By Jimmy Robertson
After a second straight tough loss, the Virginia Tech football team now hits the road for an ACC game against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field – a place that hasn't been hospitable to the Hokies over the years.
Tech, which enters the game with a 4-4 record, including a 4-3 mark in ACC play, has lost five of its past six games at that venue, but the Hokies go in as favorites against a Pittsburgh team coming off a 41-17 victory at Florida State. The Panthers are also 4-4, but 3-4 in the ACC.
Some may be surprised that the Hokies are favorites, but Tech easily handled both NC State and Boston College earlier this season, two teams that beat the Panthers. Also, the Hokies lost to Miami by a point, whereas Pittsburgh lost by 12, and the Hokies beat Louisville by a larger margin than the Panthers did, so the 3.5-point line maybe shouldn't be that surprising.
Regardless, the Hokies desperately need a win, with a game against Clemson looming. But it won't come easy against a physical Panther squad and especially against a defensive front that stands as one of the ACC's best. The Panthers have been a Steel Curtain of sorts against the run this season and lead the nation in sacks.
The Hokies will need to be much better than they were on their final five possessions against Miami this past Saturday – a string that included three punts, an interception, and a clock run-out on the final drive.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Saturday, Nov. 21 – 4 p.m.
Heinz Field; Pittsburgh, Pa.
at Pitt (4-4, 3-4)
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi (sixth season)
Record at school: 40-33; Career: 40-33 (sixth season)
Series: Tech leads 11-8 Last: Nov. 23, 2019 (W, 28-0)
Live stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: ACCN
Play-by-Play: Chris Cotter
Analyst: Eric Wood
Sideline: Lericia Harris
Radio: Virginia Tech Sports Properties
Play-by-Play: Jon Laaser
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Sideline: Wes McElroy
Virginia Tech Game Notes: CLICK HERE
Virginia Tech Press Conference Recap: CLICK HERE
"Definitely execution," Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw said of what transpired at the end of the Miami game. "The game plans we put in every week definitely are meant to work, and we've just got to go out there and execute every play. Mental mistakes, we can't have those. Everyone's going to have to be focused, all 11 doing all their jobs on every play."
"This is going to be a similar challenge," Tech coach Justin Fuente said, comparing the Pittsburgh game to the Miami game. "We're going to go against a big, athletic defensive line that pressures the passer. They do a great job in the run game. I know there is nobody in America that devotes as many hats in the box to the run game as Pat [Narduzzi, Pittsburgh's coach] does. It makes it very, very difficult to run the ball."
Yes, Tech needs better execution – and more. And with that, here are some things to watch:
Tech's offensive line – This group faces arguably its toughest challenge of the season. Pittsburgh's defensive front stands as the strong point of its team, and the numbers certainly prove that. The Panthers rank No. 2 nationally in rushing defense at 78.8 yards per game, and they also know how to get pressure on quarterbacks, as they lead the nation with 38 sacks.
The Hokies are coming off a tough outing against a really good Miami defensive front. Tech rushed for a season-low 160 yards, and Miami sacked quarterback Hendon Hooker six times.
Despite that performance, though, Tech still averages 262.8 yards rushing per game, which ranks seventh nationally and first among Power 5 schools that have played more than two games. Khalil Herbert is sixth in the country with 852 rushing yards.
Tech hopes to have a fully healthy Herbert on Saturday, and it goes without saying that the offensive line needs to be ready to go.
"It's definitely a different challenge," Darrisaw said. "Best d-line probably in the country. We've all got to be locked in, key on our assignments, and ready to go."
Hendon Hooker – Hooker seems to make a weekly appearance in this space, and a big reason why centers on how much he means to the Hokies' offense. In this game, though, he is a key figure because of Pittsburgh's performances against really good quarterbacks.
In Pittsburgh's four losses, it has allowed monster games by the opposing team's quarterback. NC State's Dennis Leary threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns, BC's Phil Jurkovec threw for 358 yards and three scores, Miami's D'Eriq King threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns, and Notre Dame's Ian Book threw for 312 yards and three scores. King was the only one of those four to throw an interception, throwing two in Miami's 31-19 win on Oct. 17.
Those are huge numbers, though they do get skewed because Pittsburgh commits so much to stopping the run and forcing teams to throw. But that's why the Hokies need a huge passing game from Hooker and his receivers. The rushing yards in this one figure to be limited, so the offense needs to find success through the air.
Keep in mind this: the Hokies haven't throw for more than 235 yards in a game this season. They very well may need to throw 300 to secure a win Saturday, and Hooker has done that just once in his career. In fact, the Hokies have thrown for more than 300 yards just once in the past 22 games.
Third down – The Hokies have struggled on third down this season, converting just 36.5% of the time through eight games, which ranks 88th nationally. Part of that problem, though, goes back to a lack of yardage on first and second downs. Tech's average distance on third down is 7.2 yards – and few teams convert on third-and-7 or longer.
The Hokies need to keep themselves out of these situations against the Panthers. That probably means throwing more on first down because of Pittsburgh's salty rush defense.
On the other side of the ball, the Panthers are just as poor when it comes to converting on third down. They convert at a 35.8% rate – 91st nationally.
So what gives Saturday? If the Hokies get their rate to 45% percent, they stand a great chance at winning – but they've only reached that number once this season.
Tech's defense – There was a lot to like about the performance of Tech's defense this past Saturday against Miami. The Hokies sacked King six times, held the 'Canes to just 131 yards rushing, and only allowed two plays of 20 yards or more. In addition, they forced field-goal attempts on two of Miami's four red-zone possessions.
Tech now has an opportunity to build upon that performance, as it faces a Pittsburgh offense that has struggled at times this season. The Panthers are 93rd nationally in total offense at 357.6 yards per game, and they have one of the worst rush offenses in the country, averaging just 104.3 yards per game (114th nationally).
According to a couple of Tech's players, the Hokies went back to some of former defensive coordinator Bud Foster's schemes against the 'Canes, with minor tweaks. With that, Fuente continuing to run the scout team offense to give the defense better looks, and the players on defense mostly past the COVID mess, the Hokies could be on the verge of a much-needed, late-season breakout as a defense.
"I think football is a confidence game as well," Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield said. "When you have a lot of confidence, you're going to play well, but that doesn't mean you stop preparing … It's definitely a confidence game, and us having this game this past Saturday [against Miami] is really going to help us moving forward. You get in a rhythm and you really start playing well, and that's where we're headed right now."
In closing: the Hokies and Panthers kick off at 4 p.m., and the game can be seen on the ACC Network.