Read a replay of today’s live Virginia Tech chat
Slightly smaller crowd than usual, but that’s to be expected with us doing the chat on a different day this week. Still, it was a good time. If you missed it, you can read a replay of it below, provided you still have power where you live.
October 29, 2012 - 9:16 AM
Any updates on Holland Fisher & Drew Harris?? Are they still firmly committed to VT? Thanks and keep up the great work!
Has Logan Thomas improved from the first couple of games? I saw the first few games of the year and his passes were inconsistent. My friend went to the Cincy game and was critical of Logan’s throwing motion. Does he seem to be throwing better? The offense actually looks more diverse/unpredictable(in a good way) but the receivers and the qb haven’t been connecting.
Rich Rodriguez would be a good OC and has a relationship with Beamer too.
Fisher is firm in his commitment to VT Sammy. An excerpt from RTD 10/24
“A few weeks later, Fisher journeyed to Blacksburg for his second official visit. He watched the Hokies rally from a 20-0 deficit to beat Duke and enjoyed the trip so much that he canceled his plan to see Ohio State. Fisher says he’s firm in his commitment to Virginia Tech.
“The Tech visit just solved a lot of problems,” he said.”
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/high-school-xtra/2012/oct/25/8/tdsport01-being-recruited-dont-rush-decision-ar-2309740/
Nice article. Refreshing to see someone honor their commitment despite being wined and dined by the big boys. Also nice to see the coach have his back.
This one are for you that thought Fisher was all but gone…
After 10 to 15 years at any given job most employees start to regress and produce less because of “burnout. Do you think the coaching staff at Tech is getting complacent and in a rut which they cannot crawl out of and back into contention as a major player in cf. Beamer Ball is ancient history, and is just one example of burnout! Beamer Ball hasn’t been relevant for several years.
Bitter – You need to quit hassling the fans who want changes on offense because you just seem ignorant and unknowledgeable. You’re talking to VT fans who have been watching this team for at least as long as the offensive coaches have been in their current positions. We’ve seen how this team operates under them and how VT has been winning those 10 games a year. There has been a problem only it hasn’t shown up in the W/L column until now
The problem with TECH is defense. It has become too reliant on it. Which makes the offensive coaches falsely imagine that 3 and outs and field goals are acceptable on a consistent basis feeling falsely that the defense can bail them out of offensive turnovers on the 20 yard line. That hasn’t happened this year and in reality has never worked. This team needs a true offensive coordinator, Stiney ain’t it. The 36 losses that Tech fans had to endure because of poor coaching, lack of preparation (and endless excuses of the same) against the competition that matters, is unacceptable. O yes, not to mention the stinkers against the mediocre second tear JMU’s of the world. Yes you can point to offense production stats …. that Tech has scored more under Stiney. Case and point on how to lie with stats. Afew years back when Stiney was pressed on the lack off offensive production he stated that he was concerned with the rushing stats of 3rd downs and average rushing …. What! What about now, goober? Is that still a concern, when Tech can’t rush a shopping cart down an abandoned freeway? Yes my friends something is indeed out of whack! What are you concerned with this year Stiney? Second down passing efficiency, punt yardage production to bail out your junky offense? Interception to punt yardage ratio? To me, that indicates that a cookie dough eating weenie from Clifton Forge should go on and get a job at Westvaco. Maybe Stiney could convince the higher ups that you can increase paper production by recycling paper already processed you don’t need really need an influx of new trees. Back to football, no matter what the formation, it’s the same old recycled junk that gets Tech nowhere now. Is the same old junk just a different “look”. The imagination of Stinespring boggles the mind!!!!!
The current Tech offensive coordinator couldn’t coordinate a trip to the bathroom. No imagination, no coaching, nothing that gets the team on the same page and executing. I know it, you know it, and the American People know it Stiney must GO!!!
My name is Mike and I approved this message.
With all due respect, I think Andy Bitter needs to decide whether he wants to be a blogger or a columnist. I don’t mind him stating his opinion, but being condesending to fans is not going to endear him to those who feel they have legitimate complaints. Fans are going to voice their opinions of the offense. I’ve been doing it for years now. So, Jerry is right to point out that this is not because of the 4-4 record. The offense has been bad to average over the past 8 years. That’s just a fact no one have dispute. And many of us believe the Hokies players deserve better than average at best.
Todd McShay was right and the dismissal of his opinion is typical of Beamer and Company. He’s not the first. Game commentators have been critical at times as well. Particularly pointing out how often the Hokies fail to pass on 1st down, run too much in the red zone, and reluctance to move the pocket on pass plays. The halftime comments during the Stanford game were quite critical of the offensive coaches.
I think Andy is right about one thing. The Hokies offense is a “jack of all trades and master of none.” We dabble in way too many things that require constant reps to execute effectively. The coaches blame a lack of execution when there is just too much on the plate for the players to handle. They are expected to run the pistol, the read option, the power running game, and the spread. It’s just too much to do any of them very well. @gtbowyer
There are legitimate complaints, and then there’s just blind bashing. So when the torrent of criticism about VT’s offense goes from “we aren’t versatile enough” to “we don’t stick to one thing” to “we need to line up and play smashmouth football” to “we need to spread it out and pass it” (as though these are all magic elixirs that will solve the Hokies’ offensive issues) then yes, I will point out that people are being ridiculous and complaining just for the sake of complaining.
Now, you’ve stated some legitimate complaints (and there are many), and when they’re focused and reasonable, I’ll agree with them. But when when VT loses to UNC 48-34 and the brunt of the criticism is still about Stinespring, then it’s clear there’s an ax to grind from the fan base.
