Resurgent Offensive Line Powers Virginia Tech Past Boston College, Reviving Preseason Hopes
Virginia Tech's improved play on the offensive line is restoring hope that the Hokies can possibly compete for the ACC title.
Memes. Scathing social media posts. Sharp written crituques.
Virginia Tech’s offensive line has been on the receiving end of all those things, and much more.
The criticism was more than warranted. Tech’s uglies weren’t holding up their end of the bargain, struggling to keep Kyron Drones upright and opening up few running lanes for Bhayshul Tuten. Virginia Tech’s offense faltered for much of the season opener in Nashville and for most of the day vs. Rutgers. Even in wins against Old Dominion and Marshall, the unit didn’t impress anyone.
The data lays out the story pretty clearly. The data also lays out how the unit has improved over the course of the season.
Virginia Tech has rushed the ball more effectively in recent weeks, an effort capped by Bhayshul Tuten’s school-record 266 rushing yards on Thursday night vs. Boston College. The Hokies have also blocked better in pass protection, allowing just one sack in four of their last five games.
It should come as no surprise that the improved offensive line play directly correlates with more points. Tech scored 34 against Miami, the best team they’ve faced thus far, scored 31 in a low-posession game at Stanford and dropped 42 against the Eagles on Thursday.
Thursday night’s win puts Virginia Tech in an intriguing position entering the final stretch of the 2024 season. The Hokies are 4-3 and 2-1 in the ACC with four toss-up games remaining on the schedule. The result of the four remaining toss-up games — vs. Georgia Tech, at Syracuse, at Duke and vs. Virginia — will heavily influence the narrative surrounding Virginia Tech’s program entering Brent Pry’s fourth offseason as head coach.
Even if Virginia Tech loses to Clemson on Nov. 9, the Hokies could win the other four games and finish the season at 8-4, a record many thought out of reach just a few weeks ago. This offseason will be a pivotal one, considering Pry has just two years remaining on his contract after this season.
Pry needs to win these four games to solidify his standing in Blacksburg. Fortunately for him, Virginia Tech’s offensive line seems to be rounding into form for the final few games of the year.
The Hokies need to ride this resurgence. Tuten is a bonafide star and with a competent offensive line in front of him, is capable of leading Virginia Tech to victory more often than not. If the offensive line keeps up this level of play, the memes and critiques that flooded their social media will instead evolve into heaping praise.