Big Red Louie
Fansided

#13 Louisville v Virginia Tech: Previewing The Hokies

By Caleb Hall

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 16: Jeff Brohm the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 16: Jeff Brohm the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Oct 26, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) runs with the ball against Syracuse Orange linebacker Derek McDonald (15) and linebacker Marlowe Wax (2) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) runs with the ball against Syracuse Orange linebacker Derek McDonald (15) and linebacker Marlowe Wax (2) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Can Virginia Tech sustain their explosive offense against the stifling Louisville defense?

Louisville’s defense has seemingly gotten better in every game this season (Pitt game aside) and the Virginia tech offense will have a test coming into L&N Stadium. In the Hokies 4 ACC games they have scored 38, 17, 30, and 38 points. The 17 came against Florida State 2 weeks ago, but even at halftime that game was only 22-10.

Virginia Tech has found their quarterback in Kyron Drones, who has thrown for 1,236 yards, completing 58.6% of his passes, with a 7-1 touchdown to interception ratio. Drones has been starting since the Rutgers game, but really found his footing once ACC play started for the Hokies. Drones threw for 228 yards and 3 TDs against Pitt, 104 yards against FSU, 321 yards and 3 TDs against Wake Forest, 194 yards and 1 TD against Syracuse. Drones seems to dominate when it comes to lower level teams in the ACC. When he played FSU, Drones struggled to find yardage and barely completed 50% of his passes.

Drones is also an established runner in the Virginia Tech offense. Drones has 400 rushing yards on the season to go along with 4 rushing TDs too. Drones has led to a lot of Virginia Tech’s success in recent weeks, and he will look to continue that against Louisville.

Bhayshul Tuten and Malachi Thomas are also 2 running backs to keep on eye on during the game. Tuten had two 100+ yard games against Pitt and Syracuse where he absolutely dominated, and Thomas has also had his fair share of big runs in the past couple weeks as well.

They rushed for over 300 yards against Syracuse, 199 against Pitt, 141 against Wake Forest, and an impressive 209 rushing yards against FSU. The Hokies will want to run and pass the ball equally in this game, but the Cardinals have to be sure to watch out for Drones scrambling ability as well.

Virginia Tech has been explosive to say the least in recent weeks, and the Louisville defense cannot come out flat against them. If Louisville isn’t careful they could have a problem against the Hokies offense.

Home/Louisville Football