Surely every preseason article mentioning Hokies that you read will mention the holes that Virginia Tech needs to fill for the 2008 season.  Clearly there are questions at tailback, wide receiver, and a couple spots on defense that need a solid player to step up.  However, since all of the other articles speak of holes, I’m taking the opposite stance.

Questions that don’t need answered:

Quarterback
Everyone thinks there is a question to be answered here.  If you spend you day browsing college football blogs, as I do, you’ll find an array of thoughts claiming we’ll only use Glennon this year and redshirt Tyrod Taylor to save his eligibility for an extra year, or that Tyrod Taylor has been pronounced the starter.  None of these rumors is true as of yet.

Beamer said he would prefer to just use one quarterback, but that he is keeping an open mind heading into fall practice.  Clearly the two QB shuffling system that we used the last several games of the regular season proved functional and even exceptional at times (see Tyrod Taylor, FSU, 2007 - 3rd and 31).  But Beamer is approaching this the right way, so the fans need to sit down and let him choose what is best for the team.

I expect we’ll see both Glennon and Tyrod Taylor getting playing time at the beginning of the season.  Perhaps they’ll do the two play dance like they did last season; perhaps they’ll alternate series; or perhaps the coaches will even wait to see who is on their game on a particular day.  Whatever the decision, I expect we’ll only have one primary quarterback by the end of the season.  You already know my vote, but I’ll be happy as long as the team is functioning—tandem or not.

There is no question at quarterback.  We have two experienced quarterbacks better than most in the ACC; we are the envy of quite a few teams I’d imagine.

Offensive Line
There is always shuffling among positions in the trenches, but this year we have something to smile about.  For the first time in a long time, we might actually have a pretty decent Oline.  With four starters returning from a line that was firing on all cylinders at the end of last season, we should do right well.

Only time will tell if we can get a solid two deep on the line.  It would be nice to have several capable backups to give our guys breathers/replace an injured fellow.

Defensive Line
Last year Dline wasn’t as solid as years past, but with Hall and Adibi filling the gaps there really wasn’t a problem.  I expect the defensive line to improve significantly this year over a line that was still better than average in 2007.  Bud Foster…nuf said.

Shutdown Corner
Macho looked like a beast in the spring game, so I can’t wait to see him in the practices, scrimmages, and games coming up.  He was great in 2007 and the only thing that will change is that he’ll be better.  By passing up the draft, I know he’s coming to play.  This is his year to terrorize the star offensive players in the ACC, make a name for himself, and move himself into the first round on the draft board.

That’s certainly not everything, but its most of the key spots.  There is talent at every position, but there might not be much experience yet.  As with every team, every year we need some guys to step in and fill some holes.  How well and quickly they do will determine whether we go 8-4 or 11-1 (I’m not telling which is the loss I expect).

Oh yeah, and something about Kam Chancellor knocking a guy cold on the field in 2008.

Certainly the Coastal division is not getting the credit for having solid teams like the Atlantic side.  Why?  I don’t know; why did ESPN love Matt Ryan for no particular reason (19 ints and a passer rating of 5th in the ACC).

The Coastal is in a rebuilding year, but so is the Atlantic.  The Coastal is breaking in new coaches, but so is the Atlantic.  The divisions are 2-2 for the ACC title since the expansion (Go Hokies).  So why does the media project this gap?  It really doesn’t make sense and, in fact, doesn’t really exist.

Teamwise

Miami
Miami is busy collecting their 5 star freshmen and deciding which, of the thousands, will get playing time this season.  Look for Miami to be in the running for the Championship game.  They’re still a year or two away from prime, but that doesn’t mean that they’re a year or two away from being ACC Champs.  If they come together, they have a legitimate shot.

Georgia Tech
The media frowns on Georgia Tech with its new fangled option offense.  How will it work against BCS schools?  You idiots, when He who shall not be named implemented the system at Navy they actually played BCS schools….duh.  Did it work out for Navy?  Well, they almost didn’t suck for a little while and then someone bought their coach.  GT needs to hold on to the football this season and they’ll pull down some wins.  Unless they take everyone by surprise, their odds aren’t good.

