With the Clemson game slightly less than a day and half away the excitement is definitely building. As that happens I like to think about my expectations, dreams and nightmares with the respect to the game and I'd love to know about yours.
- Expections: A low scoring defense grind.
- Dreams: A coming out party on both sides of the ball with a massive Tech score and minimal Clemson score
- Nightmares: Jackson is ratteld and becomes an INT machine. The defense has no answer to Kelly Bryant running the ball
What say you?
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Expectations: A close game that Clemson pulls out due to better physical talent.
Dreams: A Hokie win in convincing fashing.
Nightmares: 21-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Don't let this distract you from the fact that Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.
Don't that THAT distract you from the fact that Clemson was leading 35-14 with 2:30 to go in the 3Q of the ACCCG and we almost came back in that one.
Valid. But my point is more like what they did to Louisville. They took an electric environment and just silenced it in the first quarter.
Papa John's Stadium doesn't even compare to the Terror Dome though
No it's not. But if Clemson jumps out on us, Lane will lose some of that electricity that I'm sure will be flowing pre-game. That's a big thing if you're Clemson.
Exactly what they're going to try to do. They'll try and pop some long passes over our shorter corners and go for it on 4th and less than 5.
Louisville's team is a disaster. Lamar Jackson is the entire team. We have an actual team on both sides of the ball. We play well together as a team. Louisville lives and dies by Lamar Jackson.
STAY WOKE
True, but if Clemson is up 21 to 0 at the end of the first quarter it isn't flukey like Arkansas...its because they are put ramming us and we are just taking it.
Hey we were down 14-0 in the ACCCG last year and that wasn't too bad
The prognosticator in our newspaper (Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal) came up with a prediction of 26 - 25 in favor of Clemson. That equals the 51 points that I have seen as the O/U (which is higher than I expected), but both 26 and 25 are somewhat abnormal scores. Anyway, I agree with your second nightmare (QB running the ball, which would be part of a recurrent nightmare for us). I don't think that Jackson will become an INT machine. I am more concerned that he will end up on his back much more than we would like to see.
Leg for prognosticator. That word was esoteric for me.
Expectations: Another sluggish start, but for different reasons than the previous games. The first quarter ends something like 10-0 Clemson. Our defense plays well and mostly shuts down the run, but we give up a few big plays over the top that really hurt us. Offensively for us, we settle in a bit and get very few yards rushing, but have enough misdirection and some explosive passing plays (this may be a dream) to move the ball enough to stay in the game.
Dreams: We have a FAST start offensively. This keeps the crowd in the game and the defense off the field and instills belief. The sky's the limit then IMHO.
Nightmares: We have a slow start, the crowd is immediately taken out of the game, JJ gets completely rattled by their Defensive Line, and we get embarrassed on National TV.
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Honestly, as was the trend in my post, I think it comes down to how we can start. We cannot go down by 14, 17, 21, etc. in the first quarter. I know our defense can make sound adjustments and I have faith CornFu will make enough adjustments offensively to find a way to creatively move the ball, but we have to keep our crowd in the game to make these guys believe.
I'll be the first to admit I have habit of judging outcomes by the start of a game but all four quarters matter equally. Look no further than last year for proof. We went up big against UT and lost. We had large deficits against Notre Dame and Arkansas and won. Clemson went down 14-0 against Alabama early in the 2Q of the title game last year.
Obviously there is a point where things can get out of hand but the fans and team need to stay calm and remain confident early on. One drive or even one play can swing the momentum in a game very quickly.
I think the issue here is a large deficit against Clemson will likely be nearly impossible to overcome with their DL + running game.
As much as I loved coming back to beat Arkansas in the bowl game they were (for whatever reason) an absolutely atrocious second half team.
All of the quarters matter, no denying that...but we've lucked out so far with our sleepy starts as the opponents haven't been good enough to truly capitalize on them.
