Three and out no sure thing

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech's season changed course during the past two games, from national-championship chase to trying to avoid becoming an ACC also-ran, partly because the Hokies' defense couldn't do something it usually does so well: get opponents off the field.

"That was a killer," said defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

He was talking about third-down shortcomings from last Thursday's 20-17 loss to North Carolina, but the assessment also fits the Oct. 17 defeat at Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets converted six of seven third downs in the second half. The Hokies' one stop was spoiled when defensive end Nekos Brown jumped offside on the next play, fourth and 1. Carolina went 5 of 9 on third downs in the second half. The Tar Heels followed one stop by converting a fourth-and-7 late in the fourth quarter -- one of the game's biggest plays.

Carolina, which converted 28 third downs in its first seven games, was 10 of 19 on all its third downs last Thursday -- unusually successful against Foster's defense. Even after the second half at Georgia Tech, the Hokies entered the Carolina game allowing just 31.2 percent of third downs, 12th nationally. The Hokies' third-down percentage from the beginning of 2006 to last Thursday: 29.3.

As they prepare for tomorrow night's game at East Carolina, they know the problem really hasn't been third downs, exclusively, as much as the plays that preceded them and gave opponents too many third-and-short chances. And no defense regularly thrives in those situations.

Six of Georgia Tech's third downs measured three yards or shorter, including four in the second half. The Jackets converted them all. Ten times, Carolina had third-and-3 or shorter. The Heels converted seven.

The Hokies are facing third-and-3 or shorter more than usual this season. Such plays comprise 39 percent of their third downs. Those percentages from the previous three seasons: 22, 22.8 and 20.5. Conversely, Tech's opponents have lined up for third-and-10 or longer 39 percent of the time, compared to 56, 83 and 59 percent the last three years.

"I think it's a little bit more of getting them in third-and-longer situations that'll help us get off the field," said senior whip linebacker Cody Grimm.

They are still as stingy as always in those situations -- and not just when opponents have double-digits yards to go. On third-and-7 or longer, Tech is allowing first downs just 21.9 percent of the time. The last three years: 20.4, 20 and 16.5.

But they must do a better job when faced with third-and-short. On third-and-6 or shorter, opponents have converted 48.2 percent. The last three years: 36.3, 38.5 and 39.5.

Despite the Hokies struggling to stop opponents' drives, they still had a chance to beat Carolina when they led 17-14 with six minutes left. Carolina faced fourth-and-7 at Tech's 36 not quite field-goal range. The Hokies played a Tampa 2 zone defense, which called for sophomore inside linebacker Barquell Rivers to cover the deep middle part of the field.

Wide receiver Greg Little lined up in the slot against Grimm and ran a slant route, past Grimm, into the area where Rivers was supposed to be. But he was tracking another receiver. So Little was open for a 19-yard catch, sustaining a drive that ended with the game-tying field goal.

"It's a little bit of his fault and a little bit of mine," Grimm said. "We have a bunch of different defenses, and only that one is when Barquell has deep half, pretty much. They just had us in the right coverage at the right time and had a good play call for it."

Foster knows this defense, regardless of the down and distance, can't recover from errors as easily as some of his past groups.

"I don't know if we are as talented right now as some," he said. "Obviously, at linebacker we're young. We're not as fast, speed-wise, as we've had some guys in the past. We've got to be exact. We've had some defenses in the past where maybe you could make up for a mistake by somebody because you had great speed out there. I just don't know if we've got that overall speed at some spots."

Injury report

Tech listed starting junior center Beau Warren as doubtful for East Carolina. He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee against North Carolina. Redshirt freshman Michael Via replaced Warren and would start tomorrow if he can't play. Before playing the final 15 snaps against the Tar Heels, Via had played 24 snaps this season -- all in blowout wins over Marshall and Boston College.