Virginia Tech or Miami: Who has the edge?
And off to Miami we go. It’s a full day of travel, hopefully one without complications, as we head down to South Florida via Greensboro and Charlotte. South Beach on Halloween night? Should be interesting to say the least.
First, here’s a link to today’s story about Frank Beamer reacting to Todd McShay‘s assertion the Hokies’ offense is out-dated (and whether there’s any truth to McShay’s assessment).
Second, here’s look at the matchups. Feel free to offer your own thoughts on the game in the comments section below. Be sure to leave your predicted score and reasons for it.
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Virginia Tech at Miami
- Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
- When: Thursday, 7:31 p.m.
- TV: ESPN
- Records: Virginia Tech 4-4, 2-2 ACC; Miami 4-4, 3-2 ACC
- Series: Miami leads 17-12
- Last meeting: Hokies won 38-35 last year in Blacksburg
- Line: Virginia Tech by 1.5
When Virginia Tech passes
After two strong games, quarterback Logan Thomas took something of a step back against Clemson with his passing, throwing for 207 yards and a touchdown but also two picks, one of which was returned for a momentum-turning touchdown. There might be some movement with his receivers — or at least the threat of it to motivate the starters. Corey Fuller and Demitri Knowles are co-No. 1′s with Marcus Davis and Dyrell Roberts, respectively, probably a move to make Davis and Roberts give a little more effort in their blocking (which has been lacking lately). I’d still be shocked if Knowles got significantly more reps than Roberts. Fuller, who is second on the team with 25 catches for 503 yards and is tied with Davis for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns, is essentially a starter anyway.
Miami has its issues on the back end. The Hurricanes have allowed at least 440 passing yards twice this season (at Boston College and vs. N.C. State), but they somehow won both games. They’re still 10th in the ACC, allowing 249.9 yards per game in the air. Deon Bush, one of seven true freshman to start games this year for Miami, starts at safety and has 28 tackles and an ACC-best three forced fumbles. Safety Kacy Rodgers II has 41 tackles, fourth on the team. The ‘Canes have six interceptions this year, in the lower half of the ACC. They’re also not putting much pressure on the quarterback, with nine sacks in eight games, tied for 109th nationally.
Edge: Virginia Tech
When Virginia Tech runs
The much-hyped paring down of the running backs appears to just be a continuation of what Tech has done the last couple weeks, with a more focused split of reps at practice. J.C. Coleman and Tony Gregory should get the majority of snaps, like they have the last two weeks. Coleman had 25 carries for 202 yards against Duke and Clemson. Gregory has 13 carries for 62 yards. (Michael Holmes had only seven carries for 27 yards in those games and Martin Scales six carries for 27 yards). Expect a similar split but for all four to still have a role. Thomas remains a threat. He ran for a career-high 99 yards against Clemson. The line gets some help. Center Caleb Farris is back after missing two games with an ankle injury. That will allow Tech to go with a rotation of Michael Via, Brent Benedict and David Wang at the guard spots. Still, the Hokies have only run for 157 yards a game, 70th nationally, which would look bad, if not for …
Miami’s porous rushing defense. Of all 120 FBS teams, only Eastern Michigan has allowed more yards per game on the ground this year than the ‘Canes’ 249.3. This is how bad Miami’s rushing defense has been: after giving up just 96 yards on the ground to Boston College in the opener, the ‘Canes have given up more than 200 yards in all seen games since. That includes 233 yards to FCS Bethune-Cookman. It includes 288 yards to Kansas State, 287 to Georgia Tech, 282 to North Carolina and 376 to Notre Dame. That includes 24 rushing touchdowns, 13 more than Virginia Tech has allowed this season. Linebacker Denzel Perryman (47 tackles, 6 TFL) and defensive end Shayon Green (50 tackles) have a nose for the ball, but far too many people in Miami’s front don’t. If Virginia Tech can’t run the ball against this defensive front, it might be time fold things up for the season.
Edge: Virginia Tech.