Maybe so. It certainly depends on how large of a deficit. I don't think a 14 point deficit in the first half would be enough to panic. If we've played well but had some bad breaks I could have some hope even down by 3 scores. Of course I'd feel more confident if that didn't happen, but I think what's more important is how/if we respond than believing the results of the first quarter guarantee the results for the rest of the game.
I respectfully disagree. If we've played well but had some bad breaks and it results in us being down by 3 scores, I would presume it's going to be a very long night.
I'm really hoping your theory doesn't get tested in this game.
Nightmares: Josh Jackson or Cam Phillips gets hurt.
It's a long season boys and girls.
Expectations - VT fans absolutely bring the noise in this one and legitimately disrupts what Clemson is trying to do. This game re-establishes Lane as a brutally tough environment you DON'T want to play in as a visitor. Intimidation factor gets cranked to 11 and its the rowdiest its been since the 2003 Miami game. My eventual expectation is that Clemson wins pulling away late... My belief is that we hold on for the win.
Dream - Offense clicks from the start and the defense gets an early turnover, and we go up by 2 scores almost immediately, like we did at Bristol. Clemson starts to press and implodes, and we take advantage, eventually routing them.
Nightmare - Repeat of 2005 Miami. Crowd is jacked, and the team comes out flat and gets obliterated.
Expectations: Score is like 21-10 or something early in the fourth, Tech scores a TD to make it close but can't get over the last hump to win it.
Dream: Part of me wants a nice beat down, part of me wants a close game with total annihilation in a rematch in the ACCCG with a playoff spot on the line.
Nightmare: A blowout.
Expectation: Clemson wins a slug fest pulling away late to win by 2 scores (somewhere in the neighborhood of 34-24)
Dream: VT wins a hard fought game convincingly enough for it not to be called a fluke (35-20)
Nightmare: VT looks flat and out of sorts from the start and the game never looks competitive. Clemson wins easily.
Ugh
Womp.
Dream: VT 100 - 0
Expectation: VT 62 - 0
Nightmare: VT 35-0
38-0 BROOOO
He said nightmare was not making it to 38-0! Could you imagine?!
I'll settle for 1-0......
I like you!
Expectation: Close game, but depth differential becomes evident in 4th quarter and Clemson wins. Hokies acquit themselves well, though.
Dream: The Terrordome is at max capacity for four full quarters and at full roar on every defensive down. VT gets off to a quick start when Mook jumps a quick throw to the flat and takes it 73 yards to the house. Seismic activity is recorded. Bryant is rattled and the crowd starts feeding off the pass rush and the pass rush starts feeding off the crowd, and on the ensuing drive he takes two bad sacks. Clemson punts and Stroman houses it. Crowd goes nuts. Seismic activity is recorded. Fowler and Herbie can't even hear each other in the booth. VT up 14-0 with two nonoffensive TDs. VT offense finds an understandably tough time against Clemson's defensive front, but manages to get a few first downs and chew some clock, resulting in a Joey Slye field goal from 48 yards that calms him down and gets him settled in for the season. Our defense is rock solid, racking up another sack or two, and Clemson's new kicker misses a field goal at the end of the half for VT to go into the locker room with a 17-0 lead. After half, both sides make adjustments. VT receives the opening kick and puts together the perfect drive that culminates with a 4th and 1, 36 yard TD pass to Cam Phillips, who breaks 3 sets of Tiger ankles on his way to pay dirt. Seismic activity is recorded. VT is up 24-0. Clemson responds with a solid drive and brings back a touchdown, but both teams trade punts to go into the 4th qtr 24-7 VT with Clemson's game plan shifting away from the run in focus of trying to close the gap. In the 4th, the pass rush hits Bryant on every drop back. Ugly incompletions left, right, and center. He's skittish and starts rushing his throws to avoid taking his sixth sack of the night. Clemson breaks a big play for another TD and a 24-14 score, and the crowd starts getting nervous, but Hokies come out and string together a back-breaking 12 play touchdown drive with a Peoples rushing TD from 3 yards out. The score is 31-14 with 3 minutes left. Bryant throws a game-sealing interception to #25 Terrell Edmunds. Seismic activity is recorded. Josh Jackson & Co run out the clock. Hokies win.
