While the film review is in final editing approval, here is a quick look ahead at Purdue
1) Dangerous playmakers on the outside. Deion Burks is a big time receiver. He will test the long speed of Mansoor Delane and Dorian Strong. Both Delane and Strong got beaten deep on fake screen and go routes against ODU, but Grant Wilson couldn't make the connection. They will need a big time day against Burks.
2) Good return teams- on his only punt return opportunity, TJ Sheffield returned one for 29 yards, a major field position flip. More scary, Tyrone Tracy housed a kickoff return. The Hokies used a strategy of high, shorter kickoffs against ODU. I expect the ball in the endzone on kickoffs this week. The Hokies margin for error is too small to yield big plays on special teams and win. I expect touchbacks on kickoffs, and lets hope there are more kickoffs than punts.
3) Fresno State absolutely torched Purdue's secondary, primarily with slants and crossing routes in the middle of the field. There will be opportunities for the Hokies to stretch the field if they can protect Grant Wells.
4) Purdue's depth chart against the Hokies:
Week Two #Purdue depth chart for Virginia Tech game. pic.twitter.com/fEgtvLKHN7— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) September 4, 2023
Note, former Graham (Bluefield VA) quarterback Cam Allen is listed as a starter in the secondary for Purdue.
Comments
Purdue Game Film:
Feels like this is a huge test for Tech's new WRs. Ryan Walters wants to run a ton of press man (like he did at Illinois), but doesn't quite have the guys yet. If Wells can hit it consistently, and they don't drop them all, could be a nice little day for the passing game.
Also, that's a LOT of "-OR-"s on the offensive line. Yeesh.
Our pass-pro seemed much improved compared to last season. Do we need to worry about the Purdue pass rush being significantly better than ODU's?
ODU relied on scheme... there front was much more pedestrian than past ODU teams that always seemed to have one PITA edge guy. They tried to generate rush by blitzing... and the Hokies handled it. More on that in the review.
Purdue has a better front four. They put the Fresno quarterback under duress, and he made some beautiful touch throws (without having a big arm.) They weren't credited with a sack, but I swear I saw one where the DE completely rag dolled the RT for Fresno. Where they struggled was in coverage. A ton of stuff over the middle was wide open, and then as the game progressed, Fresno hit a couple of pretty post corners where the receiver was so open that the Burmeister arm of the QB wasn't even a factor.
Could be a huge day for Jaylin Lane and Dae'Quan Wright.
Red flag... the one Wells pass that is still bothering me- 3rd and long, 4th Q, Jennings broke wide open on a fake corner and post. Wells overthrew him. That was an easy throw, and that is the throw he has to make against the kind of man defense Purdue runs. No coach in the country plays more man to man than Ryan Walters.
Not even Nardouchy?!
He mostly plays very aggressive quarters coverage.
Looking at the defense, I'm seeing another odd front facing the Hokies, this time with what appears to be 3 DTs and 2 OLB that are the size of DEs (260/280). That makes me think that running the ball will probably be hard again.
That being said...I'd love to see somebody at 280 trying to keep up with any of our current TEs. They will absolutely need to double up with their safeties to cover. That means Jennings, Felton, and Lane are going to be looking at 1-1.
Conversely, looking at that 5 man front with 2 ILB, the Hokie OL might be able to simplify blocking schemes by putting hat on hat across the front, while a TE can help set the strong side, leaving 1 ILB to cover the RB and Wells. If Purdue starts dropping a safety into the run defense, that means single coverage across the board in the passing game.
Think Positive Thoughts!
Soooo shootout???
Yea if I gambled I'd be pounding the over on this 49.5. The last 5 years have broken me so I'm expecting 34-23 Purdue.
Hokies lead 27-21 with 45 second left on the clock after a punt pins the Boilermakers deep inside their own redzone.
