Smashmouth football? Virginia Tech not built to run it that way this year
A big second-half deficit dictated that Virginia Tech had to go to the air against North Carolina, so the Hokies’ final rushing stats were slightly misleading.
Nevertheless, the cold, hard number was jarring. Virginia Tech’s 40 rushing yards were the team’s lowest since the season opener in 2007 against East Carolina.
“Disbelief, to look at the stat sheet and see that few yards,” running backs coach Shane Beamer said. “That’s not how we’ve won games here. And it’s not going to be how we win games here. We’ve got to be able to run the football.”
Tech, which has built its reputation as being a hard-nosed running team, has struggled to get that facet of the offense going this year. The Hokies are 91st nationally in rushing right now and eighth in the ACC, averaging 131.33 yards per game.
Those stats are buoyed by decent running efforts against Austin Peay (187 yards) and Bowling Green (246), however. Against teams from BCS conferences, the Hokies have averaged 88.75 yards per game, topping 2.8 yards per carry only once (4.71 ypg against Cincinnati). Saturday, they averaged a season-low 1.6 yards per carry — the stat that really irked Shane. (Even removing the 19-yard loss on a bad snap, Tech averaged a paltry 2.45 yards per carry.)
Tech has averaged 3.9 yards per rush this seaosn, a half yard worse than last year and a full yard worse than 2010. The Hokies’ average hasn’t been this low since getting 3.8 yards per carry in 2008, which pre-dated the run of future NFL backs in Darren Evans, Ryan Williams and David Wilson.
So what’s wrong with the running game?
“I’d like to tell you that there’s a singular panacea right now, but it’s a group effort,” offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said. “It’s little things. … The toughest thing about running the football, I can tell you, is … you can’t afford to have many mishaps in there.
“If a defensive end makes a nice play on your guard, you’ve got a problem. If a tight end doesn’t do his job, that defensive end, he’s on scholarship. He’s going to make a play. Now how many times are you going to have your tailback be Houdini, grab a rabbit of his hat and make a couple guys miss? And that’s hard at the line of scrimmage. So you know, it’s not just been one area. It’s been a growing experience for all of us. But it’s been all of us. …
“We’ve just got to be more consistent, do a better job of getting hats on hats and advancing the ball.”
The question is: does Virginia Tech have the personnel to play a physical, smashmouth-brand of football?
Shane expressed confidence in his backs to make something out of nothing, even if the offensive line doesn’t execute its blocks perfectly, which has been an issue with this group. But Tech doesn’t appear to have that workhorse back that it has had in recent years, one capable of consistently running between the tackles.
“To say that J.C. Coleman and Tony Gregory can line up and run the ball inside like Ryan Williams and Darren Evans did consistently, probably not,” Shane said. “That’s not necessarily their deal. … To be totally honest, I don’t know from an offensive line standpoint and from a running back standpoint that we’re necessarily built [like that] right now.”
The Hokies have had some success running the perimeter, using their speed to beat teams to the edge. Running inside has been less successful but has still had its moments.
Tech did it in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati with Michael Holmes. Even Saturday, despite the final stats, the Hokies had a few runs up the middle that went for decent gains. There just weren’t a lot of them.
Martin Scales, who at 5-foot-11, 222 pounds is the biggest of the tailbacks, thinks the Hokies should get back to what he termed “Virginia Tech football” and downhill running.
“That’s the best way to play football,” he said. “You smack somebody in the mouth, eventually they’re going to lay down or both y’all will be bloody. … I believe that’s why they recruit the people they recruit. If they weren’t capable of doing that, I don’t think they’d be here.”
The coaches tend to disagree, saying that Tech isn’t set up to simply run downhill at will with this group. Because of their personnel, they’d like to continue to attack the edges with Gregory and Coleman and hit the middle with Holmes and Scales, trying to find success with that diversity.
“I like to think that we can keep teams off balance and do them both,” Shane said. “But [we're] probably not the downhill team consistently that we’ve been in years past. At least not to this point. We’re getting there, though.”
