^^
Comedy option: Line up under center, snap through to Days at B-back, play as shotgun passing down. Use space to create time for the long bomb. I really, really want to see us exploit the fact that we've got pretty decent arms all over this offense in a way that's kinda crazy for a college team.
I think we'll see Midline and that QB trap (lead?) play we ran so much during the Spring game. I think we'll also wait until they sub their best corners out and then go no huddle and throw at them.
Yeah, let's remember what we've seen and go a little beyond the rush => pass opportunity that we all learned watching our third football game.
Sure, a collapsed rusher from a failed gap blitz is good news for our pass blocking, but remember that VT likes to really, really, really stack the box against us when they do that. The delicious punishment for VT's bum rush we all want to see would be a 30+ yard pass, but I'm not sure that it's the most effective play assuming we see a gap blitz. VT has always been pretty good about awareness around the LOS, and we're at a disadvantage with JT's height for an immediate pass that is strategically different from just doing a rocket toss. Waiting for the big payoff pass to develop seems pretty risky as well because there's still 7-8 angry turkeys in our face. Are we at an advantage if we beat that gap jumper by avoiding him and passing? Sure, but it may not be the biggest advantage.
The Midline and QB trap also seek to exploit that jumper by letting him fall out of play (or neutralizing his jump, for the midline) and, in that situation, also make VT's agressiveness a disadvantage by pushing the ball as fast as we can in the opposite direction that they're hauling ***. The risk, of course, is missed blocks or poor timing leading to a big pileup at the line. But, given the legs on JT when he gets some room, I'd say the payoff is almost as big as a big pass play without the risk of a flattened QB and 5 yard loss.
So, what I want to see: JT effectively seeing and reacting to the gap blitz, and CPJ playing around with Midline/trap/pass to keep VT from adapting.
What I hope we've gotten past: Never developing the sense of timing or awareness to react to the blitz, giving VT a stable strategy against us.
I think a lot of folks miss that the pass isn't a certain winner over VT's attack. Vad Lee, whatever his faults, was a hell of a talented passer, and we saw that he could punish unbalanced defenses at, among other games, U[sic]gA last year. VT is perfectly fine with seeing us pass every down in their current defensive strategy because they have a mean line and (at least historically) some incredibly talented corners.
