There was some improvement, at least, in the Clemson game. At least up front. UNC held Clemson to fewer than 100 yards rushing, and about 2 yards per carry. After the ECU game, that's a huge leap forward.
But the problems on the back end still persisted. On Clemson's second play, UNC misread a formation and left an entire side of the field uncovered. It resulted in a 74-yard touchdown pass. Clemson also scored on a 50-yard pass, and two 33-yard passes. I don't know what the problem is, other than UNC has just allowed receivers plenty of room to make plays. Fedora has said the the breakdowns in coverage are a result of mental mistakes of guys just not understanding where they should be. Whatever the reason, UNC has been completely unable to cover people downfield consistently.
This is what I was talking about in the other threads yesterday. UNC is extremely vulnerable through the air and makes numerous mental mistakes throughout games leaving guys WIDE open in coverage. We need to be fully aware of this and ready to take full advantage when these opportunities will inevitably present themselves. Use the run to keep the defense honest in the passing game (especially seeing as how it appears they got their Run D somewhat manageable against Clemson) and ensure we're seeing single coverage on all the guys who have been consistently performing for us (that is, Bucky, Malleck, Ford, and Phillips). I'll honestly be a little disappointed if our receiving unit doesn't have a bit of a coming out party tomorrow afternoon. UNC is too vulnerable for them not to.
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Really, Lefty should be looking at that pass defense like it's Christmas morning. Still, he has be be patient with it and not just go straight for the deep balls. He's gotta sit through opening the socks from grandma and the sweater from Aunt Judy and all the other boring stuff. Then, after all the slobbery kisses and squeezy hugs, it's time to go for the Legos. It's crucial we get the running game going tomorrow and get those safeties looking in the backfield. Against a secondary known for blowing assignments, that's the absolute perfect way to get it done. Pound the rock, establish the ground game, and then start taking shots. If that happens and we execute, Saturday could be a whole lot of fun to watch.
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I don't even think we really need to do so much to even establish the run. Just do enough to keep the LBs in the box and the safeties checking for the run on every play, and we should be able to pass all over them.
Our passing game is a bit overlooked right now. All the emphasis is on the picks that Brewer is throwing, but the fact of the matter is, we've been moving the ball through the air against some decent defenses this year, which has been keeping us in games when the running game isn't going (because the OL is struggling to open holes) and the defense is giving up an absurd number of big plays (mental errors all over the place due to youth). Our passing game, and especially the receivers, have been our rock this season. Against a truly awful secondary, they should have a monster outing tomorrow.
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Even against a truly awful secondary, I don't want Lefty to overdo the passing game. I'd much rather see us build off of last week, establish some power running, and then punish said secondary when they start coming up in run support. At some point, even UNC will get it together enough to stop leaving half the field undefended. We don't want to bank on the Heels spontaneously breaking down in coverage, and should instead help that process along by first getting the running game rolling.
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Our running game hasn't been working this year. Yes, it worked last week against an overpowered and undertalented WM defense that just broke down as the game progressed, but you're not going to see that against the likes of UNC, Miami, Duke, Pitt, BC and Virginia. I don't want to see us stubbornly trying to run through head first through a brick wall in a misguided attempt to establish something that isn't going to happen.
Its time to admit it already, this year's Virginia Tech squad is a pass-first offense. We are going to live and we are going to die based on what happens when we're passing the ball. Last week the coaches (namely, Shane) saw a huge mismatch of our OL vs their DL and we took full advantage the rest of the game. But through 5 games this year, that one is the outlier. When we're putting points on the board, we're doing it through the air. If we try to go run heavy in this game this weekend against UNC, we're not putting ourselves in the best position to score and in turn, win the game. Its just what it is this year, and will be like that until we get our OL opening better holes more consistently for the RBs to run through.
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As thin as our D is right now, and facing a hurry-up offense, ideally VT would run the ball and control the clock while driving down the field... But, as you pointed out, VTs best opportunity against the UNC D is through the air. I would hope the coaching staff get their heads together before halftime this week and all get on the same page, whatever they decide.
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The whole thing just seems forced and disruptive to me, but Fedora seems committed to it. He likes the idea of getting Trubisky some meaningful experience, and Fedora indicated last week that he made some sort of promise to Trubisky to play him early on in games. Whatever the reason, expect to see Trubisky for the third series on Saturday.
