A bye week review: Taking a look at the offense
Usually, you’d do one of these midseason reviews at the midway point of the season. But the bye week presents a natural break, so I’m using it to take a look at both sides of the ball the next two days, pointing out some highs and lows.
Feel free to agree or disagree with my selections. The comments section is open for it.
The offense is up first …
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Rankings:
** Rushing offense: 175.0 ypg (72nd nationally, 5th ACC)
** Passing offense: 242.0 ypg (52nd nationally, 9th ACC)
** Total offense: 399.0 ypg (66th nationally, 9th ACC)
** Scoring offense: 29.0 ppg (58th nationally, 6th ACC)
High point: They have been few and far between, but the Hokies’ offense has had some moments. Probably the best they’ve looked was the final three-plus quarters of the Duke game. Tech scored 41 unanswered points and finished with 525 yards. It got long touchdowns from running back J.C. Coleman (45, 86 yards) and wide receiver Marcus Davis (42, 47 yards) and ran the ball as well as it has this year, finishing with 269 yards on the ground. At one point, the Hokies scored on seven of nine possessions.
Also considered: 4th quarter/overtime vs. Georgia Tech, 4th quarter vs. Cincinnati, passing game at North Carolina
Low point: Plenty of candidates here, but considering the talent of the opposing defense and the number of opportunities missed, we’ll go with the Clemson game last weekend. The Hokies managed only 17 points and 406 yards against a Tigers defense that was allowing 37 points and 523 yards a game against ACC foes. What pushed this one to the top is that the defense played a game that was probably good enough to win, and the offense couldn’t capitalize, frequently putting the D in unfavorable situations field position-wise.
Also considered: All of the Pittsburgh game, 1st half vs. Cincinnati
Biggest surprise: When D.J. Coles went down with a season-ending knee injury, it was a blow to Virginia Tech’s receiving corps. But Corey Fuller has stepped in to have a big season. The senior has 25 catches for 503 yards, both second on the team to Marcus Davis. He’s tied with Davis for the team lead with four touchdown receptions. And he’s come up big in big spots. He had two clutch catches on the tying drive against Georgia Tech, then jumped on a fumble to help Tech maintain possession. And he had what everyone thought was going to be a game-winning 56-yard touchdown catch in the final two minutes against Cincinnati.
Also considered: Coleman, Vinston Painter
Biggest disappointment: It has to be the running game as a whole. The Hokies didn’t have a 100-yard rusher until the seventh week, when Coleman burst onto the scene. The Hokies have had some big rushing games, but not consistently and not against the best competition. Tech ran for 96 yards against Georgia Tech, 59 against Pittsburgh and, worst of all, only 40 against North Carolina. It’s not all on the backs. The blocking has been inconsistent and, at times, non-existent. The Hokies are scrapping the four-back rotation this week. Frank Beamer says four is too many, but many fans are wondering why it took the staff eight weeks to come to that conclusion.
Also considered: Logan Thomas, the interior line, wide receiver drops/poor blocking
Offensive MVP: Davis has been good. He has 643 yards and is on pace for the school’s first 1,000-yard season by a receiver if the Hokies play 13 games. But he disappears at times and is uninterested in blocking most of the time. I’ll go a different route, then: left tackle Nick Becton. Nobody hears much about him because he’s a quiet, unassuming guy and plays a position that doesn’t garner a whole lot of attention. But he’s been consistently good. You don’t hear much about him, which for a left tackle, is a good thing. Tech has stopped posting individual grades after each game, but when it was putting them up, Becton was consistently the highest-rated lineman. Pass protection has been an issue at times this year for the Hokies, but it hasn’t been coming from Thomas’ blind side.
Also considered: Thomas, Davis, Coleman
Telling stat: Virginia Tech has 118 plays of 10 yards or more (tied for 28th nationally), 41 plays of 20 yards or more (tie for 16th nationally), 20 plays of 30 yards or more (tied for 13th nationally) and 14 plays of 40 yards or more (tied for fourth nationally). Yet the overall offensive stats are still lagging, showing just how inconsistent and reliant on the big play the Hokies’ offense has been.