1-10 PUR 7, QB takes the snap, loses a lot of time, throws an incompletion, 12 seconds off the clock
2-10 PUR 7, False start offense
2-13 PUR 4, Another incompletion, 23 seconds remaining
3-13 PUR 4, Intentional Grounding in the endzone, Safety. Over
I don't see a shootout here. I just don't see either offense being able to take advantage of the other team's weaknesses.
From a defensive secondary standpoint, Purdue kept everything in front and Fresno State exploited that with slants and intermediate routes, something Wells has not yet shown to do consistently. If VT cannot establish an intermediate pass game, I'm not sure they get many points offensively as VT run game isn't good and deep-contain secondary may limit the VT passing game.
Purdue didn't have that good of an offensive game against Fresno state. Their O-line wasn't getting good push and a great portion of their receiving yards came on missed tackles. If VT can tackle better than Fresno State, Purdue will struggle to get yards. But, if Purdue can block well enough to get to the linebackers and VT is still struggling at filling gaps, Purdue could have a great run game.
Maybe the offenses of each team can figure out how to exploit the defenses. But with two defensive-minded HCs, I see both teams being able to better correct the defensive-side of the ball resulting this game being more of a slugfest that will come down to turnovers and special teams.
Slight OT. Looking like we will miss connecting flight from CLT to ROA, what the drive up from CLT to Blacksburg like? Besides the outrageous price for rentals one way.
The drive up from Charlotte is easy and fast, all good freeway.
Traffic won't be bad since it's not rush hour in Charlotte.
Outside Charlotte traffic would be easy anyway.
77- 81-460
Would be 10:30/11 pm also.
If you left about 11PM, you'd be at VT at about 1:30
Get on 85 to get away from CLT, it'll take you to 77.
Should be a pretty easy drive. There are a few really steep sections around Fancy Gap on I-77 from what I remember.
Yes, steep grade through Fancy Gap. But it's 3 lanes up the mountain, and VDOT has done a lot to improve the safety. Wide striping, variable speed limits and message boards for windy or foggy weather.
Super easy drive. If you have the SunPass, you can use the express lanes north of 485 on 77. From the airport, take I-485 to I-77 North to I-81 North to exit 118B. It's only 2 hours for me from Winston-Salem., so I think it will take about 2.5 hours from CLT.
I didn't bring it with me since I wasn't expecting to drive anywhere but ROA to Blacksburg and back.
Generally, traffic through the Lake Norman area isn't terrible. At that time of night, you should be fine on the regular lanes.
There are storms in the area right now, so fancy gap could be a problem. Before you cross into Va, check https://www.511virginia.org/
It will show you if there is a backup, and you can also pull up live cameras to see the fog situation. If it's bad, you can get off the interstate and take US 52. It'll still be foggy, but you won't have the traffic to fight.
After a run from C10 to E38 in less than 14 minutes the kid and I made our flight. Next stop Blacksburg at the hotel!!
That's quite a feat. Congrats.
I dread the E Terminal at CLT.
If you fly from FL, usually land at end of C and ROA flights always E30+. It's a haul.
So my daughter and I ran got to the plane less than 2 minutes before they shut the door and then we sat at the gate waiting for a pushback for 32 minutes.
Speaking of storms, has anyone checked the game time forecast? Looks like a solid forecast for thunderstorms all afternoon. We could be looking at a game delay, or possibly even a cancellation. If nothing else, this should be a soggy game. I am not expecting a high scoring event. How do you think this will affect our play? Who has the advantage in a rain fest (when we are not playing a whiny UNC team)?
@Mr. French:
IF, the New River Valley really does get heavy-wet... this favors who?
Why???
Or... WWLWD?
(WhatWouldLouWackerDo?)
TIA!
b.street
Whoever can run the ball better...(both teams at 109 ypg)
Whoever has the better D Line vs O Line matchup...(them)
Whoever can punt better...(definitely us)
Whoever doesn't turn the ball over...(so far, us)
Whoever doesn't commit stupid penalties...(push)
Whoever is more likely to utilize RBs and TEs in the passing game (them, but if Wright halls in the two that doinked off his hands early, it's us)