Virginia Tech's run defense struggles have been a major storyline through the first seven weeks of the season. Those issues plagued the Hokies from the start as non-conference opponents consistently were able to break at least 1-2 game-changing type runs per game.
That has understandably led to plenty of fan complaints about Tech's issues with not allowing game-changing runs. Run fits have been a point of criticism within that. The Hokies have also shown signs of greatly missing long-time starting mike LB Dax Hollifield, who ran out of eligibility following the 2022 season, with no true mike LB ready to fill his role.
While the outside noise was plentiful, there were also plenty inside Merryman ready to make clear to Tech's defense that they could not continue allowing these game-changing runs that cost them games.
"You don’t necessarily need the outside noise to tell you. Coach (Chris) Marve makes sure we know. Coach (Brent) Pry makes sure we know. Coach (Shawn) Quinn makes sure we know. All the coaches make their objective very, very clear what we need to do it and how we need to do it to win a game," STAR LB Keonta Jenkins said.
That shouldn't come as a surprise, given that Tech allowed 5+ yards per carry through their first six games. That was primarily due to teams breaking game-changing runs, with Marshall and Florida State each having two 50+ yard runs and Rutgers adding a pair of 30+ yard rushing touchdowns.
The Pittsburgh game looked initially like a sign of growth for Tech's run defense, but after a pair of 60+ yard rushing touchdowns for FSU's Trey Benson against the Hokies, that became less certain. However, Brent Pry felt that even as the outside noise continued, his team was close to turning the Pitt game into the standard and not an outlier if they kept their focus.
"Yeah, all of us have a ton of pride. And I tell them to ignore the noise, but I know they hear it. And I think the message last week was again, we’re not that far away. We’ve got to limit explosive runs," Pry said.
Against Wake Forest, the Hokies showed that what happened against Pittsburgh wasn't an outlier but could become the standard.
Tech held Wake Forest to under three yards per carry, even when excluding the lost yards due to sacks. Even more impressive, Wake Forest's longest single carry of the game was 12 yards by RB Justice Ellison. This performance came against the vaunted Wake Forest slow mesh offense that is known for being patient and then picking apart the smallest of openings that the defense can provide, making Tech's play more impressive in this game.
"We did that (limit explosive runs) at Pitt, we didn’t do it last week, we did it today. When we do that, I think we’re pretty salty. And we did some good things," Pry said. "By no means are we where we need to be, but I think the rush defense tonight was important for the group. That slow mesh that everybody talks about, the way their offense can be efficient and patient. I thought Coach Marve and the defensive staff, they answered the bell."
LB Keonta Jenkins played an important role in that success with 12 tackles including two for loss with one sack plus two forced fumbles. For being part of a run defense that has been struggling, making the Wake Forest slow mesh offense one-dimensional gave Jenkins and Tech plenty of encouragement.
"It’s very pleasing because we know that’s one of our big emphasis, shutting down the run game, stopping the run game, making them one-dimensional," Jenkins said.
It was fair to wonder after the Florida State loss if Virginia Tech's run defense had actually improved or if the Pitt game was an outlier. Tech proved Saturday against Wake Forest that the Hokies have legitimately improved their run defense.
