but I think we will have a good season and do better than what many of the sports writers are predicting? I think we'll finish better than 3 or 4 in the division and will be in contention to win it.
I know that QB is a question mark and a new offense is being installed, but I think there are a lot of positives on both sides of the ball.
Offense
- Experienced OL with more depth than we have had
- Very good skill players in Ford, Phillips, Hodges, McMillian, etc.
- Rodgers will be moved around and is very dependable
- I think we'll develop some depth at WR with Bradshaw, Diablo, Kumah, Murphy, Carroll and maybe Wilson.
- A new offense that puts players in a position to succeed. I think our new offense could allow a potential for 3-7 additional points per game on average. Think about how many close games we had last year.
Defense
- A lot of talent on the DL. Ekanem should do well and I think that Mihota will be solid. I think some of the younger guys will also step up and provide some depth. They won't be game changers, but I think they'll contribute. Add the depth that we have DT in Barron, Williams, Walker, and Settle and we should be in good shape.
- LB has some question marks, but my hope is that Motuapuaka plays better after getting experience last season and being healthy. Edmunds sounds like a beast at the position, but he does need experience. I think Shegog will contribute when we play teams like Pitt.
- I think the secondary will be better this season with the guys focusing on one position. We'll have Clark and Edmunds in the safety positions that have athletic ability (Edmunds) and experience (Clark), Facyson (I hope he can stay healthy), and Alexander that has a tremendous amount of athletic ability and got some experience last year. Add Reynolds and Stroman and there is a little bit of depth for the DBs.
- New coaches to add wrinkles that we haven't shown before and Foster getting back to some zone and I think the defense will be better.
Special Teams
- I'm excited to see what the special teams will look like with the new coach having success everywhere he has gone.
- Stroman at PR should be dynamic and could make a real difference.
- Slye should be very consistent and I think he'll make some long FGs this season
- Punting is a concern, but hopefully someone will step up
- I also really want to see an aggressive straight ahead approach to kick returns.
I just think that we could be a pretty good team this year. Will we win the ACC...probably not, but I think we could be better than what a lot of people think.
Comments
You aren't over optimistic. We are a lock for the playoffs IMO.
Hodges a lock for the #1 pick in April too
Wouldn't bet on it. NFL is a QB league. Clearly Evans is going number 1
Hodges will change positions in the NFL /s
well, my money is on Lawson leaving early then
QB league? Like I said, Hodges a lock for #1
Depends. Is the draft on April 1st?
Nothing wrong with being optimistic in the offseason. We have a lot of question marks with some new coaches and a new offense, but things are in place for us to have a pretty solid turn around year as well. I think a big difference could be a change in mentality back to that of a team that expects to win, especially in close games.
Nothing wrong with being optimistic, I am every year. However, it's hard to poke holes in the predictions either since history has proven there isn't much difference between 1 and 4 in the coastal.
Not much difference between 1 and 4...not much difference between VT and UNC...not much difference between UNC and Clemson...not much difference between Clemson and Alabama...
...conclusion, VT = CFP champion.
I think any fan who is not optimistic at the beginning of the season is missing out on the fun. Also, is Rodgers a new recruiticorn I don't know about?
"Also, is Rodgers a new recruiticorn I don't know about?"
damnit....
... *dammit
(sorry)
seen it spelled both ways.
"Rodgers" is by far the more egregious spelling error.
We have a Rogers and a Rodgers now. He could be referencing the versatility of Tyree.
(I'm hopeful Tyree cracks the mysterious depth chart at CB)
The last time we had an unknown at QB stepping into a major supporting cast of experience and proven production, we went to the sugar bowl and beat Michigan.
First time I have seen this image and it irks me a bit. Michigan still had a possession after the reversal so who knows whether we would still win.... and even if we had scored the TD, I am thinking we would have made the extra point.
But yea, it was a catch.
If you recall how incredibly lucky their offense had to get to score against us that game, you wouldn't be so worried about them scoring a td on their next possession.
They had like 188 yards of offense and ole Denard I think was under 100 combined yards.
That fuckin game
Pardon my French
I was there. Best seats I have ever had for a game. 45 yard line, 5 rows in. The thing that really bothers me about that game is something that is never talked about.
