: Miami
August 10, 2009
Miami returns a lot of experience, and they should be better at just about every position on the field. They will have some experience at quarterback and wide receiver this year, unlike last year, and they have two capable running backs in Graig Cooper and Javarris James. They also have arguably the best offensive lineman in the ACC in left tackle Jason Fox.
more
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