collegiatetimes.com
October 2, 2015
THE
EXTRAPOINT
Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh
COLLEGIATETIMES
ON THE BRINK
Virginia Tech looks to rebound against Pittsburgh to begin ACC play.
ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
The Extra Point sports@collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATE
TIMES
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PAGE 2 October 2, 2015
CATIE CARRERAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Office Operations Manager: Haley Keen
A.J. Hughes runs into Lane Stadium holding the flag as Enter Sandman begins playing before the game against Furman.
PREVIEWING THE PITTSBURGH PANTHERS Virginia Tech football will host the Pittsburgh Panthers in their first ACC game of the season. The Panthers will be lead by wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who has had much success in the two games he’s played this season. FAIZAN HASNANY sports reporter
The Virginia Tech football team will begin its Atlantic Coast Conference play this Saturday when the Pittsburgh Panthers come to Lane Stadium. The Hokies have lost five of their last six games against Pitt, however they have won five of the six games played in Lane Stadium since the series started in 1993, with the only loss coming in 2002 when Larry Fitzgerald had three touchdowns for the Panthers. A key matchup to watch in this game will be the two star wide receivers for each team. Junior Tyler Boyd for Pittsburgh had more than 1100 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons, with a total of 15 receiving touchdowns over that time. In the two games he has played this season, Boyd is averaging over 10 catches and 100 yards
per game. Covering Boyd will be even more challenging for the Hokies who will be without starting first team All-ACC cornerback Kendall Fuller, who underwent surgery on his right knee on Tuesday which will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
“
An area of conern for the Hokies this season has been run defense, where they rank 102nd in the FBS, allowing 205 rushing yards per game.”
For Tech, sophomore receiver Isaiah Ford has been a consistent force on the outside this season, catching 22 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Last
season as a freshman, Ford broke Virginia Tech freshman records in both receptions and receiving yards with 56 catches and 709 yards. Quarterback Brenden Motley has filled in nicely for Michael Brewer who is still recovering from a broken collarbone suffered against Ohio State in the first game of the season. Motley has thrown for 770 yards and six touchdowns with just two interceptions. The redshirt-junior also has 164 yards and three touchdowns, tying him for the ACC lead in touchdowns with nine. An area of concern for the Hokies this season has been run defense, where they rank 102nd in the FBS, allowing 205 rushing yards per game. They will receive a little help with the expected return of middle linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka, and with Panthers’ running back and reigning ACC see PREVIEW / page 8
Despite hopeful projections of returning players, the backfield has consistently struggled to move the ball on the ground this season. KYLE COOKE sports staff writer
“
Anybody who has watched more than one quarter of Virginia Tech football knows that McMillian has by far been the most effective.”
@kcboomstick23
ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
J.C. Coleman (4) stiff arms Fred Presley (99) on a carry, Sept. 26, 2015 (above). Trey Edmunds (14) carries the ball for a short gain, Sept. 26, 2015 (right).
RUNNING BACKS CARRY DISTRIBTION PLAYER
ATTEMPTS
J.C. Coleman
32
Trey Edmunds
34
Travon McMillian
26
October 2, 2015 PAGE 3
One player that still has the potential to live up to the expectations set for him is McMillan. He got a lot of hype coming into the season, and for the most part he has lived up to it. Through four games, McMillian has racked up 209 yards on just 26 rushes for exactly eight yards a carry, by far the best on the team. This begs the question of why McMillian has only the third-most touches on the team. Coleman has six more touches but 92 fewer yards, and Edmunds has eight more carries and 65 fewer yards. To be fair, each of the running backs is unique in how they run the ball.
Edmunds is tall and powerful and is often used in goal line packages that don’t lend themselves to high yardage. Loeffler sends Coleman up the middle where it is hard to get into the open field. McMillian, however, is mostly used in stretches and sweeps where he can get to the outside and find some space. Still, the limitations and benefits of the packages these running backs are used in cannot be seen as the only excuse for their production or lack thereof. Anybody who has watched more than one quarter of Virginia Tech football knows that McMillian has by far been the most effective. He has averaged six yards per carry in his past two games but still has not gotten more than nine carries in any game this season. Tech’s next game against the Pittsburgh Panthers will be no easy feat. The team’s success is dependent on the running backs being able to efficiently move the ball up the field, which is something they have been inconsistent with this season.
