A thread about playing Virginia Tech in football

[ChrisW]

I haven't watched VT much outside of the OSU-VT game and wanted to see some info on their team. Normally, even if they're offense is terrible, they will always have a stout D. Now their defensive seems average, with an FEI is similar to ours, Pitt, UNC, etc. Are they lacking their typically DLine stacked with hosses?

They've had some success in the past blitzing their safeties up the middle, shooting the gap and disrupting the mesh. Given our confusion (to put it mildly) on the Oline, I would expect them to try something similar this time around. I think the switch from JT presnap read to check-with-me has helped with this issue, but it's still an area of concern. Who's their most athletic DB? I would guess he's the one to watch trying to shoot the gap.

On offense for VT, is Brewer back for good? Neither Brewer or his backup have seem to be lighting it up. I'm more worried about their run game with us missing Gotsis. Maybe the UVA & UNC games are a preview and we have issues stopping a RB + mobile QB combo with no Gotsis, but neither Brewer or his backup seem like a threat there.

 

[Deke]

but neither Brewer or his backup seem like a threat there.

After watching UVA's baby deer of a QB successfully run around in the backfield, any scrambling situation makes me nervous (especially with 2 of our 3 starting DT rotation out).

That being said, their offense seems pretty anemic again. I'm sure Foster will have the defense geared up to play. They always seem to put an inordinate amount of time into scheming for us, and I don't really expect this year to be any different. Hopefully having played a Notre Dame team that used a lot of similar ideas on defense will give the offense something to work from (at least for the 3 players that haven't been injured between then and now)

 

[WracerX]

Expect the to blitz the gaps up the middle with LBs and try to beat out freshmen tacles man to man.

On offense, expect them to run at the A gaps, because were are starting our 3rd and 4th string DTs.

Hope for turnovers or for our a backs to set the edge so we can work the outside.

 

[jacket67]

Bud Foster does as good a job as anyone when it comes to scheming against our offense. They aren't as athletic on defense this year as they used to be, but we aren't exactly executing well on offense now, either. I don't feel good about our DL's ability to get pressure on Brewer without Gotsis or Hunt, so we will have to bring some guys from somewhere or it will be a long night. From a purely objective standpoint, I'm expecting a frustrating game as we struggle to get in enough of a rhythm on offense to get the win. On the other hand, BDS at night is a special venue for us, and our young players are probably ready to step up after all the experience they've gotten this year. If we don't turn the ball over or have special teams mishaps, I think we could come out ahead.

 

[GTTerrific]

Their best db is Fuller and he's out.
I'm concerned about us stopping the run especially late. We have to cut out the negative and 1 yard plays on offense. Need to keep it a 3rd and 3 type game for us.

 

[ramblinwise1]

I think we need to go full time with the 3 man D line we used to stop FSU's hotshot. The 4 LBs got to the running back and stopped the run.

I am more worried about the offense more than the defense.

 

[ChrisW]

I think we need to go full time with the 3 man D line we used to stop FSU's hotshot. The 4 LBs got to the running back and stopped the run.

I am more worried about the offense than the defense.

I don't know what makes me cringe more, hearing 3-4 or Wolf for defense, too many bad memories. But right now we just don't have enough players at DL, so I guess it makes sense. Put the guys that are actually healthy on the field.