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A Look At Virginia Tech: Q&A With Tim Sullivan & Mike Barber

In previewing Virginia Tech, we spoke with Tim Sullivan of HokieHaven.com and Mike Barber, who covers the Hokies for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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TIM SULLIVAN

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Blue & Gold Illustrated: Evaluate the job done by first-year head coach Justin Fuente. Where has he really succeeded, and where does Virginia Tech still have the most room to improve?

Tim Sullivan: Fuente has done two things very well, and they're inter-related. He's done an outstanding job of honoring the past at Virginia Tech while still upgrading the offense in a big way. The traditions of defense and special teams are alive and well, and that's a credit to former head coach Frank Beamer (and Fuente's willingness to keep them priorities despite plenty of change on offense). Fuente gives the No. 25 that Beamer wore as a Hokie to a different player each week to honor the man who turned the program into what it is today. Then you have the offense, which Fuente imported to replace an outdated and conservative scheme. Bringing those aspects together has resulted in a program that's already ahead of where fans expected it to be under Fuente.

BGI: Virginia Tech was able to keep Bud Foster on as defensive coordinator. How important has that been to Tech’s success?

Sullivan: Foster’s retention has been a huge factor in maintaining that consistency on the defensive side of the ball, and almost serves as another nod to Frank Beamer in a way. A link to the best aspects of the recent past helps fans and the team itself make the transition from Beamer to Fuente a little more seamlessly. On top of that, Foster is of course one of the country's most-decorated defensive coordinators, and has kept VT's defense performing at a high level.

BGI: Jerod Evans has been very good this season at quarterback. What makes him effective?

Sullivan: Evans is a hyper-accurate passer when he's comfortable in the pocket, is smart enough with the ball to not turn it over through the air, and has the athleticism to make plays with his feet, either by play design or when passes aren't there. That's a pretty good combination. Lately, the explosive plays through the air have been a little more infrequent, with Evans nursing a minor ankle injury that has seen him show a little skittishness in the pocket. However, when he gets solid protection, his weapons allow him to be a difference-maker.

BGI: Who are the top weapons Virginia Tech has surrounding Evans on offense and what challenges do they present?

Sullivan: The VT run game has oscillated between poor and mediocre, so most of the weapons are in the passing game (though tailbacks Travon McMillian and Marshawn Williams can make plays when the offensive line allows it). Fortunately, a three-headed receiving corps of Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges, and Cam Phillips is a pretty good one. Ford is your classic pro-style receiver who can make plays all over the field. He's a couple good performances away from being the Hokies' all-time leading pass-catcher in just about every significant category, and is most likely bound for the NFL Draft at the conclusion of his junior season. Bucky Hodges is a former tight end who uses his 6-7 frame to be a serious jump-ball threat, and is rounding into a more consistent pass-catcher, too. He's also athletic enough to get some touches out of the backfield, something that's not often expected of players his height. Phillips is a classic slot receiver, used frequently on end-arounds and screens to the edge. He has the ability to make plays downfield as well, but is more of a guy that the Hokies want to get the ball to in space to let him make plays.

BGI: Defensively, where is Virginia Tech the strongest? Weakest?

Sullivan: The Hokies' defense is pretty solid throughout the lineup, though injury issues may slow them down a bit. Defensive tackle Nigel Williams has missed significant time in the middle of the season, and defensive back Greg Stroman suffered a scary-looking ankle injury against Duke and hasn't returned to the field yet. It's been scheme that has been the bigger issue. A scrambling quarterback (particularly out of more pro-style looks, rather than option-oriented schemes) has been a bugaboo, and VT's line and linebackers are too prone to giving up the edge. If they have a poor tackling day, it can mean major yardage for the opponent. A quick-strike passing game carries similar consequences: they have the defensive backs to hold up in coverage, but if they start missing tackles, it can lead to upset losses (like we saw against Syracuse earlier this Fall).

BGI: Virginia Tech has made some explosive plays on special teams this year, an improvement over recent years. What has been the key to that success?

