Discussion: VT game

[TarHeelNation11]

Feeling confident? Concerned? It's cool that this is a Top 25 matchup. There's been precious few at Kenan Stadium where both teams are ranked. I can't even remember the last one. Possibly under Butch?

One thing I'd like to toss in to the ring for discussion is the impact of the weather. Currently, the 10-day forecast predicts 74H/63L with 90% chance of rain and winds at 15 mph on Saturday. That could potentially throw a huge wrench into our passing game. We are going to need to be able to run the ball effectively in this game. Hopefully we have Hood back. If not, Logan is going to have to continue to ball, but who spells him? Francis is better on swing passes than he is running the ball, IMO. In addition, we could/should supplement our run game with "run-like" passes like quick hitters to Switzer as well as end-arounds and WR screens and RB screens.

What do y'all see as key to this one?

 

[JimmyinVA]

count me very concerned. my reasons:

-- va tech legitimate top 25 team with a retooled offense to go along with their usual tough defense

-- va tech with bye week to prepare for carolina, we'll get their best shot

-- carolina coming off tough game with florida state, only one week to prepare for tech

-- the emotional rush of the FSU win will make it hard to get the needed intensity to beat va tech

 

[blazers]

yeah, if it is torrential, your last sentence might sum it up. screens, sweeps, etc, but you left out one thing - Wildcat! Direct snaps to Logan let him do some read-option. Probably don't want to be optioning too much with a wet ball, but ARW would be interesting.

The passing game has been important for VT this yr too, eh?

I hope our fans show up despite rain.

 

[mspivey2113]

I will be bringing my 7 year old son, my cousin and his son who are die hard Georgia fans to the game. Only game I will make this year. Really hoping to see the stands full despite the weather. Huge thank you to UNC Athletics for the tickets. My cousin and I are both vets and the UNC athletic department donated close to 200 tickets to a veterans group,vettix.org, that provides donated tickets to vets. Thank you UNC Athletics. Go Heels!!

 

[blazers]

I think two thirds of vatech's TDs have been passes, so maybe wind/rain would negatively effect them just as much

 

[Raising Heel]

I will be bringing my 7 year old son, my cousin and his son who are die hard Georgia fans to the game. Only game I will make this year. Really hoping to see the stands full despite the weather. Huge thank you to UNC Athletics for the tickets. My cousin and I are both vets and the UNC athletic department donated close to 200 tickets to a veterans group,vettix.org, that provides donated tickets to vets. Thank you UNC Athletics. Go Heels!!

Thank you for your service. I hope the weather stays away and you guys have a blast watching the Heels get a big W.

 

[Raising Heel]

I think two thirds of vatech's TDs have been passes, so maybe wind/rain would negatively effect them just as much

They run 61% of the time but only average 4.2 yards per carry. They still manage almost 200 yards per game rushing because they're averaging 47 rushing attempts per game. You're correct that 2/3rds of their TDs have come from pass plays.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Weather forecast has changed for the worse on Saturday: 69/63, 90% precip, 96% humidity, winds 22 MPH.

Trubisky might have to frisbee it four yards to the left of where he wants the ball to eventually go. We need Hood for this one. Running is going to be key. I'm worried about their running QB due to our poor tackling and how Francois went full Houdini on us on a couple runs.

 

[blazers]

We need some sets with William sweet at te. He played te on a down vs il or jmu I think. An aside, I liked him at rt vs FSU... No problem with denarius Walker or the other guy.

More fb, more two back.

Still worried about fans from a recruiting perspective. Guys like Dax want an exciting game day atmosphere and I was hoping this was the w/e that would happen

 

[blazers]

Defensively we're giving up 5.0 yards per carry. They are giving up 3.2 (22nd in the nation). Tenn average 5.2, so liberty, BC and ECU obviously stank.

By numbers alone they might be the best defense we've faced. They are #9 in total yards surrendered, #25 in points given up. They held Tenn to 330 yards which is pretty good, much better than what Florida gave up, and a little better than what UGA gave up.

Sans-numbers, I'm guessing Pitt will be the toughest rush D we face regular season. UGA wasn't bad defensively vs us either.

Offensively, they only avg 4.1 yards per carry. We only avg 4.8.

So on paper, rushing-wise they aren't a great team offensively, but they are pretty strong defensively. Meanwhile we're decent offensively but a sieve on D.

