On Saturday, November 1st, the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-5, 2-2 ACC) welcome the No. 16 Louisville Cardinals (6-1, 3-1 ACC) to Lane Stadium for the first tilt of a tough November stretch for the Hokies. Kickoff is scheduled for 3pm EST on the CW for Louisville’s first trip to Blacksburg since joining the ACC in 2013.
Coming off an emotional, gutsy win last weekend over Cal, the Hokies hope to play spoiler against a Louisville team that bolsters an excellent and well-rounded defense; one they hope will lead them to the ACC Championship game and College Football Playoff.
It will certainly be an uphill battle for Tech on Saturday; however, here are some keys to the game that I believe can help their case.
Offense
1. Two-Dimensional Offense
Louisville has the second best pass defense in the ACC allowing only a 55.38% completion rate and six touchdowns this season. Virginia Tech has the second worst passing offense with 141/238 (59.24%), 1,516 yards, 14 touchdowns, six interceptions, 6.37 yards per completion, and 189.5 yards per game.
Not a great combination; however, that is precisely why I believe it is important for Tech to get Kyron Drones going in the pass game early. The strength of the Hokies offensively is running the football, but it is also crucial for them to throw the ball efficiently. We have seen many promising drives stall out because of two bad passing plays in a row despite the ability to run the ball effectively. Louisville has the fourth best rush defense in the conference, meaning they are well-rounded and will not give Tech very many opportunities to move the ball.
This cannot be a one-sided offensive performance as it was Friday night against Cal where the Hokies would line up and everyone in the stadium knew they were running the ball, yet Cal couldn’t stop Marcellous Hawkins or Drones (and showed very little interest in tackling the latter; it was a thing of beauty). The Hokies must be a two-dimensional offense Saturday afternoon.
Louisville defensively is only allowing 737 yards on 230 attempts, 3.2 yards per attempt, six touchdowns, and 105.29 yards per game on the ground. Virginia Tech does have the fourth best rushing offense in the conference with 1,474 yards on 297 carries, 4.96 yards per carry, nine touchdowns, and 184.25 yards per rush.
Marcellous Hawkins, coming off a big game against Cal, has produced 531 yards on 85 carries, one touchdown, and 6.2 yards per carry. Terion Stewart has contributed 373 yards on 55 carries, still no touchdowns, and 6.8 yards per carry. Kyron Drones has also been huge with his legs, with 414 yards on 113 carries, seven touchdowns, and 3.7 yards per carry.
Bottom line: this is a game where the Hokies cannot afford to be stagnant offensively, coming away empty on multiple possessions in a row, having to settle for field goals multiple drives in a row, or stalling drives with penalties or untimely sacks. It will take a total effort to win Saturday.
