Villanova expects an aerial show from Old Dominion

Villanova football coach Andy Talley can be excused if he has been seeing passes in his sleep, not to mention plenty of points.

This week, the Wildcats defense will face its stiffest challenge when Villanova visits Old Dominion in a Colonial Athletic Association game that shouldn't lack offense.

ODU (5-0, 2-0 CAA) leads Football Championship Subdivision teams in scoring, averaging 56.2 points. To demonstrate the dominance, the second-highest-scoring FCS team, New Hampshire, is averaging 37.8 points.

"They are fun to watch," Talley said of the Monarchs, who are in their final season in the CAA and will be an independent the next two years before becoming a full-fledged Conference USA member in 2015.

It's not so fun to defend against an ODU team that is ranked No. 3 nationally in this week's FCS Sports Network poll.

Sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke has completed 69 percent of his passes for 2,221 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Heinicke is also the team's leading rusher, having gained 237 yards (4.3 average) and three touchdowns.

"He is quite a quarterback and has a lot of speed," Talley said. "When I watch them play I come away saying that they are having fun and they enjoy what they are doing."

And the fun also comes on the ground, since the Monarchs are averaging 189 yards per game rushing.

Villanova redshirt freshman quarterback John Robertson continues to show tremendous growth. In last week's 28-17 loss against visiting Richmond, he rushed for 117 yards and passed for 308, becoming the first Villanova quarterback to run for at least 100 and throw for 300 in the same game.

"John Robertson flat out scares me to throw and run the ball," ODU coach Bobby Wilder said earlier this week on a conference call. "He is clearly a leading candidate for [CAA] rookie of the year, and I don't know if there is a close second."

Robertson has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,033 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has rushed for 438 yards (5.5 average) and five touchdowns.

Villanova shouldn't lack offensive chances against an ODU team that is ninth in the CAA in scoring defense, allowing 28.4 points per game.

Defensive end Rahim Cox (5.5 sacks) and linebacker Dillon Lucas, two of Villanova's top defensive players, are hampered by injuries. Cox suffered a broken hand, but Talley says he will play. Lucas is out this week with a labrum injury.