When Miami passes
Quarterback Stephen Morris has been hobbled by ankle and hip injuries, but when healthy, he’s been on point. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound junior has 2,219 passing yards and 10 touchdowns to seven interceptions this year. That includes a 566-yard, five-touchdown performance in a win against N.C. State. But he’s only completed 52 percent of his passes for 579 yards and one touchdown to three interceptions since. Receivers Phillip Dorsett (523 yards, 3 TD) and Rashawn Scott (462 yards, 3 TD) are threats, but so are the backs. Mike James has 24 catches for 214 yards and true freshman Duke Johnson has 21 catches for 201 yards. Seven ‘Canes have at lest 14 catches this year in a passing offense that ranks 26th nationally, averaging 288.4 yards per game.
Tech has been up and down in its pass defense this year. The Hokies, for the most part, held Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins in check last week, although Hopkins finally broke through in the third quarter with a 37-yard touchdown catch over the top of Kyle Fuller. Fuller is battling shoulder and groin injuries, although the bye week helped him rest up. The secondary has been helped out by the pass rush, which has gotten in gear lately. Led by tackle Luther Maddy and end James Gayle, the Hokies have 10 sacks the last two weeks after having only eight the first six weeks. Miami has been adequate at pass protection (13 sacks allowed in eight games). If it keeps Morris upright, it’ll have a chance to make some plays.
Edge: Miami.
When Miami runs
James and Johnson are two gamebreakers here. Johnson, who’s shifty at 5-foot-9, 188 pounds, has 470 yards and five touchdowns. James, the bruiser at 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, is about the same, with 442 yards and five scores. Still, Miami’s overall rushing numbers are suspect. The ‘Canes are averaging only 126.7 yards per game on the ground, 93rd nationally. Like the Hokies, they’ve had some duds. They ran for only 55 yards at Kansas State and 29 yards against Florida State. Two other times, they failed to top 100 yards. Miami hasn’t had many big runs (only 30 over 10 yards, compared to Tech’s 45), which might be a function of an offensive line that starts two juniors and three redshirt sophomores.
That’s not to say that the Hokies have been strong against the run. They’re still allowing 157 yards a game on the ground, 70th nationally and fifth in the ACC. But an increasingly active defensive line and surer tackling by the linebackers and safeties have helped. Against Clemson, safeties Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner were asked to do plenty of run support. They combined for 14 tackles and two TFLs and Clemson, which was averaging 200 rushing yards a game, finished with just 135. Miami might not necessitate a similar look. Facing a more conventional scheme, it could mean the most the Hokies will use whip linebacker Ronny Vandyke, who has been sidelined while Tech has utilized a nickel package against spread teams.
Edge: Virginia Tech.
Special teams
Virginia Tech hasn’t made a game-changing play on special teams in a few weeks — at least not a positive one — but the threats remain. Jarrett is fourth nationally in punt returns (18.1 avg.). Knowles is 18th nationally in kick returns (27.8 avg.). Kicker Cody Journell (10-11 FG) is consistent and A.J. Hughes (40.2 avg.) isn’t too far back from the ACC pack, although he’d do himself some favors by catching the snap cleanly. The biggest concern is kickoff coverage (22.38 avg., 82nd nationally) and the once-a-game special teams blunder that seems to pop up from a new source each week (Christian Reeves unintentionally touching a punt and turning it over against Clemson was last game’s).
Johnson is a game-breaker at kick return for the ‘Canes, averaging 27.9 yards per return. He took one back 95 yards for a touchdown against Bethune-Cookman. The punt return team has been average. Kicker Jake Wieclaw is 10-for-15 on field goals this year. Punter Dalton Botts (40.5 avg.) is a hair better than Hughes. Miami’s kick return team has been great (15.2 avg., 3rd nationally), but the ‘Canes are allowing 15.6 yards per punt return, 117th nationally.
Edge: Virginia Tech.
Coaching
Al Golden has things going in the right direction in Miami. He might be .500 overall there, but the ‘Canes have recruited well (they had the ninth-best class in the nation last year) and have committed to playing those younger players. He resurrected Temple’s dormant football program, so he knows what he’s doing, even his record against MAC teams with winning records was 0-14 in his four years. Frank Beamer is suffering one of his worst seasons in years at Virginia Tech, having lost four games before the start of November for the first time since 1992. Still, Beamer has rallied the troops before. The Hokies are 25-2 in November in league games since joining the ACC in 2004.
