Defensive woes weigh down Hokies
UNC dazzles Tech with 654 offensive yards
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Minutes after watching his defense get embarrassed Saturday by No. 8 North Carolina, Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente was still hot. It wasn’t anything like he’d envisioned Justin Hamilton’s debut as the Hokies’ defensive coordinator going.
Yet, who was to blame for No. 19 Virginia Tech’s defensive collapse in a 56-45 drubbing against UNC? Shared responsibility provided the broadest of explanations for UNC’s 654 yards — the most against Tech since 1973, when Alabama rolled up 833 yards and plastered Tech in a 77-6 laugher.
“I probably should have cooled down more before I came in here,” Fuente said in his postgame video conference with reporters. “I’m just hurt for our players. They tried and battled through really such adverse conditions the last three weeks and showed tremendous resiliency and toughness that was especially on display (Saturday).”
Oh, and those 56 points? Those matched the secondmost against Tech (2-1, 2-1 ACC) since that debacle against Alabama.
The only other time a team has scored more against Tech since the loss to Alabama was in 1987 — a 57-38 loss at Tulane. Coincidentally, Mack Brown, who is in his second season of his second stint as UNC’s coach, was the head coach for that Tulane team.
Missed tackles galore. Depleted secondary that was without starting safeties Divine Deablo and Keonta Jenkins — the product of 15 Tech players sitting out because of coronavirus positive results, injuries and other issues. Not enough practice time for inexperienced defensive players fill
ing in at key spots.
Fuente pointed to all of the above as culprits for UNC's dominance. Most glaring was Tech's inability to slow down the Tar Heels' running game. Michael Carter ran 17 times for a career-high 214 yards and two touchdowns and Javonte Williams had 20 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for the bulk of UNC's 399 rushing yards.
On a day when quarterback Sam Howell had his most efficient effort of the season, completing 18 of 23 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, it was the ground game for UNC (3-0, 3-0) that left Tech reeling. UNC had 16 carries of 10 or more yards, providing most of the damage that led to the Tar Heels' averaging 9.9 yards per carry.
Silver linings on the defensive side were few and far between for Tech, which was forced to start
walk-on Tyler Matheny at free safety in place of Deablo for a second straight game. Matheny wasn't nearly as successful as he was the previous Saturday in Tech's win against Duke, when he had an interception and three tackles for loss.
As for Tech's offense — well — there were a number of positives to build upon:
Three things we learned
Barring the unforeseen, Hendon Hooker is likely going to be the starter at quarterback for Tech next Saturday when Boston College comes to Blacksburg.
Playing for the first time this season after sitting out the first two games for undisclosed medical reasons and accompanying lack of practice time, Hooker played in relief of starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister for one possession in the first half. Hooker played the entire second half and completed
7 of 13 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns for the game.
Hooker didn't provide details after the game on what caused him to miss two weeks of practice time. As long as he's healthy, it would seem he's shown enough to move ahead of Burmeister.
While the Khalil Herbert-for-Heisman campaign promoted on social media by a few Tech players absorbed a blow, he still managed to become the first Hokie to gain 100 or more rushing yards in three consecutive games since Travon McMillian in 2015. Aided by a 52-yard touchdown run with 5:04 left in the third quarter to trim UNC's lead to 42-31 after Tech recovered an onside kick, Herbert ran 18 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Out of necessity, there might be some offensive players getting some looks on defense very soon. Fuente discussed it with Hamilton, who missed the first two games because of the coronavirus.
“We've worked some offensive guys on the defensive side of the ball and we started talking about doing some of that,” Fuente said. “I think that's what led to putting (cornerback Jermaine) Waller at nickel and putting three linebackers in. Just trying to find something. You can't just sit back and watch the same thing over and over again.”
Newsome again lights up Tech
UNC wide receiver Dazz Newsome, a Hampton High alum, has owned Tech's defense the last two seasons. On Saturday, he led UNC with seven catches for 69 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown reception. He also scored on a 6-yard touchdown run.
In his last two games against Tech, he had a combined 16 catches for 181 yards, and he scored four touchdowns.