Recent Comments
Appreciate it. I see a good bit of silly attacks against us and take it in stride, but this seemed like one of those "movie critics" who watch a trailer and give it a grade. Oh well.
It's amazing how networks like ESPN post our record versus top 5 teams and show how many losses to wins we have. Every team has a poor record with Florida having the best at .36. Only 40 teams even have a win! Against year-end top 5, we have the same number of wins as USC, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Nebraska and a better winning percentage then all of them! Also, I need to update our game ranked position to #4 versus the top 25 behind only Ohio St, USC and Oklahoma because those numbers are from last year.
Of course I'd seen the numbers against top five teams that Heather Dinich and ESPN loved to bring up, but I've never seen them ranked against other teams over that time. Those numbers def make me feel a little differently, thanks!
Also, I agree that one position (WRs) that should have been a strenght, has been a bit of a let down, aside from Always Open.
...didn't we switch into LT under center after his first INT as a knee jerk conservative reaction as tend to do? Shotgun three wide has kind of become our base package, and I assumed that's because it's what LT ran in high school.
are putting too much emphasis on QB vs. WR. On both interceptions, Logan or the receiver could have prevented the interception.
On the first pick, Logan should have recognized the safety and not thrown it. Likewise, Marcus should have completed his route and at least knocked the ball down. So both are responsible for the interception.
On the second pick, Logan made a good decision by throwing to one-on-one coverage, but his pass was a little behind Dunn. However, Dunn HAS to try and come back to the ball and make the play.
Both interceptions are the fault of inexperience on the field. In all reality, it was good on the field learning for all three, so they don't repeat the mistakes against better teams.
The game was terrible, but with the GT dismantling of Clemson along with VT's lackluster performance, VT should be really focused this bye week. Timing is everything... Now, can they put it together and execute?
We don't see a lot about Tech wrestling and this was a well done intro for those who like to follow wrestling or every Tech sport. Thanks for keeping us up-to-date!
I thought this was a great write up about the wrestling team, which I know nothing about.
You forgot their entrance music and finishing moves though.
I don't know how I could take 5-6 sentences out of context but if that's what you think then so be it. Let's take a few of your words and correct them. You said it has been a long time since we blew out a team like we did in the MV7 era. That is incorrect. We scored the most points under Beamer this year with 66. You are correct, we did have a larger margain of victory in '99 but did not in 2000. In '99 we had a very good defense led by the best defensive player in the nation. That year will be tough for this current defense or any defense to duplicate. However, the second year of Vick actually had a defense that played below this years. In 2000, the defense gave up 323 yards per game while this #15th ranked defense is given up 298. I am just giving you statistics to back up some of my claims and wish you would do the same.
Regarding 1-27 against top teams (and I don't know what you mean by top teams) , you are again wrong. I have put these numbers up before but here they are for you. Since 1995, we have the #11 winning percentage in the nation over Top 5 teams, #8 vs top 15 and #5 vs. top 25. Overall, these are very good numbers. Since 1995, we have played 6 national champions and the hardest opponent win percentage vs the top 5 of any team in the Top 40 so our record vs the top 5 looks a little better if you take them out.
On to the WRs. This season, I have been very critical of the WRs and have posted on this topic several times.
In regards to your name-calling. I assume we both attended and graduated from the same wonderful university. I would think you would hold that institution higher than allowing an "idiot" and a "dummy" to be accepted.
Don't make them.
Regarding your comments on Logan Thomas, I am sure you will recall that I have noted in almost every column I have written that I believe Logan Thomas will be the best passing QB we have seen at Virginia Tech in a long, long time (perhaps going back to Don Strock.) I have also noted that Logan has a steep learning curve, as based on what I have seen, he has been given significantly more responsibility for changing plays at the line and pass pro than any Hokie QB since Jim Drunkenmiller.
With a young quarterback, especially one who has the physical tools but who is lacking game experience in the position, you look each week for growth. Minus one horrible throw against BC, we have seen Logan eliminate many of his mistakes from earlier in the year, namely poor downfield vision, indecisiveness, and poor mechanics. Lets examine the two interceptions.
On the first interception, the Duke safety was playing a robber coverage in an attempt to bait Thomas to throw the slant. It was almost an identical set up to the Hokie coverage that victimized UNC QB Joe Dailey several years ago. Yes, I agree that Marcus Davis gave a very poor effort to beat his man to the inside, but even if Davis beats his guy cleanly, the Duke safety steps in front of that pass and intercepts the ball. Logan was not under pressure, yet even though Davis did not beat his man, Logan didn't look anywhere else on the field (again, from my vantage point at ground level in the opposite end zone.) Yes, he is young, and yes he will make mistakes, but he has to learn from them.
