Making a Stand

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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SouthernPigskin.com Mid-Atlantic Columnist Aaron Pyre explains why week three is a huge one for Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

By Aaron Pyre
SouthernPigskin.com Mid-Atlantic Columnist

SouthernPigskin.com Mid-Atlantic Columnist Aaron Pyre explains why week three is a huge one for Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

This week in the ACC Mid Atlantic is a big one;

UVA at UConn
Cal at Maryland
GT at VT

I hate to make generalizations but these are statement games for all three schools who are struggling to find an identity, consistency and the magic winning formula.  The glorified scrimmages versus FCS schools were not impressive for the Hoos, Hokies or Terps.  In their FBS games, UVA got destroyed by the Trojans, the Hokies were lucky to be close to ECU and the Terps were embarrassed by the Sun Belt’s Middle Tennessee State.  It is time for each team to get traction, get better and make a stand as to what they want from their season.  Two BCS conference foes and one tone setting ACC Coastal Division conference game highlight a very attractive college football weekend up here in the Mid Atlantic.

Here are 3 things each team should do to put themselves in position to win the weekend.

Virginia
• Get the ground game going, UVA’s offense needs better balance.  Pound with Cedric Peerman and that will set up developing Peter Lalich’s passing game.  With WR Kevin Olgetree as the deep threat, TE John Phillips in the middle and RB Mikell Simpson on the perimeter, UVA can attack teams from many different positions.
• When on defense, sell out on the run; make the Huskies pass to win.  So far UConn is averaging 250 yards a game rushing, UVA needs to make them a one dimensional team and dictate to the Huskies what it will take to beat them that day, lots and lots of precise pitching and catching.
• Should be a close game, so turnover margin and hidden yardage (returns and penalties) may decide the game.  In a close game taking care of the ball and getting any little amount of yardage advantage you can does wonders for one’s winning percentage.

Maryland
• A Ranked Opponent who is putting up some pretty sick offensive numbers flies cross country to do the same to you.  If I am Ralph Friedgen, I am pulling out whatever motivation tricks I have for this game.  Use the Under Armour, “We must protect our house” speech, light a fire under this team and make this your rallying call to arms.  Use the noon kickoff to your advantage, most of these Bears are will still be on Pacific Time, 9am is awfully early to get hit in the mouth.
• Hammer Cal’s awesome RB Jahvid Best every time he touches the ball.  Best alone accounts for 240 yards of offense for the Bears a game so far this season.  Make him pay every time he touches the ball; he is lightening fast but small at 193 pounds.  Wear him down, make him quit when the 4th quarter rolls around.http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0101/ncf_u_glennon_taylor_200.jpg
• Make Cal defend the whole field.  Chris Turner has to find a way to get Darius Heyward-Bey involved, particularly downfield to take advantage of his speed.  That said do not abandon Da’Rel Scott and the ground game.  Maryland will need to shorten the game and keep the high powered Cal offense off the field as much as possible.

Virginia Tech
• The offense has to do more to involve QB Tyrod Taylor than scrambling on broken plays and handoffs up the middle.  I know the young wide receivers are limited in reading the defenses and being on the same page with the quarterbacks but somehow the coaching staff has to get production out of the passing game.  Limiting Taylor’s runs will keep him fresher and less likely to get injured.
• Play disciplined gap control football when on defense.  Nothing beats a team more than undisciplined free lancing when facing the option.  Trust your teammates and wrap up when the ball carrier comes your way.
• Play with sense of purpose; the following two games are on the road against teams that are more than capable of beating VT.  The players have to know that this game will be the easiest over the next three.  Play your keys, focus and give the extra effort, it only gets harder.  A loss here followed by games at North Carolina and Nebraska could see the Hokies sitting at an unimaginable 1-4 heading into the halfway point of the season.

The success of a season is never based on one game, but one game can certainly set in motion the direction in which a season is heading.  Game three for each of these teams looks to be that kind of game.  How will the Hoos, Hokies and Terrapins respond, who will make that stand?

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Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently.  Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.