Virginia Tech's center may be tested against ECU

BLACKSBURG -- The center must be one of the sharpest players on a football field. He has to spot the middle linebacker, scan the defense's alignment and notify the other offensive linemen if he sees something that might portend a blitz -- all in a few seconds before he snaps the ball.

"I think it's the most difficult position on the field, with the exception of quarterback," said Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator, Bryan Stinespring.

Tonight at East Carolina, Tech likely will start a redshirt freshman at center who, before moving to the position from tackle during spring practices, last played there in middle school. This, obviously, is not the ideal situation for a Tech offense that has floundered on its opponent's half of the field in the past two games, losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

But the Hokies' starting center, junior Beau Warren, is doubtful after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee a week ago against North Carolina. So in steps Michael Via, a 19-year-old who is more physically ready to contribute than he was last year. Yet is he mentally sharp enough after playing just 39 snaps in the first eight games -- 24 in two blowout wins and 15 after Warren was hurt last Thursday?

"I just wish it was this time next year," said Tech's offensive line coach, Curt Newsome, who, despite his hopes, cannot will more experience onto Via. "My only reservations are he's still a freshman."

Via has done everything he can to this point. He weighed 250 pounds when he arrived at Tech last year. He gained 30 pounds by starting his day with scarfing biscuits and gravy at team breakfast and pushing iron during the Hokies' weight-room sessions.

His height, 6-7, might make him a tackle in the future. It has always forced him to play low and balanced, because, as right guard Jaymes Brooks said, "You can't get high on the line."

Via's father, Bob, is a former center who was his son's line coach during his final two years at Northeast Guilford High in McLeansville, N.C., near Greensboro. "He'd tell me to play 6-2, not 6-6," Via said. "I've always kind of had that in mind."

Tonight, he and his teammates also have to focus on cashing in scoring opportunities, because they botched too many in the past two games.

The Hokies showed their offense was legitimate in the first six games. They cracked opposing territory on 38 possessions and scored 29 times -- 21 touchdowns, eight field goals. When they started drives on their opponent's half of the field, they were 8 for 8 -- seven touchdowns and a field goal.

Against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, they crossed midfield on 16 drives but scored just seven times -- five touchdowns, two field goals. Worse yet, they were 1 of 5 when starting drives in opposing territory; the lone score, a touchdown, came when they got the ball at North Carolina's 5-yard line.

The Hokies stalled early in the past two games, during which 10 of their first 14 possessions crossed midfield, and seven of those 10 reached at least the 35. The result: one field goal.

They cracked Georgia Tech's half of the field on five of their first seven drives -- three of which started in Yellow Jackets territory. The Hokies advanced to the 16, 18, 33, 35 and 48. The result: three punts, an interception and a field goal.

Against North Carolina, the Hokies also crossed midfield on five of their first seven drives, all in the first half. Two of those five started in Tar Heels territory. The Hokies advanced to the 27, 34, 35, 37 and 38 and turned that field position into two punts, two turnovers on downs and a lost fumble.

"That is very frustrating," Stinespring said. "It is one that'll cause you to bang your head on the table. It is one that'll start making you talk to yourself. I haven't started talking back, but it's getting close."

Contact Darryl Slater at (804) 649-6026 or dslater@timesdispatch.com