UNC moves so quickly on offense that if it goes three-and-out, or if it gets one first down and then punts four plays later, it has only taken a minute or two, at most, off the clock. And then the defense is back on the field. At times, that has been a disastrous cycle. But no, Fedora remains committed to his approach.
Pride goeth before the fall?
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Comments
This is what I was talking about in the other threads yesterday. UNC is extremely vulnerable through the air and makes numerous mental mistakes throughout games leaving guys WIDE open in coverage. We need to be fully aware of this and ready to take full advantage when these opportunities will inevitably present themselves. Use the run to keep the defense honest in the passing game (especially seeing as how it appears they got their Run D somewhat manageable against Clemson) and ensure we're seeing single coverage on all the guys who have been consistently performing for us (that is, Bucky, Malleck, Ford, and Phillips). I'll honestly be a little disappointed if our receiving unit doesn't have a bit of a coming out party tomorrow afternoon. UNC is too vulnerable for them not to.
Really, Lefty should be looking at that pass defense like it's Christmas morning. Still, he has be be patient with it and not just go straight for the deep balls. He's gotta sit through opening the socks from grandma and the sweater from Aunt Judy and all the other boring stuff. Then, after all the slobbery kisses and squeezy hugs, it's time to go for the Legos. It's crucial we get the running game going tomorrow and get those safeties looking in the backfield. Against a secondary known for blowing assignments, that's the absolute perfect way to get it done. Pound the rock, establish the ground game, and then start taking shots. If that happens and we execute, Saturday could be a whole lot of fun to watch.
we need to see Brewer execute better over 15 yards. He's really struggled in that area. I don't know if it is arm strength as much as accuracy.
UNC's weakness seems to be our weakness as well.
I don't even think we really need to do so much to even establish the run. Just do enough to keep the LBs in the box and the safeties checking for the run on every play, and we should be able to pass all over them.
Our passing game is a bit overlooked right now. All the emphasis is on the picks that Brewer is throwing, but the fact of the matter is, we've been moving the ball through the air against some decent defenses this year, which has been keeping us in games when the running game isn't going (because the OL is struggling to open holes) and the defense is giving up an absurd number of big plays (mental errors all over the place due to youth). Our passing game, and especially the receivers, have been our rock this season. Against a truly awful secondary, they should have a monster outing tomorrow.
Even against a truly awful secondary, I don't want Lefty to overdo the passing game. I'd much rather see us build off of last week, establish some power running, and then punish said secondary when they start coming up in run support. At some point, even UNC will get it together enough to stop leaving half the field undefended. We don't want to bank on the Heels spontaneously breaking down in coverage, and should instead help that process along by first getting the running game rolling.
Our running game hasn't been working this year. Yes, it worked last week against an overpowered and undertalented WM defense that just broke down as the game progressed, but you're not going to see that against the likes of UNC, Miami, Duke, Pitt, BC and Virginia. I don't want to see us stubbornly trying to run through head first through a brick wall in a misguided attempt to establish something that isn't going to happen.
Its time to admit it already, this year's Virginia Tech squad is a pass-first offense. We are going to live and we are going to die based on what happens when we're passing the ball. Last week the coaches (namely, Shane) saw a huge mismatch of our OL vs their DL and we took full advantage the rest of the game. But through 5 games this year, that one is the outlier. When we're putting points on the board, we're doing it through the air. If we try to go run heavy in this game this weekend against UNC, we're not putting ourselves in the best position to score and in turn, win the game. Its just what it is this year, and will be like that until we get our OL opening better holes more consistently for the RBs to run through.
As thin as our D is right now, and facing a hurry-up offense, ideally VT would run the ball and control the clock while driving down the field... But, as you pointed out, VTs best opportunity against the UNC D is through the air. I would hope the coaching staff get their heads together before halftime this week and all get on the same page, whatever they decide.
Pride goeth before the fall?
Seen that before - like playing field position with a 6 pt lead.
Or trying a fake punt in the 4th quarter of a close Sugar Bowl
Especially, when the only 2 people who know it is a fake are the coach and the punter. It might have helped if the blockers knew it.
You expected Curt Newsome to actually do work and inform his players about something?
But its cool... he's a head coach, now
Everybody knew it was a fake punt. On a routine punt, Frank doesn't call a timeout and huddle up with the special teams before the kick.
If he had just called in fake punt, and sent them out to execute it, it might have worked. But the delay (timeout) gave the defense time to prepare.
It still hurts to watch the video footage of that botched fake punt....