Six games into the James Franklin era in Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech football team is 4-2 and on a two-game losing streak after losses to Pittsburgh and California. There are several reasons as to why Virginia Tech is in the spot they're in. However, one of them is the defense.
In their Week 1 win over VMI, the defense forced an interception, and then a week later against Old Dominion, they forced three fumbles and recovered them. One for a touchdown. However, since the second week of the season over a month ago, Virginia Tech has played four Power 4 Conference schools and hasn't had a turnover yet against Maryland, Boston College, Pittsburgh, and California. That hasn't gone lost on their head coach.
"I think there's times where we had some opportunities for some interceptions," said Franklin. "We had two opportunities on Saturday, and we didn't capitalize on those. I think people have done a good job when it comes to getting the ball out quickly, because they don't want our defensive line to be able to get sacks and get people off schedule.''
He's right. There have been times when plays were there to be made, and they couldn't. Against Cal, Kaleb Spencer had his fingers on a pass, but couldn't come down with it. Again, at BC, Jaquez White had a chance for what would have been a pick-6 in the rain and wind, but the ball went right through his hands. Against Georgia Tech this weekend, they need turnovers to have a chance.
Georgia Tech suffers a huge loss on defense
On Tuesday, two-time All-ACC Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Efford medically retired from playing football due to an accumulation of injuries over the course of his career, which means he'll be a big loss this weekend against the Hokies. What a career it was for the fifth-year player. He was a tackling machine the last three years, logging 222 of his 250 career tackles in that span. This season, he had 27 tackles, 13 solo, including six in last weekend's win over Duke at home. One of the top linebackers not only for Georgia Tech, but also in the ACC. Here's wishing him good health after his football playing days.
More Virginia Tech Hokies News
At 7-4-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the ACC, Virginia Tech's men's soccer team will step out of conference play this weekend when they visit Furman on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+... The Hokies women's soccer team will be back on the pitch at Thompson Field on Friday night, hosting Virginia. At 6-3-4 overall and 2-2-1 in ACC play, the Hokies are going to be looking to get over the .500 mark in conference play... The women's soccer team won't be the only team playing Virginia this week, as the Hokies volleyball team will visit the Cavaliers on Wednesday night and then host them on Friday night at Cassell Coliseum, looking to improve on their 4-11 overall record and 1-5 ACC record.
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