Nightmare: Clemson comes out and goes up 14-0 early, the crowd is out of it. Offense can't get anything going against a strong Clemson D. Jackson throws a bad pick-six to go down 21-0 into half, and the crowd boos. Lane starts emptying a few minutes into the third quarter when Clemson scores again. Another bad turnover on a McMillian fumble sets up Clemson with a short field and they punch it in. It's 35-0 and our offense can't get two first downs on the same possession. Defense is gassed midway through the third, and Etienne comes in and starts breaking chunk runs. A garbage time TD in a mostly empty stadium against Clemson backups prevents the shutout, but Hokies lose 42-7.
This man has seen the future
But which future
The future is always changing so we won't know which until tomorrow is over
What do you mean I've seen the future? I invented the future.
As you should or rather should've, I guess we retired that motto.
I like your dream! A perfect prescription for a Hokie victory. And, something similar has happened before, 10 years ago, when we played the Tigers in Death Valley.
I like your dream.
Anybody else feel like they were reading Hokie erotica with that [wet] dream description?
"Ugly incompletions left, right, and center"
Coincidentally this was the subtitle to the book I wrote on my college dating life.
Not even "Garbage time score"?
Checks home owners insurance policy for earthquake coverage...
Shit...
The actual worst nightmare I've ever had (actual dream) is I'm in lane and it's almost empty while the game is still going on... I'm talking like 100 people. It was terrifying.
Man, you dream in way more detail than I do!
Nightmare: Cam gets injured, Etienne takes a few long runs to the house, Clemson is up 3 TDs at the half
Expectation: Lane is rocking and keeps the team juiced all game and VT holds their own throughout the whole game.
Dream: VT by 3 TDs
Expectation: Both offenses start slowly. Ours because that's what we've done all year and theirs because our first team Defense can stack the box against Kelly Bryant and keep them from doing much at first. Unfortunately I think tomorrow is when our lack of depth along the D-Line really bites us in the ass and I expect Clemson to run the ball fairly easily late in the game. Clemson wins by 10.
Dream: Low scoring first half gives way to a second half shootout that VT wins in walk off fashion.
Nightmare: 2011 Orange Bowl-esque blowout in the second half as Clemson mashes us.
Nightmare: Jackson has nightmares of that d-line for 3 months
Expectation: Close game, we lose in the 3-10 range, defense gets a little worn down in the end
Dream: Special Teams/Defensive touchdowns, I believe that's how we win this game, easy points that our offense doesn't have to grind out and absolutely causes the largest earthquake SWVA has ever seen, if one of those happens in the 1st quarter I think North Stands may collapse...
Expectation: 20116 ACCTG type of night
Dream: 2006 VT-Clemson matchup all over again
Nightmare: 2005 Miami game all over again
Expectation: win
Dream: free booze
Nightmare: not a win
SSFW (Surprisingly Safe For Work)
Expectation: VT pass protects well but can't generate a run game. With no threat of a run game, Clemson drops everyone but the DL into coverage and makes it incredibly difficult for JJ to complete enough passes consecutively to get us down the field. We manage to put some points on the board, but not enough to really take over the game. On the other side, Clemson runs the ball well with Bryant and their stable of running backs and controls the pace of the game. Clemson wins in 27-13.
Dream: Honestly, a Hokie win no matter what the score is or how it comes. 2-0, 10-7, or 35-0 I don't care.
Nightmare: JJ goes to throw a quick out to Cam on the first play of the game like he's done every week and it gets house-called. Offense crumbles. Play calling gets too conservative. Clemson cruises 42-10 with our touchdown coming late.
Expectation: Beamer as picker
Dream: Metallica plays Enter Sandman Live
Nightmare: Hearing Clemson's band over and over and over and over again!
Luckily, we've relegated the away bands to the mesosphere in the East stands, so unless you're sitting by them, they should be drowned out.
