Line an item of concern for Hokies

By Nate Crossman  |   Wednesday, April 05, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Virginia Tech Hokies
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The reinstatement of quarterback Ike Whitaker this week did nothing to quell the anxiety of Virginia Tech Hokie fans. Even with the athletic redshirt freshman back in the fold after being suspended for violation of team policy, the Hokies still have four quarterbacks with little or no game experience heading into the fall. The quarterback Virginia Tech thought would seize the starting role, redshirt sophomore Sean Glennon, has been outplayed by classmate Cory Holt, and third-stringer Greg Boone has been limited by injury.

The quarterback dilemma would be slightly more palatable if the offensive line was in order, because maybe you can hide a deficient signalcaller behind five all-conference behemoths. Unfortunately, the line situation isn't much better, with four full or part-time starters gone from last year: first-team All-ACC center Will Montgomery, first-team guard Jason Murphy, second-team tackle Jimmy Martin and tackle Reggie Butler. Replacing them is a group that includes Danny McGrath, Duane Brown, Ryan Shuman, Brandon Frye and Nick Marshman. All of them are talented players, but lack experience, at least in the positions they'll be asked to play come fall.

McGrath began last spring at center in the hopes that he'd play well enough to allow Montgomery to move to guard. But Montgomery ended up at center because the coaching staff was more comfortable with him. McGrath, a redshirt senior, has yet to participate in this year's spring drills, but when he does he'll get another crack at center.

Shuman, who is listed as a center, will most likely play one of the guard spots. Which one is dependant on how the rest of the line performs. Marshman is listed on the roster as a guard, but at 6-foot-5, 346-pounds, the redshirt sophomore is better suited for tackle, and that's where he's listed on the depth chart. Therefore, freshman Sergio Render is currently working out as the first-team guard.

At the tackle positions, Duane Brown was moved from tight end to right tackle last year. This spring the redshirt junior moved to left tackle to protect the backside of whoever will be playing quarterback. Redshirt senior Brandon Frye is at Brown's old position.

Left tackle could be the "What can Brown do for you?" position, with freshman Aaron Brown backing up Duane Brown.

Right now Virginia Tech's offensive line is still in a formative state. If it can come together anywhere close to how last season's did, that will mean good things for the Hokies' batch of inexperienced quarterbacks. If not, the learning curve at quarterback will be a lot steeper, since whoever's back there will be doing as much running from the defense as reading it.
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