Alabama vs. Virginia Tech: Breaking Down the Hokies Offense

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Alabama Crimson Tide is ready to kick off the 2013 season in Atlanta on Saturday against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Time has essentially stood still since the Crimson Tide was last on the field in Miami, where they defeated Notre Dame to capture their 15th national title.

2012 wasn’t exactly as kind to the Hokies as they limped through a .500 regular season before ending their year on a high note with a 13-10 win over Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl. A 7-6 season is not exactly what Virginia Tech fans had in mind. This proud program built by Frank Beamer in Blacksburg is used to competing for ACC Championships and BCS bowl games, not lower tier bowl games.

Optimism was high in Blacksburg until the injury bug bit. Injuries to two running backs and two reserve tackles on offense have quelled any enthusiasm concerning their date with the Crimson Tide at the Georgia Dome.

This isn’t the same Virginia Tech team that Alabama met in the same venue in 2009. Nearly 40 percent of their travel roster for Saturday’s matchup are true or redshirt freshmen. The Hokies were ranked seventh to start that year, and gave Alabama a run for their money, even having a lead as the game entered the fourth quarter. But, Alabama came out on top 34-24 to kickstart their first national championship season under Nick Saban.

Alabama fans are hoping for a similar kickstart to this season to propel them toward a third straight BCS National Championship.

Virginia Tech’s offense struggled in 2012. They finished the season 9th in the ACC in total offense and 81st in the country. They were 81st nationally in scoring offense as well at 25.1 points per game. The Hokies return four starters from last season’s team. One of them is senior quarterback Logan Thomas, who is extremely tough to gameplan for.

After a solid sophomore season in 2011, Thomas drew comparisons to former Auburn Heisman winning quarterback Cam Newton. His size – 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds – along with his strong arm make it easier to make that comparison, especially when you factor in his dual threat abilities.

But, Thomas took a step back as a junior. His completion percentage dropped from 59.8 percent in 2011 to 51.3 percent in 2012; his quarterback rating dropped 20 points; and he threw six more interceptions and one less touchdown in his second season as the starting quarterback.

Thomas has vowed to be better in 2013, and if he can be, then Alabama’s defense will get a good early test from a dual-threat quarterback before they head to College Station to take on Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies.

Alabama hasn’t seen a quarterback with this kind of size, speed, and arm strength since Cam Newton in 2012; and while Thomas isn’t on the same level as Cam, who is a once in a generation talent, he can hurt you in a lot of the same ways. Putting pressure on Thomas, and keeping him in the pocket will be one of the biggest keys to an Alabama victory on Saturday.

Virginia Tech’s rushing offense ranked 79th in the country a year ago at 145.9 yards per game. That spells trouble for the Hokies as they go against an Alabama defense that returns eight starters from the nation’s best run defense.

Virginia Tech’s top returning rusher among their running backs, J.C. Coleman, is banged up after spraining both of his ankles. The injury to his left ankle is more concerning because it got the dreaded “high ankle sprain” label. Coleman is questionable for the game, but he believes he is going to be able to play. Even if he can play, there’s no way he’ll be 100 percent. Coleman, a sophomore, rushed for 492 yards and 2 touchdowns on a 4.5 yards per carry average.

One of Coleman’s backups, senior Tony Gregory, tore his ACL and is out for the season. With Gregory out for the season and Coleman’s status in the air, Virginia Tech may be forced to start redshirt freshman running back Troy Edmunds, who will get his first taste of live game action against Alabama’s immovable front seven.

The Hokies will be looking for a difference maker at running back. They have had their fair share of them in recent seasons with Darren Evans, Ryan Williams, and David Wilson all eclipsing the 1000 yard mark as starters at least once. The lack of a featured runner really hurt the team in 2012, and unless someone steps up, it could be more of the same in 2013.

The depth of Virginia Tech’s offensive line is a big question mark, especially after two of their reserve tackles were lost to injury. Seniors David Wang (center) and Andrew Miller (right guard) are the two returning starters up front. The Hokies plan to start a true freshman in Jonathan McLaughlin at left tackle on Saturday, and it will certainly be a baptism by fire for the freshman in his first college game.

Junior right tackle Laurence Gibson will also be making his first start for the Hokies. Junior left guard Caleb Farris rounds out the offensive line. He made five starts a year ago at center after Andrew Miller was lost for the season with an injury.

Virginia Tech has to replace their top three receivers from a year ago. Gone are Marcus Davis (953 yards, 5 TDs), Corey Fuller (815 yards, 6 TDs), and Dyrell Roberts (398 yards, 1 TD). Their top returning receiver is sophomore Demitri Knowles, who had 240 yards and a touchdown in his redshirt freshman season.

The hopes of the wide receiving corps may rely on senior D.J. Coles, who returns after missing all of last season due to a knee injury. Coles caught 36 passes for 480 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2011.

Redshirt freshmen receivers Josh Stanford and Charley Meyer will have a role as well.

At tight end, junior Ryan Malleck is the team’s second leading returning receiver behind Demitri Knowles. Malleck isn’t a huge threat in the passing game as he caught just 17 passes in 2012, and had only five games with multiple receptions.

The lack of a consistent running game was extremely detrimental to the Hokies last season, and it could be again in 2013. Alabama will almost certainly take the ground game away and force Virginia Tech to pass, and unless Logan Thomas has demonstrably improved since last year, then it could be a really long day at the Georgia Dome for the Hokies offense.

Alabama has some question marks in the secondary, but with an inexperienced group of receivers and an inconsistent quarterback, Virginia Tech doesn’t look like a team that will be able to take advantage of it.

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