Virginia Tech released its 2008 football schedule and that means it’s time for me to make my annual pre-preseason predictions. Last year, I predicted a 10-2 regular season, which is what the Hokies ended up with. However, I missed two games: I predicted a win against Boston College and loss against Virginia. Other than that, I was pretty much dead on. Don’t believe me? Click here to read last season’s previews.

First, an overview of how I think the Hokies will shape up next season.

(Editors note: vatechhokies50 pointed out that I conveniently left out the QB situation. I was planning on writing a more detailed blog about that later, but I still should have addressed it to some degree here. So, what follows is an addition to the original article.)

Let’s begin with the quarterback situation. We all know that rising r-Sr. Sean Glennon and rising So. Tyrod Taylor will be back. What we do not know is whether there will still be a dual-QB system in place. I have a hard time believing that Glennon will be the starter next season or even split much time. Tyrod is the future of this team and the future is now. Even when the team had four all-conference caliber receivers, Bryan Stinespring didn’t use them and Glennon is supposedly the more traditional pocket passer. So, if you factor in the team is without experienced receivers; has a huge and strong offensive line; and a crowded backfield - that just screams a return to the power running game, which screams for a mobile quarterback, ergo … T-Mobile, a.k.a. Tyrod Taylor.

Let’s face facts … the dual-QB system was fun while it lasted, but sustained success is highly unlikely, especially with a lot of new faces on the offense this season. You can’t have a bunch of newbies learning two sets of offensive game plans, you need to simplify. Running is about as simple as it gets. Center snaps ball. QB hands ball to RB. RB runs with ball. As Peyton Manning said in his United Way commercials … “This ain’t rocket science.”

Tyrod should be the starter next season and Glennon will be a great … well, a very good … backup QB if he’s needed. It is absolutely absurd to think that you wouldn’t have Tyrod on the field as much as possible after the way he played last season. But that’s just my opinion.

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Shane! I think the X-factor that I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere is that this marks the first time in the Beamer Bowl Era (circa 1993, my freshman year) that Tech fans will get to take a shot at FSU. This is the first time since we arrived on the scene that fans will be able to show the ‘Noles a whole other level of football madness and crowd noise. They have heard about it, but even the teams who say they are prepared for it and that it won’t affect them, let it affect them.I truly believe that this game will rival the ‘99 Syracuse and ‘03 Miami game in terms of crowd participation. It is perfect Blacksburg weather and I feel a storm rising in Lane Stadium and it will come crashing down on the ‘Noles with one relentless wave after another pounding away at their game plan, their confidence and their morale. I envision post game interview with FSU players shaking their heads in disbelief while sunken back in their lockers repeating the words, “Man, they were loud. I couldn’t hear anything. I’ve never played in a stadium like that.”

I see Weatherford, huddled in the trainers room, flinching every time he hears footsteps coming around corner, shellshocked from the brutality he just endured.

I see Deddy Bowden on the phone with son Tommy who is consoling his dad, telling him that it is okay and at least they didn’t lose on their home field … again.

I see Beamer slapping that monkey on this back and we can quote him saying “It’s about damn time, isn’t it?” and the whole press corps will burst out in laughter, which will lead the SportsCenter highlights.

I see Glennon and Tmobile grinning ear to ear while being asked questions about their dual backfield set in the red zone with the direct snap to Tmobile who rolls right while Glennon slips through the line undetected and into the middle where Tmobile delivers a perfect strike to Glennon who falls across the goal line for what proves to be the game-winning TD. This highlight is a landslide winner of the Pontiac Game Changing Performance.

Lastly, when Bowden finally retires, he will cite Lane Stadium as the toughest road game he, or any other coach, has ever played in. The guys at Tailgatefever.com rejoice and all legally change their names to Beamerball Forever.

Hmmmm, that might be a bit too much to ask for. How about a double digit win? No? A win? OK, it’s settled, we’ll win. Who cares what the score is.

I like Virginia Tech’s chances against undefeated and No. 2 ranked Boston College Thursday night, but I am honestly surprised, given the Hokies struggles on offense, that they opened as a 3-point favorite. There can be only one explanation for the line … Lane Stadium.

If this game were at Boston College, the Eagles would most certainly be favored. The only reason, in my mind, that the Hokies aren’t the dog in this game is because of the fans that will pack Lane Stadium Thursday night and make it damn near impossible for the Eagles to hear anything.

