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Logan is still a work in progress. He hasn't had a real QB coach until January. Loeffler has work ahead of him. I am a stickler on play fakes, and I think they can make an offense much more difficult to defend, but Logan's biggest issue continues to be mechanical breakdowns. I will discuss them more in the Western Carolina preview, but when he takes the snap, and when he gets a little pressure in the pocket, he has a real bad habit of dropping the ball below shoulder level to move in the pocket. This takes the ball out of throwing position, and if he sees a receiver open up, he needs an extra split second to bring the ball back up to his ear and make the throw. Against good corners, that second allows them to recover. It cost the Hokies Saturday night, as you will learn in our Western Carolina preview.
I don't think he is a natural at running the option. But, that isn't news. The Hokies have not had a QB comfortable at reading and pitching since Michael Vick there. (And no, Tyrod and Marcus were not good at running the option. They were good at scrambling and running QB draws.) He isn't always going to make the correct read, and that wasn't helped last year where it seemed like they ran inverted veer but were not running option (QB keep all the way.)
He will get more comfortable, but he isn't quick enough on the bootleg and the straight veer to be a big threat. He just has to be as quick and physical as he can to make the defense pay attention to him, and that will open up other things.
For the record, I think that you will see Coleman and Mangus in that pitch role. The wide receivers were not effective and if they continue to be used in that role, the defense will collapse inside just like the Tide did in the second half.
No, this is actually an incredibly simple play set. They basically ran four running plays from the shotgun/pistol, but they did it out of a multitude of formations and each served as a counter to eachother. Last season, they were running tons of plays, but each formation screamed "I AM RUNNING THIS!" Example: Twins left I right = bubble screen or a counter dive (fullback goes one way, tailback goes the other way.) Ace formation two tight ends right meant the wide power stretch. No bootleg. No straight dive. No counter. Just the stretch. It made them easy to defend.
This was fewer running plays, but the defense is more confused because they can do multiple things from each formation.
Great write up. While this focused on running what is your take on Logan running the play action. It didn't strike me like he was trying hard to fake the hand-off and really sell the play action, but then again maybe a hard fake isn't what's needed to get the safeties to delay.
Logan will make a few bad reads, but the real problem is that he isn't explosive so when he keeps the ball, we rarely see runs greater than a few yards. It was like when UNC was running the read option against USC. Renner would make the correct read and keep it, but you're still left wondering wtf.
Exactly. Not to say we should simplify the playbook, but like last year I don't want to try every offensive tactic and not be good at any one. Is this one too many?
I'm actually shocked that Edmunds didn't just bust a nut and collapse to the turf when he saw how big that hole was. All kidding aside, I'm feeling great about the O-Line and can't wait to see us against Western Carolina where we should get back to our old ways of just imposing our will. And as usual, awesome right up French.
I'm also curious to hear French's take here, more with respect to Logan's decision making on the reads in the game. I remember feeling during the game like he kept making the wrong reads. Just went back and re-watched and felt like there were a few plays where he made incorrect reads, but not nearly as many as I thought while watching the game live. He just seemed a little hesitant to me.
Awesome analysis. Been eagerly waiting to see what you thought.
Thanks.
I am super excited to watch edmunds in the future.
So are you pro or against the zone read plays? I was personally critical of its use in the game. Between the first two drives and the play were trey got spun around because Logan kept his hands in there too long. I didn't see it being overly effective. Does it just need more polishing and there is potential, or should we just stick with an old school run game and develop an identity?.. Thanks French for you expert analysis that helps those of us with a football iq lower than London's.
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12 years 10 months
# | Bitter blog - Beamer on special teams: ‘We need to get our best people out there’ "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" This has been a huge complaint of mine. If things are working well, then why change it? Special teams have become a weakness and it killed the Alabama game. Every play of every game is equally important and there needs to be the best players on the field at all time.
Thanks French, great review. I too thought we were being "too cute" to start the game. I was pretty frustrated that it took as long as it did for Edmunds to get a carry. But then I remembered a quote from Loeffler about how Alabama is prone to mistakes in the first game of the season due to the complexity of their defense. I'm thinking he was going out of his way to exploit that.
Good Question, but I remember DW4 getting stop for minimal yards versus Bama in 09. Then again my memory may have been awash by spirits.
I believe Wilson was returning kickoffs with Roberts against Alabama. He had one return for 3 yards.
http://www.hokiesports.com/football/stats/showstats.html?9919
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Yeah we tend to play to the level of our opponents, so hopefully that changes and we play every game like we did against Alabama. Except for the receivers.
Yes, there are many reasons for hope this season. In all likelihood, we've played our toughest game and opponent for the year. Now we just need to iron out the wrinkles, and can't take any games off.
Apparently Ford played very well on friday.
Overall, he completed 15 of 18 passes for 182 yards and four touchdowns despite only playing the first half.
Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/889356_Cantafio--Cedar-Cliff-du...
He can't take a medical redshirt this year, because he has already taken a redshirt year, that wasn't because of injury.
Question. You say that Edmunds is one of only two Tech RBs to have over 100 yards in his debut but didn't David Wilson get over 100 yards against Marshall which was his first game? Or did he play against Alabama the week before?
Dec 31st game would suck so thankfully he will be wrong. Already bad enough I have to work a women's basketball game that day.
I met and had a good conversation with a bama couple that were students during the Bear Bryant championships. The guy actually met him and networked with him through a leadership position he had on campus. Then they went on to tell me that their daughter goes to auburn ha.
Overall, great experience. Most bama fans were real cocky and deservedly so. Nothing over the top, but they kind of knew they were going to win and weren't scared to show it. Outside of the game related things, it was strange to see so many costumed people walking through downtown ATL, some of the skimpy costumes were fine by me though. Oh and Buckhead was one of the best bar/partying experiences I've ever had. I didn't do buckhead in 09 but moving forward, I'm going there everytime the Hokies bring me to Atlanta.
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12 years 10 months
# | Bitter blog - Beamer on special teams: ‘We need to get our best people out there’ My freshmen year shirt and definitely my favorite of the ones I have.
A very close second was the ones the crew team sold that said "graduating in 4 years is like leaving the party at 11." Unfortunately mine has paint all over it so it's basically a yard work shirt now.
Agreed, I did not realize that DJ Coles was a huge pussy.
...marks the spot?