Here are some more notes and quotes from Monday night’s post-practice interviews …
- Shane said running back Tony Gregory (knee) went through the entire practice Monday, even though it was indoors on turf. He’s missed the last two games with a bothersome left knee. Shane asked Gregory on Monday morning to rate his knee on a scale from 1 to 10. Gregory gave it a 9.
- Shane picked his interview seat carefully today post-practice, avoiding the chairs he sat in before the Cincinnati and North Carolina losses. Superstitious much? “When you’re 3-3 you are,” he said. “I’m going to try this side of the room. Hopefully I can stay here for a while.”
- He called Holmes’ fumble in the third quarter disappointing. UNC linebacker Travis Hughes ripped the ball out of his hands at the end of a run near midfield, a big turning point in the game. “It was a great play by that guy,” Shane said. “You look at it, though, on contact he got low on contact, Michael did, he got two hands on the ball. The guy just wrestled it away from him. It’s disappointing. That can’t happen, but not concerned about him and his ball security.” Holmes has had two fumbles this year that have led to touchdowns for the other team.
- Scales said moving back to do some work at fullback now that Riley Beiro is out for the year because of upcoming shoulder surgery is no big deal. “I haven’t forgot it,” the converted fullback said. “That physical switch is always right there.” Shane likes the idea of having Scales do some fullback work. “You can do different things with him,” he said. “It’s another way to get him on the field, because I feel like he certainly brings some physicalness to the running game. No question about it.”
- Stinespring was pleased with the passing game, which the coaches felt going in was the best was to attack UNC’s secondary and coverages. He lamented six drops by wide receivers, though.
- I got some stuff about Demitri Knowles, who I’ll probably be writing a feature on at some point this week. He had a kick return for a touchdown the other day, although didn’t necessarily follow the plan. “Demitri is a little bit like David [Wilson],” Shane said. “You can design the return to go a certain way and you don’t really know. It can line up from one sideline to the other sideline, so I’ve kind of just learned with his speed, he can turn a right return into a left return and it can be successful.”
- Shane said Knowles liked the heat in North Carolina. He told him it reminded him of the Bahamas, where he’s from. Weather in Blacksburg on Monday was a rude awakening then. “This probably wasn’t his deal,” Shane said. “We were indoors at least, so it wasn’t bad. He didn’t like this. You can tell these warm-weather guys, when the weather turns, they’re bundled up.”
- Here’s a look at the white helmet with an orange VT logo that the Hokies will be wearing against Duke this weekend. Thoughts?
- Scales on being 3-3: “It is must-win. And that’s how we’re practicing. From a player’s standpoint, I know it’s more intense. I feel like I always practice intense. I’ve gotten flack for that a couple times, but it doesn’t matter. That’s how I play. I feel we’ll be better this game. It is a must-win and we’ll play like that.”
- And briefly, from the Former Hokies File, Ryan Williams of the Arizona Cardinals will miss the rest of the season because of a shoulder injury that will require surgery. That’s two season-ending injuries in two years for the former Virginia Tech star, who just doesn’t seem to have much luck in that regard.
October 8, 2012 - 10:32 PM
“I didn’t want to give up the rest of the season,” Johnson said. “I still think we can come back and have a good season. That’s why I did it now.”
It’s all been said on the field.
Thanks, Andy, for not dancing around the unpleasant truths about the Hokies. I’ve got a few thoughts on the comments from the coaches…
Stinespring somehow has managed to make me think even less of him with his above comments. He’s trying to make us think it requires near perfection for the Hokie running game to work? Seriously? How have we managed to pull off such perfection for the last 35 years? Even BEFORE Beamer, Dooley knew how to run the ball. Sorry, Stinespring, but your idiotic excuse making does NOT cut it.
Hey, Stinespring, how about being a MAN and owning your weakness?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E
Has anyone else noticed how badly our running game has deteriorated under the new running back coach – aka The Golden One – Shane Beamer?
