ESPN College Football

ESPN.com ACC blogger Heather Dinich talks with Virginia Tech OC Bryan Stinespring about their matchup with Michigan.

NEW ORLEANS -- Virginia Tech running back David Wilson was pretty outspoken after the ACC championship game about his lack of carries in the 38-10 loss to Clemson. He was held to 32 yards on 11 carries, both season lows. Following that game, he questioned the staff's play calling.

As it turns out, the staff didn't disagree much with him.

Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said the staff needed to do a better job of getting him involved, and that they'll make it a priority against Michigan.

"Obviously when you have someone like David, you want to get the ball in his hands," Stinespring said. "We didn't do a very good job early in the game of doing it. We came out and probably put a lot of run pass checks in early in the play calling, which really gets back to how the defense aligns itself and engage our play calling from that. And obviously Clemson was by their alignment and what they were going to do was try to overload the box or get more people involved in the run game. And therefore we were probably getting into some more passes instead of just lining up and calling some runs.

"Then when we tried to throw a couple of screens to get him involved early, they did a great job of defending it. So we probably needed to force the ball into his hands a couple more times early on, regardless of the situation. So we just needed to do a better job of getting him involved."

And Michigan's No. 1 priority will be limiting him.

"That's what coach [Greg] Mattison and coach [Brady] Hoke want," said linebacker Kenny Demens. "They want us to be run stoppers first. Stop the run and then the pass. If you stop the run, you are more prone to win that game."

With Virginia Tech's top two kickers at home because of off-field incidents, offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said it's even more critical for his team to cash in on its red zone opportunities against Michigan in Tuesday's Allstate Sugar Bowl. That has been a weakness for the entire season, as the Hokies enter the game tied for No. 101 in the country in red zone efficiency. In 64 drives inside the 20-yard line, Virginia Tech has come away with 34 touchdowns and 14 field goals.

"We have confidence in whoever is out there on that field and whatever position that they're in," Stinespring said. "But it also goes along a little bit with us as an offense. This year we have been very good as an offense. But the disappointing aspect of it is ... sometimes we haven't taken advantage of all of our scoring opportunities. So that's something we've continuously addressed throughout the season. And now it becomes even more important."

NEW ORLEANS -- Just wanted to give you a heads up on what's going on today here at the media headquarters:

9:15 a.m. ET --Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, WR Danny Coale, OT Blake DeChristopher, TE Chris Drager, QB Logan Thomas, and RB David Wilson will all be available to the media.

10:15 a.m. ET --Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, LB Kenny Demens, S Jordan Kovacs, DT Mike Martin, DE Craig Roh, and DE Ryan Van Bergen will be available for interviews.

2 p.m. ET --Virginia Tech practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

I'll have more videos and updates throughout the day, so please check back for more updates.

These links are brought to you today from somewhere in Charlotte, N.C. ....

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• Morris has become a hot commodity this year.
• Watkins, though, has exceeded all expectations as a true freshman.
• How about Bryan Stinespring? His offense will need a wee bit more production this time around.

Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring shows how the Hokies use a Run Alert play that can change depending on the safety.

Once again, the expectation is for Virginia Tech to win the Coastal Division.

Once again, the Hokies have the potential to work their way into the national title conversation.

But buried amid the preseason prognostications is the fact that quarterback Logan Thomas has yet to start a game and has thrown just 26 passes in his collegiate career. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer enters his 25th season as head coach of his alma mater with a new, highly anticipated beginning at his quarterback position. How Thomas fares in his first season will go a long way in determining whether the Hokies can return to the ACC championship game and possibly contend for more, or if they'll make way for a new champion.

There have been times this summer when Thomas has looked spectacular -- like on the clutch 24-yard pass that came on a third-and-16 at Miami last year. But there have also been times when he has looked like he’s never started a game before, and missed open targets.

That’s what Virginia Tech fans should expect this fall -- a little bit of both.

Thomas is going to experience some growing pains, but those within the program are confident in his abilities both as a leader and as a player. In addition to a favorable nonconference schedule to start the season, one of the biggest assets Thomas has working in his favor is the experience around him – veteran offensive linemen, senior receivers, a senior tight end, and a dynamic running back in David Wilson.

