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WHEN
BOISE STATE RUNS |
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Senior
Jeremy Avery is one of four
running backs that has rushed
for over 100 yards in a
game for Boise State. |
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Team
leading tackler and top
playmaker LB Barquell Rivers
hopes to be in full health
to boost the inexperience
on the Hokie defensive front.
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The
Broncos are deep in experience
at so many positions.
None may be more evident
than at running back where
four different players
who have rushed for 100
yards or more return to
the lineup. Senior Jeremy
Avery is the veteran and
the returning leading
team rusher after posting
1,150 yards and Second
Team All-WAC honors. He
is also a major weapon
catching passes out of
the backfield. D.J. Harper
may have been the best
of the bunch last year
before a torn knee ligament
ended his season early
on. He will return in
full health. Some say
Doug Martin may be the
best tailback in the WAC
already after filling
in for the injured Harper
last year and posting
765 yards rushing. All
three of these Broncos
could easily be considered
the most explosive in
the league. The offensive
line paving the way for
these backs have a great
deal of starts to go around.
The problem however has
been chemistry exemplified
by the fact 17 different
starting combinations
have been used in their
past 27 games and the
shuffling still continued
through the spring. Four
full-time starters are
back and five others have
started at least one game
in their career. Boise
State is a balanced attack,
they equally do well running
and passing which in turn
makes both areas work
well while keeping opposing
defenses on their heels.
If
Virginia Tech can shut
down the rushing attack
and finally force Boise
State to get one-dimensional
the Hokies would stand
a much better chance defending
this potent offense. But
that formula will prove
difficult with three of
four starters gone from
across the defensive front.
Senior defensive tackle
John Graves is the lone
holdover. The front seven
will also miss tackle
leader Cody Grimm from
his whip linebacker position.
Their best playmaker however
will be inside backer
Barquell Rivers who sat
out the spring after March
surgery on his left quadriceps.
A ton of redshirt freshmen
and sophomores will be
counted on in this early
clash.
On
paper, Boise State looks
to have a big advantage
when it comes to running
with the football. But
everyone knows that Hokie
defense is the biggest
part of the success equation
in Blacksburg no matter
what the personnel turnover
appears to be. But this
first game of the year
is not a good place to
start for a very young
and inexperienced defensive
front as Boise State has
plenty of experience at
mixing things up and keeping
defenses guessing.
SLIGHT
EDGE: BOISE STATE |
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WHEN
VIRGINIA TECH RUNS |
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Hokie
running back coach
Billy Hite calls this
the best group in
his 32 years of coaching
the Hokies. He has
an All-American type
in young Ryan Williams
who put up astronomical
numbers (1,655 yards,
22 touchdowns) as
a frosh last fall.
Williams was not the
projected starter
last August though.
Darren Evans was coming
off ACC Freshman of
the Year honors before
a torn ACL in summer
camp ended his season.
But Evans now looks
to be in full health
running over defenders
like before. This
is an amazing duo
with tons of promise
and is easily the
strongest element
on this team. If that
were not enough there
is the factor of quarterback
Tyrod Taylor's feet.
He too can do damage
in the ground game,
just another added
dimension for defenses
to worry about. The
offensive line has
a few holes to fill
while losing some
of their best blockers
in stars Ed Wang and
Sergio Render and
not much experience
is available from
the replacements.
The three mainstays
who are back (Warren,
DeChristopher and
Brooks) give this
group something to
be optimistic about
however.
There
may be four All-WAC
players on this
Bronco defensive
line and there is
plenty of depth
behind them. The
star is senior end
Ryan Winterswyk.
Both he and tackle
Billy Winn have
already earned All-WAC
honors while Shea
McClellin has developed
into a fearsome
performer from the
other end position.
Coaches have three
linebackers to chose
from that earned
part-time starting
duties a year ago.
If this team has
a concern, it would
be here at linebacker.
While guys like
Derrell Acrey and
Aaron Tevis can
run, none have the
ability to chase
down the likes of
Ryan Williams once
he breaks free from
the line of scrimmage.
The system alignment
is a little different
in Boise where only
two linebackers
are utilized while
adding an extra
nickel back in the
secondary. That
might work in the
WAC but not with
a school like Virginia
Tech. Look for the
Bronco secondary
to be on full alert
for Hokie ball carriers
and don't be surprised
if the nickel back
scheme gets dumped
for a more tradition
4-3 match up in
this clash.