Anyone have a link to when/why this happened? I'm happy it did. Never made sense to me that the away band gets prime seats. I also wish they would make the south end zone upper deck the away section. Get them off the sideline.
Expectation: Clemson wins hard fought struggle with late fg.
Dream: Metallica is the skydives in playing Enter Sandman. Terror Dome is full force. Clemson retreats south with tail firmly tucked.
Nightmare: Injuries along the lines.
i'm more worried about Etienne, no one can tackle him and they always use him late when defenders are tired
Expectation: 2016 ACCCG
Dream: 2011 vs UVA
Nightmare: 2007 vs LSU
Expectation: VT keeps it close and it comes down to a field goal to decide it.
Dream: Hokies D shuts them down. Offense finds open receivers and we finally have an offense to get us back into national discussion. Field camera cuts to current players or even older Corey Moore looking into camera saying "Welcome to the TerrorDome Baby!!" just like in 1999.
Nightmare: 31-7 Clemson.
New Dream:
Clemson jumps out to a 14-3 lead after 1, 21-13 at the half, 28-20 after 3, JJ connects with James Clark midway through the 4th to make it 28-28. Hokies get the ball back late and drive to midfield. With one second left on the clock, Slye tells Bradburn you hold it and I'll kick the piss out of it. And the clock expires as a 67-yard boot goes through the uprights breaking Shayne Graham's career scoring record, the hearts of thousands of Clemson fans, and the eardrums of everybody in the New River Valley area
Expectation: the +7.5 is intriguing as hell...but I, and it hurts my heart, seeing this go like Ohio State in 2015.
Dream: Miami 03.
Nightmare: Miami 05.
I would still love to go to an alternate universe where Brewer doesn't get hurt mid-drive in the 3rd, Lane was a powder keg ready to go off if we scored again and his injury sucked the life out of the stands, I think we keep it close if he stays in and who knows what happens late in the game.
Expectation- Close, physical, low (ish, 17-14 or so) scoring game into the 4th quarter. I don't know who to pick to win, but it comes down to the final few minutes.
Dream- Tech in a blowout, but letting Clemson score a couple times to not be seen as a fluke. Like 45-10 or similar. JJ plays perfect football and is running with Saquon for Heisman hype next week.
Nightmare- Being down by 2 or 1 with :02 left, trying for a FG to win, and getting a taste of our own BeamerBall medicine... I'd rather us get beat by 10+. I couldn't handle the heartache.
Expectations: Hokies come up just short - either giving up a GW drive late in the 4th, or coming on short on their own one in the 4th or OT
Dreams: Bud shuts down the run game and Bryant fumbles on a QB keeper early in the game which forces Clemson to abandon the run. LPD pins their ears back and gets 5 sacks and 2 picks, one taken back for 6. Cam goes off for another 10 catch/100 yard performance; JJ tosses a couple TDs and we run for just under 200. VT 30 - Clemson 17
Nightmares: I drink too much to make it to the game.
Expectations- The game is a surprising defensive struggle, as neither offense is able to get much traction. Whoever gets more non-offensive scores wins. We see them again in the ACCCG and have another toe to toe slugfest.
Dream- Cam Phillips breaks all the ankles, drags all the defenders, and wins a jump ball a la Ford. The no-points-for-visitors streak at home grows to 12 quarters, and we are officially back.
Nightmare- Repeat of the 2011 game, followed by a repeat of the 2011 ACCCG.
Expectation: Close game going either direction until midway through the 4th or later
Dream: Hokies come out swinging. Crazy defensive schemes, Offensive playbook like no one has ever seen, Special teams trickery. Tech hits Clemson with something nobody sees coming, Wins 35-14.
Nightmare: Injuries that derail the season, National embarrassment that sets recruiting back
Expectation: A close, hard-fought game.
Dream: Bud Foster gets in Bryant's head, and the D forces multiple turnovers, with a couple of TD's by the D.
Nightmare: We win, but Dabo shows up in my dreams later.
If we win, I don't care who enters my dreams.
I'm kind of like Leonard, in that Dabo is kind of a clown.
