Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Will Virginia Tech Cruise To Victory Against Vanderbilt Or Will The Hokies Suffer A Road Upset?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Hokies have an SEC road trip in week one. Can the Vanderbilt Commodores and Virginia Tech and L? You are Locked-on ACCC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Shout out to the Everydayers, and thank you so much for making Locked-on ACC. Your first listen and your first watch today. We're available free wherever you get your podcast. We're free on YouTube.

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Starting point is 00:00:50 off your order. This offer is only valid until September 30th on one order cannot be used with other promotions. Go to 5Hourenergy.com today. On this episode, we're going to be crossing over with Corey Burton, who does an awesome job on Locked on Vandy. And

Starting point is 00:01:05 and Kenton and I will be representing Virginia Tech for the honor of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hokies have a road trip at Vanderbilt this weekend. Virginia Tech actually 13 and a half point favorites for this noon kickoff, but maybe Corey has something to say about that. Welcome, of course, Kenton Gibbs and welcome Corey Burton. Hopefully Vanderbilt gets off to a hot start for your sake. What's the offseason buzz been like? The offseason buzz has been a plenty.

Starting point is 00:01:35 There's been a lot of moves. Probably the most notable move, if I'm being honest, is Jerry Kill. Jerry Kill is a master program builder. Just kind of an X factor for Clark Lee is actually allowing Clark Lee to be more of a defensive coordinator and kind of fix the defense and do that thing. But he's been phenomenal since he got to campus. A new strength program, which has been outstanding. You're seeing tremendous gains there.

Starting point is 00:02:03 a new coordinator, a bunch of new transfers. I mean, the buzz, it just seemed like from January until they started spring practice, it just seemed like there was something every other day where you're just like, okay, this is awesome, right? So there's a lot of positive, positive vibes, positive buzz going on around the program. And on this episode, we're going to get our game predictions for this one. We'll talk about the quarterback matchup, which is an interesting one, familiar face at Virginia Tech, new face at Vanderbilt.

Starting point is 00:02:33 talk about those keys to the game. And Kenton, I mentioned the Hokies on the road are giving 13 and a half points in this one. Do you think that spread is too big, or do you think the Hokies are going to roll? I think the Hokies are going to roll, and don't get me wrong. I know that Vanderbilt has some talent on that side, and I know that they've done things to improve that team in the portal. However, with all due respect to Locked-on Vandy fans, this ain't baseball season. Tech is going to wreck them.

Starting point is 00:03:02 Tech is going to wreck them. Okay, I'm sorry to say it. Well, actually, I'm lying. I'm not sorry to say it. I think this could be the beginning of Kairon Drones as Hodgham. And I mean that very seriously. I think that Kairon Drones is that good of a player. And you know what advantage he has that most people don't?

Starting point is 00:03:20 Not only is he getting a healthy Ali Jennings. It's a transfer quarterback in what year, Dono? Year two. You're two. That second year is something about that second year with transfer quarterbacks. You bring back the head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterback, something that Vanderbilt cannot say they have that same continuity with. And then you combine that with a team that,

Starting point is 00:03:41 you combine that with a team that behind them. I've talked at nauseam about how bad Virginia Tech's run defense is. Their run defense, in terms of statistically, they were middle of the road. They were very middling. But the reality is they were the weakness of that team that held them back from winning more. I'm not sure if Vanderbilt has the horses in the stable to establish the running and effective.

Starting point is 00:04:01 to keep Pavey and company ahead of the stakes to where you can't see all of those freakish pass rushers that Virginia Tech can trot out at one time in their speed packages and whatnot. Well, here's the numbers. Go ahead. Go ahead. I'll just say here's what's going to happen in the run game as far as that goes. It is going to be, there's going to be a lot of misdirection, a lot of formations, a lot of motions, quarterback runs, options, things like that. They have a package for Nate Johnson that I wouldn't be surprised if they unveiled. He's explosive.

Starting point is 00:04:30 Pavi is a great downhill runner. So the run game is something that they have been constructing from day one because that's what Tim Beck, Jerry Kiel did at New Mexico State. They brought pretty much the entire operation over to Nashville. And if you want to get an idea of what they would look like against a team like Virginia Tech, watch what New Mexico State did to Auburn a year ago. I recall that one. And here's the deal.

