Recent Comments

I thought DeChristopher got better as the game went on, and Via accounted for himself pretty well except for one holding call and one bad snap. Early on, DeChristopher and Brooks were getting beat with cross stunts between the DT and DE, which in UNC's scheme was simply to draw blockers for the linebackers to blitz. They got that worked out later.

Nosal and Lainer/Becton, different story all together. Coples absolutely dominated Lainer, to the point where it seemed that Stinespring went more with Becton. Becton however got beat cleanly on several dropback passes. A buddy of mine who is an assistant coach at a high school close to VT was at the game, and he referred to Nosal's play as: "He is wedding dick. Stands up right at the snap." I couldn't have said it better. He plays too high, and doesn't have enough leg drive against big defensive tackles. If you want to know why the Hokies didn't run the sneak as well, watch Nosal get stood up by the UNC three technique again and again. Next season, the Hokies have four 4 star recruits on the depth chart. Do the Hokies figure out how to get their size and athleticism on the field, or do they go with the safe bet guys like Via (who can play) and Wang? I don't know if they would know where to go, but guys like Gibson and Painter at least could match up to a Coples in the strength and athleticism department.

I had a running text conversation with MrTKP, lamenting why we can't recruit any 6'5 250 pound+ defensive ends who can not only speed rush, but who can bull rush, push-pull, hump move, and do a rip technique. Coples was a 4 star DE from Hargrave. Didn't we own Hargrave?

Maybe Jarontay Jones can be that guy.

Regarding Hosley, the big hit was the first of two plays which really turned around his game. The second was a 3rd and long play where he closed on the boundary split end running a 7 yard curl. UNC called that route as a primary read because they felt that Hosley would not be able to tackle Jones one on on. Hosley exploded out of his backpeddle and broke up the completion. From that point on, I can not recall them making a play to his side other than the offensive pass interference call. I am not sure how he was in run support, but I didn't notice any glaring issues.

Bonner was just awful at whip. He got upfield well reading the play, but almost without exception attempt to run wide as the blockers came to him. I know he is a corner, but if he has that responsibility, he has to take on the blocker while retaining outside leverage. Either he got kicked out, or he lost leverage and ran by the back unblocked, again, again, and again. I will be interested in the film to see how the Hokies adjusted. It seemed like they used Fuller at whip AND at field corner at different times in the second half. He was defintely playing corner on the last drive, where he was out of position to start his blitz on the long Highsmith completion, and then he got caught flatfooted looking into the backfield on a pump to get beat over the top on the last touchdown. As for Whitley expecting help, he is the guy who yelled at Fuller to blitz, and he was at the same depth as Exum. I don't know where he could have expected the help to come from. I think he just tuned out and looked for the QB to underthrow the ball as result of the blitz so he could pick it off. Fuller was late because he wasn't at the line on the snap, and the blitz never got there. It was an easy throw for Renner, and Whitley looked bad.

Exum had an outstanding game. He has been really good after struggling against some of the weaker teams.

Truthfully, Wilson can be one of the more talented backs in the country. However, strictly in a pragmatic sense, I'm hoping that his fumbles are addition by subtraction. If Wilson has a tremendous season this year, he's out. He might still be out but ball security is a serious draft issue and if it keeps him here an extra year, especially one in which LT might really come into his own, it might be worth it. I gotta say though, I was dumbfounded by LT (in a good way). I 'm pretty sure I told someone this past week that LT is good, but he's not ready to put the team on his back like DMFW. I stand corrected.

Really great analysis and actually catching the 4th quarter last night reminds me of why, sometimes, it's nice to miss so many games due to blackouts and time differences.

... and based on his reaction, it seemed to me that Whitley was expecting help on that play. But who knows.

RE: the secondary. As you stated, Hosley played maybe the worst half of football in his collegiate career in the first 30 minutes. I actually tweeted after the first long completion he gave up to Jones that if I was UNC, and I saw that 1-on-1 matchup, I would take it all night. And for most of the first half, the Heels had tremendous success throwing to his side of the field. Keep in mind, he still may not be 100% with the hamstring and by all accounts, it was cold as shit last night, so that may have contributed to his slow start. The second half he played more like Brandon Flowers than Ronyell Whitaker, and the difference was night and day. He was jumping routes like a fiend.

ALSO, I don't think we should overlook the fact that in the midst of his craptacular first half, Jayron made probably the biggest play of the game when he KTFO Giovanni Bernard. Bernard had outplayed Wilson by a wide margin at that point in the game, and that TD run on UNC's opening drive featured one of the prettier spin moves I've seen in a while.

For the most part, I thought Exum and Whitley played good games, sans the long completion at the end. Fuller, as always, had a good number of impressive tackles.

Bonner at WHIP in the first half was an unmitigated disaster. I haven't gone back and rewatched the DVR yet, but it seemed like every time UNC ran the ball in the first half, #8 was woefully out of position. Multiple times the ball carrier simply ran by him, or he took such bad angles at the point of attack that he took himself out of position to make a play on the ball. It will be a welcome relief to have Tweedy back in the lineup against UVA.

RE: offense. While it may not have been spectacular, the Stine-Caine offense's quick perimeter passes and WR screens were deftly effective during a majority of the game. Whatever works. What doesn't work: putting the ball on the ground. While I appreciate the hard-running style of David Wilson, his tendency of putting the ball on the ground lately is disconcerting. Ball security cannot be stressed enough, especially against a team as talented as UNC.

So what did I like? Logan's moxie against a defensive front 7 that overwhelmed the Tech offense line most of the night. He is such a pleasure to watch. I also liked the way Josh Oglesby came off the bench late in the game to almost single-handedly drive the offense down the field for Tech's final touchdown. The Oglesbeast ran with authority. Aside from Boykin's career night, the WRs were excellent with their blocks on the perimeter all night.

Was it Tech's most complete performance of the season? Far from it. But good teams find a way to win even when they don't play their best. A win's a win, and we are one victory (either FSU or us) away from the rematch we've be waiting for.

Eddie Whitley, a senior, was totally unprepared for the last big catch by Highsmith. The whole defense was disorganized, as Fuller should have been up on the line ready to blitz, but the slot guy just ran a deep flag route to the sideline, and Whitley just ignored him. I have no idea what Whitley was doing.

wait for next week.

but Thursday night at Lane wouldn't look right in all orange.

Now we heard it's a no go.

"Maroon is a dominating color. It is a color of power. It is a color that says, Hell yes we are going to get this first down. Orange is a color that says, Excuse me, sir, would you happen to have any Grey Poupon? That's why UVA wears it."

However, Like BC I keep struggling along for life. No bowl berth, divisional significance, etc but each W makes it hurt less.

Blue Goats -- Just for points. I dont think our team is as ready for this one as a week ago. My James Gayle tweet-o-meeter has been on E.
Harvard -- Now that #OWS is marching toward DC the trust fund babies can focus on football
Brasky -- I dont think that team last week was out for blood. This week its a matter of which D plays best.
*Houston -- No more gut picks. had to change this. DERP. CASE KEEENUM. #firecraigjames
UVGay -- Chase Minnifield may help ease that aerial attack. FSU at home though will keep em up by 2 scores though, just not 3
Oregon -- probably dumb but they look like the best 1 losser to me

BotW -- Longtrail Pale Ale from the heart of VermonT

I saw a stat somewhere last week that said we had this incredible winning percentage in maroon helmet, maroon jersey, white pants....something like 108-20something & a few ties....last week's unis looked really sharp (I liked the stripes on the helmet as a new addition)...why mess with a good thing??!!