Offseason Opponent Watch: William & Mary and Ohio State

Editor's Note: This is another column Tristan's going to write during the season that he's working the kinks out of now.

William & Mary

Looking Back

The Hokies and Tribe will meet in the opener for both teams on August 30th. William & Mary is one of the top FCS teams in the country, ranked in the top 15-25 nationally by various writers and publications, coming off a 7-5 year. The Tribe is no stranger to big stages, having nearly knocked off West Virginia in last year's opener, eventually falling 24-17. This may not be Alabama or Ohio State, but it's a game the Hokies will not be able to sleepwalk through. I'm sure the Tribe will be more than fired up at a chance to take down big, bad VT.

Looking Forward

The Tribe actually resemble the Hokies in a lot of ways: the defense should be the strength of the team, there are plenty of skill players returning (including every single wide receiver who caught a pass last year), and the quarterback situation is as clear as Mike London's time out policy. The offense's spring game performance was (how do I put this delicately?) erratic. While I only had a chance to catch the highlights, I think David Teel summed things up pretty nicely.

At William & Mary spring game. Nothing here to cause #Hokies DC Bud Foster any lost sleep. Teams clash in opener Aug. 30.— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) April 12, 2014

There were a few flashes of brilliance, but those were offset by 5 turnovers and a defensive score. Additionally there was a blocked kick that would have been returned for a touchdown in a live game. However, if they can get the QB situation figured out, there's plenty of talent on that side of the ball to give the Hokies some headaches. A player to keep an eye on is r-Senior Tre McBride. McBride is a 6-2, 205 pound receiver who led the Tribe with 63 catches, 801 yards, and 5 TDs last season. He's the go-to guy, and watching him go against Fuller and Facyson should be fun to watch all day. Defensively, the Tribe will field a unit that may not be the most athletic, but has decent size up front and a little bit of quickness to it. Overall, I think this will be a good matchup for the Hokies as they open the 2014 season and prepare to face the Buckeyes in the 'Shoe.

Ohio State

Looking Back

This is the matchup we're all waiting for. It's the prime time matchup against a big-time opponent in one of the premier stadiums in college football. I don't think I need to tell you all that much about Ohio State. They're coming off a successful, although disappointing, year which saw them win 12 straight only to have national title hopes dashed at the hands of Michigan State and then lose a heartbreaker to Clemson in the Orange Bowl. The name of the game for the Bucks is offense, offense, offense, as last year's team put up 45.5 points per game. They go up-tempo, almost exclusively out of shotgun or pistol sets. While everyone is quick to hype up Braxton Miller at QB, it's the running game—including Miller—that will be most problematic for the Hokie defense. Last year, Ohio State set a Big Ten record with 4,321 rushing yards, which was 5th in the nation at 308.5 ypg. That rushing success directly led to an OSU record 87 touchdowns and helped open things up for another OSU record 38 touchdown passes. Through the air, Miller, although not the most polished QB, was efficient, completing around 63% of his passes for 2094 yards, 24 TDs, and 7 INTs. The passing game will feature short, quick routes that put a premium on getting the ball out quickly and into the hands of dynamic athletes, with some deep shots down the seam or sideline mixed in to provide big-play opportunities and keep the safeties honest.

Looking Forward

First-round pick Carlos Hyde will be tough to replace at running back, as will four starters off the offensive line. How well the Buckeyes rebuild up front will go a long way towards determining what kind of season Ohio State will have. I will say this: without Braxton Miller participating in the spring game (and yes, it's only a spring game, so let's not get carried away), the OSU offense looked rather pedestrian. No doubt they'll get their offensive line issues worked out, and Miller is a special player, but even Ohio State has some work to do offensively this summer and fall before they take the field again. Watching the Orange Bowl against Clemson, the offenses looked nearly identical, so Foster's experience against the Tigers should come in handy on September 6th.

Defensively, this OSU team isn't exactly a stone wall, finishing 110th in the country in pass defense. This stat is particularly surprising, as the Buckeyes had three upperclassmen in their secondary last year, including first round draft pick Bradley Roby (CB), 7th round selection C.B. Bryant (FS), and C.J. Barnett, a safety who went undrafted and signed with the Giants. As part of the defensive overhaul Urban Meyer has implemented, Steven Ash joins the staff from Arkansas as co-defensive coordinator. This change is part of Meyer's plan to make the defense more aggressive, more opportunistic, and more disciplined. The secondary will have some help, as the Buckeye defensive front-four return a combined 24.5 sacks from this past year (part of a B1G-leading 42 on the year). Throughout the spring game, the defensive line was constantly in the backfield blowing up running plays and pressuring the QB. They even forced a fumble in the end zone that was recovered by the defense for a touchdown. They will provide a stiff test for the Hokie offensive line. Overall, there are some big names that need to be replaced, including 6 drafted players, but this is still a roster loaded with talent and a well-coached team. If the Hokies limit mistakes on offense, slow down the Buckeye rushing attack, and force a couple of turnovers, they'll have a puncher's chance in Columbus.