Ok, so after reading multiple different previews (i.e. Techsideline, TKP), everyone is predicting a Tech win. BUT, everyone also says that Marshall has a lot of talent on Offense and an improved yet untested Defense. Everyone has said "IF" we get the offense rolling we will be fine, "IF" we get the defense to show up like they have this season, we will be fine...
Those are "IF's" that are presented every week. So why do I have a tendency to be concerned about Marshall? Is it the rain that is supposed to dumped on us tomorrow? (oh no.. not JMU).. Is it overlooking to GT on Thursday? Is it that our Offense still does need to prove itself? Is it Marshall itself, with their very talented and MOBILE QB?
All these factors have caused me to kinda panic.... I have been on TKP for the past few years, and I felt the need to actually make an account just now to post this forum (and hopefully more down the road) to get this off my chest.
What do you all think? Can someone help ease my stress?
Comments
Keep calm..and Sam Rogers
This sounds like the making of a nice T-shirt...
The Logo above " keep calm" will be his murder eyes from that picture in Dozer's BUZZCAP for WCU
And here it is:
Nice! It would be even better if it was just his eyes.
I tried, but the image is not high res enough. Eyes get completely pixelated, so I would have to draw them completely new which I only wish I had enough time for. If another SR45 image comes up that can use I will swap and put them in.
One thing I forgot was "*DDMPT" (Don't Deny My Pussy Touchdown) which I think should be on EVERY Sam Rogers item/reference/image, etc
Keep in mind that marshalls D has ad many question marks as our O this year (if not more) they were exposed by a mac team...so take comfort in that and the fact that as good as their offense is it still struggled to put points up on an ohio team that has a D not even close to as good as ours for that reason alone im a little nervous but confident
Bud Foster will keep them in check. Our offense just needs to not give the ball up.
Why are you scared of Marshall?.... Because you've seen our Offense play this year, and it will be rainy; further limiting our O...
However, I do believe Bud and crew will beat up the Marshall O...
I think the biggest concern for me is the fact our Offense has yet to fully prove themselves (hopefully this game)... The weather is a big concern just cause I am having flashbacks of JMU and BC...
But I do have faith that Bud and the squad can lasso the Herd.
... but then we have Texas A&M and Miami.
Ill play devils advocate to what everyone else has said as I grew up a Marshall fan and still am, despite going to Tech and being a huge Hokie fan.
Marshall isnt a pushover and will likely win the CUSA this year. They have gone to play many good teams in their houses and often won. BCS teams they have beaten before include South Carolina, Clemson, K State, Louisville, BYU (almost bcs); and have played many teams very well which include teams like UGA, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Purdue, ohio state, UNC, wvu, and many others. They were the Boise State before Boise became Boise.
Now those games are mostly years ago but Ive been watching this Marshall team and they are very good and remind me of that time. Their QB is the best Marshall has had since the days of Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich and his receivers and tight ends are equally impressive. The Oline gives the mobile Cato time to throw and can open holes for their way above average running backs. Also the punter would make even CFB salivate. Those are the positives for Marshall.
The negatives are clearly the D. They were one of the worst in the nation and have huge holes as well as depth issues. However its a new D-coordinator and they are greatly improved over last year (even vs Ohio). The D line has good penetration but the secondary could allow Logan to pass at will if he can calm down and the line gives him some time.
That being said, this could be a much more exciting game than people think and Marshall will match up well with the Hokies. Their potent Offense against Techs great D will be fun and the ineptitude of the other sides of the ball will be interesting to watch. Id say the advantage goes to Tech because of Lane, coaching ability, and because its Foster and his D.
My prediction is 30-24 Hokies with more than 900 total yards and 6 TOs between both teams
I do think the Herd deserves to be respected - I thought the same for ECU.
I feel alot better about this game with it being at Lane. The Herd will make it respectable, but
Bud will not allow that many pts at home. A humble, but convincing win for the home team.
sticking with 28-13.
It doesn't help that their DL coach was one of the best Hokie defensive linemen of the Bud Foster era (JC Price.) He understands the basics of the attack look as well as anyone.
JC Price was good ... (best...?) but playing in the system vs. coaching against it (with lesser players)
are two very different animals - I wouldn't read too much into that angle.
GO HOKIES!