Telling stat, Part II: Thomas has 10 interceptions through eight games, two of which have been returned for touchdowns. He had 10 in 14 games last year.
Telling stat, Part III: The Hokies are 3-for-13 on fourth downs this year. Their 23 percent success rate ranks 112th nationally. Eight times they elected to run on fourth down. Only twice did they convert. Their quarterback is still 6-foot-6, 250 pounds.
Outlook: Tech has had moments where it looks like a fully-functioning offense and then others where it looks completely lost. Some of this had to be expected, having had to replace the school’s two all-time leading receivers, four linemen, a tight end and an ACC Player of the Year-caliber running back. Add in injuries to Coles, a receiver expected to have a big role, and Andrew Miller, the only returning starter on the line, and it’s not crazy to see why this group has taken a step back.
But there are still enough flashes of success to drive the fan base crazy when things don’t come together consistently. Thomas hasn’t been as sharp as last year, although he’s being asked to do much, much more than last season. Consider this: for a 13-games season, he’s on pace to pass for more yards (3,103) and throw for more touchdowns (21) than he did a year ago, while putting up similar rushing numbers. He just hasn’t been nearly efficient, which is partly due to his supporting cast.
There’s no White Knight riding in to save the Hokies this year. The offensive line, particularly with a patched-together interior group, has its limitations, which affects both the passing and ground games. The running backs, as of now, don’t have a difference maker the caliber of David Wilson or Ryan Williams or Darren Evans. The receivers have been plagued by too many drops. And the play-calling, as many fans have fixated on, has been underwhelming a lot of the time. Add it together and it has made for a long year.
October 23, 2012 - 11:22 AM
You made me laugh with your “fully-functioning offense” comment.
Biggest dissapointment the interior line. If you make holes an average back can run through them. I would say we have more than average backs and as you stated LT is still 6-6, 250 pounds. The lack of an interior push is also why the coaching staff is trying to push everything wide and/or using misdirection instead of power.
At a minimum need a coach who can teach offensive linemen.
Beamer just now figured out a four-back rotation isn’t working? Just wow.
Love the commentary on Telling Stat III. Like they say, it’s funny because it’s true.
FRANKly, I am surprised special teams got no mention. There was yet another gaffe this weekend and some starting in the hole for the good ole BITB (block in the back) reasons.
Does the points per game total inlcude the PR and KR return for a touchdown? If so, the offense should not be given credit for those points.
Honorable mention not mentioned would be red zone offense. VT added to the Red Zone woes againt Clemson (which is one of the deceiving stats about the big plays- VT’s inability to perform in the Red Zone).
How the mighty have fallen, the road to the ACC football championship no longer goes through Blacksburg.
Any chance you will write a review on the coaching?
Fuller, Roberts and Davis are very good receivers. The Hokies definately have big play potential at those positions. Coleman should be used like Percy Harvin was used. He should be lined up in the backfield sometimes and he should be a wideout sometimes. With the four of them that is a tremendous amount of speed. Instead of going for the big play all the time shorten the routes. Every pass play seems to be to try and catch the receivers while they are running. Sometimes, to keep a drive going, the receivers should be finding the gaps in the defense, catch it and get down. Take the 4 or 5 yards and keep going. Clemson and every defense we have played knows the screen is coming. The Clemson db darn near jumped off sides because he knew it was coming. You would think the coaches saw that during the game, had the the offense huddled up on the sideline, with pictures, and adjusting the route of the receivers. The coaching staff just does not know how to set up one series to the next. A pump fake and a slant or with a little more patience waiting for the receiver to streak down the sideline would have killed Clemson. The coaches could have run that set all game on Clemson and kept adjusting it, adjusting it, and adjusting it.
