For this game, I won't be touching on the defensive scheme. There was so much to cover on the offense that I thought it would be prudent to focus more on the defensive scheme in future contests.
Also, I focus on a couple of play series. However, Cornelsen called a much more masterful game than I gave him credit for. When WVU got stops, it came from being hyper-aggressive. The big plays we saw were usually the result of a play designed to take advantage of that aggressiveness. And, there could have been many more.
I will give you an example of a play that drove me nuts watching it live. After the Trevon Hill interception (which was also a long series for the defense), the Hokies had a 3rd and 1. The Hokies faked a jet sweep to Eric Kumah going left and Jackson tried to waggle to the right side. When I watched it live, I figured that he was looking to hit Chris Cunningham in the short flat. Kyzir White locked on Cunningham, the WVU corner was manned on Phillips, and WVU's WILL LB (Xavier Preston) blitzed right into Jackson's naked waggle. It looked like a perfect defense and a risky play call given the success that VT was having with base tailback runs. Get the safe first down and keep the defense off the field!
When I watched again, I noticed that there was a potential huge play there. Dalton Keene was the HBack at the top of the formation. After the fake, he came across on the drag. Phillips had run the corner off deep. NOBODY was with Keene. If Jackson had any time, he would have hit Keene for a huge play. WVU got really lucky. For every big play, the Hokies missed on others. Cornelsen really had WVU's defense pegged and manipulated those linebackers and safeties beautifully.
There is the teaser. The full review (almost 3000 words) will hit tomorrow.
Comments
I'm also glad to hear that Cornelsen called a good game. If felt really conservative in the first half, but maybe we needed Jackson to settle in and execute a few more blocks.
I was hoping for this when I opened the thread.
French, you are a Saint! I am so thankful for everything you have done and continue to do for TKP. I can't fully appreciate the amount of work you put in (since I've never broken down film before) but I imagine you do a lot more than you get credit for. I just wanted to remind you of how much I really enjoy your work and how much I appreciate your continued service.
via GIPHY
Coach Corn and Coach Vice definitely outcoached Coach Bud in this one. That is rare.
I wouldn't go that far. The Defense held things down in the first half so the offense could figure things out. By the second half, the defense was getting exhausted and the offense started to get going. Throw in some special teams and it was a complete team victory.
Our defense was on the field for long periods of time especially in the first half. On some of the touchdowns/long plays we gave up, i would say we got beat individually but our defensive scheme still had good coverage. If you look at that Tennessee game from last year, some of the touchdowns we just simply got beat, Bud had coverage. I also wouldn't go too far to say this coach is out doing that coach. I've been following VT since 1993 and went to school from 1995 - 2000, and I can say that this is the first time I can see unity among all coaches. In those days it was all about our defense, while we only had a spark in offense here and there. I would say the coaches work hard but the overall leadership has to put in place some process to allow everyone to make it about the team and not about the defense, offense or Special teams.
All three areas are important. And I'm not Knocking beamer, you have to realize that Beamer was building the program overall, brought it to national attention, really grew the program a lot. No what Fuente is doing is working on the details, lots of small things..its going to go a long way for us to become a champion but I think we are on the right track, Offense, Defense and Special teams.
Totally disagree. I think Bud Foster put together an excellent game plan and it worked -- maybe not to perfection, but it worked. Giving up 24 points to a quality P5 program that runs a spread offense is very good these days.
Team victory. There were some stellar plays by the D throughout. They bent but did not break.
With the offense exposing some deficiencies on defense, Bud tried to minimize big plays and save his defense. It didn't really work. However, there were some really impressive efforts. Walker and Settle had big games. Hill was pressuring Grier when he wasn't being grabbed around the neck. Motuapuaka was solid. The Eer's didn't test Stroman. Floyd got targeted several times and I think he only gave up one completion. Deablo was safe in his man coverage and got beat on some curl routes. But, when he was in, he was around the football. Edmunds was stellar for a half and then wore down. The Eers picked on Alexander the whole game and he responded with big moments. I think the yardage total was brutal to see, but ultimately, the defense held the Eers to three touchdowns. With this offensive staff, holding a team to three touchdowns will win a bunch of football games.
