Old Dominion coach Bobby Wilder was watching video of the Monarchs’ blitz pickups when he called Wednesday afternoon. Wise man, since ODU will see myriad blitzes Saturday night from Virginia.
Here’s something else the Monarchs may encounter: the best team they’ve played since resurrecting football in 2009.
Now understand that ODU has never faced Alabama, Clemson or Ohio State. Moreover, only three of the Monarchs’ Bowl Subdivision opponents have finished among the Associated Press poll’s top 25, none higher than No. 23.
Regardless, there’s nothing like the combination of an accomplished defense, elusive quarterback and established head coach to get your attention.
“Boy, based on what I’ve seen on video,” Wilder said, “you’d have to say U.Va. — we haven’t played the game yet — could pretty easily be high on that list.”
The season will tell. Virginia (3-0) is No. 21 this week, its highest AP ranking in 12 years. But Bronco Mendenhall’s Cavaliers play subsequent road games at Notre Dame and Miami, have lost 15 straight to Virginia Tech, could draw Clemson in the ACC championship game and might play a ranked bowl opponent for the first time since West Virginia in 2002.
After pondering some alternatives, Wilder agreed with my hypothesis that Marshall 2014, Western Kentucky 2015 and Virginia Tech 2017 are the class of the Monarchs’ past schedules.
Anchored by Tim Settle, Ricky Walker, Greg Stroman and brothers Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds, the 2017 Hokies (9-4) ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense. They finished No. 24 in the AP poll and smothered ODU 38-0.
WKU (12-2) won the 2015 Conference USA championship, also was No. 24 in the final poll and dusted the Monarchs 55-20. Brandon Doughty threw an FBS-best 48 touchdown passes and, along with receiver Taywan Taylor, was an eventual NFL draft pick.
Only a 67-66 overtime setback to Western Kentucky separated C-USA champ Marshall (13-1) from an undefeated 2014 and possible New Year’s Six bowl qualification. Quarterback Rakeem Cato and running back Devon Johnson — Johnson died suddenly last November — headlined an offense that averaged 45.6 points as the Thundering Herd finished No. 23 in the AP poll and dominated ODU 56-14.
Wilder gives an honorable mention to WKU’s 2016 C-USA champions. With yet another NFL draft choice at quarterback in Mike White, the unranked Hilltoppers (11-3) led the FBS in scoring at 45.5 points per game and routed the best team in ODU history 59-24.
“We went 10-3 (that season),” Wilder said, “and they beat the pants off us at Western. They just murdered us. I think they had 47 points at halftime. It was brutal.”
In fact, the Hilltoppers scored 51 in the first half. Brutal, indeed.
I don’t expect similar carnage Saturday at Virginia. The Cavaliers haven’t hung 50 on an FBS opponent since blanking Akron 51-0 in 2004, and they’re between an emotional victory over Florida State and a trip to Notre Dame.
Most important for the 1-1 Monarchs: Under new coordinator David Blackwell, the defense has performed credibly.
Not to suggest credible will be good enough to beat quarterback Bryce Perkins and friends. His 2-point conversion run Saturday night against Florida State — I clocked the play at an outrageous 11.45 seconds — will be a museum piece in program lore, and his ability to create when a play breaks down is a challenge to any defense.
Wilder called the conversion “circa Michael Vick,” but I’m going further back for a comparison. Perkins’ instincts and knack for dancing around opponents are reminiscent of Allen Iverson at Bethel High.
Wilder never saw Iverson play football but is fully aware of what awaits Saturday at Scott Stadium.
“Yeah,” he said, “I was really hoping when we scheduled this game three years ago that they wouldn’t be this good, if I’m being 100 percent truthful.”
David Teel, 757-247-4636, dteel@dailypress.com
