For Wake Forest, there is no FCS team this week. There is no bottom-of-the-rung Power Five program. Wake Forest gets a change this week as the Demon Deacons face a Group of Five team from the Sun Belt Conference in Old Dominion. And the Monarchs run an offense unlike anything Wake has seen in the first two weeks of the season.
ODU comes into the game in Norfolk 1-1 on the season. They lost in the opening week to Virginia Tech and then won its conference opener against Louisiana last week. Ricky Rahne is in his fourth year at the helm, but only his third year if you want to count actual won-loss records. He moved over from being the offensive coordinator at Penn State in time for the 2020 season. But the school canceled the season during the Covid year. In fact, this home-and-home series was originally slated for 2020 and 2021. With the shuffling around the two met in Winston-Salem in 2021 with Wake trouncing ODU 42-10. In 2023, we finally get the conclusion of the series.
Old Dominion Gives A Different Look
Rhane brought a power-run offense with him from Penn State. It didn’t work. ODU is now running much more of a spread offense that Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson likened to the one run by Tennessee, (the Vols, not the Titans). The results may take some time to develop. Quarterback Grant Wilson threw all of 13 passes in two years at Fordham before moving over to the Monarchs. He has thrown for 341 yards in two games this season with six touchdowns and one interception. But he is still sitting at that 59% completion rate.
Clawson is still impressed. “They’re like this super, super fast tempo, spread. Think kind of like Tennessee. They put their receivers almost on the sideline and create all of this space,” Clawson said Tuesday. He added that the spacing means there are going to be a lot of one-on-one plays with the Wake defensive backs. “If you don’t make the tackle, there is going to be a lot of room.” Clawson said he expects ODU to throw the ball deep 10-12 times during the game. “Those are usually low percentage throws, but they’re hitting half of them.”
Satisfying…Not Complete…but Satisfying
The Demon Deacons are coming off what Clawson described Tuesday as a, “Satisfying win,” over Vanderbilt last weekend at home. “I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was that all of the units contributed.”
The run game was a huge part of it. Wake Forest piled up 288 rushing yards. Demond Claiborne led the way with 165 yards on 26 carries, (just over six yards per carry). Tate Carney carried the ball 13 times for 117 yards, (nine yards per carry), and a touchdown. There was still not the explosive big yardage pick-up that Clawson prioritized in training camp. But the efficiency of the run game, coupled with a defense that held Vandy to 50% third-down efficiency, added snaps on offense. The Demon Deacons ran 65 plays in week one against Elon. The official stat line for the Vandy game was 74, but Clawson said his count got it closer to 80. With the changes in clock rules, even an increase of nine snaps on offense is not insignificant.
Claiborne and Carney may be carrying the bulk of the running game again this week. Justice Ellison is listed as probable, but his workload after missing last week is very much TBD.
Football Team Seeking Healthy Bodies
Wake was dealt more blows on the injury front following the win over Vanderbilt. Offensive lineman Nick Sharpe was carted off the field during the game with a leg injury, (Wake does not disclose injury specifics). Clawson said he is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. Defensive back Brendon Harris, who had a scoop-and-score Saturday also suffered a “leg” injury during the game. He is expected to miss four to six weeks. Linebacker Chase Jones who has yet to play this season while going through what the coach described as “the protocol,” is listed as doubtful for Saturday, per Clawson.
Clawson has been preaching the topic of depth to any of us who would listen throughout the Spring and Fall. His claim that they are not young but inexperienced in terms of starts is going to come into play. The shuffling of players among different positions in camp will have to pay off as Erik Russell and George Sell are likely to see more action now. If it helps, for this week at least, Old Dominion has no quarterback sacks through the first two weeks of the season. The Monarchs are one of only three teams in the country with that dubious distinction.
On the other hand, Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis has been sacked six times already this season. Presumably, someone’s fortunes will change in one direction or the other.
Photo courtesy: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