The fact that LT is on pace to surpass his stats from last year and that Tech could have its first 1000 yard reciever should tell you that stats essentially are meaningless. Going into this season I thought way too much was made of LT’s stats last season considering the schedule we played. Look back at last season, the stats and record LOOK great. At the end of the day we didn’t beat anyone good (don’t tell me 8-5 GT and 8-5 UVA who both lost their bowl games much better than mediocre). The only really viable teams we played were Michigan and Clemson (Clemson showed down the stretch they were’t very good)and we lost all 3. So my point is stats are meaningless unless there is substance behind them. This could be a record breaking season stat wise as it was last year? It doesn’t matter and nobody cares. Fans and supporters want quality wins and want to measure up nationally, which isn’t happening.
The coaching staff needs to treat JC Coleman like Darren Sproles. Be creative and find other ways to get him the ball in space. The last 3-yrs the Saints have thrown him the ball more than hes rushed it. Both of these backs are short, light weight backs, but they’re electric when they have the ball in space. The last thing we should be doing is pounding him up the middle. The problem is this requires the coaching staff to be a little creative, and make adjustments which clearly they’re not good at. It shouldnt take 8 weeks to realize you dont want to use 4 RBs.
Speaking of Coaching Adjustments. In the last 13 months VT has lost to Clemson 3 times. All 3 of those games we’re close at Halftime. 17-10, 10-10 & 10-3. Yet all 3 ended in blowouts! Clemson outscored VT 62-7 in the 2nd Half of those 3 games. Does that not indicate that one team is making adjustments, and the other isnt?
Two things. First, to add some perspective, those national ranking numbers are out of 120 FBS (Division 1) schools, so to call Tech’s offense “mediocre” would be pretty much dead on. Again though, considering the turnover on the line and at skill positions, not very surprising. The telling stat III (112 out of 120 nationally on 4th downs is abysmal). Second, my thoughts on an MVP have always been that it is a player that the team either could not do without or would suffer greatly with that player not in the lineup. When you consider that with the exception of Coleman’s outburst against Duke, Logan Thomas has pretty much been the majority of the Tech offense both rushing and passing, I would have to give the MVP at this point to him. Interesting Andy that you have Logan as a consideration for both MVP and “biggest disappointment”. I think that pretty much says it all and falls nicely in line with the mediocre rankings the offense has achieved.
I really don’t have a problem with the Hokies using 4 running backs during the game. What I have a problem with are the adjustments. It seems as if that formation the Hokies use to run that screen is a big part of the offense. The coaches need to tinker with it then. The coaches never send a man in motion from that formation to see what the defense is going to do. It’s always lined up far away from the center too. Bring the receivers in closer to the center sometimes, have them crack back block. Have them go deep, and slip the tight end out there. There are all kinds of plays that they can design out of that formation. But never, when the defense is on the field do the offensive coaches huddle up the players and work with them. During the Clemson game I saw the tight ends for Virginia Tech open alot, but Logan Thomas kept chucking the ball long.
You are right Jack. There are no adjustments being made whatsoever. I would to be in the Hokie lockeroom during halftime to hear just what the coaches are saying!
//7.Any chance you will write a review on the coaching?//
* * Chuckle-chuckle * *
Don’t hold your breath. There is an incestuous relationship between the local media and coaches. \\ Speak no evil \\
Telling stat iii: Their quarterback is still 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. HAHA!! Absolutely love it. Its the little things Andy.
Peppers Ferry, get real. I’ve been critical of the coaching staff on here when warranted.
Andy, you made several great points up there. It is clear, as one poster puts it, the offense will live and die by Logan Thomas, who is clearly the runaway MVP of the offense. That’s a good and bad thing, which kind of sums it up, IMHO.
At this point in time, I am more concerned why the interior of the offense line, coached by Newsome, are getting decimated by injuries, and why is he constantly rotating in players. Example, somebody at the Key Play made the observation, when Wang is out, the rushing productivity goes up, and when he’s in, it goes down. I know that Wang’s brother was an All-ACC (and All-American, I think), but thus far, Wang is simply hobbled by injuries and has been rendered ineffective. One heavy crictisim I see from the Key Play’s break down of the offense line performance is the lack of “leg drive,” and that is entirely on Newsome’s teaching, or lack of. I personally thought the offense line personnel who were in the final touchdown drive againist Cincinnati should be the permanent starters. I also hate to say this, but I think Via is a better center than Miller, a few botched snaps notwithstanding, and it seem with him running as a center, the run blocking are slightly better.