On the second interception, he had a receiver wide open, and he tried to loft the ball instead of leading his receiver. He did this several times against Arkansas State, where he arched his back and threw a jump ball fade even though his guy was cleanly open. He again wasn't under pressure. If he hits Dunn in stride, the Hokies route Duke. That put them back in the ball game. Both cases we saw repeats of mistakes that Logan made earlier in the season that he did not make in the last 3 outings. That, by definition is regression. I think, and expect, Logan to have a better performance against Georgia Tech. He is capable but must be focused.
I agree whole-heartedly that Coles should be getting touches over Davis, and I have said it all season. Davis has taken a major step backwards this season.
Hokie OL graded out over 90% today. I am not sure how to react to that
PICK SOMETHING AND GET GOOD AT IT.
Thank you.
Hokie guy, your an idiot, I love how you take everything I mentioned out of context. Im going to be real here with you, Michael Vick was one of the most exciting football players ever....WE KNOW THIS!!!!!!!!!! Last time I checked Michael Vick didnt play defense. The bottom line is we lost our passion on defense as well as offense I dont see it anymore. If we wont to claim elite status or be elite we shouldnt be Duke 10-14. And yes your a genius we both got blowed out by stanford it doesnt take a rocket scientist to know that. Im tired of watching games where Tech struggles against subpar talent. We have a bad bowl game record, and were like 1-27 against top teams in the nation, something has to give. When are we going to wake up and play like were the number one team in the Nation? Yes Marcus Davis made plenty of mistakes, but he is not the only one to point a finger at. If thats the case what about Danny Coales drop that should have been caught, but almost turned into another interception? And Boykins drops a big pass every week? And I understand also that LT is young which is why I said were in a re-building year you dummy!
EVERYONE in the stadium knew that Logan Thomas was going to keep on a zone read play, and sure enough he got stuffed at the point of attack. For me, the more frustrating part was that it wasn't a true "zone read", it was a keeper all the way. If it had been a true zone read, the right play would have been the handoff, as the DE crashed on the play.
I remember this exact play. I looked at MRSTKP and asked her why LT3 kept it with the end coming up the field. She just looked back at me like I had three heads. I didn't pickup it was a designed run all the way, probably the same play we ran to ice Miami then.
Cutting inside of Martin would have at least got him back to the line of scrimmage, if not a very short gain. That is the selfless team play.
That's a very good point that I overlooked. However, I don't think DW4 hits the outside for the big play for self-glory. Like we've all said this season, his field vision is lacking and his natural response is to try to out run defenders to the corner.
It's too early to tell, but while Shane-o-mac is a huge upgrade on the recruiting trail, does anyone else think the backs are progressing slower without Hite's years of experience coaching them?
First, a lot of Tech fans need to understand one big thing and that is every team plays better against us then they do over the rest of the ACC. When Michael Vick was a freshman and lighting up the football world, it was Miami that everyone circled on the calendar. On top of it, he was one of the most exciting players in the history of college football. If you are waiting for that to return, maybe you should quit watching football because the chance we have that again is highly unlikely.
Also, in 1999, we almost lost to a team that went 4-7 and needed a time-expiring field goal to win. In 2000, we had a very flat game against Syracuse as we looked ahead to a stretch against a one-loss Pitt team and a trip to #3 ranked Miami. It happens when you are dealing with 20 year old kids.
Regarding Logan's first INT, 90% of the blame should go to Marcus Davis. His route was bad and his effort was even worse. I bet after you watch the game you will think the same. And what do you mean Marcus Davis wasn't targeted? He had the same number of catches as Danny Coale. In my opinion, Davis played extremely poor in this game and maybe should have seen less time. His horrible block on the Boykin screen pass is why his talent gets overlooked by his inability to do the little things.
I disagree that Logan regressed -I just think he had an average day and that's what to expect from a first year starter. Earlier in the season some people on this site wanted Logan moved to TE and Leal to be handed the ball. That thought was crazy then and I expect those fans have changed their tune. Expecting Logan to be senior year Tyrod is unfair to Logan and somewhat ignorant as a fan. Logan has played well compared to most QBs through the same stage. After Vick left, I sat through some bad games with Grant Noel as the QB. Logan already has surpassed Noel's season numbers from 2001 and this team has equaled the wins Noel deliverd that year as well. We should all be more thankful we have a solid QB of the future rather than nitpick every motion he makes. He is good and will continue to be good. Let's be a little more patient.
One last thing regarding the opponent. Duke lost to Stanford 44-14 this year. We lost to them 40-12 in the Orange Bowl....