And it is no secret that the Hokies, particularly their defense, feed off of the crowd’s energy. I have seen many games at Lane over the last 15 years, but I can’t recall a game in which the Hokies defense responded more to the Hokie faithful than the 1999 demolishing of Syracuse. The Orangemen (at the time) were talking trash during the week before the game about how they were going to be the team that made redshirt freshman Michael Vick look like the freshman he truly was. Uh huh.

Tech proceeded to place its hand on the forhead of the Orangemen and kept them a safe distance away whilst they swung furiously, yet fruitlessly at the Hokies. Tech merely hopped and skipped its way to a 62-0 beatdown in the “Terror Dome.” I remember the crecendo of the crowd’s excitement building with each big sack, each interception, each bone crusching hit. And watching the defense build on the crowd noise to make even bigger plays. It was one of the most amazing home games I have ever seen in terms of a team feeding off of the crowd’s energy.

I hope that the Tech defense - and the fans - come to play Thursday night. The offense is in flux, especially with the quarterback situation being what it is, so I have a feeling that the defense will determine the outcome of this game. If they show up and play like they’ve been playing since the LSU game, then BC is likely in for a long night. But if they struggle, I am not so optimistic about our odds.

I do take solice in the knowledge that Tech is 13-2 (if memory serves correctly) on Thursday night ESPN football games. Of course, in the same breath, both of the those losses came against Boston College; once in 1995 at home and again last season at BC.

One we get past all of the obligatory I-AA upset warnings, let’s get take a look at what we can truly expect at tomorrow’s game. With no disrespect intended toward William and Mary, and assuming this game plays out as expected (a Hokie romp), what can the Hokies do in this game to get better heading into their first ACC game the following week?

Obviously you want Tyrod Taylor in the game long enough to develop a rhythm with the offense, especially the receivers, all of whom must be salivating at the possibilities now evident with a more mobile and exciting quarterback under center. At the same time, you don’t want to keep him in too long and run the risk of him getting hurt.

I fully expect the Hokie offense to come firing on all cylinders and just pound the Tribe defense (which is pretty bad statistically) into an early submission. Tyrod will probably run wild at times, picking up 20 yard gains. I think when it’s over, T-Mobile will have more than 100 yards rushing, not to mention the big numbers he’ll put up in the passing game. If he threw for 287 against Ohio, imagine what he can do against a I-AA team that went 3-8 last year. Scary.

Don’t forget Tech’s defense, which smothered the Bobcast last weekend. They might pitch a shutout in this game. And I certainly expect they will probably put up some points off turnovers.

This game should allow the coaches to get some young players some quality playing time. And I would even argue that Frank Beamer should keep Sean Glennon on the sideline. Not as punishment, but because he is graduating in December and probably won’t be back next season, so why not let Cory Holt, who will likely be back, get some quality snaps so we have another “mobile” quarterback in case … well, I’m not even going to say it. Suffice it to say that Holt is more like Tyrod in terms of the ability to escape pressure than Glennon, who, by the way, didn’t beat Holt out by much last season. Plus, from all accounts, Holt has never put himself before the team.

It makes sense to me that if the offensive line gets comfortable with how Tyrod is playing and moving around and the o-line is adjusting to his style of play, why not go with the backup QB who has a similar style, that way the o-line doesn’t have to make as many adjustments.

We’ll probably see more of Jahre Cheeseman as the backup tailback behind Ore and Kenny Lewis, Jr. Ore, who is nursing some sore ribs, probably won’t see much time in this game. What’s the point? Give him enough carries to keep him active, but don’t risk further injury right before you enter the ACC schedule. And Lewis, Jr., has been tearing it up lately! He ran wild over Ohio and showed some explosiveness and speed that I don’t think many expected to see.

This will be a good opportunity for Tyrod to mature a little more and develop some timing with the offense, but the quality of the opponent won’t do much to prepare him for the likes of Miami, Florida State, Clemson and Boston College. Then again, T-Mobile didn’t look too flustered by the LSU defense and if he doesn’t get flustered by a defense with eight legitimate NFL draft picks, then I don’t imagine there are many teams that will intimidate him.

On Jan. 6, 2007, I wrote an article (”A Preview of the 2007 Virginia Tech Football Season”) previewing how I thought the 2007 Virginia Tech football season would play out - click here to read the original article. So far, I am 2-for-2, and I have to say, I seemed to know what I was talking about … Hey! There’s a first time for everything!

