Anae putting together strong game plans heading into Blacksburg

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Bronco Mendenhall went out of his way the past few weeks to compliment the work of his offensive coordinator Robert Anae.

The veteran OC, influenced greatly by Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense while working under Leach at Texas Tech, has been the target of criticism by a segment of Virginia fans the past few seasons. However, in recent weeks, Anae has put together imaginative, highly efficient game plans during the Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak.

Wahoo fans are hoping Anae will end the season with a bang in Blacksburg on Saturday night.

When informed of Mendenhall’s praise, Anae took it in stride.

“The [offensive game plan] design looks good when the guys up front (the offensive line) are doing their job and [the plan] makes sense to our quarterback,” Anae said. “[The plan] looked that way because those were the things that were at play.”

Armstrong has executed the game plans well while putting up some impressive numbers during the win streak.

“We’re doing stuff that fits our quarterback,” Anae said. “We continue to go down that path. [Armstrong] is a tough, country kid.

“Going out to recruit him, man, me and Coach [Jason] Beck (quarterbacks coach), we’re taking country roads here and country roads there. Where [Armstrong] was raised, real hard working family, that’s who he is. He’s a tough, hard working guy.”

Armstrong has raised a lot of eyebrows this season, particularly Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who said the Virginia quarterback reminded him of a younger Steve Young. Left-handed, running for yardage down the field, Armstrong has given defenses headaches all year.

Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuentes said this week that he had heard those comments, but that Armstrong reminded him more of former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, who now plays for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. Hill played for Mendenhall and Anae in Provo.

Anae will be facing a Virginia Tech defense that has given up a lot of points during its losing streak.

The Hokies are ranked No. 111 in the FBS in total defense, surrendering 460 yards per game. Tech’s numbers must be embarrassing to former Hokies head coach Frank Beamer and his former defensive coordinator Bud Foster, considered one of the best in the business.

Tech’s defense is ranked No. 96 in rushing defense, allowing 194 yards a game; No. 102 in passing yards allowed (265.9); and No. 96 in scoring defense (33.8 points per game).

“They’re young at spots,” Anae said of Tech’s defense. “You can tell it has been a Covid year in trying to have a full unit. Boy, they are athletic and fit.

“[The game] is going to come right down to the wire. It’s just one of those games. Just look at the last two years. I give our kids credit because we were miles and miles away just trying to be able to play that kind of game,” Anae said.

Now, the Cavaliers are on the brink of winning back-to-back games over their biggest rival, ending the nation’s longest bowl streak, and breaking a losing road streak to the Hokies that dates back to 1998.

In some good news that Anae reported, he said that standout freshman wide receiver, Lavel Davis, Jr., is apparently good to go for Saturday’s game. Davis was injured in the first half of the Boston College game, the victim of a targeting call that caused the ejection of the BC player who hit him. Davis did not play in the second half, but watched the game from the sidelines.

Davis leads all Power 5 receivers in yards per catch and is a threat to score any time he gets his hands on the ball. He is one of Armstrong’s favorite targets.