Virginia Tech Football: 3 thoughts on Brent Pry, quarterbacks & more

The Virginia Tech football team is 1-2 through the first three weeks of the 2023 season and it’s safe to say that there is no shortage of storylines. With that said, here are three thoughts as the Hokies prepare for a Week 4 matchup at Marshall Saturday.

It’s clear who the quarterback should be moving forward

Unless an injury occurs, it’s rather clear as to who the QB should be moving forward. It’s Kyron Drones. Nothing against Grant Wells, however, the offense looked better moving the ball against Rutgers, and Drones athleticism can be an advantage for Tech.

His ability to scramble and pick up yards rushing is something that Wells was not able to do too much of in the first two games. An ankle injury will do that to anyone, but Drones gives the Virginia Tech offense more options. He threw the ball well against Rutgers and as the game went on, you could see him gaining more and more confidence. Again, unless an injury occurs, it’s Drones who needs to be under center and if coach Brent Pry puts Wells back in this week, then he is not giving his team the best opportunity to win on the road. If Pry had gone to Drones in the second half against Purdue, there is a good chance they would have won the game.

The defensive line needs to get better at stopping the run

I’m not breaking any news here, however, unless the Hokies’ defensive line figures out a way to stop the run, they will be lucky to match last season’s win total of three. Rutgers ran the ball at will against them, mainly quarterback and running back, but the signs have been there since Week 1.

Old Dominion, which averaged 92 yards a game last season on the ground, rushed for 201 yards, and then Purdue followed that up with 179 yards on the ground. The only reason the Hokies were able to win the ODU game was because their defense forced three second-half turnovers. Forcing turnovers is another issue itself, but stopping the run is a must over the final nine games.

Saturday is a must-win if Virginia Tech wants to get to a bowl game

This season the Hokies began the season by playing their four non-conference games in the front end of the schedule, but if they lose to Marshall and fall to 1-3, it’s unlikely they get five ACC wins to become bowl eligible. In the second year of a rebuild, a bowl game might be the last thing on Pry’s mind, but ask any coach who goes to a bowl and ask them how important those extra practices are.

The Hokies enter the game anywhere from seven to nine-point underdog, depending on where you look and that line is not surprising. Even if they go and win against the Thundering Hurd, it would be an upset. Who would have thought that you would be reading that in 2023?