Recent Comments
ya $92 is a lot considering we'll be able to get free lottery tickets to every game. the whole situation sucks because when Cassell is full its an awesome experience. i know i'll get some flack for this, but i honestly had the most fun at a VT sporting event last year at the OK ST game. unfortunately JJ just doesnt have the talent right now to compete with most of the ACC. this isn't to say we shouldn't support the team and make Cassell as loud as possible but i fear its going to be a long season. perhaps a sub-10 win season.
also, why the hell is the WVU game at 1 PM on a Tues?
Annnnnnnnnd now I'm more glad than ever that I didn't go to GiT
Hate to be that guy but: All I care about is beating Pitt.
After the gut punch season last year, I refuse to take any game for granted. I'm going to appreciate every single victory to it's fullest. I refuse to look ahead, to look at standings, to look at polls. The next opponent is all I care about.
it's no surprise the offensive numbers are comparable, if not a litttle worse, than last years. new system, lots of inexperience, and complete rebuilding of lt3's game have all played their part. like cds7 above i'm pretty disappointed in not just the lack of production in the running game, but lefty doesnt seem interested in committing to it. dont get me wrong, if the passing game is working then terrific, but some of these games the rbs are getting not even 20 carries between all of them. gotta get that lather going as they say.
Yeah I understand that.... I was more just trying to make a point that the home schedule isn't that great and the really high profile team on our schedule isn't included in the package you buy.
Im so happy for this team right now. Like, happier than a UVA student that found a keg of Zima at a frat party.
Offense: is improving with every week. Things are finally starting to gel with Loeffler's plans. Still a long way to go with the running game though.
Defense: has been amazing and I hope they only continue to get better.
For the record, Syracuse is during winter break. Usually they let anybody into those games for free, they just are giving themselves the ability to sell the tickets rather than have tickets that are owned by students that won't be there.
Yup, turnovers killed us last year. we put up over 400 yards against both Clemson and Miami, but had a combined 7 turnovers in those two games.
Yea, I agree. JJ got screwed. My only hope for this year is that we actually have 12 scholarship players, so JJ can at least try to run his 40 minutes of Hell game plan. It'll be a disappointing season, I'm not expecting more than 12 total wins but it'll be nice to see if the Freshman can improve and if Adam Smith is as good as I've heard.
I was so excited last year that I finally won season tickets in the lottery (entered Freshman and Sophomore years and didn't get them either time, complete BS to me) and bought them immediately. This year I won't be buying tickets. There will be free tickets available at every game so I just can't justify essentially wasting $92. But I'll be there every game and am looking forward to seeing them practice on Friday.
Ah yes, I think you're right. I was pumped at that pick up at the time, and think Cline could play in the NFL if he improves every year he's at Tech. He is exactly the type of versatile TE that pro-spread offenses are looking for.
I believe Kalvin Cline was picked by Loeffler... a May addition to the recruiting class. This is nitpicking though. Your overall point absolutely remains - we will have to wait (a while) to see what a Loeffler offense looks like stocked with 'his' guys...
I would like to see more Joel Caleb. He's a very good athlete who could pose real matchup problems with other teams. I would really like to see a package with Caleb and Mangus lined up on opposite sides of the QB as Wide Receivers, and either Edmunds or Coleman lined up as RB. Caleb is too athletic to be spending this much time on the bench.
Yes he struggles in pass protection so far... so don't use him in pass protection. Send him on routes. Motion him across the formation on hand offs. Use him in the diamond on a sweep or as a lead blocker on a CB. Get him in the game, somehow.
Yep, and the turnover margin also shows the same. We were +1 through 6 games last year (not bad), but +9 this year.
EDIT: apples-to-apples comparison of first 6 games (not 5).
Isn't learning multiple schemes harder because of the time constraint?
This is the age old debate in college football, the question of adding more schemes or focusing on execution. There are diminishing returns on both ends of the spectrum (Only have one play? doesn't matter how well you execute it, defenses will stop it. Have a billion plays? If your players haven't practiced them it doesn't matter what you call they won't work).
Coaches like Frank Beamer, who rely on a strong defense, prefer multiple offenses because if they are ahead they can run the clock out and if they are behind they can throw to catch up. No other offense will give you the balance that a pro-style offense will.
Wouldn't we be better off with 1/3 the formations and 3x the execution practice?
Not necessarily. It's up to the coaches to find the balance. The Hokies could spend every minute of every practice working on the Inverted Veer, that doesn't mean it will go for a touchdown every drive. Eventually the other team will stop it. Complexity is needed in modern football, especially when you occasionally run into teams with better athletes.
I can see that. You don't have to score as many, if you aren't giving away as many. Plus the defense gets a rest, and as we can see improves greater than the offense (on paper).
Well those offenses are harder to scheme against simply because they have better athletes. I'd take our guys over anybody simply because they choose to be a Hokie, but Tech doesn't have a De'anthony Thomas on the team.
Those teams also have had years to recruit exactly the type of players they want for those offenses. As far as I know, Loeffler doesn't have a single athlete on this team that he handpicked for this squad.
What are the turnover numbers? I think that's where the offense has improved over the last 2 games.
Edit: I just looked it up. We turned the ball over 11 times through 6 games last year, compared to only 7 times this year. That, to me, is the most important stat of all. Scoring points is nice, and I would love to score 50 ppg, but that's not realistic. What is realistic is for this offense to take care of the ball, eat the clock and put all the pressure on the other teams offense to beat us.
It's like playing blackjack. You have a 12 and the dealer is showing a 2. You're supposed to stay, don't take the risk. Make the dealer beat you.
@vtdirk12...Did you see that the Hokies are getting a transfer: Benedict Cumberbatch, out of Oxford University?
Or, if they lose the game, they might fall apart after the big let down of losing....
With the sorority letter from Maryland and now this frat letter from GT, #goacc
They are actually talking about Frank. I don't think they really think he will be available. It was a follow up reply to one of them supporting London by comparing his first 5 years to Frank's first 5 years.
True.
But Williams and Evans were two of the most natural running backs I've ever seen. Having a package where both were legitimate threats to rush would have been amazing. Can you imagine Loeffler running this diamond formation with Tyrod, Williams, Evans, and Wilson?
And Coales and Boykin lined out wide?
I still think they go to the Alabama game. Stanford - Oregon and OU - Baylor are both on thursday night. I better clear my schedule
Although offense has shown flashes and defense is terrific, I was curious what last year's numbers through 6 games were. Before we crown the O and short change the D, look at this comparison:
(same numbers, highlighted two different ways in official RGB colors for ease of viewing)
The defensive numbers have improved significantly, BUT the O's numbers have also declined considerably. Granted, there was one less "patsy" opponent on this year's slate and one more "power house". Analysis?
Note: Data taken from www.hokiesports.com, table compiled by ME in Google Drive spreadsheet, photo created by ME in MSPaint, hosted by www.imgur.com. No rights reserved.
Seems like there's been an altercation every game about. At the end of the ECU game, Kendall and Hoskins in the Marshall game, and Wilson and Tabb just last weekend. Personally, I like it! Reminds me of the old days, except there are no MV5s to stomp on opposing players' calves (that's too far).