This was the final block that sprung Kyshoen Jarrett.
After the debacle Saturday, I figured we could all use this. It seems like every time RVD is on the field he's making a play, which makes me wonder why RVD isn't on the field more.
Pitt.
*That's the post. French will have the film review by Monday morning and my guess is it won't be sunshine and lollipops. Remember, we can still win the ACC. -- THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY BEAMER CO.
This week I'm asking more questions than providing answers. Tech's first two games were a bit of a scheduling anomaly. The Hokies spent all summer preparing to defend Paul Johnson's option and Al Groh's 3-4, then had just 5 days to turn around and square away a I-AA team. Now that the Hokies have had a full week to rest, regroup, watch film, and practice, will we see that week one to two improvement that the Frankinator often speaks about, but didn't happen last Saturday?
Will the o-line get a push inside? For the most part, the Hokies front five held their own in pass protection against the Bees and Peay(s), but as a group didn't dominate the line of scrimmage. Andrew Miller is listed as probable with an ankle injury, but practiced this week. The reserves got snaps inside last Saturday: Caleb Farris at center, Brent Benedict and Matt Arkema at guard. Pitt's defensive line played on their heels against Cincinnati, and is group that should be owned by the Hokie big uglies.
After a nail biter against Georgia Tech, and slow malaise of a game against Austin Peay, it's time for the Hokies to hit the road. Virginia Tech has the longest road game winning streak in the nation (13 consecutive true road wins), and hopefully the Hokie faithful will travel to watch them extend it.
Virginia Tech has a reputation of having of a great traveling fan base. Traveling well elevates the standing of the program, especially with bowl game officials, and the first three road games of the season are very convenient destinations.
Welcome back! After two games in five days to start the season, it's back to normalcy with only one game on a Saturday. Brian and Kevin look back briefly at Austin Peay, discuss Notre Dame's (partial) move to the ACC and preview Saturday's game with Pitt. It seems like pains from 2003 and before have not been forgotten. Should make for a fun weekend.
In addition, Andy Bitter, the Roanoke Times and Virginian-Pilot beat writer, gets suckered/joins the show for his thoughts on the season among other random things Brian can think of.
That and more on Episode three of Adventures on Whiskey Lane.
Leave us comments, suggestions and anything we can do to make it better, because we may just give you a shoutout in the coming weeks.
MP3 Download link: http://thekeyplay.podomatic.com/enclosure/2012-09-12T17_44_46-07_00.mp3
This week I did a Q&A with Chas of Pitt Blather, you can read my answers to his questions here. Thanks to Chas for his time.
TKP: Going into the game, the Panthers have struggled very noticeably. Not only the Thursday night loss to Cincinnati, but the opening weekend loss to Youngstown State. In your opinion, where is the fan base on this team? Have they already given up? What will the atmosphere be like when the Hokies walk into Heinz Field?
Pitt Blather: It's hard not to write off the season despite only two games in. It's one thing to lose to a 1-AA team. It's something else to have never led and lost by 14 points. Even Cal and Colorado managed to lose in squeakers to 1-AA teams this year. Pitt was just a mess. The Cinci game did little to show that this was an aberration.
I honestly don't know what kind of atmosphere will be there since I don't know how many people will show up at this point. On the one hand, it is VT and all the fond memories of the final few years of VT playing Pitt in the Big East. On the other hand, it's a nooner and a demoralized and bummed fanbase. Is it possible for a crowd atmosphere to be bitterly sarcastic? Or will that just be me?
Last week's schedule wasn't the greatest, and this week's took a hit because of upsets and lackluster play from ranked teams. I'm going to chalk most of it up to lack of motivation or travel, and let it slide. Not so fast Arkansas, I said most. The Razorbacks are one Bama beatdown away from returning to the team that fired Houston Nutt to hire Bobby Petrino, i.e complete rebuild mode. If they take the beating I expect, the Duggars have a better chance of making future Six Picks than Pig Sooie, at least I know they produce.
<sarcasm>I am starting to think ESPN has an SEC bias.</sarcasm> I am sure it shocks no one that ESPN is going to support the conference they dumped gobs of cash on, but it'll be three weeks, and 5 of the 6 teams covered at the Gameday locales are from the SEC. This includes Florida twice, mediocre Florida, and that's some bullshit. I know this isn't an elite group of games, but surely mixing it up and going to East Lansing, a game ESPN/ABC is broadcasting, would at least make it look like they aren't total shills. If Gameday has to be in Knoxville this week, they should at least do it right and broadcast off the stern of a boat in the Volunteer Navy. That's the only way I will give them a pass. Future watch, next week looks like a lock for the Clemson at FSU tilt since the other two marquee games are broadcast by NBC and Fox. Unless of course the Noles aren't back.
Get ready y'all, here comes a non-conference game with a familiar flair! Our opponent this week is the Pitt Panthers, a team that can claim the unique distinction of being both a former Big East and future ACC rival (HOORAY REALIGNMENT!). Regardless of conference affiliation, Pitt recently has been known as a coaching abyss.
Going into the season, there seemed to be a good amount of optimism for the Panthers in what was considered a wide-open Big East race. Add that to the fact that an experienced quarterback (Tino Sunseri) was returning, and you have the makings of true darkhouse candidate.
The ACC put out an official release, so it's done.
The Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents has unanimously voted to accept the University of Notre Dame as a new member. The Irish will compete as full members in all conference sponsored sports with the exception of football which will play five games annually against league programs.
Buried at the bottom of a lot of fluff is this.
Last week I asked Dozer if he could chop up the Pitt–Cincinnati tape since they're two of Tech's upcoming opponents. Of course, he obliged. The film is below (because of technical difficulties, it's missing the tail end of the 4th quarter). After watching it, my thoughts follow, please leave your's in the comments.
Pitt struggled to pound the ball between the tackles. They didn't generate a huge surge upfront, and Cincinnati's d-line did an excellent job beating blocks and penetrating. However, Pitt had success running wide. Their o-line is athletic, both starting tackles have experience playing guard, so they can move. Left tackle Cory King (#78) started five games at guard last season, right tackle Matt Rotheram (#74) started one and was 3-star recruit. Needless to say, they pull their linemen a lot and the running backs run well behind them. The Tech linebackers, especially the Whip, and other free hitters will have to wrap up in space if the Hokies are to stop Pitt's rush attack.
