Well, that escalated quickly.
In a matter of just a few minutes, a defensive breakdown, a bad interception and a few mental mistakes made a seven-point Virginia Tech lead evaporate into a devastating 27-24 loss to Georgia Tech. It was the kind of loss that provokes questions from its fanbase, who understandably needed to vocalize their frustration after watching their team gift wrap a game for the opponent.
It also makes fans do a double-take, just to make sure that the team they were watching was really the team that went to Ohio State and beat the Buckeyes. That team looked so good that its potential seemed limitless. The team that just played? Well, maybe not so much.
"We're not a good football team right now," said Frank Beamer, in a tone that had hints of disappointment hanging from every word.
He's not wrong. The version of Beamer's team that took the field last Saturday was one that was full of mistakes and miscommunication, both of which got the better of them. After a loss like that, there was plenty of blame to go around and plenty of questions to answer.
It's easy to blame the Hokies' loss on the quarterback who threw 3 cringe-inducing interceptions, and even easier to wonder out loud as to whether or not he should be the starter against Western Michigan. Is Michael Brewer, the same quarterback that looked like Joe Montana in Columbus two weeks ago, really the best option for this team?
It's also easy to blame the coaching. Four illegal substitution penalties are nothing short of a travesty, and can fall back primarily in the arms of the coaching staff that threw so many different formations and packages at their players. Can these coaches really be depended on to put their players in the absolute best positions to succeed?
While we're at it, it's pretty easy to blame the defense too. 4th-and-15, up seven, against a triple option offense? Sounds like a layup for Bud Foster. Is there a chance that this unit just isn't as good as many thought it was a few weeks ago?
I may have forgotten one or two, but those seemed like the biggies.
In the moment, they all seem like fair and reasonable questions and criticisms. Brewer has thrown more INTs than all but two quarterbacks in college football this season. The offense has been...complex enough...to cause confusion amongst some of its players. And to top it all off, the defense has given up an insane number of big plays, each of which stings a little more than the one before it.
Yet, when you take a step back and look what you're actually talking about these things seem at least a little absurd.
Sure, Brewer has thrown a ton of picks, but he's also thrown it 161 times, 8th most in the country. Look back at the game against the Yellow Jackets. Yes, you could say that Brewer "lost the game" for the Hokies after throwing a pick-six and that last interception late, but couldn't you also say that he was the only reason Tech was winning? He constantly converted first downs with both his arm and his legs throughout the game, not to mention recovering his own running back's fumble and taking it into the endzone himself.
As for the complex offense, I know it's hard to admit for some but maybe this is simply the best way Tech can move the ball? Maybe Scot Loeffler is trying to make it as hard on the defense as possible, which is kind of an offensive coordinator's job. It's not the Hokie offense that we're all used to seeing over the last decade, but isn't that a good thing? Yes the penalties need to be cleaned up, but aren't they very correctable?
And as for the defense, maybe it's not quite as good as we all had hoped, especially after seeing them dominate for most of that Ohio State game. That being said, maybe our hopes were just a little too high? It's still a new front-seven, where lack of experience is a factor, and the secondary that's missing an All-ACC cornerback. That's tough for anyone to adjust to, even DBU.
I know it seems like I may be making excuses for this team, and in all honesty I might be. But here's the thing, this team is better than we all thought it would be from day one. It may be hard to remember now, but going into the season there were a lot of questions and very few solidified answers.
No one had seen the quarterback, the top two running backs, three of the top five offensive weapons (Ford, Hodges and Phillips) or the right guard take meaningful snaps before William and Mary. On defense three out of the four linemen and both starting inside linebackers had to prove themselves this year, on top of the fact that the kicker was a true freshman and many members of both coverage teams were born in the mid-1990s.
Sure, at this specific moment Virginia Tech is not a good football team. The youth and inexperience often times rears its ugly head, but at this moment it frequently balances out with big plays in big moments (Bucky Hodges' two-point conversion, anyone?). The losses hurt, especially after a win in Columbus. Isn't it possible, however, that we've not only seen some of the best football this team will play, but some of the worst?
