Hokies looking for a leader on “D”

By Nate Crossman  |   Monday, March 27, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Virginia Tech Hokies
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Virginia Tech Hokies fans can't stop talking about their quarterbacks, namely who is going to be their quarterback. The question they should be asking, however, is who are going to be their leaders on defense?

Unlike offense, where the Hokies lost quantity, loss of quality is the problem on defense. Gone is cornerback Jimmy Williams, who despite being an occasional pain in the neck to head coach Frank Beamer, brought a certain joie de vivre to the field that will be missed. Also gone is defensive end Daryl Tapp, who it can be fairly debated, was the heart and soul of the team for the past two years. Even when things were at their worst for the Hokies, Tapp was a beacon of good cheer. He was also a consistent performer on the defensive line.

At first glance, the leadership roles should fall to linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi as well as rover Aaron Rouse.

At this point in their careers, Hall and Adibi are virtually inseparable. Both were recruited out of the fertile Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area, and both have started since they were redshirt freshmen. The only area they diverge is in performance. Although both have performed well, Hall has proven more consistent. He led the team in tackles last year with 112. Adibi was fourth on the team with 69, but the coaching staff still feels like he has more to give, which is why this will be an important spring for him.

Rouse settled into the rover position, which is a similar to a defensive back, nicely, finishing with 77 tackles last year. He also led the team with four interceptions. Now that he's more comfortable playing the position, he'll be able to spread his wings more as a leader.

If Hall, Adibi or Rouse don't step up, the defense may lack the cohesion that's been its strength in recent years. There will be a new starter in the defensive backfield with the departure of Williams, and the Hokies also need to replace linebacker James Anderson. Complicating matters is the fact that the defensive line is one of the biggest question marks on the team. The only sure thing on the line is defensive end Chris Ellis, who was seventh on the team in tackles last season, and second in tackles for losses with 10.5.

So while the quarterback quandary might grab most of the headlines in Blacksburg, it the Virginia Tech defense that will require the most attention.
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