Clemson Football: Scouting report vs. Virginia Tech
The Clemson football faces off with an explosive Virginia Tech team on the road this week. Both the Tigers and the Hokies are looking to keep their perfect record intact.
When? September 30, 2017, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where? Lane Stadium (Blacksburg, Virginia)
2016 Record: 10-4 (6-3 ACC)
Head Coach: Justin Fuente (2nd year)
Betting line: -7 Clemson
Returning starters: 12 total, 5 offensive, 7 defensive
In Justin Fuente’s first season in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech made it all the way to the ACC Championship game. Unfortunately, they went up against a loaded Clemson squad. The Tigers defeated the Hokies behind Deshaun Watson’s 373 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Strengths:
Virginia Tech is one of the most balanced teams in the country. Bud Foster’s aggressive defense is complemented well by Fuente’s up-tempo spread attack.
At this point in the season, Tech ranks 14th in total offense, racking up 500 total yards per game. Josh Jackson and Cam Phillips are proving to be one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the country. Freshman speedster, Sean Savoy has also been a reliable target for Jackson through the air.
Virginia Tech currently has six players averaging at least six rushing attempts per game. The Hokies’ running back-by-committee approach has been effective thus far, averaging 218 yards per game.
Clemson has yet to face an offense with the talent and balance that Virginia Tech has. It’ll be interesting to see how the Tigers front seven holds up against the run.
On the defensive side of the ball, Virginia Tech employs a 4-2-5 scheme to combat the modern spread offense. Bud Foster’s group is chock-full of rangy athletes that are comfortable playing in space.
Linebackers, Tremaine Edmunds and Andrew Motuapuaka will make it difficult for Clemson to run the football. The Tigers struggled to get their rushing attack going against Auburn, which threw off the rhythm of the entire offense. The Hokies must contain Kelly Bryant and make him win the game from the pocket to have a shot at winning.
Next: 3 storylines to watch vs. Virginia Tech
After a sluggish performance against Boston College, it’s important that Bryant get off to a fast start versus the Hokies. A few easy completions will give Bryant much-needed confidence in a hostile road environment.