Edge: Virginia Tech.
Prediction
The edges would suggest a fairly lopsided Virginia Tech win, but nothing about this Hokies team would make me think that they could win going away, especially on the road. Clemson’s defensive numbers heading into last week made it seem like the Hokies would have offensive success. That, obviously, didn’t happen. But Miami is even a step below Clemson when it comes to defense, especially at stopping the run. The Hokies should — let me emphasize that again, should – be able to move the ball on the ground in this game. When that’s happened this year, they’re fared pretty well. Miami has a bunch of very young, very skilled athletes who are capable of big things, especially Johnson, a threat in every phase who has three plays of longer than 50 yards this year and a long kick return as well. But this is a young group, one with 14 starters who are sophomores or younger. Then again, it beat N.C. State and took North Carolina to the wire. I think it will be close, but Virginia Tech — mostly thanks to its improving defense — will win its first road game this season against a Miami team that’s still a year or two away.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 24, Miami 17.
October 31, 2012 - 6:41 AM
Virginia Tech football is like a basketball team that lives and dies by the 3 point shot. It is like a basketball team that has absolutely no inside scoring.
In basketball, inside scoring is huge because it is less subject to variance, unlike the three point shot (Ray Allen’s NBA career 3 pt percentage of 40% is outstanding and perhaps the best all time, but still well under a coin flip). Inside scoring in basketball is a CONSISTENT, RELIABLE, steady stream of income. Like Shaq in his prime. The college football analogue of Shaq would be Ron Dayne, an unstoppable bull at Wisconsin who would give you a guaranteed 5 yards a pop (or at least it sure as heck SEEMED that way).
Virginia Tech football has no running game, really. ********Let us not forget, another way to get a steady stream of income is a sophisticated, NFL-style passing attack with a ton of short passes but of course VT has never run that so perhaps I’m spouting out waste. *********
This is precisely why VT football is so hard to predict. Sometimes, it’s raining threes and other times, it’s laying bricks from the three point line and THE WHOLE WHILE CAN’T DO DIDDLY SQUAT IN THE PAINT.
Mainly because of Luther Maddy making an impact inside and VT’s defense SEEMINGLY getting better, I’ll go with VT despite a “cross your fingers” offense….VT 27, U 21
I think you are right on in your assessment of this game but I think the score is reversed. Home field will be the difference in this game, it will give Miami’s defense the edge on the big stage. Vt has not fared well in away games this season.
Hokies O will make Canes D look like Bama’s, just like they did Clemsons. 34-24 Miami, over under of 4 turnovers.
The biggest issues on the VT offense have been the line and of course LT’s lack of accuracy. One thing few people notice – his completion percentage is barely above 50%. And he has missed a number of easy touchdown passes. Those misses do show up in the stats as well – on the scoreboard. VT had more yards and better stats than Clemson, and lost by three touchdowns. The reason is turnovers and missed opportunities. I really do not see that changing. This is sad to say, but which is worse? The VT offense or the Miami defense? In the Clemson game, it became evident that while the Clemson defense was by no means stellar, the VT offense could not help but shoot itself in the foot.
My feeling is that VT’s ability to avoid turnovers, finish drives, and put points on the board will decide it. And after all the criticism, VT has something to prove.
I think this will be a game with a lot of field goals on both sides, due to sputtering offense. VT 26 Miami 16
Games at Sun Life Stadium provide no home field advantage and the attendance will be poor…the only game with good attendance was the FSU game and that was because FSU filled the facility…
My research last night, examining the November records dating back to 2004 when VT became an ACC member, and Tech owns a 27-2 record in November, combined. The two losses are at the hands of Miami, which, according to my research is the only two times Tech lost to Miami in the month of November. Thus, Tech has a 4-2 record over Miami in the month of November alone.
I am leaning slightly toward a Virginia Tech win, but that is also an iffy pick. If Tech’s offense can keep sustaining drives, score points, and get productivity from EVERYBODY (I’m looking at you, Davis and Roberts), and the defense continue to play at the level they were, then I think Tech wins.
It won’t be an easy win for Tech. I’m sure that Miami is still smarting from the last minute loss to Tech last October when Thomas lead The Final Drive in Blacksburg.