Starting point is 00:04:58 And here's the deal. I absolutely, I would not say that this Vanderbilt team is like, hey, they're terrible, they're an unsurious outfit, anything along those. Because there have been times in the past where respectfully, exactly, respect. Most atrocious year I've ever seen. Exactly. There have been times where Vanderbilt was not a serious operation.

Starting point is 00:05:20 You are absolutely right, Corey. They're taking steps in the right direction. However, I think if you're looking at these two teams and saying they're both in rebuild or in different stages of a rebuild. You're looking at one team that's just now building back up after stripping down to the studs as opposed to one that's got the foundation in place. We put the roof on. We're now just adding in the little touches and training the walls in, the doors.

Starting point is 00:05:44 Exactly. We're landscaping. Virginia Tech has the copper wiring put in already. They got all of that type of stuff. They got the, uh, they're getting ready to move in. They're getting ready to do. Exactly. Exactly.

Starting point is 00:05:56 They have, they have all of the stuff to. keep you warm. I can't remember what the word is right now. But they, yeah, yeah, they got that to keep it warm in there. They've got everything going where I think the Vanderbilt is just, again, they're at a point where it's down to the studs and building back up. If this game were to happen two years from now, I may have a different opinion on it. I just think these are two teams in different parts of a rebuild where there are, you're looking at a team with some of the most returning production and not just the power

Starting point is 00:06:23 of four, but in all of college football against the team that could be depending on upwards of 50% of Vanderbilt starters could be transferred. Like that's a very real reality that we can see. You may be right. I have to look back at the roster of the percentages, but you might be right about that. We've got a lot of transfers in there. They're contributing now, especially on the defensive line and in the secondary.

Starting point is 00:06:44 So this is going to be a fun, this is going to be a fun game. It's going to be really, really fun game. Well, Corey, you look at this from the Vanderbilt perspective. Give us some keys to the game. Like what has to happen for them to pull off the upset against? the Hokies. Well, first of all, defensive line, defensive front, really, they have to affect Kiron drones. They have to get in his face. They have to get him off of rhythm. They have to penetrate gaps and they have to take shots on them. They have to create havoc. They have to be

Starting point is 00:07:12 super aggressive. If they sit back and try to play anything conservatively, Virginia Tech will steamroll. If they want to have any shot, they've got to get takeaways, tackles for loss. They've got to force Virginia Tech to punt and then capitalize off those. things. Offensively, again, Virginia Tech is going to be able to constrict the field because the vertical passing game is still, they're pouring the foundation on that right now. So that's still very much a work in progress. The run game is going to be a lot stronger, but they're going to have to kind of build out from around that, and they're going to have to do that within a constricted field. And if they can do that, if they can find a way to create

Starting point is 00:07:50 horizontal space, they can take advantage of that and maybe push some vertical space. after that, but they're going to have to get creative in the run game. And then, of course, they've got to dominate special teams. Kenton, anything you want to add from the Virginia Tech point of view? I know you already outlined some keys to a potential steamrolling. It sounded like we're hinting at, but what are you looking at for keys? The keys for Virginia Tech is simple. Stay ahead of sticks.

Starting point is 00:08:18 Be who you are and be good at it. Okay. With all due respect, I think that Virginia Tech's receivers are good. I think the offensive line and running game is better. I think they're a much better group. I think if you're in a situation where you have to worry about in third and nine, I'm not worried as much about Kyraud's legs as I am on third and one. Like with all the respect, he's a big guy.

Starting point is 00:08:38 He's bigger than people giving credit for. And when he gets in those short yarder situations, either him or Baishaw Tutin can get you three feet. It's a very different situation to ask them to get 27 feet on the ground, right? So with that in mind, I think that the biggest thing for them is to stay on schedule, on time, on target. And defensively, defensively, you talked about it, Corey. The run game is going to be there to some extent.

Starting point is 00:09:05 The run game is going to be what they want to do. And you talked about the misdirection. You talked about the motion. You talked about all those things. Stay your tail at home. Stay disciplined. For those of you who don't know football talk, that means don't overrun your gap.

