It was a nice surprise to find a speedy true freshman hit the LOS like he was running for his life for a change. It was also great to find our defense swarming the ball, making plays in the secondary and doing everything they could to get off the field. I am proud of that side of the game.
As for the special teams, I am shaking my head. I saw on the first kickoff three Hokies get plowed by Alabama players. The overall physicality and athleticism was no contest. I will stop there because I cannot say anything else remotely positive.
He threw the ball better as of Game 1. It was obvious. But the drops are ridiculous. Someone needs to step up and cut Logan Thomas a break. I maybe his harshest critic from last year and tonight was not his fault. We need a TE or a WR with hands of gold or it is going to be another struggling season with a weak schedule.
Our special teams will get better. Our defense will beat up and score points on teams that are not Alabama. But when do receivers learn how to catch?
If we played our game in all facets, they stood no chance and I hope all of you saw what I saw.
Comments
Well said. Logan's mechanics are much better. His decision-making is improved, as well. He hit his receivers and they failed us.
Totally agree.
Good points. There were a couple of questionable throws but Alabama's coverage was excellent.
I would hate to be DJ Coles in the meeting tomorrow when Moorehead goes over the tape of that interception. Gonna make that tirade during the saturday practice look like a pat on the head.
Was very surprised and disappointed in his play. Not much more needs to be said.
A Senior (DJ) should NOT have 2 procedure penalties and give up on a route. No, not Never!!!
Agreed, I did not realize that DJ Coles was a huge pussy.
Gonna be an interesting season.
It always its.
The defense mauled Bama. McCarron was 10-23. TJ Yeldon was held in check. If you told me the defense would give up 14 points I'd have been expecting VT to win and have shocked the world. But instead they give up 14 points on special teams and the offense looked completely inept. I expected a slightly better showing with all summer to prepare.
slight correction: the passing game looked completely inept. If LT wasn't throwing to the wrong shoulder of his WR's they were dropping the ball or giving up on routes.
I agree, I think maybe we put so much pressure on our team to beat Bama. I could be wrong, but I did see somethings tonight that I'm very proud of. Our defense is going to be stout and I see a potential top 5 defense if we continue to play like that. We as a fanbase have got to back Logan he made some good throws but our receivers are just so young.
They remind me of when Jarrett and Coale were freshman, but i think we have to recruit better wideouts and other skill players.
If that was true about the pressure then the line and Edmund's wouldn't have played their balls off. If the pressure was too much bamas sec powered offense would've ran us out. Same poor route running and hands catching as last year.
Different players adjust to pressure differently especially some freshman that never been in this kind of environment. Kendall played great but he's not your typical freshman.
Well if you aren't making plans then you should be sat on your ass on the bench. There is no defending the drops and poor routes
No one is defending the drops. But you have to put yourself in those kids shoes. Some of those kids never should have been on the field they were forced to play before they were ready. The kids would normally be redshirted in our system.
I'll have to go back and see who all was targeted on what plays, but the only guys I seemed to consistently see in the vicinity of the ball were Coles (redshirt Senior), Knowles (redshirt Soph), and Stanford (redshirt Freshman). These guys have already been redshirted and they still weren't doing their jobs.
Preach. In Stanford's defense, I can only recall one drop he had, and he made one or two nice grabs for first downs
Stanford is the only one that I give a passing grade to, out of that whole group.
Look bottom line fellas we can't point fingers at one player. I know it seems easy but we didn't execute as a team tonight on offense. That's something that's going to get better as the season goes forward. I don't want to seem like I'm kicking some of these guys after a game when some of them know they didn't perform to the best of there ability. I told my freinds at church....Win or lose I'm going to ride with VT no matter what this is my team so...
As Macho Harris said, ''A minor setback for a major comeback''.
I'll drink to that, my friend. There's a lot of season left.
Knowles in my opinion isn't ready still he's still learning how to become a wideout he was a track star. As for Stanford he got hurry last year how much time did he get? Its not excuses, but Dj really isn't the player that's going to be carrying this team he has potential and he's shined with Coales and Boykins. In my opinion he's not a first choice he's a third choice type of wideout.
I agree that lack of experience is killing us, but I was responding to your argument that our guys need to be redshirted - they can't. The only ones behind them are true freshman. If you want them redshirted, too, then there's no one left.
Its cool. I was thinking of the freshman on special teams when I said that.
Wasn't Corey Fuller a track guy, too? He didn't have these problems.
Let it go please... Let it go!!!!! We win as a team and we lose a team. I agree Corey was a track guy, but he isn't here anymore now is he? We have to deal with what we got right now?
Yes, but he was also a Fuller.
This, so much....haha. DJ is a senior and should be a heckuva lot more disciplined than he was...procedure penalties, drops, timid play and a bad route that led to a pick-6 (though you could argue Logan shouldn't have thrown it, though if DJ ran the route, it wouldn't matter either way). When DJ had his illegal receiver down field penalty I about yelled at the TV to bench him. My guess is that the other receivers aren't big enough for run blocking just yet..
