2009 Virginia Tech Football: What to Watch vs. Alabama
by furrer4heisman on Sep 3, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
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- The Hokies need to respect the Crimson Tide, but not be intimidated by them. Alabama is a great team, but Virginia Tech can win this game.
- Virginia Tech can't resign itself to defeat if things don't go its way early in the game. The Alabama-Clemson game was over after the first quarter.
- The coaching staff can't freak out just because the Hokies can't get easy rushing yards against Alabama. The Crimson Tide want teams to abandon the run early and be afraid to run between the tackles against their incredibly talented front seven.
Virginia Tech Offense vs. Alabama Defense
- Don't expect a lot of rushing yards between the tackles. If Virginia Tech's running backs can average 3.5 ypc, I'd consider it a huge victory.
- We've discussed Alabama's front seven ad nauseum, but that's only because this is the best front seven we've ever faced or will face the rest of this season. Hokie fans are used to salivating when the opponent runs a 3-4 defense. Not so this time around.
- Everyone points to Terrence Cody as the reason Alabama's front seven is so effective. But as big, powerful and physical as he is, it's Alabama's linebackers that make the difference. While teams are busy double-teaming Cody, Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower are able to use their speed and strength to make tackles for minimal or no gain.
- A lot has been made of the loss of Darren Evans for the season. But I really don't think Evans would have made that much difference in this game. It would have been nice to have him for short-yardage situations, but he wasn't going to be a game breaker. Instead, the loss of Evans will force Virginia Tech to not rely on wearing down the defense by continually throwing Evans at the opponent's front seven. Instead, Bryan Stinespring will be forced to get creative against Alabama. Do I trust him to do this? Hell no. But I'm willing to be surprised.
- With Evans out, the good news is Alabama doesn't know what we're going to do on offense.
- The bad news is neither do we.
- The X factor will be Tyrod Taylor's ability to scramble for rushing yards. Alabama will have a game plan for keeping Taylor in containment, but if he can still break free and pick up first downs to keep drives alive, the Hokies have a chance to put points on the board.
- The Hokies have a lot of experience in their receiving corps, but no home run threats. The one deep threat we thought we had, Jarrett Boykin, was beaten out for the split end job by redshirt freshman Xavier Boyce. The Hokies do have solid possession options in flanker Danny Coale and tight ends Greg Boone and Andre Smith.
- How much of the Wild Turkey formation do you think we'll see Saturday? I don't think we'll see it that often, if at all. Maybe two or three plays.
- Don't underestimate how big a loss Evans is to our pass protection. He won the starting running back job last year by being the best pass blocker of the running backs.
Virginia Tech Defense vs. Alabama Offense
- The Hokie defense should have a lot of practice against the Alabama offense because its style is very similar to ours.
- Virginia Tech will try to get pressure on Greg McElroy, who begins his first year as Alabama's starter. The Crimson Tide are also breaking in new offensive linemen, including left tackle James Carpenter.
- While I expect the Hokies to get pressure on McElroy, I'm not certain that pressure is going to turn into a lot of sacks. McElroy is excellent at checking down quickly and getting rid of the ball before he gets into trouble. At least that's what I saw in their spring game.
- If the Hokies want to have a chance, they'll need a big game from Jason Worilds. However, Worilds can't have a big game unless the Hokies are able to stop the Alabama rushing game and force the Crimson Tide into obvious passing downs.
- I am really impressed by Alabama running back Mark Ingram. He never goes down on the first hit and is always getting yards after contact.
- Julio Jones is a freak of nature. Tech coaches compare him to Calvin Johnson. And we all know what happened the last time the Hokies faced him.
- The knock on new starting LB Jake Johnson is he isn't very good in pass coverage. We had a lot of miscommunication between the free safety and rover in the middle of the field last year. We're breaking in a new field corner and our boundary corner didn't play that position last year. Uh-oh.
- Virginia Tech needs Kam Chancellor to have a big game. He had his best game of 2008 when we needed it most in the Orange Bowl. He gave up a touchdown on the first drive, but was spectacular the rest of the way. We need Kam 2007 to show up Saturday in the Georgia Dome and deliver big hits and big plays. He needs to be the leader of the defense.
