[Mark Umansky]
Who: Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 1-1 ACC) at Pitt (3-2, 0-1 ACC)
When: Saturday, October 7, 2022 at 3:30 PM EDT
Where: Pittsburgh, PA | Acrisure Stadium
Watch/Listen: ACCN / Virginia Tech IMG
Spread: VT +14.5
Weather: 54°F, Partly Cloudy
Series: VT owns a 11-10 advantage in the series.
Reppin' TKP: Not today.
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Comments
Let's go!
HOKIES!!!!!!
I'm gonna say it.....I'm gonna say it right now......right here.....front and center.
Can you smell it? Do you feel it? I sure do. I feel it, down in my plumbs...
I foresee an upset.
I want the exact substances you are currently consuming
It's the 'ol hope juice...Whiskey
Im drinking whiskey too, but it's not giving me that same feeling about this game.
Hope i'm wrong.
Regardless...
LETS GO
Your whiskey must be defective. Consume more to verify your feelings.
I only drink 100+ proof, so I don't know what more I can do
DayQuil
Eat Shit Pitt
Hokie!
Hokie!
Hokie!
HI!
Fuck Pat Narduzzi
Watching the 12 o'clock games at the moment. Man it pisses me off how much other teams defenses get away with on PI and offensive lines get away with on holding
Hooker just threw a deep ball TD. Beautiful pass.
My impression is you are much more likely to called for holding if you have lost leverage and have been beaten by the defender.
This seems like a good day for an upset win at Pitt IMO.
Of all the Fuente tragedies, Hendon Hooker has to be the worst. Watching this young man play at the level that he is...for a different school...gets me the most pissed off.
This is what happens when you have a phenomenal offensive coach and system, coupled with top rate WRs. Taking nothing away from Hendon.
Whit Babcock was Fuente's mentor at clown school.
You must not have learned from your first shot at Whit. I highly recommend laying off that particular subject.
I see we've reached the part of the afternoon where we're threatening people in vague ways.
Nothing vague man. Nobody wants to hear you shit all over Whit over and over. We know how you feel.
No need to keep saying it
I'm not threatening. People keep downvoting you, because they clearly disagree. My recommendation (not threat) is that you stop, because people will continue to downvote you. Didn't think it was that vague, but I guess I needed to spell out the part that people would continue to downvote you?
No Garbutt, Strong, or Gosnell. I will be doing yard work on this beautiful fall day. Be good to yourselves today TKP
Damn... This game is going to be fugly. Like 49-10 fugly.
Next man up
Experience for the young'ns can't hurt
No, I hope that this experience will help next year.
Look to the future....
Invent the Future?
Every week I check out ESPN's Bottom 10 and lately I have been saying to myself......."please don't be there, please don't be there."
Go Hokies!
I don't expect much but I'm still cheering for them
Damn, if Wells had any accuracy on that ball it was a TD.
Do we even okay Blumrick anymore?
Would expect him to get less and less playtime. Senior, won't be back next year, and not exactly putting max effort in for the reps he's had. Time to build for future.
So we should move him to OL? /s
...but doesn't he have a COVID year, too?
Is this game being filmed with a 2008 Motorola Razor
That's just fucking embarrassing throwing a no chance pass on 3rd and 7 and then punting from the 36. Pry ain't it.
You've seen the offense the past few games??
Punt, great D, Pitt punt = get back at 37. I'd say that was well played.
Psh.
Pry punted on the first series clearly = terrible coach. /s
You should never punt from the other team's 36. Ever.
...twice
Our defense has started out looking really good. Holding Pitt to minus 4 yards in their first series is a excellent start.
Boo birds out in pittsburgh
Defense starting out fantastic!
Great field position, gotta take advantage
I know its early, but the entire team looks a bit more physical today. Any positive step forward is really good IMO.
Wells inability to hit wide open receivers is staggering.
Yeah. For those saying Wells isn't the issue and could be our guy, just don't think it's going to work out.
It's not that Wells isn't the issue. It's that's he's our only option.
Gallo gotta catch that first one tho....
no touch on the ball from Wells
AGAIN! If Wells had made a good throw it was a TD. He is not good throwing the ball.
Someone teach Wells touch.
More pre-snap penalties.
This team and the damn penalties!!!!
False start was a better outcome for our 4th and short O.
Jesus Christ
What the fuck?
Sigh ... false start then delay of game
More of the same every week
JFC
Dang Pry! Call a TO
And our ineptitude at game management rears its head again.
What a wasted possession. These are the types of coaching errors that should have been corrected by this point in the season.
38 yard line...zero points.
Stupid penalty. No penalties! Fucking ridiculous.
Ducking presnap penalties!
That's unacceptable
Me to myself: how will we screw up this great field position?......
Gift wrapping this game and putting a bow on it for Narduzzi I see...
Wells develops touch and it's a different world for the offense so far.
Don't know why that would be difficult for Brad Glenn to teach
Have you ever tried teaching it? Have you tried teaching it to Wells? It may be more difficult than you think and some people may not catch on as quickly. Or he does it right in practice then he gets game nerves. I doubt it's simple or it WOULD have been fixed.
Brion Murray again.....damn man
Wells wasn't going to start at Marshall, that's why we have him.
Are the coaches going to hold themselves accountable for penalties and give themselves the same punishment the players get for getting penalties and not being aware of the game clock? I want an answer!
Yep. Been saying, I know we have talent issues, but there are glaring coaching issues that no one wants to talk about. Too much learning on the job.
Incompetence. Delay of game after a penalty?
I'm perfectly OK letting one of our TF play instead of Murray.
Murray has got to play press. When he plays off he gives up big plays.
I want to see more Delane, Cam Johnson, and DJ Harvey. They are the future.
Murray is getting toasted already. Hope it's not a long day for him. Think we're going to miss Dorian Strong a lot today
Jenkins is an underrated beast.
Easy for Pitt : throw it in the area of Murray on 3rd down
We are our own worst enemy
Izzy fumble coming up
We had great momentum through the first series. Now it feels like they are going to drive down and score.
Can't afford to give them freebies.
Sigh... Penalties are back. There are going to be a lot a wind sprints this week.
Somebody start a penalty counter
3
So is Pry gonna run wind sprints for not realizing the play clock was about to expire there? That's terrible.
Looks like we want to give this one away
Yup
Another flag that gives Pitt a first down
How the hell was that on Chapman? wR had him wrapped up.
Because it stopped the offense and the NCAA's money, if that happens flag has to be thrown on defence.
I meant TD
Murray just doesn't know how to break on the ball. Softest coverage I've seen
Pregame I called 49-10 final and I am standing by it.
I don't see us getting the 10.
It will be garbage time when Pitt's 2nd and 3rd stringers are in.
Ok you are already wrong.. But I Love You....
So much for momentum
Let me show you my shocked face!
I bet we lead the nation in opponent drives over 90 yards the last five years!
Well we went 12 minutes with some sense of hope. But last offensive and defensive performances show no hope is warranted
And this is why we need to score points, not flags.
12th Man = Penalties on all 3 phases
I don't know about talent...but we are not a smart team or coached.
Got to say. I'm a big fan of Pry, but dang... he and his staff really need to start getting their s$1t together on game day.
There's not a single player or coach that deserves to be on this team. We got high school caliber coaches and players. I'm done watching this shit show
Really trying to be patient with this Staff but the compounding of errors and the broken-record style of on-field performance is getting hard to take.
How much longer do I watch this before I admit that I am a masochist?
You weren't before this started? Damn, you are better than me.
Three penalties 20 yards 8 minutes. We are on a pace for. 20+ penalty game
These pigeons do not an F that a football game is going on
More pigeons than fans...