The question is – will youth be served tomorrow night?
I have two words for Jim Weaver – Bob Stitt.
Rich Rodriguez used the spread as offensive coordinator before he got to WVU at Glenville State (1990-1996), Tulane (1997-1998), and then at Clemson (1999-2000). If Rodriguez’s spread is Tech’s influence for an updated offense, doesn’t that fit McShay’s arguement that the Tech offense is 10-15 years out of date.
I did a quick stat check — LT completion percentage is 53.7%. Only one team is worse in the ACC: Wake at 53.3%. So the teams are basically tied for worst completion percentage in the ACC. That explains a lot about the sputtering offense.
MIAMI UPSETS VIRGINIA TECH……..28-17
I watched the Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma game last week and I watched particularly to watch the offenses. I was amazed at the difference in play calling and scheme that both schools had. You never knew whether it was a run or pass and both sides were efficient. This was the first time I watched a game through my Tech eyes and tried to compare visually what I was seeing from these schools versus what Tech shows us every Saturday. There was more then run off tackle or drop back. I was amazed, do this for yourself sometime and you will be too.
Your article in the paper today about the offense and Todd McShay criticism was good. After the Vick years, the offense has been defense touchdowns during the good years. Without special teams scores and defense set up for offense, it is very,very low in offense totals. It would be interesting to know numbers of TDs by defense and special teams vs offense. Now that Beamer had ” given up ” on special teams attach mode and turned conservative, the HOKIES are average at best on scoring.
VT is not good on offense this year and probably never will until changes are made in the coaching. I don’t see that happening until it comes from top administration. When ESPN starts talking about how bad the offense is Beamer and Stinney just make excuses it will never dawn on them that maby the guy knows what he is talking about. Week after week they blame it on the players in a round about way. I think they will beat Miami because Miami is terrible, then we will have to listen to Beamer tell what a great team they beat. I’m sick of it!!!!
The crowd may very well come out for this one with the Coastal Division being on the line and an ESPN Thursday night. The hungry team will win.
Zeke, RichRod had been running that offense for a while, yes. But it didn’t really gain popularity nationally until teams started seeing him do it at West Virginia. Then it was all the rage in the latter half of last decade and, really, still today.
John, if you are sick of it root for another team. Let me suggest 2 and 6 UVA.
Lots of coaches have run versions of the spread offense prior to RichRod, but that’s not the central point. Even McShay’s ’10-15 years out of date’ comment is not the central point. That is just a semantical argument used to draw people away from the central topic.
Central topic? Frank Beamer’s endorsement of Stinespring’s muddled embrace of fragments of multiple offensive schemes. Who cares if they are from 1965 or 2005 or 2010? That’s not the point. The point is that Stinespring’s ineptitude after more than a decade as an OC of a BCS team still prevents VaTech from producing an effective offense.
Let that sink in for a while – Stinespring has been the Offensive Coordinator for a BCS school for OVER a decade, and he still can only manage this in an average production year for his offense?
Stinespring tries – as I’ve hammered scores of times on here – a few plays from each of multiple schemes, as in 6-10 variant offenses, and thinks that is somehow going to befuddle opposing defenses. Five plays from a spread offense, six plays from the pistol, ten plays from the Power-I, etc. On & on, with no sense of direction, other than a teenage mentality of fantasy football play selection.
There is no focus. There is no consistency of playcalling from the offensive coaching staff. There is no identity. McShay is correct in his appraisal of the Hokie offense, in that it is a liability to a QB like Logan Thomas and it is a liability to the success of the program. It is a liability to the recruitment of skilled offensive players, as well.
Frank Beamer is either pretending to not understand, or even more sadly he actually doesn’t understand, that college QBs are not analyzed by the NFL on how their college offenses performed. They are studied as to how THEY perform, even when crippled by a flaccid offense like the Hokies O. That is the point McShay made, and Stinespring, then Beamer tried to avoid discussing.
Beamer’s answer? Stinespring’s answer? Deny, point the blame at the players, dodge any discussion of the topic by misdirection of answers.
The talk about this year being an excuse for weak performance can easily be turned around this way – last year, the VT offense was the best ever under Stinespring. What caused that? The perfect storm. A stud QB, the best WRs ever in the history of the school, the most yards gained by a RB in the history of the school, and a very experienced O-Line. All of that, and we still only managed a 35th rated offense.
