After 2 1/2 seasons in which the offense took the starring role, things appear to be back to normal for the Hokies this spring.
The defense returns nine players who started last year and could be one of Bud Foster's best units in 17 seasons as the coordinator. On the other hand, the offense has some serious holes to fill, although one of the nation's top quarterbacks does return for his second year as a starter.
"We have a lot of work to do," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "The biggest thing is the offensive line; we have a lot of new guys there. We're trying to get it into a unit that develops."
Center Andrew Miller is the only returning starter up front, although left tackle Nick Becton does offer two years of experience as a reserve to Andrew Lanier. Otherwise, the O-line is a collection of conundrums and confusion.
Will Vinston Painter realize his enormous physical potential and replace Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner Blake DeChristopher at right tackle? Can David Wang jump off the injured list last year to the starting lineup at right guard this year? Where does Georgia transfer Brent Benedict figure into the picture?
Line coach Curt Newsome and offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring hope to have the answers by the time the Maroon-White spring game concludes April 21. Otherwise, junior Logan Thomas might absorb a lot of punishment at quarterback, which would be a death knell for the Hokies offense.
There are also worries about running back, where a freshman is all but assured of starting on opening night against Georgia Tech, and tight end, where no one really knows who will emerge with the starting job.
But it's what's up front that counts this spring. Virginia Tech fans are nervously hoping the answers are found before the team convenes in August.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Position changes are usually a staple of spring camps as coaches try to experiment with familiar faces in different places. But the secondary is undergoing a total makeover, aside from junior Kyle Fuller staying at field cornerback. Rover Antone Exum is moving to Jayron Hosley's boundary corner spot, while corner Kyshoen Jarrett is switching to free safety. Redshirt sophomore Detrick Bonner, who started four games last year and acquitted himself well, is changing from cornerback to rover.
--Sophomore LB Chase Williams is getting first-team reps this spring, but that's not the big story in his family. He's the son of Gregg Williams, suspended indefinitely for his role in the New Orleans' Saints bounty scandal. Gregg Williams was the Saints' defensive coordinator who signed off on a program to monetarily reward players for knocking opponents out of games. Virginia Tech has made Chase Williams off-limits to the media this spring.
--With a lot of uncertainty in the offensive line after the loss of four starters to graduation, this will be a critical spring for last year's backups/redshirts. Fifteen good practices could land them atop the depth chart for August. The Hokies must also identify replacements for single-season rushing leader David Wilson at tailback and NFL-bound cornerback Jayron Hosley, although history suggests they have capable players on hand to fill the gaps. The kicking game, which was perhaps the shakiest last year in coach Frank Beamer's quarter-century, will get plenty of work as well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
OG Brent Benedict -- A transfer from Georgia, Benedict is seen by many as a guy who should be able to help the graduation-riddled offensive line replace four starters. The coaches have switched him from tackle to guard, feeling his 6-foot-5, 311-pound frame is more suited to playing on the inside. If Benedict can stay healthy and play to his potential, he's likely to fill Greg Nosal's vacated spot at left guard.
OT Vinston Painter -- It's now or never for this redshirt senior. Painter is one of the best athletes on the team but has never been able to earn consistent playing time for one reason or another. A workout warrior in the offseason, Painter can earn Blake DeChristopher's old spot at right tackle. If he can come close to duplicating DeChristopher's play of last year, the coaches will be thrilled.
TE Duan Perez-Means -- With a plethora of talented defensive ends keeping him off the field, Perez-Means was more than agreeable to moving to offense this spring. Tight end is a position of need for the Hokies as they lost starter Chris Drager to graduation and don't have anyone who's a cinch to replace him. If Perez-Means can master the blocking schemes and prove to be an average receiver, he could see the field in game situations come September.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
2012 OUTLOOK: Despite heavy personnel losses on offense, including the program's single-season rushing leader (David Wilson) and its top two receivers in terms of catches (Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale), the Hokies are still expected to win the ACC's Coastal Division for the sixth time in eight years. They are rolling the dice on another difficult season opener for the fourth time in five years, hosting Georgia Tech on Labor Day night. Tech lost tough opening games in 2008 (East Carolina), 2009 (Alabama) and 2010 (Boise State). The Hokies don't appear to be as good as ACC champ Clemson or Florida State going into the spring, but they have won ACC titles in the past with less talent than they possess right now. How they replace eight starters on offense will be critical.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Junior QB Logan Thomas will be a big-time NFL prospect in a year or two, although his numbers this year might not reflect it. A prototype pro signal caller at 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Thomas has a big-league arm and surprising straight-line speed, plus the power to carry tacklers for yards at a time, Tim Tebow-style.
What he doesn't have around him is much experience. While the receiving corps of D.J. Coles, Dyrell Roberts and Marcus Davis should carry on nicely in the absence of Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale, the big questions are at tailback and offensive line. Tech must replace David Wilson and his 1,709 yards along with four starters in the line.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Last year may have been Bud Foster's best work. The long-time coordinator worked around injury after injury, always fielding a unit which ran, hit and made plays. All those injuries have built amazing depth for this year's stop squad, which returns nine full-time starters and a handful of guys who started between one and four games. The Hokies should generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks and can count on CB Kyle Fuller, one of the ACC's breakout performers last year, to lead the secondary. If LBs Bruce Taylor and Tariq Edwards return to full strength in the fall, the defense could compare with the 2005-06 teams which led the nation in total defense.
SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: This was a constant source of frustration last season for Tech. Its punters were 108th in net average, the team didn't block a punt all year against FBS competition and its accurate placekicker might not appear in its uniform again after being arrested before Christmas. Coach Frank Beamer, who made his reputation on owning the kicking game, is just hoping to find some level of competence on his roster this spring. This is one situation which figures to spill over into August before answers are identified.
TOP NEWCOMERS
WR Joel Caleb -- A high school quarterback, Caleb wants to be a wide receiver in college. At 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, he could be similar to Jarrett Boykin, the all-time leading receiver in Hokies history who finished with184 receptions.
RB Trey Edmunds -- The son of former NFL tight end Ferrell Edmunds, he rushed for 2,596yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior. He's also so good on defense that the coaching staff is talking about using him on both sides of the ball to take full advantage of his skills.
DE Ken Ekanem -- Although his stock dropped slightly after an ACL tear in December, Ekanem is a potential game-changer with his ability to get after the quarterback. Should he rehabilitate from his injury quickly enough, he could see the field this year, although the Hokies are deep on the D-line.
ROSTER REPORT
--LB Tariq Edwards (tibia) had a rod inserted in his leg on March 20 and will miss spring practice. Head trainer Mike Goforth expects Edwards, who had 71 tackles while starting all 14 games last year, to miss 3-to-4 months and be ready for August drills.
--RB Tony Gregory (knee) will not participate in contact drills during the spring after being injured in the Sugar Bowl. Gregory's injury comes at a really bad time for the senior as he figured to be the No. 1 guy this spring prior to the injury.
--LBs Bruce Taylor and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (Lisfranc fractures) are in blue jerseys this spring, signifying limited contact. Both were hurt last October and hope to be100 percent in August; they will start as long as they are healthy.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"The next time, don't let it get into an official's
hands. Let's take care of things ourselves." -- Beamer, still rankled by
a Sugar Bowl loss to Michigan in which Pac-12 replay officials took
away Danny Coale's go-ahead touchdown catch in OT, leading to a missed
field goal which set up the Wolverines' winning field goal.