Why don't we throw to KS80 every time?
That's one of the first plays I can remember where we really had a significant bust in the run fit. I do think this defense has been substantially more solid and sound than the last two seasons. However, it's the same talent, and less in some areas. There have been coaching issues, but I don't think defensively we are poorly coached in terms of assignment and x's and o's.
I don't understand how wells can drop a dime on a covered receiver but when that receiver is wide open it's 10 yds over his head.
Because he can throw 40 yards. Not 40 feet.
Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass approves.
Pitt's helping us out
WHAT IS HAPPENING? The other guys are getting penalties called on them?
Hey I'll take that
That young man just runs different!
TD Thomas!!
Welcome back Malachi
Great run by Malachi!
We scored! our streak is still alive.
Extra point streak is over...
Thomas just got elevated to RB1
Thomas, oh how i have missed you.
F Pitt.
Ugh. C'mon man lol
Even when we do something good, we screw it up.
Yup. They want to make sure you don't get too optimistic
We should've just given MT24 the ball all year! /s
...in all seriousness, why did our OL suddenly know how to run block and drive their legs?
They didn't. Thomas made that happen on his own.
Malachi Thomas with a grown man TD.
Unfortunately XP is blocked and steals all the momentum
and then we cap it off with a shitty ST play... smh
Hard. Smart. Tough.
Welcome back, Malachi Thomas.
If Malachi can continue with the same TD per carry ratio he has so far this season, I predict good things for VT Offense
Well that was off base.
We can't have good without something bad.
MT is just different. That run is stopped at or near the line of scrimmage with any other back on the team. Including King.
The answer is Stu Holt for anyone who wants to know who our special teams coach is. He's not having a good game
Malachi is talented as *#%^
That'll be the point we lose by. Calling it now
Defense delivers!
I'm not going to lie. Maybe I am getting too pessimistic.
When we had 4th and 1 I said to my wife we are going to line up in the shotgun, run it up the middle and get stuffed.
The penalty to make it 4th and 6 I thought was a benefit as I thought we had a better chance of converting than 4th and 1.
Surprised they were kicking the FG at that point. Then the penalty was just a 'how pathetic is this team/I feel like I am watching Fuente's team' moment.
The PI on third and long, was just encapsulating the last 3 or 4 years.
When Pitt scored, I said I hate to say it, but that could do it. I don't know if we can even score 7 points.
Then we score ... and we still don't have 7 points.
Still seeing some life from the offense is good.
Grant has zero ability to progress through his receivers. He has one receiver to throw to before the play starts and he is throwing to that receiver regardless. No bueno
Pitt guy was pushing the ref and no flag!?
Automatic. Should have been called.
Where's the flag? And then He fuckin put his hands on the ref!
Where the hell is the flag(s)
we like 40 yard sprints
You'd think we'd be faster.
Lol another false start
Wrong
I assume we are leading the country in presnap penalties. At least we are #1 in something
LancerHokie just suggested we drink every time we get a penalty. I am scared. This is how I die.
Well...not you, just your liver.
What??? You were the one commenting on all the penalties... I was just trying to come up with a way to make them more bearable....
So...not exactly smart Pitt either.
RPO! Where's that been?!
We are getting some calls! I feel sorry for Narduzzi's dog when he gets home.
Throw to KS80 every time!!!
Short yardage and we get it!! Go Malachi!
Thomas is back and we suddenly look competent in the middle
Seriously good looking. He's squirting (ha) forward for 4-5 yards every time he runs. Time to try KK in that weapon positon we discussed in preseason.
Dennis needs to ejected. He is late and dirty on every play.
Dare i say our O looks competent? Thomas/Smith all day...
Why?! Why?! Why did you have to say that????
" Courvoisier Dennis"
Ok so if I have another kid, I'm naming it "OG Purple Kush"
Champagne Robert
this offense is showing a little progress today.
Crazy what a touch more talent on the field can do
Thomas is making a very needed instant impact in the running game. But, he didn't block very well on that screen to Lofton...
Having balanced offensive threat is so nice
Hmm...KS80. First and goal...
I don't think I've seen our secondary as bad as it is now ever. I don't think we have one player that I think can develop into a pro.
There's some good young talent out there (Stroman in particular is going to be a stud). Gonna take another season or two to get everyone up to speed.
Pitt extremely late lining up on that 1st and goal. Wells waits for them to clear bc we are running up the middle.
If we just snap the damn ball and toss it to Kaleb Smith it's an easy TD
Time for a Malachi TD!!!
First and first and goal
Narduzzi must be losing it that the refs are calling DPI correctly
"But the whole point of my defense is to get away of illegal defending on every passing play!"
Thank goodness that drew a flag because that pass had too much on it
Dennis with another dirty play after the TO.
I think that's 3 PI on pitt.....is pat salty yet? 🧂
Fucjing Deuilius just tackled Malachi.....FUCK
That little sidestep by Thomas would've been an instant fall for any of the other backs
... Why not just let Thomas do his thing here
Guesses on our play calling here?
Love how that reverse angle shows how Lofton was being held the entire time he ran his route...
Yup
Ball on the 2 yd line and we can't get it ugh
...the 1
Blown opportunities bite you
Plenty of holding by the DB on that play to Lofton.
We have scored more points than I thought we could already. Let's keep it going!
Yet still less than last week or the week before...lol
More butterfingers by Lofton , it was in his gut
I am not sure any of our current WRs can be classed as P5 WRs. None of them have shown me much of anything.
I don't think the DB knocking the ball out is butterfingers.
Lofton has had struggles, but let's not go at him for not holding on to a tough ball to catch with a DB draped all over him after committing holding and PI and then making a play on the ball
From the other angle Lofton had a chance to make that catch and didn't make it. Tough catch, but those are the "difference maker" type plays.
Lofton was draped all over by the db
How the hell was that not PI (had his arm around hip the entire time!)
I really don't like PITT. Narduzzi's players have taken on his personality. They aren't a very likable team 🤷🏾♂️
When has a Nardouchey team EVER been likable?
It is amazing how much dirty extracurricular shit Pitt is allowed to get away with
Watch Dennis on every play. I mean, he shoved the ref and got away with it.
I can't believe that one guy didn't get flagged for grabbing the ref. Was it #7? If I'm the ref he's ejected.
How that kid didn't get a penalty or tossed out with his hand on the official...beyond excusable.
Gotta be able to punch it in that close, but hey at least the ball is moving.
Did that hit Lofton in the belly and dropped or did the guy holding him get a hand in there?
Wells did place the ball perfectly between the defenders arms wrapped around Lorton.
The defender who was holding him for 2 straight seconds got his non-holding hand in to punch the ball out
You should never kick on 4th and goal at the 1 ever unless there's no time left and it gives you the lead.
We need the points. This team has no margin for error or empty possessions.
I wanted to just give it to Malachi again. I think he gets the TD. Or run PA off Malachi.
Wells is throwing into coverage because he can't progress
Interception!!!!
Keonta Jenkins remembering his lessons from the defensive backfield!
YES!!!!
INT Jenkins!!
nice screen by the ref
Awesome play!!!
Now I'm legitimately wondering how the offense/coaching staff is going to eff this up. Haha.
They didnt!
Jenkins!!!!
Nice screen by the zebra
Ref with PBU and INT
Holy F! An INT...been a long time since I've seen one of those.
Nice screen by the ref on the pick!
King!!!!
King scores and looked FABULOUS doing it.
Boom!
TD KING!!!!
Dennis rips his helmet off...no call.
TD KING!!
