- I've never seen a VT team look so soft. Both lines of scrimmage were absolutely dominated, there wasn't the speed swarm tackling on defense, and the offense looked flat out unmotivated to play.
- I'd be curious to see the offensive stats throughout the season. I swear we have gotten worse as the season has progressed. I'm sick of us making every defense look like the damn steel curtain
- Shane Beamer needs to get his glove on a stick out for the RBs. I still laugh at that tool when you see him use it on video. The 3 straight turnovers were really frustrating last night.
- Is it time for a QB change? I don't know if Brewer is playing hurt or has lost his confidence, but he is just not playing well.
- Playcalling. Was Loeffler better early in the season because defenses hadn't seen him? Now they know what Loeffler does and he can't adjust? The short little passes out to the flats just won't get it done. I'd like to see some nice 15-20 yard passes like we did against Ohio St. The only long pass I can think of was a broken play to Rogers. Maybe Loeffler needs more time for the talent to get more experience, but I'm really not sure if he is the guy that can fix our offense. I used to be a big fan but we have to be able to play better even with freshman on the team. I think Loeffler gets a little too cute...like the 3rd and short on our first possession. Why pull an Olinemen (or two) when you need half a yard?
- I'm trying to think of positives based on last night, but I really can't think of any. That's the sad part.
Comments
We've seen it the last few years; Bud's leaner defensive line struggles against big OL's. The weight advantage that Miami had at the line of scrimmage is like having another man all together. We can certainly defend the spread offenses much better, but...
It doesn't help when your best DT is out along with your starting Mike. AM played his nuts off, but he got caught out of position far too many times, and those young guys up front just couldn't hold their gap fits. Landing Settle would be absolutely gigantic to solve this particular problem.
This was my reaction, as well. We were sorely missing Big Lu last night. Moto certainly has a motor (new nickname?) but he was often left tackling people from behind rather than meeting them head-on like we're used to seeing from Chase Williams. When our guys are flailing at catching Duke Johnson and we haven't touched him until he's 3-5 yards beyond the LOS, it's awful news.
No kidding. Last night will be a great teaching tool for those young guys, but man was it painful to watch.
Ever the optimist this guy...
Gotta say that the lack of Lu was very evident last night. Regardless, Duke played the best game of his season, possibly career. I think he was making up for not being able to play last year.
Guess so, considering he had a solid two games worth of production last night.
Yep, as a fan of football, Duke Johnson is an exciting player to watch. As a fan of the Hokies, it was gut-wrenchingly awful.
Absolutely. I'll be happy to see him graduate and head to the draft.
Duke is only a junior...you might see him back next season. (unfortunately)
Yep, bet. I was singing Duke's praises last year, calling him the best RB in the country. This year I had been on the Gurley bandwagon for that title, but hadn't seen Miami play anyone.
I saw them last night. And Duke Johnson, Jr. is the best RB in the country. He looked like Adrian Peterson out there. Some of that was us. But the vast majority of it was him.
It was pretty unbelievable. He was hurdling dudes left and right, even his own lineman, but it was so quick, he'd get his feet right back on the ground and go. He's a stud!
He's the kind/style of back we all think/thought Shai could be. Here is to hoping Shai gets healthy and strong and can return to the field for a chance to become that.
The thing was, the holes opened for both Duke & for Edwards were so huge it was amazing. They both ran well, but both had such gaping holes to run through that I was just amazed that our defense got manhandled so decisively.
I was explaining to everyone around me that this is a gap-fit defense. DLine and LBs work in tandem almost like a choreographed dance. People aren't really aware how much trust bud's d places on the LB's. Everyone sees the corners out there and are quick to point that out but LBs in this scheme are VITAL. they force teams to play into our DB';s strengths. The Dline Controls the flow and the LBs (especially the Mike) flow to plug that spot. How we don't get the blue chippers, is beyond me. Perfect for elite guys to showcase there ability but maybe alot of them don't want to have the responsibility? Motuapuakas up and down shows how big that position is for us. even with the line Chase makes an insane difference in how we play. we need solid depth at that position and i hope we show that to recruits.
Besides the fumbles and Miami's OL playing out of their minds, I saw something twice that never should have happened:
Dadi is fast, but in no situation should he ever have been covering Duke Johnson on pass plays. Got burned twice, once (probably should have been twice) for a TD.
^THIS. Kaaya made the smart decision both times to exploit that and it cost us, though one was a lucky pass and a great catch as Kaaya got drilled by Clarke.
That's the one that, if Duke could have caught it in stride, would have been housed.
I hope Dadi was supposed to be in zone coverage. If it was a man coverage assignment Dadi has no hope unless Duke only runs to the flat as a check down.
I need to see it again (not sure I want to) but with not much help behind him, I think he was in man.
That's a tough job for a DE who doesn't follow receivers up field, if that's the case.
I'm gonna have to see it again too, but I think he was in underneath zone coverage. Same coverage that got the INT next week. He's "man" on Duke in the underneath zone, but no way he can be expected to cover him if he takes off down the field.
Loeffler WAS better earlier in the season! We used to throw the ball over the middle! Isaiah Ford was LIVING in the middle of the field earlier in the season. I know you have to take what the defense gives you, but jeez. I only remember us going over the middle to one of our 2 (!) big tight ends ONCE (granted I was getting very frustrated so I may have missed some) last night (to Malleck), but we ran 2(!!!!!!!) WR screens to Bucky! We used to take shots down the field. For some reason, we decided we wanted to run Marshawn and Rodgers on sweeps last night! WHYYYYY? If you're going to run a sweep, why not but Caleb or Coleman in? The playcalling is just so frustrating right now.
