Recent Comments
KState -6.5, especially if it is hot Saturday.
OSU wins 30-17, but UCF covers.
Florida wins, but if I was betting, I would bet the under, regardless of what it is.
LSU -23.5
Nebraska -5.5
UGA -1.5
See, that is a misconception of the no-huddle and the pistol. Both can be used as a ball control offense. The purpose of the no huddle when it isn't used in 2 minute situations is to get to the line to prevent the defense from changing personnel and limiting the defensive coordinator's ability to send in exotic defenses. The offense can then use the entire playclock to get the play off (with the only downside being the wear and tear on the offensive line needing to stay in their stance that long.)
Let's say for a moment that the Hokies used more no huddle against Georgia Tech, and they were able to extend drives. 10-12 play drives keep Georgia Tech off the field. The problem in the 2nd and 3rd quarters was a failure to extend drives.
Miami
OSU
Florida
LSU
Nebraska
UGA
Looking back at that, I'm not happy. But oh well.
K State
UCF
Aye&Em
UW
Nebraska
Georgia
Miami
OSU
aTm
UW
UCLA
UGA
Miami
OSU
TAM
LSU
Nebraska
GA
K State - Al Golden's shit-the-bed-face guarantees a loss
UCF - Gonna hafta pick against the bestie's rival school
Florida - Because I hate the state of Texas
LSU - Because I picked the other way on the other big spread
Nebraska - Bo Pellini SMASH
Mizzou - for the lulz
BOTW - I think I'm still hungover from this weekend... But I do have a few Shiner Ruby Redbirds in the fridge. They need to make that a full-time offer and not just a seasonal
Away games against UNC, Clemson, and Miami in a few weeks. We'll need all hands on deck. FSU is now without Reid (dismissal) and Jenkins (injury). We don't want to lose any starters.
If anything, we know the benefits of having a deep defensive corps of experienced ass-whoopers. Just look at our Front-7.
I for one saw no need to run any sort of hurry-up offense against GT, until we were behind in the 4th-quarter. Anyone watching, especially those of us there saw how tired our D was looking towards the end. I for one was disappointed we didn't employ the HBs more in the running game, for whatever reason. GT's ball hog offense controlled the clock effectively, as they have in the past.
That being said, I can see how a fast-paced will help us out in the future. It will be interesting to see how it develops the rest of the season. The real benefit of our September schedule are four teams we really should have the upper hand on. Then comes a brutal October 6th game against Carolina and the stretch against Clemson, Miami, and FSU (YIKES!).
But from what I saw last night, we have a strong and able defense that can keep us in the fight.
Please, can we not lose to a Pitt team that lost to Youngstown State?
I have no idea what's going on there, perhaps the most unnatural pose ever, but I like it, and I think that's the point.
KSU - Al Golden's tie isn't winning him any games.
UCF - Big East Dominance (coming in 2013)
UF - I wonder if Pease has found the next Kellen Moore at UF, excelling at throwing the ball 2-8 yds beyond the line of scrimmage...
LSU - This is the year Jake Locker wins the Heisman
UCLA - the other famous NFL coach's son in LaLa land gets it done baby bear style
UGA - The Mizzou fans that chanted "S-E-C, S-E-C" at the Big 12 Basketball championship are going to find out exactly what they were cheering for
but I had Clemson, Boise State, Alabama, and GT, so I think I got 4 out 6. Do I have that right?
Also, glad to share the Stone.
They survived a brutal opener and came through when it counted. Looking at the ACC blogosphere, the other fans are thinking VT won't be up to the task when we play the likes of the U, FSU, and Clemson. Truthfully, the opponent that worries me the most during our regular schedule is UNC. This team has the grit and talent to overcome anyone on that list.
The defensive front 7 can be catered for any situation. The secondary looks stout, but cannot afford injuries. How great was it that they didn't give up one of those monster runs GT seemed to put on us each of the last 4 seasons? Disciplined effort for sure.
The special teams has room for improvement, but I liked the punting game aside from A. J. missing that snap. I still say Cody owes us 5 or so FGs from 50+yards out.
I believe the offense will look much better by the end of September, and be ready to take the burden off the robust defense we saw Monday night. We are affordable a blessing in having our OOC all after a grueling opening victory. Receivers will be in sync, the ground game will be established, and I have little doubt that Thomas the Tank Engine will be back in his groove.