"I'm still here, y'all"
--Keshawn King
Beautiful block by Gallo too.
I love my bipolar team!!!!
Blouses!
Thunder and lightning!!!!!
We're winning at football!!!
That is the first EXCELLENT run blocking play I can remember all season.
Mmmmm....there was that one run in the bc game!
Maybe I'm crazy but Malachi Thomas legs look bigger this year. If so, credit to the S&C.
Not being able to do cardio will bulk you up ;)
SPRINKLES!!!!!
Nice job by 86 for picking up the LB there
Who are these Hokies they speak of on the ACCN?
BOOYAH!!!!
When opportunity meets preparation...
Where is all of this competent run blocking coming from?? I love it!
And it's Dennis who got sealed to open the running lane for King 🤣
Woot woot! Nice to see this for a change!
Not sure we've seen a hole like that inside the tackles all season long.
Should I pinch myself?!?
Don't pinch yourself it is real, it's not I have been drinking because of OT work earlier today (or waiting to play silly minigames in Holdfast with some friends later tonight).
Is anyone else in shock right now?
D trying to bring us back down to earth
See now, this....this I like.
King and Thomas make a really good 1-2 punch. I believe we will see more runs like that from King now that Thomas is back.
Wow. We just flipped a switch. Where has this team been? Thomas and King rotating has been a massive jolt.
Maybe Pry was right when he said the team is closer than it has looked like
Can't wait for French to explain what we adjustment has happened in the running game. It can't just be Thomas. Something else looks different.
Mansor Delane is a physical player for a TF. Really like that kid!
Here is the true test for if Pry and company are different from Corn-Fu. If Corn-Fu was still here, we would have Holston the featured back the rest of the game. Let's see if we have Thomas and King still getting the ball.
Yep. Keep giving it to them until they can stop it.
Damn stroman....
Who was he trying to tackle?
Pry said he was happy with tackling early in the season. I really want to know if he is still happy.
I don't understand how you forget how to tackle midseason.
Offense shows signs of life: Defense immediately shits the bed
Oh man. You need to make that tackle and stop.
Good game for Fuga.
Dline is getting good penetration but every other play they can't wrap up.
Wrap the F up
Oy ve dios mio godblessachinesechicken.......
Good lord another atrocious missed tackle by Stroman.
Did someone say tackling?!
Yep, our tackling is getting worse as the season goes on.
So much for #2 not being healthy
We gave them everything they got on that drive with poor tackling.
Scheme works
Brutal missed tackles on that one. That was ENTIRELY on the missed tackles.
Now THAT was some shitty tackling.
Yikes... I'm embarrassed for the entire defense after that play.
Tackling is not good.
We cannot get off the field on 3rd down.
We were 8th best in FBS in 3rd down defense coming in to this game
Pitiful tackling again.
Pitt-iful
Make
A
Fucking
Tackle
Embarrassing defense there.
Missed tackles gives Pitt the TD on that series
Grant Wells does not see the field very well.
ultra dangerous throw there
And here's where the game changes very quickly
Our offense knows how to get off the field on 3rd down, maybe our defense could take a few notes.
Gallo Wiiiiiide Open there.
That's just want to right there. Nelson had the RB dead to rights and just let's him slip out of his arms. Come on, need better effort than that. Nelson's got the size advantage.
Shit punt
Man! 86 was so wide open there, better unleash it into double coverage
Did special teams practice?
Where oh where have special teams gone?
Another ST gem...
D gets gashed. O comes out with 3 quick passing plays and puts them immediately back on the field. So much for running clock and running plays.
Did we practice special teams last week? Holt needs a reeming after this game
Nope
Wells is an accident waiting to happen. Threads it between two defenders late over the middle.
Luckily they are defending with 14 players. Otherwise someone else would be open throwing into triple coverage.
With Gallo wide open
I think he has "happened" multiple times this year.
And here's where the wheels start falling off
...and they get the ball first on the 2H
In other news...can the announcers sucks Pitts D a little harder
Good timing by Dax
Prior games that was automatic PI on him.
One thing I notice on D at least is the amount of guys getting snaps. Pry is certainly rotating and hopefully building depth for future
Need an answer before the half.
Gotta burn the clock here, even if we dont score.
Aaaannnnd they abandon the running game.
I don't know if Pry or Narduzzi is more bewildered by basic football strategy.
I simply don't understand our strategy sometimes.
A poor strategy is still a strategy
Gallo vs a DE = bad news
Ugh
Play calls are terrible
What the hell was that 3rd down call?!
I'd be happy if we just got a mobile QB and lined up and ran the triple option at this point.
What the fuck kind of play call was that.
That's called running scared
How's our four minute offense? Just like our regular offense.
Gallo has struggled to block all year long, so we take a deep drop and set him up to try and block a DE.
Shockingly, it didn't work.
He was one of our best blockers last year. This year one of the worst.
...and. Nothing.
Pitt will score before half and then after half, I guarantee it
YO WTF IS SPECIAL TEAMS DOING
Shitting the bed is an accurate statement.
Just fucking infuriating
Is this the worst VT special teams performance others have ever seen?
Fire Stu Holtz
This isn't a talent issue anymore.
This is a poorly coached team
What in God's holy name was 89 doing.
Not blocking
How is that not hitting the punter a second time?
Did he clip the ball?
Yea. Red made the sign in the replay.
Ball was tipped
Wow pathetic block by DeI
Moore suddenly can't punt???
Delulius whiffed on his block
Three straight shitty punts.
Not when a guy is 1 foot in front of him....
Because he's taking forever to get it off (not the block as much...but the prior two).
My eternal optimist hot take......we looked totally competent for 20 minutes.
I'm really amazed Pitt was not airing it out those first couple of plays. Guess they think they can pop a long run, but I'm really surprised.
De Iuliis and gallo with back to back terrible plays.
A stop!!!
Ha ha....looked like there was a spotlight on our guy
Be aggressive here?
Edit: nvm. Take a knee
How's our two minute offense? Just like our regular offense?
Bro what the fuck special teams
How are there 5 wins between these 2 teams.
lmao Blue can't keep his knee off turf but it helps us out here
Just go down on a knee.
Edit: or just give it to King or Thomas and let them try and break one.
Dude our special teams are so bad today
Special teams are absolutely ugly.
I'm totally good with firing Holt at halftime.
This would be a great time to launch on to Blum.
Smith!!!!!
= Danny Cole
Averaging 21.3 ypc
Kaleb Smith is only WR we can count on right now.
we're totally going to have another bad punt before halftime aren't we
No because you don't punt from the opponents 36 yard line...ever.
my stream is slow so I posted right before the big gainer to Smith
No worries just throwing back to a early convo in the thread
I picked up on what you were laying down 😂
Have a day KS!
Kaleb Smith again!!
Wells just stares down first receiver and then chucks it to thr RB, covered or not, if he can't make the first throw.
Just keep throwing the ball to Smith!!
We should throw deep to smith more.
☝️
Smith cramping
Good name for a progressive rock ban.
d
Yes. It's all about the D.
BIG D!!!
Capital D
Get a play in during the injury timeout
I swear football is going to either kill me, cause permanent bodily injury, or make me bald..... I am currently biting/playing with my hair and biting my finger...
Why is there a run off for us?
#goACC refs
I'm more surprised they gave us the option.
Malachi run to get us in FG position.
Why is the offensive team penalized for a defensive player injury? The ten second run off rule is strange.
Time for a shot to Smith.
Okay, I was wrong when I called for us to go out on a knee. Pry having more confidence in the offense than me is a good things. Now let's finish the drive with a score.