- Javier Arenas isn't just a solid cornerback, he's a gifted playmaker on special teams. Minimizing Areans' effect on kick and punt returns will be a big key in winning the field position game.
Outcome
- I just don't see the Hokies scoring enough points to win this game. The defense will keep us in it, but Alabama will keep us at arm's length the whole game.
Watch the Box Score For:
- Turnovers
- Virginia Tech Sacks
- Tyrod Taylor Rushing Yards
- Julio Jones Receiving Yards
Virginia Tech Players to Watch:
- 5 - Tyrod Taylor, Jr., QB
- 70 - Sergio Render, Sr., OG
- 17 - Kam Chancellor, Sr., FS
- 6 - Jason Worilds, Jr., DE
Alabama Players to Watch:
- 8 - Julio Jones, So., WR
- 77 - James Carpenter, Jr., OT
- 62 - Terrence Cody, Sr., DT
- 28 - Javier Arenas, Sr., CB
Final Score:
Alabama 20, Virginia Tech 13
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Spot on Analysis
"I haven't seen Hokie fans be arrogant or claim to have a better program than the Tide, just that they deserve to be in the same building as Alabama on Sept. 5. Hell, I even think we're going to lose and that Alabama's going to cover the spread."--Furrer4Heisman (your leading go to guy for spot on analysis of VT football)
by The Voice of Reason on Sep 3, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions
Alabama = Great team?
Why does Alabama keep getting called a “great” team? what have they done to earn this? USC in ’04 was a great team. Miami in ’01 was a great team. FSU in ’99 was a great team. Alabama is a team that had no “wow” wins last year, beat some overrated teams early, and folded like a cheap card table in the postseason. They had a lot of turnover on offense but return a tested defense. Even if they are better this year — Very good? Yes. Great? Wrong word.
Alabama didn't fold in the last two games.
We lost. There’s a huge difference. Florida, last years national champions you may remember, had to stage a comeback in to beat us. We were ahead in the third quarter, and were it not for some practically undefendable passes by Tebow, we would have gone on to play Oklahoma. As for Utah, we went into the game without our best lineman who was also our best player. To make matters worse, in our first offensive series we lost a second lineman. After shuffling around to compensate only our center played the rest of the game in his original position. We were useless for a the first quarter as the line couldn’t seem to do anything as a unit and we couldn’t hold the ball. Once the line settled down things went, well, not good but less bad. We couldn’t protect the qb at all but we did score 17 and only allow 10 after the first quarter. As for great vs. good, we’ll see tomorrow.
If it were up to me, I'd blitz on offense too.
by The Heffalump on Sep 4, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s the thing. You won’t see tomorrow. Even with a good win in this game, there are no indications that this team deserves anything near the “great” moniker. What great wins did you have last year? Coming close or losing “because” doesn’t get you there. Great teams win in adversity. I’ve got no problem giving Bama due respect, but the adulation being poured on them at this point is undeserved.
Also, notice I never compared VT to Bama in any way. Did I call VT great? No, not at all. VT is a good team that is probably a year away still.
I don't think you understood....
I didn’t put Alabama in the great category. I disagreed with your categorization of Alabama “folding” last year. Also, I’m not sure why you assume I implied you “compared VT to Bama in any way”. At the end of my post I wrote “As for great vs. good, we’ll see tomorrow,” but that was in reference to Alabama’s progression independent of VT because I believe that tomorrow’s performance will shed insight into our progression as a team. In the line “As for great vs. good, we’ll see tomorrow,” VT was not an antecedent at all.
If it were up to me, I'd blitz on offense too.
by The Heffalump on Sep 5, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions
well
if bama is instead a “very good” team, then VT is by no means “great”. YOU are a douche….I mean…..what does it matter anyway? someone is just trying to put even more emphasis on an already hyped game.
well
since you wanted to name great teams in a post before why don’t I count how many “great” teams Alabama has had and you count how many VT has had. LOL, you start counting first…….don’t worry…….I will catch up to you.
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