1st Quarter Second Guesses: Focus on the Defensive Line (Wake Forest)

After the defensive line debacle versus Miami, I took the opportunity to examine how the depleted Hokie defensive line performed against Wake Forest. With the Hokies schedule including pro-style power I running teams like UNC and UVA, as well as a wishbone Georgia Tech team, developing backup defensive linemen who can not only fill in for injured guys now, but who can also play important snaps late in the season, is crucial for Virginia Tech to win the ACC this year.
1st Quarter:
1st defensive series:
1st and 10- bootleg, defensive line flows, the whip apparently has bootleg responsibilities. Good coverage by Exum.

2nd and 10- Derrick Hopkins misses his gap assignment. He gets turned inside even though T. Edwards is in the inside gap. Edwards also does a lousy job of getting off the block (the OL didn't have his head across, but Edwards didn't make any effort to shed him. Collins gets up field, but the lane is there. What should have been a 3 yard run becomes a 10 yard first down run because Edwards doesn't scrape and fill effectively.
1st and 10- play action. Excellent inside rush by Maddy. He doesn't get to the QB, but he collapses the pocket enough that Price is uncomfortable. The ends get blocked. Imcomplete pass after the WR trips on Fuller.
2nd and 10- The play by play guy doesn't know the difference between the Pistol and the Shotgun. Classy. Maddy again has a good inside rush, using an outside lean followed by a hand sweep back to the inside. Nothing from the ends. Wilson goes upfield, Collins gets stymied and plays contain. Price finds a hole in the zone for a solid 15 yard completion.
1st and 10- Now they are in the pistol. Wake allows Hopkins to get upfield and then he gets trapped by the backside guard on the slow developing deep handoff. That was ugly. Maddy got doubled backside, and the blocker combo's off Maddy and gets Edwards. Taylor jumps outside, which is bad given that Wake has trapped Hopkins outside. Long run for Pendergrass. That play won't make Bud Foster happy. Extra note, Maddy looks gassed already after two effective plays. His conditioning must get better.
1st and 10- short crossing pattern. No pressure by the front four.
2nd and 4-  Another shallow cross, but slower developing. Tyrell Wilson gets close, but not enough to bother Price. It is hard to believe that the Hokies dominate the game watching this series. It looks like Miami again. Maddy's feet completely stopped moving on the rush.
1st and 10- McCray, Marshall, Means, and Hamlette all in. Delay draw to McCray's side. He gets a yard deep and causes a cutback. Hamlette stands up the double team and Marshall does a nice job of filling backside. Much better gap principles than the starters, and Hamlette keeps the blockers from getting to the linebackers.
2nd and 9- Wake in the shotgun and runs a jet sweep. DP Means doesn't get hooked, and gets some push into the backfield, forcing the WR (who wanted to throw) backwards, but the WR eventually breaks contain. DP Means is a good backup and does his job well, but I don't know if he is a good enough athlete to make the special plays. Great job by Marshall, who shed his block and went flat down the line step for step with Givens to take away any opportunity to run. Incomplete pass.
3rd and 9- Huge rush by DHop (back in the game) and then the QB basically hits Marshall in the face with the ball. Collins was back in, but McCray was moved over to the stud end. Marshall's stunt helped Hopkins get there. If they can get Marshall to 285 without him losing his athleticism, he could be the best DT we have seen in Blacksburg in a long time. Right now, he is way too quick for most guards to handle. He just isn't quite big enough at the point of attack. Wake gets the field goal.
*offensive note. How about that throw that almost hit Coale by Thomas, throwing against his body? The kid has all the tools if he can get the instincts to go with it.
2nd Defensive Series
No pass rush. Hosley was beat before he pulled up. I wonder if his hamstring tweaked from shame?
3rd Defensive Series:
1st and 10: Hokies blitz Edwards from outside. Collins gets doubled and absolutely destroyed, and there is no linebacker to fill because of the blitz. Edwards wasn't quick enough to catch the back from the backside (not his fault.) The only chance on the play was Hopkins holding his ground, but his technique teaches him to play flat down the line. Good offensive play call agains the wrong defense, and Collins getting whipped didn't help. Bruce Taylor also was "catching" instead of sheding the block. Again, this looks like Miami all over again. (Watching the replay, Hopkins was being held as well.)
1st and 10: Pistol and a deep handoff zone right. Hopkins makes the tackle flowing backside for a short gain.  Everyone else had sound position. Wilson got single blocked by a tight end. He held his position, but a Hokie DE has to beat a TE block.
2nd and 8: Shotgun, bootleg. Marshall's alignment is way off the ball, while Hopkins almost looks like he is offsides. Wilson stays at home, but again is single blocked. Zero rush from him so far. Incomplete pass.
3rd and 8: Safety blitz (first time I can remember Exum blitzing this year), with Taylor coming too. Hokies brought Taylor, Edwards, and Exum, and only dropped Collins (who looked more like he was playing a spy instead of dropping into a zone.) Dangerous playcall, but it worked, especially with the front 4 not getting pressure. Good job by Marshall drawing the guard and Hopkins drawing the other left guard and tackle away to give Exum and Taylor a hole.
PAUSE FROM THE DL FOR AN OFFENSIVE RANT ABOUT DAVID WILSON
On the Hokies 2nd and 5 play on the following drive, VT runs a zone play. There is a MONSTER hole that requires a typical zone run, where the back plants his outside foot and cuts into the hole. Wilson misses the hole completely, and turns a 15 yard run into a 3 yard run. I love the kid's effort, but damn it if that does just drive me bat shit crazy.
4th defensive series:
1st and 10: Both Marshall and Hopkins get great penetration and trip up the RB on a dely run to the left. Wilson and Collins are the DE's.
2nd and 10: Another crossing route. Hokies get good push from the DT's. Nothing from either end. Collins is doubled. Wilson just isn't showing me anything.
3rd and 6: Excellent cross stunt by Marshall and Hopkins frees Hopkins up the middle, who pressures Price into a quick throw. Hokies tackle the WR short of the sticks. Nice play.
End of the quarter
Analysis:
Poor gap control by all four starters on the first drive. The backup DL came in and gave them a spark to stop the drive. Still, not enough pass rush or strength and the point of attack by the defensive ends.