Virginia Tech's Keys to Winning the Battle at Bristol

The Hokies return to the primetime national stage Saturday. Virginia Tech will face Tennessee in front of the largest crowd in college football history at Bristol Motor Speedway. For Hokie fans that grew up along the Tennessee-Virginia state line, this game has special meaning. A victory would provide a trademark win early in Justin Fuente's coaching tenure

It won't be easy. The Volunteers have two all world running backs in Jalen Hurd (No. 1, JR, 6-4, 240) and Alvin Kamara (No. 6, RS-JR, 5-10, 215). Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (No. 11, SR, 6-3, 210) is a strong runner, and Tennessee does run some quarterback power, counter, and option looks — the same plays that gave the Hokie defense fits last season. Wide receiver Josh Malone (No. 3, JR, 6-2, 200) is a big athletic target that can win 50/50 balls. Defensively, the Volunteers are fast, big, and loaded with talent.

With that said, Tennessee is uniquely vulnerable to some things the Hokies' coaching staff has a proven track record of scheming well against. Exploiting the Vols' weaknesses for a win in Bristol would be a significant accomplishment for a Tech team changing their identity under Fuente.

Solo Blocking the Interior of the Volunteer Defensive Line

Defensive end Derek Barnett (No. 9, JR, 6-3, 265, and Woody Baron's former teammate at Brentwood Academy in Nashville) has 20 sacks and 34 tackles for a loss in his career. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (No. 21, SR, 6-0, 230) is perhaps the best pursuit linebacker I have seen play since Luke Kuechly. The Volunteers secondary has aggressive playmakers at corner and safety like Cameron Sutton (No. 23, SR, 5-11, 186) and Micah Abernathy (No. 22, SO, 6-0, 195).

Tennessee's weak point is at defensive tackle. The Volunteers start two upperclassmen — Danny O'Brien (No. 95, RS-SR, 6-2, 301) and Kendal Vickers (No. 39, RS-JR, 6-3, 295). Appalachian State was able to block both guys one-on-one with their center throughout the game. By blocking the one-technique lineman one-on-one, the Mountaineers were able to get extra blockers to the second level.

On this play the Mountaineers run a simple inside zone from the pistol formation, with the offensive line zoning to its right.

Vickers gets solid initial penetration. The center stays with him, and Vickers can't release off the block. O'Brien stays somewhat stationary at the snap (like he is slow playing the option) and the right tackle scoops through two gaps to cut him off. The Mountaineer running back gets almost 7 yards on the play even though both guards got tripped up and didn't block anyone.

If the Hokies can block the Tennessee defensive tackles one-on-one, that should get the inside zone and inverted veer game cranked up. It could also cause the Volunteer safeties and linebackers to over-focus on the interior, and that could open up the jet sweeps.

Those are big "ifs." The Hokies' guards struggled run blocking against the Flames. Tennessee hopes to get former five-star recruit Shy Tuttle (No. 2, SO, 6-2, 311) back at defensive tackle after missing the offseason and the Appalachian State game with an injury. Tuttle, along with fellow former super recruit Kahlil McKenzie (No. 99, JR, 6-3, 325), are both more talented than the Tennessee's starters. Tuttle outperformed McKenzie last season to get into the starting lineup, and he could be a huge X-factor Saturday night.

Creating Over-Pursuit Through Misdirection

Appalachian State complimented their control over the interior of the defensive line by using misdirection on the outside to confuse the Volunteers' secondary and linebackers. Tennessee has terrific athletes that are hyper-aggressive in pursuit. As result, they can be caught out of position.

Here is the Vols best linebacker, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, in pursuit. He shows blitz before the snap, and still has the speed to get out and make the play on a swing route.

Appalachian State used the Volunteers' defenders aggressiveness against them. On this play, Reeves-Maybin sees the jet sweep motion and abandons the middle to jump the option outside.

Reeves-Maybin is no longer inside. Inside linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr (No. 34, SO, 6-1, 230) fits on the back-side. O'Brien is easily turned out by the Mountaineers' center without a double team. The back explodes through the hole vacated by Reeves-Maybin and doesn't face contact until he is well past the first down marker.

As I noted in my review of Fuente's Memphis offense against Ole Miss, the Hokies' offense will thrive on creating space through motion and misdirection. When the Tigers were effective against Ole Miss, Memphis wasn't dominating up front. The Rebels' secondary and linebackers were running themselves out of position. Effectively blocking and selling the run on the exterior will open up in the inside running game and vertical play-action passes.

Contain Pressuring the Passer

Despite being pushed to the brink by the Mountaineers, the Volunteers employed a very bland game plan. Hurd and Kamara are terrific talents, and the pair ground out rushing yards (110 and 21 yards, respectively). Appalachian State kept it close because they controlled quarterback Josh Dobbs.

Dobbs rarely kept the ball on the read option, and that hindered the Volunteers running game. Bud Foster recognized that Tennessee will likely run more looks at the Hokies in Bristol.

"I also thought, compared to what I saw last year, Tennessee was very vanilla," Foster said. "We're expecting to see a little bit more of what they did last year in this ballgame."

