For the first time in program history, the Hokies will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday to take on the Purdue Boilermakers (1-1). After a tough loss to Marshall to open the season, the Boilermakers bounced back last weekend to defeat Indiana State behind strong performances from QB Austin Appleby and tailback D.J. Knox. Saturday's match-up will be huge for both programs, as they look to knock off a Power 5 foe and use it as a springboard for their remaining schedule. I once again had the pleasure of exchanging questions and answers with Mike Carmin of the Lafayette Journal & Courier. Mike's answers to my questions are below, and you can find my answers at the Lafayette Journal & Courier later today.
The Boilermakers lost their season opener against a plucky Marshall team, and followed that up with an easy win over Indiana State last Saturday. What did you see from the Boilermakers through the first two games that surprised you, and how does the 2015 team compare to Darrell Hazell's teams from the past few years?
The biggest difference is how much the players have transformed their bodies into Big Ten-type players. Not everyone is there yet, but the offseason conditioning program is doing what it's supposed to do. This has helped Purdue become a stronger team, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. The Boilermakers have experience upfront and now they have the physical strength, helping the running game progress through the first two games. This is an improved team from last year and even two years ago when Hazell took over, but a lot of work remains for this program to challenge in the Big Ten West.
Through two games, Purdue has been led by two young tailbacks: Sophomore D.J. Knox and freshman Markell Jones. Tell us a little about the running styles of these two backs and how you expect them (and the Purdue o-line) to match up against the Virginia Tech front seven?
Knox and Jones just run hard. They're about the same size, but what gets overlooked is their strength. Knox benched 410 pounds this summer and Jones is equally as strong, especially in the lower body. Their legs keep moving, even after first contact. In the first game, they carried a combined 34 times but didn't have a negative rushing play. Jones still doesn't have a negative rushing play.
It helps that the offensive line has experience and is doing its part. Interestingly, Knox led the team in receptions against Marshall and Jones was the leader in the second game. They're more than just weapons in the run game.
After an up-and-down game in Huntington, starting QB Austin Appleby appeared to settle in last week against the Sycamores. The Hokies have struggled in recent years defending deceptively mobile quarterbacks like Appleby, but could simply plan to stop the run and force him to beat them through the air. How has Appleby looked passing the ball thus far, and what do you see OC John Shoop doing to try and put him in position to succeed against Bud Foster's defense?
Four interceptions in the opener. Four touchdowns against Indiana State, including three for more than 50 yards. I wouldn't throw Appleby into the running quarterback category just yet, but he has deceptive speed. He's a load to bring down because of his size (6-5, 241). He can pick up yardage in the zone read game and that's where he's had the most success. Appleby is completing 62.2 percent of his passes but tries to put too many throws into tight coverage, leading to mistakes. He has to have a good game for Purdue to be contention and must avoid turnovers. He also needs help from his receivers to create separation in man-to-man coverage. I do like Purdue's offensive line, but I don't think Appleby is going to have a lot of time in the pocket. He'll have to make quick and accurate decisions against this defense.
During our spring Q&A, you mentioned that Shoop might be moving away from two tight end sets and more toward four and five wide sets to create advantageous match-ups along the perimeter. How has the system taken shape thus far, and what tricks should Hokies' fans be looking for on Saturday afternoon from Shoop and his offense?
You'll still see tight ends on the field, but not as much as last year. Purdue has moved to more four and five receiver sets in hopes of stretching the field and producing more big plays. Appleby hit one 50-yard pass against Marshall and pushed the ball down the field more against Indiana State. Otherwise, it's a short passing game trying to create some mismatches with quicker receivers. The offense is using a no-huddle system, trying to play at different speeds. So far, they've had decent success.
Linebackers Ja'Whaun Bentley and Jimmy Herman look to be off to hot starts, anchoring the Purdue defense. How has the defensive unit looked through their first two games, and where would you say they are most susceptible against the Virginia Tech offense?
