Virginia Tech heads into Saturday’s Homecoming game against Georgia Tech with plenty of concern points on both sides of the ball, and James Franklin didn’t dodge any of them during his weekly press conference.
The biggest takeaway: the Hokies still believe in Ethan Grunkemeyer. The Penn State transfer has produced a 12:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his first six games, and Franklin sounded pleased with how the quarterback has settled in.
“Yeah, I think he's playing well," Franklin said. "He's playing probably how we anticipated him to play.
He's made some big-time throws. He's taken some big shots and showed both mental and physical toughness.
He's made some plays with his feet, and he's been really, really accurate. His touchdown-interception ratio has been good, obviously all but one game.”
Grunkemeyer’s production has been one of Virginia Tech’s steadier elements. He’s thrown for 1,734 yards, which ranks sixth in the FBS, and his quarterback rating of 78.6 is No.
- He has topped 250 passing yards in four of the Hokies’ first six games and has gone over 300 three times.
His biggest statistical day came Oct. 2, when he threw for a career-high 434 yards in a 35-33 loss to Pitt.
Franklin also made it clear he views the quarterback’s success as a product of the players around him.
“I also think a big part of it is the guys around him making plays for him, too," the head coach said. "I think our wide receiver unit has made some plays for him.
I think our tight ends have made some plays for him. Our running backs have made some plays for him.
I think that's important as well, part of his overall valuation, and I think how we're playing to his strengths.”
On the offensive line, Virginia Tech is still piecing things together. The unit has been hit hard by injuries, with expected starter Johnny Garrett sidelined long term and yet to play this season.
Left tackle Justin Terry has been out since getting hurt against Maryland, and a Tech spokesperson said before Pitt that the Ohio State transfer would be out for several weeks. Right guard Brody Meadows has not played since the fourth game of the season at Boston College, and fellow right guard Montavious Cunningham missed two games before leaving the Pitt contest in the second quarter and not returning.
Franklin’s answer on that front was straightforward: keep going with whoever is available, while trying not to keep shuffling bodies around. That includes Layth Ghannam, who moved from left guard to left tackle.
“We feel like we need to leave him there to give him a chance to be successful and build confidence and get used to all the communication and the footwork that's different, because we see him staying there until some guys become available," Franklin said. "Probably as much as anything is not wanting to keep moving Layth back and forth, and then ask him to be successful at playing tackle when we keep moving him around.”
The secondary has been an even louder problem, and Franklin pointed more to execution than attrition. Virginia Tech has been beaten in coverage in consecutive weeks, with Pitt’s Holden Geriner and Cal’s Jackson Brousseau both finding success. Brousseau passed for 321 yards in Cal’s 25-20 win over the Hokies.
“We have not been able to finish on the ball,” Franklin said after calling the team’s effort inconsistent. "I think we've been in position...
I thought we did a better job of that this past week, looking back and playing the ball. But either turning those into interceptions, pass breakups, or raising a hand once they get their hands on the ball, one of those techniques needs to be used.
Then, obviously, making sure that we're looking back for the ball so that we don't get the pass interference calls.”
Virginia Tech was flagged four times for defensive pass interference against Cal, though two of those penalties were declined.
“If contact is occuring and you're not looking back for the ball, then you know the likelihood is you're going to get a pass interference call - so we've got to be better in that area, as well.”
The Hokies have only one interception this season, which came in VMi’s season opener. They have not forced a turnover since Week 2 against Old Dominion, when they recovered three fumbles.
Franklin said the defense has had chances to change that.
“I think there's times where we had some opportunities for some interceptions," Franklin said. "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. ... At the moment of truth, when the ball's in the air, we have to have the techniques, the fundamentals, and the confidence to make a play on the ball, which is easier said than done.
But we're more than capable of doing it from a coaching perspective and... of doing it from a talent perspective on the field.”
Special teams remains unsettled, too, after kicker John Love missed from 55 and 39 yards against Cal. Those misses came in a 25-20 loss, and a make on both attempts would have given Virginia Tech the win. Love also missed a 36-yard, game-deciding kick against Pitt, marking the first three-game field goal skid of his college career.
“For punting as well as kicking, we have to truly have an open competition," Franklin said. "So those guys feel the pressure in practice every single day.”
Franklin said the Hokies have options, including kickoff specialist Cole Byrd and Love’s younger brother Will.
“Obviously, John is still the guy and will have an opportunity, but also his brother," Franklin said. "There'll be some competition there. I think when you miss three field goals in a row and two that we think are makeable high-percentage kicks for John, we've got to make sure that we're looking at every option possible.”
At punter, Virginia Tech has settled on senior Nathan Totten, a Marshall transfer. He has averaged 41.1 yards on 20 punts this season, and nine of those have landed inside the 20-yard line.
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