What up Nerds! Back at it again with another 'Advanced' Box Score, but doing it a little different this week. Some of the feedback in previous threads was that there was less interest in trying to use metrics to better understand what happened in the game, and more interest in understanding how a given performance compares to past performances. So, to do this, we have 6 'advanced' comparative box scores.
When VT is on Offense: First, let's compare how this VT offensive performance compares against the season's past offensive performances
Dabo just had his own "Jason from Arlington" moment last night. Given the relative trend the last couple years with Clemson and comparing it to our own timeline with Beamer this felt pretty similar, just that Dabo went a lot more aggressive in his response.
Years ago I started doing computer rankings (2000s time frame). The premise is pretty basic in that it rewards wins based on the opponents record, and punishes losses based on the opponents record (e.g. if you beat a 7-1 team then you get a lot of points while losing to a 1-7 team really hurts). It is recursive to take into account the opponents score once initially calculated.
There are some other basic things like home field advantage is factored in, score matters but has diminishing returns, as well as everyone is penalized for playing a 1AA team (never updated to code for FCS).
CATCHING UP: There's been a few interesting games this week. As of Tuesday, Jerry Kill's Aggies are now 6-3, Liberty is still undefeated. On Wednesday, FBS newbies Jax State continued to be good (7-2 with a win over FIU) while FBS Imposter Sam Houston State nearly won it's first game over UTEP (they're 0-8). Opposite our game on Thursday two blue Georgia S- schools that entered FBS about a decade ago played to determine the rightful one (I believe the Eagles beat the Panthers). Yesterday FAU beat Charlotte in a snoozer.
Army will join American Athletic Conference as football-only member in 2024, ending a 19-year run as an independent, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. 1st report @RossDellenger. Official announcement this afternoon, source said. Although Army & Navy will both be in AAC, annual...— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 25, 2023
Good game plan for the bye week. 2 days of "good on good", 2 days of recruiting, and R&R for those who needed it.
Syracuse has a good defensive front and especially aggressive RedZone defense. Typically, 6 rushing and most of the team within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage in the RedZone. Our OL needs to come to play.
Please note the time change. I will host a live Q&A here at 1:00PM EDT-2:00PM EDT on Wednesday. If you have questions regarding the Hokies, upcoming opponents, or any other topics, you can add them to this thread.
I'm still getting used to college football games starting on Tuesday now. Liberty went 7-0 and Jax State squeaked by WKU last night.
The other FBS newbie is currently in overtime tonight looking for their first FBS win; Sam Houston and FIU are battling in OT#2. Jerry Kill's NMSU Aggies are tied up with UTEP early.
Thursday's game of note is JMU Marshall.
Fridays pits old Big East foe Temple against ACC peer SMU.
Surprise post-practice media availability. I looked at the schedule on hokiesports this week and didn't see anything football-related until 10/23, so I didn't expect to get this youtube notification.
Update- despite the great effort on the scoreboard, the film study of the defense yielded very little differently than previous studies (outside of the Hokies alley players preventing big plays and DL winning one on ones rushing the passer.) I have decided instead to do a Q&A for TKP members next Wednesday, October 25th, at noon, EDT.
I will be prepared to discuss Syracuse and their read option/defense in depth intricacies, a potential shift at linebacker, the evolution of the Hokies offense, depth chart questions, and whatever else you throw at me.
Bye week after a win is like gas station bbq sandwiches. It looks really good, you think it can turn your season around, but in reality it gives you false hope and then makes you hug a toilet for three hours.
