THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 1996 TAG: 9610120531
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 71 lines
Until Virginia Tech can dispel the notion, the tape of its Syracuse loss will be Exhibit A in how to handle the Hokies' offense: Cover the receivers man-to-man on the outside, stack the line to stop the run, dare Tech to throw deep.
The Hokies have had nominal success completing the long ball. Syracuse exposed the shortcoming by covering Tech's wideouts man-to-man without getting burned in the Orangemen's 52-21 victory Sept. 28.
``We opened a can of worms,'' Tech flanker Shawn Scales said this week. ``I think a lot of teams will try to play us that way to see what happens and how we respond to it. In the Syracuse game, we didn't respond real well.
``That is one of the biggest things that has to happen in a game to keep defenses honest. If we can't complete the passes downfield, they'll keep bringing more and more players up to the line and making it harder for our running backs.''
Beating man-to-man, bump-and-run coverage with moves and techniques to shake a defender at the line of scrimmage was a priority during Tech's bye week following the Syracuse game. The Hokies expect to see similar coverage today when they host Temple for homecoming at 1 p.m. at Lane Stadium.
``We can't let people sit up in our face all game and not be able to hurt them,'' offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said. ``If you can't hurt that coverage, you'll continue to see that. It makes it tough to do some other things.''
Tech coach Frank Beamer, Bustle, quarterback Jim Druckenmiller and a couple of receivers generally agreed several factors have contributed to Tech's inability to hit the long ball: Druckenmiller has missed some open receivers; sometimes receivers have not been able to beat their man; sometimes the pass protection has broken down too soon to make the play.
``It's a situation you have to work on and get good at,'' Bustle said. ``You might do it six times to hit one. It's a very low percentage play.''
Tech's percentage is lower than usual.
Hokies wide receivers have two receptions longer than 30 yards this season - 33 by Scales and 31 by Angelo Harrison, both against Rutgers. Tailback Ken Oxendine turned a dump-off pass into a 52-yard completion against Syracuse, and fullback Brian Edmonds also has a 32-yard catch and run against Rutgers.
The Hokies' four touchdown passes have covered distances of 5, 9, 15 and 9 yards. Last year, Tech's 15 touchdown passes covered an average of 36.6 yards, and they completed a pass of 30 yards or more in 11 of 12 games.
The Hokies had nine pass plays of 40 yards or more each of the past two seasons, but have just one through four games.
``We've hit a few in practice,'' said Druckenmiller, who is completing a respectable 55.7 percent of his passes. ``I thought maybe we would have a few more by this time. It just seems at game time it doesn't work as well.''
Druckenmiller is not working with the same set of receivers as last year, which is another factor. Game-breaker Bryan Still is in the NFL, and Jermaine Holmes was a formidable second option who also had big-play potential. One of the primary questions about Tech coming into the season was would a deep-threat receiver emerge?
No one has yet.
``It's really important for us to start getting a couple of balls thrown deep,'' said leading receiver Michael Stuewe (3.3 catches and 37.8 yards per game). ``It opens up the shorter routes and it opens up the running game. We have the speed and ability to do that.''
But the Hokies have yet to prove they can consistently beat man-to-man coverage deep.
``If they do it this week and we don't hurt it, we're going to be in the wishbone next week,'' Bustle said with a laugh. ILLUSTRATION: LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller has thrown just four
touchdown passes - none longer than 15 yards. by CNB