This team is going to make mistakes. There will be bumps and bruises, many of which have already played out in the worst possible way. Tech played the best game that they could have possibly played against Ohio State, but that same team struggled against East Carolina and failed to hold off Georgia Tech. It's not a different team, it's just a bunch of young guys going through the ups and downs of their first seasons as starters.
As a fan, it's tough to be patient. But what if those losses were the worst thing that will happen this season? What if those youthful mistakes get corrected, and this incredibly talented team hits its stride during the remainder of conference play?
The win against Ohio State raised the hopes of both the fans and the team alike, but I'm done talking about that game. It's over. Let's talk about the talent that's on the field in front of over 60-thousand fans every week, still working out the kinks. When they correct what is correctable, that team is going to be special when it's all said and done. It's something that their coach recognizes too.
"We're not a good football team right now," Beamer reiterated later. This time, it came with a stern, knowing caveat.
"But we will be."
I believe him, this team will be great. We've already seen it once this season, and I know that we will see it again soon.
Comments
Can still win 10 games, go to the ACCCG and possibly a playoff. Still a lot of season left.
I get to enjoy college football for a little over 4 months a year, let's not fast forward the season.
Exactly.
New member but long-time reader... I agree. College football is special because every week is huge. A single loss can ruin a team's expectations of a season. However, it's important to stick with your team and embrace every game. It's important for recruiting... and the season will be over before we know it. I remain optimistic that this season will be considered a success.
Sometimes I find my greatest consolation for losses by watching the pros. When you see how short their memories are, and how much they want to win each weak no matter what, it puts things into a perspective that college does lack sometimes.
No way a 2 loss ACC team is in a playoff, but I agree, there's a whole lot of football left.
ESPN already has us eliminated from Playoff contention with that loss to GT
But leg for the optimism
By extension shouldn't they also eliminate oSu?
I think its been an issue of focus, for both the players and coaches. Lots of distractions from post-OSU media demands, buying into the over-hype, new babies, big recruiting weekends, etc. Frankly, I think some of the pressure is off now (were we really expecting a national title run?)...not a bad thing for a young team. And I think the coaches can afford to take some risks by continuing to develop the young guys.
If anything, Beamer has served notice that no jobs are safe. If you can't get on and off the field without drawing a penalty do you really need to be in the lineup? If I give you the ball and you just run out of bounds with it, should I give it to you again? If we coach you to do X and you continue to do Y, should you still be playing?
And yes, there is lots of football to be played and enjoyed.
Agreed on all counts and well written- Time to get back at it and play some football!
That's one thing I keep coming back to. Thank you for the breath of fresh air, bringing my perspective back, and the level-headed thoughts.
It's important to remember that many of us said going into this year that it would have its rough spots and that we really need to look forward to the offensive production possible for next year because that's when our talent will be at its prime. We let ourselves buy in when we beat Ohio State, but now it's time to step back and remember that we are building this year. 2012 and 2013 were receding years for our team. This year is about setting the foundation with our young talent and recruiting. Next year starts the climb to the top.
Let's also not forget: We play Ohio State again next year.
Oh I know. I plan on being in Lane for that game. Braxton will be back, Samuel and Elliott are both young and will return, but they lose 2 starting receivers, their top TE, and 2 OL, 1 starter and 1 in the 2-deep. They will likely lose 4 of their DL 2-deep as I think Spence will leave early as well as a LB and a CB. All in all, they lose 8 starters, so not a whole lot, but hits to their DL and receivers.
Maybe we were a little overambitious in expecting this team to handle GT and what has turned out to be a tough ECU team. I will give them this WMich game, if the play a game with a few mistakes on both sides of the ball, cut down on the penalties, and show some life on the offensive line I will put my sights back on the ACCCG, if not I will put them on just making any bowl game.
I don't think it was too ambitious to expect them to handle GT. They have a BAD defense this year, and there really is no excuse for the performance we had. At a certain point, it was like we were actively trying to lose the game.
