Comments on: Five thoughts after Virginia Tech’s loss to Florida State

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 17:00:43 +0000

VTredwolf – Good points except that it’s possible to have a good offensive line even if you’re not a SEC team. VT had good ones back when they were in the Big East

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:32:09 +0000

Does anyone really watch VT play and think that’s a really well coached team? Didn’t think so. That’s the problem with everything. It’s not one play or two here and there. It’s the overall bigger picture with the direction this program seems to be headed. COACHING MATTERS, and we aren’t very good at it. Our players are good enough and the talent is certainly there year after year. I always think of what if a Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly type were coaching the same players at Tech?? They would probably dominate. I can assue you we would be a lot more detail oriented, sharp, do the little things well, and most importantly have an identity and be confident in what we are doing. All of those traits are massive weaknesses of this current staff and it is beginning to drag the program down. This program has had ample opportunity to elevate itself into the upper eschelon nationally. But instead its stayed in relative obscurity because this staff overall can’t seem to figure things out. It’s always something and it’s becoming painful to watch. Our first game next year is against Alabama which should be exciting for a great program to take on that challenge. But it’s gotten to the point now where I just hope we can maybe hang around and not completely get run out of the Georgia Dome.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:14:28 +0000

I enjoy reading your blog as always, Andy. I have to agree with Hokie SC. I think there are some real problems with LT. He is very inconsistent and aside from the interceptions, some of his short passes are incredibly poor. I think the defense played one hell of a game to be honest. I think our secondary needs some work, but I was really proud of those guys.

I would like to comment on the atmosphere in Lane Stadium and see if anyone agrees with me. For most of the game, it seemed rather quiet (for Lane Stadium on a Thursday night that is) and empty. There were also a lot of older fans who were quite intoxicated and seemed more interested in getting up and down in the stands than watching the game. Did anyone else seem to notice this? I understand that Hokie fans are frustrated. I am too. Maybe fans are trying to send a message? I’m not sure. I’ve been going to VT games for the past 12 years, and this is one of the first where I saw multiple people giving away their tickets at the gate. The whole situation makes me sad.

By: Andy Bitter

Andy Bitter — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:38:28 +0000

Still haven’t seen a replay of the third-down play at the end, but some folks have said Benedict just whiffed on a block and it was otherwise pretty well set up.

I realize it’s a conservative call. But it’s a conservative call they had success with earlier.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:33:50 +0000

On the 3rd down before the go ahead field goal, if Tech gets the first down with a more aggressive play call (it was not third and goal), then FSU has to burn their time outs, and Tech has a chance to kick the game winning FG at the gun. Very frustrating, but a coach’s decision to make a conservative call, then for the defense to hold on.

By: scott whitaker

scott whitaker — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:42:54 +0000

Andy I have long been a critic of the O but rarely the play calling. For one I’m not smart enough to know what plays to call and neither are most of the folks here IMHO. I watched Bama the other night and thought there were many similarities in the O. I recently saw (where I can’t recall) videos of the 2 teams running similar plays. Bama was much quicker, crisper, VT’s plays took too long to develop. It’s execution, execution. The O is trying to cover for its deficiencies by too many different “looks” and schemes. And after 11 years and your O still is mediocre and your trying to get the program to the “next level” and you keep the same OC? How dumb is that?

By: william

william — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:10:57 +0000

it is time for a change…..keep foster…..let the rest of the coaches go….this team is no different than the previous ones….time to move beamer into a job that promotes VT and move into the 21st centuryith a new head coach and offensive guru

By: VTRedwolf

VTRedwolf — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 02:05:57 +0000

Finally someone recognizes our terrible kickoffs. This is the worst K’er we’ve every had, he rarely reaches the endzone. Still we’re doing okay in preventing kick returns. On the flip side, Hughes has had a few gaffes but I think he’s going to be a great punter.

As far as your post on how does LSU, Alabama and all those perrenial top 5 teams do it? Well first of all they’re LSU, Alabama, etc. Secondly they’re in the SEC. SEC academic requirements for athletes are very very low. They spend ungodly money on coaches and players are pampered like nobody’s business. Look VT is getting the majority of the top 25 VA athletes, but they’re missing on the Phillip Sims of the world (look how it worked out for him). Those teams you mention recruit only NFL prototypical athletes, it’s much hard for them to miss and when they do there’s pleny of hits standing in the wings. Offensive lineman are not easy. God doesn’t make that many 6’5″ 18 year olds that can carry 300lbs. It takes a program like VT a couple of years to get a kid that big whereas many of those O lineman in the SEC come ready made at 18 vs 20 or 21. Still Miami is loaded with the same athletes and can’t make it work so coaching is obviously very important. We went through our tier one running backs very fast and the kids we have now are just not big enough yet. You have to feel for guys like Holmes who’s taken a step back, but there are plenty of players on VT’s team that will never see meaningful snaps and may have been highly regarded as High School players.

Let’s not forget that these are kids and they’re our kids too. I need to be reminded of that.

By: don

don — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 23:57:29 +0000

Tech has the talent but the coaching staff does not know how to utilize the talent. Don’t tell me what a great coach Beamer is. The only time he is a great coach is when he plays a cupcake.

By: giles

giles — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 23:39:15 +0000

I have seen lately on televised games that the comments on tv are questioning strategy. I can’t believe beamer just saying thats their tv job to critique the game. BS. If Frankie were not so tenured he would be fired at years end. Simple. Sports would not such. Gutter guard Frankie. Looks pretty lame during the game. I hate to rip ole fancy gap but this is life. This program will continue to decline every year. Donations will decline. People will be pissed. Please retire to lake Lanier while you still have your clout. Sorry you are too old for college football 2012. And stinespring- go teach phys ed at Blacksburg high. You will NEVER be a head football coach unless new river comm college gets a team. The play calling is pitiful for years.