My friend Norm Wood of the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., covers Virginia Tech and was good enough to answer my questions about the Hokies, at great length and with considerable detail. My thanks to Norm. You can follow him on Twitter here and read his stuff online here.

1. What's the deal with Logan Thomas?

It’s unlikely anybody actually thought Thomas’ stated preseason goals of completing 62 percent of his passes and throwing less five interceptions this season were attainable. Neither of those numbers seemed reasonable after completing just 51 percent of his passes last season while throwing 16 interceptions, and entering this season with a new offensive system. Then again, it’s also doubtful most observers believed the 6-foot-6, 254-pound Thomas would struggle as much as he has early on. He worked on mechanics in the offseason with new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler. Though Thomas does look better throwing the ball when he gets time to stand in the pocket and deliver (protection has been solid for the most part), the results have been there. He’s completed just 48.5 percent of his passes for 698 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions – not exactly top five overall draft pick material, like ESPN guru Mel Kiper had him projected prior to last season.

Thomas has admitted he’s getting his first taste this season of how to go through true passing progression reads. It’s a little mindboggling to think a fifth-year senior hasn’t already been presented with all the ins and outs of that concept. He also didn’t get much help from his wide receivers early in the season. They combined to drop nine passes in the season-opening loss to No. 1 Alabama. After looking like he was turning the corner as a passer in the win at East Carolina, he took a step back throwing the ball in the win against Marshall, failing to complete nine consecutive passes (including two interceptions during the stretch) at one point.

He hasn’t been running as much this season in most games, but he did have 23 carries for 58 yards in the rain against Marshall. He looks like he’s nowhere near his comfort zone right now.

2.Who are the one of two guys on the Hokies defense that Georgia Tech will have to account for?

In keeping with the theme of many of Virginia Tech’s recent seasons, defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s unit has carried the load. Through four games, it’s shaping up to be one of his best defenses. At least a half-dozen players could be chosen as impact players in this group, including true freshmen cornerbacks Brandon Facyson and Kendall Fuller, but senior defensive end J.R. Collins has been the most disruptive player on Virginia Tech’s excellent defensive line.

Collins has bounced back after a relatively disappointing junior season to lead Virginia Tech with five tackles for loss, including 4 1/2 sacks (at least one sack in each of the last three games). He’s also second on the team with 12 solo tackles. Collins has always had great foot speed, but he said he’s started using his hands more this season when working past offensive tackles.

Georgia Tech will also have to be mindful of senior Kyle Fuller, Kendall’s brother. Foster said Kyle, who started the first four games at cornerback, will start Thursday night at outside linebacker. The idea is to get more of Virginia Tech’s most athletic players and best tacklers near the line of scrimmage. Kyle fits both of those descriptions. Virginia Tech also shifted the 5-11, 193-pound Kyle to outside linebacker for the 2010 and ’11 games against Georgia Tech with positive results.

3.Paul Johnson is taking pains not to overtax his players, many of whom got banged up in the North Carolina game. How has Frank Beamer approached the week?

With just four available practice days to get ready for Georgia Tech’s option, Beamer has taken quite the opposite approach. After burning the midnight oil to grade film Saturday night after the Marshall game, Beamer gave players Sunday off, while the coaching staff finalized the game plan and practice plans for Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech had full pad practices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – rare to be in full pads the day before a game – before hopping on the plane Wednesday night to fly to Atlanta.

To say it’s been a busy short week in Blacksburg would be an understatement. Virginia Tech comes into Thursday night’s game fairly healthy, with running back Trey Edmunds (hip) and center David Wang (shoulder) both probable. Running back J.C. Coleman (high left ankle sprain) has missed three of four games this season, but he wasn’t on this week’s injury report, so he should be ready to go. Linebacker Josh Trimble (hip) is doubtful. Of course, starting cornerback Antone Exum (recovering from February knee surgery) has yet to play this season, and won’t play in Atlanta.

Outside linebacker Ronny Vandyke, who was a projected starter in the preseason, is also out for the season with a shoulder injury sustained in August. Starting tight end Ryan Malleck (shoulder) is also out for the season after playing in just one game.

4.What difference do you think it will make for the Hokies’ defense to have only two or three days of practice time to prepare for the spread option this year versus having all preseason last year?

Well, Foster is already grousing about having to play a Thursday night road game just five days after Virginia Tech’s last game, calling is “absurd” and “ludicrous” and stating it doesn’t promote safety for players on either team. So, there’s no sugar-coating how he feels about the game. Having said that, Virginia Tech’s preparation for Georgia Tech actually started prior to last Saturday’s 29-21 triple overtime win against Marshall. Beamer and Foster both said Virginia Tech spent a little time in two Sunday practices leading up to the Marshall game to get the scout team brushed up on Georgia Tech’s option, and at least start to introduce a few option principles.

Foster added they’ve spent some time looking at Georgia Tech’s diamond formation look in the backfield, taking note of traps and power reads the Yellow Jackets have run out of the formation thus far, and assuming Georgia Tech can now run the triple option out of it, too. Foster said Virginia Tech is also aware Georgia Tech has used a little more pistol formation this season, too. Instead of spending as much time as usual in practice on fundamentals and technique, Foster said Virginia Tech has spent nearly an hour each day in “team time,” which is when the first team defense and offense lines up against the scout team.

The idea from a defensive perspective was obviously to cram in as many different looks as possible at Georgia Tech’s option. Having all the extra time last season was obviously an enormous luxury for Virginia Tech, which also had the advantage of playing Georgia Tech in a home opener in Blacksburg. Foster said Virginia Tech’s coaching staff caught wind of the fact Georgia Tech was going to use more spread looks last season heading into game. Virginia Tech’s coaches were able to do some internet research on the spread option and spread bone and translate some of the ideas to the practice field. There hasn’t been nearly as much time for that kind of in-depth, meticulous preparation this time around. It’s going to be a factor.

5.Given the way the team has started, have your projections for the rest of the season changed? Are the Hokies just not as good as previously thought, or is it possible it’s just a group that’s coming together slowly?

In truth, none of the results thus far, other than just how challenging Marshall was, have been all that surprising. For people around the program, Virginia Tech is exactly where most folks thought it would be through four games – 3-1. Now, how Virginia Tech has gotten to that point is what’s most intriguing. The preseason vibe indicated Virginia Tech’s offense would’ve been a little more productive than it has been thus far (102 in nation in total offense with 341.8 yards per game, 114^th in red zone efficiency with scores on 62.5 percent of trips inside the opponents’ 20-yard line).

Also, perhaps given Exum’s absence, Virginia Tech was expected to be a little less stout than it has been on defense (fifth in the nation in total defense with 233.3 yards per game, sixth in passing defense with 136.8 yards per game and 15^th in rushing defense with 96.5 yards per game). There’s no question Virginia Tech’s offense is still a work in progress. Thomas hasn’t gotten comfortable with receivers and he’s still learning Loeffler’s pre-snap motion-heavy pro style scheme. With Coleman out for most of the season thus far, Virginia Tech hasn’t been able to establish a pecking order in the backfield beyond Edmunds. From my standpoint, Virginia Tech was a seven or eight-win team coming into the season. My opinion hasn’t changed.

Thanks for reading. I'll have more around lunchtime.