Virginia Tech football associate head coach and running backs coach Shane Beamer spoke with Laken Litman of USA TODAY Sports about how the Hokies knocked off the Buckeyes last September. For a Virginia Tech fan, especially one that reads TKP, it isn't a particularly insightful read. We examined the Ohio State win corner to corner, but Litman's article helps to answer the, ZOMG, HOW DID A 7-6 TEAM THAT LOST TO WAKE FOREST BEAT OSU?, question for the average fan that didn't watch the game.
Without a doubt, Virginia Tech was the better team that night in the 'Shoe. That's Beamer's stance too. He follows up that point with the (valid, but tired) Virginia Tech injury narrative and cites close losses (three games by less than three points) to explain why Tech finished 7-6.
The somewhat interesting part to me was the early 2015, mini-preview of the improved Buckeyes.
"I certainly think the [Ohio State] offensive line has come along and has improved," he said. "We played them that night, then I saw them on video against Cincinnati because we played Cincinnati in a bowl game, and then the next time I watched Ohio State was when they played Alabama.
"I really hadn't paid much attention to them until the Alabama game, but their receivers are certainly improved and making a lot of plays, their offensive line has improved, which you would certainly expect because they had four new starters heading into their first game. And they had some young guys on defense that we saw that have just continued to get better. They're big and can run on defense and have just gotten more experienced."
According to Ohio State's latest depth chart, only one member of the Buckeyes stout o-line that pushed around Alabama, right tackle Darryl Baldwin, is a senior. The only other senior starters on offense are TE Jeff Heuerman (17 catches, 207 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Evan Spencer (15 catches, 149 yards, 3 TDs). Even though he's not listed as a starter, senior Devin Smith (32 catches, 886 yards, 12 TDs) is Ohio State's big play receiver.
The Buckeyes must replace 4 senior starters on defense, including likely first- or second-round draft pick defensive tackle Michael Bennett. However, Ohio State's top 4 tacklers per game all have another year of eligibility, and so does sack machine Joey Bosa (14.5).
Virginia Tech will have its hands full on Labor Day night. Ohio State returns mosts of its goods, recruited at an elite level (top 10 or better classes since 2011 according to the 247Sports Composite) and has its pick of quarterback among two Heisman vote-getters (B. Miller, M. Barrett) and Cardale Jones (who lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship and playoff win).
It's not all doom and gloom for the Hokies though. Phil Steele projects Virginia Tech to return 16 starters in 2015. That ranks the Hokies T-18th nationally and T-2nd in the ACC.
| RK | TEAM | CONF | TOTAL | OFF | QB | RB/FB | REC/TE | OL | DEF | DL | LB | DB's | K | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | North Carolina | ACC | 17 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Virginia Tech | ACC | 16 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Wake Forest | ACC | 16 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Pittsburgh | ACC | 15 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | Florida St | ACC | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 41 | NC State | ACC | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 60 | Georgia Tech | ACC | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 80 | Virginia | ACC | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 80 | Duke | ACC | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 102 | Syracuse | ACC | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 102 | Louisville | ACC | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 102 | Clemson | ACC | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 119 | Miami, Fl | ACC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 119 | Boston College | ACC | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Prospects have until January 15th to declare for the NFL Draft, but since Virginia Tech is not expected to have an early departures, that can only help Tech's rank.
Virginia Tech will have an early opportunity to prove doubters wrong—last year's Ohio State game wasn't a fluke—and validate injuries were a main cause of 2014's woes.
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