Other than a couple of drives, including one late against Marshall, the defense hasn't been a big liability. In reality, they gave up 27 points to Marshall when you take out the two pick-sixes, but football doesn't work that way. They had two blown coverages in the secondary, leading to touchdowns last week. Herman has really improved his game where the coaching staff trusts him more in space to make one-on-one tackles. Bentley has been solid the first two games along with most of the interior linemen. The Boilermakers are rotating eight, nine and 10 linemen upfront, which has helped late in games. Purdue has struggled to generate a consistent pass rush from the edge and last week allowed Indiana State's quarterback to get outside and make some plays. Keeping Brenden Motley and Dwayne Lawson in the pocket is a top priority.
Alright, prediction time. How do you see Saturday's match-up between the Hokies and Boilermakers playing out, and who wins?
I'm anticipating a low scoring game by modern college football standards. I see both teams focusing on the running game, but for different reasons. It's Purdue's strength and I think the Hokies want to keep Motley out of predictable passing situations. This would be a big victory for Hazell's program, but they're still learning how to win, evident by how the Marshall game played out. I think the Boilermakers get that signature win this season but not this one. Virginia Tech 25, Purdue 16.
Comments
25 is an odd choice for a score.....guess we're getting a safety somewhere in there.
Also I don't really get a sense of their defense too much. I've heard about their LB's being pretty decent and their secondary has the most experience on the team, however I'm looking at our run game v their DL. Their DL is fairly young in terms of experience. I think our OL should get a good amount of push up front and establish a good running game which in turn will open up the passing game. Motely may have a pick in this game but thinks he still gets into more of a rythym as the running game gets going with Shai and McMillian. I also look to see Motely or Lawson to have a decent rushing game due to scrambles. Not neccessarily due to our OL getting beat but more to not being 100% comfortable with what the defense is giving them and then scrambling. However, to see them be able to stay in the pocket and light it up through the air would be awesome.
Obviously our LB play is our big question on defense right now. And if last week was any indicator of how we are going to defend the zone read or option we may have trouble here. Hopefully last week was just plain vanilla defense executing. However I would like to see more stops in the back field on runs. I don't think they will be able to run straight ahead on us but may gain some yardage on the outside. Of course I think this all depends on our LB play.
The problem with our running game hasn't been DLs. Our OL has usually done a decent job blocking the DL IIRC but we struggle with linebackers. If they have good linebackers, I don't know if it really matters how our OL does blocking. If JCC can't break a tackle from a LB we're only going to get 2 or 3 yards per carry from him.
Ohio State has arguably the best LB corps in the country and VT still ran for nearly 200 yards (minus sacks) -- without the threat of a passing game for the entire 2nd half. VT gained 300 yards on the ground vs. Furman.
I don't know how you can draw any conclusions about any "problem" with the running game from those two games - let alone that the "problem" is LBs.
if you look at French's reviews, though, it looks like our running backs left a lot of yardage on the field. I'm not saying that our running game struggles, per se, I'm saying that DLs aren't the reason that our running game would struggle. If anything, it's the linebackers who come up to make a stop in the hole. The holes are there, for sure, but the RBs either miss the holes, or fail to win those 1-on-1 battles with LBs to break big runs.
this is the comment that I was responding to
I don't think you can really say that our running game depends on how good/bad their DL is. That's looking at it in too small of a vacuum. LBs play a big roll in run defense. If our OL gets the push that I expect on their DL it doesn't necessarily equate to huge gains on the ground in my mind because the backs still have to beat those LBs
Of course. Theoretically and hypothetically.
But your original statement explicitly stated that there was a problem with the VT running game and what that problem is. I didn't see how -- from just two games against two teams at polar opposite ends of the bell curve in which the VT running game ranged from respectable to excellent -- one could conclude that 1) there is a problem and 2) that the problem is with opposing LBs.
You're twisting my words. I did not say "This offense has a problem and the problem is this"
I'm arguing that if there is a problem with our running game, which is debatable, it isn't DLs which is the proposition made by the original comment.