Meanwhile an inexperienced young defense bootstrapped its way to a 10th place ranking, which is about average for that unit. The offense? They normally check in the lower half of FBS rankings, in the 60′s or lower. A few times in the 90′s/100′s or worse.
No problems though, because Frank Beamer will not change that for as long as he is the head coach. He’s not changed it in the last decade of similar failure to produce, and he won’t change it as long as he is head coach. Get used to it…
I read the posts on here quite regularly but this is my first time posting. I can’t possibly understand what Tech fans were expecting this year. I have been a fan and supporter well before the “Vick” era. I remember seeing a stadium where you sat where you wanted and finding a ticket was by no means difficult. I think what we’re seeing is the “down” year that all programs go through. We’re not a SEC team that can absorb a down year. SEC teams can handle a down year much easier because they are traditionally the top of the nation when it comes to recruiting. That SEC freshman on the bench can come in and play like the junior and senior in front of him based on talent. Understanding schemes and such is where those older and wiser players find themselves on the field. Any Tech fan who is worth their salt has to see this is a transitional year. However we’ve been the class of the ACC since our arrival and that has been no easy task. Did Tech fans think that we are full proof because we have won 10 games a year for quite some time? Frank said it best recently, “Now you’re starting to see that winning 10 isn’t that easy.” Simply put, we lost a HUGE majority of our offense in Wilson and the top two receivers statistically in the history of the program. Not to mention some talented linemen also. The defense which everyone said would be the best in years. Come on man, what did you think Bud would say, “I don’t have a true NFL playmaker on this team.” No, he’s a coach and a coach is going to pump his team up and say what he think’s will best motivate his players. But the truth of the matter is there is not one player on the defense that brings the attention like Engleberger, Brown, Moore, Adibi, Hall, Williams, or Tapp did while at Virginia Tech. Yes this is a good defense, but any Tech fan who has been around long enough knows this is not one of the best defenses Bud has put together. The proof is in the pudding. The players have not performed to their recruited abilities. Sometimes it happens but as a coach you hope it doesn’t. I’m not knocking players because I’ve coached high school football for some time but every coach knows that a kid who is a JV superstar might not make it under the friday night lights, much like a high school superstar might not pan out the way he intended on a college gameday Saturday. I am a loyal Virginia Tech fan but I most certainly did not drink the Kool-Aid in preseason hype surrounding this team. Andy, we’ve had this discussion recently and I told you I would post. There’s my two cents worth.
I’m going total homer with my prediction. I haven’t one single fact on which to base this prediction. Total gut feeling. It’s November, and the Hokies own November, and currently they own the Canes. Defense tears it up, and the slot machine that is this season for the offense comes up cherries.
VT blows out Miami at home 38-10.
Thomas will light up the Miami def like a candle! He will destroy the Canes and show that we are still the class of the ACC. This game will not be close in fact the Nov record is no fluke when the chips are down we are All In and put away the pansies. Kinda helps we play the BooHoos every Nov.
I cant remember a time in the last twenty years that i had less confidence in a a Hokie football team than i have in the 2012 edition. I honestly expect critical mistakes at the worst times(turnovers and special teams blunders), throw your hands up playcalls, and somehow e’ll make a bad Miami team look formidable. I used to be the optimist. Nolonger. I see Miami winning this one with unexplainable big plays from their young athletes. UM 35 Hokies 21
ComeOnMan, I liked your 2 cents. Been saying the same thing all year.
Being the relatively, OBJECTIVE Hurricane loyalist. And not the TYPICAL CANESPACE/EOTH ” delUsional, fool! THE EDGE goes to Beamer Ball. Simply because Va. Tech has the OVERALL, better coaching staff, i.e., Foster is 10x’s the stronger defensive coordinator than that Cane D-coordinator.
crooked road: Great analysis. Please post the 2d half of your BOOK.
Leonard: There is a 15% chance you are dead right !!
Come on Man: Put is on your grave stone. ‘Cause nothing is going to chance with fans like you.
Andy: Please save this one, it would be great to see who was right.