I am more frustrated with Marcus Davis’ inconsistency, a season long issue, he is absolutely brilliant when he catches the football, but for some reason, he doesn’t particapate in run blocking. Oh sure, he threw a key block when Corey Fuller dashed in for the first touchdown against Clemson, but that should be a consistent perforamnce. I have seen several fans on Twitter calling for Davis to be benched to wake him up. Again, that’s a coaching issue.
Two weeks ago, Bud Foster and several coaches made players do up and downs and sprints for loafing. Was Marcus Davis ever made to do that?
The running back by committee approach could have been a wonder to behold if the offense line was consistently crushing the defense and creating lanes for them. I also question why Shane would rotate in and out running backs when they are getting hot instead of leaving them in. The question now is who will be the featured and complimentary backs from this point foward? Cases could be made that it is Gregory, Holmes, Coleman, and Scales (not necessarily in that order) that shold be the featured back, but I’m just glad I’m not going to have to look at the players in the eyes and tell him he won’t be on the field as much as he was.
In short, the offense is a mess with pleathora of issues, and it may be too late right now to try something new.
I don’t know how many scholarships are left, but the remaining emphasis should be on stocking up the trenches. If they are gonna go down to Texas to learn anything, learn where the big guys up front are. If you can’t get 5 star offensive and defensive lineman to come to Tech, at least get a bunch of 2 and 3 stars so you can rotate throughout the entire game. There’s an excellent running back at Heritage High School in Newport News. If you can’t get Green, they better grab him. I believe his last name is Abdullah.
Maybe they could run 8 backs instead of 4. Don’t count the Hokies out yet, they will probably lose to Miami and then beat FSU at home but there is a lot of football yet to be played. I do think they have 1 win left in them and maybe 2. Then it will be an adventure to see how things go next year, don’t you think?
Peppers Ferry, it’s not wise for Andy to blast away or mock the VT staff. He’s been critical previously, with a proper measured tone. He’s certainly not ‘cozy’ with them. He also certainly couldn’t print under his byline some of the things that are allowed on here. Andy is very balanced in his reporting.
I am going to change things up a bit. How about Marcus Vick being held in contempt of court today. That is one kid that never learned. Another thing why was he dating a 15 year old girl when he was at Tech with all those beautiful ladies walking around Tech?
In the greater sense, it is somewhat disappointing to see that Marcus Davis could very well end up having the best statistical season ever for a Hokie receiver. As obviously disinterested in playing a whole ballgame as Marcus Davis is, there will be lots of ignorant (uninformed) fans who then deem him ‘the best Hokie WR ever…’ based solely on the numbers. Marcus Davis’ laziness isn’t new this season, he’s done it his entire career. There’s never been any indication that his coaches have done things to motivate him discipline-wise.
Just another indication of the overall competence level that has been nurtured – not just allowed, but rewarded over the several years. Quite disappointing.
I am very optimistic that tech will win this weekend. Go hokies!!
VT has never had a very good control of problem players, discipline is a very foreign word unless it is some nominal gesture like prohibiting a player from riding the team bus. The tail is wagging the dog at the Hokie Nation and without some very big changes (and it will cost some cash) the Hokies are destined to repeat their mediocrity. It will look okay to the casual football observer as long as the ACC stays mediocre but when these other teams begin to excel, the party is over for VT. The Hokies have fallen terribly behind programs such as NC State, Clemson, Miami,. FSU, UNC, maybe even Wake and BC. And of course there is Pitt and Cuse’ coming in. Changes must be made soon.
I doubt that Tech will win this weekend, but they certainly won’t lose.
Fire Stinkey Stiney!!!!!!!!!