When you’ve got David Wilson as the pre-ordained feature back, it’s easy to ‘coach him up’, even though there was no evidence of that occurring. But when you don’t have an NFL caliber RB at your disposal, suddenly you have to prove that you can actually coach.
After all, we’re discussing the supposed heir to the throne. The Golden One, the Great Recruiter. The new & improved. Beamer 2.0
What do we have? One of the WORST running games in the nation. Virginia Tech. Cannot run the football.
Notice how I made those different sentences? That’s because THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU SHOULD EVER SAY VIRGINIA TECH CANNOT RUN THE FOOTBALL in the same sentence.
Shane’s excuse is that Coleman & Gregory are not built to run inside? Here’s two reasons why Shane is now well wrapped in Stinespring and Frank territory of BS phony excuse making.
Holmes IS built to run inside, and he’s rated higher than any other back on the team. What’d he get against UNC? 19 yards rushing? Has he even come close to 100 yards in a game this season? We all know the answer. His best is 60 yards. He’s fumbled twice leading to TD’s by the opposition. Hey, Shane! How’s that whole ‘boxing glove on a stick’ coaching working for you? Yeah, it was celebrated as innovative genius this summer by all those eager Beamerites.
Maybe Shane needs to walk down the hall and ask Billy Hite to share some of his discarded knowledge from three decades of proven production of RB’s. Billy got dumped so The Golden One could come in, with all of his recruiting genius. How’s that going?
Oops, forgot the second reason. David Wilson was not built to run inside, either, and all he managed was to set the all time record for rushing at Virginia Tech. All because he had the talent. All you had to do was turn him loose, and you got 1700 yards. But when you have to actually instruct a lesser talented RB? Somebody who is ‘only’ a 4-star recruit?
Well, we’re seeing that this year.
Again, another article with information, and that is nice, but it is just talk.
There are problems with this team that are more serious than small talk will fix, there is a problem with the entire operation at this time, and that needs addressed.
This team is just another team, and that is the way that it is.
Awful news about Ryan Williams. I’m reminded of Lee Suggs, and how injuries derailed his career. My guess is that he won’t play beyond his current contract. That’s why I always focus on players banking their signing bonuses and not buying fancy whips and all that. Average NFL career? Less than 4 years. Million dollar signing bonuses can evaporate just like that…
One of the few alternate uniform models that I approve are the white ‘square root of one’ helmets pictured above. I really like them a lot. I’d love to see us use the traditional maroon ones at home, and the white ones on the road. Forget all the others, and just stick with these two.
It’s not the running backs that are the problem. It’s the offensive line. Too many tckles are being made in the backfield. That is a reflection of past recruiting and coaches not giving players a chance to get more experience while back-up players. With four out of five of last year’s OL gone, and a fifth hurting, it is no wonder the guys in the trenches are still growing up in the art of creating running lanes. Don’t sit back and blame the fourth quarter. “Smashmouth football” is being able to establich the run early in the ballgame so when the fourth quarter gets here, it is just more of the same. The good news is that by the time we regain an experienced OL, next year, Logan Thomas won’t have jumped to the NFL early, and our new running backs will catch up to the speed of big time college ball.
EXCUSES,EXCUSES,The offense has been terrible for years, they have in the past had some of the best talent in the nation to overcome the poorest coaching in division 1 football. I just read where Al Groh was fired @ Ga Tech (defensive cordinator)in the middle of the season. Stiney should have been gone years ago. I guess we will have to hit rock bottom before any changes will be made. If Beamer is too loyal to do what needs to be done then let him go too and get a high quality head coach to help Foster, or let Foster be the head coach and hire a good offensive cordinator!! Shane is not the answer.
