Post-game wrap: Hokies’ offense can’t keep pace in 38-17 loss to Clemson
Another disappointing outcome for the Hokies, who couldn’t do enough offensively to stick with Clemson in a 38-17 loss. Read my game story here.
I have to get on the road here pretty soon, so I’ll try to wrap this up quickly on the blog.
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** The game story has most of the details about the offensive struggles, which offensive coordinator Mike O’Cain, in a familiar refrain, said came down to a few plays. (And yes, I realize this will tick off a large portion of the fan base.)
“It’s a simple game,” O’Cain. “It’s making plays. And we didn’t make plays.”
Clemson’s defense is not great, yet the Tigers have had the Hokies’ number in all three games the last two years.
Tech managed 406 yards and 17 points against a Clemson defense that entered the game ranked 97th nationally in total yards and had allowed an average of 523 yards and 37 points a game against ACC foes.
Despite the struggles, the Hokies aren’t tearing everything down on offense during the bye week.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of re-examining,” O’Cain said. “That’s not a question. … It’s not so much what we’re doing. It’s a matter of doing what we’re doing better. And again, I know I keep saying it over and over: make plays when your number is called.”
** Telling stat: In the second half of the last three games with Clemson, Virginia Tech has been out-scored 62-7.
** You can’t overlook the early mistakes in this loss. Trailing 7-3, Clemson punted to start the second quarter. It was short, though, and glanced off the leg of unsuspecting Hokies receiver Christian Reeves, a big special teams gaffe.
The Tigers recovered at the Tech 26 and would capitalize with a touchdown run by Tajh Boyd to take a 10-7 lead.
Two possessions later, quarterback Logan Thomas sailed a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Clemson safety Jonathan Meeks and returned 74 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 17-10 lead.
“The ball just came out of my hand real bad,” Thomas said. “It slipped out of my thumb and my pointer finger and it just floated away. … I knew right away.”
** Missed opportunities were the tale of the second half. Thomas overthrew Dyrell Roberts on what would have been a sure touchdown on the first drive of the second half. Hit that and it’s 17-17. Instead, the Hokies still trailed.
“The defense wasn’t set and I was expecting them to kind of keep it a little bit skinnier, go down the sideline and he was thinking bend it a little bit,” Thomas said of the read play. “I guess we missed by a yard or something like that, and that would’ve put us tied with them. Like I said earlier, the third quarter just didn’t go our way.”
** A huge stretch came in the third quarter with back-to-back questionable calls. I’ll go to the portion I wrote for my game story:
The Hokies looked to be in business when Thomas stood his ground in the pocket with a defender wrapped around his ankles and completed a third-down pass to running back J.C. Coleman that would have moved the chains. Instead, the officials whistled the play dead, inexplicably so from the Hokies’ perspective.
“I don’t know that I’ve seen that called,” a perplexed Frank Beamer said to reporters after. “Y’all seen that called lately?”
“It changed the tides right there,” Thomas said. “But we can’t do anything about it now.”
After a punt, Tech thought it forced a huge turnover, jumping on a ball knocked loose from receiver Sammy Watkins by safety Detrick Bonner. It was initially ruled down but was reviewed after some prodding by Beamer. Officials upheld the call, although replay made it look like it could have gone either way.
“Those plays get the momentum going and the whole game changes a little bit,” Beamer said.
Clemson scored 14 points right after that to break the game open.
** That late wide receiver option pass by Marcus Davis was a play the Hokies had tried earlier. The first time they failed to complete the first lateral in the play and it went out of bounds. Coaches saw that the receiver was open, though, so they went back to it.
Clemson read the second one the whole way, however, and it was picked off by safety Xavier Brewer.
“We thought it was worth another try,” O’Cain said. “And obviously it didn’t pan out. I think sometimes plays like that, they can be really big or they can be really bad. And you’ve got to take those chances at time.”
** You can’t overlook the running game’s struggles, although the stats didn’t look like it. Thomas was almost all of the success there, with a career-high 99 rushing yards and a late 19-yard touchdown.
But the running backs, a week after looking like they might be breaking out, combined for 93 yards. None of them had more than Tony Gregory‘s 29. And Gregory fumbled at the end of one run, fortunate to have it bounce right to wide receiver Corey Fuller.
Gregory and Martin Scales averaged 6.2 yards per carry, but Coleman and Michael Holmes averaged 2.2 yards per carry. Holmes was stuffed early on a fourth-down run when Tech was leading 7-0.
