Bye Week Comes At A Good Time For the Virginia Tech Hokies

Oct 4, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer (R) talks with his team during a break in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Hokies defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels this past Saturday 34-17 to avoid an 0-2 start in the ACC Coastal and move to 4-2 overall on the season. The Hokies have played three teams that are currently ranked with both losses at home to two currently ranked teams, East Carolina and Georgia Tech.

The Hokies enter their first bye week of the season and have to be happy about the timing of this off week.

First, this is the middle of the season and the Hokies’ coaching staff will have a chance to review the whole season to see the progress players have made. The coaches can also give some players the chance to climb up the depth chart against other players though that only seems likely at possibly a few positions, most of which are on the offensive line.

This will also be a chance for the Hokies to implement some new plays to start the big push for a spot in the top 25 and in the ACC Championship. Also, this will be a great chance for the Hokies to focus on lessening the penalties that have been a major issue for Virginia Tech in the first 6 games of the 2014 season.

Also, Virginia Tech will have the chance to evaluate a couple of injured players and get a few others healthy.

Luther Maddy has the potential to be back by next Thursday’s game at Pittsburgh and that would be big for the defensive line where depth has been at issue. Also, Woody Baron will be healthy by the time the Hokies play Pittsburgh and that will add some depth in a game they’ll need it against James Connor and the Panthers’ very good rushing attack.

Ryan Malleck has not seemed like someone that has been completely healthy and this seems like a great week to get the junior tight end completely healthy. Having Malleck completely healthy along with Bucky Hodges and Kalvin Cline at tight end will be quite good.

This also will be the week where the Hokies will probably make their final evalutations and decision on whether Brandon Facyson will be redshirted. Right now, it seems like Virginia Tech should and will redshirt Facyson but we might have a definite answer by the end of this week.

This is a great time for the Hokies to have a bye week as they prepare to make a push for the ACC Coastal title.