Virginia Tech Football: Brent Pry needs to follow Purdue’s blueprint

If there is one thing that the first two weeks of the college football season have taught us, it’s that things can change from week to week. Just look at Virginia Tech’s opponent last Saturday, the Purdue Boilermakers.

In Week 1, they opened the Ryan Walters era in West Lafayette with a 39-35 loss to Fresno State. After allowing 371 passing yards to the Bulldogs, they turned things around against the Hokies and allowed just 275 through the air before limiting them to just 11 yards on the ground in the game. Adjustments, adjustments, adjustments. One big thing they were able to do against Virginia Tech was that they didn’t against Fresno State, they got off the field on third downs.

Walter came to Purdue from Illinois where he was the defensive coordinator and you could see his adjustments worked out for a road win to even their record at 1-1 ahead of a home date with Syracuse this weekend. Now it’s time for Brent Pry, who was a defensive coordinator at Penn State, to do the same thing, and help his defense turn things around going into Rutgers.

Virginia Tech’s defense struggled with Purdue’s high-tempo offense

The signs were there in the opening game of the season despite beating Old Dominion, 36-17. Last season the Monarchs averaged 92 yards a game on the ground, but they were able to rush for 201 against Tech and it could have been more if not for two fumbles and an interception in the second half. The Boilermakers rushed for 179 yards on the ground. Not good.

Purdue’s high-tempo offense tired down the Hokies and late in the game, facing a third-and-long deep in Tech territory, they converted for a first down that led to a Hudson Card game-winning touchdown on a quarterback keeper. Stopping the run was again a problem for the Hokies, as was coverage downfield. They were picked apart in the first half, and played better in the second half, but unlike against ODU, they were not able to create turnovers to come up with big stops late in the game. After the offense turned the ball over on downs late in the game, the Boilermakers were able to run the clock out with a first down.

Yes, the defense got a big stop on Card in the second quarter on a fourth-and-2 at the Purdue 30, which led to a field goal, but when they needed to come up with more stops, they couldn’t and Purdue’s ability to get them was the difference.

Like Walters, Pry has a background in defense, and this week, he needs to do what Walters did last week, make adjustments, and give his team a chance to win a game on the road. Brent Pry, you’re up.