https://www.profootballfocus.com/college-football-vt-unc-grades-rogers-l...
Looks like Sam Rogers and Andrew Motuapuaka were the two standouts from yesterday's game. This article is well worth the read.
To be honest, I'm having a tough time putting into words exactly how exceptional of a performance Sam Rogers put on Saturday afternoon. Whether he was leading the HB up the middle or sealing off the edge for a run to bounce outside, he simply did it all.
The Hokie defense teamed up with the rain to keep the Tar Heel offense from doing much of anything. LB Andrew Motuapuaka led the team with 12 tackles in North Carolina and he also led the defense with five stops (a solo tackle that constitutes as a loss for the offense, given the situation).
Mitch Used-To-Be-a-Heisman-Candidate Trubisky had a...less favorable...review.
Trubisky had all day to throw for most of the game but simply had no answers for Virginia Tech's coverage.
Two words: Bud Foster.
Comments
I know we have all been harsh on Motu in the past, but we need to give credit where credit is due. He has improved vastly since last year.
Hes definitely making the best of what you can expect in a single year of time to improve. He still misses some tackles, but I'd take Moto as my MLB any day of the week on this squad.
My bet is that he is #25 next week...
The 25 is an award for special teams player of the week.
My money is on Joey Slye. In those conditions, to kick they way he did? No question.
Absolutely improved, but that d-line is vastly improved too!
All of us?
The whole team looked so ready and schooled.
It was nice to have Motu get that INT after last season's
tough games.
I think this sort of weather equalizes talent to a certain extent, so it's no surprise to see hard workers with a high football IQ like Sam Rogers do well in these conditions.
The batted down ball would have been a TD to Ford in the back of the end zone. IIRC
Mitch Used-To-Be-a-Heisman-Candidate Trubisky had a...less favorable...review.
Trubisky had all day to throw for most of the game but simply had no answers for Virginia Tech's coverage.
To be fair, there were some pretty costly dropped balls by UNC. Some of them weren't pretty, but I'll attribute at least a part of that to the weather. VT had the right game plan, and the VT defense played GREAT in that weather.
Sam Rogers, well, is Sam Rogers. That guy seriously pulls his weight, and makes stuff happen just when you need him to.
Matuapuaka does seem to have improved. His real test, however, will come on a Thursday night when we face Miami. They're fast. Very fast.
All of that said, this week's opponent is Syracuse, and the media attention -- while fun for us -- is just a distraction.
Trubisky had all day to throw for most of the game? Against VT? This year?
Looked to me like he was running for his life the entire game.
We've shot up to #3 in the ESPN ACC Power rankings.
espn.in?
Yup. Currently in India visiting grandparents. Cricket is huge here.
How big are the insects there that you have to have a specific sort of bat to squish them? And you've made it into a sport! Damn.
.
/s...soooooo much /s
Dude so scary.
Tastes like chicken.
Wyatt shaves his mullet and has all kinds of issues, Motu shaves his hair and kicks ass. There is something here too it i know it!
Business in the backfield, party on the line?
Someone say party line?
David Hale has some pretty high praise for us as well in his tiered CFB rankings based on possibility of making playoff, and overall ability of the team.
That's certainly positive.
6+9 = we're in the top 15! /s
Still think jubilation needs to be tempered here...
1. UT game happened. Defense didn't look all world for some reason. Somebody will figure out why.
2. Boston College really sucks this year.
3. ECU REALLY, REALLY sucks this year.
4. UNC is a different team on a sunny day. I know that the Hokies had to play in the rain also, but UNC guys got open, ball was just too wet. Also, one of the top RBs in the nation (Hood) never played.
This next game at the Carrier Dome will be a test. With this new media lovefest, a target is getting painted on the Hokies' backs. Also, anybody who's been paying attention since 1995 knows that the Carrier Dome was Pittsburgh before Pittsburgh was Pittsburgh.
It's not hard to figure this one out. We gave up a few big plays, some of the same issues we've had (but the type of issues these offenses aim to create) on our linebackers being out of position on a few run plays. But honestly the biggest part of the defense not looking great was the turnovers. Not only did they put the defense in almost unwinnable situations (two turnovers inside our 5) but gave them the ball on our side of the field a few other times and the thing people seem to not understand, it is demoralizing and tiring to go RIGHT BACK out on the field after you make a stop. Multiple times we gave the ball right back, one time we didn't even make it back onto offense when they punted into Curtis Williams back. Defense made a huge stop and then had to come right back out. It wasn't a great defensive performance, but it probably would have been good enough to win a game without the enormous turnover and penalty blunders.
The rest of your post I tend to agree with except that we played BC's offense better than Clemson, and ECU has a pretty good offense, despite not being a great team. I think it's hard to have a great read on this defense given the teams we have played, but Bud is actually able to play his scheme and not rely on cover zero man most plays. I think this defense is good enough to win any of our games as long as the offense doesn't revert to the last few years.
Here is their drive chart, it is almost painful to view this. Outside of their one long drive comprised of two big plays, they did absolutely nothing on offense against us without being given momentum building great field position.
SMH. That's 24 points gifted (27, had they made that FG) in a 21 point loss. I say again, SMH.
Agree with everything you say except I don't think the next game will be a test. What little enthusiasm there was for SU football going into the season has quickly dissipated.
And I don't believe in certain venues having inexplicable voodoo. Particularly one that hasn't been visited since the seniors were in the 2nd grade.
Ok, so when we beat SU we will just hear that they are terrible...which they are.
I see where you're coming from. But I refuse to temper.
Check on me if the Hokies manage to win the next three games. I'll not only hop on the Hype Train, I'll conduct that motherfucker into outer space.
Leonard, I love ya, man, but being on the Hype Train has little to do with waiting until the destination is acceptably certain to be achieved and you've covered all your bets. Lotta faith required for the Hype Train. We'll save you a bench seat in the caboose though, amigo.