Greg Nosal

VTBox is doing the Lord's work.

Blake DeChristopher has "graded out" 90% or better in 9 out of 10 games this season (88% Arkansas State), Jaymes Brooks has 40 knockdowns on the year. Those metrics are utterly subjective, vaguely defined and couldn't be any less helpful when trying to convey the success the Hokies' offense is having in 2011. These are more concrete and well understood. David Wilson leads the nation with 1,360 rushing yards. Logan Thomas has thrown for almost 20 more yards per game in his first year as starter than Tyrod did his senior year, and has only been sacked ten times. Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale will finish their careers as Tech's receiving yards and receptions leaders.

Like most of you, when I'm watching a game live I'm watching the ball, I don't pick a particular player or group to key on before the snap. Where the ball goes, my eyes follow. I notice David Wilson flying down the sideline, not the blocks that setup the run. I focus on Logan scanning the field looking for the open man, then marvel over the one-handed, toe tapping sideline catch that follows. I overlook the backside blitz pickup that afforded LT3 the extra couple of seconds to stand in the pocket and deliver the throw.

The offensive line is under appreciated when the scoreboard is getting lit up. They're overly criticized when the team's struggling.

If you were following along this morning, you caught rumblings that preseason All-ACC tackle Blake DeChristopher suffered a pectoral injury. At the time the extent of the damage or how long he'd be out for was unknown. Later in the morning BeamerBall.com noted DeChristopher would be out two weeks and left guard Greg Nosal isn't 100% ready to practice, still recovering from his offseason shoulder surgery.

HokieSports released an update this afternoon stating DeChristopher would be out 4-6 weeks.

I don't want to speculate on the reason for the confusion between two sites that should be on the same page, but it seems like the injury is a little more severe than was thought before noon.

If the offensive line is going to be successful this season they need DeChristopher and Nosal healthy. DeChristopher has 37 career starts, 22 in a row, and is referred to as "the leader of a veteran line", in the media guide. Nosal started every game last year, over 800 snaps in his career, including one with a nub for a pinky finger. In my opinion these are our toughest and best two offensive linemen.

Back in November** the Hokies moved into their brand new crib, an $18 million locker room facility that's just shy of 42,000 square feet big.

BALLIN'!

I was lucky enough to score a tour hosted by seniors Chris Drager, Eddie Whitley, Jaymes Brooks and Greg Nosal.**

/in unison

WELCOME TO OUR CRIB!