I think that people have completely forgotten about the Wisconsin-Nebraska game. I'd put Oregon as the best 1 loss team in the country right now. They lost to the #1 closer than anyone has played LSU so far this season. That means they're over Oklahoma. Which brings me to the point as to why Oklahoma is still considered top 10. They lost to a 30 point unranked underdog. AT HOME. Yes, they may pass the eye test, and yes the game was probably a fluke, but in college football, it doesn't matter if the game was a fluke, you got beat by a team you shouldn't have, and therefore get to suffer the consequences.
With that all said and done... I'd have Oregon as the top 1 loss team in the country followed by Clemson and then Arkansas. Oregon and Clemson have slightly similar teams in that they have extremely high powered offenses, but the defense has games where it's nowhere to be found. And right now, Oregon is executing better. After those three, pretty much all the one loss teams are in the same boat in my book. They all have their issues (We cant put a full game together, PSU doesn't have an offense, USCe lost their entire offense in Lattimore, Michigan struggles to throw the ball, etc....)
Take it with a grain of salt. I'm only semi-familiar with his work, but from what I've read he seems like a troll or someone who wants to stir the pot even if there's nothing there.
Not sure if Giglio falls into this category, but most of the outlets in the triangle are ACC purists, hated expansion in 2003 and strive to accentuate each and every shortcoming the football schools display.
Save us SEC, you're our only hope.
I sure do hope jayron tackles better then he did in the Duke game, his play hasnt been the same I say we move him back to Field corner and put Fuller in as the Boundary. I think Roc Carmichael covered up alot of his weaknesses last year
As much as I love having Bud Foster on our side, I just can not imagine us shutting down (...controlling even) CPJ's option.
We'll be hearing over the next week and a half about the VT's scout team, meetings with other defense coordinators, etc... yet, come Nov 10th we'll all be on the edge of our seat looking for us to stop GT on 3rd and 3 only to see them run for another 12 yards (and keep another 7 minute drive going).
Four or five 3&out's against GT and you can kiss goodbye most of the first half of the game.
Im going to try to be more consistent with the wrestling coverage this year. Got bogged down with school and work last year and fell off, I love writing about these guys. As far as Tabb goes, I know a lot about them. I have worked the VA A & AA State Tournament at the Salem Civic Center for about the last 10 or so years. Tabb puts out some pretty good kids. Ben Canning and Andrew Williams come to mind right away.
I love how you tell it like it is. I was posting a comment at ESPN. We must have alot of delusional hokie fans on there, because I dont see what they see. This past saturday I was disgusted at the way VTech played against Duke. I know this is a re-building year, but its been awhile since VT blew out teams like back in the Vick era. I remember when Vick played we beat teams by 30-40 points. This year or for some odd reason the past few years we have been winning close games to teams that were no doubt better than.
I guess Im just frustrated! I want to see Vtech back in another National Championship game
The Hokies are still talented enough to beat Duke whilst yawning; kind-of like holding someone who's trying to punch you at arm's length and laughing at them. Solid play; maybe not explosive and elite, like last year, but solid. Duke's got a good staff, but like you said, you need the players to match it. They don't have it. Certainly, you never take anyone for granted (as UVA and VT learned in 2009 and 2010, respectively, of course), but... hmm.
I think that's the key for VT this year, though. Last year, you could afford to make a few mistakes and still win out against top-line teams. This year, even little mistakes can end up costing a lot. See, like, UVA, in my humble opinion, is a dangerous team this year- but only if they play flawless, A+ games and have a few breaks go there way, like the other team committing a stupid penalty. They couldn't win against Duke (or Southern Miss, NCState, and barely against Idaho) by doing what you guys did versus Duke.
As long as Logan Thomas continues to make smart reads and doesn't unleash the dagron ala Sexy Rexy Grossman, David Wilson continues to be David Wilson, and the defense keeps things nice and tight, I think you guys'll win out the rest of the season, head to the ACCCG for a rematch with Clemson, and then onto the Orange Bowl again. I don't know that you have any structural deficits that are insurmountable, nothing Frank Beamer can't coach around, anyhow.
I went to a match or two while at Tech. I couldnt wrestle in HS but it didnt keep me away from the team. I was a manager for three years even lettering as such to which I was pretty damn proud. We were a AA HS but consistently hit top 10 in the state. Went to Tabb High. Keep it up!
Any team with a great defensive line blasts Oregon, but teams with great D-lines usually dominate most of their opposition, so it's a fair point. Where would you put Oregon, above Clemson and Nebraska? I give OSU the benefit of the doubt that they would have beat Nebraska if Braxton Miller didn't get injured, so I should also penalize the Huskers as well.
Thanks for the wrestling coverage - keep it coming!
Is there any way you can post who we've beaten? Id love to see it. A guy at my work tries to troll me every day saying we dont schedule or beat anyone. I only know of few instances but would like more numbers.