By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Here are three keys for Virginia Tech to win the Coastal Division in 2016.

Many experts still Virginia Tech as being a year away from contending for an ACC Coastal Division title.

The Hokies, however, are hoping to take the league by surprise this fall.

Here are three keys for Virginia Tech to win the Coastal Division in 2016.

1. Ford Focus

There are few, if any, receivers in college football that are more explosive than Virginia Techs Isaiah Ford.

Finishing the 2015 season as the ACCs leader in both receiving yards (1,164) and receiving touchdowns (11), defensive coordinators around the league certainly are not unaware of No. 1 for the Hokies when he lines up in the formation.

Even so, the Hokies need to find even more ways to get the ball into Fords hands this fall. He is probably best known for his advanced ability to run devastating routes, but he is also a nightmare for defenders in the open field.

It is never a bad idea as an offensive coordinator to get the football into the hands of your best playmaker. For new Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen, that player is Isaiah Ford.

2. Turn Up the Pressure

The 2015 season was arguably the worst of defensive coordinator Bud Fosters 20-year tenure in Blacksburg, as the Hokies allowed 26.3 points and 369.8 yards per contest.

One the leading factors to Virginia Techs massive regression was the lack of a pass rush.

Usually known for their ability to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, the Hokies managed just 26 sacks in 2015, the lowest output of Fosters tenure. And with Fosters propensity for using aggressive secondary schemes, the lack of pressure from the front seven allowed opposing signal callers to take advantage of the numbers in the secondary.

Ken Ekanem is undoubtedly the best option for the Hokies at defensive end, but his sack total regressed from 10.5 as a sophomore to just 4.5 last season as a junior. Virginia Tech will need Ekanem to return to his 2014 form, and will also need a handful of other players to step up and provide a consistent rush in order to alleviate the pressure on the defensive backfield.

3. Keep on Running

The Hokies had their best rushing season since 2011 last fall, racking up 2,070 yards on the ground.

Even so, the Hokies need that number to increase substantially if they want to have a legitimate chance to make it to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game.

Virginia Tech returns four starters up front along the offensive line, so lack of experience will not be an excuse in the trenches. In total, Tech offensive linemen have combined for 89 career collegiate starts, making it one of the more experienced units in the country.

Running back Travon McMillian emerged as a legitimate feature back as a freshman last fall, which is something which the program had been sorely lacking. He rushed for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns on his way to becoming the schools first 1,000-yard rusher since David Wilson.

While there still should be plenty of emphasis placed on getting the ball to Isaiah Ford out wide, when the Hokies arent throwing the football to one of the countrys best at his position, they need to focus on becoming more effective in the ground game.