Virginia Tech Football: 5 huge keys for the last 5 games of 2023

Virginia Tech needs to continue to run the ball

The last three weeks before the bye, Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen committed to the run and it has paid off. Tuten has been the main guy, while quarterback Kyron Drones has become a duel threat, and that has opened up the playbook. Running the ball has also things up down the field that Drones has been able to take advantage of.

Malachi Thomas has been effective in giving Tuten a breather, but committing to the run is a must for the rest of the season. The offensive line has done a better job opening holes, which has allowed Tuten to become the running back Virginia Tech thought they were getting. Establishing the run against each opponent is going to be big.

Virginia Tech needs to convert touchdowns in the red zone

In their win over Pittsburgh and Wake Forest, having to settle for field goals did not cost Brent Pry’s team, but scoring touchdowns when they got into the red zone and an almost must. Settling for field goals in three of the final four games on the road is not going to make things any easier for Virginia Tech. Heck, Syracuse has an explosive offense coming in Thursday night with an experienced quarterback and you can’t kick field goals and expect to win.

There are a lot of things that are going to be key for the Hokies over the final five weeks and the margin for error gets smaller and smaller with each passing week. Having success in a lot of these keys is going to be vital to getting to where they want to get, a bowl game in December, which gives them extra practice and more time together to build for 2024.