Why is Shane talking about special teams and a reciever at that? Is pops getting some extra help? Judging by the lack of run game I think Shane need not be multitasking. Loved the Scales comment and he deserves more playing time. Maybe his smashmouth style would fire up some of his teammates. I see tickets are still available for this weeks game. Is the streak coming to an end?
sounds like too much over-thinking by the coaches
The main problem with the running game is the play calling. Jet sweeps against fast defenses do not work. VT does not line up with a fullback and run the ball anymore. When you have Logan in the pistol most of the time, then he gets under center, the teams know its a run or a QB sneak. I’m tired of seeing an anemic offense from VT, no imagination what so ever with the play calling. I’m even more tired of hearing the O coordinator make excuses and place the blame on the kids for missed blocks. They are kids and mistakes happen, why is it that at VT the coaches blame the kids?? I watch college football every time it is on, maybe Frank and the O staff will start watching for some pointers….
Yes,
That is the key of the whole slew of offensive woes. The Line. That is why we are no fun to watch on offense any more. We are incapable of smash mouthing even teams like Austin Peay. If there is anything that has gotten worse over time, it has been the Line. Last year was somewhat better statistically. I have a suspicion that the receivers were so much better that it was opening the ground game some. We also had Wilson who could make things happen on his own. Last year when we wanted to smash it in the red zone, we often had trouble getting a couple yards. (Not to the degree of this year.) It may not be Stiney at all. He can’t just install any offense he wishes. I think FB has to approve it. I have a feeling that if ANY coaching changes are made, it will be the OL coach. That said, the OL seems to be able to hold players off the QB better than they have in some years. I don’t get that. Why can they win that battle and not the run block battle?
Our defense seems to be even more of an enigma. Some plays we are brilliant. Then the next play we are terrible. Consistency…..
Usually a lack of consistency comes from lack of experience. I did not think this was an issue on defense this year. I am seeing that depth is an issue. This seems to be a major factor as the defense seems to play well at first and gets worse as the game goes on. In the late third and fourth quarters, they have a hard time stopping anyone with any consistency.
I think that next year, we will see a lot of true and redshirt freshmen on the field – on both sides of the ball.
Shane expressed confidence in his backs to make something out of nothing, even if the offensive line doesn’t execute its blocks perfectly, which has been an issue with this group. Will tell us something we haven’t been seeing Shane. As a coach you need to look at what strengths the O-Line does have and run those plays. Does this mean our O-Line has no strengths?
So I guess now all the coaches are going to blame the other coaches. It’s not my guys it’s his. Yea we need some coaching changes bad.
Great job Andy.
Coxster, Shane coaches kick returns.
So, is Shane gradually assuming the Golden Crown of BeamerBall from his daddy? I sure hope he does better with it than he’s done with the RB assignment that Frank wrested from Billy Hite to give to Shane. That move has demoted Hokie rushing from some of the most consistent in the nation over the last three decades to a laughingstock. One of the worst squads in the nation, in terms of raw numbers AND in terms of impact on the game. Beyond horrible.
Remind me again, who is the RB coach? The anointed replacement for his daddy? So we get this in the future? Gee, I better rush to send in my Hokie Club dues as fast as I can. Maybe even upgrade…
Everybody on the staff coaches something on special teams except O’Cain.
The problem is lack of “road grader” on the offense line. As I have all season long, they are better suited for pass protection than for run blocking. If Tech would revisit their recruiting philosophy and start recruiting big offensive linemen who have already been trained in the fine art of run/pass blocking, that would take care of one issue. This team has multiple issues and as someone pointed out at the keyplay.com, the last 3 recuriting classes were lackluster. I also seem to recall Tech stockpiled on tight ends rather than spreading out the team needs.
So, Frank has been raking in all the special teams ‘credit’ but really has nothing to do with them? Why has this not been made public? Not in a – ‘point the blame’ – manner, but whenever it’s discussed that Frank Beamer, as head coach, personally oversees the special teams because he thinks it is THAT important? That kind of manner?
Is the truth that Frank Beamer oversees the special teams in the same way he oversees the entire team, he ‘oversees’ various position coaches and coordinators? He’s ‘in charge’, but he doesn’t actually get hands on in anything?
