Recent Comments
I suggest that the author submits this to the CT and the Black Sheep.
opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com
brendan@theblacksheeponline.com
I figured that if we won we would easily cover but if we lost it would be ugly. I didn't think we would win a close one. This team has not developed that identity yet.
I agree with the point that we should try to keep a consistent look and philosophy of offense. If the coaches want flexibility with match-ups in different games then find the guys that can do best in each game plan and run that game plan. Switching up each series just to experiment and see what happens is worthless. Pick a plan and stick with it. They best offenses I've seen run most of their plays from the same formations and looks. KISS.
I too am surprised we can't recruit better defensive talent. I watch the NFL on Sundays and think about which teams those LBs and DLs played for in college and why can't we get guys like that?
But the comments criticizing the Bud Foster D just don't seem right. We had an off year defensively last year, but since 2000 (and with only one 5 star recruit) we managed to consistently have a top 10 defense EVERY YEAR. Bud Foster isn't getting paid to prepare these players for the NFL. His job is to put the defense in a position that can help win the football game. He has done that, and as a result you can't hate on whatever type of defensive scheme he runs. The fact that he has done all this without "elite level talent" (which is really based on perception) just makes it all the more impressive, and shows that what he has done is obviously working.
As for the performance against Clemson, it was the best performance that our defense has had in over a year, and it was hands down the best thing they could have done to stop the Clemson offense. The defense was the reason we were in the game in the third quarter, and we forced Clemson to punt 9 times. I doubt many teams will be able to do that for the rest of the season. They had play makers at virtually every position and we shut virtually all of them down. Not sure why you think our performance against them was bad. We either blitz and pressure the daylight out of them and get beat a couple times on the big play, or contain them the entire game. Containing them obviously was working until the fourth quarter, when the team started to lose hope.
him when he is on moonshine like saturday night.
Maybe he was trying to confuse Clemson players.
Miami is in the crosshairs and I will be there for all 60 minutes yelling my ass off. Looking forward to seeing us turn it around. Time to bring out the lunch pail.
That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
nope. I'd be the first coach to run straight T in DI since Holtz broke it out at Notre Dame.
see, I don't want Clemson, GT, or Oregon's system. There isn't anything new there. Clemson runs the single wing (out of a 3 WR look), GT runs veer blocking with the occasional trap, and Oregon runs the spread. All three styles will blow up against big time defensive lines with two gap defensive tackles.
If I had to pick a style to emmulate, it would be Wisconsin or Stanford's. They have proven that with big mass, willpower, and PRECISION, you can be a national player without neccesarily getting 5 star OL across the board. It just takes patience, player development, and making damn sure your guys do things right every day in practice. The Hokies current OL has bad habits that always come back to bite them in the ass on a big play.
1) Miller stopping his feet on contact
2) Becton playing too high or being slow on the snap count
3) Brooks not getting his head by his man on a scoop block.
etc etc etc.
I have been torn over the coaching staff for years. They are making some positive steps (Shane Beamer, Cornell Brown) and I am absolutely sure that O'Cain is an upgrade over Stinespring. I just hate the lack of identity. The Hokies were at their best when they were an I team. Yes, they struggled in the passing game, but they had maulers up front, top tailbacks, and they were good enough in play action to win a ton of games (even with so-so talent) from 94-01. Now, the linemen are not big enough to run the I (see Nosal, Lainer), not quick enough to run the zone play consistantly (Nosal/Lainer), and not consistant enough to not sabotage the occasional drive (Brooks/Becton). The offensive talent is WORLDS better now, across the board, than it was for most of the last decade. Yet, there is no attitude, and no commitment to a style of play on that side of the ball. I hate it, but if they are going to be a spread option team, then damn it, get good at it, and stick with it. If they are going to be a zone running team (which is what they are best at right now), then get some tight ends who can consistantly block and catch and sit a couple of receivers. If they are going to be an eye team, go get some mashers, put them into the Jake Grove program, and get a fullback who can lead block, run the dive, and lead on a speed option (when was the last time we saw that?) This is the same trap that Tennessee fell into. They wanted to recruit skill position guys, and as result that did more and more pass pro. In doing so, they lost their identity as a power I, run the clock out with 6 minutes left smashmouth team that won a national championship with a mediocre QB and their backup (albiet very good) tailbacks.
Defensively, I was ready for Bud Foster to leave after last season. It would have been high risk, high reward, but I am absolutely convinced that the hybrid defense has prevented the Hokies from getting better defensive line talent, and without NFL caliber defensive line talent, you resign yourself to being an ACC power instead of a national power. I realize that he makes chicken salad with garbage sometimes, but ultimately I started looking at recruiting classes. Did you know that despite the Hokies national reputation for defense, they only landed one 5 star defensive player since 2000 (Macho Harris?). They have landed very few 4 stars on DL and most have been dissapointments (Friday, N. Adibi, Acree). Jason Worilds was the exception.
Foster has also been a lousy recruiter the last couple of years. It was absolutely inexcusable that Foster did not visit Curtis Grant one time, especially when the kid was the number 1 LB in the country and he wanted to be a Hokie. Shane Beamer joining the staff finally stopped the bleeding, but this years class still doesn't have a QB (Caleb?) or a big time DT.
