Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 NOV. 21, 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Foster came to Virginia Tech with Beamer — who he worked with at Murray State. Foster became defen- sive coordinator in 1995 and has built defenses that play aggressive, physi- cal and relentlessly. This year 's unit is no different. The Hokies are allowing 20.2 points (fourth in the ACC through Nov. 5) and 327.4 yards per game (also fourth in the ACC) and are one of the best at stopping opponents on third downs. Virginia Tech ranks the best in the ACC and fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in limiting opponents to a 27.4 conversion rate on third down, a key piece in the team's 7-2 start. Injuries, though, have slowed the defense down. Defensive tackle Ni- gel Williams has missed significant time in the middle of the season, and defensive back Greg Stroman suf- fered an ankle injury against Duke and hasn't returned to the field yet. Those ailments, combined with an attack like Notre Dame's, could pres- ent challenges for the Hokies playing on the road. "It's been scheme that has been the bigger issue. A scrambling quarter- back — particularly out of more pro- style looks, rather than option-oriented schemes — has been a bugaboo, and Virginia Tech's line and linebackers are too prone to giving up the edge," Sul- livan said. "If they have a poor tackling day, it can mean major yardage for the opponent. A quick-strike passing game carries similar consequences: they have the defensive backs to hold up in cover- age, but if they start missing tackles, it can lead to upset losses — like we saw against Syracuse earlier this fall." Special teams, which waned near the end of the Beamer era, are again thriv- ing. Though Stroman — Tech's primary kick and punt returner — is banged up, the Hokies still have plenty of athletes to win the third phase of the game. "The main special teams success has been primarily about the Jim- mies and Joes rather than the X's and O's. Virginia Tech has the athletes to make explosive plays and turns them loose to do just that," Sullivan said. "Virginia Tech also emphasizes going for blocks on punts and field goals, and simply prioritizing that effort with the explosive quickness of their players yields good results. "There are trouble spots on the other side of the ball for the Virginia Tech special teams, though. Punter Mitchell Ludwig has struggled big time, and kicker Joey Slye is auto- matic within 30 yards, but struggles outside that comfort zone." ✦ GAME PREVIEW: VIRGINIA TECH Sophomore linebacker Tremaine Edmunds shared the team lead in both tackles for loss (13) and sacks (4.5) during the Hokies' 7-2 start. PHOTO COURTESY VIRGINIA TECH 2016 VIRGINIA TECH SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 3 Liberty W, 36-13 Sept. 10 at Tennessee L, 45-24 Sept. 17 Boston College W, 49-0 Sept. 24 East Carolina W, 54-17 Oct. 8 at North Carolina W, 34-3 Oct. 15 at Syracuse L, 31-17 Oct. 20 Miami W, 37-16 Oct. 27 at Pittsburgh W, 39-36 Nov. 5 at Duke W, 24-21 Nov. 12 Georgia Tech L, 30-20 Nov. 19 at Notre Dame (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 Virginia TBA 2016 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 4 at Texas L, 50-47 (2OT) Sept. 10 Nevada W, 39-10 Sept. 17 Michigan State L, 36-28 Sept. 24 Duke L, 38-35 Oct. 1 vs. Syracuse* W, 50-33 Oct. 8 at North Carolina State L, 10-3 Oct. 15 Stanford L, 17-10 Oct. 29 Miami (NBC) W, 30-27 Nov. 5 vs. Navy^ (CBS) L, 28-27 Nov. 12 vs. Army# (NBC) W, 44-6 Nov. 19 Virginia Tech (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at USC TBA * at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.; ^ at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.; # at Alamodome in San Antonio