Sullivan: The main special teams success has been primarily about the Jimmies and Joes rather than the Xes and Os. VT has the athletes to make explosive plays, and turns them loose to do just that. The question mark is the banged-up Greg Stroman, who is the primary kick and punt returner, and also has a blocked field goal to his credit. If he's at full strength, this unit is a potent one. VT also emphasizes going for blocks on punts and field goals, and simply prioritizing that effort with the explosive quickness of their players yields good results. There are trouble spots on the other side of the ball for the VT special teams, though. Punter Mitchell Ludwig has struggled bigtime, and kicker Joey Slye is automatic within 30 yards, but struggles outside that comfort zone.

MIKE BARBER

Blue & Gold Illustrated: Evaluate the job done by first-year head coach Justin Fuente. Where has he really succeeded, and where does Virginia Tech still have the most room to improve?

Barber: In his first season, Justin Fuente has delivered on the promise his hiring signaled to many Tech fans. He’s blended his high-powered offensive attack with Bud Foster’s traditionally stout defense. Fuente inherited a team with a variety of offensive weapons. He had talent on the outside with receivers Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips and Bucky Hodges and depth at running back with Travon McMillian, Marshawn Williams and Sam Rogers. Fuente and transfer quarterback Jerod Evans, then picked him to be the starter. Fuente has already extended the program’s bowl streak. If he takes Tech to the ACC title game and extends the win streak against U.Va., it’d be hard to call his first season in Blacksburg anything but a success.

BGI: Virginia Tech was able to keep Bud Foster on as defensive coordinator. How important has that been to Tech’s success?

Barber: Keeping Foster did two things. It gave Fuente’s program a link to Tech’s tradition and past, which was nice for some segments of the fan base. More importantly, it gave Fuente one of the nation’s top defensive minds. Instead of learning new systems on both sides of the ball, the Hokies had consistency on defense as Fuente installed his offense. The defense hasn’t played as well in the last few weeks as it did early in the year, but it’s still a capable unit that can be even more effective when the offense gives it an early lead.

BGI: Jerod Evans has been very good this season at quarterback. What makes him effective?

Barber: Evans has an undeniable skill sit, combining his size and running ability, with his arm strength and poise under fire. He’s also a perfect fit for Fuente’s offense. The system is similar to the attack he was in in junior college. He’s been able to make all the throws in the offense and has been able to run it, both on designed runs and scrambles, very effectively. The fact that he’s protecting the football has been huge for the Hokies. Evans has thrown just two interceptions this season.

BGI: Who are the top weapons Virginia Tech has surrounding Evans on offense and what challenges do they present?

Barber: Tech has its deepest and most versatile group of offensive skill players in years. Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips give the Hokies three star-caliber wide receivers. Ford is one of the most physically gifted receivers in the league, Hodges – a converted tight end – has the size and strength to be a matchup nightmare, and Phillips is a capable playmaker who often gets overlooked. Add in Travon McMillian, who rushed for 1,000 yards as a freshman, and Sam Rogers, a senior fullback who can line up just about anywhere, and you have an offensive coordinator’s dream stash of weapons.

BGI: Defensively, where is Virginia Tech the strongest? Weakest?

Barber: The defensive line might be the answer to both questions. The Hokies have played exceptionally well for most of the season up front, but have been banged up there in recent weeks. Defensive tackle Nigel Williams and defensive end Vinny Mihota are both nursing injuries. When the d-line is on, it’s a game-changer. Tackle Woody Baron is having a breakout season few predicted for him, and Ken Ekanem has been solid as the team’s top pass rushing defensive end. The weakness, all over the defense, is depth. For the most part, the unit has stayed healthy this season and that’s been vital.

BGI: Virginia Tech has made some explosive plays on special teams this year, an improvement over recent years. What has been the key to that success?

Barber: I think understanding special teams success is the simplest thing in college football. If you have talent, you’ll make big plays in special teams. Tech has more speed and athleticism this year and it’s showing up in the game’s third phase. Greg Stroman, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is an explosive returner and the Hokies have gotten back to their old Beamer Ball ways blocking kicks, both wide speed on the edge and athleticism and explosion on the inside. Fuente has made sure special teams have remained an emphasis for Tech’s program by, among other things, awarding one special teams standout each week the No. 25 to wear, honoring former coach Frank Beamer. It’s a new tradition the players have embraced.

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