** On defense, Virginia Tech couldn’t have asked for much more, despite the scoreboard saying 38 points at the end.
Clemson, which entered Saturday average 525 yards a game, finished with only 295 yards against the Hokies. It’s the second-fewest yards gained by a Chad Morris offense in his 34 games as a college coordinator. (Bud Foster‘s crew has now held Morris’s offense to two of his three worst performances.)
Virginia Tech pressured Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, sacking him five times and intercepting him once, although it wasn’t enough to offset bad field position and a struggling offense.
Three of the Tigers’ touchdown drives started on the Hokies’ side of the 50. Another started at the 48. (The fifth touchdown was a result of an interception return.)
“It’s very frustrating, but it happens sometimes,” defensive end James Gayle said.
The Hokies forced six three-and-outs, held Clemson to 135 rushing yards and only 160 passing but still came up short.
“With an offense like that, if you can keep them in check, you definitely give yourself a chance to win,” linebacker Bruce Taylor said. “We just didn’t get it done.”
** Safety Michael Cole, a Cave Spring product, made his second interception in as many games.
This one was highlight-reel worthy. Boyd overthrew a pass across the middle in the first quarter. Cole slipped as he changed direction and fell on his back but still managed to snag it out of the air.
It’s the third turnover the redshirt freshman has come up with in the last two games. He also recovered a fumble against Duke.
** A few quick hitters:
- Linebacker Tariq Edwards (knee) played for the first time this year, getting in during the third quarter.
- Kicker Cody Journell made a 40-yard field goal just before halftime. He’s made 20 of 21 going back to last year.
- Defensive tackle Luther Maddy had two of the Hokies’ five sacks. He has four in the last two games.
- Left guard David Wang (knee/ankle) started and played the whole game.
- Fuller had four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Davis had six catches for 58 yards.
** Lastly, the Hokies aren’t folding up shop yet. With a 2-2 ACC record and a head-to-head game with Miami coming up, the lackluster Coastal Division — amazingly — remains wide open. (UNC, which is probably the best team, is ineligible.)
“It’s pretty simple: we’ve just got to win,” cornerback Antone Exum said. “We’re still in the hunt. As crazy as that sounds, at 4-4 we’re still in the hunt. We have to go down to Miami and handle business.”
October 20, 2012 - 4:19 PM
I think this was the first game in nearly 15 years where, going in, I didn’t think Tech had a shot at winning (but of course I was chearing like mad for them). So…the end result is not unexpected. What is upsetting is that there were 3 REALLY bad calls (no PI on Marcus Davis, forward progress of Thomas, and fumble by Watkins) within a couple of minutes that killed their chances. Looking forward to see what the ACC will say about those later in the week.
On the other hand, because of the way they played, if VT plays well against UM, I will feel a lot better about the FSU game because of Tech’s performance today. GO HOKIES!!!
They SUCK!
Here we go HokieForester first out of the gate with excuses. LOL Medioocre team at best. Better hope they don’t make to ACC championship because they will get the crap beat out of them.
The three bad calls did not cost VT the game. The TV commentators kept harping on it, the play calling was too conservative. And, after reading a story this week about Coleman not being recruited until he approached VT Clemson had Rodriquez who wanted to walk on at VT carry the flag onto the field. The recruiting at VT is almost as good as the offense.
Didn’t say it cost them the game…just that it killed their chances. The play calling simply “drove the nail in the coffin”…but they were dead and in the coffin before the nail was driven. The ball was given to Clemson 3 times in a row – 3 3rd downs and the Clemson lost fumble. Anybody who didn’t think at least 1 of those was a major miss by the officials (all 3 were) just didn’t watch it. Bad calls are a part of the game and a good team will over come…but losing 3 possesions in a row will put a hurtin’ even the best of teams. As I said, the end result is what I expected…just not how I thought they’d get there.
The commentators also remarked after the poorly thrown ball by Davis that was intercepted, “what kind of offense is VT trying to run if they don’t trust their quarterback to throw the ball”! I have been wondering that question for several years…Stinespring is possibly the worst OC in college football. We were too deep in a hole to launch a trick play like that and it cost us dearly. Until changes are made in the Off. coaching staff, we will continue to be a mediocre team in ACC with no hope of playing for a NC!
Sorry, but the fumble by Watkins most definitely could NOT “have gone either way”.
