Spread Could Be an Option With Taylor at QB

BLACKSBURG, Va., Sept. 24 -- After Virginia Tech determined that Tyrod Taylor was the answer at quarterback, the next challenge the Hokies faced was finding the best way to use him. Coach Frank Beamer and his staff met Sunday to scrutinize the tape of the previous day's victory over North Carolina with a specific eye on how to use Taylor.

One possibility might be the spread option, an offense that has become heavily used by teams with a mobile quarterback.

Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said the team used elements of the spread option last season, but outsiders tend to recognize only those teams that use it exclusively. Instead, Stinespring said the spread formation is a feature of the Hokies' offense, one that could be used more frequently but not one that will come to define the team.

"We just happen to mix and match our formations a lot," Stinespring said. "For us to spread it out, it's a complement, it's an element, but it's not a feature. What's featured is we got to be able to run and play-action. That's what we're good at it. But we got to be able to spread it out and still run it and play-action."

Although a mobile quarterback in a spread-option attack is a threat to run the ball, Stinespring said Virginia Tech's passing game also could benefit. With more receivers on the field and the threat of Taylor's mobility, passing out of the formation might help the Hokies improve an aerial attack that ranks 114th out of 119 teams in division I-A (99 passing yards per game).

Using a spread option -- much less any formation using the shotgun -- will be difficult on Saturday against Nebraska because of the Cornhuskers' rabid crowd. The volume particularly presents an issue with the quarterback-center exchange.

Running back Kenny Lewis enjoys running out of the shotgun because he can reach the corners quicker than he would if he needs to accelerate toward the ball -- and the line -- when the quarterback is under center.

"At this level, everyone can run," Lewis said. "The faster we can get to the corner and upfield, the better."

The determining factor will be what works for Taylor, who was not made available to reporters this week. Play-action and shotgun are two elements of the offense in which Stinespring said Taylor is most comfortable.

"He likes the play-action pass and being deeper in the pocket," Stinespring said. "The fact that he's in the shotgun allows him to set his feet quicker and get a good vision."

A Fair Point

Following three North Carolina punts in Virginia Tech's win over the Tar Heels, the Hokies started on their 1-yard line, 7-yard line and 11-yard line. Each time, punt returner Victor "Macho" Harris let the ball drop instead of calling for a fair catch in the hope it would reach the end zone for a touchback.

"We'd like to get him out there and just fair-catch those," Beamer said Monday. "That's a bad place to be starting."

During Monday afternoon's practice, Virginia Tech worked on fair-catch situations. They often occur on shorter punts when the intended goal is to pin the Hokies in their zone, and Beamer said it is important for the team to communicate on those plays.

But the responsibility primarily falls on Harris, who must decide whether to catch a punt or let the ball bounce. Such decisions are as valuable to the field position battle as his noteworthy return skills.

"I was just worried about my players and their players coming up so fast, I was just trying to get my players out of the way so the ball wouldn't hit nobody," Harris said Saturday. "It's definitely a risk catching the ball in traffic, but that's what returners do. You got to take that risk and fair catch."