For a student-athlete to receive a Medical Hardship Waiver per Bylaw 14.2.4, the following four conditions must be met:
** The student-athlete may not have participated in more than two contests or dates of competition or 20 percent of the team's completed contests/dates of competition.
** The injury or illness must occur prior to the completion of the first half of the season.
** The injury or illness does not have to occur during practice/competition, but it must be incapacitating.
** Appropriate medical documentation must exist and be provided.
http://www.athletics.vt.edu/compliance/competition/seasons.html
he never redshirted.
you think he will get the 6th year?
see him in the spring.
I'd take that weekend in Vegas.
I still think if you picked Michigan, even at +14, you need to check your meds.
Rest Coles. Edwards should not even be in the discussion until the Cincy game.
I had no idea that Taylor and AHop were dinged up. I don't mind Taylor getting limited snaps based on their faith in Chase Williams. AHop needs the work based on his limited mobility down the stretch of the GT game.
Maddy didn't look right. I hope Goforth proceeds with caution there.
Remember folks, this week may be a cupcake, but 3 games in 12 days is no joke no matter who you play. With the GT game being so rough, proceed with caution.
It would be cool to see one against UVA while picking fun of their "adventures of cav man". Maybe have the Hokie bird chasing cavman on the horse and then throw in the video where he gets bucked off on tv and then have the hokie bird beat him in to submission!
One final worry about the defense. Late in the game, the Hokies stuck with their 4-3 alignment against the Georgia Tech against the Yellow Jacket pistol. Foster used Gouvia Winslow and Taylor as his blitzers, leaving Jack Tyler in man coverage. Tyler had one hell of a game, but he was beaten easily on two crossing routes, including the final Georgia Tech touchdown. JGW is an outstanding blitzer, but all three of those guys are excellent blitzers, and by the nature of the position, you would expect Foster to use JGW as the cover guy in that position. That tells me that he doesn't think JGW can cover either.
The Hokies were able to manage a win in this matchup against a poor passing team, but the Hokies can't afford to play three linebackers who are poor in pass coverage against good spread teams and expect to win. That leaves Foster with a couple of options.
1) Go nickle and play Manning or Fuller in the slot, either with JGW replacing Taylor or Tyler or JGW having a seat.
2) Van Dyke getting work over JGW in the slot.
3) Van Dyke covers the slot, and JGW moves to backer with Taylor moving to whip.
I am not sure what happens, but I would be stunned if we see that threesome against a good passing team.
More impressive, the Hokies took away almost all aspects of the Georgia Tech running game. Rather than selling out on the dive and pitchman and letting the QB get yardage, the Hokies controlled the dive with the defensive tackles and the back side linebacker (forcing Paul Johnson to use wider splits, which made for easier run blitzes at momentum swing moments), and then the ends and play-side linebackers handled the quarterback and the pitch man. Option? Didn't work. Counter option? Didn't work. Dive? Got a couple of 5-7 yard runs, but contained. The only play that was successful in the running game was the quick pitch.
One of our posters noted that Paul Johnson would utilize quick pitch more this season to take the Hokies out of last year's defensive strategy. Boy, did he nail that. Georgia Tech ran repeatedly, with success, and almost exclusively to the boundary with Antone Exum as the target. Antone was fine in pass coverage when called upon, but he was absolutely putrid in run support. Let's examine his technique:
http://youtu.be/5iHQLyUTAPk?t=14m23s
Here, the wide receiver squares up to Exum on an option stalk block, who closes aggressively while being making sure he protects from breaking outside. At the moment of contact, Exum and his blocker are at 38 yard line, while the back is 8 yards away (four yards behind the line of scrimmage.) By the time the running back has closed the distance, Exum is STILL engaged with the blocker. There is no violent hand movement to shed the block, of a wide receiver! Torrian Gray will not accept that effort.