What is the real story here? (not a slam at Andy at all, but an honest explanation from the VT staff seems necessary)
Tech hasn’t had a decent offensive line for several years now. The true difference is that they’ve had such talented feature RBs that they could mask the pitiful offensive lines with the RB talent.
Geez, you guys are quick to jump on anything right now. All the coaches are invovled in special teams except O’Cain. Frank takes a big role in coaching special teams. Very hands on. There’s enough different units for everyone to have a big role in coaching them.
Saw the helmets for Homecoming, I am SICK of the CONSTANT changing helmets and uniforms by the Hokies, stick to the real Hokie uniform, maroon shirt and white pants and maroon helmet. Get back to basics and practice football instead of meetings constantly to decide what new combo of uniform to wear this week.
Get used to it Andy. Lot of finger pointers on here. Plus, they seem to think they are qualified to be coaches.
Hey, we’re 3-3, and looking at a 6-6 season, maybe even worse (if that IS possible). We’re cranky. Excuse us for remembering the empty MNC trophy case that Frank ordered built after Michael Vick’s arrival, and the zero progress towards filling it with crystal.
The trends some of us have complained about for years have manifested. It’s the whole insular ‘circle the wagons’ mindset that is dragging us down.
The feedback from the coaching staff seems to sound too much like – ‘It’s not US, it’s got to be anybody else…’
Why does Shane coach the running backs? I think someone who actually played the position would be better suited.
Crooked road is on fire today. Must be a bad week for him.
Andy, I think only four guys posted so far. Cd has ten of them.
They are jumping on everything now because of all the frustration. Being stonewalled by 10 wins and a bowl while ignoring the on- going and growing problems has taken us to this season. As we all know, this is not entirely about 2012–the staff putting its head in the sand and the team and some fans being more interested in the uniform of the week than in the product on the field is the center of this issue,imo.
If the coaching and play could remotely compare to the pr and marketing of this program and individuals we’d be in pig skin paradise.
Do you really think the team is more interested in the uniform of the week than in the play on the field? Really??? Think about that. That’s one heck of an indictment. With all of the practices, position meetings and film sessions these players have to go through and you make a statement like that. I won’t insult you the same way you insulted them.
As far as the PR. What do you folks want to hear? You want the coaches to come out and say the players aren’t as good as they have been in the past and our coaches aren’t good either?? That will help team morale and insure a losing season? It’s the PR from the so-called loyal Hokie fans that needs to improve. It’s definitely one of the big negatives about the internet.
By the sound of this interview with Shane, expect the same approach and the same results from the Tech offense. Admit that you don’t have the offensive line or the backs to “run downhill” or play “smashmouth football” and then continue to try and do so.
Let’s face it guys…the Hokies are in trouble on this sinking ship of a season. With the lack of performance in all phases of the game and the finger pointing getting fired up between the coaches, Duke could come into Blacksburg Saturday and blow another big hole in the boat that sends it to rock bottom. They are truly at a turning point for the entire program Saturday…what will be the fallout from a loss to Duke or just barely getting by them? Hokies better dig down deep…..
If VT doesn’t start winning, all of the Bdeamer family will be history. Shane is definitely in the wrong position, doesn’t have a clue about what he is doing and Frank is no longer motivated; really doesn’t have to be with $$ 2+ mil a year.
OK, things are not perfect in Blacksburg. There’s insight for you. Lots of folks clamoring for change from the waterboy to the head coach. Can major teams change just like that? Is it that easy? Well, some did. Bear Bryant had a kid from Pennsylvania that ran his sprint out offense. That’s right, Joe Namath was initially a sprint out quarterback; he was very fast. He hurts his knee and Alabama changes to a pro-style offense. After getting smashed by So. Cal. in a bowl, he breaks tradition again, and recruits black players. Does anyone remember Jimmy Sharpe? He came from Alabama under Bryant where he had introduced the Wishbone offense. So, change can happen. But, the need to change has to happen in the mind of the head coach first. But, I believe that the middle of the season is not the time to make these changes.