I do not explicitly say our running game has a problem. You inferred that. I'm just postulating, based on the original comment, that if there is a problem with our running game, it is NOT the DL
Since he picked 16 for Purdue, I'd like to think it's a blocked extra point run back for 2.
so, 2 TDs with one-point EPs, 3 field goals, and a two-point return?
Or 3 TDs with one-point EPs and 2 two-point plays?
Either way - scoring 25 is difficult because it does require some 2-point plays somewhere (could be 3 TDs, 2 one-point EPs, one 2-point EP)
11 safeties and 1 field goal.
That would be the most BeamerBall thing ever.
We don't play Wake Forest this year.
Didn't last year either
Mind Blown!
6 FGs and a TD?
I'm having a hard time imagining us making 6 FG's at this time. Unless we attempt 10.
A touchdown with a two point conversion. A field goal. Another touchdown with a two point conversion. And then just a regular touchdown as the clock runs out .... a coke, some fries and .... hold the #sauces. Thank you.
Is the line really only Virginia Tech by 6? I guess we're all a lot more optimistic about our QB situation than Vegas...
New QB playing his first game in hostile(can you really call it that, though?) environment with an offense that has everything to prove and a defense that hasn't looked as spectacular as the preseason expectations...not to mention that we're starting a walk-on player at MLB which is one of the most important positions in Bud's system...I don't really think VT-6 is that far off based on what we've seen thus far. That being said, my official prediction for this game is [VT 31 13 Purdue]
It's on the road, so it would be -9 on a neutral field or -13 at Lane.
And don't forget, most bettors are going on what they saw in the 2nd half of the OSU game. Few saw or even know anything about the Furman game other than a 39 pt win in a game with a 33 pt spread.
I could listen to people predict this against us all season.
I see this game going two possible ways. Either we win a close one, or we lose a close one. Then we're either praising Motley or calling for Lawson again.
I'm hoping for the prior in both cases! Let's go!
I could see a blowout happening either way with just a couple of lucky bounces. Both teams have given up some points. Of course, we gave them up to OSU and Purdue gave them up to Marshall, so make of that what you will. But I could easily see one of the two teams dropping 40 if they find something they can exploit.
i HOPE we put up 40. that would be awesome. The only problem with dropping 40 on them is that we'll put the ACC on notice that we might have an offense and look out. People might start taking our offense seriously if we start scoring 40 points against other teams..regardless of who they are.
"Allow me to introduce myself":
I wish this was the start of an 80s themed "Hokie Rap" video, the ones that were like 40 BPM and made Run DMC sound fast.
What is missing here is how dreadful Marshall looked against an average Ohio team a week later.
Marshall had one long 70+ yard TD run from Devon Johnson (who averaged 8.6 ypc on 200+ carries last year) but besides that they never really got their offense going against Ohio in a 21-10 loss. Marshall's QB Birdsong is now splitting time with a freshman after only going 16-33 with 2 INTs. Conversely, he completed 64% of his passes against Purdue with 2 TDs and an INT.
I think there will be opportunities down the field for Motley and/or/maybe Lawson.
I was at the Marshall game against Purdue. Purdue was set on stopping Devon Johnson. They did a good job stopping him other than a couple of good runs. Birdsong had a couple good runs off of read option keepers and if he was faster could've been touchdowns. That also left a lot of room in the secondary which is why birdsong had good numbers but he left a lot out there. If Motley can hit some passes early I think that opens everything up for the run game. Our receivers are better than marshalls so Motley should be able to take advantage of one on one match ups. Hope this helps some.
Yeah, that's similar to my thoughts after watching Purdue/Indy St last week. They are okay, but not great. Offensively, they are comparable to UVA. Shifty, yet powerful for small guys at RB. Nothing great at WR (UVA is actually better at WR). Solid QB who likes to run and is pretty big. Experienced OL, but not great talent. I would think this is an offense we can get after.
Defensively, you got a better review than I did because ISU stinks pretty bad. Nothing stood out.
One thing I saw was that ISU had lanes on KO returns. If they had decent athletes, they could have broken one or two. Unless we are inexplicably still allowing Kevin Asante to return KO's, we could break one this week.