Any team with a pulse should be able to beat them pretty well. They're the worst team in the Coastal this year (well, assuming we turn things around, otherwise, we'll be in the basement at season's end)
Georgia Tech plays up to us the same way we used to get up for Miami. They view us as a rival, where we mostly view them as an ESPN created rival.
As a caveat, I am NOT saying that we don't still get up for Miami. it's just that even in the times when our talent level did not match theirs on the field, we always seem to have a certain elevated intensity for that game.
This season, record wise, could remind us a lot of the 2008 season. Sitting at 8-5, a VT team headed by T.Taylor went on to win the ACC and the subsequent Orange Bowl, finishing at 10 wins. We all know the Coastal will be a cluster of above-average teams, and that GT in no way will leave the division unscathed. Time will tell, but I have faith that this team is special. I believe.
In Beamer We Trust!
Yep. I believe this team can turn it around. The pre-snap penalties can be fixed during practice and through discipline and focus. The running game may never be consistently great this year, but the blocking can be improved in practice, so we should at least see improvement. Brewer, despite his picks, has not looked like a head case, which is the only reason I would be worried about him. He will continue to improve.
Finally, let me be very clear about our defense. The 4th and 15 stung, but we probably stop that play 9 out of 10 times, we just finally had our 1 out of 10. Against ECU, we struggled early, but with that same defense, we stopped them the entire second half until the last minute. A bad defense doesn't recover from a 21 point first quarter to hold them scoreless until the final minute. Also, I hope we start to incorporate a bit more variety into our coverages, but we can and have run cover zero effectively this year. You will give up some big plays, that is a given, but we have also generated a lot of pressure and sacks which have helped us stifle many drives. You can't look at our D giving up late scores the last two games as some kind of sign of the defensive apocalypse. Our front seven is inexperienced and I'm certain as everyone becomes more comfortable, Foster will adjust his defense and mix in some more inverted cover 2/3 looks that we are used to seeing, but until then hold tight, and go easy on our talented db's getting beat sometimes, man coverage is tough.
Side note: is it usual to lose like 70 turkey legs in a day without getting downvoted? Not that it's a big deal, just curious as to how this happened.
Edit: thanks for clarifying, idk how I missed that post.
In a classic power move, Joe decided to flex his muscles and take some from everyone. He must be stopped.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2014/september/22/meta-turkey-legs-adj...
Joe has more power moves than the Loeffler playbook
Joe has more power moves than fans at UVA's spring game
There was just a big change to the turkey leg counts. Basically instead of getting legs just for commenting, the new total is simply upvotes-downvotes. There's a big thread on it called "Meta: Turkey Legs Adjustment" if you want the details
I think my version's better.
That's why you get a badge
Actions speak louder than words. If this team has the potential to be good , on the field against tough opponents is the time to prove it. Let's see what happens on Saturdays.
Well, they did against OSU. Just didn't against ECU / GT. Hence the youth of the team is evident.
I agree, I thought all off season that this team could be the one to break the bowl streak. In my opinion, the season came down to Brewer. He could make the difference between a 5 win team and a 9 win team. I've seen him play now, and although the interceptions are mind-boggling, he's also shown a much higher upside than I expected. He's right when he says he's 3 passes from a great day.
The one concern I have is the probability of this version of a 2-2 team turning it around like the 1995, 2004 or 2010 teams did. Each one of those teams faced a very similar crossroads and each of them not only rebounded but ended up having all-time seasons. The probability of that happening again is not good. I look at the schedule and see 8 more games, 6 of which are lose'able.
I have also compared this to the 1998 and 2004 teams as groups that were a year away (2005 may have been our best team, even with the Miami beatdown). Both of those two teams played close game after close game. That's my expectation this year, I expect of those 6 critical games, four or five of them to be one-score games.