There's your new 4th and 1 play. QB follow the fake into the hole.
Please don't leave this to ST.
Not the we way I hoped that would end up.
Why can't we have nice things?
Because we are VT fans.
Killer penalty
Parker, bruh
Why you do that?
Well so much for that FG...
All for fucking NOTHING
What a stupid penalty.
Clockwork
2nd and 30
Jesus
Lol looked like sure points and we managed to totally ruin it.
We aRe NoT wELl CoAChed
And Pry just going to let the clock run out? What the hell.
Less time for another penalty.
We are limiting the damage here.
Sack will definitely take us out of FG range
Penalty was huge but wells has to throw it away there he is really bad at just eating a down and living to play another day
Truly unbelievable the 2 offensive self-destructs when we could have had FGs.
One thing I will say, we are a whole heck of a lot closer than I thought we would be.
Completely inept end to the half.
Not really inept as we got into scoring range, but definitely totally blew it with the penalty and next play.
We aren't talented enough to have all of these horrendous errors. 15 yard penalty plus Wells taking an absolutely brutal sack is inexcusable.
Oh, so NOW Pry calls that timeout that he held onto from earlier
Only Va Tech lol
The thing we are best at is shooting ourselves in the foot
I love how the ref is laughing as he announces we have 2 seconds left
FUCKING BULL SHIT, WTF, GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS
Ok, I'm done for this one. Too many mistakes.
How many points we gonna leave on the board today?
Still calculating....
If Wells had any touch or accuracy on the ball we would have 2 more TDs. He is not having a good game.
If we can stop beating ourselves we can win this game. If you told me we'd be down 1 at halftime I'd have told you no way.
That's a shame that pick is going to hurt Wells numbers for the year.
WRs have to get in front and put hands on that ball. Cannot let the D box you out and get position.
Offense shit the bed here, but at least Pitt didn't score points right at the end of the half.
what a bomb
who cares
How in the world do you just let the clock run down to 2 seconds before calling the timeout? You had time for a few shots before half and just set yourself up for one desperate heave.
I think with them backed up so far, they didn't want to risk too much.
That was a hell of a hail Mary pass tho...
It really could come down to the missed extra point...
Man too many mistakes still but I do see some what of an improvement on Offense
Not the worst half and at least we are in this game. But oyyy some shit plays and lack of skill...
Why are we throwing to Blue and Lofton there?
Why not Blumrick, Jaylen Jones, Smith, Daquan Wright?
With 236 yards of offense and losing by 1 at pitt at halftime; I'm pleased in the small improvements I've seen. Very displeased with the o line constantly taking us out of the redzone with dumb penalties every game and the special teams play. Think we've been in the redzone 6-7 times this game?
Clements should be made to run windsprints every day this week till he pukes. Stupid penalty that cost at least 3 points. At least it was only at the half, not to win the game, but those points could prove costly.
He should be cut or at least benched. He is hurting us more than helping. (Or at least it seems that way)
Whit broke the bank extending Fuente then had to go digging around in the bargain bin for Pry.
We know you don't like Whit. You can let it go now.
Come on some of these comments are funny. Also public figures who make millions of dollars of public money and don't do their jobs well aren't immune from criticism.
It's not that your criticizing Whit it's that it's constant and gets old. Everyone knows you don't like Whit and don't like the Pry hire. But continuous comments about it are stale and it really doesn't add to the conversation.
I've used up all my good material and everything is getting downvoted so I guess it's time to stop.
They're not funny, which is why you're getting downvoted. If they were funny and people didn't agree, worst case is probably no legs.
There's not a huge talent gap here folks. Many thought Pitt could win the conference this year. We have made some coaching mistakes- should be winning by a few right now.
I still don't understand this. Pitt lost their OC, QB, and award winning WR. How were they going to be just as good?
Desmond Howard had Pitt, Baylor, and Texas A&M in his playoff bracket lol.
22 seniors.
Sure, but I still don't understand how that offsets everything they lost. Oh well. Difference of opinion.
Sometimes a lot of experience beats inexperienced talent. Look at basketball and some of the teams like Duke that are loaded with top 10 talent (but mostly freshmen), but lose in the tournament to a team full of seniors (I think it was a 2 seed losing to a 15 seed a few years ago where that's what happened Duke-Lehigh maybe?)
But they didn't lose inexperienced talent. They lost a 5th year senior Heisman finalist, a very experienced and well regarded OC, and a Biletnikoff Award winning WR who is killing it with USC. They have been replaced by a mediocre P5 QB, G5 WR transfers, and an OC who likes running the ball like Narduzzi wants.
Their offense looks good today, but that's not saying much really.
Right, but I'm not talking about who left, I'm talking about how many people stayed, and if they were in the 2-deep, that's a LOT of valuable experience that stayed. Don't look at who left, the guys who do the analysis look at what returned and how much production those returning pieces had.
Looking at the SP+ rankings they were projected at 23rd in preseason and 7th on offense. I guess I'm just unaware of who else stayed to keep the projections up. Of course they've dropped to 45th overall and 22nd on offense.
Side note: game thread is going to game thread with downvotes I guess. I've noticed two for having a difference in opinion.
What I want to see is how much fight this team has in the 2nd half win or lose. Make winning plays, cut the dumb penalties and for the love of god gang tackle #2.
First defensive series will be big. Pitt drives down the field and scores a TD, think we can write the game off. Get a stop and the ball back down only 1, think we can have a real shot. Still going with Pitt to win, but definitely we will have a chance if the tackling gets better and the offense can finish drives better. Game is right that if we can step up.
Both teams six penalties in the first half alone. Not good.
Seemed like double that for both.
Smith has 131 of our 156 passing yards.
Hits that make you check your pockets? What the fuck does that even mean?
Don't know. But I love it.
IIRC it was "safety's that'll check your pockets" I.e. mugging
Holding?! Awesome. Didn't think they bothered calling that anymore.
Why do we have Dax in pass coverage? it too much for him.
He just drops back to block lanes.
Murray is just never in the right position.
Yeah!!! 3 and out!! Good job D
Neato!
Good start for the 2nd half
Pulled Blue on PR
Can we run a jet sweep? screen? draw? Can't score when we can't move the ball.
Well that was fast
What is going on with Moore?
What is wrong with Moore
He's not getting any clean protection and rushing every kick high so that they're not blocked.
Our special teams is anything but special.
They are spe-shul. Bless their hearts.
Ewww, what is going on with punting this week. Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought punting was decent to start the year wasn't it?
This might be Moore's worst game since he got the job
Run, run, run. Or pass, pass, pass. This O is so predictable
hiw are you guys actually seeing anything? I am still at halftime on yttv and it says I am live
Your feed is crazy delayed. Had a drive a piece for each team in the 3rd now.
I'd be curious to see the All-22 on that punt. Stroman was on his butt way down field and surrounded by 3 Pitt players standing over him several seconds after the whistle
Yipps
Do we need to go to our backup punter at this point?
Moore is broken wtf
Hopefully this isn't the point where the wheels completely fall off. ... Keep it together guys
Edit: big sigh
Our defense is running out of gas.
2nd stringers on DL isn't helping
Did the defense say in the locker room?
Well, on the bright side, the markets are closed. I mean our stocks can't lose any more money for a couple days.
Abanikanda killing us
Welp
#2 was supposed to be questionable with a shoulder injury and I'm pretty sure he has taken every carry today (and torched us)
He's not getting touched so the shoulder is of no concern.
Abanakanda is having a field day with our no gap assignment/coverage.... he is well on his way to 200 yard... ugh
Had to know Pitt would start wearing us out on the ground at some point, especially if the offense decided that 3 and out was the best strategy for their group.