The
Boise State front
should be able to
hold their own against
the Tech blockers.
This will be ever
so crucial for not
allowing the dangerous
Hokie running back
duo to roam free
in the secondary.
These Bronco players
have seen the likes
of powerful Oregon
and TCU rushing
attacks and completely
dominated them.
Boise State gets
a slight edge up
front but Tech still
gets a big advantage
in terms of studs
with the ball in
their hands.
SLIGHT
EDGE: VIRGINIA TECH
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Young
RB Ryan Williams will
be one of the nation's
premier ball carriers.
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Ryan
Winterswyk has grown
from a walk-on safety
to one of the best
defensive ends in
the WAC. |
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WHEN
BOISE STATE PASSES |
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QB
Kellen Moore is 26-1
as a starter and set
an NCAA record last
fall for lowest percentage
of interceptions. |
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Senior
CB Rashad Carmichael
picked off six passes
in 2009 and is already
getting high NFL Draft
projections for next
season. |
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While
it's already been
mentioned that Boise
State uses a balanced
attack, the passing
game is what butters
the bread. This
is due in large
part because of
quarterback Kellen
Moore who is now
26-1 in two years
as the starter.
What separates Moore
from most quarterbacks
is his ability to
read the field as
evident by Moore
setting the NCAA
single season record
for the lowest percentage
of passes intercepted
last year. Better
runners and stronger
arms may be available
across the country,
but none possess
the ability to find
the open receiver
like Moore. He finished
seventh in the Heisman
Vote last December
and was voted the
NationalChamps.net
Underdog Award Winner
given to the nation's
best mid-major player.
But don't forget
about those receivers
either. All-WAC
seniors Austin Pettis
and Titus Young
form one of the
top pass catching
tandems in the country
as they combined
for 142 receptions
and 29 touchdowns
in '09. Pettis is
online to break
school records in
every major category.
The only issue is
finding other playmakers
at receiver to emerge.
They also possess
an oft-used tight
end in Kyle Efaw
at 6'4 who is also
a downfield deep
threat. Efaw earned
Fiesta Bowl Offensive
MVP honors last
season.
For
Va. Tech, senior
corner Rashad Carmichael
is the star after
snagging six interceptions
last year and has
put his name on
some of the 2011
NFL Draft Boards.
A big however, he
is the only full-time
starter returning
in this defensive
backfield. Senior
rover Devon Morgan
does have some experience
but has battled
injuries through
out his career.
An injury here would
be a devastating
blow. However free
safety Eddie Whitley
had some shining
moments in the spring.
A ton of underclassmen
are filling back
up roles and/or
pushing for part-time
starting duties.
The pass rush is
an unknown to a
large extent. When
defensive end Jason
Worilds declared
early for the NFL
Draft this past
April it left the
Hokies front thin
in the pass rush
department. Other
than reliable Steven
Friday on the outside
applying pressure,
it will be up to
a group of new faces
to provide a spark.
And Beamer Ball
has always done
well here regardless
of the player turnover.
That trend better
hold true or it
could be a long
evening against
this high scoring
Bronco team.
Last
year, this would
have been a much
better battle with
Tech finishing ranked
as the nation's
11th rated pass
defense. Only one
starter returns
in their secondary
and this initial
clash is not a good
place for the newcomers
to learn on the
fly. Boise State
has an extremely
accurate guy in
Kellen Moore throwing
and reading the
field with precision
and making very
few mistakes. The
two-man tandem of
Pettis and Young
on the outside will
be a mismatch on
most occasions.
If Boise State is
to take a big win
home to Idaho this
is the area from
which it comes.
BIG
EDGE: BOISE STATE |
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WHEN
VIRGINIA TECH PASSES |
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For
the third season in a row, this
is the Tyrod Taylor show in
Blacksburg. It's hard to put
an exact finger on how good
Taylor has been up to this point.
While his good numbers (led
the ACC in pass efficiency and
is the ACC active leader in
total offense) make this hurler
appear to be stellar, his inferior
numbers (9th in the ACC in passing
offense and eighth in sacks
allowed) indicate that perhaps
there are inconsistency issues
that have not been ironed out.
His feet are certainly dangerous
and his scrambling ability allows
him to make plays downfield.