Two plays before that ridiculous Danny Coale punt situation, David Wilson broke a huge run. For no reason I have ever understood, the ref called him down despite the fact that his knee was 3 inches off the ground. It was obvious in live action, and again in the replay at the sugar bowl. I got home and learned they never showed a replay on ESPN or whatever.
Danny caught the ball, but no one was catching DW4 on that play. If we don't get screwed on that obvious bad call, we are up a couple scores, rather than tied a few plays later. Would and should have been a completely different game.
I don't know if anybody else here saw or noticed that...
Be right back, going to go try and find this so I can be more pissed again
edit: I'm an idiot.... If it wasn't televised, I ain't gonna be able to find it
Not only did they call that a no-catch, but they also completely missed the Michigan kicker commiting, not one, BUT TWO false start penalties on that game winning attempt. It makes my skin crawl thinking about that game/night.
I vividly remember the same thing, and kept screaming at the tv asking why the refs wouldn't call a false start...he was already taking steps towards the kick before it was snapped...I guess it is legal for all I know!
^ truth.
Not seeing the offense yet, I'm intrigued by the concept of an offensive system that works with just decent QB play.
We've had years of systems based on elite athletes over-achieving, but we dried up a bit.......
We've now got a stable of weapons and what should be a solid line....if we get a QB that can distribute the ball, good things could happen.
Fuente has had some pretty good QB play in his system. I would love to have NFL talent at QB, and hope the offense works without it, but can we just assume it will?
I think most if not all fans are always optimistic and sometimes over optimistic, but that's all the fun
Due to this preseason being so freaking quiet and tight lipped, I dont know what to expect but I've been a Hokie Fan for a long time and when football is predicted to suck they seem to always prove everyone wrong. I don't see blowing the doors off teams but I do see us being right at the top of the Coastal by years end.
Barring key injuries, i say 8-4 will be a good season. Throw in a major upset and 9-3. Winning brings on mojo. Can't wait to start jumping on Saturday.
I agree with 8-4 being a realistic expectation.
Not to be NATT, but if 9-3 is what happens with an unexpected upset, 7-5 is equally possible with an unexpected drop. I'm gonna expect one of each, resulting in 8-4.
I'm always optimistic at this point in time. We're undefeated until we're not. But at the same time, our schedule does us no favors this year. UNC, Pitt (ugh), and Miami (double ugh) are all doing well and have been for a few years. So a tough OOC schedule with Tenn and ND, coupled with a no-joke ACC Coastal slate, makes me hesitant. Perhaps I've been conditioned to this response based on the last few years. During undergrad and early grad school, I'd walk to the stadium every week confident that we'd win. Since 2012...not so much.
There is absolutely reason to hope and be excited, but I'm still setting my expectations at 8 games, hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Actually, our cross-division slate does kinda do us a favor. I think we have the best chance of any team in the Coastal not have a loss to team from the Atlantic.
I am super optimistic at this point. Just seeing the up tempo high energy mindset is a definite plus. I think we have great athletes and the beauty of Fuente is that he isn't used to not having that level of athletes to work with, but he has been able to develop players and scheme for success. One thing is different is that we haven't played with swagger or a chip on our shoulder. We need that back along with #hitsquadhokies.
I am also worried about Special teams. So many unknowns there except for Slye and Stroman.
I too think we'll be better than 4th in the division. We're not there yet but I imagine we'll finish 2nd to 3rd in the coastal but I wouldn't be surprised if we won it either. If we do win we're not beating Clemson...yet. If we stay healthy and get lucky I could see us going 10-2, 9-3 at the worse. We're gonna lose one of our big OOC games and probably drop 1-2 conference games. Again, take this with a grain a salt. Four years ago if you would've told me the next four years would've played out like they did I would've assumed you were on flacca.
Never say we're not beating Clemson again in my presence, ever.
Ok, but we won't. My BIL is a yuge Clemson fan and I have to deal with his ass all the time. He secretly pulls for VT also so that's why he's allowed in my house.
OK, I'll show my ignorance and bite. What the hell is flacca? Next question, where can I get some?
1) The drug that makes you eat faces and grunt like a neanderthal
2) China
Ohhh, well, nevermind.
see: http://us.blastingnews.com/news/2016/08/fsu-student-19-fatally-stabbed-t...
I thought this site was crazy with the love it was giving VT basketball before the season. I thought Tech was going to go 4-12 in conference again. I was a pessimist and wrong, so I think I'm going to be more optimistic about the football team to make up for it.