With the talent around him, there shouldn’t be much pressure on Thomas to win the games alone.

Nor should Hokies’ fans expect him to.

The Tyrod Taylor era is over. Thomas and Taylor are different in stature and style, and that will be reflected in the Hokies’ offense. If it looks any different, it’s not because Mike O’Cain is calling the plays instead of Bryan Stinespring, it’s because Thomas is a 6-foot-6 quarterback instead of the six-foot Taylor. It’s because Thomas won’t be scrambling like Taylor did, but he’ll be able to make passes Taylor couldn’t.

It will only be a matter of time before the comparisons between them disappear.

Ready or not, Logan Thomas is now the face of Virginia Tech’s offense.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said his decision to have quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain call the plays this year was "not a shift in offensive philosophy," rather it was more from an "operational standpoint."

Beamer said O'Cain is in the quarterback meetings with first-year starter Logan Thomas and has a better connection with him. Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring was moved back to the Tidewater recruiting area with guards and centers coach Curt Newsome, and will need to be at high schools on some Friday nights instead of in the team hotel with the quarterbacks, where O'Cain will be.

“It’s pretty much the same thing," Beamer said of the offensive philosophy. "You’ve got a taller quarterback who’s not quite as nifty as Tyrod Taylor was, but he can run. Some of the things he does best, that’s what you emphasize in your offense.”

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The career of Virginia Tech redshirt senior Chris Drager has officially come full circle, as he will spend his final season where his collegiate career began -- as a tight end.

Drager, who spent the past two seasons as a defensive end, has returned to the top of the offensive depth chart almost by default, as the graduation of tight end Andre Smith left the Hokies with just one returning tight end who has caught a pass in a game, Randall Dunn (one). Redshirt freshman Eric Martin was the second tight end when the Hokies used two-tight end sets, but he missed three games midseason with an injury.

Enter Drager.

“It’s not like discouraging,” he said of the volley between offense and defense. “It’s like, ‘I’ve got to learn another playbook,’ even though I kind of know it. It wasn’t as bad as the last move, since I have an idea of what’s already going on.”

Drager played 11 games at tight end in 2008, including one start. He caught three passes for 37 yards, but moved to defense the following fall. He fared well and started 11 games last year. He finished with 31 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and two sacks. He also had four pass breakups, 20 quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said he expects Drager to make a smooth transition this spring.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Beamer said. “He’s such a smart guy. He’s been there, so he’ll be coaching Coach [tight ends coach Bryan] Stinespring for two or three days.”

Drager said he probably enjoys playing defensive end more, but both he and Beamer agreed that his skills are best suited for the tight end position, especially when it comes to NFL potential.

“I’ve always been a team player,” Drager said. “If they needed me at defensive end, I’d be playing defensive end right now. But it’s definitely nice that our last year, I get to play the position that I’m most likely going to be playing -- if I play -- in the NFL.”

Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring told ESPN.com on Wednesday that he has no problem relinquishing the play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain. When asked if he's OK with the change, Stinespring said, "Absolutely."

"I think it’s one of those situations that presents itself that you study and look at yourself and address what’s best for your program," Stinespring said. "How can you improve your program? What needs to be done to enhance your program? About three or four indicating factors within our quarterback system, with additional responsibilities and endeavors, I think it fits us right now. I think it’s the best for us right now. In the final analysis, that’s what you’re looking to do, what’s best. What’s best for your program and the young men you’re entrusted to put in a position for success. That’s No. 1. That’s who we are, what we do. This is one of those areas we looked into not for the first time, this is not a new area, we’ve discussed it before, it is not a world changing event in any way shape or form."

Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain has been both a head coach and an offensive coordinator. Never, though, has he been a coordinator without calling the plays, as will his colleague, Bryan Stinespring.

"It may be a little bit unique, but it's a system that can work," O'Cain said. "I think you've got to have a good working relationship with the guy sitting beside you. Calling plays is not magic. It's something we do during the week."