But offensive coordinator Brian
Stinespring continues to take
abuse from the media and fans
as to the offense's bungling.
This is not a thunderous passing
attack, but it has the potential
to be so. Part of the sputtering
had to do with a group of receivers
that still has not come of age.
Receivers that run imprecise
routes with difficulty creating
separation place a good deal
of the blame on this unit. With
three starters returning and
a solid spring this department
has bigger expectations. Boykin,
Coale and Roberts are prime
time targets that have now logged
serious playing time the past
two years. Losing playmakers
Greg Boone and Sam Wheeler at
TE won't make the course any
easier.
The
Broncos return four of their
five starters in the secondary.
The glaring loss is at corner
where Kyle Wilson went on to
become a first-round NFL draft
pick. On the other side though
is veteran Brandyn Thompson
who already has recorded 10
career interceptions. The safeties
have a good one too in NationalChamps.net
Preseason Third Team All-American
Jeron Johnson. He led the team
by 20 tackles in 2008 and by
27 tackles in 2009, with a total
of 189 during that span. He
has seven career interceptions.
Most of these safeties can lay
the wood on tackles. The Broncos
generally employ a nickel back
as a base set but given the
rushing prowess of this Tech
team, don't be surprised if
Boise State opts for a more
traditional approach. Getting
pressure on Taylor will be key.
An intriguing aspect to this
game is whether a stud like
defensive end Ryan Winterswyk
is capable of containing Tyrod
Taylor in the pocket. Not many
succeed at doing such. And if
BSU has a weakness, producing
sacks as a team has not been
one of their better stats (72nd
nationally).
Like
most of these match ups, on
paper Boise State appears to
have the slight edge here based
on experience factors. They
have seen the likes of Andy
Dalton at TCU, Jeremiah Masoli
at Oregon and Colin Kaepernick
at Nevada and shut them down
for the most part. Tyrod Taylor
should be nothing new for this
defense. The Hokies get a slight
edge in terms of speed on the
outside with their experienced
receivers but more needs to
be shown from these route runners
before you can give them a complete
edge. The big factor is how
well Taylor performs as a senior
behind center. His time starts
now. From what has been shown
from the Hokie passing attack
thus far under his guidance
is not enough to give them the
total edge.
EDGE:
EVEN |
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Third
year starter Tyrod Taylor
is still trying to prove
he can be an elite QB while
scrambling and throwing.
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NationalChamps.net
Preseason All-American Jeron
Johnson has led the team
in tackles the last two
years from his safety position.
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SPECIAL
TEAMS |
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KICK
RETURN MEN EXTRAORDINAIRE!
Don't leave
your seat for
popcorn on kickoffs.
Titus Young
and Tyrell Roberts
are come of
the nation's
best at taking
kicks back to
the house. |
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Everyone
knows Hokie
head coach
Frank Beamer
is a special
teams guru.
But so is
Chris Peterson
on the other
side. Both
of these coaches
excel in this
area. In fact,
Boise State
is one of
the top special
team outfits
found anywhere.
They will
return a top
quality senior
in Kyle Brotzman
who handles
both the punting
and kicking
chores. While
Brotzman has
been starting
since his
freshman year,
he has never
really been
considered
to be at the
elite level.
But he is
not that far
off either.
His experience
will prove
worthy in
a match up
of this caliber
when it comes
to avoiding
the blocked
punt that
VT uses so
well as Brotzman
uses the rugby
style scramble
to avoid the
rush. The
Broncos are
even more
potent in
the return
department.
Titus Young
earned All-American
honors at
NationalChamps.net
as a kick
return guy
after returning
two kicks
to the end
zone in 2009.
He also gets
help from
Doug Martin
who actually
averaged more
yards at 29.7
per attempt.
Look for Young
to handle
the punt returns
in the same
dangerous
fashion.
Dyrell
Roberts was
third in the
nation with
a 31.9-yard
kickoff return
average, and
Jayron Hosley
was third
in the ACC
with his 11.2-yard
punt return
average and
became the
first freshman
under Beamer
to return
a punt for
a touchdown.
