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Preview: Virginia Tech, 2008
And now we come to the beginning of a stretch of games that represent a golden opportunity for the Huskers to accomplish something meaningful in Pelini’s first season. Fortunately, the Huskers have a very beatable Virginia Tech team coming into Memorial Stadium.Whoever scheduled this game probably didn’t know it at the time, but the Virginia Tech contest represents an ideal segue between the early games and the competition that will follow. The Hokies’ talent level is definitely a step up, yet they are not an overwhelming team this year.
The Huskers will be facing off against a squad that has a very average offense with a better-than-average quarterback now in the lineup who can make plays with his feet. The Virginia Tech defense (particularly along the line) is above average. Their special teams are also very good, despite a blocked punt in their opener that cost them the game. Their kicker tends to leave it short on kickoffs, though.
The Husker offense versus Tech’s defense is a matchup of strength against strength. After scoring 47, 35, and 38 points in the first three games, we will now see how the Huskers fare against a real defense. The keys will be if we can get anything out of the running game, if Ganz gets any time to throw, and how Tech’s nickel and dime packages match up with our spread formations.
Tech’s cornerbacks, Victor Harris and Stephan Virgil are playmakers and are capable of breaking games open with their ability to create turnovers. The Tech D-line will be the first time in many months the Husker O-line has tried to move a group that has superior talent. If the Huskers succeed at running the ball, it will likely have to be behind Murtha and Slauson.
One of the softer spots in Virginia Tech’s defense is on obvious passing downs. Their safeties don’t cover all that well. If the Huskers can get Holt or McNeill matched up with one of their safeties or extra D-backs, we can move the ball. I also think they will struggle somewhat to cover Swift no matter which starting corner has the assignment. Ganz just needs to be patient with what this defense gives him. Really patient. If not, we could find ourselves in trouble.
Just as the Husker O versus the Tech D represents strength on strength, the Blackshirts facing off against the Hokie offense is a battle of two units still working some kinks out. While Husker defenders are still trying to master “the Pelini way,” Tech’s offense comes to Lincoln with four freshmen comprising their two-deep at the receiver spots, plus a freshman running back. In fact, now that Frank Beamer has benched his fifth-year player at quarterback, none of Tech’s starting skill position players are seniors.
Their quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, is a much better runner than thrower. In theory, this plays to our defense strength so far this year (at least statistically). Tech’s offense has generally been weak in the majority of their games, with some breakthroughs now and then.
I usually loathe sports clichés like “Expect a low-scoring contest.” Sometimes, though, a cliché is dead-on. I think the Huskers will score a little bit more than Virginia Tech. It could come down to an Alex Henery field goal.
With both teams flirting with the lower tier of the Top 25 polls, this is a great late-September game for the Huskers…broadcast in glorious high definition. If nothing else, the team will know after this week what level they’re going to need to reach to hang with the likes of Missouri, who conveniently has a bye this week.
AND ELSEWHERE…
Conventional wisdom on college football has been turned on its head this week, as Thursday night top-ranked USC lost to a 1-2 Oregon St. team. I watched with amazement as Oregon St. totally owned the Trojans 21-0 in the first half, then held on to win behind 186 rushing yards from a freshman running back.
Anything can happen. Makes me think we could have a shot against some of the more highly touted teams on the schedule. This Saturday night will go a long way toward revealing how ready the 2008 Huskers are for the national college football stage.
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The
voice of the Scarlet Commentary is Jeffrey Leever, a Nebraska
native who now writes for an advertising agency in Kansas
City. He is a 1994 graduate of the University of Nebraska
(Kearney) and author of the suspense novels Dark
Friday and Even
in Darkness.
He has been known to include a tribute to Tommie Frazier and other Nebraska references in his novels. His website is www.jeffreyleever.com. Contact Jeff here. |
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