Everything You Need To Know: Virginia Tech

By: Kris Wright |
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Mike Moore and the defense will need to prevent big plays and stop the run. ~ Mike Ingalls

It’s been said that you can throw out the record when two rivals get together for a sports showdown. In the case of the Virginia and Virginia Tech football teams this season, they’d probably love to throw out the records. UVA’s 4-7 mark alongside VT’s 5-6 ledger have left fans on both sides yearning for what’s next vs. what’s now.

Still, there’s a game to be played and the coaches and players are ready to duel. For the Hoos, they hope to send their seniors out on a regular season high note for the first time since 2003 – the Hokies have won 11 straight in the series after all. Plus, the rumor mill points to this being coach Mike London’s last game as head coach too. Tech, meanwhile, wants to win to send coach Frank Beamer out on a high note in his last regular season game – he’s retiring after the season. The Hokies can extend their bowl streak to 23 years with a win as well.

“Obviously for the stakeholders, the alumni and fans, it’s always about having bragging rights,” London said. “It’s always about what happens on game day and afterwards. So, again, we want to play well enough to do that, to have an opportunity to reverse whatever streak that has been going on. And as I said, focus on the finishing for us – and this group of seniors that we have as well.”

That’s a lot of interesting storylines for a pair of teams with losing records. Yep, must be rivalry week. The coaches from both sides have said nothing to stoke the fire this week with each remarking on their ‘respect’ for the other side.

“I wouldn’t use the word ‘not like’ – I’d probably use the word ‘respect'” Beamer said. “It’s two programs that have done it right over the years in the same state. I don’t think everyone’s done that. I think they’ve done a good job up there. When you grow up and kids got to school at UVA and so forth. When those two programs get together, it’s a bit bigger than an average ball game, or normal ball game. Where they grew up and when to high school, that sets the stage for this ball game.”

With that in mind, here’s Everything You Need To Know.

Essentials

Game Nuggets

  • The Commonwealth Cup, first started for the 1996 game, is up for grabs in this one. Virginia Tech has held the cup for 11 straight years.
  • This is the 97th meeting in series history – Virginia has only faced North Carolina (120) more times. Virginia Tech leads the series 54-37-5.
  • UVA has won 6 of 7 ACC home games, but hasn’t won 4 straight ACC games at home since 2002. UVA has won 3 straight ACC home games, while VT has won 3 straight ACC road games.
  • Saturday is Senior Day at Scott Stadium. The Hoos will recognize 19 fourth and fifth years in their final year of eligibility.
  • Saturday is the 17-year anniversary of the game-winning 47-yard touchdown reception at Virginia Tech in one of the program’s greatest comeback wins. Ahmad Hawkins, who made that catch, is a contributor to TheSabre.com.

Spotlight On Bucky Hodges

Virginia Tech features several players that can be dangerous in the passing game with receivers Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips plus tight ends Bucky Hodges and Ryan Malleck in the mix. That quartet has posted 151 receptions, 2,021 yards, and 19 touchdowns between them this season. Virginia’s defense, of course, has been vulnerable to big days from receivers and touchdown plays from tight ends all season long so that makes this a key area to watch for the game.

Hodges, in particular, is a big concern because of his versatility. He can line up as a receiver, a tight end with a hand down, an H-Back, or even possibly as a Wildcat quarterback. He has logged 33 catches for 458 yards and 6 touchdowns this season to push his career totals to 78 catches, 984 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Hodges, of course, came up big in last year’s game in Blacksburg with 3 catches for 61 yards and 1 touchdown. He hauled in a 50-yard pass and a 9-yard touchdown pass on the Hokies’ winning drive in the final 2 minutes last season as well. Plus, he recovered a blocked UVA punt in the end zone for a score too.

Fully expect Virginia Tech to try to use Hodges both as a target and a decoy in this one, particularly on crossing routes against the linebackers or on against the grain plays where all the other action goes away from the eventual target. Both of those types of plays have destroyed the Hoos this season.

“That’s an explosive group that you talk about with Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges,” London said. “The quarterback, [Michael] Brewer, can get the ball to them. There are some things that they do exceptional. It’s going to be important. It ties back into our pass rush opportunities to get pressure on the quarterback, and then go up and be competitive for the ball when it’s in the air. They move Bucky Hodges around. They do a good job of putting him at receiver, slot, and tight end on the ball and off the ball. They do a lot of creative things with him, so just being alert and aware. You just can’t focus on him, but there is enough of an arsenal there that you have to be aware of where they are and then play accordingly.”

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Olamide Zaccheaus caught a 50-yard touchdown pass against Duke. ~ Mike Ingalls

Match-ups To Watch

Virginia Tech fullback Sam Rogers vs. Virginia’s Micah Kiser and other linebackers. Rogers could be a key figure in this game. He’s often a point-of-attack blocker in the running game, which frees up backs like leading rusher Travon McMillian to gain yards at a 5.3 yards per carry clip. Rogers is more than just a blocker, though. The Hokies have trusted him on money carries at times for first downs or in the red zone. Plus, he’s a viable threat in the receiving game with 13 catches for 167 yards this season. Remember the against the grain misdirection plays mentioned above? Rogers’ receiving touchdown this season came on that type of play against Ohio State. Watch it here. That’s very similar to scoring plays against Virginia by William & Mary, Pitt, and others.