Ergo, Beamer
Ball continues
to keep every
fan on the
edge of their
seat with
every kick
and/or punt
return. Some
things never
change. The
bad news is
that Tech
will be breaking
in both a
brand new
punter and
kicker. Coach
Beamer refused
to name the
clear front-runner
for kicking
duties between
Chris Hazley
and Justin
Myer although
Hazley seems
to have the
lead. Senior
Brian Saunders
was Brent
Bowden's back
up for three
years and
those are
some big shoes
to fill as
Bowden led
the conference
last fall
and consistently
gave the Hokies
an advantage
in field position.
Dare we say
that Boise
State has
a special
teams edge
here over
a Frank Beamer
coached ball
club? As mentioned,
head coach
Chris Peterson
takes pride
in putting
a top rate
special teams
group on the
field at all
times. They
have a definite
edge from
the fact that
Brotzman has
started since
his freshman
year while
the Hokies
break in all
new faces
in the kicking
department.
While Boise
State was
fourth in
the country
last year
handling kickoff
returns, Virginia
Tech per usual
has their
share of the
return men.
Brotzman though
clearly gives
the Broncos
an edge.
EDGE:
BOISE STATE |
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FINAL
OUTLOOK |
This
is a national championship
game for Boise State. Yes,
it is the first weekend
of football. But given the
schedule difficulty (or
lack of) that Boise State
faces every year and given
this is the highest preseason
ranking ever for the blue
turf school from Idaho...this
monster clash on a so-called
neutral field (or is it
Blacksburg fans?) represents
the highest ranked team
the Broncos will face all
season outside of possibly
a home game with Oregon
State. Win this game and
the odds say that Boise
State goes undefeated again
and earns another trip to
Glendale, AZ this time marching
to the beat of a BCS National
Championship Game. Never
has the pressure been so
great on a national scale
for a Boise State team that
actually has already seen
its share of "show
me you are for real"
tussles. Will the pressure
and over confidence make
this squad look like a Bronco
at his first rodeo?
According
to Chris Petersen who
has won 94% over his games
over his four year stint
as head coach, "Everyone
needs to be extremely
paranoid and have an edge...If
we think we're going to
repeat because of the
guys we have coming back,
because of what we did
last year, I promise you
we won't". Bringing
guys back may be an understatement
as the Broncos only lost
one true starter out of
22 players from each side
of the ball plus return
the kicker/punter. A big
edge exists in the experience
department for Boise State,
no doubt about it. Sure,
people in the stands and
in the media will always
continue to question the
true quality of this team
because they play in the
WAC and competition is
never a test "weekend
and week out." That
is why this game is so
huge, even bigger than
the Oregon opener a year
ago because of the high
preseason expectation
stakes.
Virginia
Tech comes in as a usual
Top 10 - Top 15 ranked
team. They really have
nothing to lose here as
a slight underdog. It's
the other team that has
the huge target on the
chest. What the Hokies
need to demonstrate is
that senior quarterback
Tyrod Taylor is ready
to have the type of season
expected out of a guy
who has started for three
straight seasons…that
his feet and throwing
abilities can make this
offense do more through
the air…that there
is more to Stinespring's
offense than just handing
the ball off to Ryan Williams
and Darren Evans. Not
likely is the fact that
player turnover on defense,
and there is a great deal
of it, worries fans or
coaches. They just continue
to find their type of
recruits and plug them
in to Beamer Ball...great
special teams, run with
the football and great
DEFENSE. Can the new faces
on the defensive line
and in the secondary for
VT come together quickly
in time for this Labor
Day Clash? They get the
big exam right off the
bat.
Boise
State gets the edge in
more categories. Kellen
Moore is a more polished
quarterback throwing the
ball. He rarely makes
the big mistake and they
will keep Virginia Tech,
like most teams they face,
on their heels guessing
with a complete balance
of running and throwing.
This combined with the
fact that Virginia Tech
is breaking in new faces
on defense and that they
actually meet a team with
the same lofty special
teams performers adds
to the blue favor. This
is the best team Boise
State has fielded…ever.
When the Broncos employ
a sturdy defense like
the one they have now,
they are a tough bunch
to beat. This game stays
close however based on
first game jitters and
game plans. Defense is
ahead of the offense at
this stage or this could
wind up becoming a massive
scoring fest. Oh, both
teams still score. Boise
State just scores more
and Kellen Moore proves
that he may be the best
quarterback anywhere at
finding the open man.
SCORE
PREDICTION:
BOISE STATE - 27
VIRGINIA TECH - 20
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