THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 7, 1995 TAG: 9510070370
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Virginia Tech's offense has been as unpredictable as a hurricane.
The vital information, if you're tracking this offensive system's coordinates:
Just 27 points in the first 14 quarters of 1995, but 26 points in the next two.
A meager 239 yards against lowly Cincinnati, followed by 397 against then-nationally ranked Miami.
Star tailback Dwayne Thomas ran for 165 yards in one game but just 154 in the other three.
Jim Druckenmiller has thrown four interceptions and two touchdowns, but became only the fifth Tech quarterback to pass for 300 or more yards in a game and the first to complete three passes of 70 yards or more in a season.
Is there any way to forecast before a game where this offense is heading?
``I don't think you can ever say for sure,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
Beamer said the Hokies (2-2) practiced well this week in preparation for today's 1:30 p.m. game at Navy (2-2). Generally, a good week of practice portends good things come Saturday afternoon, but Tech's stormy offensive production thus far offers no guarantees.
Beamer said the Hokies are looking for consistency.
``To me, it's just maturity,'' he said. ``I think we've got good enough players. . . . The challenge to our offense right now is, let's line up and play the same way all the time. It's easy to say, but it's hard to do with a football team.''
Current Virginia coach George Welsh's successors have found winning hard to do at Annapolis. Gary Tranquill went 6-5 in 1982, the year he took over from Welsh, but Navy hasn't had a winning season since. New coach Charlie Weatherbie is the fourth man to hold the job since Welsh.
Weatherbie brought a spread offense with elements of the wishbone to Navy from Utah State. The Middies are eighth nationally in rushing yards per game (273.5 yards), and their 1,094 yards on the ground through four games are in stark contrast to the 613 rushing yards Navy totaled last season.
Sophomore quarterback Chris McCoy is 10th nationally in rushing, averaging 133.3 yards per game. He needs just 81 yards today to surpass the Middies' 1994 team rushing total.
The 5-foot-9 McCoy was a defensive back on the Plebe/junior varsity team last year but also ran the scout-team offense when Navy was preparing to play option teams. When Weatherbie came in with the new triple-option system, McCoy's teammates persuaded him to try out for the quarterback job. He's not much of a passing threat but is getting the job done.
``I feel we'll have a chance (today) if we do the little things right,'' Weatherbie said. ``Our scheme gives us a chance to win.''
Navy opened the season by drubbing Southern Methodist, then lost to Rutgers and Wake Forest before winning big at Duke last weekend.
Navy's biggest disadvantage against Tech is size in the lines. The Hokies' offensive front averages 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, and the defensive line average is 6-2 1/2 and 263. Navy has relative Lilliputians, with an offensive line averaging 6-1 and 255 and a defensive front of 6-3 1/2 and 240.
``But they are very tough and relentless-type people,'' Beamer said. ``You just better be ready for a day's work.''
Tech defensive tackle Jim Baron (ankle) and cornerback Antonio Banks (knee) won't be reporting for work today. ILLUSTRATION: Navy QB Chris McCoy is 10th in the nation in rushing.
VIRGINIA TECH vs. NAVY
Where: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium (30,000), Annapolis, Md.
When: 1:30 p.m.
Radio: WGH 1310-AM; WPTG 107.9 FM; WTJZ 1270-AM
Records: Tech is 2-2; Navy is 2-2.
Key to the game: Virginia Tech's rushing defense is one of the
nation's best (88.3 yards per game, No. 6 in Division I-A), but so
is Navy's running game (273.5, No. 8).
Favorite: Virginia Tech by 13 1/2.
by CNB