Starting point is 00:09:18 Make your play in your gap. Because when teams lose that discipline, that's where you can see yourself get gas. That's where you can see. Johnson will be the fastest player on the field, most likely. Johnson from Vanderbilt. He is dynamic. I know everybody was going crazy over him being the fastest quarterback on NCAA,

Starting point is 00:09:36 25 and all that. But if you've ever seen that young man play, he really does. He makes fast guys. That's what I'm saying. He makes fast guys look slow. That's how fast, the explosive he is. So if you overrun your gaps on a guy like him,

Starting point is 00:09:51 you will be striking up the band, you will be hearing anchor down, you will be hearing all the things that a game that should not be close will be closer than it should be and i'll tell you what if you let vanderbilt hang around they have enough explosive athletes to get it done they have a tight end over there that is special he is a tasem hillish guy he's done everything he's playing quarterback he's played tight he's done everything and he's a special guy with the ball under his right arm so i i say all this to say when i look at van I say if I was Virginia Tech, the key is to get in early, and in the words of Bill Yos, blitz all night. Because if you let this team establish that run and keep this game close, you could look up and say, wait a minute, did our season I was supposed to end in Charlotte or end in the New Year's Sixth Bowl or end in the playoff?

Starting point is 00:10:47 Did we just find ourselves indignant Nashville? Yeah. And you talked about Eli Stowers at tied in. we're not even talking about the 6-7, 250-pound behemoth, Cole Spence, who's been lighting up at camp. I mean, he's a nightmare as a target. And so I think for Virginia Tech, they've got to find ways to slow him down as well.

Starting point is 00:11:09 And Vanderbilt, you could see them in a lot of 12 personnel. We're going to give our score predictions when we come back. Virginia Tech Hokies are giving 13 and a half points on the road at Vanderbilt. We're not done yet, my friends. We got Corey Burton with us from Locked on Vandy. Got, of course, Kenton Gibbs. I'm Alex Dono. Keep it locked right here on this brand new episode of Lockdowne ACC.

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Starting point is 00:13:25 eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to U.S. customers. Welcome back into this locked on ACC, Locked on Vandy crossover. So happy that Corey Burton from Locked on Vandy can join us. You got Virginia Tech and Vandy opening up their seasons in Nashville this weekend, Saturday, 12 noon. And, you know, Kenton, you know, from where I sit, I'm usually a little bit hesitant to make week one. bets in games between two power four squads because we, you know, we literally have not seen either of these teams until last year. You know, Corey's given me a lot to think about with the way Vanderbilt has been trending. I am leaning towards Virginia Tech minus 13 and a half. Do you want to talk me

Starting point is 00:14:17 into locking that in, Kenton, before I let Corey talk me out of it? In the words of my friend and my good friend Drake Tolan are now defun, locked on college football live, I'll also. I'll sell you why he what i'm going to tell you in terms of why virginia tech covers that spread is very simple one of these teams has kairon drones the other does not caron drones is that special of a player another year continuity and his best receiver was hurt a lot of last year people greatly disbought how good ali jennings truly is like you talk about the returning production on that team imagine returning 86% of production and then adding in a guy that was supposed to be number one guy last year.

Starting point is 00:15:00 Ali Jennings is a guy that is, he's what I like to call a 7-11 receiver. You know what that means? The man is always open. He's always open. You can find a way to say, you know what, forget it. Ali down there somewhere, throw that thing up at zero going to come down with it. The reality of this game is that

Starting point is 00:15:18 with all due respect to Vanderbilt, this is a team that is in the early stages of a rebuild, and you're looking at them trying to stop by Shaw Tutin. You're looking at them, trying to stop Chiron drones. You're looking at them trying to stop Ali Jennings and company out wide, but you're looking at them trying to do that with a brand new core of guys.

Starting point is 00:15:39 And we have seen that some teams can add in flavor and pieces from the transfer portal, but that's just what the transfer portal should be. The transfer portal should be you adding in a little bit of spice to the food. It shouldn't be the main dish. It shouldn't be the whole thing. And that's the place that Vanderbilt is at. again, this is a program that's on the rise. You're right. Donald, you're right, Corey, you're right. This is a program churning up into the right. But so is Virginia Tech. They just started that trend a little earlier. So I think that Virginia Tech takes care of business handling down in Music City. But, you know, I will say this. In Vanderbilt's defense, I will say this. If they were to cover the 14 points, I wouldn't be the most shocked and I wouldn't deem Virginia Tech for that. I just don't think they will. I think that Virginia Tech, I think that Virginia Tech, um, wins headily in this one.

