This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love seeing my family and getting everyone together, I love getting plate after plate of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, creamed corn, ham, pecan pie, banana pudding, pumpkin pie, and any other dessert that has some sort of descriptive word of what’s in it followed by pie or cake, I love the football, and in particular I love beating UVA. I mean it’s as big of a tradition as the Thanksgiving all day eatathon and Black Friday at this point isn’t it?
Also, one note on Alabama because I think this is ridiculous. They moved the Iron Bowl up to Friday at 2:30 or 3:30. I’m guessing for big TV money or something. But now stores of every kind across the state will be opening up for Black Friday sales at 4 am because they’re worried no one will be out shopping when Alabama and Auburn are playing. I know I’ll be in the front of the lines at 2 am.
http://tech4teens.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/black-friday-lines.jpg
Or I’ll be asleep till noon and do all my Christmas shopping online…
But now onto the preview of the game! To start, it’ll probably be a boring defensive battle. VT has another top 10(ish) defense, and UVA is solid as well. Al Groh brought a 3-4 defense to UVA, which will be only the 2nd time the Hokies have seen this style of defense all year. The first and only look at it was in the opener against Alabama. UVA is very good against the pass and ranks 19th in the nation in pass yards against. Their secondary is one of the strongest units in the ACC just behind VT and Clemson. They also do a decent job getting to the QB and even have more sacks than GT who is always praised for its D-line. Could be a boring low scoring affair.
The good news is that they are one of the worst teams in the ACC against the run.
The 3-4 is designed to be able to bring blitzes and hit zones, and this is a big reason why they can put pressure on the QB. But with only 3 down lineman it can be easy to pick up huge chunks of yardage on the ground by opening up bigger holes and getting more blockers down field if the defense makes a bad read or if they bring pressure from the wrong spots. While UVA was able to contain CJ Spiller last Saturday, in the few games before that they gave up 151 yards to Montel Harris of BC, 152 yards to Graig Cooper of Miami (268 total rushing yards given up that game), and while this isn’t exactly apples to apples, they gave up 362 rush yards against GT. So on paper, it seems like Ryan Williams has a good chance for another big day.
Now let’s look at the other side of the ball. UVA is flat out terrible on offense. Jameel Sewell can be a playmaker at QB with his arm and legs, but he isn’t nearly as good as Russell Wilson. Sewell on the year has thrown for 7 TD and 7 INT and has run for another 6 TD. But like Wilson, Sewell is on his own on offense. They have no running game to speak of and lack any other playmaker. They are 112th in the nation in rushing offense which makes them completely one dimensional. And there are only 4 teams in the nation that have given up more sacks (4!). They are getting sacked on average 4 times a game. The most revealing stat is that UVA has scored more than 21 points just twice this season (neither against ACC opponents).
So how does VT’s defense look against this? Pretty damn good. I really can’t see any way they score more than 10 points that doesn’t involve turnovers and blocked kicks. VT is the 13th in the country in total defense and scoring defense, 2nd in the ACC in sacks at about 3 a game, and 10th in the nation in passing defense. There are playmakers at corner, linebacker, on the line, and even at safety. This seems like a matchup made in heaven, and hopefully Bud Foster has a field day and we force turnover after turnover.
Speaking of turnovers! The Reaper is now 1st in the nation in forced fumbles thanks to 3 in the first 4 offensive plays for NCST! First team all-ACC for an undersized walk-on. You will be missed next year!
Prediction time. We’ve got one team that hasn’t won in 5 years, has won once in the last decade, has a terrible offense with no running game to speak of, gives up a ton of sacks, is susceptible to the run on D, going against a team that is one of the nations best defenses especially against the pass, has one of the premier running backs in the nation, and is coached by a group that has consistently had the program at an elite level. Hmm…
31-10 VT! The Hokies will be too much for the Hoos. Speak of which… Hoo’s your coach next year? Al Groh will be missed around these parts. Hopefully the new guy follows suit of letting us recruit all of Virginia.
There is no way Ryan Williams isn’t the player of the game. But I think Worilds has a big game as well, and people will finally remember how big of an impact he is. I hope we see a repeat of the performance when we took over their field then rolled them 52-14.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/65594708_f03f1fc5f1.jpg
Have a happy Thanksgiving and remember give thanks you’re a Hokie!
If you’re curious this was 999 words.
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That's more along the lines of Taylor's thinking on the subject. Compassion for the Cavaliers?
ReplyDelete"No," he said. "Not at all." - TT
That picture made my day, and it was my background for quite a while!
i was at the game it was great! Williams is WAY the player of the game! he would have had 5 touchdowns had he been aware of someone coming from out of bounds to knock the ball out. hard to expect that coming. with impressive performances by guest star david wilson. In oglesby's few runs he still was breaking tackles as well.
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