Yup. They are outmatched and it's starting to show
Offense needs to step up
...be replaced
Game is starting to slip away
WE HAVE NO OFFENSIVE LINE FOR RUN!!!
Blumrick, cmon man
That play was dead even if Blumrick catches it.
Another awful playcall
Another third and ten screen pass
So much for complimentary football.....here we go boys
Another three and out. And punting sucks.
If Pitt scores here, it is over.
Suspect it already is. Can't see us scoring 8 more points. Heck, not sure we can get any.
Our rookie coaching staff is not going to make advanced halftime adjustments for a while....and we are running out of gas.
Why did we hype up Blumrick so much? Like why...
Wells can not throw a short pass.
looks like we have given up
Nevermind, it is over. Pack up the buses folks.
Have to start bringing some pressure..bringing 4 ain't cutting it
We have been unable to get any pressure on Slovis all day. He has all day to throw.
To be fair they do have like senior OL 2-deep
How was that not intentional grounding?
That was too easy
We need a turnover to have a shot at this game. Neither the offense or the defense has any control to win this thing without significant luck.
Game over.
Only question is can our O can continue their scoreless after Halftime streak?
Now it is down to do we fold up and die, losing by 30, or continue to fight as the game is definitely over.
Yeah...I wanna see some fight in these guys till the end. Plus I need the hokies to cover for the pick-six.
That looked like some fight! Defenses turn again!
Defense is finished, tired.
Talent disparity showing now.
Hey at least we were competitive for a half....so that's something /s
As sad as it is, you could have left the /s off and I'd have been right there with you
This team is just awful. Wheels completely off now.
Block in the back against stroman on the td run.
Back to fifa
Well, at half time I did not think we would get blown out. But we are
Pry is one hell of a job ahead of him. He has to continue to sell his vision to the returning players, especially one's that might be able to find a good landing spot elsewhere; AND he has to sell it to recruits.
It's very difficult to see any positives right now... any forward movement towards anything resembling a rebuild.
He needs to get quality from the Transfer Portal, and sell, sell sell the vision
Time to turn on UNC Miami. This is ugly
I'm one TD away from the mental health switch the channel move.
Yeah defense is getting worn down. Again this is what a lack of depth does to you. It is what it is. More surprised that we probably should have been up going into half.
Just hope they don't completely let it slip away and still fight and make it respectable and not a blow out.
4 straight punts...d is now tired. Have to learn to do something on O. Dont have to score ever down. But Bowen goes into a shell the last series. Like he forgot what worked prior.
5 straight punts
Here's some football analysis. When you're 2 touchdown underdogs you have to play a balls to the wall risky go for broke strategy. You cannot punt on the other teams 36, or kick a field goal on 4th and goal at the 1. To have a chance you have to play a risky high variance game. The fact that Pry doesn't seem to understand this is concerning.
He is scared and conservative
Smith is our bright spot. Thomas looks good, but with our holes to thru, he can't shine.
I'm flipping over to George Town / Hofstra.
What in the name of Ricky Bustle are we trying to do on offense?
Narduzzi's salt completely warranted on that roughing the passer call.
Bowen doesn't make halftime Adjustments right? I mean we're in it till half every game
Seems to check out
Bowen is not a good O.C.
If Pry is serious about winning, he needs to find an experience guy to be play caller next season.
Maybe Bowen has a lot of promise and will one day be ready for it, but he simply isn't good enough at this point.
Yeah I don't know how you sell being a part of this offensive "system" to anyone next year. It's a cluster. Pry needs to sooner or later bring in an experienced OC and sell an exciting offense.
I'm starting to be pulled to the Bowen is shit dark side ....
Clements and Moore just ole'd blitzing linebacker.
Wtf are we doing in Practice?
Good God can we call some fucking quick hitting plays? Long developing pass plays when their rush is killing us isn't working. Neither is running between the tackles anymore. Come on Bowen! What the hell?
By far the best part of this game is Taylor Davis. 😍
Pros: we actually scored more than 10 points in a game
Cons: zero response in the second half. Zero adjustments and offense has zero mojo after the half
I thought we were going to crush the 21.5 pt spread, but the D is worn out, and Pitt is having their way in the 2nd half.
So what is Garbutt's injury?
Wow. Connor made a play!
That's the first time I've seen Conner make a play on a pass in a long time. And a good smart one at that.
That is how you get the offense to look Wright.
Hmm. Quick hitting plays work. Who'd a thought?
Finally!
Some fight!
W H A T ?!?!?! TD Lofton!!!
2nd half score!!!!
WELLS TO LOFTON PERFECTLY
Stuff like this is why I keep tuning back in. The chance that the team will do things right every now and then.
Looks like #6 went thru his progressions there
Probably should go for 2
We shouldn't chase points in the 3rd quarter.
Mostly because we are completely unable to kick a ball today for whatever reason
Short quick passes to TE opening up other things? Imagine that.
What a pass by Wells.
lets see if that energizes the defense at all
I would say so!!
Yes
Sometimes I look at this team and think there's more wrong than just lack of talent. But then I think if we had Hooker and Robinson where'd we be, especially if we also had a Khalil Hebert level back (though Thomas is a welcome boost).
Wow, first sack of the month.
Jake McDonald looks good at tackling and rushing
Wow..its almost like if we rush more than four, we might actually get some pressure
Beamerball!
BEAMER BALL!!!! for the TD
"If im VT im dropping 8 having a hard time getting to Slovis"
Result: sack
And blocked punt for a td
Holy Crap!!!
Let's Go!!!!!!
via GIPHY
Wow!!!!
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Bowen stinks
WHY TF HOLSTON GETTING THAT
that was a prayer of deception. Holston (listening to Bill & Mike earlier) is usually in there for protection. I'm guessing the hope was they would ignore him and focus on the receivers.
... is that really the best play call we can come up with to get 2 yards?
Go to Malachi and it might work
At least put Malachi in for that.
Play call worked beautifully. Had blockers in front and a nice path to the EZ until blockers didn't block anyone
No blocking by Clements... on the 2 pt attempt... not supprised
He is plain old awful
Unfortunately, it's a pattern,
Dsanzi fucked that 2pt play up
Yeah came here to say just that. He does anything more than look at that guy over his shoulder and it's sewn up
Why the fuck do you have Holston in that play?
see above... deception is all i can think of
lmao why is Holston in there?!?!
Why was Thomas not in if we were gonna run that play?
Young guys are picking up the upperclassman. That's at least a good sign for the future
I actually like the 2pt play call. Clements blew it.
I've come to expect it
Dsanzi blew it.....
If football kills me remind HokieEngiernd that I want a nice funeral
This D is getting FIRED THE FUCK UP!
Way to go Defense!!!
the crowd loves to boo this Pitt offense
so do we!
that makes all of us
I just want to take this opportunity to point out we have a set of return guys that are actually catching catching the ball this year. Re-wind a year ago and we couldn't say that.
Did youbsee the fumble that we had earlier get blown dead bc we can't catch without putting our knee down?
Yea but he caught the punt before fumbling it!
Tbf, Blue caught it and then had it knocked out vs not catching it.
Pat getting salty after that play when there was nothing there.......but there was a massive hold on the O Lineman there that wasn't called. 🧂🧂🧂🧂🧂
I know there are a LOT of potential things to complain about in this game, but let's bear in mind that we scored 27 against BC and Wofford, 17 against ODU, and 10 apiece against WVU and UNC. If ANYBODY thought we'd have this many points against Pitt in this game coming into it, everyone on here would have called them delusional.
