Hokie Hitter: Syracuse

The Hokies traveled up to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse to play the Orange.  The Hokies played without their two best players on offense, Kyron Drones and Bhayshul Tuten.  With Colin Schlee under center the Hokie offense didn’t miss a beat and put up enough points to be competitive.  The defense was slow to adjust to the changes that the Syracuse offense made in the second half and Syracuse was able to claw their way back to win the game in OT.  This week, I will break down some of the 4th quarter that includes a really ingenious play on the offensive side and a breakdown on the defensive side that will hopefully shed some light on some of our struggles in the 4th quarter.

Getting towards the end of the game, the Hokies were still able to move the ball without the top two players on offense.  In the 4th Quarter, the Hokies were driving on what would be their final scoring drive and were able to utilize the aggressiveness of the Syracuse defense and how they were selling out on stopping the run.  Malachi Thomas had done a good job of filling in for the injured Tuten while keeping the play calling relatively similar. The split zone has been a staple of the Tech attack all season and the Hokies had a tendency in this game to run on first down.  So on this play, Syracuse is stacking the box with seven in a 3-4 look and playing man-free (cover 1) behind it.  Bowen even sets this up with a tackle over look to the playside and after the motion by Gosnell, the H-back, the play fake to Thomas brings the entire secondary and the strong safety responsible for Gosnell is late getting over.  Schlee gives a great fake and gets the ball out early and Tech is able to grab a big gain on the play.

This play sets up Syracuse’s final score in regulation.  :46 seconds on the clock and Syracuse has led a methodical drive downfield that was helped by two big penalties on the Virginia Tech defense.  Allen, the Syracuse running back, has up to this point been the workhorse of the drive and McCord was utilized in the passing game on occasion.  This situation, with Syracuse having :46 seconds on the clock and it being 2nd and 10, the staff is anticipating a run here. When Allen gets the fake, the entire linebacking corps and both safeties attack the line to stop the run.  McCord pulls the ball and hits his receiver on the slant.  The Hokies were playing man across the board and Dorian Strong has outside leverage on the receiver to prevent the fade, and when the safeties step in to stop the run it opens a void that McCord is able to hit.  Tough break for a corner that has played well all season and tough break for the Hokies.