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Inside Hokie Sports
defense closed the 2016 season by shutting out Arkansas
in the second half of the Hokies’ 35-24 victory over the
Razorbacks in the Belk Bowl. The Hokies finished 18th
nationally in total defense (340.7 ypg), marking the 13th
time in defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s tenure that the
Hokies have finished in the top 20 of that category. Tech
also ranked third nationally in third-down defense (27.5
percent), tied for seventh in tackles for a loss per game
(8.1), tied for 14th in interceptions (16) and tied for 24th in
turnovers gained (25).
The Hokies, though, lose four starters on that side of the
ball, including three defensive linemen and free safety Chuck
Clark. Foster sat down and answered some questions about
replacing those players and what he hopes to accomplish
this spring, as the Hokies get set to open practice March 21.
Q: When you look back at last season, how did
you think the defense played?
BF:
“I thought we played really well early, and then we
had some injuries up front. I thought we played hard each
and every week, and we were consistent each and every
week. We had some big-time games where we stepped up
and were dominant, and then down the stretch, we stepped
up when we needed to and played good team football. You
saw us do some really good things, you saw us make some
plays when we needed to, and that’s the sign of a team
that showed a lot of character and willingness to give of
themselves to each other.”
Q: Your defense last season was a top-20
defense yet again, but you weren’t particularly
pleased with that. Why was that?
BF:
“You’ve been around me long enough. You know my
expectations. I don’t want to be one of the best. I want to
be
the
best. That’s what we’re working toward every day.
Did we accomplish that? No. Was I pleased? Yes. I couldn’t
have asked any more from our kids. We had great senior
leadership. Our kids bought into the transition, but the
expectations didn’t change from what they were previously.
We came up a couple of games short the past couple of
years. There were a lot of close football games that we lost,
and there were a lot of close games that we won last year,
and we were able to get over the hump. That’s the mark of
some really good leadership from our players.
“Our goals and expectations aren’t going to change, but
sometimes the players change. That’s where development
comes in, and we’ll continue to grow and develop our team
throughout the spring, the summer and fall camp.”
Q: The area where you took a big hit from
graduation was the defensive line, with tackles
Nigel Williams and Woody Baron and defensive
end Ken Ekanem departing. The end position is the
bigger concern with Vinny Mihota and Trevon Hill
out with injuries. How do things look at the end
spots?
BF:
“Well, you’re right. We’re going to be short at
defensive end. There are going to be a couple of guys at
defensive end that we need to take the next step in their
development, both in their physical maturity and their
mental maturity. We need for them to be someone we can
count on and depend on. Houshun Gaines and Emmanuel
Virginia
Tech’s defense
played much
better in
2016, ranking
in the top 20
nationally
in total
defense, but
coordinator
Bud Foster
wants to
see more
improvement,
and
developing
the young
players will
be key
by
Jimmy
Robertson
’s