Still, when they blitzed, most of the time it worked. For my own ulcer, I would have liked to see it more.
French, don't you think this approach prevented Grier from firing off long runs on over pursuits much the way 'Cuse, Pitt and ECU have done in the past?
He still broke contain some late, from the most part it kept him from running. Unfortunately, it also let him be very comfortable in the pocket. As result, his weakness in mechanics breakdowns when going to his second read under duress was eliminated.
All these reviews that French does he does on his own time for us. If you are able please join the Key Players Club so we can show our support to these guys and all the hard work they are putting in for us.
Yeah I re-watched the game yesterday and noticed that the announcers said there was a freshman running wide open on that play had JJ seen him. They didn't go back to it at all and I tried to see who it was by rewinding the DVR but couldn't figure it out.
I'm sure other coaches and such do this but at least with the Hokies, CornFu is the first that I can remember seeming to be ok doing something that may not be guaranteed right now but is setting up something for later. Not to say that I think they want to take a loss in yardage on any given play but I do believe they will run something that may not be the obvious play choice at the time to set it or something up for later.
French, Perfectly Stated.....my brother was watching the game with me and was frustrated with the play calling early on but i noticed on almost every run play that yield little yardage, we ran from the same formation later and got huge chunk of plays. Its like CornFU was just setting them up for the 3rd and 4th quarter.
It also looks like the Running back by committee will work in our favor. We get fresh guys that can run inside and outside, it limits the pounding and pressure on one guy (while it might hurt an individual's stats); its good for the team. Deshawn Mclease is looking really good, lots of potential for giving him the rock on critical plays.
As for WR, I'm very happy with Cam, While Savoy and Carroll contributed, I'm hoping some else does step up more. There are a few more guys that I'm sure Cornelson will try against Delaware and see if someone emerges.I did like Chris Cunningham's catch, I saw him and Dalton Keane in the same formation, so there is some potential for disguised plays.
I think everyone new on offense could improve a little bit on their blocking.
As for defense, Its Bud Foster...need I say more?
Go Hokies...1-0 every week..
That's what she said.
So, since this seems to be popular and I actually have the time, I will throw some more observations that were not in the film review.
Regarding the running back rotation, I actually think the blocking was better than the production.
-Steven Peoples is an excellent blocker. But, he doesn't see holes particularly well and has shown a tendency to trip in the hole. In the first quarter, the Hokies ran a play that appeared to be a split zone read. However, the defensive end crashed inside and Jackson gave Peoples the ball anyway. Peoples got into the hole and was losing his balance before contact. He would have likely gotten six or seven yards and ended up with three or so. Meanwhile, WVU's corner, edge defender, and safety ALL crashed hard on the dive. If Jackson pulls the ball, he goes around the right side for a huge gain. Of course, in the fourth quarter, we saw Jackson keep the ball on the same play and got the big run where he sat down inbounds to run the clock.
- Travon McMillian is a guy I have advocated for here for a long time. He was one of the top two players on the field with EJ Levenberry on the same night I first saw DeShawn Hand. I thought he got a raw deal as a chance to be a quarterback. He didn't have a big arm, but in the right system he was mechanically sound in the passing game and a very good runner. He has explosive ability.
But, he left me kind of wanting in this game. Again, he was tepid in blocking on the jet sweeps, and as a runner he was tip-toeing into holes most of the game. On the play before the waggle I talked about in the OP, McMillian broke open off the left side on a counter. Toyous Avery ran all the way across from the deep safety spot as McMillian got close to the marker. Instead of turning up into contact and pushing for the first down, McMIllian stepped out a yard short. Then the Hokies failed to convert the next play. Those are little things that won't endear you to a coaching staff. I want to see the McMillian that played with the fire he showed against Arkansas and Duke at the end of games (and his touchdown run against WVU is an example that he is more than capable.)
