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Hokies tailbacks untested heading into Bama game

By The Associated Press
Posted 11:31PM on Tuesday 1st September 2009 ( 15 years ago )
ATLANTA - Frank Beamer looks at the numbers and shakes his head, wearing the expression that always suggests Virginia Tech's coach is about to discuss a tide-tipping aspect of a matchup.

``As most of you would know, Alabama has not just a good defense, but a great defense,'' he said, looking ahead to the No. 7 Hokies' game against the No. 5 Crimson Tide on Saturday.

``They have nine starters back, and were high on those defensive categories last season.''

Alabama finished third in the country in yards allowed, but Beamer's numbers are a little bit off. Coach Nick Saban dismissed linebacker Brandon Fanney and presumably lost defensive end Brandon Deaderick when he was shot in the arm by an assailant Tuesday night.

Still, seven returning starters is nothing to sneeze at, especially not when one of them is 6-foot-5, 365-pound nose guard Terrence Cody. The Hokies will be trying to run the ball with one tailback with 38 carries in college and two others who have never played.

It's a question mark for Beamer that didn't exist a month ago, or until incumbent starter Darren Evans tore the ACL in his left leg in practice Aug. 11 and was lost for the season.

``After Evans goes down, the running backs got real young in a hurry,'' Beamer said.

Evans accounted for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and the Hokies were looking forward to keeping him fresh by giving much-heralded redshirt freshman Ryan Williams and freshman David Wilson some work. But having that as part of the plan, and then having to rely entirely on Williams, Wilson and sophomore Josh Oglesby, is another matter entirely.

This week, Beamer announced that all three running backs will play against the Crimson Tide, and that any decisions about who will start and how much each will play will be made Thursday.

He also said the decision will not be shared.

Of the three, Williams seems the flashiest. He took a short pass 56 yards for a touchdown in the spring game and broke a few long runs, but showed up for camp overweight and then was slowed by a tender ankle during the Hokies' last scrimmage a week ago.

And Williams has been the healthiest of the three.

``He hasn't played for a year, he redshirted last year and opening up against an opponent like Alabama ... we will see how it goes,'' Beamer said.

Oglesby, who is most familiar with blocking and pass protection responsibilities, and Wilson have been limited in practice by injuries of their own. All three were cleared to go late last week, and all three will play against the Tide.

The player most affected by the tailback question is also the one most critical to the Hokies' chances of being in the national championship mix come January Tyrod Taylor.

A dual-threat quarterback his first two seasons, Taylor worked hard on his throwing in the offseason, and has pledged to rely more on his fellow skill position guys this year. In each of his first two years, Taylor sustained an ankle injury while running the ball and missed games, and the Hokies can ill afford to have him sidelined this season.

Ju-Ju Clayton and Logan Thomas have never taken a snap in college, and the Hokies' schedule hardly gets easier after Alabama. They also play Nebraska and Miami in September.

Taylor, though, had to share the job each of the last two seasons, and has known that wouldn't be the case since he walked off the field after the Orange Bowl last January.

That knowledge has helped him embrace his importance to the team, as well as the very high expectations they face, and he's willing to shoulder the burden of the Hokies offense.

``I've been waiting for this chance to go out and make a name for myself,'' he said.

And if that means having to run more than he planned?

``If I do get a chance to run, it's just about getting as much yardage as I can and getting down or getting out of bounds,'' he said.
Frank Beamer

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/9/222895

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