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Prior to the start of the season, Assistant Head Coach Shane Beamer and Offensive Coordinator Scot Loeffler boasted a crop of talented players in the backfield. Senior tailback JC Coleman had a tremendous final month of his junior year campaign, ending the season as the team’s leading rusher and earning a Military Bowl MVP. Redshirt junior Trey Edmunds’ return was much anticipated after a couple of potentially promising seasons spoiled by injury. Sophomore Shai McKenzie rebounded from a torn ACL during his freshman year and a legal battle with hopes of picking up where he left off. Redshirt freshman Travon McMillian was a high prospect as a quarterback turned half back who showed his skills all throughout spring ball. Now four games into the season, things haven’t gone as planned. Coleman has not been able to recreate the magic of the second half of 2014, Edmunds isn’t getting enough playing time to make a real judgment on his ability and McKenzie applied for a medical redshirt on Monday.
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RUNNING BACKS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTINUITY
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collegiatetimes.com PAGE 4 October 2, 2015
HOKIES AND PANTHERS AFFECTED BY INJURY Season-ending injuries have casued headaches for both teams, who are trying to rebound from early season losses. CHASE PARKER sports staff writer
The Virginia Tech football team and the Pittsburgh Panthers will both have to overcome some key injuries this Saturday as the teams go head-to-head in Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer is still in the healing process from the broken clavicle he suffered in the week one loss to Ohio State. Team officials have reported that Brewer is making progress in his recovery, and there is speculation that he may be ready to play as early as the Hokies’ Friday night game against North Carolina State on Oct. 9. Backup quarterback Brenden Motley has been filling in nicely since replacing Brewer in week one. The dual-threat QB has thrown for 770 yards, passed for six touchdowns and thrown only two interceptions. In addition to his passing stats, Motley has rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns. The Hokies will surely need Motley to play well in the team’s first ACC matchup in order to win. Another key injury for the Hokies is All-American cornerback Kendall Fuller. The standout corner initially tore his meniscus during the team’s preseason camp. Fuller played in Tech’s first three games with the injury but opted to have season-ending surgery on Tuesday. Fuller’s replacement against Pitt will be redshirt freshman Terrell Edmunds. This will be Edmunds’ first start, so his ability to fill in for the All-American is yet to be seen. The redshirt freshman will be set to match up against Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh’s top receiver. One player that the Hokies hope to get back for this Saturday’s game is middle linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka. The 6-foot, 238-pound linebacker suffered a sprained MCL in the week two victory against Furman. Motuapuaka had already made an impact prior to his injury, making eight tackles and catching one interception for a touchdown in only a game and a half. Without Motuapuaka, the Hokies have been very inexperienced at middle linebacker. Getting him back in the lineup will help add maturity and leadership to the Hokies’ defense. Pittsburgh has suffered an injury that could have a huge impact on the game as well. All-American running back James Conner suffered a torn MCL in the second quarter of their week one win against Youngstown State.
CATIE CARRERAS, ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
(Clockwise) Andrew Motuapuaka (54) runs toward the endzone. Kendall Fuller (11) warms up prior to the start of the game against ECU, Sept. 26, 2015. Fuller was sidelined for the entirety of the game. Michael Brewer injures collarbone during the Ohio State game on Sept. 7, 2015. Brewer will be out for four to eight weeks.
The prolific running back is out for the year. Conner came into the 2015 season as a Heisman Trophy hopeful. In 2014, Conner ran for 1,765 yards on 298 attempts, making his average 5.9 yards per carry. Prior to his injury in the first half of Pitt’s week one game, the junior running back shined. He ran for 77 yards on only eight carries, averaging 9.6 yards per attempt. He also had two rushing touchdowns. Conner’s absence is surely felt, but second string running back Qadree Ollison has been
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making up for the injured starter, rushing for 305 yards and averaging 7.4 yards per carry. The injury bug has bitten both Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh this year. With rain in the forecast, Worsham Field is sure to turn into a war zone as these two ACC teams go to battle – a fitting theme for what could be the rebirth of this classic rivalry. @CollegiateTimes
FAIZAN HASNANY sports editor
ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Ken Ekanem (4) lines up against the ECU offensive line, Sept. 26, 2015.