-DeShawn McClease finally got an opportunity to shine and he didn't disappoint. I don't think he has huge breakaway speed, but he has a ton of wiggle and extra effort to gain extra yards. There are also red flags. First, I don't believe that he got a chance to get snaps when the Hokies ran their jet sweep series. On that series, the tailback acts as a lead blocker. It could suggest that the staff isn't sold on his blocking. Second, McClease fumbled. We know how Fuente is about fumbles, and while McClease finished that series, I don't think he returned to the game after that point.
With Peoples banged up a bit, we will likely see Holston some this week. I think all the running back options still have an opportunity to establish themselves as "the guy." However, until they do, I think the carry distribution of several players getting 7-13 carries will continue.
The offensive line was pretty good. There were not too many busted assignments that I picked up on. Kyle Chung had some "uh oh" moments where Adam Shuler overpowered him a bit. But, it wasn't like he was getting beaten cleanly like we have seen at times in the past. When the Hokies needed to run with the tailbacks, the offensive line got consistent push. When WVU was shutting down the running game, it was during stretches where the Hokies didn't seem to threaten in the passing game and the Eer's were putting extra defenders in the box.
So what about those false start penalties? Well, I can tell you why they hurried on the first and goal on the last scoring drive. The Hokies went with an extra TE on the right side, BUT they flipped Kyle Chung over as an extra OL on the left side. They wanted to catch WVU offguard by showing "power right" but running left where there was actually an extra OL. Two snaps later, Eric Gallo had a MONSTER reach block on the WVU nose to create the lane for McMillian's touchdown.
Andrew Motuapuaka was quietly very strong all night. I didn't see him miss any tackles in space. Unfortunately, Tremaine Edmunds was really quiet and looked unsteady. There was one play where he was square on Will Grier scrambling. Grier cut inside and Edmunds didn't even get a hand on him. I was worried that he was hurt on the play because we are so accustomed to seeing Edmunds make those tackles in space. Hopefully this week gets him back on track. When Bud brought both LBs, Edmunds forced Grier to step up and Motuapuaka put him on the ground on the last drive.
Reggie Floyd and Devine Deablo looked even better than I expected them to. If they can hold up in coverage, both guys showed tremendous range and closing speed. Deablo was all over the place. Floyd had legs to get up and keep Grier in bounds on the next to last play to force a spike (which used some extra time.) The future is bright for both guys. It is worth noting that when Deablo came in before the Edmunds injury, he came in at free and Edmunds moved over in Floyd's spot at rover. At the end of the game, Deablo was at free and Floyd was at rover. They weren't rotating for each other.
Second group defensive line was way too big of a drop off for Bud Foster to be happy this week. Bud's scheme, where he kept the defensive rush in tight rather than trying to get speed off the edge (to keep Grier from escaping up the middle) didn't help them look better.
Regarding West Virginia's passing game, it made me uneasy to see how WVU seemed to run the perfect route (rub routes) when VT was in man, and verticals against cover 2. They seemed to know what the defense was running, and that plus a lack of pass rush really put the secondary in some tough spots. WVU went after Edmunds, Floyd, and Deablo a bunch. When they attacked the corners, they mostly stayed away from Stroman and Facyson. Stroman was in trouble one time when he was the deep man in cover 2. WVU ran verticals at him. He jumped the inside vertical (Facyson was coming across the top as the other two deep to try and help on the inside guy) and the outside vertical was wide open. Grier overshot the throw.
Instead, WVU targeted Adonis Alexander a ton. Alexander got beat inside on a couple of quick slants off RPOs. Unless he had inside leverage assigned and busted the coverage, there wasn't much Alexander could do. In outside leverage (which is the technique he was playing) he has to funnel the receiver into the linebacker help. The run action (including linemen firing off on the linebackers) pulls the linebacker out of the passing lane. It was the correct call against the wrong coverage. Where I am a bit miffed with Alexander came on the last WVU drive. Alexander made a TERRIFIC play to dislodge a deep throw where he was the two deep. However, Bud also called a corner blitz with Alexander, and Adonis was VERY tepid rushing Grier. Grier had time to step up in the pocket and start running. With Alexander blitzing, the safeties had rolled over the top to take his man. There was no one to pick up Grier and he ended up with 15 yards. If Alexander is going to be asked to deliver that knock out boundary corner blitz that Bud has used so well over the years, he needs to shoot in like a bear is chasing him, not like he is walking on a gravel driveway barefoot. Alexander responded by getting another PBU on a quick out on the next play.
