By Jimmy Robertson
BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football is in full preparation mode for Saturday's Coastal Division showdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers, and no group is more focused than the Hokies' offensive line.
That group figures to meet its biggest challenge of the season when it squares off against a talented Pittsburgh defensive line that has spearheaded the Panthers' recent surge, leading them to victories in six of their past seven games.
Pittsburgh, which ranks in the top 30 in nine defensive categories, leads the country in sacks with 45. Defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman has a team-best 9.5 sacks and ranks seventh nationally in sacks per game (0.95).
Not many teams have run on the Panthers either this season. Pittsburgh is allowing an ACC-best 90.9 yards rushing per game, a number that ranks seventh nationally. And for good measure, the Panthers allow less than 300 yards per game.
So if the Hokies want to enjoy their recent success on offense, they – specifically the offensive line – need to find a way to neutralize Twyman, 260-pound end Patrick Jones II, 295-pound tackle Amir Watts and 265-pound end Deslin Alexandre, and a few others.
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"They have a combination of experience and athleticism," Tech offensive line coach Vance Vice said at a news conference Tuesday morning. "They have multiple schemes to get after the quarterback, and they're kind of on a roll right now. It's a great challenge for us, and it's one that we're accepting. Can't wait for Saturday."
"They're pretty big and athletic up front," Tech guard Lecitus Smith echoed. "They're going to try to get after us … We do see that they blitz a lot, so we're going to have to be able to pick that up, and they do have a pretty good third-down package. So when it comes to setting pros [pass protection] and stuff on third down and we need to be able to throw the ball, we all have to set square, and not only that, but know who we have. We can't just sit back and let our eyes be everywhere. We have to know who we have, look for guys that will be twisting and running all types of games. Coach Vice is doing a great job of making sure we're prepared this week for all those games that they're going to be bringing."
Of course, Pittsburgh faces a challenge, too, as the Hokies come into this one having won five of their past six games – and a rejuvenated offense has led the way. The Hokies have piled up more than 450 yards in four of their past five games, and they've been quite successful on the ground, having rushing for at least 200 in those four games.
Hendon Hooker's insertion into the starting lineup gets most of the credit for the resurgence, but Vice decided to stick true freshmen Bryan Hudson and Doug Nester into the starting lineup for the Furman game, and he's stuck with them ever since. Both weigh 315 pounds, and as they've gained experienced, they've played better – and so, too, has the entire line and the offense.
"A million miles," Vice said when asked how far they've come. "They've grown. They grow every day. They messed some stuff up this morning that we're going to get fixed by tomorrow. To their credit, they can fix. With both of those guys, with the limited number of reps they've had in their career, they're going to make mistakes, but very seldom is it the same one twice. That's a credit to them. It's business every day for them. It's work. They take pride in their job – and pride in what we've done on the field so far."
Vice also settled other guys into certain positions after rotating them at various spots throughout August. In addition to sticking with Hudson and Nester at center and right guard, respectively, he has kept Silas Dzansi at right tackle, and he rotates in Austin Cannon (both guard positions) and Luke Tenuta (right tackle), with Tenuta moving into the starting lineup after a recent injury to Dzansi.
The mainstay has been left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who continues to play like an All-ACC left tackle. He anchors the line.
"He has improved. He really has improved," Vice said. "I have great confidence in him about knowing what to do all the time now. The last three weeks, just little things like his first step has gotten better. It's something no one notices except when I'm hollering at him in a meeting. But he's been very, very effective for us. Very efficient. Productive. I think he's getting better and better and better.
"It's exciting for him to come to work every day. He doesn't say a word, but I do see him with emotion now, which I didn't see last year – not meaning he didn't have it; that's just who he is. But he has continued to get better at his craft, and that's helping us get our job done."
Tech's offensive line features just one senior in Tyrell Smith, but Smith tore his ACL in the Duke game and is out for the season. The rest of this group returns next season.
They figure to be much better in 2020. That said, what matters now is the present. This offensive line needs to be good Saturday, like it has been the past six games.
"This group has done an unbelievable job in preparation and practice, and there is true, true competition at every spot," Vice said. "These guys are working their tail off, and when the guys aren't in, they're in. They've stayed in because, if you don't think you're ever going to play, it's hard to go out there and practice every day and go watch every video and meetings and everything, but these guys have bought in, and it's a tight group and they pull for each other. With those practice habits and with the way they approach practice every day, I've got trust and confidence in quite a few of them. It's paying off for us."