In any case, just put the pitchforks and torches away for a few weeks...This offense is brand new to every offensive player, the WR's are the most inexperienced we have had in recent memory, but the OL and running game looked great against 2012's #1 defense. Every game they will improve, and remember...we were spoiled with Coale and Boykin--VT doesn't usually rely on WR performance. They like to have a power run game, which with Edmunds, Caleb, and Coleman, we will have.
I don't want to talk much about the recruits we can look forward to seeing since we have only played 1 season, but this team will improve greatly with each game. Alabama was the best team to show us how we need to improve. These coaches are great, the team will improve.
Corey was a redshirt senior before he contributed to the team in a really meaningful way and had Coale and Boykin to help him along (and as mentioned he was a Fuller). I remember his r-jr year, thinking that he probably wouldn't contribute much with Davis, Roberts and Coles ahead of him on the depth chart. I wouldn't count Knowles out yet, but at this point in his development is more suited to being a 3rd or 4th receiver. I just don't know that we have anyone other than Stanford that could push Knowles and Coles down the dpth chart...maybe Charlie Myer?
Which kids that had real problems. Coles or Knowles cause they aren't freshman. They've played in big games. They had the chances to make plays. The freshmen played their asses off
I think were saying the same thing in different ways. I agree what your saying. The freshman played there asses off. But we lose as a team and we win as a team, the freshman didn't win this game and the defense didn't win this game, because they played good. When one part of our team is weak its a weakness to our entire team. And its something that's going to get better as the season goes on!
Bud Foster must really love VT to put up with this every big game.
I think this all the time. It must be so damn frustrating to demoralize an opposing offense and still not contend for games.
I have a feeling, the last time he was be shopped as a HC, Beamer and Weaver sat down and told him he was the heir-apparent, and to just wait. Foster has the personnel he wants on the team and he knows he couldn't go somewhere else and create a top-5 defense out of know where. He has what he wants here, and within, I'd say, about 5 years will have a shot at being our HC.
He really does deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for never strangling O'Cain or Stiney.
Offense: Edmunds is a stud. Receivers need to do 10000 pushups. Logan is an enigma.
Defense: I could not be more proud this group. Wow. So much talented youth.
Highlight of the night: Fuller laying the wood for his little bro. The world needs more Fullers.
I hope the Fullers all make more Fullers. Then, in 20 years, we field an entire team of Fullers. And they wear all maroon. #alloftheFullersinallmarooneverything
How about more Edmunds while we're at it. Big bro in house, little bro coming, and youngest a potential stud TE.
What is a TE? Do we have those on our team? Any passes to them tonight?
I was honestly wondering that too. I will have to check a replay but did we run sets with TEs? I was so busy watching Bama's linebackers and d-line I only began to wonder when the freshman fullback got his carry.
I could get behind the idea of more Fullers.
Quick! Send Mr and Mrs Fuller a bottle of wine and a Barry White CD!
WR's probably were told they are jogging back to blacksburg.
I think we should really go after receivers that won't need much polish and isn't scared to come across the middle to catch a pass. Heck of we had the receiving core from least year we would have been able to contend offensively with them in my opinion.
I think McLaughlin deserves a shout out as well - played great for a freshman against one of the best defenses out there.
You're right Joe he did a heck of a job. I think he's going to be a stud Tackle for us in the future and going forward this season.
The line as a whole shocked the hell out me. The fact that Edmunds even had those holes to run through is an incredible testament to their effort.
I keep saying it but I'll say it again...not only did the produce lanes for Edmunds they did it against Alabama! Give credit where credit is due...Alabama really is one of the best teams and we had more rushing yards than they did. It only gets easier from here, for running, just don't get complacent.
I dunno, I have a weird feeling that this team is going to be really good. Has a chance to be one the best Tech D's in a LONG time.
I sure hope Chris Mangus knows how to catch the football
This is going to be one of the great Hokies defenses. Playing this well with injuries like we have makes me salivate and then wonder how much more we could've embarrassed Bamas offense with Exum andRVD.
And hey,at least we aren't Oregon State or Kansas State
I was just about to say this. As negative as I was being earlier, at the end of the day, I think we can say we had a respectable loss to Alabama
Thank god for our defense and special teams cause our offense was doin to well.. It was a hard fought game though. If any of y'all are here at the game be safe traveling back. As much as I would like to see the people who excepted this bet pay up I'm not gonna hold my breath. Good luck in your season. I'll be pulling for y'all when I see y'all playing! Best of luck to y'all
I agree fully. The scoreboard doesn't look like it, and the pundits won't say it, but the game seemed at all times than the score indicated.
Yea, ESPN is full of crap. Their recap says the Tide "cruised" to victory and the pundits are talking about how "the offense didn't have the best night." How about "VT's defense played balls-to-the-wall and their best performance in many years."