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In terms of which side of the ball has been more effective, Virginia Tech has flipped the script on what had become a common expectation in recent years. The offense, even with the loss of quarterback Michael Brewer, has produced efficiently whereas the Hokies usually imposing defense has struggled. Currently Tech ranks second to last, ahead of only U.Va., in the ACC in both points allowed per game and total defense, giving up 26 points per game and allowing 375.2 yards per game this season. So what is the reason for disarray among the Hokies’ defense? With a deep defensive front led by Dadi Nicolas, Ken Ekanem and Luther Maddy and a defensive backs unit that was being boasted as the DBU throughout the offseason until it was announced Kendall Fuller would undergo season-ending surgery, lack of talent may not be the main source of concern for the Hokies. Anybody who has followed Virginia Tech football in recent years is likely aware of two major flaws that have reared their head time and time again for the Hokies’ defense: the inability to defend mobile quarterbacks and the vulnerability of big plays through the air. Since the start of 2014, Tech has allowed six different quarterbacks to run for more than 90 yards in a game, losing five of those games, and has allowed the most rushing yards to opposing QBs in the FBS since that time. Last week it was ECU’s James Summers who was brought on for the Pirates in the second quarter and ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the final three quarters of their 35-28 victory against the Hokies. Look for Pittsburgh to potentially employ
a similar strategy this week. The Panthers have been starting redshirt Nate Peterman at quarterback. However, expect to see designed packages for backup quarterback Chad Voytik, who ran for 118 yards and led Pittsburgh to a 21-16 victory when the two teams squared off last season. Also dating back to the start of 2014, Bud Foster’s defense has allowed 102 plays of 20 or greater yards, which is the most of any Power 5 school. Needless to say, those big plays have not only resulted in easy points for opponents but have made it hard for the Hokies to gain and maintain momentum throughout games. Last season Tech ranked 118th out of 128 FBS teams, allowing 14.2 yards per completion. This year Tech has dropped further in that category to 121st, and the team is allowing a staggering 15.6 yards per completion. The Hokies were able to compensate for big plays a bit last season by getting to the quarterback unfailingly and ranking third in the nation in sacks with 3.7 per game. In the first four games of this season, Virginia Tech is averaging just one sack per game. Teams have started to catch on to what the Hokies are doing defensively and have found ways to exploit it more consistently. Whether it means playing less one-on-one coverage on the outside or sending fewer guys to attack the quarterback in order to contain a potential run, Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster will have to figure out a way to alter the Hokies’ misfortunes defensively and take advantage of Tech’s recent solid offensive play.
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COACHES CATCHING ON TO DEFENSIVE WEAKNESSES
@FaizanCT
October 2, 2015 PAGE 5
ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Dad Nicolas (90) looks towards the sideline in between plays against ECU, Sept. 26, 2015.
YARDS
PEN./G
YARDS/G
1. GEORGIA TECH
4
7
59
1.8
14.8
2. PITTSBURGH
3
12
88
4.0
29.3
3. NORTH CAROLINA STATE
4
14
141
3.5
35.3
4. FLORIDA STATE
3
16
111
5.3
37.0
5. NORTH CAROLINA
4
19
151
4.8
37.8
6. SYRACUSE
4
17
162
4.3
40.5
7. WAKE FOREST
4
22
171
5.5
42.8
8. DUKE
4
19
186
4.8
46.5
9. BOSTON COLLEGE
4
22
196
5.5
49.0
10. LOUISVILLE
4
25
219
6.3
54.8
11.VIRGINIA
4
30
240
7.5
60.0
12. CLEMSON
3
21
183
7.0
61.0
13. MAIMI (FLORIDA)
3
25
208
8.3
69.3
14. VIRGINIA TECH
4
38
340
9.5
85.0
“
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
3.