There may be a lot to fix, but this still feels like a big step forward to me. Hell, I think we were wondering if we'd even score this game, right? Maybe we should be winning this game, and by more than one score, but this feels like the progress we were looking for from game to game. (And I know penalties have been up and down, so not sure what's going on with that, whether the coaching staff sees it's low and thinks it's fixed, then there's more penalties, so they concentrate on it? Who knows?)
I agree. Still lots of frustration but the offense is better than anemic. Run game looks better for sure.
Time for the wheel route
Wow....welp
Fumble, dammit
That is a dagger
Damn. And we really had some momentum. Need a huge stand here by the defense.
Dammit
Shit.
oof what a hit
Hope is a dangerous thing. 🤷
Fucking Conner. Why?
Just frustration seeing the game slip away, I assume. Not trying to justify it. Just saying.
Connor with a totally unnecessary hit... he's going to be a few pounds lighter next week.
Strip the 'C' from his uni... totally stupid play
Frustration is killing us. Conner does a bonehead play
Dumb penalty
Stupid penalty by Conner
Team player. Everyone else makes stupid penalties...didn't want to be left out.
200+ yards for 2
If anyone hasn't said it at all here yet, I'll go ahead and say it.
Pitt's RB is really, really, really good.
5 rushing TDs is impressive
That was a brutal turn of events
I aggressively dislike this team. Poorly coached
Perhaps you should find a new hobby then.
this team compounds mistakes like no other.
...and boom...game over...again.
We know how to implode fully and properly.
This kid has scored five rushing TDs at this point. What's the single-game record? 6? 7?
I think it might be 6. Saw a tweet earlier saying Willis McGahee had 6 *against VT
Checked the most recent game notes, and that's correct. McGahee has the record.
These three plays are the epitome of the history of VT football.
triggering my flashbacks of Pitt running all over us again
The fumble and then the defense folding. Sucks as we really did have a chance.
Offense has taken some steps. Still some real bad penalties and questionable coaching calls, but something to build upon. Think French will have more positives to try and find.
That RB is a stud. Wish he could of sat one more week after his injury
I still maintain that we really aren't that bad. We are extremely undisciplined, and that has carried over from Fuente. Its going to take a while, too many mental mistakes.
The problem is, that lack of discipline hasn't improved at all from game one till now.
It doesn't really speak well for the current staff
Yeah that's my biggest issue with the team this year. I knew we wouldn't be good but this squad does so many things to get in it's own way and it hasn't improved from ODU from a penalty perspective.
If you're talking penalties, that's not true. Carolina was 3-22, WVA was 6-69, and Wofford was 3-26. We're very inconsistent which probably makes it harder for the coaches. If we did the same bad things every game, you can concentrate on it. If not, how much do you concentrate on it if it may be fixed?
It's still early in a big rebuild, and considering a recent comment I saw about us not being a 30 point per game team, our offense, which has been our weak spot all year, just put up about 30 (and should have been more) and 400 yards of offense.
It seems to me we ARE getting better, the process is just really painful to watch. It may be tough, but I think we need to look at stuff like that as much as possible.
And considering we thought our D would get winded at the half, to have kept us within one score until midway through the 4th quarter seems pretty good also, all things considered.
It's not just the number of penalties, it's the timing of them and lack of situational awareness.
The false start on 4th and half a yard.
The personal foul by Connor after crushing fumble.
Those are mistakes that by mid-year shouldn't be happening anymore. They take points off the board. They make the difference between winning and losing. And we continue to make them again and again.
Smith is hurt. Shit.
We may lose, but there was some progress.
Agree. We were a little less buns
Jones needs to catch that.
terrible blocking by Gallo there
Jones was allllll alone
I repeat, why do we have Gallo blocking their defensive ends?
It is a mismatch.
Do we enjoy trying to smash Square pegs into round holes?
I'm looking forward to French's review about what changed for the offense's running game this week. Is it Thomas having better vision or did the OL improve their technique?
I'd like an in depth review of the terrible kicking game. But I'm a masochist
Gallo bullied again
That hurts
special teams has certainly been special today
Missed call on the late hit on Wells
Yea I was about to say...that ball had clearly left his hands and he still got drilled. I just wish there was consistency
The
HeinzAcrisure House of Horrors is still open for business...Hahahaa man what a bunch we got this year.
LORDY.
Total miscommunication there. Adn missed the field goal too.
I've said that Ross has been our best player this year. What has happened to him and the punter?
Stu Holt should be left it Pittsburgh. Special teams have been completely awful.
Punt block td?
What did our kickers do this past week?
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
We know the answer to the will we fold up and die question now.
Our D just moved this kid to the front of the Heisman race in one game.
That is a back breaker.
Game blouses
Holyfield takes himself out of the play.
In his defense he got tackled made a bad 4ead but he got wrapped up big time.
6 TDs what a day for that guy
Lawl. He's going for the record. He just tied it. One more after that and he has it.
Totally, Narduzzi is going to continue running up the score
In fairness, if I was the coach, I'd give my player a chance to break records.
He ran the football... That's not running up the score. We just suck
OUCH!!!
Slovis sucks ass why we aren't simply loading the box I do not get. This is pathetic
It wouldn't matter, that RB has been running through our D all day anyhow
Damn he's made us pay after every mistake. We are suffering from tremendous momentum swings. I guess that's what happens to a very young team.
Fuckballsoffire
Once you think they get close they collapse
Embarrassing
6 TDs by a single player. This program is an absolute fucking joke
I swear stroman was completely held again right in the middle.
oy just stroman things
Wouldn't make the tackle anyway
298 yards rushing by 1 guy.
Izzy with 298 yards and Pitt will get the ball again.
The scheme looks fine but the players are holding us back
I get what you're saying but that's kinda not ok. If the blueprints don't work for the available materials, it's not a good blueprint.
On defense you have what you have. There are limits to what scheme can protect.
It's been one recruiting cycle when he came in late. It takes time to build a roster and if guys are being put in place to make plays but aren't making plays what more does a coach need to do? Pry can't play but he can show plays after the game and show where they're in place but need to finish.
I may be done with this season.
It's like Groundhog day.
Keep doing the same things, keep making the same penalties, fail to make ANY Halftime adjustments on either side...and expect to win???
This team is just the least talented since 1992. Thanks Fuente!
In Pry's defense (definitely not Marve's Defense), this was a game until the 4th quarter. That's improvement.
Absolutely, that's my takeaway. They came out and competed. Made some mistakes fought through them and even clawed back to get within striking distance.
The true collapse happened much later, there was verifiable eye-test improvement in many facets (not you, kickers)
I hope we break 30 pts
"A lot of coachable moments in this game for Coach Pry."
Hey the ACC Network announcers made a good observation.
Wow I went from hopeful for the win, to hopeful for the future, to absolutely fucking incensed in a span of like twelve minutes
life is a roller coaster
Bowen...King of Screens.
I guess it's not jet sweeps so...
So far we're at 8 penalties for 74 yards. Going to be a lot of running
Game over
Bright side. That was probably Moore's best punt.
I see glimmers then they fade away............
Dam optical illusions
I remember after the first few games we were able to say "well, at least the defense looks the part." That entire unit has looked like dog shit ever since. Defense and special teams have regressed in a major way and the offense is still capable of fucking up a wet dream. I don't even expect wins at this point but I do think progress and/or TRYING different things is perfectly reasonable to expect.
Dude, the defense hasn't regressed. They are who they are. Undersized and lacking in talent/depth. The first few games were against two terrible D1 offenses and an FCS squad.
It's hard to find any part of this team that has shown consistent improvement from Game 1 til now.
