Recent Comments

from what i remember while watching the game, i agree with all of this except #6. while it very well could be leg strength, i think some of it has to do with his back endurance/pain. i'm sure the writers have overplayed the issues with his back, but try kicking a ball as hard as you can and feel your back muscles tense up. usually i agree with the decisions our coaches make, but in this case they should have taken one look at his issues and told him thank you for trying out. i really hope they're able to sort this out soon, as he isn't getting any better, but our competition is.

as much as logic will tell me that clemson should beat us... theyre still clemson. theyre maryland on steroids.

Also receiving votes:

- "I'll tell you what..."

- "Heckuva team..."

- "Bryan, what the hell was that horseshit..."

Opening O series- shotgun. Again short curl to Coles, but the Marshall defender jumped the route. Again, that makes me nervous. 2nd down, shotgun trips left, and LT3 mixes it up with a nice short out to Drager. Good pass blocking. 1st and ten, the Hokies go to an offset pistol. Veer dive to Wilson. Nosal was supposed to trap the linebacker, but the LB cut inside his block to tackle Wilson. That is a solid play by the linebacker, and a tough block for Nosal to go flat down the line, turn up to the backer, and get there covering twice as much distance as the quicker defender. 2nd and long, play action again. I can't see the WR's downfield. LT3 has plenty of time, but doesn't pull the trigger. After a short scramble, he throws a fire route to Coles, who was out of bounds. Well blocked, but it troubles me that the safeties are flying up to stop the run, but nobody is open on a good play fake. Slow developing routes. 3rd and long, and again there is a great blitz pickup, but LT3 doesn't pull the trigger. Either nobody is getting open or he is too hesitant. Punt from Coale, and that one had zero hang time. PLAY THE DAMN FRESHMAN!

1st D series- Great penetration by AHop, but solid gap control across the front 4. 2nd and 9: Fuller jumps the route, Cato pumps, and JR Collins gets the sack from behind. I read a bunch about Gayle and this game, but Collins has looked more impressive so far. 3rd and long, pressure by Taylor on a weakside blitz causes an easy interception for Exum. Great series to open the half despite the letdown from the offense being stopped.

2nd O series- Two TE, single back balanced look. LT3 audibles when he reads blitz. Again, a quick out in front of a corner playing 10 yards off. Nice read, but again, can it happen against better teams? 1st and ten, quick pitch to Wilson. George George throws a nice block, but the backside OL can't cut block the LBs to stop the pursuit. Wilson made some nice moves to get 4 yards. 2nd and 7, play action again, and a nice inside curl route to Coale. Nice simple short gain. Wilson gets called for the chop block. As a wing-t lineman, I hate the call, but Wilson has to know that he can't hit a guy low who is still engaged with a lineman. 2nd and 23 and LT3 again goes to an out route against cover 3 with the corner off. This is a little deeper to Coale. 3rd and 14, ugh, bad throw into traffic. Nobody was there. And Journall misses again. Ugh.

2nd D series: Run stop, QB pressure for an incompletion (good coverage and Gayle gets there late.) Third down and Edwards goes into a short zone and flips the Marshall back. Good series.

3rd O series: 1st and 10, single back TE wing, the "bread and butter" single back off tackle play we have seen Tech use extensively since Brandon Ore was in Maroon, and the Hokies get a nice down block from George George to seal the end, and Via pulls to kick out the linebacker. Via may be pushing Brooks for some playing time. 2nd and 4. I, TE right, twins left. Tendencies say power play to the weakside. They run power play to the strong side. So far I have not seen play action from the I with twins. Well blocked and tough running by Wilson. Shotgun 1st and 10 trips left. All deep routes. I'd like to see that play with one guy staying short in combination. Incomplete (nowhere to go.) 2nd and 10, again the bread and butter zone play. This time Via seals the end/OLB and Wilson gets a big run. Also, excellent blocks by DeChristopher and George. 3rd and 2, and they run the same type of off tackle play, but the TE turns the DE out and Via turns up into the hole. The hole is there, but Wilson tries to bounce it and runs right into the back of George George, who is engaged with Curry. This drives me nuts about Wilson. Hit the hole, and get the first down. Poor vision (watch it at 1 hour and 43 minutes into the video and judge for yourself.) Punt. Chik Fil A on Sunday my ass.

Coale was VERY slow getting that punt off.

3rd D series- 1st down, Taylor and Edwards are again covering the flat. Two nice plays to set up a 3rd and 15. Foster blitzes again (why at this point?) and a great throw beats Fuller. Bad defensive play call if you ask me. Not getting into as much detail, but Maddy stood out drawing a holding call. Hokies look suspect against bubble screens with their press coverage. Nice gap control and penetration by Gayle to stop the 3rd and short.

4th O series- 1st and 10, bubble screen left. Nice block by Coale sets up nice YAC for Coles. Brooks in back in this series. Oglesby in for Wilson. Oglesby with a straight dive after an LT3 audible for the 1st down. That may have been a dummy audible. 1st and ten, and the Hokies use the off tackle one back power back to the left. Nice blocking, but Oglesby needs to protect the ball. LT3 with a nice pass underneath to Oglesby (has Wilson caught a pass this year?) after excellent protection. 1st and 10, and another short curl to Coles.

*WATCH FOR O'CAIN TO GO DOUBLE MOVE ON CLEMSON FIRST SERIES!!!!!!! They are beating these short curl routes to death.

End of the 3rd Quarter

I really miss these guys:

http://www.tailgatefever.com/cheering-guide/

Wasp, I couldn't agree any more than I do with your list, that I feel needs re-posting:

1) The defensive line and middle backers are a strength of this team.

2) Logan Thomas has some weaknesses, but the coaching staff is giving him much more responsibility than they gave Tyrod Taylor or Bryan Randall as a first year starter.

3) The offensive line has played better than you think they have, but they still play too high to drive people off the ball. They pick up their assignments, but they don't push the D line back into the laps of the linebackers and safeties, which keeps them from effectively scraping into the gaps.

4) Marcus Davis has to be the biggest disappointment on offense. For all his physical gifts, he can't maximize them because he just doesn't get open.

5) David Wilson runs hard, but as I said earlier in the year, his effort coupled with his lack of instinct and vision will result in ball security issues.

6) Demler's problem isn't mental. He just doesn't have the leg strength to be a d1 punter.

7) The secondary looked disinterested this game.

so detailed! Love it. Sometimes I miss the true mechanics of the game. Thanks!

One of my favorites, attributed to a former Vol coach (don't remember the name), but passed on by my high school coach....."Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor."

USF
aTm
Auburn
Clemson (Hokies still win)
Bama
Badgers

Pitt
Arkansas
Auburn
Virginia Tech
Florida
Nebraska

Pitt
Arkansas
Auburn to cover
Clemson to cover (VT wins)
Alabama
Wisconsin

South Florida
Texas A&M
South Carolina
Virginia Tech (homer here)
Alabama
Wisconsin