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Other than a win and no injuries, what are you hoping to see from the team, the coaches, and/or any specific players in the William & Mary game?

Nova Hokie 95: I’m going to go with an answer that I think is going to be off the grid from what most people (Roundtable participant or just Joe Fan) would say: the wide receivers.

Yes, it’s going to be important to see that Michael Brewer is able to fit into the Virginia Tech offense. It’s a huge change from what Texas Tech ran and something to keep an eye on. Yes, the OL is going to need to be tough as a group. Yes, the RBs are going to have to have better vision than they had last year.

But all that said, I think it’s the wide receivers that are going to make or break this year’s offense. Here’s an ugly stat from last year: Virginia Tech was 114th in the nation on third-down efficiency. We picked up a measly 65 out of 203 potential third-down opportunities. That is horrid. In order for the Scot Loeffler offense to succeed, the wide receivers are going to have to pick up the third-and-medium and third-and-long opportunities in games. They’re going to have to extend drives. They’re going to have to get on the same page as Brewer and be that boost our offense needs.

So against W&M, I’m going to want to see the WR corps get separation against what’s a fairly good defense. I’m going to want to see them run crisp routes, sit down in gaps, stretch the field, and pick up first downs. While the passing offense has never been a huge part of the Virginia Tech identity, I think it’s going to be a key indicator of success