I get that there is frustration with the offense at times. But it’s a default complaint even when the defense is at fault (UNC) or if it’s an entire team failure (like Pittsburgh). Bud can call out players for not executing the plays and he’s lauded as a no-nonsense coach who is preaching accountability. Stiney does the same thing and he’s shucking responsibility. He can’t win with anything he says.
Some of the gripes are legitimate. A lot are over the top. And I will point that out.
Sorry Andy, but you’ve got to remember one thing. Jerry, Greg and some of the other bloggers here are football experts. They have years of playing and coaching experience and now are showing their knowledge of sports reporting. It’s time you knuckle under and do what they say. I’m sure they’ll think you’ll do that just as they expect Weaver and Beamer to do what they say.
The difference in the public statements made by Bud Foster & Stinespring are part of the reason for the lack of patience with Stinespring, and by extension, Frank Beamer. Bud admits to mistakes on his part well before he blames player execution. Bud admits that sometimes his defensive alignments were not what he should have done. Stinespring never accepts blame. Stinespring never admits his playcalling – through Mike O’Cain – is less than optimal. Stinespring always assigns breakdown to player performance, and not strategy.
I could go on, but perhaps you get the idea. One last shot – Bud Foster’s produced #1 defenses, Top ten defenses, on multiple occasions since Stinespring has been OC the last eleven years. Has Stinespring ever produced an offense ranked Top Thirty?
I’m not even getting into the BS mantra that Stinespring and both Beamers consistently roll out – ‘We were only X number of blocks away from winning…’
To capsulize – if Stinespring ever, EVER manned up and accepted blame like Bud Foster, or if he had EVER proven he can produce an effective offense in his entire career, then perhaps people would cut him more slack. It’s his refusal, and Frank Beamer’s refusal to admit that there even exists a problem, THAT is the problem.
And that will be a source of complaints for as long as Stinespring is around and he & Beamer don’t change their responses.
Andy, about a week ago I posted some stats comparing the O since Stinespring took over as OC in ’02 and the D under Foster since ’99 (he was already DC then). Without repeating every word, the comparisons were glaring, going beyond IMHO Beamer’s different expectations of the units. Currently the D is ranked 4th in the conf., not great by Foster’s standards, I agree, yet the O is ranked 9th. Foster’s D has been ranked #1 nationally twice and in the top ten eight times! That is eight times in the top 10 out of 12 years. Stinespring’s O? It has never been ranked higher than 35th and averages being ranked 65th. They are currently 66. What these stats tell me and anyone who looks at them objectively is that somehow Foster, even in the “down” years somehow manages to produce a unit that at worst is competent. Last year was Stinespring’s best O and the team was loaded with the two best receivers in VT’s history, a record setting round one draft pick RB, a dynamic QB and an experienced OL. The O finished 35th nationally and 3rd in the ACC. Last year’s D was relatively young and expectations were not too high and their starting mike played only half the season yet they finished 2nd in the ACC and 10th nationally! This is where many folks here come from i.e. years of mediocrity at best from the O and excellence from the D.
I disagree with those who say Beamer has never tried anything new. Today’s O is way different than it was in Stiney’s early years, in fact not even close. My complaint is that no matter what Stinespring tries, he cannot get his O to perform at a consistently good level. And I mean good. Sure they have stretches of very good games which unfortunately are usually preceded and followed by major meltdowns. This year’s D certainly has not been up to expectations, yet this years O has been and that again, emphasis on again, is the problem.
I think you are doing a very good job, ignore the uncouth few.
So, your basic problem is Beamer and Stiney won’t say what you want them to say? Since I doubt seriously that they read this blog, maybe you should use snail mail directly to them to get your point across. You’ve said it so much on Roanoke.com that it’s getting a little old.
I believe Dadi Nicolas was his Haitian birth name, Mike/Andy.
Nice use of statistics, ScottW. They show one of the reasons people complain about Stinespring on here. In Bud, you’ve got a guy who has proven his excellence. A guy who accepts responsibility on a personal level. In Stinespring, you’ve got a guy who has never proven competence. A guy who shirks responsibility for his staff’s weaknesses. A guy who refuses to even acknowledge those weaknesses.
That’s what makes the loyal fan base so frustrated. At least the rational ones. The blindered apologists are mirror images of Stinespring, refusing to acknowledge there is even a problem. They’re easy to dismiss, though.
Sure, Andy might be frustrated with the level of complaints. Then again, we’ve – Hokie Nation – been here through eleven years of similar incompetence, all while being force fed the same mantra from Frank Beamer game after game, year after year – ‘We were only a couple of plays away…’
It’s enough to wear down even the most patient…
regarding Fr and r-Fr who could have an immediate impact next year… also keep an eye on Deon Clarke, Augie Conte, Holland Fisher, and Dakota Jackson.
I AGREE WITH MIKE OCT 30 AND I APPROVE HIS MESSAGE.
540hokie- Bitter just started covering this team so he can’t possibly know the history and how the anti-Stiney crowd was formed. I’ve been watching VT football for 20 years so I think I know what I’m talking about. Oh and this may surprise you but Frank Beamer is not all knowing and can make mistakes. Also it is possible for fans to have knowledgeable, informed and accurate opinions. Is football rocket science? Football is not so complex that only professionals can understand what’s going on. Look at the stats provided if you need some help seeing the light. Or maybe they have to come from Frank Beamer before you take them seriously? If you have so much confidence in Stiney then tell the rest of us why we should as well. Show me another OC hire that had as piss poor credentials as Stiney had. Show me another OC whose track record is as poor as Stiney’s but who still has the support of the fanbase.