@RickyLaBlue
BU NO RG RT H HC A ST R AT OL INA E 4. FL OR IDA 5. ST NO AT RT E HC AR OL INA 6. SY RA CU 7. SE WA KE FO RE ST 8 . 9. DU BO KE ST ON CO LL EG 10 E .L OU ISV ILL E 11 .VI RG INI A 12 .C LE 13 MS .M ON AIM I (F LO 14 RID .V A) IRG INI AT EC H
CH
0 TS
advantage of these penalties. You can’t get away with 114 yards of flags and expect to win against ACC teams. It simply doesn’t happen. It isn’t hard to trace the root of the penalty problem for Virginia Tech, but people will undoubtedly begin to question Head Coach Frank Beamer. It’s not like this is a recent problem. Last season, Virginia Tech was 87th in the nation in penalties. In 2013, the Hokies ranked 88th. In 2012, Virginia Tech placed somewhat better in 57th. As I noted earlier this week, Beamer and the Hokies have encountered a downward spiral in these last three seasons. Penalties are definitely a part of the equation. Perhaps a cause cannot be proven, but the correlation is there. And that is all that’s necessary for fans who want to see a winner.
TE
Considering the predicament that the Hokies are in, the penalties need to be reduced or eliminated completely.”
PIT
In football, penalties are widely considered the hallmark of a poorly coached team. Virginia Tech leads the ACC in total penalty yardage with 85 penalty yards per game and is 100th overall in the nation in penalty yardage. If you want to make a connection to the number of penalties and the coaching staff, go ahead. The main issue here is that penalties are supposed to go down as players get into the rhythm of the season. For Virginia Tech, it’s the exact opposite. Virginia Tech only committed five penalties for 50 yards against Ohio State. Since then, they’ve committed 33 penalties (11 in each game) for 290 yards. Against East Carolina, the Hokies ran for 158 yards but lost 89 yards in penalties. Too many times this season Virginia Tech has buried itself on both sides of the ball by committing penalties. A perfect example can be found in last Saturday’s ugly loss to East Carolina. Late in the first quarter, the Pirates, down 14-7, started with the ball on their own 40-yard line. Tech improved that great field position with a 5-yard penalty on first down, moving East Carolina to the 45. The Pirates would score on that drive. On Tech’s next possession, they faced a fourth and 11 and were ready to punt. A false start moved them back another five yards, giving East Carolina some breathing room. There were plenty of other drives on offense where the Hokies stalled due to penalties. Illegal substitutions, false starts and more – the offense has been snake-bitten by the referees’ dirty laundry. It’s not like one player in particular is responsible for a large chunk of the flags. No player has been responsible for more than three. Center Eric Gallo has three flags, and a host of players on both
sides of the ball have two. Both of left guard Wyatt Teller’s two penalties were personal fouls. Considering the predicament that the Hokies are in, the penalties need to be reduced or eliminated completely. Not only are the Hokies missing their starting quarterback, standout corner Kendall Fuller is now done for the year and linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka has yet to return. Tech’s ACC opponents, including Pittsburgh, are too good to not take
PEN.
OR GIA
editor in chief
G
GE
RICKY LABLUE
NAME
2.
Virginia Tech continures to be hindered by penalties, holding the conference lead by a wide margin in that category.
2015 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE LEADERS: PENALTIES
1.
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collegiatetimes.com PAGE 6 October 2, 2015
HOKIES CONTINUE PENALTY STRUGGLES
PICK UP THE COLLEGIATE TIMES TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
A
• weather correspondent • @wxBONE
(Clockwise from top left) Adonis Alexander (36) and Greg Stroman (3) celebrate after a touchdown against Furman on Sept. 12, 2015. Chuck Clark (19) stops Furman from advancing with the help of Kendall Fuller (11). Trey Edmunds (14) reacts with teammate Bucky Hodges (7) after scoring the opening touchdown for the Hokies, Sept. 26, 2015. Edmunds (14) carries the ball for a short gain, Sept. 26, 2015. Alexander (36) pauses before getting up while watching James Summers (11) and his teammates celebrate after a touchdown, Sept. 26, 2015.