I have not got a clue. Let’s shoot the wodd ! VT 42, Canes 16 . Mark it !
To give a little perspective to 18′s post above, it’s not so much what we expected this year as it is the failures this season have finally underscored the program’s weaknesses that are now apparent to many fans who had previously been unable or unwilling to see them for the past several years. If you read the posts on this site quite regularly as you say, you should have picked up on this.
Sure, all teams experience the “down” season. But you could see this coming a mile away. Inept offensive coaching and play calling for the past several years that was left unchecked has finally given way to this mess. Hokie football really had little room for error. This always became apparent every time we played the top 5 or top 10 teams.
Too many fans were just happy to be playing in a bowl game or conference championship game. We easily overlooked or forgave our coaches for their ineptness and failure to move the program forward to the next level. Several back to back 10 win seasons will do that. And there is nothing wrong with 10 win seasons.
But if you are serious about going to the next level or filling that empty NC trophy case, you have to be Hungry and disciplined and committed to strengthening your weaknesses. Even if it means letting some people go who are clearly not up to the task.
And now people are waking up to this. And it’s not being received well at all.
As Bruce Willis once said “welcome to the party, pal”.
Here you go Andy being the usual Homer in your prediction. Haven’t you figured out anything this year? Todd McShay was right in the money with his “‘out dated offense” comment that’s why Frank can’t take it. To predictable and average. Tech will loose this one and Florida State on the way to a six loss season.
I have no problem receiving critiscism for my views. As a coach you tend to understand what the average fan does not. I hear the boos from the peanut gallery and arm chair quarterbacks every game at Lane Stadium. If you have been in attendance I’m sure you have also. I tune them out and enjoy the game because I know that these coaches ARE working long hours and putting together what they feel is a game plan that will and should work. I know they do it for a salary that most would dream of having, but they are still human and not every call is going for a TD. It’s not like they are saying, “Well this offense isn’t working so let’s change everything we do mid-season.” Would you expect that to work also? You tweak some things offseason, you try to focus on your strengths and put together an offense or defense for that matter that you feel as a coaching staff will win ball games. To make whole sale changes mid-season is not going to get you anywhere but further behind. The timing running an offense requires much more than what one or two weeks of practice can allow. I give defenses an edge because you game plan differently week to week depending on the opponent and you structure your game plan occordingly. Defensive changes depend on depth more than offensive changes. Offensive changes at one position can throw everything in a whirlwind, and with the injuries to the offensive line that storm has shown itself. I hear the same ridiculous “Change the play-calling and same old vanilla offense” rant so often that I’m glad I started wearing headphones to the game. Believe it or not, there isn’t some offense out there that hasn’t been discovered. Do you want Stiney, O’Cain, Beamer or any OC in the country for that matter to come up with some scheme that no one has thought of before? It’s NOT out there. Most teams run multiple formations and run alot of plays out of those different formations. I heard a great coach say this once. “Formations are easy to change but changing plays and blocking schemes are much more difficult and require timing.” And I am proud that a team that had very little football tradition until a guy from Murray State came along and made Tech football what it is. Come down off your high horse because Virginia Tech football wasn’t on the scene as a major player until the Beamer years. Do I think we need to fill that trophy case to be considered on of the best programs in the country? Absolutely not. Our tradition that Beamer, Foster and Company built speaks for itself.
I completely understand. See paragraph 3 in #25 above.
Techerman, see this paragraph. You think Virginia Tech football is in the same category of USC, Alabama, Florida, Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. Who traditionally have the best recruiting classes in the country year in and year out. Face this simple fact. We don’t get athletes from all over the country like these programs do. The thing is they don’t even have to heavily recruit these kids. Their program name and tradition brings kids to their schools. You’re from Texas you grow up wanting to play for Texas. You’re from California you want to play for USC. Notre Dame, heck all you gotta do is say Fighting Irish to a kid and they are knocking at the door. You can read my first post, we can’t afford to have recruiting classes to who don’t live up to the hype but we are in that “down” year like I said. We rely on mostly in state recruits (who I believe are pretty darn good). We have gotten most of our big time players from the Va Beach area but some pretty great ones elsewhere in the state also, just not as many as the Va Beach area. Beamer and Company have traditionally gotten the most out of their recruits but sometimes AGAIN, they don’t pan out. The state of Virginia has a ton of great players in the high school ranks, but comparing recruiting classes to the other programs I mentioned and to think we can knock heads with those programs year in and year out is unrealistic based on recruiting areas alone. Ya know, another program in this state was dying to get rid of a guy named Welsh who took them to places they’d never been before. Well you see what they got in return. I don’t know about you but I’d bet on what I know with Beamer and Company and not gamble our blue collar tradition with a long shot replacing him or his staff.