Since everyone else on this blog is expert coach, I’ll offer my perspective. Somehow, some way, Tech is not only tipping when we are going to run the ball, but also where. Against Clemson last year, Pitt and NC this year, at the snap of the ball, the defense had more guys at the point of attack than we did. And, I mean it happened almost every running play. Something is amiss. Jim Brown couldn’t run against a defense that knows where he is going to go. It ain’t the running backs, maybe a little lack of skill in the offensive line, but it ain’t the problem. Tech is tipping its running game; and, that change is needed now.
I watched the WVU/Texas game. Great quarterback at WVU, but also receivers that don’t drop passes. Ever! I believe that since Tech can’t play smash mouth football, spread it out and throw just about every down. Thomas can do it. It’s like chicken soup when you’re sick; it can’t hurt.
Foster’s defense is getting lit up time and time again. NC scores 48, and it’s blame Stinespring. Absolutely no pressure on opposing quarterbacks. None. The front four are getting pushed around. Tech used to get after’em every play. Not anymore.
We haven’t had a good O line since Grimes left. This issue is not the running backs, it’s the O line coaching. You cannot run thru holes that are not there. The biggest factor is the play calling as I stated earlier, how can you expect to run the ball well when you attempt a true run only 5 times in a game?!? On to Beamer, he is the Head Coach. He is overall responsible for every aspect of that team. Motivation, coaching, building a family(as he says). He has gotten too distracted by his fat salary and endorsements to effectively coach special teams like the good ol days.
If you all want to see in depth detailed analysis, head over to http://www.thekeyplay.com, and read through it. It was enough to make me want to lose my lunch. UNC simply manhandled Tech, offensively, and defensively. I expect the same through the next 6 games. I don’t know if Tech will win any game from this point forward. I simply don’t know.
I don’t know much, but I do know this: lose to Duke and the earth will open up and swallow Blacksburg … and that will be the BEST we can wish for. I agree with others on this page who are concerned about getting even one more win. Everyone remaining on the schedule is licking their chops to have a run at VT. And remember: s#!+ in one empty trophy case and wish in the other – see which one fills up first.
The real question is why would anyone in their right mind design plays that only work if every player executes their assignment for a bunch of 18-22 year old college kids?
There are 11 players for each team on the field. That means, on any given play, you have a 9.1% chance it will go off perfectly and a 90.9% chance that one will miss an assignment (just doing the numbers).
The trick is to design plays that don’t require perfection. But that might require some actual coaching…….
Trevor thanks for the link and a good post on top of that…I’m right there with you. The analysis on that link just illuminated what I already knew…that Tech is getting out performed on both sides of the ball in nearly every game. French just put it in all too vivid detail. Like I posted earlier, the Hokies had better dig down deep, from the top dog to the water boy if they have any hope of finishing .500.
Talk about fair weather friends. With Crooked Road and Barry on your side you don’t need enemies.
