OSU vs Va-Tech - Cheat Sheet #2 09.06.14

Here's a look at what YOU need to know to be the smartest fan in the room - or at the bar - this weekend when watching the Buckeyes take on the Hokies....

Week 2  - 09.06.14 -  #8 OSU vs #32 Virginia Tech (8:00 pm)

Name - The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University HokieBirds. Yeah, a mouthful, right. Let's just stick with the Va-Tech Hokies for now... (or the Fighting Gobblers... )


Offense = Balance 
Last week vs William & Mary they had 266 yards in the air and 222 on the ground.


Passing: Junior QB Michael Brewer #12 is starting is first season for Va-tech because he transferred from Texas Tech... He hasn't found a favorite target, spreading the ball pretty evenly. He did hit a couple freshman for touch downs, WR Isaiah Ford #1 and TE Bucky Hodges #7. Sharing in the yardage was junior TE Ryan Malleck #88 and senior WR Willie Byrn #82.

Now, this Bucky kid?  6'6" freshman weighing in at 244 pounds is exactly the kind of big, rough, blocking tight end I like... he could be a handful!


Rushing: TB Shai McKenzie #22 was a workhorse, getting over 100 yards and a TD. Marshawn Williams #42 and J.C.Coleman #4 are also good targets to watch out for.

As a scrambler, the Buckeyes defense will see a very different package since Brewer only had 21 yards last week. I think Navy QB Keenan Reynolds had that much on his very first run. Oy.  Oh, wait, where was I? Yeah, Va-Tech....



Defense - Beamerball

The basic idea that you can score from any of the three sides of the football... offense, defense, and special teams. Hokie Head Coach Frank Beamer has made a career of kick- and punt-blocking as well as taking the ball away on defense, primarily through interceptions.

Watch for pressure and quick, athletic, aggressive play on special teams. Jim Tressel always says the Punt was the most important play in football; that may prove the case this week!


In what may be the best Defensive Backfield in the ACC, Rover (safety) Kyshoen Jarrett #34 and CB Kendall Fuller #11 (who was last season's ACC Defensive Player of the Year AND you may know his brother, Kyle, who was drafted in the first round by Da Bears!) return to wreak havoc on WR's, RB's, and TE's. These two are the key to the game for Va-Tech. If they can harass the receivers, keep QB JT Barrett from converting on 3rd down, they very well could come out of The Shoe with a win!




Respectfully Submitted,

Cleveland Kate