Hokie Hitter of the Week: Syracuse

What an overall dominating performance that the Hokies had against Syracuse last Thursday night! Tyler Bowen continued to show that he has developed as a play caller and has adjusted with to maximize the skillsets of the players on the field and not be too prideful to make changes and adjustments. Our personnel has changed over the course of the season due to a variety of reasons but week after week the Hokies’ offensive game plan continues to adjust and the size of the playbook grows with every rep that Kyron Drones takes at QB.

The plays that we are going to look at this week is another wrinkle to the run game that the Hokies added this week. In previous weeks Tech altered their rushing attack from an inside zone scheme to focusing on the outside zone. Because of the rushing threat that Drones presents, our backfield can attack off-tackle. Drones has the ability to hold the linebackers in the middle of the field. This week, the Hokies added a H-Back Wham option for the QB along with the outside zone. The play was so successful, it is what led to the trick play TD thrown by Malachi Thomas.

As Bowen keeps growing the offense and young players keep developing, The future looks bright for the rest of the season. GO HOKIES!

Hokies start out in a 11 Personnel look. Two receivers to the right and single receiver to the left. TE is lined up off the left hip of the Left Tackle. Lane motions across the formation and the Syracuse defender that is on him does not follow and creeps near the DE. At the snap, linemen take their outside zone steps to the left except RT parker Clements kicks his man out to the right. Dequan Wright moves in for a Wham block on the DT but no one shows so he turns up the right side B gap to get on the linebacker. Key to this play is Xavier Chaplin, who instead of fighting with his defender and possibly stalling the play, flips his hips and takes his defender where his momentum was taking him allowing Tuten to turn upfield.

This is the same play to the right side but against a slightly different look. This time, Syracuse loads up the line to protect the middle of the field from a QB run. No motion this time and the key play is made by Brody Meadows at RG. The "0" technique loops wide to the outside to the playside and is picked up by Meadows who on his zone track picks up the defender and allows Tuten to get the 1st down. This play sets up, on the very next snap, the gadget play where Malachi Thomas hits DaQuan Felton on a half back pass on the same outside zone motion!

Much better play this week by the much maligned right side of the line this week. This example shows how much Drones has grown as QB by avoiding distractions caused by the defense. On this snap, Similar formation as before but the twin receivers are on the same side as the H-Back in a Trips look. When Lane goes in motion this time, Syracuse rotates their safeties in the backfield in an attempt to confuse Drones. The misdirection on the jet sweep motion allows Malachi Thomas to break free for a big gain!