Hmmm, should we now hope the game gets moved? If there is zero passing, can Des and MJ make a difference in our rush D? They're good. I'm guessing VTs corners are decent against the run as well.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

We need some sets with William sweet at te. He played te on a down vs il or jmu I think. An aside, I liked him at rt vs FSU... No problem with denarius Walker or the other guy.

More fb, more two back.

Still worried about fans from a recruiting perspective. Guys like Dax want an exciting game day atmosphere and I was hoping this was the w/e that would happen

re: attendance, with a potential hurricane rolling in, we could be looking at a scary few amount of people in Kenan. Like 20,000.

Plus, it just comes down to commitment. Our fans, by and large, lack commitment. For example, I'm waking up at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday and driving 6 hours to get to the game on time. I use this example not to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate that there's -- literally -- a million or more Tar Heel fans who live 75% closer to Kenan than I do who routinely skip games; whereas people from other state routinely attend every game.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I'm telling y'all, VT is a paper tiger. I will be very, very surprised if they shut us down defensively. I'm much more worried about their offensive output, which is something that hasn't been said for awhile. Fuente is a really intelligent offensive mind.

 

[HeelFan58]

re: attendance, with a potential hurricane rolling in, we could be looking at a scary few amount of people in Kenan. Like 20,000.

Plus, it just comes down to commitment. Our fans, by and large, lack commitment. For example, I'm waking up at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday and driving 6 hours to get to the game on time. I use this example not to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate that there's -- literally -- a million or more Tar Heel fans who live 75% closer to Kenan than I do who routinely skip games; whereas people from other state routinely attend every game.

I'll give you a like in lieu of a pat on the back. Your fandom is top notch.

 

[HeelFan58]

I'm telling y'all, VT is a paper tiger. I will be very, very surprised if they shut us down defensively. I'm much more worried about their offensive output, which is something that hasn't been said for awhile. Fuente is a really intelligent offensive mind.

I hope they are a paper turkey.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I'll give you a like in lieu of a pat on the back. Your fandom is top notch.

Nah, it isn't. I question Roy sometimes :/

 

[lerario]

We'll just have to wait and see on the weather. VT is now a spread, big play vertical passing offense somewhat similar to us, so I don't necessarily think the conditions will be an advantage one way or the other, both teams will have to play in it. Having said that, if the winds pick up and its constantly blowing 25+ mph and driving rain that will definitely impact or passing game. OL will need to play its best game of the year and the defense is going to have to be ready to man up and make some stops.

 

[HeelFan58]

Nah, it isn't. I question Roy sometimes :/

It's a fan's prerogative. Most of us do at times....well except for ....well you know who I am talking about

 

[tarheel0910]

It's a fan's prerogative

False. Real fans would never do such a thing. You must be a closet duke fan.

 

[Raising Heel]

Still worried about fans from a recruiting perspective. Guys like Dax want an exciting game day atmosphere and I was hoping this was the w/e that would happen

You don't think playing in a hurricane would be an exciting atmosphere? I'm pretty pumped about being there, assuming the game is still played and I don't get impaled with a flying object.

 

[HeelFan58]

You don't think playing in a hurricane would be an exciting atmosphere? I'm pretty pumped about being there, assuming the game is still played and I don't get impaled with a flying object.

I sat through the Idaho State game a few years ago....well the 1st half anyway. It was ahh wet.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I sat through the Idaho State game a few years ago....well the 1st half anyway. It was ahh wet.

That's impressive. Who was Idaho State playing and where was the game?

 

[tarheel0910]

You don't think playing in a hurricane would be an exciting atmosphere? I'm pretty pumped about being there, assuming the game is still played and I don't get impaled with a flying object.

Watching the game while sitting on metal bleachers could certainly result in an electrifying game atmosphere.

 

[Raising Heel]

Watching the game while sitting on metal bleachers could certainly result in an electrifying game atmosphere.

 

[HeelFan58]

That's impressive. Who was Idaho State playing and where was the game?

9-29-2012 Idaho my bad. Is there even an Idaho State? I know Mark Schlereth is a grad of one of them.

 

[ChrisMPA]

That hurricane tracker keeps getting closer to us. Is there some kind of contingency plan for if it gets bad? The latest prediction has it right on the Carolina coast at 8 am Saturday with 60 mph winds in Chapel Hill

http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Hurricane/Active.aspx?storm=1&type=track

 

[Raising Heel]

Is there some kind of contingency plan for if it gets bad?