This Staff was handed a mess, but the lack of visible improvement and development is not at all encouraging.
The signs of progress are real. Now they just have to carry over next week
Alright so looking at this game...we look better and I've seen improvement. That's all I really wanted tbh. Should we have won? Yes, it our fault we lost,but honestly I'm just glad we made some good strides today and maybe we can be good in 2-3 years
Instead of punishing for penalties this week I think it's more appropriate to punish for every yard after contact #2 has.
Careful. We might kill some of our players if we do that.
We went from jet sweeps with Corn, to screens with Bowen....ugh
I'm done with Pry. Spare me the "Fuente left the cupboard bare" stuff.
I'm watching the current results, and the team is not getting better week to week. They are getting worse.
Doors blown off by WVU, NC, and now Pitt. Say what you want about Fuente but he did better than that.
I'd take a blowout to any of those teams over Duke 45 VT 10.
45-29 with some stupid mistakes is getting the doors blown off?
We had a chance in this game...that's more than I would have figured coming into it. Breath my friend.
Fuente lost to Pitt by 21 and by 33.. Also got blown out by Duke at home by 35.. And lost to Liberty and ODU.. Lost to UVA and WVU. He did far worse with way more talent.
I totally agree with and support what you are saying. But the frightening part is Pry has also lost to ODU and WVU, will almost certainly lose to Liberty and has a legitimate chance of losing to UVA. The fact that the game is at Duke this year is the only reason to assume Pry won't do all of those things in just 1 year.
I'm supportive of Pry and know you have to give him time. Fuente did leave things bare and implanted a culture of losing. But it is sad how bad this year could be.
It's too early to make any conclusions about Pry. He may turn out to be terrible. Who knows? Fuente recruited worse than almost every P5 team for 3-4 years, and people are mad at Pry that we're one of the worst teams in the P5? The players are on the field playing the game, not the coaches. Pry will have to recruit his way out of this hole, but that's not going to happen at VT in the age of NIL.
Oh yes. Again, I totally agree with you and people calling for other people to be fired this quickly are nuts. I'm just thinking about how depressing this season could be. Not Pry's fault that the team could be this bad, just saying it should not be a surprise is this squad all but matches almost all those bad losses in 1 season.
Totally agree. The optimism here during the off season was wild to read. Anyone who watched the bowl game and followed the roster situation going into the season should have seen this coming.
I was one of the ones who took the "over" on that 5.5 wins a year prediction when it was posted. Thought that we had 6 wins with a HC who did not seem to care about things, an OC who was a buffoon, a S&C coach that was worthless, a quarterback that could not throw and just a losing attitude, so we should get 6-7 wins this year. The ODU loss showed me that I was wrong and I quickly came to appreciate how much of a rebuild this is. We have to give Pry a couple of years. If we are seeing the same mistakes with penalties and baffling calls and no improvement in recruiting a year from now, then people can start calling for a new OC or ST coach. Not after half a recruiting cycle and 6 games.
I just want to clarify that I wasn't accusing you of jumping to unfair conclusions. I am just surprised at how many users here are vocalizing that Pry was a bad hire or that this season is his fault.
I'm not sure what you mean by conclusions. Could mean different things. But, it is fair to judge a coach with whatever sample size you have. We've seen some games. I'm not saying "he's done" or anything like that. Bug I am saying that I've been incredibly disappointed in Pry's general energy and ability to get the team to play disciplined football. So thus far, I do not think pry is doing a good job.
Bad football players will typically have penalties against bigger, faster teams. Believing Pry (or any coach) could have this team playing disciplined football by week 6 is just unrealistic. Not even Saban would be able to do it given the same circumstances.
The larger issue here is that this staff has yet to land a quality recruit or transfer yet.
Dude Pitt beat us twice as this bad in 2018. That game wasn't even competitive for any amount of time. Duke 45 10 was the bottom for me.
This is a bad take.
He certainly recruited Nester, Robinson, and Hooker for other teams really well.
Not getting better week to week? We scored the most points we've scored all season and should have had more. We put up almost 30 points (which seems to be a metric, score 30 ppg on a recurring basis) and over 400 yards of offense against what might be one of the most talented teams we've played so far. I'd say 29 points is a lot better than the 10 we put up against the only other 2 decent teams we played, and we probably should have scored more against UNC given their D.
We have absolutely improved, it may not FEEL like it after watching the games, but that is objectively the best game we've played so far. Maybe not in every facet of the game, but we didn't even break 300 yards of offense against our other P5 opponents. The only opponent we broke 400 yards against, Wofford, we didn't even score as many points against them as we did against Pitt.
I think everyone who is complaining and saying we haven't improved is missing the forest for the trees. I think you want us to BE good, or at the very least LOOK good. We may have made a lot of mistakes, but DESPITE that, we still had our best offensive game of the season and the defense kept it close until the 4th quarter.
We DID do better. Maybe look for the things we did do better, because putting up points and yards is usually a harder fix than penalties. It's coming along, we really gotta be patient.
All of this is true, but the offense only scored 23. Pitt gifted us 6 with the botched punt.
Fair, but then those yards don't count for the offensive total, and we still put up 400. And we really SHOULD have had the field goal, which would have been 26. So it's under 30, but still feels to me like a minor miracle considering the 10 points each against WVU and UNC, especially if you compare UNC's D and Pitt's.
Holding not a thing anymore?
Narduzzi proves he's a jackass by leaving him in and getting him hurt just to set a record against us.
Leaving your player in to set a school record like that is the right thing to do. If it was us, we would have wanted Pry to do it. Now I would have taken him out after he set the record. But it looks like a cramp anyway. Pat is a jackass, but leaving his guy it to set a record is not something to get mad at. Get mad at our defense for allowing 300+ yards.
That's a cramp. And he certainly ran enough today for that to eventually happen.
How many records has VT football helped other teams or players break?
I feel like we hold the records for helping teams/players break records or get their first (insert record or win here)
You'd think after like 4 touchdowns or like 200 yards you might just assign a spy on that guy?
At least I can't claim to be sober watching this shitshow
The weird part about this season is that in almost every game we've lost including this one, there seems to have been one play or one drive that served as a pivotal moment in which way the game was ultimately going to go. The most disappointing part to me of this entire team might be that they simply do not rise to the occasion in any of those circumstances. The "find a way to win" trait doesn't exist in any shape or form with this team
To be fair no one on this team really knows how to "win". I don't say that to crap on them, but VT football has been average to below avg the majority of the last decade. Our most experienced players, while they play hard, don't know what it takes to win. Conner's late hit penalty is a perfect example.
There are no excuses for having a team this poor. Us and UVA are far and away worse than any other team bar BC... Duke is ahead of us at this point. This is not the VT football we should be seeing. As far as I'm concerned Whit can pack his bags and if Pry doesn't get serious and axe a few of his buddies and get real coaches in here he's gonna end up just like Fuente dragging this program even further down.
Duke is currently losing to GT
Still here, eh?
Excellent analysis, THAT'S what we're missing
Couldn't agree more. And if your gonna suck this bad, get the rebuild started faster by giving more reps to the underclassmen. More Wright and Moss on O. More Delane and Lawson on D. If we're gonna litter a game with mistakes, let the kids make the mistakes and learn.
So tired of seeing Murray get toasted or run over. Seeing both our TE's struggle to block or get open. And good god if I have to watch another game of Clements, Jesus!!
I think our upcoming Vent Thread is going to be a little redundant tonight......
So there is some improvement. But still outclassed on the talent side and notoriously inconsistent.