Or maybe we will be like the 2009 team, another team a year away (2010 again was a great VT team). That team started with a good loss (Bama), had a huge win (Nebraska) and a devastating loss (GT as the #4 team in the country). But what I loved about that 2009 team is that it got better and better and better. Nov wins against UMD (in the white unis), against NCSU (RW dragging guys), @ uva 9 (RW with 4 TDS) and a bowl win vs Tennessee (Tyrod at his best).
So we're 2-2 and haven't played well for two games now. We will get better.
This isn't really directed at cds7c, but his post post kind of touched on it.
There seems to be a mind-set among the fanbase (TKP) and even perhaps the coaches that we're one year away - and just wait for 2015. ACC Championship or bust! This - look ahead to 2015 - and you will be rewarded... the VT team is built for the future.
Frankly, I find all that talk to be BS. There are no guarantees in life - same goes in sports. So much can happen in the off season - injuries, transfers, off the field issues. Frankly, I just don't think this Hokie team is deep enough to make that kind of assumption.
It reminds me a lot of the Washington Nationals decision to rest Strasburg for the playoffs in 2012 (because the team was built for more than just 2012 - and they would be WS contenders for the foreseeable future) Well guess what, they didn't even make the playoffs the next season.
VT had a chance to make something really special of the 2014 season - and they let the Ohio State victory go right to their heads (coaches included)
The 2015 schedule is no picnic. Ohio State will be looking for revenge. Boston College, Miami, Virginia, Duke will all be much better in 2015, we have to go on the road to face ECU.
The ACC coastal has never been weaker - The schedule this year still sets up favorably. We have quality, senior leaders. The time to strike is NOW!!
I agree and I think the coaches agree. There was consensus in the preseason that no redshirts would be used if it was close. There is ongoing discussion this week about pulling Mihota's redshirt because of Maddy's injury. There is no give up on this year by anyone.
I don't think there is any assumption next year will be better because of the schedule, but there has to be a realization that the only starters lost will be Bonner, Kyshon, Maddy, Chase, Wang and Farris. That is returning a lot. Nigel is getting starting reps now, which will help him replace Maddy next year. We're excited about Reavis and Teller and Mouatupuaka moving into starting spots. We will be adding bigtime depth at DE, probably DT, LB and CB. Returning all kickers.
Biggest losses will be Bonner and Jarrett. It's easy to take for granted how important getting everyone set and aligned is to defensive success and Bonner has been excellent over the last few years in this regard. Additionally, Jarrett has been excellent in both run support and coverage, with some of his most memorable plays coming in very important situations. Losing them will be losing a lot of leadership and stability, but Torrian and Bud do an excellent job of getting our new safeties up to speed.
But bro, all I'm saying is no nooners = 15-0. Lol
Now I want to start this cheer.
I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!I believe that we will win!....
Thanks for the uplifting article.
I'm optimistic as well. (But even if we end up sucking hard and lose every game left on the schedule, I'll still be ok....I was a Braves fan for years before their 90's run.)
But, what I would really like to seen next week, is our O-line line up and run block like there's no tomorrow and have McKenzie, Williams, and Edmunds all rack up some quality run yardage with Sam Rogers leading the way. I enjoy a crisp route, and a well-thrown ball, but nothing got me as amped as seeing Shai hit the hole and shake off the LB for some extra yards.
Power, baby, we can do it.
Have we mentioned this gem yet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyWXKeBsNk
I think the angst of the fan base is propped up by a misperception that what we are seeing is more of the same. It feels like we've seen this all before, more than once. Early season struggles, undisciplined football, etc. But I think that fails to appreciate exactly what's going on inside the program right now.
We have a new OC in year two of installing his scheme. Where we see hiccups and stalls on offense, we're throwing our hands up in disgust like we have for the last eight years. However, I have to say, I've seen what Lefty is trying to install on offense, and it is head and shoulders above what his predecessor did. Lefty's offense is complex and situational, and it always gives the QB some options and check downs. Routes are designed to get one target open in space. Formations are built to expose man coverage and where the blitz is coming from. How many times already have we seen a hard count, followed by the OL communicating assignments? In general, the offense already has a much better feel for how to attack a defense, and is moving the ball better accordingly. In essence, as far as I'm concerned Lefty's offense passes the eye test.