North Carolina
Not a shot.  Do you hear me?  Not a shot.  I’m not saying they won’t be better, but they’re still not good enough, not deep enough. They may even pull the upset against Virginia Tech since they get us early in the season and have proven they can hang with us.  However, they can’t win enough big games in the ACC to have a chance to go to Tampa.

Prediction

Virginia Tech.  Need I say more?

Odds
(to get there, not to win)

Duke 100:1
UVA 35:1
UNC 20:1
GT 15:1
“U” 10:1
VT 2:1

It’s a nice wish to try to look at the schedule and see all W’s, but a better goal is to defend the ACC title.  Preseason hype and predictions are drooling over Clemson, just like last year and the year before…Besides, who am I to say they’re not good enough to win the conference?  …just an outspoken fan who happens to have a popular outlet for my opinions.  But, mark it down Clemson will not win the 2008 ACC Championship game.  I have my doubts that they’ll actually even make it to Tampa.

Turmoil in the Atlantic

Who do I pick from the Atlantic division then?  Well, I have a tempting thought leaning toward Florida State.  I know, I know, rebuilding, suspensions, and turmoil surround Tallahassee, but I just figure that its motivation. 

According to popular opinion, FSU only has to leave the state of Florida three times all season (and strangely enough, that could include the ACC Championship game and Orange bowl if the chips fall for them).  That’s a pretty wild occurrence for any BCS team.

Look at all the positive arguments for FSU.
Quarterback controversy – left with Xavier Lee to the NFL Draft
Running Back – returns
Leading Receivers – return
Defense – a lot of returning starters

Well, I was going to pick FSU until I read an article the other day detailing all of the holes the team has to fill this year, particularly on the offensive line.  The story is the same at Clemson, unless these O-lines can shape up, these teams can’t win the ACC.

That leaves who? Wake? Georgia Tech? BC?

It’s hard to tell what will happen.  Most preseason reports claim that the Atlantic division is so strong that anyone can win it.  I beg to differ.  I believe the problem is that there aren’t two key teams that plan to fight it out for the chance to go to Tampa.  It’s not that all the teams are so good that you can’t pick one; it’s that none of them are good enough to lock down the mid-packers and rise to the occasion.

I tried to go through and make results predictions, but in the Atlantic its just too messy (you’re getting odds instead).  There will be a big pile of 8-4s and 7-5s sitting atop the standings.  Whichever team can come together and get that extra ACC win will get to visit Tampa.

Odds
(to get there, not to win)

BC – 12:1
Clem – 9:1
Wake – 6:1
FSU – 5:1
Mary – 20:1
NCST – 50:1

2008 ACC Team by Team Football Schedules
2008 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game (Tampa)—Saturday, Dec. 6

Boston College
Aug. 30 at Kent State (Cleveland)
Sept. 6 Georgia Tech
Sept. 20 UCF
Sept. 27 Rhode Island
Oct. 4 at NC State
Oct. 18 Virginia Tech
Oct. 25 at North Carolina
Nov. 1 Clemson
Nov. 8 Notre Dame
Nov. 15 at Florida State
Nov. 22 at Wake Forest
Nov. 29 Maryland

Clemson
Aug. 30 Alabama (Georgia Dome)
Sept. 6 The Citadel
Sept. 13 NC State
Sept. 20 SC State
Sept. 27 Maryland
Oct. 9 at Wake Forest (Thu.)
Oct. 18 Georgia Tech
Nov. 1 at Boston College
Nov. 8 at Florida State
Nov. 15 Duke
Nov. 22 at Virginia
Nov. 29 South Carolina (more…)

I’ve always been a follower of Clark Ruhland’s work over at cruhland.com, but this time his “wallpaper of the month” is newsworthy here on the Tyrod Taylor Fansite. His ‘shoppin skills get more amazing every time I meander over to his site. This month’s [apparently June’s…] wallpaper features a very well done Tyrod Taylor image on a grayscale, blurry in-game background. Click on the image below to check it out full size and download a copy for yourself.

His other noteworthy wallpaper addition is a close up of a VT jersey…a pretty sweet pic.

Keep a watch on his site as he usually creates a wallpaper design for each football game. They don’t disappoint.

Well…love em or hate em, you don’t have much choice in the matter.  In the picture we have Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon and Kam Chancellor (looking like a beast, and a force to be reckoned with) sporting the new design.  Beamerball.com has a few more pics.