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 Broncos
Have Three Talented Runners
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, TSLMail #447, August 27, 2010 Virginia Tech has a terrific trio of tailbacks in Ryan Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson. However, Boise State will counter with a group of runners who have been very productive throughout their careers. Like Evans, one of them is even coming off a torn ACL. Jeremy Avery (5-9, 173, r-Sr.), D.J. Harper (5-9, 198, r-Jr.) and Doug Martin (5-9, 201, r-Jr.) will serve as Boise's three-headed monster in 2010. They are all very experienced players, and have put up some good numbers in their respective careers.
Avery put up the big numbers last season. Harper went down with a torn ACL in the third game of the season, and Avery and Martin carried the load for the rest of the year. Avery finished 1,151 yards on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Martin ran for 765 yards, scoring 15 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Before he went down with his season ending knee injury, D.J. Harper had 44 carries for 284 yards, which is an outstanding average of 6.5 yards per carry. He was thought to be a major loss at the time, but Avery and Martin picked up the slack in a big way. None of the Boise state running backs are big, powerful guys. However, they do excel in the open field. They can all run by defenders and make players miss in the open. Look for the Bronco coaching staff to try to get these guys in the open against the Hokies, particularly on the wide side of the field where the Hokies will be breaking in a number of new starters. Despite their excellent overall numbers, these running backs struggled against the two good defenses they faced last season. Boise State played just two defenses that ranked in the top 60 in total defense: Oregon at #35 and TCU at #1. Against the Ducks and Horned Frogs, the Bronco tailbacks found things a little more difficult than against the Utah States and Bowling Greens of the world. Here's a look at how they did in the season opener against Oregon.
Talk about pounding the football on the ground. With the exception of one 33 yard run by D.J. Harper, the Bronco offense spent most of the night running into a brick wall without much success. It didn't matter however, because the Boise State defense was dominant and held Oregon to eight points. Fast forward to the final game of the season, the Fiesta Bowl against the #1 defense in the country: TCU.
The Boise State running backs could only manage just over two yards per carry against TCU. In their two games against good defenses, Bronco tailbacks combined for 76 carries for 229 yards ... an average of 3.01 yards per carry. Virginia Tech's defense is very inexperienced on the field side. The Hokies will be breaking in a new whip (Jeron Gouveia-Winslow), field corner (Jayron Hosley), free safety (Eddie Whitley) and stud (Steven Friday). You can expect Boise State to attack this group of players, both on the ground and through the air. It's very important for these guys to man up and stop the Boise State rushing attack. Bud Foster's defenses generally don't have much trouble shutting down an offense that is one dimensional. If the Hokies stop these Boise running backs, then it will make it that much more difficult for Kellen Moore to move the football against Foster's large variety of disguised coverages. Judging from how Boise State ran the ball against the two good defenses they faced in 2009, it looks like the Hokies have a good chance to stop their running game. If the Tech offense can fare a little better than Oregon and TCU, the Hokies should have a good chance to win the game.
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On September 6, 2010 Virginia Tech and Boise State will face off at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. Our new shirt commemorates the Hokies' season opener in true VT style. Design features football and VT football player with both teams' logos. Screen print on 100% preshrunk cotton. |
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We
are just a few days away from the start of game week. The Hokies
have a couple of scrimmages this weekend, and then they'll begin
full-time preparation for the Boise State Broncos. In today's
Q&A, we talk about the lack of depth at tight end, Josh Olgesby
at fullback and whether or not David Wilson will redshirt. We'll
also talk a little bit about the situation at North Carolina.
In
this edition of "Notes," read the latest on Kempsville
(Virginia Beach, VA) senior linebacker Travis Hughes, who has
scheduled all five official visits and answers whether or not depth
chart is a key factor in his decision. Also read up on the talent at
Hermitage High School in Richmond, Virginia.
You
can have great athletes on both sides of the ball, but winning the
field position game is what gets teams over the hump against other
top opponents. Frank Beamer always likes to play the field position
game, and this year he'll have to do so while breaking in a new
kicker and a new punter.
Two
Virginia Tech football players underwent MRIs on Tuesday night, and
the results were not good. Whip linebacker Lorenzo Williams will
miss the 2010 season with a Lisfranc sprain, and wide receiver
Xavier Boyce will miss 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL.
The
Hokies are in the middle of their final week of preseason camp. Game
week preparation for Boise State will begin on Wednesday, September
1. That's one week from today. The waiting is almost over.
There
is no question of where Justin Taylor wants to be come
January. A standout defensive end prospect out of South Stanly High
School (Norwood, N.C.), Taylor signed a letter of intent with
Virginia Tech this past February. He is currently enrolled as a
postgraduate at Hargrave Military Academy, determined to work to
accomplish his primary goal of being at Virginia Tech by the start
of next year.
Virginia
Tech has a reputation for putting outstanding defensive backs on the
field every year. They have another talented group in 2010,
particularly at the cornerback position. If the safeties play well,
and the unit as a whole stays healthy, then opposing teams aren't
going to have much success through the air this year.
Last
night's TTL included apperances by Jim Weaver (who updated the Boise
State ticket sales figure), Bud Foster, and Frank Beamer, as well as
players Beau Warren and Davon Morgan. Chris Colston also came on to
talk about his Hokie Football Annual.
"It
always helps to get quality reps against quality foes." -
Dinwiddie (VA) defensive end Corey Marshall. The 6-1,
255-pound Marshall, ranked #5 in TSL's Preseason In-State Top 40,
and his Generals teammates have faced some quality competition this
preseason in scrimmages against Ocean Lakes and Bethel. Dinwiddie's
star reflected on the team's performance as well as his own thus far
in preseason practice.
It's
nearing the end of August, and we still haven't talked about Boise
State very much. The Broncos have had a couple of scrimmages of
their own and are getting excited to play the Hokies. Today's
article focuses on those scrimmages, as well as a Boise State
running game that could decide the outcome of the season opener.
Highly
regarded forward Dorian Finney-Smith will announce his
college choice on September 28, at a 1 p.m. press conference at
Norcom High School (Portsmouth, VA). Before he does this, though, he
will make official visits to his three finalists.