Game Preview: Virginia Tech
It’s a new era for Virginia Tech football, one with a high-powered offense and a re-energized defense.
And it starts with new head coach Justin Fuente.
Taking over for the legendary Frank Beamer — who retired after 29 seasons with the Hokies — Fuente has lifted the Hokies back into the national picture after four straight subpar years.
“Fuente has done two things very well, and they're inter-related,” said Tim Sullivan, the publisher of HokieHaven.com. “He's done an outstanding job of honoring the past at Virginia Tech while still upgrading the offense in a big way. The traditions of defense and special teams are alive and well, and that's a credit to former head coach Frank Beamer (and Fuente's willingness to keep them priorities despite plenty of change on offense).
“Fuente gives the No. 25 that Beamer wore as a Hokie to a different player each week to honor the man who turned the program into what it is today. Then you have the offense, which Fuente imported to replace an outdated and conservative scheme. Bringing those aspects together has resulted in a program that's already ahead of where fans expected it to be under Fuente.”
The Hokies began the season with a win over FCS Liberty, then lost in embarrassing fashion to Tennessee. Tech then reeled off three straight wins over Boston College, East Carolina and North Carolina before suffering a bad loss on the road at Syracuse, a 31-17 defeat.
Since then, Tech has rebounded several good wins, including Thursday night victories over Miami and Pittsburgh. The biggest part of the Hokies’ offensive success has been junior quarterback Jerod Evans, a junior college transfer who can run and pass.
He leads the team in rushing through nine games with 533 yards to sophomore running back Travon McMillian’s 527. Evans, a 6-foot-3, 238 pounds, has thrown for 2,203 yards and 21 touchdowns this season while completing 61.7 percent of his 253 passes.
“Evans is a hyper-accurate passer when he's comfortable in the pocket, is smart enough with the ball to not turn it over through the air, and has the athleticism to make plays with his feet, either by play design or when passes aren't there,” Sullivan said. “That's a pretty good combination. Lately, the explosive plays through the air have been a little more infrequent, with Evans nursing a minor ankle injury that has seen him show a little skittishness in the pocket. However, when he gets solid protection, his weapons allow him to be a difference-maker.”
Evans also has the weapons surrounding him to make his job easier. His three-headed receiving corps of juniors Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips has produced many highlight-reel catches this season, particularly when Tech’s running game isn’t producing.
“Ford is your classic pro-style receiver who can make plays all over the field,” Sullivan said. “He's a couple good performances away from being the Hokies' all-time leading pass-catcher in just about every significant category, and is most likely bound for the NFL Draft at the conclusion of his junior season.
“Bucky Hodges is a former tight end who uses his 6-7 frame to be a serious jump-ball threat, and is rounding into a more consistent pass-catcher, too. He's also athletic enough to get some touches out of the backfield, something that's not often expected of players his height.
“Phillips is a classic slot receiver, used frequently on end-arounds and screens to the edge. He has the ability to make plays downfield as well, but is more of a guy that the Hokies want to get the ball to in space to let him make plays.”
Fuente was also able to retain defensive coordinator Bud Foster when the change was made, a major piece of stability that has allowed the Hokies to thrive in Year 1 of a new regime.
“Foster’s retention has been a huge factor in maintaining that consistency on the defensive side of the ball, and almost serves as another nod to Frank Beamer in a way,” Sullivan said. “A link to the best aspects of the recent past helps fans and the team itself make the transition from Beamer to Fuente a little more seamlessly. On top of that, Foster is of course one of the country's most-decorated defensive coordinators, and has kept Virginia Tech’s defense performing at a high level.”
Foster came to Virginia Tech with Beamer — who he worked with at Murray State. Foster became defensive coordinator in 1995 and has built defenses that play aggressive, physical and relentlessly.
This year’s unit is no different. The Hokies are allowing 20.2 points (fourth in the ACC) and 327.4 yards per game (also fourth in the ACC) and are one of the best at stopping opponents on third downs.
Virginia Tech ranks the best in the ACC and fourth in FBS in limiting opponents to a 27.4 conversion rate on third down, a key piece in the team’s 7-3 start.
Injuries, though, have slowed the defense down. Defensive tackle Nigel Williams has missed significant time in the middle of the season, and defensive back Greg Stroman suffered an ankle injury against Duke and hasn't returned to the field yet.
Those ailments, combined with an attack like Notre Dame’s, could present challenges for the Hokies playing on the road.
“It's been scheme that has been the bigger issue. A scrambling quarterback (particularly out of more pro-style looks, rather than option-oriented schemes) has been a bugaboo, and Virginia Tech’s line and linebackers are too prone to giving up the edge,” Sullivan said. “If they have a poor tackling day, it can mean major yardage for the opponent. A quick-strike passing game carries similar consequences: they have the defensive backs to hold up in coverage, but if they start missing tackles, it can lead to upset losses (like we saw against Syracuse earlier this fall).”
Special teams, which waned near the end of the Beamer era, are again thriving. Though Stroman — Tech’s primary kick and punt returner — is banged up, the Hokies still have plenty of athletes to win the third phase of the game.
“The main special teams success has been primarily about the Jimmies and Joes rather than the Xes and Os. Virginia Tech has the athletes to make explosive plays, and turns them loose to do just that,” Sullivan said.
“Virginia Tech also emphasizes going for blocks on punts and field goals, and simply prioritizing that effort with the explosive quickness of their players yields good results. There are trouble spots on the other side of the ball for the Virginia Tech special teams, though. Punter Mitchell Ludwig has struggled bigtime, and kicker Joey Slye is automatic within 30 yards, but struggles outside that comfort zone.”
Facts & Figures
Date: Nov. 19, 2016.
Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795).
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
Television: NBC.
Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129).
Series Facts: This is the first all-time meeting between Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.
Coaches: Virginia Tech — Justin Fuente (7-3, first season); Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (59-29, seventh season).
Noting Virginia Tech: Fuente played college football at Oklahoma and Murray State, transferring after Howard Schnellenberger was replaced by John Blake … Fuente began his coaching career at Illinois State (QBs/OC), then worked at TCU under Gary Patterson for five years, the final three as co-offensive coordinator. He then took the head coaching job at Memphis, a job he held from 2012-15.