I think we do need a shakeup in the coaching staff. No head coach change or anything defensively, but tear up that offensive coaching staff. I have never had faith in our offensive line, and I don't think I will until we get a new system. We definitely need some sort of identity offensively, whether it is similar to Oregon, Clemson, Georgia Tech, or anybody it just needs to be efficient, and something we can trust to pair with Bud's D in big games. Bring in a proven OC from another BCS level squad. Maybe cut Newsome and move Stiney into an o-line coach full-time.
No leaving until the clock shows 0:00.
I agree with everything stated. I stormed out of Lane as soon as LT hugged a defensive lineman (probably the guy who had laid him out consistently) angry somewhat at the failures of the team but mostly at the massive failure of a fanbase that had been so much better in the past.
Please send out "An Unpopular Opinion" to every Hokie you know through facebook, twitter, e-mail, etc. to let them know Hokie Nation needs to step its game up, because Saturday was just sad.
I see and agree with everything you are saying...But I have a question for you. Do you think there needs to be a coaching staff shake up (i.e new head coach, new position coaches, new coordinators) and a new philosophy? I look at what Jim H. did to Stanford in what 3, 4 years and I think that could be a great identity for the Hokies
Do you think you could get an interview with Beamer so you can be the play caller?
Every Hokie should print this out, put it in an envelope and mail it to the football office.
Make top talent play like top talent: One of the reasons that non VT alumni love the program is that the Hokies "coach kids up." Much is made of all the former walkons that have ended up as Hokie stars and NFL players. However, there is a disturbing trend of top talents underperforming, especially on the offensive line. Today, the Hokies have five 4-star offensive linemen on their roster. While Blake DeChristopher has been a solid starter, Vinston Painter, Laurence Gibson, Ryan Shuman, and Nick Acree can not even get on the field. Only Vinston Painter is on the depth chart, and all four have been moved out of their recruited positions. I would venture to say that only Acree has been moved to his "natural" position. Meanwhile, the Hokies start two converted tight ends, a wrestler, and a lightly recruited undersized guard across their line. Am I missing something?
I dont believe in bringing in Leal...Look at Ohio State people are calling for the 3rd and 4th string qbs...You have to remember there is a reason why Leal is 2nd string. The play calling on Offense is terrible and Leal is not going to fix that. Until the coaching staff discovers the 3 step drop we are in for a long season because their will be 8 in the box in every game this season until we prove we can throw.
Another note I think there may be a lack of passion on offensive coaching staff. The preseason shows we have talent but we use the tired old plays and dont find creative ways to get out play makers in space.
After watching him play Friday night, I hope the Hokies can land Ken Ekamen from Centerville. Very similar player to JR Collins with better upside.
Maybe Joel Caleb can be the QB. Logan might be. I think Mark Leal is a career backup.
defensively:
1) less aggressive playcalling than any game to date this season. I thought the Hokies adjusted to what Clemson was doing offensively, instead of forcing Clemson out of their comfort zone.
2) not enough pass rush by the defensive ends, and not enough show of blitz to help them get there
3) Bruce Taylor and Derrick Hopkins were outstanding. The rest of the front seven either were not as talented as we thought or started "thinking" when they saw all that motion and play action at full speed.
Terrible design in the passing game, coupled with poor route running. Boykin has not only been less effective in the passing game, but his blocking has been atrocious this season.
Offensive line was ok when the running game alternatived delays, sweeps, and counters with straight ahead power plays. When O'Cain started calling multiple slow developing runs in a row, the line (especially the left tackle) was exposed.
I would immediately put Via at left tackle, and Painter at right guard. Painter's only assignment on a run would be "go straight forward and knock the piss out of the first odd colored jersey you see."
Dear all Hokie QB coaches since 1995. One, two, three throw. One, two, three, four, five, throw. Run fake, one two three four five throw. Every passing play you have should have receivers that break their route on that rythmn. Every passing play you have (except in extreme down and distance) should have routes where one guys route should get the second guy open, short, intermediate, and deep routes, and teach the receivers that an out route isn't shaped like a banana.
It was the VERY first thing I noticed, between that and the designer sunglasses I'm starting to think that some gahdawwful Fashion Merchandising student got a hold of the Football Office and begged for an internship or something.
The coaches will do one of two things. They will either play it down as a great learning experience for the "Kids" who played a tough game against a good ball program. Avoid reality and push the ever-growing pile of problems under the rug.
OR... come out just as pissed off as the rest of Hokie Nation and address the problems, state what we can do to make adjustments and bounce back against Miami and actually do it with authority.
In other words, this is the turning point of the season. Time to light a fire, or be burnt to ash.
I just picked Clemson, GT, and Oregon because those 3 stick out as teams that win because of that identity. I would love to emmulate Wisconsin on offense, and it would be tough, hard-nosed like our defense. But based on our inability to recruit effectively on the o-line, I don't think it is possible (at least until o-line recruit picks up drastically).