Virginia running backs Taquan Mizzell and Olamide Zaccheaus vs. Virginia Tech safety Adonis Alexander. UVA likes to try to create mismatches with Mizzell and Zaccheaus in the passing game whether that be with motion, shifts, screens, or misdirection. Against the Hokies, who like to match up their corners in man-to-man situations frequently, that means Virginia can create crossing and seam routes for either man or zone matchups against linebackers and safeties like Alexander. That’s exactly what the Hoos did to get long touchdown passes (50 for Zaccheaus and 36 for Mizzell) against Duke. It’s also why Mizzell is on the verge of a 700/700 season, which has been accomplished by just 5 FBS level players since 2000. He has 645 rushing yards and 671 receiving yards this season. Alexander has 3 interceptions this season, which is sixth in the ACC so there’s a little bit of a danger there.

Virginia Tech receiver Isaiah Ford vs. Virginia cornerback Darious Latimore. Ford has tied the school record with 9 touchdown catches in a single season. He has 57 catches for an ACC-leading 816 yards, He is the fastest receiver to 1,000 career yards and 100 career receptions under Frank Beamer. Long story short – the Hokies have a go-to playmaker in Ford, who is coming off a career-best 155 yards receiving against UNC. The Cavaliers have turned to Latimore more in recent weeks, giving him his first career start at Louisville and playing him frequently against Duke. The Blue Devils targeted him multiple times and he responded with 2 pass break-ups and 1 interception. He leads UVA with 2 INTs on the season.

Virginia receiver Keeon Johnson vs. Virginia Tech corner Terrell Edmunds. While Canaan Severin is the leading receiver on the team and will be a factor, VT defensive coordinator Bud Foster is one of the best at destroying offenses that stick to their tendencies. Enter Johnson, who caught 3 passes for 27 yards last week against Duke and who only has 13 catches for 173 yards this season. Virginia Tech has had some problems giving up big plays and a tendency break by sending Johnson over the top against man coverage instead of T.J. Thorpe could be a potential game-breaker. Edmunds has 27 tackles and 5 pass break-ups; he was the defensive back targeted on UNC’s game-winning touchdown in overtime.

Kris’ Keys

1. Don’t help the Hokies. VT feeds off of opponent miscues better than almost any team in college football. The Hokies have 335 interceptions since 1996, the most in the Power 5 conferences. Turnovers against Bud Foster’s defense lead to points more often than not – they’ve got 85 points off of 23 take-aways this season. Matt Johns has 15 interceptions this season and two stinkers against Boise State and UNC – that sort of performance this weekend will lead to a sure loss. Beyond that, late hits, missed kicks, sacks allowed, and so on are big issues too against a group that will feed off of every mistake.

2. Don’t get slaughtered on special teams. Virginia Tech blocked a punt for a touchdown in last season’s 24-20 win in Blacksburg. Over Frank Beamer’s tenure, the Hokies have blocked 136 kicks and scored 54 special teams touchdowns. UVA has had both a punt and an extra point blocked already this season. There’s also field position to consider as Tech takes advantage of that category a lot too. This season, VT has an average starting field position of the 33.1-yard line while Virginia has an average starting field position of the 26-yard line.

3. Do use Matt Johns to run in the second half. Virginia Tech has been vulnerable to running quarterbacks this season and Matt Johns has some rushing ability. UVA has steered clear of Johns running much this season for injury concerns, but a great tendency break in this game would be to use Johns in the running game in the second half. It would limit locker room adjustments from Bud Foster and it could give the defense fits. The Hoos’ season ends Saturday so go for broke should be the motto.

The Pick

Virginia can win if … it wins the quarterback battle. In a lot of ways, this game could simply come down to who plays better: Matt Johns or Michael Brewer. Both are susceptible to bad days and inconsistent throws. Both have thrown a lot of interceptions – Johns with 15 this year as a full-time starter and Brewer with 15 last year as a full-time starter. Both have that ‘gamer’ vibe where they make things happen in games. If either guy gets it going on Saturday – or struggles with turnovers on the other end of the spectrum – it could be a big part of the outcome.

Virginia can lose if … it can’t stop the run. Virginia Tech’s offense has changed over the years, but it still starts with the ability to run the football. The Hokies are 4-1 this season when rushing for 4.0 yards per carry or better. In wins this season, UVA has allowed 3.92 yards per carry. In losses, 5.13. Yes, explosive passing plays for touchdowns have been an issue, but Jon Tenuta’s scheme works best when the defense stops the run and pressures on obvious passing downs.

And the winner is … Virginia Tech. You can talk yourself into a possible UVA win this week – four home wins already, play for the seniors, win one for Mike London, spoil the Hokies’ going way party for Frank Beamer, ‘does VT half anything left in the emotional gas tank?’, and other lines of thought are reasonable. But 11 in a row? That means you don’t pick the Hoos until they show you they can finally shake the streak against their rivals. VT 26, UVA 23. 2015 Record To Date: 9-2.