Starting point is 00:16:30 All right, so before I click confirm on my Van Duel account for Virginia Tech minus 13 and a half, Corey, you can sell me why the Commodores are going to cover and perhaps win the game outright. Yeah, so here's why they're going to cover, right? So atmosphere, okay, Vanderbilt is in an odd way, a very tough place to play because you got an 11 a.m. kick. It's usually just kind of a weird vibe lately.

Starting point is 00:16:56 I don't know how the vibe is going to be on Saturday, but it's definitely a weird vibe. You have a lot of construction going on, a lot of emotional interference happening with where Virginia Tech's going to get dressed, how they're going to enter the field, how they're going to deal with all of that distraction. It's going to be blazing hot.

Starting point is 00:17:18 And then you have an actual coordinator calling the defense, which last year, I heard Clark Lee say this in his weekly press conference, and this absolutely floored me, that they were only able to play one coverage last year. I'll let that sink in for you guys. They were only able to play one coverage. Let's just say their coordinator was in over his head, and then Clark Lee, it just got too bad, and he just couldn't do anything about it, and it just snowballed.

Starting point is 00:17:47 Offensively, they're going to have an identity. Defensively, they're going to have an identity. Their main playmakers are actually Vanderbilt guys. They're not portal guys. So like C.J. Taylor, Langston, Patterson, Derricky Wright. You have Cedric Alexander. You have your starting, we have a strong tackle and a quick tackle. Like we have strong side, quick side philosophy on my offensive line.

Starting point is 00:18:11 So that's going to be interesting. So you're starting quick tackle as a Vanderbilt guy. You're starting strong guard as a Vanderbilt guy. You're starting quick guard is also a Vanderbilt guy too. So you're only, your three of your starting offensive linemen are Vanderbilt guys. two, you're actually your three wide receivers are Vanderbilt incumbents. So you've got a lot of Vanderbilt pieces out there and the transfer portal guys are actually backing them up.

Starting point is 00:18:35 So they're going to have an actual identity. They have Jerry Kill, new strength program. I think they're going to cover. I think all of that stuff is going to play into, play into at least they're going to cover maybe outright win if Virginia Tech gives them opportunities and things kind of align perfectly for an outright win. And hopefully we take it. advantage of we hope that Virginia Tech's going to come in very overconfident because they have

Starting point is 00:19:01 Kiron drones and because they have Ali Jennings, because they have Tutin, because they are what they are and where they are, we're hoping that overconfidence will come in and they will get surprised. Well, could there be a shocker two weeks in a row involving ACC teams? Not a whole lot of people thought Georgia Tech would pull it off against Florida State last week. Not a whole whole lot of people think Vandy can pull it off against Virginia Tech. But first game of the year, Stranger Things have happened. Huge shout out. And thank you to Cory Burton.

Starting point is 00:19:33 And by the way, we're on both channels. So I want to send a big shout out to Locked on Vandy, viewers and listeners, locked on ACC viewers and listeners. It's always nice to connect with SEC hosts when we can so we can keep that blood feud that we all have going on with the SEC going. We'll show them. We'll show them if it just means more this Saturday. at high noon in Nashville.

Starting point is 00:19:59 We will show you that. It means more. We'll show you how we. After you make locked on ACC and locked on Vandy, your first and second list and make your next list and locked on college football.

Starting point is 00:20:12 Spencer McLaughlin does a fantastic job talking about all the big games and all the big stories. Every now and then we turn up his guests on his show. He does a great job. So we will talk to you guys next time. Of course, you got Vandy hosting Virginia Tech,

Starting point is 00:20:24 noon Eastern time on Saturday. We'll talk to you later on another episode right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. See you. Alex, you guys are amazing. Thank you so much. You're awesome.

Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Will Virginia Tech Cruise To Victory Against Vanderbilt Or Will The Hokies Suffer A Road Upset?

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