That's the question everyone is asking. The governor has issued a state of emergency for 66 counties in central and eastern NC. UNC-W has issued a mandatory campus evacuation. Unless this storm takes a sudden right turn in the next couple days, I wouldn't be surprised if the game gets postponed. No idea if they'd try to move it.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

That hurricane tracker keeps getting closer to us. Is there some kind of contingency plan for if it gets bad? The latest prediction has it right on the Carolina coast at 8 am Saturday with 60 mph winds in Chapel Hill

http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Hurricane/Active.aspx?storm=1&type=track

Blacksburg is a possibility. Still would be rainy weather conditions (here's a forecast), but not nearly hurricane conditions.

 

[HeelFan58]

Hurricane is moving north and east things look better , but could change. some models have it even backtracking to Fla.

 

[blazers]

What will suck is if they had a full week extra to prepare for a normal game, while we have been prepping for something wet/windy, then there is nothing but a gentle breeze in the pines.

 

[Tom79]

I'm telling y'all, VT is a paper tiger. I will be very, very surprised if they shut us down defensively. I'm much more worried about their offensive output, which is something that hasn't been said for awhile. Fuente is a really intelligent offensive mind.

Your post sounds like a talking head I heard, not even sure who the heck he was, but he said much the same, his feeling was VaTech will get us offensively...not at all sure their "D" can keep us out of the end zone.

And I agree in that those of us that travel farther to games seem way more loyal, it is a special thing to get to games so we arrive early and stay late, Kenan or Smith Center...I don't care for the folks wandering into Kenan with 10 minutes gone first qtr or into the Smith Center 5 minutes after tip...and the same in leaving...

Don't have a clue as to point spread but I'm taking the Heels Saturday!

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Don't have a clue as to point spread but I'm taking the Heels Saturday!

Opened at Heels -6.5, has dropped to Heels -2.5

 

[lerario]

Opened at Heels -6.5, has dropped to Heels -2.5

I saw this as well, but haven't seen an actual book that ever had us at -6.5. The longest line I've actually seen was only -3.5. Weird...

 

[Archer2]

ESPNU is showing a replay of the FSU game right now(2:30PM Wednesday. There's 9 minutes left in the 3rd, 21-14 Heels.

 

[Raising Heel]

I'm telling y'all, VT is a paper tiger.

Have you looked at the stats? I'm worried. What happens when our offense has trouble moving the chains and Mitch starts pressing?

 

[JimmyinVA]

ESPNU is showing a replay of the FSU game right now(2:30PM Wednesday. There's 9 minutes left in the 3rd, 21-14 Heels.

watching it a second time there's one thing i noticed. FSU's offensive linemen routinely grabbed our guys by the jersey on the outside part of the shoulders. doing that gave them excellent leverage, but isn't it holding?

 

[TarHeelNation11]

watching it a second time there's one thing i noticed. FSU's offensive linemen routinely grabbed our guys by the jersey on the outside part of the shoulders. doing that gave them excellent leverage, but isn't it holding?

It should've been. The refs hate UNC and wanted us to lose, in hopes that one day Duke Football will rise to an elite level.

 

[UNC71-00]

re: attendance, with a potential hurricane rolling in, we could be looking at a scary few amount of people in Kenan. Like 20,000.

Plus, it just comes down to commitment. Our fans, by and large, lack commitment. For example, I'm waking up at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday and driving 6 hours to get to the game on time. I use this example not to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate that there's -- literally -- a million or more Tar Heel fans who live 75% closer to Kenan than I do who routinely skip games; whereas people from other state routinely attend every game.

Strum makes fewer complaints about politicians than you do about our fans.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Strum makes fewer complaints about politicians than you do about our fans.

We all have our own cross to bear.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

One thing I haven't seen discussed anywhere is the threat of us facing a mobile QB.

FSU's Deondre Francois ran for 38 yards on 7 attempts against us (these are adjust numbers taking out lost yardage on sacks).

VT's Jerod Evans, by my calculations, has 35 rushes for 224 yards (these number also exclude sack yardage and attempts). These numbers do include a 13 rushes for 33 yard performance against Tennessee.

We looked lousy against Francois' rushing ability on Saturday. I don't know if they can be chalked up to tiredness or just being battered by Dalvin Cook or what, but it was bad. He had some Houdini type plays against us. Hopefully we can contain Evans and at least make him beat us with his arm (for the record, his passing numbers are 69 for 103, 964 yards, 13 TDs, 1 INT)

 

[UNC71-00]

We all have our own cross to bear.

just one cross?