EDIT: Rece Davis just gave us some love, called us "the best or second-best defense the Tide will face all year."
Yeah, ESPN is going to make sure they pump Bama up in someway after this.
Noooooo accidental down vote. My sincerest appoligies.
Ha, all good. Got a few to spare.
Or South Florida. Yeesh.
I JUST WANT US TO SCORE IN ALL 3 PHASES OF THE GAME AGAIN!!!
To be honest, how the hell are you on a d1 football team if you can't catch? Like yeah the pressure is bigger, but when it comes down to it catching the ball isn't any different in high school than it is in college
So have you played D1 football before? I have? And I can tell you College and High school isn't the same my friend.
Catching a football from LT3 with FBS caliber DBs is very different from catching a pass from a HS QB with HS caliber DBs. That's the equivalent of saying that someone who hit .300+ in HS should be able to hit .300+ in a college baseball game. I'm not saying that this is an excuse for dropped balls, but it puts it into perspective. The passes from Logan were coming with more velocity and/or coming into a tighter window than what a receiver has to deal with in HS.
Considering these guys have had 3+ years to catch balls from Logan (and they have), and I refuse to believe that Coale and Boykin had some super-human ability to catch Thomas's passes, I still think those throws are catchable. Not saying it's easy or anyone can do it, but based on their past performances and what is expected of them at this level, they need to hold on to at least the majority of those balls.
I agree that its not an excuse, just saying that its different from being able to catch in high school.
I questions Loefflers ability to adapt in the second half!
Yea I was expecting him to let the playbook go a little bit, but he stayed with the exact same thing. I guess he saw something that we didn't see.
Personally, I was very, very happy with the play calling, especially in the second half. I would've liked to have seen a few more runs from Edmunds, but overall, I think the WRs let their QB, OL and OC down bigtime. Just my thoughts from the nosebleeds.
I think our problem is we still don't have an identity on offense. Do we want to be a pro I team. Do we want to be a pistol option team? We have to build on that. Like Chip Kelly says you can be whatever you want you just have to pick an identity and stick with that and do everything to make that your teams goal. Are we still trying to make LT a clone of Cam? This puzzles me because Logan is not Cam. Plus Auburn was a tempo team and they were darn good at it.
The problem is the passing game is a disaster.
I don't see that. Loeffler himself said this would be a pro-style team with the ability to be multiple and based on running the football. That's exactly what I saw, especially after the first few series. Look at the play call when we were backed up on our own 5. Outside zone run that we saw all spring and fall. I think the game plan was well thought-out and well executed until the ball got to the WRs.
Agreed...The play calling looked good and we werent just running LT 3 up the middle and using screen pasess
I can agree with that. I would like to see both Logan and the rest of the offense establish and identity sometime in the season.
I just absolutely love your avatar. Turkey leg!
I think the late injury to Malleck had an effect on the game plan. As we all know, the TE plays a big role in Loeffler's offense. Who knows if he would have caught any passes tonight, but I think the game plan would have included more calls to him. I expect we'll see a bit of improvement on O in the next few weeks.
Ok that is where the TE was.
It's taking all my self restraint to not say that the TE was under center pretending to be QB. All of it.
Great point. I wonder if many of the DJ Coles throws would have gone to Malleck.
Agreed.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO...BUT...if you take away even half the drops and poor route running and the special team blunders, things which are usually not as much of an issue for teams in most games (D1 WR's usually do not have that many drops and many games go without any non-offensive TD's, much less 3) then we have a ball game. A game that would've been nearly even and possibly could've gone either way down the stretch. The fact that our D stayed that strong despite having the wind knocked out of them 3 times, is spectacular. Bama won, but they didn't 100% outplay us. We beat ourselves more than they beat us, which is not what I would have expected coming in if we were going to lose. And if you say that is a lot of ifs or that Bama forced those issues, then why were most Bama fans not happy with a 25 point win as they should be? And why did Alabama still get criticized with a 25 point win? Because anyone who watched the game knows that we had mental mistakes that helped Bama. And that our defense is really special or Alabama's offense isn't what everyone thought it would be.
If you look at overall stats, the game was effectively even. We outgained the number 1 team in the nation in total yardage, everything else, except for the score, was even.
Not so fast my friend. We out-gained Alabama in offensive yards by a grand total of 6 yards (212 to 206). They annihilated us in return yards.. 265 to our 149. Oh and Alabama's returns included a 38yrd INT for TD, 94yrd KOR for TD, 72yrd PR for TD...
So yeah, total yards:
AL: 471
VT: 361
Channelling your inner Corso I see
Understand the special teams yardage, talking O v. D yardage, as most box scores generally report. Re: return yardage, of the 265, 166 were on two returns. If our special teams had kept these to average yardage (9 yd for punt, 20 on kickoff), their return yardage would have been 128, which is less than our yardage. Granted, we had more opportunities to return kickoffs, but they had more opportunities to return punts. Int yardage generally isn't reported as a stat as far as yardage gained, just as an interception.