The old optimist/pessimist argument about a glass being half-empty or half-full certainly applies at Virginia Tech. The Hokies go into the 2006 season with a very solid half-glass. Tech’s defense looks to be outstanding. The offense? Well, that’s another story. Graduations, dismissals and injuries have left plenty of holes that may well be filled successfully. Or not.

So, is the glass half-full or half-empty?

“I like where we are,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said not long after spring practice ended with what he admitted were still plenty of questions on the offensive side. “We know where we are and what we have to do.”

A favorable schedule should help the Hokies as their new offensive players adjust. And, given the strong state of the defense, the offense will have time to develop.

Tech has won an ACC title and played for another in its two years in the league. It could be a championship level team again, but that is far from definite.

LOWDOWN

Coach: Frank Beamer (20th season, 146-79-2)
2005 record: 11-2 (Beat Louisville in Gator Bowl)
ACC finish: 7–1 (1st Coastal)
2005 I-A offensive rankings:
Rushing: 29th (190.7 ypg)
Passing: 91st (190.2 ypg)
2005 I-A defensive rankings:
Rushing: 8th (93.4 ypg)
Passing: 3rd (154.2 ypg)

DEPTH CHART

Offense (4)

SE  2  Josh Morgan  Jr.  19  Josh Hyman  Jr.
FL  4  *Eddie Royal  Jr.  87  *David Clowney  Sr.
LT  76  *Duane Brown  Jr.  79  Eric Davis  Fr.
LG  70  Sergio Render  Fr.  51  Matt Welsh  So.
C  69  *Danny McGrath  Sr.  58  Ryan Shuman  So.
RG  67  Nick Marshman  So.  63  Robert Norris  Fr.
RT  74  Brandon Frye  Sr.  71  Aaron Brown  Fr.
TE  83  Sam Wheeler  Fr.  85  Ed Wang  Fr.
QB  7  Sean Glennon  So.  3  Ike Whitaker  Fr.
FB  37  Jesse Allen  Sr.  39  Carlton Weatherford  Jr.
TB  28  Branden Ore  So.  34  George Bell  So.

Defense (6)

DE  49  *Chris Ellis  Jr.  90  Orion Martin  So.
DT  99  Carlton Powell  Jr.  75  Kory Robertson  Jr.
DT  59  Barry Booker  Jr.  95  Cordarrow Thompson  Fr.
DE  96  Noland Burchette  Sr.  40  William Wall  Fr.
OLB  31  Brenden Hill  Sr.  13  Corey Gordon  Jr.
ILB  11  *Xavier Adibi  Jr.  45  Purnell Sturdivant  So.
ILB  9  *Vince Hall  Jr.  33  Brett Warren  Jr.
CB  15  *Roland Minor  Jr.  1  Victor Harris  So.
CB  18  Brandon Flowers  So.  27  Jahre Cheeseman  Fr.
ROV  36  *Aaron Rouse  Sr.  30  Cary Wade  Sr.
FS  25  *D.J. Parker  Jr.  41  Cam Martin  Fr.

Special Teams

K  46  Brandon Pace  Sr.
P  23  Nic Schmitt  Sr.
KR  4  Eddie Royal  Jr.
PR  4  Eddie Royal  Jr.

(#) Indicates number of returning starters
* Indicates returning starters

2006 SCHEDULE

Sept. 2  Northeastern
Sept. 9  at North Carolina
Sept. 16  Duke
Sept. 23  Cincinnati
Sept. 30  Georgia Tech
Oct. 12  at Boston College
Oct. 21  Southern Miss
Oct. 26  Clemson
Nov. 4  at Miami
Nov. 11  Kent State
Nov. 18  at Wake Forest
Nov. 25  Virginia

OFFENSE

Receiver is the only place on offense where Virginia Tech knows for sure what it has going into the 2006 season. It has five veterans who can all play. Beyond that? Who knows.

Legal troubles took the Hokies’ quarterback, graduation took most of the line, health concerns dot the offensive backfield and an injury will likely cost Tech its only experienced tight end.

That’s quite a few holes to fill.

When healthy, Branden Ore gives Tech a back who could reel off a 1,000-yard season. Ore’s surgically repaired shoulder led him to sit out spring drills. That shoulder is a big key to the Hokies’ 2006 season.

Another shoulder to watch is that of senior center Danny McGrath, an exceptionally intelligent player whose presence will go a long way toward the development of a young and relatively inexperienced offensive line.

Tech needs a quarterback to take control quickly. It would have been nice if sophomore Sean Glennon, or one of the other contenders, had done so in the spring, but all Glennon did was maintain his lead in the battle that now won’t be decided until preseason — if then.

The Hokies don’t need a superstar at quarterback, but they do need someone to be reliable and consistent.

DEFENSE

The good thing for Tech’s offense is it won’t have to be so good, thanks to a defense that figures to be awfully stout.

Up front, the Hokies will make things difficult for opposing lines with a defensive front that goes two deep at every spot as well as two of the country’s best inside linebackers. Those backers, Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi, should have outstanding seasons, along with junior end Chris Ellis. A youngster to watch in the group is redshirt freshman defensive end William Wall.

Cornerback Jimmy Williams is gone, but the secondary should improve even without its consensus All-American. Virginia Tech is enamored of its four underclass cornerbacks: junior Roland Minor, sophomores Brandon Flowers and Victor Harris and redshirt freshman Jahre Cheeseman. Rover Aaron Rouse, a senior, might be a candidate for one of those “best player you never heard of” awards. He made his bones in run support as an outside linebacker before moving to rover — Tech’s version of strong safety — last season. He excelled in both run support and pass coverage.

SPECIALISTS

As usual, Tech is very good on special teams. Senior kicker Brandon Pace made 19-of-22 field goals last season. In his first year as a regular, senior punter Nic Schmitt had a 43.2-yard average, and 12 of his 52 kicks went for more than 50 yards.

Any of the five receivers can serve as return men, as can Harris, the cornerback. Greg Boone, a 6'3", 287-pound quarterback candidate, may get a long look on kickoff returns. Though he’s behind in the quarterback race, he’s an intriguing athlete at his size and Tech wants him playing somewhere.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Virginia Tech has been to a bowl game for 13 straight seasons, and the Hokies won’t have trouble growing that streak this season, thanks to a soft non-league schedule and a stout defense.

But a return to the ACC Championship Game and a high-level bowl is not certain. That depends on how well the offense develops.

The Hokies are set up to be strong in 2007, depending of course on health and everyone who has eligibility returning. Tech should be a tough out in ’06, as well.

This Virginia Tech team preview was pulled from our 2006 National College Football preview magazine.  To order this or the 2006 ACC Regional preview magazine - with expanded team page coverage and conference features - click here