2006 Spring Football Wrapup: The Offense

When Virginia Tech began spring practice back in March, they knew there were major questions at nearly every position on the offensive side of the ball. The defense dominated Saturday’s spring game, as they did most of the spring. With spring practice now in the rear-view mirror, it’s blatantly obvious that many of those questions remain, and they will continue to be asked until the Hokies finally play a real game this fall.

Tech’s offense was gutted in the offseason, with the departure of four offensive linemen, an All-ACC tight end, two tailbacks and starting quarterback Marcus Vick. Some of those positions have gotten even thinner, thanks to injuries and suspensions.

Starting tailback Branden Ore is not enrolled in school this semester, opting to rehab his injured shoulder back home in Chesapeake. Starting center Danny McGrath missed all of spring practice with a shoulder injury. Backup tailbacks Elan Lewis and Kenny Lewis, Jr. suffered injuries that ended their spring early. The top returning tight end, John Kinzer, may have to give up football due to a neck injury. And to top it off, r-freshman quarterback Ike Whitaker missed about half of spring practice thanks to his offseason suspension. Tech’s offense was desperately thin at times this spring.

So while Tech’s offense was not nearly at full strength for the majority of the spring, we can go back and evaluate each position based on who did play, and also take into consideration what each position was missing due to injuries and suspensions.

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