Eric Gallo is a guy who struggled mightily last season. No player that played most of the snaps last year looked like he improved more than Eric Gallo. Here is that block again. Teller did a real nice job of working through to No. 10 on the play as well.
I'm glad you mentioned the Travon play where he failed to get the first down. Purely a lack of effort left us with 3rd and 1 in a situation where our D desperately needed a breather. He has to pick up that first down.
I like Travon and think he has flashes of greatness, but this was one glaring example if what I'm sure Fuente sees more than anyone else.
Maybe TMac doesn't have enough snaps at running back since he played QB in HS? A lot of those types of plays are just instinctual.
When I watched him in HS as a read option QB, he excelled at making those instinctual plays. That play just didn't look right.
This, this, this. He needs the hunger/instinct/desire/awareness to get that first down. In fact, there were a couple plays like that in the game involving other players as well.
With how well Diablo and Floyd seem to be settling in, where does that leave Devon Hunter?
Special teams as he learns the system. Deablo looked like a first year player out there at times. He was very hesitant. His length and range made up for it. Hunter will get on the field. However any true freshman will take time to adjust and Hunter didn't get to enroll early.
Be thrilled that it looks like we have three really talented players behind Edmunds. Tennessee just lost their best receiver and one of their best defenders. Depth is critical.
I guess my question was more about the future since Floyd and Diablo are both sophomores. If they continue to progress at the FS and SS/Rover positions, where do you see Hunter fitting in down the road?
As an additional rotation piece and special teams player this year. Don't be surprised if both Edmunds go pro after this season.
That's some lofty goddam praise coming from you, French.
Let's hope it is because the group has improved, rather than WVU's DL being below average.
^^This times 1000. Still not sure about that WVU Defense.
On a more random note, an Olivia Newton John video just popped up on my playlist. Holy Shit, I'm still as Hopelessly Devoted to her as I was when I was 11 years old.
Awesome. Leonard.
To the WVU offense running rubs and crosses against man, they knew when we were in man. We were clearly telling them, either with an on field tell, or they had Bud's calls.
tl;dr-
"guy did something wrong, but a few plays later did something great"
Sounds promising and correctable. Thanks for breaking it down that way.
nice write up
All the breakdowns!
If you have any questions not related to the offensive scheme, post them here. I will respond or look at the tape and try to figure it out.
Would the defensive scheme we saw against WVU worked better against Syracuse last year? I prefer the crazy blitzes Bud usually dials up, but I'm fine with whatever it takes to win any given game.
Edit: do you see us using that defensive scheme against any other teams on our schedule?
Did Vice have a reason to go off and get that penalty, ie. is slapping a defender in the neutral zone still allowed, or was there a rule change?
I thought it should have been a penalty on WVU. Why it wasn't is beyond me and I was just as mad as Vice was. However, it is clearly a point of emphasis that the coaches stay off the field. Lesson learned.
Thoughts on Keane? Looked like he was good when he had his assignment right, but missed some big ones. Nice block on McClease TD.
He had some freshman moments. But (and I will talk more about it in my review), he completely changes the dynamic of this offense. When he makes contact, the defenders feet stop (even though Dalton was very tentative. When he is sure of himself, he will be a wrecking ball out there.
He didn't get targeted in the passing game. I will be interested to see how he performs once they start targeting him on something besides the quick little flat pass off the bootleg or a backside drag.
Thank you, French. Where did Hill and Gaines go in this game? Were they just being asked to stay in tight to keep Grier from running and/or drop into coverage?