Video replay from multiple angles clearly and indisputably showed the ball out of Watkins’ grip with his butt still a good 6-12 inches from the ground.
The fact that the officials on the field blew the call is unfortunate but understandable.
The fact that the brain-dead idiot in the replay booth failed to overturn the call despite clear and undeniable evidence that it was wrong is unforgivable.
My 9-year old niece could have made that call. That particular moron should never be allowed to work another college game again.
Defense was good, but again they play without a chance to rest because the offense can’t stay on the field. Offense is without coaching, soul or desire.
I am tired of ineffective offense. Beamer fix it!! I don’t care what YOU have to do, but YOU fix it. You are being paid more than I will make in my lifetime to do this. It is great that you get that, but EARN it! Right now, your fans are losing faith in you. You have made a huge mistake in being bosom buddies with your staff. You need to change it up on your coaching staff. Let the OC and OL coaches go. Pull in someone with proven success. If you don’t we will be howling for your head in a couple of years. Some already are. I say you have earned three years grace. That is an eternity these days. If you just do not care anymore, if you don’t have the passion, then please leave, retire. We need you to do what you USED to do. If you keep this up, it just tarnishes the accomplishments that you do have. If the players do not execute, is that not rooted in coaching? If you are down in depth, aren’t you responsible? That is what I want to hear from you. That the buck stops with you. You and your staff make the money. The players do not. I can’t believe I am writing this!! I have always thought the world of you guys. Stiney is a great guy!! He is not a great OC. Another poster made a point. Your DC has had numerous offers to go elsewhere. Your OC has had NONE!! Now, for the love of God, fix this!! Maybe you don’t care, but when ticket sales fall past a point, you will. This keeps up, all those sell outs at Lane end. Take a break from endorsements and coach! Maybe I will not go to Stop-In. Maybe I won’t get K-Guard gutters. Maybe I and others will start avoiding the places you endorse. You do have power in this area, but it is fleeting. If you don’t take care of business, it goes away. Frank, right now YOU are not taking care of business. I am loyal enough to hope you can fix this and in three years. I am not loyal enough to you to want to see you leave the program as you found it.
Maybe you are secretly hoping you will be forced to make changes. Maybe you don’t have the heart to fire a friend. Well, I hope the AD has balls enough to do it. Our team is on the way to being, what was it that Bud said…..oh yes, a dogass team.
HokieForester so you don’t think Tech has never had the benefit of a close call or missed call? Your living in a dream world buddy just like Beamer and his so called coaches.Also I didn”t say anything about it costing Tech the game. I said you were the firt out the gate with excuses. You guys live in a dream world just like Beamer and his coaches who couldn’t coah a high school team. Only one worse I’ve seen is Poindexter and his special teams coaching at UVA. Wish they still had the “Poulan Weedeater Bowl” In Shreveport, LA. That’s were Tech would end up LOL 6 losses are coming ladies, Count ‘em.
The freeze frame shows that it was obviously a fumble. You should really consider updating the story before it goes to press.
Fire Stinkey Stiney.
Ah, bad officiating now, huh? Funny when it goes VT’s way, no complaints. Simply not an excuse, boys and girls. Clemson played terribly and still whipped up on VT today. Just learn from it, tired of reading about all these same, lame excuses. A quote, “It is what it is”. Sound familiar?
It is obvious that wholesale changes need to be made in the offensive coaching ranks. The reality is that nothing will happen. Blame will be put solely on the players. The fans will be told to like the product they are given…and pay more for it. If nothing else, remove the empty trophy case that Frank obviously cannot fill.
Very disappointing, if not surprising. Beamer needs to own this and get it addressed. The offensive side of the staff needs wholesale changes and a special teams coach needs to be brought in. They are no longer an advantage. We could take touchbacks all day and have better field position than we did on kickoffs today and don’t even talk about the punt team. I saw two groups of athletes that were not that different in terms of talent, the difference was preparation and game planning. Hats off to Foster and the defense, they kept us in it up until late.
