Maybe it's just me, but I think this attitude is a little insulting. Of course he can!
I've found this stereotype of a head-in-the-clouds physicist who can't do anything useful to not even be remotely correct. I would venture to say at least 90% of physicists I've encountered can do exactly...
There are many good answers here, but just to add another:
Plasma physics is a surprising rich field that is mostly classical. Closely related to fluid dynamics.
(edit: Wrongly said "entirely classical")