I read the key play article, Trevor, yes, it was great analysis as usual. I would like to preface this comment by saying that I am not a coach, nor have I been privy to the team’s practices or what goes on behind the scenes. However, I do watch the games and I know what I have seen played out on the field (and most bowl games) and that is definitely not good PR for VT football. I think fans are frustrated in general about the future of the program. The changes that were made about one year and a half ago weren’t enough. Yes, Shane has greatly improved recruiting, which we are seeing how important that is this year and was definitely necessary. Whether he is a good running backs coach, well I don’t know. The jury is still out on that one. I liked the article Aaron wrote about VT football and how we are having the dreaded down year. This is something we all knew was coming. This happens in all programs. The problem this year the defense finally isn’t able to carry our offense. Yes, Andy has eagerly reminded us of a few games like Miami last year and a couple of others where this wasn’t the case, but most of the time that has been the case. I guess what I would like to say is how nice it would be for the program to have a great offense. One that can win ballgames consistently. There are programs out there where the teams defense lets the other team score, but that is okay, no problem, because their offense can score as well. I also would like to see VT have a good o line. Get a coach who has a decent résumé to run the offensive line. Recruit some good o line players. Remember the older ladies question to Shane Beamer last summer? Another great article from Aaron. She asked him about o line recruiting. This is about years of frustration, not one down season. I keep hearing about cosistency on the coaching staff. Yes consistency is wonderful if the program is moving forward. Look at our recent losses. The teams who beat us this season were Cincy, Pitt, and UNC. All with new coaches and one program under sanctions by the NCAA. Also, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t Brady Hoke a first year coach when Michiigan beat us last year? How does that speak to VT fans who hear the words consistency on the staff every year while spending their hard earned money to watch a team who are only a few miseed blocks, or a few missed tackles away from a bowl victory? Is hearing we were so close cutting it? I have said this before, and yes I am saying now that I don’t want Frank Beamer gone, but he is going to have to make some staff changes this year. This is an action that is long over due. In conclusion, this statement is coming from a fans perspective. I don’t pretend to be a coach. I am only a fan.
It might look better if they will ever play a ranked team. 3-3 and not one yet. That is pitiful!! And the worst part is they could still win their division. What is this saying about the acc??
The problem is not the RBS. This falls completely on the shoulders of the offensive line. Their blocking has been, well..offensive. IF our RB’s weren;t as good as they are, they’d be taking 3-5 losses every play, by my count. the fact that they can actually pick up a yard or two here or there behind this line speaks well to their talent.
Stuck record department. Tech is tipping its running game, and has been for some time. We don’t tip the passing game, but six defenders that show up at the point of attack at the snap of the ball time and time again makes it tough for any OL to block well. One man’s opinion. You have to wonder why Clemson takes extraordinary care with signals. NSA could figure those guys out. Maybe they know how easy it is to break the code.
Zman,I know I’m as guilty as anyone else of griping and moaning about the abysmal season we’ re having, but if I can ill be in Blacksburg Saturday watching or at least sitting in a tree stand with one ear plug in listening to the game on the radio . I really hope the Hokies will rise to the occasion, starting with Duke and salvage the rest of their season. But that’s going to take a monumental,,true team effort to do. As poorly as they’ve played, they still could win their division and play in the ACC title game and go on to a decent bowl game….and I’m still pulling for them to do it . The frustration of it all is showing up every where, the coaches, the players, the fans and here online.
Hey Eagle, did you know VT hasn’t played a ranked team yet? Just wondering, since you haven’t mentioned it.
Just call up the VT athletic office and have them change the schedule to what you want. It’s just that easy.
Nevermind the ranked teams on the schedule later in the season, and that the order that they are played doesn’t matter. Pesky details.
I can tell you what our problem is right now, WE ARE BAD THIS YEAR. There is not way to narrow it down, but hey for you guys I will try. Logan Thomas is the most overrated QB in the nation. Hands down. People were saying he will win the Heisman and be the number one draft pick but he isn’t even in the top 5 QB’s in the ACC!!! He is big. That’s it. The receivers do not help him much though, bc they are not that good either. The running game is also non-existant, bc the RB’s are not good. The defense is also not good. Its not just coaching during the game, its the players overall skill level! You are telling me we, Virginia Tech, what some would call a football powerhouse can’t get any better tail backs? Or better safety’s? How many tackles were missed in the open field last week bc our defense was getting blown off the ball and the safety’s were too slow to make plays? What are they thinking bringing these below average players in to play? I don’t see it getting better this year. I wouldn’t be surprised with losses to Duke, Clemson, FSU, and Miami. And people were actually saying we had BCS hopes during the pre-season…give me a break.
Frank picked him to be QB. I think VT has great player talent but underdeveloped by our coaching staff. It is the coaches, they are single- handedly the number one problem. Winning is not everything, it is the only thing in football.