come on man- The offense is not young except for the running backs. All the preseason projected offensive line starters have been in the program at least 3 years. The line was stinking it up this year before the injuries. If Newsome requires a Senior offensive line in order to produce with his group then I see that as a major problem. I can’t remember when the line was a complete, dominating one yet Newsome remains on staff. If you want to defend Stinespring then go ahead but I will never understand why anyone does just like I never understood why he was promoted to OC in the first place with his resume. I will also never understand why he’s been kept there even after 10 years of ineptitude “hidden” by defensive and special teams superiority. You mention recruiting failures by VT. Did it ever occur to you that maybe bringing in better offensive coaches could result in wins on the big stage and that could improve recruiting by itself? Not to mention the new coaches being better recruiters on their own. The VT offense only sells itself to dual threat QBs and running backs. Newsome does not bring in the linemen and a traditionally run heavy attack does not appeal to wide receivers. There is no Tyrod or NFL RB to get yards out of offensive line breakdowns this year. Frank Beamer has made his bed so he can lie in it
You do understand this offensive line is not the same caliber of offensive lines in the past? Not to mention they are very thin at the moment having to juggle guys around to fill in spots. When Miller went down that was a heavy blow. I am confident Farris will do a great job at center, but having to play a third stringer at center last week was tough on everyone up front. I think Farris being back this week will allow players to get back to their comfortable spots up front. However, I see a line that is much better at pass blocking than run blocking. When was the last time you saw that at Virginia Tech? They have a hard time surging forward, getting to the second level, and then sustaining those blocks. You have to get to the second level to run the ball effectively. Mix in the fact that we’ve used a 4 headed running back system most of the year, then there is no consistency. That’s one area of criticism (not the only) I’ve dealt this year to the coaches but the adjustment (playing 2 consistently) the staff has made that will work for the better in my opinion. You play two, if one gets the hot hand then dial his number, playing four, no one gets the hot hand. Pass blocking, it looks like they have made a point of emphasis to give Logan time to stand in the pocket and throw the ball. Yes, he’s been a little off this year but he’s not throwing to the same guys. Find me a better route runner and hands like Danny Coale had, then you wouldn’t see Logan’s completion percentage drop. Bottom line he had an incredible supporting cast last year, this year unlike any team in the history of Beamerball, is having trouble getting the ground game going. It’s a staple of Beamerball and has been for years. You just assume the formula that has worked in the past, grinding out yards with the running backs isn’t working anymore? Thomas, Parker, Kendrick, Stith, Suggs, Jones, Evans, Williams, Wilson (I know I’ve forgot a couple) How’d those guys chew up yards during the Beamerball era? No blocking up front? No, they were good at run blocking and ball control, something this team is not very good at. The formula is in place and has worked, maybe, just maybe this group isn’t as great as originally thought…senior or junior makes no difference.
HUMES! Can’t leave Cedric out.
come on man- and now VT football is not in the same category as Clemson, Oregon, West Virginia, K State, Stanford, etc etc. We’re not even going to be in the same category as UNC if we’re not careful. So how do these teams do it if they don’t get the best athletes from all over the country like the top tier teams you mention?
These institutions hire coaching staffs who are held accountable for the product they put on the field. Beamer is living in a sort of never-never land where he can do no wrong in the eyes of our administration. He’s not challenged, which in any arena brings contentment.
We can’t be afraid to make changes in the interest of bettering our program and our chances to win. In a word, we’re not serious about doing what it takes to get to the next level. We’d rather have a program with a “family atmosphere” than one where constructive criticism and accountability are the rule of the day.