Beamer has to be the only coach in sports who doesn’t fire coaches on his staff he just gives them a pay raise and moves them to a new role! What a joke Beamer is I hope we start losing recruits because of this crap that has been going on for too long. Beamer is just a country bunkin who got lucky he landed Vick, Vick made Beamer and took tech to a national name not beamer he can’t even beat top teams he loses every big game he coaches in were now officially on UVA’s level.
I am sick of reading about the offense and changes that need to be made. Beamer has had years to do something, but nothing is done. Based on this, I would scrap everything wide open and return to a tight I – formation, run the backs on about 4 or 5 specific plays and learn to block these plays properly, and see what happens. maybe we can start winning 13 to 10, 17 to 14, or something like that. Welcome back Bill Dooley !!!!!!! or Jerry Clayborne.
Troy should get the cigar, he hit the nail on the head. VT football is and was about Michael Vick. Take him out of the equation and you have just another mediocre ACC team in a mediocre ACC conference. Anyone on this message board could have managed a top VT defense with the good players they have had from time to time.
I think we need to take away stinesprings x-box/playstation. The video game offense does not work in the real world. You cant hit “y” just because you called a play that doesn’t work and be ok by saying the player didn’t make a play. Call creative plays the players can make. Dont blame the execution of a play because you stink as a playcaller. That’s like saying we should score every down, heck when each play is “properly executed” that’s what you would expect. The fact is that great talent has covered your multitude of coaching sins, that goes for Beamer too! Special teams is in the toilet. Fire the bums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How many wide open overthrows has Logan had this year. Boy I’m glad he went to that QB school in Cali in the off season. What in the world do we have a QB coach for? Logan has been tampered with. He was fine last year. Why the changes to mechanics etc…. what is the point? Something is outa whack.
Logan was fine last year because of Coale and Boykin. Those two playmakers are the difference for any team. Add Wilson (less the fumbles) and another good dimension is created. VT doesn’t have those luxuries this year and it shows; their defense is performing admirably at times and they might yet put a 4 quarter game together before season’s end. The best chance for that is at home against FSU. They will not beat Miami away unless Stephen Morris is out of the game; Morris will sizzle against that VT secondary.
We wouldn’t want Andy getting barred from the facilities now. Measured tone behooves the media in general me thinks, especially those enjoying access to get insider info to share with us coneheads. Having said that, I hope that donors will make it clear by season end that we need a new racecar driver on the offensive side. Keep the ones that can produce in the pits, or move them to the pits, but we clearly need a new driver.
Individual statistics and individual players are not the problem.
The overall philosophy of the football program is the problem, and it always has been the problem. Unless there is a change in philosophy there will never be a change in results. That comment can fall upon any person that it does, but that is the problem at Virginia Tech.
Peppers Ferry — I saw a tweet from our old friend Kyle Tucker this weekend. He said that the reason the National Championship Trophy Case is empty is Frank Beamer’s reluctance to make changes to the offensive coaching staff. I responded to him by telling him he was absolutely correct but a little late to the bandwagon as I recall. He would never had such a thing if he still had his old job of blogging for the Hokies. The last we heard from him he was busy defending Stinespring leading up to the Stanford debacle. Another game we were in at halftime (14-13), just like the three Clemson losses.
As for Andy, I think he does a decent job of being “critical of the coaching staff on here when warranted.” (his words). But he’s never going to be as outspoken as your average fan. He does have to choose he words more carefully than we do. As long as he’s not demeaning to the fans point of view (like the coaches are I must add), I’m OK with that. But it will be interesting to see if we get a little different perspective once he leaves Blacksburg for greener pastures. Kyle Tucker certainly changed his tune. @gtbowyer
Based on the rankings VT should be 2-6 instead of 4-4. The defense certainly is not playing lights out either but defense and schedule are the reasons we are at 4-4.
Barry, if you are going to claim that the entirety of VT Football begins and ends with Mike Vick, then at least get your facts right. You should have stated that VT would have been a mediocre team in a mediocre Big East……
Really, about how many teams can you say this sort of thing? Most probably. Most teams have a small group of players that elevate the play of the entire Team. Vick was one of those on the 1999 team. He wasn’t the only one. There were several. Mike was a freak of nature, but he had a stronger OL than we have now. He had very good receivers to whom to throw. Last year, we had several people elevating the team. This year, we have no one at that next level other than Logan Thomas. If you remember Vick’s last year, he had issues too.
