Time for a reboot? Pitt game provides a fresh start for '23 Hokies
As we all know, the first month of this college football season hasn't gone the way Virginia Tech envisioned back in August. The Hokies have dropped three of their first four contests and have lost six starters—for varying lengths of time to injuries.
Offensively, losing tight end Nick Gallo and wide receiver Ali Jennings for extended periods has taken away two playmakers for an offense that has little margin for error. And on defense, the injury to safety Nasir Peoples has been more impactful than many realized.
But this Saturday presents an opportunity for a true reset. As ugly as 1-3 may look overall, the Hokies are 0-0 in the ACC and get a "fresh start" Saturday with their ACC opener against Pittsburgh.
A prime-time game at Lane Stadium? That's a great way to jump-start a team that's lost three straight.
"We've got to do things better," Tech head coach Brent Pry said after last week's game at Marshall. "We've got to be consistent. There are times we are the better team. And then later in the same game, we're not."
Through the first quarter of this season, the Hokies rank 122nd (out of 130 teams) in rushing defense, allowing 212 rushing yards per game. Tech opponents are gaining an eye-popping 5.1 yards per carry.
"The five-to-eight-yard runs can happen," Pry said. "But those big ones? The explosive ones are killing us."
"You got 11 guys out there, and you've got to keep it caged, keep them in front and inside and get 'em on the ground."
Gallery: (9-27-2023) FB: White Effect Week Practice
Pry is spot on. Take out the two explosive runs that Marshall had last week—a 61-yard TD from Rasheen Ali and a 22-yard run from Ethan Payne—and Marshall gained just 3.1 yards per run on 42 other carries. That's acceptable, for sure.
A year ago, Pitt rushed for 326 yards in a 45-29 win over the Hokies in Pittsburgh. The Panthers' Israel Abanakanda had a record-smashing 320 yards and six touchdowns against the Hokies. This, however, is a different Panther's team. With Abanakanda gone to the NFL's New York Jets, Pitt ranks 12th in the ACC in rushing at just 135 yards per game.
Pittsburgh had high hopes for former BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who transferred to Pitt in the off-season, but in three games as the starting quarterback for the Panthers this season, he's completed just 46.7 percent of his passes for 474 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Before getting knocked out of last week's game against North Carolina, he completed 11 of 15 passes for 109 yards. Backup Christian Veilluex played the entire second half.
So, Pitt has its offensive question marks too. Can the Hokies take advantage and open ACC play with a win?
A key stat to watch? Third downs.
The Hokies were just 2-for-13 on third downs last week, including 0-for-3 in third and short (three yards or less).
"Third downs hurt," Pry said. "That stands out. We were terrible (at Marshall). We gotta coach a little better and tip the scale."
For the season, the Hokies have converted just 17 of 56 third downs this season, 30.4 percent. That's the worst mark in all of Power 5 and ranks 124th among all FBS teams.
"Really frustrating," offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen told us. "We're not good enough on third and fourth down. And we gotta be better in the red zone. Those are key things in the game that we need to fix."
"We gotta look at what we're doing on third down and make sure we're giving ourselves the best chance. There are adjustments that need to be made, and we're going to make them," Bowen said.
Overall, the Hokies ran the ball well at Marshall, averaging 6.1 yards per rush. And they had the three longest runs of the season.
Can Tech put it all together Saturday against Pitt?
"We know we can," Pry said. "There are signs all over the field of who we can be as coaches and players. We got to grow and play our best football Saturday night."
And in front of a sellout crowd, the Hokies hope the magic of Lane Stadium will be the difference.
The game represents a fresh start for this '23 team, and a home win would make the entire Hokie Nation feel a lot better.
"Hang in there with us,' Pry said. "We're gonna get this. We're going to figure it out."
Broadcast Info
You can catch the Hokies-Panthers game on the Virginia Tech Sports Network, beginning with our pre-game coverage at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday. You can hear our coverage on SiriusXM channel 84 and for free on the HokieSports App.