The dynamic of Virginia Tech's staff has changed, as older, more tenured assistants have been moved to administrative roles, younger assistants hired, and the play-calling duties have been assigned to O'Cain. Should the staff come to an impasse about a decision, Stinespring will have the final say. What has made Virginia Tech's staff so special during Frank Beamer's tenure is its cohesiveness, and in order for it to stay that way, some egos might have to be shelved in order for this new plan to work. Those within the program have insisted that it's not a big deal -- that Stinespring gave his blessing and even initiated the changes to the offensive staff.

It's a major upheaval, though, for a staff that has built its reputation -- and its success -- on its stability.

"You've got to get your egos out of it," O'Cain said. "A lot of times egos get in the way and there's a power struggle, but I don't feel that way. ... Unless you're involved in our game and particularly with our staff, you've got to be around us and understand our makeup and how we go about things and the personalities involved and leave your ego at the door and go do what's best for this football team and what's best to help you win. Whoever makes the call -- it really doesn't make a rat's rear end who makes the call -- as long as the call is made and we're successful."

What happens when there are differences in opinion?

"I've been in this profession for 34 years and there are very few times in those 34 years -- I can probably count on one hand -- where there's been a disagreement over what the play should have been or could have been," O'Cain said. "You call the play, you send it in positively, your quarterback calls it in positively, and you go. Now, could sometimes a better play have been called? Ain't no question about it. That happens every Saturday. But the disagreements are very few."

A few highlights from Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer's teleconference this afternoon:

• This is the end of the staff changes for the season. "I like what we've got," Beamer said. "I'm eager to see if we have improved ourselves overall."
• Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring initiated the change to have Mike O'Cain call the plays."It was Bryan's decision. ... It's been Bryan's decision on all of the moves that we've made on offense."
• The offense is not going to change dramatically, nor will Stinespring's weekly duties as offensive coordinator. He'll still be involved in creating the weekly game plan.
• The staff recruiting territories will also change so that all nine coaches have areas in the state and Washington D.C. "Some coaches weren't in the state of Virginia," Beamer said. "I want to get back to where every coach, we see every high school coach every year, whether they've got a prospect or not."
• Why change now? Beamer: "I tell our staff we don't want to do something just because we've always done it that way, I want to bring new ideas, better ideas. I'm always looking for something different. ... I'm hopeful we've made our total staff stronger."

Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain will take over the play-calling duties, but Bryan Stinespring will retain the title of offensive coordinator, the school announced on Tuesday. Shane Beamer, who was previously announced as the running backs coach, will now also be the associate head coach.

Additionally, Stinespring will take over the offensive tackles to go along with his current coaching duties with the tight ends, and Curt Newsome will now coach just the offensive guards and the center position, as opposed to the entire line, which he coached the previous five seasons.

On defense, Torrian Gray will take over the rovers position and will now coach the entire defensive backfield. Beamer previously announced the hiring outside linebackers coach Cornell Brown, who will also help out with the defensive ends.

MIAMI -- Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has gotten most of the attention this past week here at the Discover Orange Bowl, but anyone watching Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor just saw why he was named the ACC's Player of the Year.

He simply amazes you. Just when you think the play is over, when there's no more room to run, no other choices to make, he find a way to make something happen.

How he stayed in bounds, how he stayed poised long enough to find David Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown pass can't be taught. There's no way offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring could have drawn up that play if he had tried.

It's that instinct that has separated him this season, and that kind of athleticism that could be a difference in this game.

The countdown to kickoff is finally here ...

• Randy Edsall to Maryland? Mike Wise of the Washington Post wants to know, Kevin Anderson, are you serious?!
• The Terps landed a competitive program builder.
• Things might be down in Miami, but they're not out of talent.
• Clemson coach Dabo Swinney shook up his staff and fired his offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
• There will be plenty of NFL scouts at tonight's Discover Orange Bowl, and at least one of them will be watching Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.
• The Orange Bowl will feature two of the nation's best teams NOT playing for the national title.
• It's also a showdown between two of the nation's top quarterbacks.
• Virginia Tech and Stanford don't know each other -- yet.
• This game is a chance for coach Frank Beamer to solidify his legacy.
• Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring has made some pretty good choices this year.