Tech's odd trek to 6-1
BLACKSBURG Surveying the field at Duke last Saturday, Virginia Tech wide receiver Eddie Royal saw quarterback Sean Glennon playing behind an offensive line with Ed Wang at right tackle and Nick Marshman at left guard. It all looked so different, yet so familiar.
"That's what we thought we were going to be playing with," Royal said after Tech beat the Blue Devils 43-14 and gained 445 yards. "We finally had the explosion we were expecting all summer."
Really, the Hokies' expectations have changed little just past the halfway point this season. No. 11 Tech (3-0 ACC, 6-1) still has a good shot at cashing in its status as preseason ACC favorite. But it took a roundabout route to 6-1, using a lineup nobody envisioned.
Wang's broken left ankle in the preseason forced Marshman to play out of position at right tackle and caused the line to struggle. Needing a more mobile quarterback, Tech's coaches replaced Glennon with true freshman Tyrod Taylor, whom they wanted to redshirt.
Tech's offense has sputtered to 298.9 yards per game and a national rank of 112th -- the lowest of any top-25 team. Among the other teams in the top 15, the average total-offense rank is 29th.
Now, as Tech enjoys its only bye week, here comes another twist: Taylor has a high right ankle sprain, and his status for the next game, Oct. 25 against No. 3 Boston College, is uncertain.
Assessing the concrete, here are the best and worst from Tech's first seven games:
Team MVP
Xavier Adibi. The senior linebacker has 59 tackles, including 8.5 for losses, three sacks and one interception. You'll see him on Sundays next fall. For now, he'll be even more valuable, with fellow starting linebacker Vince Hall sidelined (broken left wrist).
Honorable mention: Despite missing the Duke game, Hall still leads the Hokies with 61 tackles, including five for losses and two sacks. Cornerback Brandon Flowers routinely shuts down opposing receivers and gets into the backfield. He has one interception, four pass break-ups and seven tackles for losses. Wide receiver Eddie Royal has two punt returns for touchdowns and gains 11.4 yards per offensive touch.
Most improved
Sam Wheeler. Last season, the tight end caught 13 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. This year, he has 14 for 206 and a touchdown. He is a viable threat on short routes when Tech's quarterback is under pressure -- a common occurrence this year.
Honorable mention: Whip linebacker Cam Martin moved from free safety in the spring and won the starting job. One of three new defensive starters, he has 31 tackles, including three sacks, and four pass-breakups.
Biggest disappointment
Branden Ore. Take out the 5 yards he gained against Wake Forest last season before leaving with a high ankle sprain, and Branden Ore averaged 102.9 rushing yards. His average this season: 52.9. Everyone knew the offensive line would struggle this season. No one figured Branden Ore would have such poor numbers.
Dishonorable mention: Right guard Sergio Render started every game last season as a true freshman but has struggled at times this season with always playing 100 percent.
Best drive
Tech's first possession against North Carolina on Sept. 29. In his first ACC start, Taylor took the Hokies 70 yards in seven plays, capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. The drive's highlight was the first play: a 53-yard double reverse by Royal.
Honorable mention: Tech led 31-15 with 10:27 left in the game at Clemson when the Hokies started a drive at their 12-yard line. Taylor marched Tech 58 yards in seven plays, including his 52-yard scramble on third down, and Jud Dunlevy ended the drive with a 47-yard field goal.
Most spectacular play
Victor Harris' 100-yard kickoff return at Clemson. Harris fielded the ball 3 yards deep in the end zone and hesitated just slightly before taking it all the way and somersaulting into the end zone.
Honorable mention: Royal's 82-yard punt return for a touchdown at Clemson. Wide receiver Justin Harper finished the return by blocking punter Jimmy Maners. It was one of three non-offensive touchdowns in the first half.
Top newcomer
Taylor. The 18-year-old hasn't been spectacular (three touchdown passes on 53-of-102 passing), but in five starts, he hasn't cost the Hokies any games, throwing just one interception.
Honorable mention: Dunlevy is a fifth-year senior, but he never kicked a field goal in college before this season. He made his first nine and is now 10 of 11, including a 52-yarder.
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