I have two main thoughts on my expectations:
Agree with Guitar, despite dodging Clemson and FSU yet again our schedule it brutal. The only advantage is the tough ACC matchups are at least at home. Liberty and LOLZuva are the only guaranteed wins at this point.
10-2 (7-1)
I'll make my ACCCG prediction once we win Coastal and see who comes out on top in Atlantic.
My prediction is still alive, and I'm feeling pretty good about it.
LET'S GO!!!
Last year Memphis averaged 40.2 ppg, while VT averaged 31.0 ppg. I'm expecting more like a 6-10 ppg improvement over last year. We've got experience and intelligence and talent at every position. It all comes down to whether or not our new/newish QB can execute. Honestly, with the talent and Fuente's ability to scheme, he might have an easier job than any of our past QB's.
okay for starters, our avg ppg is inflated by blowout wins over craptastic teams
second, VT's offense played a tougher defensive schedule than Memphis' offense so you can't make a direct correlation.
Third, Memphis was in their 4th year in the same system and they had a 3 year starter who was picked in the first round of the NFL draft as their QB.
to expect VT's offense to make a 6-10 ppg improvement based solely on skewed stats from last year from two very different teams who played two very different schedules just doesn't make any sense. Don't get your hopes up.
This offense isn't likely to look like the 31st* ranked offense Memphis had.
*2015 fei ratings for offense
But I always get my hopes up...
After looking at last 3 years of national ppg stats, 10 is pushing it, I admit. Obviously you cannot make a direct comparison, but if our O stays healthy and executes, with the talent that is there, I see no reason why we cannot be a top 35 offense.
First year in system sounds like an excuse.
Yes, Memphis was in 4th year, and had a 3 year starter, but I think the transition will be easier than most considering Loeffler's system, that apparently the verbiage is much simplified, and that we have a lot of experience on O.
Also, obviously you cannot make direct comparison. While they faced lesser competition, we probably have more overall talent on O aside from Lynch.
I like the optimism, but I don't see us having a top 35 offense. I'd be happy with 50-60 after the last few years.
Sure. But eyeballing the OFEI stats it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot separating the 94th (VT 2015) best offense from the 60th best offense. Given our talent level, statistically we have underachieved dramatically. We managed to get points on the board last season, but we were not very efficient. I think a big improvement is achievable this year.
Maybe I should plot out some trends to see what really separates the 94th best offense from the 60th, 50th, 40th, 30th, etc.
Everybody's is. If you discount ours, you have to discount everyone else's to reset the context. Should we discount the 66 points Baylor put on Lamar? or the 70 they put on Rice? What about the 49 Clemson put on Wofford? The 70 TCU put on SFA? The 56 Bama put on Charleston Southern? Memphis averaged 49.75 ppg against their 4 OOC games last year and that included 37 against Ole Miss.
PPG is a context stat, keep the context the same for everyone.
I think in the return game Newsome and Greene will turn some heads and McClease should help out there as well.
My biggest hope for the year is that we can come out ready to play instead of having 6 plays, two 3 and outs, 4 pre-snap penalties and 10 yards in the first quarter of every game. Always playing uphill killed us last year. I think Fu will have the team ready from the first snap. I don't know if that means we win 9 games or 7 games - that will be determined on the field - but at least we can start the games even instead of down a quarter.
1. Line up
2. Look to the sideline
3. Pre-snap penalty
4. Run for no gain
5. Pre-snap penalty
6. Failed screen pass
7. Pass play for a gain of 5 yards when we needed 20.
8. Punt
Last few years of my life
This is painfully accurate
No joke.
My hopes :
-Better Special Teams (returners running UP the damn field)
-Defense giving up less big plays
-Offensive identity and/or consistency
Pretty vague, but Im optimistic that we can improve in all 3 categories
We should see fewer big plays against our defense since we're going to be running less man coverage
9. Repeat until down two scores.
10. Stage an amazing comeback before losing in the final two minutes.
VT Athletics just put out a new preseason video, this time featuring the RB's. I wasn't sure the best place to put it so I figured I would just stick it here.
I've been in a state for two weeks. Wife can't figure out why I'm so antsy and why the beer keeps disappearing so quickly. Please, please, Saturday, get here ah-ite?