Yea the personnel usage is what smells most of Stinespring bad. I'm probably in the minority here, but after we all complained about getting Brewer started with easier throws, I didn't mind the wr screens. My issue is with personnel usage. Screen passes should go to quicker playmakers to use their elusiveness to create things. Similarly perplexing is how we run outside the hash with bigger backs then run Coleman up the middle, or at all even.
I was just thinking something similar. I don't like the number of screens we're throwing, but I don't discount it as a legitimate play if executed well and called at the right time. The number and timing are what I have a problem with, as well as personnel. Don't throw screens to Bucky. That guy is a load to take down in the open field, sure, but he doesn't have the shiftiness to make the first guy miss, which shouldn't really be necessary with good blocking, but we don't have that either, so we need more speed and elusiveness. Screens should to go fast guys like Newsome and Knowles. Get Bucky downfield for crying out loud. Cross him over the middle and let him square up on a safety.
I think you have the right idea. It's not that we run a WR screen, it's how we run 'em. They don't ever seem to set anything else up. We don't pump fake a screen in the 3rd quarter and then go deep. I actually thought the swing screen we ran to Caleb (I think) out of the backfield was a good one, right up until the point where he fumbled. It just seems like Loeffler forgets how to use his weapons at times.
The play calling is so predictable. If Coleman comes in its probably a sweep or an outside run, if its trips to one side its most likely one of those screens that never work. Nothing has changed in the transition from Stinespring to Loeffler. It is extremely frustrating to watch, more now than ever, and I didn't think that was possible.
1st down on our own 2 and we try three straight passes, which then leads to a 23 yard punt giving them the ball around our 26 (cant remember exactly). Run the ball to try and give us some breathing room
As much penetration as they were getting on our OL, we were staring down a safety if we ran the ball.
There's a better chance of a safety letting any QB try and throw in that situation
I'd be a proponent of the not-so-wild-turkey in this situation, where we line up Bucky or Rogers under center and try to Logansneak them to create a little breathing room.
I can't understand why we haven't let Bucky throw (as far as I can remember) out of the wild turkey yet, just to put it in the other team's mind.
I did not mind taking a couple of shots throwing the ball but I do agree we should have tried to create a little space by running the ball.
i tried to find a couple of bright spots to focus on and there were a few but then i asked myself "what's the point?". To delude myself? To make it sting less? Forget that. After a complete team ass whooping like last night, focusing on a few bright spots is just stupid, imo. if that's your thing, be the ball. i get it.
the problems on this team are deep and plentiful and go beyond youthfulness and injuries. to me, the devolution of this team has reached intangibles and that's not good. during the past couple years, i never got the impression the sickness had reached the intangibles. this year...it has and i'm not sure i have the confidence and faith in the leadership of this program to cure this.
With the playcalling, there is a big elephant in the room. And the coaches are not going to say it. The playcalling by Loeffler shows he has lost confidence in his guys to execute. When VT got pinned down on their own two yard line after the Miami punt, he calls for three straight pass attempts? What he is telling the offensive line and the RBs there is he has no confidence to call a running play.
Yeah, he just completely abandoned the running game there and even the commentators mentioned later on we needed to attemped more running plays along with trying to take a shot down field. The hurry up offense seemed to give us a spark and should have been in the game plan earlier on. It looked like we ran the same play 4 times in a row to Marshawn with success. I'm not so sure I like the playcalling lately, but it could be the reason you stated regarding confidence in OL.
Well, last night was one of the worst VT game's we have all witnessed. I'm just wondering why we never really even tried to throw the ball downfield... screen after screen, nothing was working with that. You have to open up the playbook. I know Brewer doesn't have the most accurate touch on his deep ball or even the arm strength, but at least attempting it would hopefully open up the field.
Some of it could be attributed to our OL and not giving him enough time, but it wouldn't hurt to try 10-15 yard pass plays. We need to utilize Bucky more.
It's not like he had time to throw at anOSU. It seems both he and Loeffler have lost the confidence they had early on in the season.
Turnovers and penalties...might be the statistically worst VT team in these two categories that we've ever seen.
First the fumbles weren't good, but what are the odds of three fumbles on consecutive drives.
On the first, more times than not that close to the ground you are downed by contact. Unfortunately for Marshawn he was positioned in a way where he was vulnerable and the defender took advantage of that.
The second was on good tackle and if I recall correctly was knocked out by the force of the hit, not necessarily from the lack of ball security.
The last one was on an effort play by Caleb, again he was stretching for every inch he could get and was about six inches from being down before the ball was hit perfectly for the fumble.
The first one was the most damaging because we were right on the goal line. If we punch that in we are in business, but alas playing the what if game only leads to more what ifs!
My biggest wtf moment was on the very first drive. Third and what looked to be less than a yard and we don't run a QB sneak.
With this squad right now? Pretty damn good.
I mean, this is the second week in a row we're fumbling all over the place. Heck, the Coleman fumble last week THE PLAY AFTER Malleck completely lucked out on the reversal on his fumble was one of the worst fumbles I've seen before last night. Whatever we're doing to get these kids to protect the ball just isn't working.
Agreed.
Well if there's any consolation, our crap performances will probably make OSU miss the playoffs. Enjoy the whinning boys: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/ohio-state-football/2014/10/42211/vi...
Albeit, there's no way OSU is going to be MSU.
Yep, we just got a mention on "The Herd" and it wasn't in a positive way!
Holy crap that forum is terrible. They're downright insulting VT pretty vulgarly. They need to get that stick out of their asses and deal with losing to us.
Not for nothing, but aren't we doing the same thing? So far we've done so with little to no vulgar words but that's more because we are more shocked and stunned right now. I'm sure the anger will come later.
Well we don't go trashing other people's teams for the most part, and our complaints are backed up by reasonable facts and uncertainties. I would say we are different.