Tech's Defense Has New Game Plan Ready for Complex OSU Offense

As one of the most creative and resourceful defensive coordinators in the country, the last thing opposing teams want to give Bud Foster is time to prepare.

Yet, despite the staff's assurances that they weren't overlooking their season opener with FCS cupcake William and Mary, there's little doubt that Foster has spent the few months puzzling out how to stop Urban Meyer's spread attack.

Ever since the Hokies' disheartening loss in the Sun Bowl in January, Foster has likely devoted countless hours to devising new wrinkles to contain the Buckeyes.

"You know he's always got those in his back pocket, and that's what you love about him," said defensive tackle Corey Marshall. "He's always ready to take advantage of the talent he's got in front of him."

But what exactly will the Hokies do differently to slow an offense that averaged 420 yards per game last season? Understandably, they're not willing to share just yet.

"I would say that (the defense will be different) scheme-wise, not to give away too much, but it's a little different from what they're accustomed to seeing," Marshall said. "I don't think there will be too much to give away on film...and there won't be too much to key on."

As the staff has started to pore over the last few years of film of Meyer's complex offense to develop this new game plan, it's started to remind them more and more of a familiar ACC foe.

"It's like Georgia Tech in a lot of ways, very unique in what they do," said defensive line coach Charley Wiles. "They run it, run it, run it and attack your perimeter, then they hit you on the vertical routes down the field and it all looks the same. It's a challenge, no doubt about it."

While there are obviously some major differences between Paul Johnson's triple option and Meyer's single-wing spread, Marshall still thinks the defense's experience facing the Yellow Jackets will help them as they adjust to the Buckeyes.

"Seeing that offense year in and year out from the blocking combination standpoint is definitely a big advantage because you can key on cadences and I anticipate after that first series, you can kind of anticipate snap counts," Marshall said. "And the way we play in this defense allows you to be fast, and I love it so much because it allows me to really take advantage of what I've been working on. Everything everybody's been talking about with this defense comes from how we scheme and we're going to implement this scheme, so I'm definitely excited to see it."

For all of the Hokies' best laid plans when it comes to attacking OSU's offense, they had to do some major re-calibrating when veteran quarterback Braxton Miller aggravated a shoulder injury and was forced to sit out for the season.
There's precious little film on new starter J.T. Barrett, but his athleticism in space means he can do similar things to what made Miller so effective.

"He presents the same problems, throwing high percentage throws, he can make plays, he can run, make plays with his legs," said defensive backs coach Torrian Gray. "Obviously, very few people are like Braxton, but he presents the same problems."

The Buckeyes looked uneven in their opening win over Navy, but Barrett was certainly efficient, finishing 12 for 15 for 226 yards and two scores to go along with 50 yards rushing.

"I thought they had a good plan for him and he was able to scramble and make plays with his legs," Gray said.

Yet Meyer surely compressed the playbook to deal with the Midshipmen, something which will become more difficult when facing Tech's defense, and Barrett's lack of experience has to be considered.

"Braxton was tested. This kid, he's only going into his second start, he's Braxton Miller probably in the making, but right now, he's still a young quarterback," Gray said.

Barrett might remind the staff of Miller, but Wiles emphasizes it's important to remember exactly what the Buckeyes lost when Miller went down.

"You see so many runs and things that Braxton did, very very explosive, man, wow, there's a lot of long runs," Wiles said. "There's a reason they were good."

While the change in starters is getting a lot of talk about what it could mean for the Hokies, the players are trying to focus solely on the scheme.

"It's unfortunate what happened to Braxton Miller. We were talking about Braxton Miller all the time, and then this happens," said defensive end Dadi Nicolas. "Prayers up for Braxton Miller, but we're going to treat it the same, just take our coaching and put it into action."

Another area of change for OSU on offense comes with the front-five, as the Buckeyes return only one starter on the offensive line.

Wiles says the Hokies are acutely aware of that deficiency.

"Obviously, they're still figuring that piece out. They've got, I'm sure, some of the best players in the country, but it's a great opportunity for us and our guys know that," Wiles said. "We practiced pretty well today and it's going to be won on the line of scrimmage, no doubt about it. They're a running football team, they want to run the ball. So we've got to establish ourselves there just like they do."
OSU's line performed decently against Navy, allowing just one sack, but there's no doubt the Hokies have their eye on making Barrett uncomfortable early and often.

"Coach Foster is always trying to get pressure on the quarterback," said linebacker Deon Clarke. "He never just wants quarterback to sit in the pocket and have fun, we want to put pressure on him, see what he can do under pressure, make him make quick decisions and keep him in the pocket."

That task will get considerably easier if the Hokies' secondary can shut down the Buckeyes' talented pass catchers, particularly receivers Devin Smith and Evan Spencer and tight end Jeff Heuerman.

Yet there are lingering concerns over starting cornerback Brandon Facyson's health after he had an uneven performance in the opener.

"I think he's coming along, he's not quite back to where he was last season, but he's working his way back," Gray said. "He didn't practice this spring, he didn't practice most of fall camp, so he's working himself back into it."

That will force the Hokies to lean on backup Chuck Clark while Facyson gets back to his old self, and Gray thinks he's up to the challenge.

"Chuck Clark was fine, I thought he did a very good job (against the Tribe), good coverage, good at the point of attack, I was very pleased with him," Gray said.

But if cornerback depth seems like a strength for the team, Wiles still has concerns about the backups on the defensive line after how they performed in the opener.

"I was a little disappointed in our second group," Wiles said. "Dewayne (Alford) had a couple mental errors, didn't play as fast, Seth (Dooley) same thing. He kind of went back a little bit on me."

Yet the players won't lack for motivation to improve in a nationally televised, non-conference game like this one.

Marshall is particularly focused on giving his all based on what a big game can to do to sway opinions about the program.

"It pulls (people into) that new way of Tech football, and that's really what we're trying to do," Marshall said.

Marshall is speaking from experience when it comes to getting impressed by a big game. Even though the result was unpleasant, he still remembers Tech's game against Boise State as the moment he knew he wanted to be a Hokie.

"That was a huge game for me because I saw how our defense got after it and attacked and I just fell in love with the program at that point," Marshall said. "When everything's equal, you come back to stuff like that in the recruiting process and it means a lot to see stuff like that, how those guys are rallying together."

With prominent recruits like Josh Sweat expected to be attendance in Columbus, the team has to be hoping for a better outcome than the one they earned against the Broncos in 2010.

Even still, just the challenge of playing a heavyweight like OSU is sure to do wonders for the program.

"You're going up into a stadium of 100,000 people and they've got a tremendous program," Wiles said. "It's just a great opportunity. Who wouldn't want a shot at playing the champ, playing a big time program?"