For the record, I do understand it. What play do you want to call? If it works, then you stand up and clap your hands and say, “Well the coaches will find some way to screw this drive up.” When it doesn’t work, “Booo…fire everyone.” I will say this, I was surprised and upset when Ricky Bustle left. He played a key part in getting those running backs ready. Oxendine…there’s another. They keep coming to me…the Clemson transfer, Lamont Pegues. Is there a guy on this team that’s going to land in the rich history of all time backs at Virginia Tech? I hope so. They just haven’t yet. Coleman had a flash, but that’s about it. Up front, let’s get back to what we do. Not nickel and dime people, but rather come off the ball hard up front, get to the second level and blow up some defenders and let those guys chew up some yards and keep our offense on the field. I think a part of the problem is everyone thought there was some problem with being a ball control offense, give it to the stud in the back field and run behind the big boys. No it’s fans like some on here that think everything should come from an NFL playbook. This is Saturday boys…not Sunday.
“Come-on-man” Are we talking about the same team? The same Beamer? You are in Blacksburg . . . . Virginia ? Right? I wonder ’cause we are not seeing the same team. Are you Beamer’s brother in law? Your straw man must have blown away as your logic and reason is very poor. Am I to understand that you are saying if not for Beamer there would be no football team at Tech? It sounds it. It would have been shut down in ’87 w/o Beamer? Wow ! He is our savior ! I say it was VA’s great recruiting region, and ESPN that made the Hokies football what it is today. With ESPN players could come to Tech and be on TV for the folks back home to watch. How many times was Tech on TV before ESPN? Duh ?? A connection?? Beamer was a very lucky man being in the right place at the right time. We were not so lucky.
Absolutely watching the same team. Are you serious with that comment though? Beamer had nothing to do with the success of Virginia Tech Football? Really? Oh yeah, ESPN made Tech football. Come ON man! At least give yourself the old UVA comment that “Tech was nothing before Vick.” What Vick did for Tech football was let everyone else know what loyal fans already knew. That Virginia Tech football had become a pretty solid football program. One that had a hard-nosed defense, a potent running game, and special teams magic. What Vick also brought were new fans that jumped on board the Vick train, and on that train these fans assumed we played yearly for National Championships. This doesn’t happen at VT. I’m not saying we can’t win a National Championship but to think we can be in contention on a yearly basis is not realistic.
Do you really believe that Tech hasn’t been a run oriented team during the Beamer era? Maybe I need to ask you the question. Have you been in Blacksburg? We have always ran the ball to set up the pass. The play action, screen game, deep ball, etc. How many running backs under Beamer have gone on to the NFL? No need to answer, if you’re a fan you already know. The problem with this team is they can’t get the running game going and we’re standing in the pocket playing chuck and duck as a result. Traditionally, that hasn’t been Tech football. It’s not our identity and let’s be honest…we’re not great at it.
Answering another, no Clemson is not in that category of elites. Did we forget that until last year we routinely whipped Clemson. WVU and Standford are not either. Don’t confuse them the elites I mentioned before. Yes, they are all experiencing success currently but not year to year. Stanford will come back to earth once the Harbaugh boys graduate. WVU is hot and cold. They’ve been crushed twice recently anyway.
For the record I am not Beamer’s son-in-law. I have dished out my fair share of criticism, in particular the fake punt during the bowl game last year which nearly cost me a new television. I didn’t 100 percent agree with the naming of Shane as the associate head coach with the amount of time invested by Foster. I’m sure it ruffled feathers but families do that from time to time. Speaking of family atomsphere. Do you want a cut throat coaching staff who is looking for their chance to bolt for a head job or to the NFL? Rodriguez thought he was bigger than Morgantown. Michigan crushed him. Spurrier didnt’ work out in Washington. Retreated to the college ranks. My point is this, we have a capable coaching staff at Virginia Tech who has won alot of games working together under Beamer. To think that we are to start playing Russian roulette with who should be fired first is not the answer either. This is a down year, if you can’t accept it…go join the Boo Hoos at UVA, I heard they could use some fans in the stands.
Not happy that I was right but see above. Actually gave Tech too much credit. They will not win again this year and as I have been saying for a long time, they are in a hole that they won’t get out of without a major shakeup in the staff. Frank has been lulled into a false sense of security and ignored the warning signals of the last several years. This is a train wreck.