[beachfinder]

This not only looks like a good game on paper, all indications are that it will also play out that way as well.



These are two teams with some very similar styles and some things that are different enough to make it hard to foresee the outcome with certainty. Both believe in hard defense and establishing the run. Both are well coached and believe that fundamentals win games.


As in any game, the match-ups between players will usually tell the tale in the winners and losers. Though fall practice has just begun and starting positions may easily change before kickoff, here is the main match-up that could and should determine the outcome of the game.


No position makes or breaks a team's chances more than quarterback.
Greg McElroy to most is a virtual unknown. Though McElroy has seen playing time in his previous years at Alabama, it is both limited and was in mop up duty. Behind McElroy is no one with any experience either. If Alabama has an Achille's heel this year, it is at QB.


Tyrod Taylor is an experienced QB who after two seasons of sharing playing time with the graduated Sean Glennon, now has this team squarely on his own shoulders. There really is no reliable back up to go to. Like Alabama, if the starter goes out, the team could suffer immensely.


At a recent Manning passing academy camp, both QB's were present and competed against one another, McElroy beat Taylor's skills in a huge way. But does raw skill beat experience?


When evaluating matchups, one has to look at the supporting casts who can help a quarterback thrive or fail.


Nothing takes the heat of a signal caller better than a great running game. Alabama has the deepest, most talented corp of running backs Virginia Tech will face this year.


Though Tech fans could argue that Darren Evans is good, and he is, Alabama has at least 4 backs that are better and the talent level fall of badly after Evans.

The rest of the article is at:
Alabama vs Virginia Tech and The Main Matchup That Could Determine a Winner | Bleacher Report

It's sort of lengthy, but good.