Don't think we need it, but having it rain probably helps us tbh. Rain typically makes the passing game harder, not so much the run game. Think vt-miami 2009 rather than rainy jmu (who ran almost every snap, something Marshall isn't built for)
I feel like rain = no passing game is a little bit antiquated. With dry balls being snapped on every play, the ball isn't more slippery. If you drop the ball, it wasn't because of the rain. Furthermore, the footing is usually not as good, which hurts DBs that need to break on WR routes. Slipping also weakens the running game, especially zone running which relies on hard cuts. The deep-passing game will be difficult, as stunts and crosses will be harder to block for the O-line men, so expect a few sacks.
All in all, I think the zone-read and short passing attack are the best offensive strategies in the rain. VT should be able to do this, but I think Marshall can too. I just imagine VT's defense will be better than Marshall's.
One Disclaimer - if it's torrential down pour, then yes I agree, the passing game (and rushing) will suffer greatly and whoever fumbles the ball less probably wins.
Passing team always has the advantage over the D on a wet field if the QB can grip the ball properly.
You need not be afraid.
Our defense will outscore both offenses that take the field combined tomorrow.
I'll be honest - I've been afraid of every non-conference opponent since that game in 2010. I was worried about App State in 2011 and I got really nervous at the start of the Peay game last year. This is a sport where anything can happen to anyone, including our beloved Hokies. The same very reason I hate playing opponents like this is the same reason I love college football.
these teams need to be treated like the red-headed step children that they are... GO HOKIES!
It will likely be raining and it will be heavy at times. It will be similar to the Miami games a few years ago where the U was 'back' and got BEAT.
" scared? fear? .... I don't understand." Bud Foster, 2013.
"I will destroy you" sam rogers
I may get a lot of down votes for this, but I will tell you why you are afraid my friend. You are afraid because we have been here before, questions on offense, very young defense and questionable special teams and a game on a short week. Last time this happened it wasnt pretty, coming off a game against boise that we should have won, and then losing to freaking jmu the same damn week. It was heartbreaking to watch it unfold, but the reason you are scared is because you believe it will happen again, which is understandable, hence everything i said before. A program like VT should have never lost to boise or jmu, esp w all the talent we had on that team. I dont believe this years team has the same amout, esp on offense, but you can rest assure that Buds defense will show up as it always has minus a few games over the years. With that being said, you can play great defense but if you have let downs in the other two aspects of the game then it could spell disaster alabama for example. You are worried about the offense not showing up or maybe another breakdown on special teams which could cost us another game. But its simple really, all they offense has to do is show up and play ball, not just any ball Hokie Football. Line up and smack em in the mouth and dont stop until the whistle blows. I am predicting 27-7 Hokies win, we score on defense and the offense has some short fields caused by Fosters children.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.... we are trembling at the sight of Marshall!
I hate being chicken little, but if we lose tomorrow we might as well blow it up. WVU of all schools, has never lost to Marshall.
I don't think our thread starting friend is completely out of bounds with his concerns. I hope I am wrong, but this team is fully capable of losing to Marshal 13-7.
VT loves, and I mean loooooves (see KU in the Orange Bowl), to play down to the competition, and this is a game where playing down to the competition will burn us.
I have been saying the " play down to competition card" for years and it's apparent in just about all of our losses. Boise was not as good as advertised the year we played them at FedEx and even if it was a short week, JMU had no place giving us a second L. That's why I enjoy playing teams like Alabama because even though we don't win, we come to play.
I'm scared because I'm getting dragged off to a wedding tomorrow at 3 PM so I really need VT to have things under control at halftime.
Kinda agree with wasp on this one as the passing teams should be ok as long as the quarterback can grip the ball. As a former receiver catching passes from a D1quarterback, I find a dry ball coming at you fast and in a tight spiral. The ball can be much slicker than a wet ball. Doesn't make much sense when you think about it but go get a piece of real leather and get it wet and you will get the point, it's kinda of sticky. Some of my best game receiving came in the rain. Just my 2 cents.
All I can say is LOL @ noise state!
Agreed. I think it was our loss to them that turned me against them. No BCS for them this year. Fresno has a shot, though.
I was pulling so hard for fresno state last night, especially on that last drive of theirs. The combination of alcohol and noise state hate is a powerful thing...
That was a hell of a game last night. The hokies are def gonna pull this one out but the defense has got to stop getting those personal fouls. Hokies uniforms are badass today!! Pulling hard for you guys today!
HOOAH!
Did anyone ever make good on the friendly wager for our game?