08/27/2008 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 17th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies have their eyes on another ACC title and BCS Bowl and begin their quest for the latter with their season-opener in Charlotte on Saturday, against the East Carolina Pirates.
Frank Beamer's Hokies captured their second conference crown in four years and a spot in the Orange Bowl, winning 11 games in the process. Although the postseason clash with Kansas did not go in Tech's favor (24-21 loss), it was still a highly successful campaign in Blacksburg.
Skip Holtz's Pirates came together last season winning eight games and finishing second in Conference USA's East Division at 6-2. With a winning record to end the regular season, ECU earned a spot in the Hawaii Bowl and was involved in one of the more entertaining bowl games, taking a 41-38 decision over Boise State. There is plenty of reason for optimism in Greenville this season, as the Pirates are predicted to vie for the conference crown once again, prompting the university brass to award Holtz a new contract extension through 2013.
This will be the 14th all-time meeting between these two teams, with Virginia Tech holding a 9-4 advantage. Tech has won six straight in the series, including a 17-7 victory in last year's season-opener.
Offensively, the Hokies were nothing special in 2007. With six starters returning to this side of the field in 2008, the hope is that the numbers will improve significantly.
The quarterback position was loaded, with senior Sean Glennon and sophomore Tyrod Taylor. Both signal-callers played last season and while Glennon was the more polished passer (.609 completion percentage, 1,796 yards and 12 TDs), Taylor was more of a duel threat, passing for almost 1,000 yards and rushing for over 400, accounting for a combined 11 TDs. It was not an easy decision by any stretch of the imagination, but Coach Beamer has recently decided to go with Glennon under center, while redshirting Taylor. Senior Cory Holt will now serve as Glennon's backup in 2008.
"This is what we think is in our best interest for the long term," Beamer said. "Tyrod would benefit from another year of learning and this is our plan for now."
There is uncertainty in the receiving corps, where Tech must replace its top four pass catchers. A youth movement is in order and the Hokies will open the season hoping that redshirt freshman Danny Coale (6-0, 203) and true freshman Dyrell Roberts (6-1, 183) can ignite the vertical game.
Beamer is likely to give a few youngsters a crack at producing on the ground as well, with veteran Branden Ore being dismissed from the team in the spring. Redshirt freshmen Darren Evans (6-0, 215) and Josh Oglesby (5-11, 211) and prized recruit Ryan Williams (5-10, 200) could see significant carries this year, although junior Kenny Lewis has recovered from a spring injury (shoulder) and is slated to start to begin the season.
The Hokie defense returns just four starters from a year ago, but Beamer has always gotten the most out of this unit. Tech recorded five touchdowns on interception returns in 2007 so the return of cornerback Victor Harris (36 tackles, 11 PBUs, five INTs) and safety Kam Chancellor (79 tackles, seven PBUs, one INT) has to be viewed as a plus.
It is in the front seven where Tech will need to fill the most holes, including the loss of standout LBs Xavier Adibi (115 tackles,) and Vince Hall (100 tackles) and rush end Chris Ellis (53 tackles, 8.5 sacks). The Martin brothers will spearhead the attack in the front seven, with Orion (6-2, 252- pound end) getting attention along the frontline and Cam (6-1, 204 LB) responsible for the middle of the field. Another player of note up front will be sophomore end Jason Worilds (6.2, 252), who has played lights out in practice since the spring.
The Pirates enter this season with a pair of capable signal-callers in senior Patrick Pinkney and junior Rob Kass. Pinkney started five games last season and he is the more mobile of the two, rushing for 306 yards and a score, while throwing for 1,358 yards and 11 touchdowns. He will get the nod early on according to Holtz, who won't rule out Kass (1,164 yards and nine TDs last year).
"Right now Patrick will start. At this point, I don't know if you'll see two quarterbacks. It is nice to have two quarterbacks with the experience that we have. They have such different talents and that makes it very difficult for opposing defenses to prepare for us."
Tailback Chris Johnson was sensational for the Pirates last season, combining for 2,960 all-purpose years, but has now taken his talents to the NFL. ECU will plug in Brandon Simmons. The 6-1, 225-pound Simmons is a physical back that has scored five times in just 53 carries at ECU and will be given every opportunity to be the top back in 2008.
As for the wide receiver corps, it has a good mix of athletes, highlighted by the return of Jamar Bryant. The 6-1, 210-pound junior led the team with 48 catches for 704 yard and six touchdowns last year.
ECU led C-USA with 31 takeaways last season and with nine starters back in the fold, this unit figures to be among the best in the league yet again.
The defensive line is the strength, led by ends Zack Slate and C.J. Wilson, who both earned all-league honors last season. The 6-5, 220-pound Slate has good speed and a non-stop motor and he logged 11.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 2007, while the 6-4, 271-pound Wilson emerged as a big time pass rusher last year, racking up 10.5 TFLs a team-high seven sacks.
The linebacking corps isn't nearly as strong as the line, but the team does return a couple of dependable senior starters in Pierre Bell (97 tackles) and Quentin Cotton (66 tackles, 9.5 TFLs).
The Pirates have some questions to answer in the secondary, but free safety Van Eskridge (6-0 junior) is not one of them, after converting from linebacker last year and leading the team in tackles (104).
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