Virginia Tech Football: 3 big overreactions after Pittsburgh win

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Sep 30, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Phil Jurkovec (5) is sacked by Virginia Tech Hokies defensive lineman Pheldarius Payne (0) during the fourth quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Virginia Tech’s run defense is back

For all the frustration the offense was having running the ball, their defense was not able to stop the run. The first sign was their against Old Dominion when the Monarchs, who averaged 92 yards a game on the ground in 2022, gashed the Hokies for 203 on the ground.

Rutgers used running back Kyle Monangai and quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to literally run Virginia Tech back to Blacksburg. Monangai rushed for 143 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns. Wimsatt rushed for 87 yards on 11 rushes and a touchdown. Marshall back Rasheen Ali rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries a week later.

One goal of the Panthers entering Lane Stadium Saturday night was to run the ball to take the crowd out of the game and control the clock. It didn’t happen. Pittsburgh’s leading rusher was C’Bo Flemister who had 41 yards on 10 carries. However, because of four sacks of Jurkovec, Pittsburgh finished with 38 net yards for the game.

Like the running game, it was a good night for the run defense, but now they have to go to Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon and try to slow down the FSU running game. This will be the biggest test the Hokies have faced through the first six weeks and until they can prove they can control it on the road, we’ll hold on saying the defense stopping the running game is back.

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