Here’s what I wrote about the Hokies’ first two games of this season:

East Carolina
Win (1-0): But I think it’ll be ugly as Tech QB (whoever it is) will struggle, either because it’s Glennon (who struggles naturally), or it’s a new QB (Whitaker or Tyrod Taylor) making his first career start.

@LSU
Loss (1-1): Finally, Tech plays a heavyweight on the road at the beginning of the season! Unfortunately, I think Tech gets manhandled, likely on national television. Of course, if LSU’s monster QB (6-6, 260) JaMarcus Russell leaves for the NFL draft, which he’s likely to do, then Tech might be able to hang tough. But if Russell stays, forget about it! Either way, Tech loses on the road. Kudos, though, for a quality opponent this early in the season.

So, as I mentioned in my article earlier today, I saw the blowout coming and had more than eight months to prepare myself, which probably explains why I am not as upset as I normally would be following a loss. Now, what did I say about the Ohio game? Read on, my friends, read on!

Ohio University
Win (2-1): You’d thinks this would be a great rebound game and confidence-builder for the Hokies; coming home against a cupcake, right? Well, not so fast, let’s take a closer look at Ohio. They finished 9-4 during the regular season, with a chance to make it 10 on Jan. 7 against Southern Miss. in the GMAC Bowl. Granted, Frank Solich’s team didn’t beat anyone worth noting, but they still won nine games. However, an even closer look at their roster reveals some trouble for 2007. They lose 11 seniors on offense, including their starting quarterback, two starting receivers, their backup running back, two offensive linemen and three tight ends. The only bright spot for the Bobcats is their RB Kalvin McRae, who will be a senior next season. He led the team in rushing (1,215), receiving (280) and points (98). The good news is, Ohio is a run-first offense, which Tech can generally handle. It’s the passing game that usually kills the Hokies (especially the tight end over the middle).

I will revisit my January predictions after each game and see if I have a future in legal gambling, or if I should just shut up! Only time will tell, my fellow Hokies fans. Until next Saturday (or whenever I write my next column), be safe and GO HOKIES!

It is no secret that the Hokies have a tough defense that should keep them in just about any game, including this Saturday’s matchup against No. 2 LSU. The question most Hokie fans are asking is “can our offensive line get the job done against an equally talented defense?” After the offensive line’s woeful performance against ECU in last Saturday’s game, I am more than a little concerned.

The Tech offense managed 33 yards rushing on 31 attempts. Do the math people, that’s a little more than a yard per carry … against ECU. No offense to ECU, but the Hokies should be able to put up more than 33 yards on the ground against ECU. To make matters worse, of those 33 yards, 9 of them came on Tech’s longest run of the day - 9 yards. So, take that one rush away and you have 30 attempts and just 24 yards - less than a yard per carry.

Kudos to the Tech coaching staff for recognizing their weakness on the offensive line, because they adjusted and attempted 33 passes, most of which were little dump offs or screens that essentially served as short yardage runs of 3-5 yards. I know some of you will say, “but Tech averages 7 yards a pass play,” but take away the three big pass plays to Wheeler and Hyman and the average takes a significant nose dive.

Granted, ECU is no slouch - this is a team that held West Virginia to less than 150 yards total offense last season. The Pirates are a good team and came ready to play. So a lot of credit goes to the ECU defense. However, that doesn’t excuse the fact that the Hokies have serious problems up front.

Take the ECU sack of Glennon when the left defensive end came in unblocked for a clean shot on Sean. Three Hokies, including the right tackle, blocked one defensive lineman, leaving the left end untouched on his way to forcing a fumble. And on the running plays, the line was not getting any kind of push up front. If anything, they were getting pushed back behind the line of scrimmage.

Finally, I want to give some credit to Sean Glennon, who played one of the best games of his career. It was unspectacular, but from Glennon, that is what we want. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 245 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Of course, I am sure I wasn’t alone in thinking, “Oh Lord, here we go again” when Glennon threw the interception on the first play of the game. But, he got right back in there and went 21 of 32 the rest of the way including three deep balls; two to TE Sam Wheeler and a should-have-been touchdown for Josh Hyman (see the highlight video if you missed it). Glennon showed poise, touch and toughness while steadying the ship and guiding the Hokies to a respectable 10-point win.

Going into Saturday’s game at LSU, though, the Hokies will need to play much better than they showed against ECU. I can only hope that they have more tricks in the bag and were just hiding their playbook against the Pirates. I do know this; making the kind of drastic improvements from one week to the next, especially on the offensive line, is pretty tough. And if they don’t make the changes in time, the Hokies will be in for a long night in Baton Rouge.