October 2, 2015 PAGE 7
JAMES MORROW
CATIE CARRERAS, ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
collegiatetimes.com
fter the record breaking 4.39 inches of rain we had on Tuesday, we can expect more to continue through the weekend. As of Wednesday, the governor has declared a state of emergency for Virginia due to previous storms and upcoming Hurricane Joaquin. Today will see rain with a highs in the upper 50s and overnight lows in the lower 50s. Tonight heavy rainfall will begin and last through Saturday afternoon. A flash flood watch for Montgomery County will be in affect from 8 a.m. today through 8 p.m. Saturday. For the football game on Saturday, the highs are still in the upper 50s with overnight lows in the mid-50s. Throughout the entire day, there is a 90 percent chance of rain that will continue through the night. Due to the previous rainfall, the ground will be saturated, so it will not take much rain to cause more river and flash flooding in our area with the possibility of landslides. There is still uncertainty as to the track of Joaquin, which will affect how much rain we will see. Regardless of the track, on Sunday we still have a chance to see rain. Right now the highs will be in the lower 60s and the overnight lows in the lower 50s. On Monday there will still be a chance of rain with highs still in the lower 60s and the overnight lows in the lower 50s. If Hurricane Joaquin does make landfall, we can expect rainfall amounts to increase by several inches in addition to winds increasing in strength. The strong wind gusts increase the chance of fallen trees and power outages. For safety, everyone should continue to watch future forecasts, especially with the high risk of flooding and wind damage. For continual updates for this weekend and the future, follow @HOKIEwxWatch on Twitter.
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TECH LOOKS HOME FOR TURNAROUND
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PREVIEW: Tech looks to bounce back at home from page 1
player of the year James Conners out for the season with a knee injury. Freshman Qadri Ollison is starting for Pittsburgh in place of Conners, however, and doing so very effectively. Ollison has 305 yards on the ground this season with two touchdowns and is averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Although Pittsburgh intends to start junior quarterback Nate Peterman, don’t be surprised to see plenty of Chad Voytik who started for the Panthers and ran for 118 yards last when the two teams played last season. Tech got off to a solid start running the football this season but struggled last week against ECU. A bounce-back performance CATIE CARRERAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
collegiatetimes.com
Corey Marshall (96) argues with a Furman player.
WEEKEND ROAD REROUTES AND PARKING INFORMATION The Virginia Tech Police Department and Parking and Transportation has released traffic information for the upccoming home game. RICHARD CHUMNEY
PAGE 8 October 2, 2015
news editor
According to the Virginia Tech Police Department a number of campus roads will be rerouted prior to and after the Saturday Pittsburgh home football game. Three and a half hours before the beginning of the game, three campus roads will be altered. Southgate Drive eastbound from Route 460 to Duck Pond Road will become one-way with both lanes entering campus. Duck Pond Road northbound from Southgate Drive to Washington Street will become one-way with both lanes heading towards Washington Street. Beamer Way from Washington Street to Lot 4 will be closed and will not reopen after the football game. Following the game a number of campus roads will be one-way only. Duck Pond Road southbound from Washington Street to Southgate Drive, Southgate Drive eastbound from the
Sterrett Facilities Complex Road to Airport Road, Research Center Drive southbound from Lot 5 (Chicken Hill Lot) to the curve near Forecast Drive and Washington Street eastbound from Beamer Way to Kent Street will all be one-way. At the start of halftime, westbound traffic along Washington Street from Kent Street will not be allowed. Southgate Drive traffic from Research Center Drive to Duck Pond Road will be closed to traffic following the game. T he off ice of Pa rk ing a nd Transportation has announced a number of parking lot closures on Friday, Oct. 2. Parking will be restricted in those lots after 5 p.m. and vehicles are to be removed by 10 p.m. For detailed weekend parking information, visit parking.vt.edu.
@RichChumney
from the Hokies backfield will be crucial this week where bad weather will likely be a factor again, potentially limiting the ability to throw. Pittsburgh is ranked in the top 25 in sacks, with 3.33 per game; in rush defense, allowing 92.0 yards per game; in total defense, allowing 291.7 yards per game; in pass efficiency defense, with a 103.55 rating; and in third-down conversion defense, at 28.6 percent. Consequently, this matchup could prove to be one of the most challenging matchups that the Hokies’ offense will see this season.
@FaizanCT