I expect Dobbs to run more true read option. That will put tremendous pressure on Mook Reynolds. At the nickel spot, Reynolds will line up to the wide side of the field, often in the slot against multiple receiver looks. Tennessee mixes a screen package in with their read option. Reynolds will have to stay honest on the screen threat, and then be expected to come in as the free hitter against Dobbs when he keeps.

Quarterback draw is also a concern. Duke exploited Tech in seasons past with spread sets to get numbers in the box, and then ran a quarterback power draw by isolating a back as an extra blocker. Tennessee used a similar play with great success against Northwestern.

Dobbs historically has struggled with accuracy in the vertical passing game. According to ESPN, Dobbs completed just 1 of 12 pass attempts of 30 yards or more last season, worst among Power 5 QBs. Dobbs didn't connect down field until he his game salvaging 50/50 throw to Josh Malone in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers pressured Dobbs consistently, and he was not able to use his legs to buy time or throw in rhythm much of the game.

Even though he ran infrequently against Appalachian State, Dobbs still can break contain. Given the historic issues the Hokies have had against mobile quarterbacks, keeping Dobbs in the pocket is a top priority. Against a running quarterback, pressure up the middle is often the best ticket. Pressure in the face of the quarterback triggers his run instinct and blocks the quarterback's vision to easy throws in the middle of the field.

Appalachian State had terrific success using an odd front and a very quick nose tackle that consistently pressured Dobbs through the game. Volunteer center Coleman Thomas (No. 55, JR, 6-5, 301) repeatedly over extended, and the Appalachian State nose tackle beat him time and again with leverage moves.

On this play, the Mountaineers are in a 3-4 front on first down. The three down linemen rush the quarterback while the right inside linebacker comes on a delayed blitz.

Thomas leans forward into the nose after the snap as if he is expecting a bull rush. He wants to preemptively deliver a blow that will slow the forward momentum of the nose. Instead of bull rushing, the nose tackle delivers a swim move over Thomas' left shoulder and beats him cleanly. The right defensive end beats the left guard Jashon Robertson (No. 75, JR, 6-3, 305) by bull rushing and then ripping under his outside armpit. Watch Dobbs' head move as he take his eyes off his receivers to find an escape route. Once Dobbs brings the ball down to run, his downfield vision disappears. On a third-and-three, within field goal range, down 3-13, late in the second quarter against Appalachian State, Dobbs scrambled and could not find an escape route, so he threw the ball up for one of the ugliest interceptions I have ever seen.

If the Hokies rattle him, he will serve up some turnovers.

Thomas, Robertson, and left tackle Drew Richmond (No. 51, RS-FR, 6-5, 301) looked confused much of the night against the slanting and stunting Mountaineer front. Numerous times I spotted the left side of the offensive line blocking nobody and looking backwards as Dobbs or a running back was hit in the backfield.

The Volunteer front also struggled with pass protection against stunts. On this play, the Volunteers run play-action with double posts and a streak to the trips receiver side. Appalachian State has a three down lineman look, with the weak-side backer walked up.

At the snap, the weak-side backer drops back and settles underneath any potential drag, slant, or post route from the trips side. The defensive line slants hard to their left. The right defensive end slants and rips right past Robertson. The tailback is forced to pick up the defensive end. Robertson, with his attention focused on his missed assignment, whiffed on the inside linebacker blitzing right through the guard-tackle gap. The inside pressure forces Dobbs to miss a wide-open Josh Malone on a deep post.

Appalachian State's success with stunts and odd fronts leads me to believe the Hokies may play more Bear against Tennessee than originally expected. The Bear gives Foster edge presence against the read option and the flexibility to run some unique stunts that may confuse the Volunteer offensive line. As evidenced against Liberty, Bud Foster has placed a premium on his defense being multiple and being able to shift from one alignment to another quickly before the snap without blowing assignments. Expect the Hokies to shift in and out of the Bear on the fly throughout the game.

Keys for Success

The Hokies will win if they can do the following:

1. The Hokies must be efficient on third down both offensively and defensively. Tennessee's offense is prone to struggle with execution, especially when they end up in third-and-long situations. The Hokie defense has to get off the field. Offensive third down efficiency was a sore spot against Liberty. In order to produce big plays in the passing game, the running game needs to be effective and set up third-and-short situations.
2. Even after an impressive effort against Liberty, the Hokies corners covering deep are cause for concern. With Dobbs, Hurd, and Kamara as running threats, I expect to see the Hokies loading the box and daring Dobbs to beat them over the top. Brandon Facyson, Greg Stroman, and Adonis Alexander are going to be tested on vertical routes. Tennessee has not excelled at completing passes down the field, and the Hokies struggled against big receivers winning 50/50 balls the last two seasons. That battle between Malone and Tech's corners will decide the game if Foster can keep Hurd, Kamara, and Dobbs contained.
3. The Hokies have to block more effectively on the edge. The Vols are bigger, faster, stronger, and quicker to the football than Liberty. In order to draw over-pursuit, the Hokies have to get consistent yardage on jet sweeps, screens, and outside zones. That will draw the linebackers outside and open the interior. It can't happen without significantly better blocking than the effort put forth against Liberty.