The 2009 season saw the Virginia Tech Hokies reel off five consecutive wins to end their campaign, including a 37-14 shellacking of Tennessee in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.  In those five contest, the Blacksburg bunch outscored their counterparts by a margin of 169-49.

Indeed, it was a great ending to an…utterly disappointing season.

Sure the Hokies were 10-3.  Sure the Hokies overcame a monumental loss to their running game prior to their first snap.  Sure, a VT quarterback had some of the most efficient stats since our beloved dogfighter bolted for the NFL.

But in 2009 – back on October 17 - it took exactly two hours and 57 minutes for the Hokies’ BCS aspirations to end.  In that time, the one-dimensional Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets rushed 63 times for 309 yards and 4 touchdowns.  By contrast, GT only completed one pass attempt.  The triple-option offense proved to be too complicated for Bud Foster’s over-aggressive defense to slow down.  To stop such and offense, the defense must maintain its discipline, and not overreact to any potential handoffs until they spot the ball.  The Jackets pulled out the 28-23 victory.

Twelve days later, it took exactly two hours and 57 minutes (again) for the Hokies’ ACC title hopes to end.  Virginia Tech hosted the TarHeels of North Carolina, and was held to 256 yards of total offense, its second-lowest figures of the season.  A key fourth-quarter fumble by freshman senastion Ryan Williams sealed the deal for the UNC win, 20-17.

Yes, the Hokies were able to right the ship against their final defensively-challenged opponents, but the damage had already been done.

With a strong dual threat in the backfield, the Hokies will need some effective passing from T-Mobile.

For the upcoming season, the Hokies are once again heralded as the favorites in – what many analysts perceive to be – a non-spectacular conference.  If Virginia Tech wishes to return to a level of national significance it needs consistency from start to finish – from Boise State to UVA.

How will it get there?

It needs to have three of its most important players take it to the next level.

Tyrod Taylor

It’s almost unbelievable that T-Mobile is entering his senior campaign.  In some ways, he got cheated out of some game experience during his platooning period with Sean Glennon.  But yes, Taylor is set to wrap up his college career after this season.  And as a senior quarterback on the 6th-ranked team in the nation, the playmaker needs to set the tone early and often.  That means playing with maturity and sharp decision-making. 

By the numbers, Taylor quietly has a good season…completing 56% of his passes (136-243) and had more than a 2.5-1 TD-INT ratio (13 TD passes, 5 INTs).  He demonstrated better patience in the pocket and some improved game management skills. 

Most importantly, Tyrod needs to provide the offense with some balance.  As long as Frank Beamer is the coach of this team, running the football is going to inherently carry the highest priority.  Beamer is going to call running plays when he should call passing plays.  But when a pass is called, Taylor has to increase his effectiveness even more to make opponents pay for their line-crowding tendencies.

Rashad Carmichael

Every successful Hokie defensive unit had its signature defensive back (or backs).  From Pierson Prioleau to Deangelo Hall to Brandon Flowers to Macho Harris – Virginia Tech has been blessed with game-breaking talent in the defensive backfield. 

But with major losses from last season across the Hokies entire defensive unit, someone will need to step up and take a leading role.  The most viable candidate would be redshirt senior cornerback Rashard Carmichael.  From Clinton, Maryland, Carmichael played his first two seasons in a reserve role – initially backing up the dynamic tandem on current NFL players Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris.  Last campaign, he finally got his chance to be a starter and he came through in a big way for Beamer’s club.  Carmichael ended with six pass break-ups, six quarterback hurries, four tackles behind the line of scrimmage and six interceptions – including one that he returned for a TD.

Carmichael has the goods to cut down one half of the field for Tech’s opponents, and that could go a long way towards helping stabilize an inexperienced, developing defensive team.

Ryan Williams

What would a Hokie article be without mentioning the most pleasant surprise in what could have been a disastrous situation?

Ryan Williams will have to share his production with 2008 ACC Rookie of the Year Darren Evans.

The answer is that the article itself would be disastrous.

Running back Ryan Williams gave the Blacksburg faithful one of the best rushing seasons they have seen.  Williams ran for 1655 yards (a VT record, and a freshman ACC record) on 293 carries, and scored 21 touchdowns (another ACC record and NCAA-tying record for a freshman).  He added 16 receptions for 180 yards and another TD.  Williams had ten 100-yard rushing games, and his season-low of 71 yards would have been considered a good game for most other backs.

After such a season, he has been mentioned in Heisman discussions – but there one thing holding him back…his friend and fellow backfield mate Darren Evans.  It’s worth mentioning that the records that Williams broke in 2009 were set by Evans in 2008.  So, the Hokies have been blessed with a problem that most universities would love to have.  But dual threats at running back aren’t foreign to VT.  They’ve had Suggs and Jones.  They’ve had Humes, Ore and Imoh. 

The biggest challenge for Williams and Evans will be for each of them to remain focused on the team goals.  This may be most difficult for Williams, especially with such an awe-inspiring set of stats from last year.

So, the Hokies need efficient production and maturity from two of the best backs in the ACC.

With Boise State ready to prove that it belongs among the top teams in the nation, Virginia Tech will have to get out of the box quickly.  And Taylor, Carmichael and Williams will be the keys that ignite any success that the Hokies have.