The college football season can be an emotional roller coaster, filled with many highs and lows. Four games into the 2014 season, the Virginia Tech Hokies have already felt the sensation of the highs, as well as the lows.
Up against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Horseshoe, the Hokies intercepted quarterback J.T. Barrett three times, including a nail in the coffin pick-six that led to the upset. Virginia Tech looked to be in great position to place a strangle hold on the Coastal Division.
Losses in consecutive weeks to East Carolina and Georgia Tech quickly knocked them off their high, all the way down to the basement of the division they seemed poised to take control of.
Logan Thomas was drafted into the NFL as the school’s all-time leading passer, despite never really coming close to repeating the success he had his first year as a starter in leading the Hokies to the Sugar Bowl and without him it was left upon transfer Michael Brewer to try and take the team to the next level.
The former Texas Tech quarterback has had a start to his VT career very reminiscent of his predecessor, showing the ability to throw the football up and down the field, but costly turnovers have overshadowed anything else he has been able to do. Brewer has thrown multiple interceptions in three-of-four games, and one in each game.
Outside of the turnovers the Hokies offense has been more productive under Brewer, averaging more yards per game both passing and rushing than they did a year ago. Ten turnovers in the first four games are unacceptable and overshadows the defense’s eight takeaways. As a grad student transfer with game experience it will be up to Brewer to right that ship (especially since he is responsible for 90% of the team’s turnovers).
But what will keep the Hokies in games as well as the ACC race for the remainder of the season is something that shouldn’t be any surprise: their defense. Despite what the last two games may look like, the defense has kept true to their game and a silver lining can be found in every negative so far.
Despite being torched for 427 yards by East Carolina’s Shane Carden, he completed less than 50% of his passes. On the season, opposing quarterbacks have only completed 41% of their passes against the Hokie defense. Carden completed only 48%, the highest total by anyone who has started against VT this season (Christian Brumbaugh completed one-of-two passes for William & Mary).
The front seven and secondary have done a great job feeding off of each other, as the Hokies have registered 16 sacks on the season and while they have only intercepted three passes, they have been credited with 25 pass breakups.
Chase Williams has done a little bit of everything, leading the team with 33 tackles, registering 2.5 sacks, 9 quarterback hits and 2 pass breakups. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have one of the best cornerbacks in the nation in Kendall Fuller, who himself has been credited for nine of the team’s pass breakups.
Virginia Tech may seem to be down and out right now. They let two winnable games slip out of their hands, allowing 10 points in the last two minutes against Georgia Tech, but they should be far from counted out. The defense is that good. Despite similar numbers from a year ago, the offense is ahead of its predecessor.
The Coastal Division may come down to the last week of the season, and furthermore the division champion could be determined by whoever avoids the tough Atlantic Division opponents. The Hokies don’t have either Florida State or Clemson on the schedule this year, so all’s not lost after one game of conference play.
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