Dude, I have such a response for that, but unfortunately/& fortunately, I'm at work. So I'll leave it for someone else for now. Lmao! Omg, & it's so hilariously scary too. But yeah. Later.
Well... You ain't at work now are you?
Annie up, MacGruber, the suspense has been killing me!
Expectation - Clemson struggles, but hits a couple of home runs to put it away 31-20
Dream - Syracuse Game 1999, Syracuse came into that one with a supposedly top defense and they wear orange.
Nightmare - Clowns and wild chickens skydive into the stadium and terror ensues.
Nobody likes clowns, and I have a thing about chickens.
Valid point on the clowns, I hadn't even considered that.
Eek! Clowns! No!
Dreams/Hopes: Total domination from our guys for the only stat that matters...the scoreboard (plus a pick by Facyson & Mook).
Nightmare: Injuries
Expectations: That the guys will come out with equal OR greater the energy and execution to that of the stadium. Because that's what it will take for them to defeat this opponent and win this game.
We're going to win this game no dream bullshit We're going to win this Damn football game it's Tech time to be in the spotlight again
HELL YEAH!!!!!
Expectation: Lane is rocking 4 quarters and makes the difference in a 38-31 victory by the good guys.
Dream: Clemson comes out flat, uncharacteristically can't handle the environment, and the Hokies execute flawlessly in all three phases, scoring on a pick 6 as well as a punt return for a huge program defining victory, 45-7.
Nightmare: our offensive line can't protect Jackson and he suffers some sort of game ending injury, the team gets deflated, and we get stomped by 3+ scores, while Lane empties in the third while everyone goes to drown their sorrow.
Expectation: Clemson wins Time of Possession 35-25.
Dream: VT wins Time of Possession 40-20
Reality: ???
Expectation: Go down two scores early due to struggling offense leading to early 3 and outs and scores for them. Come back within a score by half, but the Tigers keep us at arms length the rest of the way and win by 10.
Dream: Win the toss and defer to second half. Three downs and they have to punt. We block it and return the block for 6. Next drive they move down to our end, but a massive sack by Timmey forces a fumble and we recover. Jackson throws a quick five yard slant to Cam at the from our own 10 on a play where Clemson sells out on the run. Cam jukes his man out of his shoes and goes 90 yards for the score. Clemson scores on their next drive to make it 14-7 with under 2 minutes left in the half. We run the 2 min drill and get in for the TD on a screen pass to McClease. Get the ball back to start second half and we drive down again for the 14 point swing, and we never look back or let off the gas. Clemson gets a late TD and FG in the 4th. 35-17 Hokies.
Nightmare: Not just a sluggish offensive start but a turnover fest for us. Jackson doesn't take care of the ball nearly as well as he has to start. Pick six early. Offensive line operates like swiss cheese. We spend too much time trying to develop edge runs because we don't think we can get anything up the middle. When we get down, we get desperate and the play-calling becomes gimmicky with multiple failed trick plays. Clemson wins 48-10.
I think my nightmare is the game we played. It's time to be honest. I think some of us have been wondering if we hadn't opened up the playbook the first 4 games. The playbook, apparently, had been wide open.
I'm not sure I agree. I don't think play calling is the issue. We just don't have the talent to compete with teams like Clemson. Our offense, when run at full bore, needs every facet to be a threat. If you can't threaten a team with the inside run game it makes it hard for anything else to open up.
I would believe this is solely an issue of Clemson's talent if we looked better against Delaware and ODU.
This was certainly not my nightmare game, even if it wasn't my dream game.
It was more along the lines of "slightly worse than I expected". There were a couple of miscues resulting in 14 points against us that I'd like not to have happened, but I wasn't expecting a perfect game. I also expected Kelly Bryant to make a few costly mistakes. He didn't do that. He's also a lot quicker on his feet than I expected. What is he, Houdini?
While there is still a lot of room for improvement, this isn't so bad a result. The defense made some outstanding plays. JJ needs to improve. Tackling the mobile QB needs to improve.