But it's also a monumental leap over what we expected from our offense under Stiney. Stiney had a "try and stop us" approach to his game plans, where his players were expected to simply impose their will on a defense. Lefty is more reactionary. He schemes and adjusts based on an opposing defense. So now our players on O are expected to focus on more than just executing the designed play perfectly. A lot of the time (most of the time?) they don't know what the play will be until the QB makes his reads. It's a different mindset, and it's a lot to ask not just of our freshmen, but of our upperclassmen who are accustomed to the old mindset.
Maybe I'm wearing the orange and maroon glasses, but I see our struggles on O as growing pains. I think we're gonna see improvement as the scheme takes root, and I think we already are.
Well with directional michigin and loluva left on the schedule we are really 4-2 right meow so we should be able to get at least 2 other wins and keep the bowl streak alive. Also our division looks a mess right meow so you never know we could pull it out and go to Charlotte to play FSU...
This years loluva team is significantly more talented than the GT team that just walked out of Lane with a victory.
I have confidence it will be 11 straight after this year because, loluva
And OSU is probably better than the BYU team that beat loluva last week.
Do you feel better about the direction of the program now or 2 years ago?
That said, it is still early in the season and we don't know if we should count their win against Louisville as "inexplicable," akin to them beating BYU and Penn State in past seasons but then eroding into dust.
They've been more talented than we give them credit for. But can they keep it all together is the question.
meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow
I've got a feeling that we work out the kinks this weekend, and put up a confidence builder game vs. the semi-but-not-really-wicked Michigan of the West.
My thing has been, have we all forgotten how hard it was to watch Tech on offense, even pre ocainspring? I mean minus the Vick years, all I remember growing up is literally every single tech fan in Richmond complaining about the offense. Did we tend to find ways to get yards and score? Yes. But I mean look at the 2003 Miami game. other than Kevin Jones, techs offense was god awful that game. Tyrod didn't really become what we think of him now until his Junior year.
i know we all (myself include) would probably prefer to line up and run it 60% or more of the time, but just because we did that in the past does mean we have to continue to do so. Idk if Loeffler will work out in the long term. Idk if Tech will ever return to its being a household name that always wins 10 games and has a shot at a big bowl game. But i know what ive seen so far is so much more enjoyable to watch than the constant 3 and outs i have had to sit through in north endzone the prior two years, and that gives me hope for the future.
The last three times the Hokies opened the season 2-2, they all went on to finish the season with 10 wins. That is the goal for this year as well.
You lose a couple and you find out real fast who your friends are.
That dude looks a little bit like Tweeter from Varsity Blues
Going back to Bryn's comments about everyone being so detail focused and not taking anything for granted leading up to Ohio State, and then being a lot less detail focused after Ohio State. It sounds like they beat Ohio State and then they let their mental focus slip away. I think losing focus for a stretch during the season has been a hallmark of Beamer's teams going all the way back to my freshman year way back in 1993.
We've had a lot of headscratching losses in that period, a lot more than most other teams that were going to bowls and reeling off 10 win seasons. Temple in '98, JMU, etc. We've also struggled with inferior competition at times even in victory. And our record of coming out flat to start big games or losing focus and giving up leads, choking at key moments during big games is pretty strong.
Even the once vaunted Special Teams have really not been very special for a long time in my view. And of course, my view is remembering as a student watching us block a punt at least once what seemed like every game, so maybe that's a bit unrealistic too, but they've not performed the up to the same standard even with better athletes.
I remember watching VT just plain run over Clemson in 2006. They were ranked #10, I think we were not ranked after losses to GT and a complete meltdown loss to BC. I remember the players all talking afterwards in interviews about how Beamer had gotten a lot more personally involved that week in practice and kicked everyone's butts, including the coaches. I believe the man still has "it" in him. But the only time it seems to me that VT has every been ready and focused each and every game was 1999.