Dear Virginia Tech homers who can’t see straight,
I apologize for the long rant but please stop making excuses for what has now become business as usual for Virginia Tech football. I’m a Hokie fan, but I’m tired of being told how good we are or going to be every year, how great Frank Beamer is, etc. None of which ever adds up because when I watch the games reality sets in and I see something completely different. I’m tired of being known as overated every year. I’m tired of not being taken seriously as a national contender because we don’t beat anyone that gives us much credibility. I’m tired of hearing about 10 win seasons anytime there is any criticism, yet we have NO real big time signature wins that give us a backbone to stand on as a nationally relivant program. Those 10 win seasons are nice and look great on paper, but we have really no big bowl wins, regular season out of conference wins, and on top of that we play in a mediocre conference. I’m tired of the coaches talking out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to meeting expectations. I’ve heard for over a decade now the coaches talk about one day winning a national title yet when those expectations are never even close to being met, all I hear are excuses and the same lame 10 win arguement. That arguement has become about as stale as the program and most of this coaching staff. I have higher expectations because the Virginia Tech football program have set those expectations, led by the coaches. A special trophy case was built in the football complex for a future championship trophy. So as a rational supporter, I have every right to get sick and tired of the same football product that doesn’t even come close to meeting those expectations THEY SET.
I see a lot of shrinking in big moments with this program. I see a lot of playing not to lose and uncertainty about what our identity really is. I see a serious lack of attention to detail, which shows up in a big way on game day. I see a lack of intensity and sense of urgency in this program. I see a lack of ability to evolve and do what it takes to get to a higher level. There is something seriously missing with this program. It starts at the top and unless there is some change and a major attitude adjustment within this program, this is the beginning of the decline of Virginia Tech football. I think this program is at a crossroads right now and it could either get better or a whole lot worse.
So again Homers, please stop making excuses and face reality of where this program stands at this moment. If you want Tech to be a big boy program, start expecting more accountibility from those at the top.
Andy, Stinespring is the offensive coordinator not O’Cain. Did you happen to interview him after the game. Why do we rarely hear from Stiney? Would love to know your answer.
“…We could take touchbacks all day and have better field position than we did on kickoffs today…” Just today??? I have been thinknig that all season (aside from just a few). Coaches must have decided that the chance of taking it back is worth the loss of 5-10 yards (or more). One would hope this is also on the list of things to be re-evaluated.
Andy…have you heard andy discussions on this?
And Brian, most people who comment on this post share your feelings. Unfortunately, the people who can change the offensive situation aren’t listening. This is beyond frustrating for a lot of us in Hokie Nation. And p.s. I am not talking about the players.
Amen and well said David in Salem and Brian. Some pressure has to be applied to the VT Admin. This is a crisis and Beamer has to put aside his loyalty to his staff
and show some loyalty to the school, alums and fans by firing his OC staff and bring in fresh blood with fresh ideas. Hopefully, any new OC will have some pro experience on his resume. No More Excuses!!!
I am appealing to the big donors out there…make your voices heard and close your checkbooks until you are heard.
Weaver needs to start acting like an AD and do something about this crappy staff. Beamer is so overrated the guy couldn’t out coach a dead joe paterno he has no swagger or intensity on the sidelines it’s pretty bad. He will go down in histoy as a coach who couldn’t take Tech to that next level because he is so stubborn and lost every big game he coached in and beat 1 top 5 oppenent in his tenure. AWFUL!
The O staff is so conservative they are afraid of success. That has to be the problem. They don’t seem to be ashamed of failure.
I am as frustrated as everyone else with this season has gone. And for the last few years, I have wanted to see some changes on offense. This season has just added to that feeling. This is sad!!!!
But earlier I saw an interesting comment on ESPN’s website, that makes me feel grateful it isn’t worse than it is. When they posted today’s score for the Auburn-Vanderbilt game, they commented that Vanderbilt sent Auburn to their worst start since 1952. Just a couple of years from the national championship!! Probably will get the coach fired.
Could be worse!
“could have gone either way”??? I don’t know what you were watching…
Could be worse? Auburn has a NATL title! What do we have?
UNC crushes us, we crush Duke, Duke beats UNC… The ACC is a disaster!
Beamer is turning into Paterno and Bowden before our eyes… Old guys who stayed to long. The game has passed them bye.
Sure, Beamer can win games in the lousy ACC, but it you want to play with and beat the big boys, you need young and hungry coaches…. People at VT have made a lot of money and that’s softened them up..
All those 10 win seasons are a joke… Find a big win against a quality out of conference team…. There aren’t any.