Pry's personality is starting to manifest on the team. On the good side, he is connecting with the players emotionally (Fuente did not and this was his downfall). However, he seems conservative and risk averse. This may be learning on the job, I'm not sure. Maybe it's his defensive mindset. But they are going to need to be more aggressive and develop more explosive offensive plays.
The other issue is defense. Really have not been that good. He is in control of the whole thing but defense has been poor. Points: 33 to WVU, 41 to UNC, and now 45 here. Hardly smashmouth.
Jury is out on Pry. He seems in over his head as defense is not good. But he is learning and maybe can reel this in
Let's put it this way...I like Pry alot as a Defensive Coordinator.
Very meh to this point as a Head Coach.
He needs Coordinators with more experience, I don't know if he will have the guts to make changes in the Offseason
Agreed. Hiring green Coordinators is a head scratcher. Is he intimidated? Can he handle an OC and DC that knows more the he does? Not sure.
I really really like Pry. But agree we have more of a DC than an HC right now. And surrounding himself with this much inexperience at the coordinator positions is puzzling for his first HC gig. It's like we spent too much of the game trying to figure out what works, and by then it's too late or the defense is just gassed. Too many game management breakdowns still halfway through the season as well.
A DC that just gave up a record breaking 320 yards to a single player. Maybe time to turnover the reigns and start working on time management skills.
I absolutely agree with this
I couldn't disagree more with this statement. He's taken more risks than Fuente and Beamer combined (this is hyperbole of course). I like his style, I just think he and the staff need to get their act together as it relates to general game management and player discipline.
On defense blitzes have been picked up and they have been burned. He is definitely playing a soft zone bend not break defense, and it's not working.
I think his general approach is far more aggressive than either of his predecessors on both sides of the ball. At the end of the day, speaking to the defense specifically since that is what you mentioned, he doesn't have the horses to do exactly what he wants to do. It's a damned if you do - damned if you don't situation for him. If he's aggressive up front then he leaves inferior athletes on an island against P5 competition. If he gets aggressive in coverage (dropping more back) then he's got to trust his guys in that zone that he likes (and it's a new thing for the entire defense). Absolutely nothing is going to work this season as we don't have the talent or the depth to compete for 60 minutes. Pry is the only one who can change that in the coming years.
DLine just seems completely invisible in most games this year, except for the field day that Garbutt had against BC.
Still can't score 30 friggin points.
I hate that punt
well shit....
As much as I'm disappointed I do at least see improvement on both sides. I don't feel like I felt the last 2wks. For a moment in the 4th I actually thought we might win. Really at no point did I really think we were beating WVU or UNC.
I thought the offense looked moderately improved today. At times they even boarded on effective.
The defense, though, it's pretty hard to give them much credit after they gave up a new Rushing Record. I was willing to give them a bit of a pass last week as Drake May really does look like a real deal quarterback, but not being able to stop the past or the Run 2 weeks in a row does not bode well.
More concerning to me is the fact that we continue to make bonehead penalties, and consistently shoot ourselves in the foot. We also multiply mistakes upon mistakes.
Don't get me wrong the D was bad but they made plays this week and without a missed fg and fumble, they may have done enough to win. I can't say that about the last 2 gms....I believe if they would have run into a RB that's is as fast as #2 they would have given up 300 already.
The things I want to say rn would get me in trouble with Joe.
Virginia Tech. Finding new ways to lose since 2016.
Just reading through some of these comments is both laughable and disturbing. I appreciate those of you with a level head and the patience to see some improvements.
The posts calling for changes after 6 games with the roster we are putting on the field is just asinine.
This will take time, and there are folks on here not willing to wait, or not willing to face reality.
Thank you to all of the young men that represent this wonderful university and its football program, and may your efforts and work this year lay the groundwork "for those to come".
Finally, for you armchair QBs and analysts, I can confidently say this:
I've never lost coaching a game when I coach from the stands or from my couch.
To quote Sgt. Hulka: Lighten up, Francis.
Respect the Man in the Arena.
Two years to see meaningful improvement imo. That doesn't mean winning the coastal. Means improvement. And we haven't seen it yet. Sorry. We haven't. Penalties. Collapsing after turnovers. Clock management. Little to no improvement to this point. I'll wait for two complete years before concluding he's not the right guy. But there's a lot overextending of the benefit of the doubt on this message board.
Going to be difficult to measure success moving forward with no more Coastal. What is VT football success now? 6 wins? 7? The funny thing is for the people saying this is only a talent issue, I don't see the talent level overall getting better for at least 3-4 years minimum. That's assuming we get good transfers and really start to see an uptick in recruiting. Hard to see what to sell and and point to as moving forward with what we have right now.
Obviously you didn't watch the UNC game. I understand that you are frustrated. We all are. But you don't see any improvement. We scored more pts at Pittsburgh than we scored than we scored at ODU.
I watched every game. I don't see improvement- I see similar mistakes being made each week.
You're judging on mistakes and not net results? More points than we've scored all season (despite penalties, missed FG, and other stuff), and broke 400 yards of offense against a good team (and second most yards we've put up behind Wofford, which includes against a bad UNC defense).
Teams don't win or lose games based on penalties, bad plays, or anything else, they win or lose based on what shows on the scoreboard and we put up more points than we have all season. That's absolute and objective improvement. Complain about the penalties all you want, just don't say we haven't improved.
We will agree to disagree. There is not a coach out there that could do much more with our current roster.
Would you have preferred a triple option coach?
We had some penalties today, but not like the 15 we had in the opener. One turnover on a hail Mary and another on a great hit and us not securing the ball. To me, an improvement.
A special teams TD. An improvement.
Scoring more than 10 pts. Another improvement.
We can go back and forth on this but if your mind is made up, then further debate is futile.
Enjoy the rest of the season, and remember that brighter days lie ahead.
That's a bold statement that there is not a coach out there who could do better with our roster. I disagree. There are coaches who could get more out of our depleted talent pool. They could also get the team to play cleaner and not shoot themselves in the foot constantly.
Football fans should not to be critical of a football team on a team message board. /s
That's what this kind of forum is for.
Why can't we hire consultants (retired coaches) to help self scout and put this island of misfit toys together?
Listening to post game and Dax sounds like he's fighting back tears. Dammit
He puts his heart into it, only to continue to lose.
He reminds me so much of Ben Taylor, he just doesn't have the help
Malachi Thomas fighting back tears now too
Le sigh
The way Fuente screwed all these guys over is just pathetic. I really feel for these guys, a lot are giving it their all but they just don't have the horses.
At least we know they still care. That wasn't the case 2 years ago.
Turkey bacon?
Dax deserves a hall of fame jacket for what he's had to deal with since he was a freshman and the attitude he's brought to every practice and game along the way. He is an amazing kid.
Dax deserves all our respect. Man gives everything.
He is a true Hokie through and through.
This was a progress game. Bunch of discipline and coaching mistakes in that first half robbed us of at least 7 points but, we were in it into the fourth. Kids didn't give up. The offense and defense made some plays. That's progress.
That being said, defense seemed like it was completely worn out in the fourth. There's no depth there so it makes sense why that's the case. I know it's asking a ton, but the offense needs to play more ball control offense and stay away from the hurry up. Every second of rest for the defense is crucial.
As everybody has said, until we grab some recruits through the portal or the old fashioned way, this team is going to be an "only win if we play with no mistakes and things bounce our way" kind of team.
I have had in my mind that this team will win a game that no one expects them to win.
I thought it was going to be this game. I am still holding out for the "impossible win."
Signed,
The eternal Hokie optimist
Man, you know things are bad when no one even cares to start a vent thread after a loss. Lol