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Running Game Needs to Improve in 2008
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

For Virginia Tech to improve offensively as a unit, the running game must be more successful in 2008 than it was in 2007. The Hokies do not have a corps of experienced, senior wide receivers to turn to. Games will have to be won in the trenches, with a power running game.

The Hokies built their offensive success through the years with a power running game. Generally Tech is known for having a solid offensive line, a two-back system in the backfield, and on many occasions, a quarterback who can pick up yardage on the ground. One or more of those elements have been missing from the offense the last couple of years, and at times all three of them have been missing.

For the past two seasons, injuries have limited an already depth-shy offensive line. The offensive line in 2006 and 2007 got better late in the year as it got healthier, but the overall play of the unit has been down. In both of those years, the Hokies had just one fully capable tailback, Branden Ore, and some would argue that Ore wasn�t capable for most of 2007. And finally, with Sean Glennon getting all of the snaps at quarterback in 2006 and most of them in 2007, the running threat from the quarterback position hasn�t been there.

The following table shows how Tech�s running game has fared since 1999. As you can see, the last two years have been completely sub-par.

In 1999 and 2000, Virginia Tech�s running game dominated. The offensive line was a very good run blocking unit, and the Hokies had a two-headed attack at running back. In 1999, it was Shyrone Stith and Andre Kendrick. In 2000, it was Lee Suggs and Andre Kendrick. Of course, Michael Vick had tremendous running ability at quarterback. There were so many weapons in the running game in those years that it�s easy to see why it was so successful.

2001 wasn�t quite as successful, but that�s not very surprising considering the offensive line turnover following the 2000 season, no Michael Vick, and an ACL injury to Lee Suggs in the first game. Still, Keith Burnell and Kevin Jones combined to do a good job, and the offensive line played well. Despite not having a mobile quarterback, the Hokies averaged almost 200 yards per game on the ground.

2002 and 2003 were great years for Tech on the ground, as KJ and Lee Suggs shared the duties in 2002, and Jones ran for over 1,600 yards in 2003. The line was solid in those years, and the Hokies also had mobile quarterbacks who could pick up yardage on the ground.

Things were still pretty good in 2004 and 2005. Bryan Randall was still at quarterback, and Tech's backs were solid, but not spectacular. However, the offensive line began to show signs that it was taking a step backwards.

With the graduation of four seniors following the 2005 season, Tech's recruiting and development issues of offensive linemen showed up. There was such a lack of depth that each injury forced the coaching staff to make position changes. Overall, the lines didn't have the physical nature that they had in the past either.

However, there were more problems than just the offensive line. The Hokies really only had one effective tailback in 2006 and 2007, Branden Ore. And they really didn't have Ore in 2007 until the end of the season. Not to mention that Sean Glennon is not a running quarterback. To add to all of that, Tech's wide receivers weren't very good blockers on the perimeter, which added insult to the already injured running game.

The result of all that was back-to-back seasons that produced statistical numbers that are almost too embarrassing to look at. The Hokies finished 90th nationally in rushing in 2006, and 82nd in 2007.

This year, that can't happen. Virginia Tech is going to putting a group of wide receivers on the field that have virtually no experience in a college game. A power running game has to be there to make up for a passing attack that isn't going to be as reliable as it has been over the last four years.

I think at a minimum Virginia Tech needs to average 170 yards per game, or something around that number, on the ground. If their running game is held to 2006 or 2007 numbers, then prepare yourselves to see an even uglier offense than we saw in 2006 and 2007.

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