Most of those 10 win seasons have been against mostly cupcakes. Bring back Austin Peay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with the post about all those 10 win seasons are a joke, and the quote “find a big win against a quality out of conference team”. The ACC is the laughing stock of college football right now. It seems our coaching strategy is to get to the ACC championship – and that’s about it. We always crap a brick against what have been quality out of conference teams…like..Boise State, Alabama, USC, and the list goes on and on (I didn’t cover all of the quality out of conference teams we played in post season bowl games and lost). The empty tropy case is a joke, and is collecting dust quickly.
I believe an ealier post captured what needs to be done succinctly:
“I am appealing to the big donors out there…make your voices heard and close your checkbooks until you are heard.”
The only thing that will motivate a coaching shake up at VT is our checkbooks.
A change in philosophy is needed at Virginia Tech with the football program. Time has proven that is not going to happen.
Coaching changes need to be made at Tech.
The football program at Tech is in a free fall into darkness, and many of us have seen it coming for several years lately.
The ten win seasons and the bowl game streak are hollow, as many of the fans at other schools know and will gladly point out to Tech fans. Those things are made up of wins against lesser opponents and not against the best teams. The bowl streak is weak also, there are so many bowl games that being selected for a bowl game is no big deal.
This football program is in serious trouble, and somebody needs to do something about it.
The commentators yesterday were criticizing the VT coaches play calls as “too conservative”. How many times have you seen commentators (who are basically supposed to be neutral) get so fed up with watching the same damn thing over and over again, that they criticize the coaching? I hope ADJW gets the message soon, because we are at a crossroads here.
Frank should retire.
He and Bobby Bowden could spend some time together in the old coach retirement home. Bobby could reflect on all his great wins and Frank could tell Bobby how he really liked the continuity he had with his staff.
Frank should not retire. He alone built this program and you guys want to run him out on a rail. This is not O’ Brother where art thou. Beamer deserves your praises and not the hostile abuse he gets on here. He has brought in the areas best talent and made them give their best each and every game. We have been spoiled with the Vick brothers and scrambling QBs for so long that when we get a legit pocket QB we think he can make plays. The O-line is beat up….3rd stringers starting. We have 2nd string Wrs and Rbs playing. Give Beamer time to develop this young team into the 10 win machines you all expect. Everything I have read says that we are going to win the Coastal and get into the championship game. A win there and back to a BCS bowl. I’ll take that playing as many reserves as we are playing. We can beat Miami-overated,and you know what happens here on Thursday nights. That Fla St team showed me nothing last night. The winning starts in Miami with time to get healed up. So until that game show some respect. By the way a Wr pass is not playing conseravtive!!!!!!!!
I was listening to the game on the radio after coaching my pop warner team. I heard the radio announcers say late in the game the Hokies tried a trick play that had been tried earlier in the game! I’m thinking “ARE YOU KIDDIN ME?” Even in the most infant stages of football you learn that trick plays have a slim chance of working the FIRST TIME you try them. But to try the same play twice in the same game?? OMG!
I’m on board with the rest of Hokie fans that believe at a minimum, we need to bring in new blood on the offensive coaching staff. I hope the “powers that be” are looking hard at what’s best for the future of VT football!
@BBAT: What have you been smoking? Please change your name as other’s have requested, it just shows your ignorance of the game. Don’t ya know you have to earn respect?
Some really bad calls, and we find a new way to loose each week. The play calling was weak. I was proud of the defense .
A few really costly mistakes on Beamer ball. It all adds up to another loss. When we loose we usually beat ourselves .
The short coach
Yes BBat, the WR pass is not playing conservative. That play call was just plain stupid. The commentators were talking about how slow developing the play was giving Clemson ample opportunity to defend. I don’t have to rely on commentators to see what is happening on the field by the way. I can see all of this for myself. I don’t want to see Frank Beamer fired either. He does deserve respect. I am also tired of him getting crapped on in big games by the officials. I know this happens to all teams, but my goodness. What blatant missed calls yesterday. Beamer needs to replace his entire offensive staff. Shuffling his current staff around to handle different positions will not produce any positive results. This is long over due. If he just can’t do it, then JIm Weaver must force him to take action.
The VT coaching staff needs to recalibrate thier thinking…which is a LARGE part of the problem. Sometimes 406 yards is a great outing against a team that averages allowing 300 yards per game, but today is was 117 yards LESS than the season-to-date average of Clemson’s other opponents. I’m sure head coaches all around the country are calling Stiney and O’Cain this morning asking them to join thier staff.
