BREAKING: Muskett starting for Virginia tonight at Tech

By Jerry Ratcliffe

One of the biggest questions about tonight’s 105th meeting between Virginia and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, is can the Cavaliers protect their quarterback.

UVA is a 5-point underdog (opened at 7) in the contest (8 p.m., ACC Network), likely because the oddsmakers believe Tech will start redshirt freshman Pop Watson at quarterback. Collin Schlee appears to be a gametime decision and star tailback Bhayshul Tuten also is considered questionable for the Hokies.

Regardless of who plays or doesn’t play for Tech, UVA coach Tony Elliott has a more important issue to deal with: protecting quarterback Tony Muskett. Muskett apparently is starting tonight in place of starter Anthony Colandrea. According to team officials, Colandrea is with the team in Blacksburg.

The Hokies also feature a strong pass rush, perhaps not as good as SMU, but can put a lot of pressure on opposing QBs.

Tech enters the game ranked No. 20 nationally in quarterback sacks with 31, the fourth strong pass rush Virginia has faced this season. Pitt is ranked No. 4 in the country (37 sacks), Carolina No. 6 (35) and SMU No. 14 (32).

Having faced those defenses, Virginia is ranked next-to-last in the entire nation in sacks allowed with 42. Only Hawaii has given up more.

That’s a real problem for Elliott and the Wahoos. Or is it?

Elliott said this week that the problem is correctable, that he and the coaching staff have hopefully fixed the problem.

“So it wasn’t like it was all broken,” Elliott said about Virginia’s pass protection vs. SMU. “When you look at it, it wasn’t as bad as it felt in the game. All the things are correctable. It’s correctable with guys just straining a little bit harder fundamentally and then having the right mindset collectively to go out and play their best game.”

The coach said it wasn’t a case of a lot of busted assignments, but rather his linemen have to technically get a little bit better, that young backs have to grow up and learn to pick up rushers, and that Colandrea has to throw the ball away or throw it to a safety receiver in the flat.

Easier said than done.

“Everyone will focus on the sacks, and rightfully so,” Elliott said. “That’s the number one stat everybody looks at. You look at the sacks, it was, okay, we slid a little bit too far on a base four-down front. That shouldn’t happen. We can correct that with proper communication.

“If it was discombobulated, guys going on all over the place, then that’s a much tougher fix in a week.”

Elliott said that the coaches made a few calls that put his players in bad situations, so those mistakes are also correctable.

One Hokie that Virginia will want to locate before every snap is Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Tech’s most effective pass rusher.

“He’s a slippery guy,” Elliott said. “Man, he’s got really good pass-rush moves. Got a great spin. He’s got a good get-off. You can’t get caught up trying to out-athlete him. You’ve got to trust fundamentals and technique, the design of the scheme.”

Powell-Ryland isn’t the only threat. Elliott believes Tech’s defensive line compares to the best in the ACC because it has depth and can roll several players into those four positions on the front.

Tech moved Caleb Woodson to linebacker to become more athletic, and have three rangey linebackers, all-conference cornerbacks and physical safeties.

“You can tell defensively that they’re playing good ball for the most part,” Elliott said. “They run well, they’re sound, athletic and deep up front, which poses some challenges, keeps them fresh. If they get you behind the chains, then they can turn all the pass rushers loose.”

And that is the big question. Can UVA’s O-line keep Muskett clean? If not, it could be another long night in Blacksburg.

Additional Game-Week links

Elliott defensive, and rightly so, over sticking with QB

UVA hopes to get Pace back; Trell Harris ready to roll

Only one thing matters for Virginia football this week

Perris Jones is special guest on ‘The Jerry & Jerry Show’

UVA Offensive Season Stats

UVA Defensive & Special Teams Season Stats

Virginia Tech Offensive Season Stats