I was expecting those guys to display some old-school disruption that we haven't gotten out of the DE position in a few years.
Hill was very good all game long. He drew repeated holding penalties and only got the call twice. I am not worried about Hill in the least.
The scheme really focused on the DEs bull rushing in tight to keep Grier from having running lanes tackle to tackle. While he broke some runs, he was athletic enough to go CJ Brown between the tackles. That wasn't good for Gaines, who is more of a guy who wants to get around the corner. Gaines didn't comport himself well as a bull rusher.
Great to hear. Thank you.
French, how big a lead do we have to have before we see 2nd team D against the Blue Hens?
French, How do you anticipate that we will use our other wide receivers? Are there scenarios that we can expect Kumah, Grimsley, Pimpleton or Patterson involved? I was a bit surprised that Patterson wasn't on the field, perhaps its just game one and he might contribute more. I was happy to see Savoy and Carroll get in the swing of things.
Not to focus on your specific question, but why isn't Clark ever mentioned in the list of other WR's from which we hope to see the emergence of real contributors to the passing game?
Clark was in but not targeted, but he was in on the final touchdown drive.
I am trying to think how to say this judiciously. I don't think pure speed is all that is needed to take the top off a defense, especially if your QB doesn't have a huge arm. I don't know if Jackson has a big arm. Instead, I think taking the top off the defense could also mean a WR who can run vertical routes and go up and high point a ball (like Isaiah Ford, who was a ton of good things but blazing speed guy wasn't one of them.) Kumah isn't that guy- at his best he projects to be a big possession guy like Jarrett Boykin. Grimsley got enough press that I figured he would get some run, but I don't recall seeing him. Clark was the only WR I saw besides Phillips, Savoy, Kumah, and Carroll all night. Did anyone else catch any of the other WRs?
Thanks for the response. I completely understand that it's about a lot more than speed. That said, Clark is a r-Sr who's had 4 years in anOSU's O, so he should have a clue about running routes at this level (at least to a degree, anyway). I know that not everyone is capable of learning to run routes like IF, but 4 years of practice plus the fact that he had a 2 receptions vs OU and 1 vs MSU, last year, lead me to believe that he should be able to contribute.
My real point is that he's never mentioned in this list of "someone needs to step up" so I'm wondering if I'm missing something (e.g., film from games that he played for anOSU show him to not have a clue as to what he was doing).
Trevon Hill seemed to be all around the ball all night (running really well laterally across the field) while I didn't see much from Mihota - was Vinnie getting doubled or does it seem he may not be all the way back from the surgery(s)?
Also, any insight into the WR rotation. Obviously 5 and 15 were on the field but wasn't sure who else got the bulk of reps or what changes may have been made as the game wore on. Gotta find someone to go deep and pull a safety.
Adonis' outside leverage in short yardage bugs me to no end. It is just begging for the free quick slant. Just like DHall's typical 15yard cushion on 3rd and 5 always begged for a hitch. In what scenario is press inside leverage not the go-to on short yardage?
That is hard to judge. If he is playing the technique called and they have a slant, it is the right call by the offense and you can't hang that on Adonis. If he was supposed to be in inside leverage and wasn't, then you are justifiably frustrated. Unfortunately, we don't know for sure unless we can go in the film room.
We haven't played a lot of inside leverage (off the top of my head) since TGray left, and I can think of multiple touchdowns and first downs we have given up as a result. As someone who has played some corner, it's not your call which leverage you are playing, you do what you're told unless you're some kind of superstar maverick who disobeys the coaches.
All that to say, I wish he had been playing inside leverage on that play. I just don't think it's fair to blame Adonis because it's highly highly unlikely he gets to choose his leverage from play to play.
I say it almost every game thread when we give up plays like this. Everyone bitched about Tgray's use of inside leverage, whenever we gave up one big completion but ignored how effective it was over the big picture. Last year, Jordan Leggett or someone scored an easy touchdown against us that also would have been prevented by inside leverage. But it's folly to just point out every time it doesn't work and ignore how it was designed in the scheme of the play.