The best way to judge your coaching staff is to see how many of them are being hired away from your staff or you are having to give significant raises to keep around. Stiney makes $350K (after how many years?), Clemson’s OC makes $1.1M (I don’t want to hear those are not apples-to-apples comparisons, I have seen this reported twice and Clemson’s OC isn’t making $750K from radio and school related endorsements and neither is Stiney).
Beamer Best All-Time…do you really want to win the coastal and get killed against Clemson or FSU in Charlotte on National TV so more commentators can talk about our conservative play calling with recruits watching?
Yes Beamer has built a program that didn’t exist. Yes, we have great facilities that didn’t exist. Yes, we have a great atmospher that didn’t exist. But keep in mind, there are almost 25 years of new VT fans that don’t know anything but 10 win seasons and bowl games and are also helping foot the bill up there.
If Beamer is serious about winning a National Champsionship before he leaves, he needs to have Todd McShay’s comments carved in stone and placed in the empty trophy case to motivate him to continue to improve (other teams have) or give anyone who passes by the reason it’s still empty.
Hey maybe Weaver would fire Beamed? That will never happen! Weaver does ‘t have the Garbonza’s to do that . They have coddled Beamer for so long it’s unreal. Donors need to put pressure on Beamer to get rid of some of that sorry staff.
Nobody wants to see Frank get fired.
He needs to realize when it is time to move on and retire. Nothing more pathetic than a guy hanging on too long.
Dear “Beamer Best all-time”:
I don’t know what you are smoking, but It must be good stuff. Yes CFB built the program, and no, I don’t want to see him run out on a rail, but let me ask you this question: What happens when you are an upper level manager at a corporation, and you continually fail to meet company goals and objectives? They fire your ass, or give you a chance at a gracious exit. How many 10 win seasons, ACC championships, and BCS bowls do you want? We can’t win the BCS bowls, so what’s the point? I’m glad you are satisfied with the way things are in the program, and want to defend CFB. Next time you are at a home game, why don’t you go stare at the empty trophy case?
Him and the football team still bring in a lot of money to the school, which means a lot. However something needs to be done on the offensive side.
Is there EVER going to be a chance in Hades that the powers to be….take the plunge
and get a new coaching staff…..thanks to the existing crew for giving it that good ‘ole
college try…..but it is more than time to move on & up……IF VT EVER wants to
get to the ELITE level……they need to move forward….the existing crew have hit &
past “their” peak……IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. There are FAR too many
great coaches out there that would LOVE to come to VT and bring a new/better
attitude to B Burg!!! So far…..the only thing that comes to mind is….the definition of insanity.
Mike, Chad Morris actually gets $1.3 million/year. He’s the highest paid coordinator in college football and only 3.5 years away from coaching high school football. Your point is well taken about the salaries. VT would have to pay A school to take Stiney. It will be a sad day in Clemson when Morris leaves for a head job somewhere…Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, or Texas.
I wish VT WOULD pay someone to take the OC and OL coaches. I never thought I would say this, but…choke…gaggg……can we get Ricky Bustle back???
This just off the news press, “Brian Stinespring applies for OC job at RiverHeads High school in Greenville, Va. Sources say that they did not accept his application due to spelling errors. Watch your local news for further details.
Did anyone record the 4-5 plays we had right before we were stuffed on 4th and 1 when we were up 7-0 in the first half? We put in 4 RBs in 4-5 consecutive plays. The exact order was like, Scale (who by the way actually got us a first down and then was taken out immediately), Gregory (came in cold), Coleman, and Holmes (also came in cold). So we got nothing and faced 4th and 1, and who do we hand the ball to??? A cold Holmes again, who had done nothing at that point. Why didn’t we give it back to Scales who actually got us a first down? What kind of coach would use 4 different RBs in 4 consecutive plays??? Seriously. That to me is bad coaching and lack of direction AND confidence in your running backs. A game is no time to experiment, let along a game like this.
I for once actually believe O’Cain is a decent QB coach, you don’t put two quarterbacks in the NFL (Tyrod and Logan) if you are not doing something right. He’s just not fit to call plays. Stingy needs to go, don’t even need to go there. But if we were to replace just one coach, I say it’s Newsome. Our O line is just downright pathetic. We need to throw these linemen into Sumo wrestling camp or something and toughen them up. Hire a Sumo coach, I don’t care, do something. If you can Sumo wrestle, you can block. But Newsome needs to go.