On that run, Exum started with good technique, but against a kick out block by a wingback, his technique completely went to hell. Here we have the first Georgia Tech touchdown run.
http://youtu.be/5iHQLyUTAPk?t=6m49s
Exum has to play outside in, because he knows he has safety support on the inside. As he closes, he should make himself small, leading in with the inside shoulder and squeezing inside while keeping his outside shoulder free. Instead, he turns his pads, facing the blocker. When taking on a kick out block, my coaches called turning your pads to the blocker "opening the barn door" and "painting a target on your chest." Exum made the block easier by giving the GT back a larger target, and then he made the problem worse by "jumping" wider and upfield. This widens the hole, taking away Keyshone Jarrett's angle. Jarrett overcompensated to the outside, leaving a cutback lane between him and Jack Tyler. A couple of poor tackles later, and the Yellow Jackets are back in the game.
just common sense that somehow has to be taught to each generation as it relates to being quiet while the offense is on the field. More than once I asked my section to knock off the yelling while we were trying to convert on third down. My voice, which will hopefully be back by Saturday, is reserved for when our D is taking care of its business.
No problems with the paper airplanes, especially if they're flying during timeouts of halftime.
Also, regarding the comment above about the keys, they were out in full force in the East stands.
Amazing, amazing pic! We checked the radar multiple times and it was like the storm, which was huge, literally split in order to avoid Lane.
Rest!
Huh, guess ESPN must have only had cameras in West or something /shrug
The Hokies took away almost all aspects of the Georgia Tech running game. Rather than selling out on the dive and pitchman and letting the QB get yardage, the Hokies controlled the dive with the defensive tackles and the back side linebacker (forcing Paul Johnson to use wider splits, which made for easier run blitzes at momentum swing moments), and then the ends and play-side linebackers handled the quarterback and the pitch man. Option? Didn't work. Counter option? Didn't work. Dive? Got a couple of 5-7 yard runs, but contained. The only play that was successful in the running game was the quick pitch.
One of our posters noted that Paul Johnson would utilize quick pitch more this season to take the Hokies out of last year's defensive strategy. Boy, did he nail that. Georgia Tech ran repeatedly, with success, and almost exclusively to the boundary with Antone Exum as the target. Antone was fine in pass coverage when called upon, but he was absolutely putrid in run support. Let's examine his technique:
http://youtu.be/5iHQLyUTAPk?t=14m23s
Here, the wide receiver squares up to Exum on an option stalk block, who closes aggressively while being making sure he protects from breaking outside. At the moment of contact, Exum and his blocker are at 38 yard line, while the back is 8 yards away (four yards behind the line of scrimmage.) By the time the running back has closed the distance, Exum is STILL engaged with the blocker. There is no violent hand movement to shed the block, of a wide receiver! Torrian Gray will not accept that effort.
On that run, Exum started with good technique, but against a kick out block by a wingback, his technique completely went to hell. Here we have the first Georgia Tech touchdown run.
http://youtu.be/5iHQLyUTAPk?t=6m49s
Exum has to play outside in, because he knows he has safety support on the inside. As he closes, he should make himself small, leading in with the inside shoulder and squeezing inside while keeping his outside shoulder free. Instead, he turns his pads, facing the blocker. When taking on a kick out block, my coaches called turning your pads to the blocker "opening the barn door" and "painting a target on your chest." Exum made the block easier by giving the GT back a larger target, and then he made the problem worse by "jumping" wider and upfield. This widens the hole, taking away Keyshone Jarrett's angle. Jarrett overcompensated to the outside, leaving a cutback lane between him and Jack Tyler. A couple of poor tackles later, and the Yellow Jackets are back in the game.
One final worry about the defense. Late in the game, the Hokies stuck with their 4-3 alignment against the Georgia Tech against the Yellow Jacket pistol. Foster used Gouvia Winslow and Taylor as his blitzers, leaving Jack Tyler in man coverage. Tyler had one hell of a game, but he was beaten easily on two crossing routes, including the final Georgia Tech touchdown. JGW is an outstanding blitzer, but all three of those guys are excellent blitzers, and by the nature of the position, you would expect Foster to use JGW as the cover guy in that position. That tells me that he doesn't think JGW can cover either.
The Hokies were able to manage a win in this matchup against a poor passing team, but the Hokies can't afford to play three linebackers who are poor in pass coverage against good spread teams and expect to win. That leaves Foster with a couple of options.
1) Go nickle and play Manning or Fuller in the slot, either with JGW replacing Taylor or Tyler or JGW having a seat.
2) Van Dyke getting work over JGW in the slot.
3) Van Dyke covers the slot, and JGW moves to backer with Taylor moving to whip.
I am not sure what happens, but I would be stunned if we see that threesome against a good passing team.