I think if we get great players, they make Stiney look ok. The mark of a great coach is taking average players and making them look great. VT used to be able to do that. On defense, they still can. I have to wonder if Bud Foster is getting somewhat burned out by always having to be ‘the’ unit that carries the load. Mostly, when his units have a bad day, VT loses.
I understand Frank Beamer is still reciting his mantra of – ‘We were only about 4 plays from winning the ball game…’
Does he still not understand how insulting that is to the fan base? Why does he treat us as though we are that stupid? Take any football game played by any two teams, and unless it is a blowout of epic proportions, EVERY single game could be reversed by 4 plays or so. Turn the bland failed stumble into the pile on 4th & 1 into a TD run, and yeah, that sure changes the game. Add in Marcus Davis TWICE throwing a TD pass on his two miserable attempts at trickery, and suddenly you’ve changed the game again. Force Logan Thomas to not overthrow on his INT that was returned for a TD, and instead have him connect for a TD instead.
Suddenly, we’ve beaten Clemson 45-31. In Candyland, maybe. Meanwhile, back in the real world, there are real world problems with real world solutions that Frank Beamer ignores, while saying they’re trying to convince the team to play harder.
Talk about shaking your head in disbelief…
Tech needs adjustments at halftime from the coaches, as can be seen from the 3 loses at Clemson, and depth, we are getting worn down and no quality relief to fall back on when the defense is on the field so much. The offense is not a fluid ,dynamic, changing unit that uses its resources to their best advantages. Its time to see how much for Nick Saban to move to Bburg.
Crooked Road- Are you saying that if the four blown calls had been made correctly, it would have had no effect upon the outcome? Really? To all of you football wizards. One of the reasons recruits have picked Tech in the past is the longevity of the coaching staff, and the support of the Fan Base. They read this crap you spout about specific players being lazy, or some other major flaw of a specific player by name that you feel warrants special attention. If you think this has no effect upon recruiting, you’re delusional.
I’m an old guy and a long time Tech follower and supporter. I believe that the need borders on “freshness” of new coaches. Beamer and Foster should stay but clean house on all of the others including Beamer Jr.
The play calling stinks. Another recommendation..go after every punt to block even if you end up on some roughing the kicker. At this point what do you have to lose? Stop calling the play where Logan passes parallel to the WR, itching for a pick six.
Tx OldeTechman
They are not that excellent either XD.
DH, feel free to re-read what I posted. Look at the four plays I referenced. None were ‘bad officiating calls’, no matter how much of a tangent you want to take. Discuss the plays I referenced, if you dare.
I said nothing about officiating. Neither did Frank Beamer. He did NOT say the controversial calls were what made the difference in the game. He DID say player execution on ‘other’ plays was what made the difference.
Virtually every game in football that is not a total blowout could be changed if you pretended 4-5 plays didn’t happen. What is Frank Beamer’s mantra this week? First it was ’4-5-6 plays were the difference…’ Now it’s ’8 plays, if we get 4 of them, we would have won the game…’
It is insulting to anyone’s intelligence to pretend such BS. Are you saying that pretending 4 plays that were utter failures could have won the game for us is not ridiculous? Are you? Do you really want to claim Marcus Davis works hard on every play? Because the game film shows something very different, and has for 3.75 years now.
Crooked Road- Frank Beamer cannot, as was cited by another poster, complain about the officials publicly. So, he doesn’t. So, I did. Speaking of reading posts correctly I asked, if those four calls had been made correctly, would it had made a differnce in the game? I contend it would. And now I am insulting your intelligence by disagreeing with you about your naming of specific players? I don’t know Marcus Davis personally. Maybe he’s playing hurt. Maybe a lot of things. The coaches who make a lot of money are fair game. It’s the life they chose. But, to go after a college player by name strikes me as petty and small.