The one constant with the team has been the inconsistency through the years. And while I love Frank Beamer to death and don't want to see him leave until he's ready to himself, I also think that if the team is going through the motions and not really focusing, then the responsibility for that starts and ends with Beamer. He is prone to let things go more than he should. That's why he was forced to make assistant changes between '92/'93. Changes were needed and we wouldn't have done it without having his boss make him. That's why he let the problems on offense go as long as he did. Stinespring is a great guy, and actually a good coach in his own element, and Beamer was loyal to a fault giving him a lot more chances to right the ship than should have happened, all the while able to justify it by saying "we're winning 10 games a year, nothing's wrong."
This team rises and falls with Frank Beamer. It's that simple. If he jumps in and exerts the influence he's capable of, historically this team kicks everyone's a$$ it runs into. If he gets too comfortable and coasts, this team does too, eventually drops a game, or even has a total meltdown game again.
We just need to hope that Frank has enough left in the tank to light some fires with the team, and then keep the fire lit. He's getting old and keeping that energy level up week in and out during a season has got to be hard. He'll have me rooting for him though.
I think this is why the GT game bothered me so much. Such an inexcusable loss for a team that is capable of so much more.
I think the fan goggles just make it seem like we have lost more inexplicable games than other teams. Most fans expect to win every week and it seems that the losses get remembered more than the wins. All in all, we have done more with less since the 90s than most teams in the country.
I agree the team has played poorly recently, but some things have stayed the same yet we seem a bit more focused on them when the result is an L vs. a W.
See below:
- INTs haven't been a plague all season. Even vs. OSU there were what, 3 TOs by Brewer?
- DBs have been 1 on 1 all season and there's been allot of near misses and potential PIs that bounced our way the first two games and haven't the last two
-Run game has been inconsistent all year
-I haven't seen the stats, but I think penalties have also been on the high side every game for a Beamer led team.
-Front seven has been masked by frequent blitzing and after OSU I think they've been beat up. Same could probably be said for the DBs. Also I think Brewer has been a bit battered as well...and some recent INTs I think could be attributed. He's rushing some throws when he should probably take the sack in some cases.
Just my thoughts, but some trends have been there both in wins and loses
Hello,
I'm here to sidetrack the conversation with this
I think we may be having some selective memory regarding the Ohio State game. The team played very well, took advantage of opportunities and showed resiliency. However, turnovers plagued VT during that game as well. Brewer had two picks and a fumble, which went for 14 points for Ohio State, and there would have been a 4th turnover if the correct call had been made on the field when Marshawn fumbled.
This edition of VT has been very efficient and effective at times and a dumpster fire at others throughout each of the previous 3 games.
Problem is, you can't complain that a ball control offense is boring, then complain about turnovers going up when the offense becomes more aggressive. If you have an aggressive vertical offense that never gives the ball up, you're stuck inside Gus Mahlzan's wet dream.
You can't "if and but" the OSU game into a loss just like you can't turn the Michigan game into a win
lol, what's this guy talking about?
I know. We have never lost to a team from Michigan.
I think I know where this came from. Herbstreit said something Saturday about how "Michigan beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl." (Herbie went on to clarify that he was "on the field for that game," but he later clarified that he was at a pre-game show, not the game itself.) Anyone who heard that, and looked up who got the trophy for that game, could be excused for thinking Michigan won the game. $0.02.
Well said. Expectations flew way too high after the OSU win, but the team had the entire off season to prepare for that game. Going from the OSU offense to an Air Raid (ECU) to a triple option (GT) and now to another Air Raid this weekend (I think) is tough. Having to prepare for something completely different each week rather than focusing on one team all summer played a bigger role than many fans believed.
Yeah, it was nice to think that the playoffs were still a possibility after our toughest game of the season, but this is still a team who lost 11 games in the last two seasons and had to replace so many important positions coming into this season. Anyone who actually expected to go to the Playoffs after week 2 and is now depressed looking forward to 2015 needs to decide what kind of fan they actually are.
