Virginia Tech Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Kentucky in Belk Bowl

3. Contain Kentucky’s RPO quarterback Lynn Bowden Jr.

Kentucky made the change at the quarterback due to injuries of Terry Wilson and Sawyer Smith five games into 2019. Since Lynn Bowden Jr. became the starting quarterback, the Wildcats have become a more dangerous and efficient under an RPO-style offense.

The Wildcats are fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game (274.8). In the rushing game, Bowden has rushed for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns on 151 rushes.

Virginia Tech is familiar with these types of offenses and how to stop them. The Hokies are ranked 27th in the nation in rush defense (123.4 rushing yards allowed per game). Their 4-2 defense will help them play more assignment football on the edge and focusing on man schemes.

With so much of the Kentucky offense focused on Bowden, the key isn’t to take him out of the game. The key is to suppress him in terms of production.

Eliminating big plays from outside run plays is one attribute to slowing him down. Not missing tackles in the open field are one of the biggest Bowden can make opposing defenses pay. Hokies middle linebacker Rayshard Ashby and nickelback Chamarri Conner will need to be efficient in making these plays against Bowden or the Wildcats’ running backs. Ashby leads the team in total tackles (105) and tackles for loss (14.5). Conner has accounted for 62 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss.