Kudos to the Virginia Tech Football Team, the players and coaches, for a great game on Saturday against Marshall. It was one of our best offensive outputs, in both points scored and yardage gained. In fact, I believe it was our 5th best yardage performance, ever.
There is nothing negative that came out of this game that I can find to say about Bryan Stinespring. He formulated a game plan, and it worked. We were able to control the line of scrimmage and rushed the ball seemingly at will. Hopefully, the theory to run to set up the pass is one that we will stick to in future games.
Most of all, it showed us potential. The potential of these blue chip recruits. The potential of our athletes in space. Bryan, keep it up! You might have done yourself in for FUTURE criticism. Because now we’ve seen you do it!
Trust me, we don’t want to have a website like this one you’re reading right here. We are, after all, Hokies and we want to win, and win by 42 EVERY week.
As we revel in our top ~60 offensive ranking, by yardage, and top ~25 offensive ranking, by points – I only urge all Hokie fans to temper their gung-ho attitude for a few simple reasons:
*it was, after all, Marshall, out of C-USA.
*they are ranked over 100th in total defense (yes, now, partially due in part to the 606 we dropped on them).
*we had on average 40 pounds on them across our offensive line versus their defensive line counterpart.
*there were many instances of broken tackles, and total-field-reversals that I fear won’t fly against a tougher/faster opponent.
*we played a top 5 rated defense in Alabama, a 100+ rated defense in Marshall. Neither of which are good gauges on our offense, thus far, because of the severe swings in production. As luck would have it, we are provided with an immediate measuring stick. Nebraska comes into town with the #50 rated defense.
*mid-game adjustments were needed against Alabama, and not made successfully. The game-plan against Marshall worked so well, we didn’t need adjustments. So we haven’t seen this learning curve yet.
*let’s talk next Monday?
Some anecdotal and otherwise useless thoughts for your week:
*Billy Hite called us smart.
*Billy, we’re not disgruntled about *this* offense, against this *Marshall* defense.
*But alas, one good game does not a season make, keep it up!
*Although many people (me) feel that our team is better set up to run first to set up the pass and open up lanes for Tyrod to pass, or run himself – the occasional first down pass (read: play action *after* the run has been established) is a great idea. One note, it DOESN’T HAVE TO BE > 25 YARDS! 8 yard outs, crosses, hooks, screens, etc. – open up the defense just as much and can be just as successful. Our first couple drives against Marshall had a fair share of early down, long incompletions.
*Let’s build Tyrod’s confidence. I can’t believe I’m about to type this. What happened to the triple WR on one side, immediate bubble screen to one of those three WR’s and let him make a move while the other two block?
*Our blitz pick-up seems to be having a problem (against both ‘bama and Marshall) with the delayed blitz, from the outside. Outside LB or safety/CB let’s his DT occupy the OT, sees which way the OT pushes him, and then picks his spot. It’s been killing us repeatedly, from the outside. Note this in practice to the RB’s for pick-up, and to Tyrod that unless he wants to do that blindside-spin-move every time, consider heading out between our guards, or……or…………or……………call a bootleg-right-throw-back-screen-left. Touchdown Williams.
*that being said about Tyrod heading out between the guards, I know does not have the safety of the sideline built in. This is ok. Tyrod should spend a day with the baseball team. Running doesn’t mean you have to take a hit. Take 3 yards and slide! 2nd and 7 is much prettier than 2nd and 15 trying to stay in the pocket and make something happen.
And finally:
*did anyone else see the Sportscenter highlights from late Saturday night or early Sunday morning? One highlight from our game. One. Not the punt return. Not Williams or Wilson going off. Not a Tyrod TD pass. One highlight. The Marshall RB’s 61 yard TD. Sportscenter anchor, “and despite this run by Marshall, Virginia Tech easily handled them 52-10. Now back to Columbus…..”