I am always just happy if the players get a chance to play in a bowl every year, aren't hurt, and get the opportunity for a wonderful education at Virginia Tech. Winning the ACC is nice, a natty would be great, but all I really want is a winning season including beating Miami and LOLUVA.
This is what so great about college football. Unlike in the NFL, every single week counts even if you have lost in the previous weeks. NFL you can still make the playoffs with 8 and sometimes even 9 losses, so you can afford many losses and still be ok. College football, every week counts. You lose one week, it hurts but that next week counts even more. every game in college football can change the course of so many teams, whereas in the NFL, it might affect 2-3 teams (division wise speaking and playoff teams as it gets to the end of the season)
My friends always ask me what is the most excitng sport, and I always say its College football, and its not even close.
Four weeks does not a season make. The perspective I've tried to maintain since the ECU loss is the same one I had BEFORE the OSU win. We've struggled for two seasons, have a lot of youth and a new quarterback. Going in I thought a good year for this team would be 10 wins and a trip to Charlotte. I didn't expect one of the wins to be at OSU nor did I expect one of the losses to be at home against ECU. I expected at least one conference loss and GT was as good a candidate as any of the other Coastal teams.
We've played 4 and this team still has a good chance to make it to Charlotte coming out of the Coastal. A chance at the conference championship and a decent bowl game still seems like a pretty attractive season to me.
I also thought the crowd in Lane had some mojo back against GT. We need to keep that going and help our young team get better!
Agree completely. I had the same mindset before beating anOSU. Unfortunately I, and I bet a lot of others, allowed that win to change my mindset. I thought for a brief week "Maybe this young team came out of the womb ready to destroy."
Now it's back to reality. Our guys need some work. I think it's tough for coaches to predict the issues we've had over the past two weeks. I just hope that now they can work on correcting them.
I've been a Hokies fan for way too long to let myself get too high after a big win. With enough exceptions to give us hope we might be able to turn the corner and get back to having a Top 5 ranked team one day, we usually follow up by dropping a big deuce somewhere along the line afterwards. It is what it is.
As I said above, when Frank Beamer gets into "things are all fine mode" and sets his cruise control and coasts along, the rest of the team coasts too. When Beamer steps on the gas, the team usually responds well.
Beamer said, on the field after the OSU game, that "this doesn't mean anything if we don't follow it up."
I have a hard time blaming this on Frank Beamer. He knew what could happen. And it did.
Frankly, I don't put a lot of blame out there on anyone on our side. We got beat by two teams who are a.) good and b.) made plays down the stretch. Just tip your hat and keep doing what you're doing. Yes, we need to get better, but good teams can have flaws. Good teams can get beat on any given saturday.
Oh I definitely agree. The losses are team losses, not to be blamed on any one person. Even the 4th and 15, if we score more before that when we've got the chance, that 4th and 15 is meaningless by that point in the game.
The games are still reason to watch, have some brewski's, make a good spread to eat, and have a good time.
As long as we beat UVA at the end of the season, I'm happy.
Hate to admit it, but beating UVA right now looks like a big if. London's Wahoos don't look half bad and if it weren't for Clemson, they'd easily be the best 2-2 team in the ACC right now
I won't ever say LOLUVA is better than us, even if they're in the process of beating us.
But I agree that they're not looking like the pushover they've always been. I'm guilty of looking ahead to that game. So in part, I agree with you, ross barton
Not sure where that is coming from. Louisville muffed a punt at the end of the UVA game.
I'm just saying they aren't a joke as of right now. I hate UVA just as much as the next guy on this site, but I'm definitely not the only one saying they have looked impressive thus far. I took it too far calling them the best 2-2 team in the ACC behind Clemson, but for right now they look impressive. I mean it's obviously still early, but it's expected London would have them looking this good this early.
Something that just occurred to me while reading this: Is it possible that Bud is putting our corners on islands to take pressure off the line? I mean, it's gotta be easier for those rushing the QB if there's 6 or 7 players rather than 4 or 5, right? Or am I crazy/mistaken?
This is one of my favorite sayings. People rarely get it