Virginia Tech Football: 5 Keys Against Georgia Tech

Congratulations Hokie fans for making it through the bye week and congratulations Hokies for working your way into the top 10. OK; enough celebrating.

The Hokies have a big game this week against 21st-ranked Georgia Tech. It’s a Thursday night game so schedules have to be changed (such as a Wednesday article coming out on Monday). Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech are heading down to Atlanta to play the game that will define their season.

A win against Georgia Tech gives the Hokies a firm grasp of the ACC’s Coastal Division. A loss gives Georgia Tech the division edge. Virginia Tech has won an ACC record 11 straight road games. Their last loss on the road came against Georgia Tech in 2009.

If the Hokies want to keep their streak, and division hopes alive, then there are five things that Frank Beamers squad needs to do.

5. Jayron Hosley Needs To Take Away the “Fourth” Option

The Yellow Jackets run a triple option but a fourth option has manifested itself this year. The fourth option is Georgia Tech’s wide receiver Stephen Hill. Hill has 20 receptions this year for 608 yards and four touchdowns (not too shabby for a running offense).

Hosley didn’t play well against Duke two weeks ago. He was flagged twice for pass interference penalties. The Duke game was his first game back from a hamstring injury. By Thursday, Hosley should be healthy and back in playing shape.

Jayron was an All-American last season, and he needs to play like one come game time. Hosley will, in all likelihood, be shading Hill for the whole game.

If Hill can be removed from the game plan, it gives the rest of the defense the ability to tee off on the run. 

4. It’s Your Time Derrick Hopkins

The Hokies lost a great asset, when they lost Antoine Hopkins to a torn ACL against Clemson. Bud Foster is lucky because he has a second Hopkins at the other defensive tackle position.

Derrick Hopkins has been having a solid season as one of the Hokies’ starting defensive tackles. A good defensive tackle is essential to beating the triple option.

Hopkins has the ability to control the line of scrimmage, which can take away the dive play and can also alter the other options in Georgia Tech’s offense. Hopkins needs to take control in this game if the Hokies are to have any chance of slowing down the Yellow Jackets.

3. Logan Thomas Must Return to Miami Form

Thomas played his most complete game this season against Miami. In the game, he completed 23-of-25 passes for over 300 yards. His completion percentage doesn’t have to be that perfect against the Yellow Jackets, but there are some things that he needs to do like he did against the Hurricanes.

The Hokies can’t beat Georgia Tech if Logan Thomas turns the ball over. Thomas has thrown seven interceptions this season. That number needs to be at seven when the clock hits triple zeroes on Thursday.

Thomas has had an up-and-down season when it comes to third down. Third-down conversions will be a huge statistic in this game. Logan Thomas needs to keep the Hokie offense on the field in order to keep GT’s offense off of it.

If the Hokies are going to win this game, then a lot of it will fall on Logan Thomas’s shoulders.

2. VT’s Coaches Must Learn from Their Rivals

Georgia Tech has lost two games this season. The Jackets lost to Virginia and Miami in back-to-back weeks. Both the Cavaliers and the Canes had excellent game plans against the triple option.

Bud Foster’s defense has had trouble in the past stopping Georgia Tech’s scheme. When Kam Chancellor was still in Blacksburg, he was used to mirror the ball and attack once the quarterback’s decision had been made. Chancellor is now in Seattle, making this defense a little more of a liability.

Foster needs to look at the tape of GT’s losses and figure out how the defenses were able to stop such a potent offense. Pride isn’t at stake here; he needs to do as the Cavaliers and Hurricanes did.

Virginia Tech isn’t going to score a touchdown on every possession so it is up to the defense to keep the Jackets in line. That will come from Bud Foster’s game plan.

1. It’s Your Game David Wilson

David Wilson leads the nation in rushing yards but isn’t in the Heisman discussion. Well Mr. Wilson, if you want to get in the discussion, here is your chance.

Before the season, David Wilson set out a list of goals he wanted to achieve. On that list was a 260-yard rushing game. This would be the perfect time for that goal to go fulfilled.

Earlier, I discussed how Logan Thomas needs to keep the Hokies on the field. Wilson can do the same thing. If Wilson has a big day, then Georgia Tech’s offense stays off the field. He would also shorten the game considerably.

A lot of this falls on Wilson, but it also falls on the coaching staff. Stinespring needs to keep Wilson in the game. Josh Oglesby is a good backup, but he is nothing compared to Wilson. Wilson has yet to run more than 26 times in a single game. You don’t want to overwork the star tailback, but he needs a larger workload come Thursday.

It’s your game Mr. Wilson.