Arky State Recap

It was obvious from the first snap that this game was going to be the Logan Thomas Passing Clinic. And it was obvious that Arkansas State was going to let it happen, consistently selling out to stop the run and making LT beat them through the air. So he did, and he looked like a quarterback doing it. LT and the receivers started to build some chemistry, most notably with Danny Coale. By the end of the day LT completed an eyelash under two thirds of his passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. (One of which should have been negated because an Arkansas State defender was BLATANTLY offsides. Godawful no call by the refs there.) The improvement from the first two weeks to this game was dramatic, and LT's numbers could have been even better if it hadn't been for a couple of drops, most notably by tight end Randall Dunn and fullback Martin Scales. But I guess I'll accentuate the positive and focus on the fact that the drops weren't coming from the wide receivers this week. Part of that is because LT's finding touch on his passes, like his GORGEOUS touchdown pass to Danny Coale, which he floated just over the reach of an Arkansas State defender right into Coale's chest.

Taking on the passing game from another perspective, I was pleased to see Mike O'Cain calling aggressive passing plays. The deep post to Danny Coale immediately following Jayron's interception was textbook offense immediately following a big turnover, but something that VT simply hasn't done enough during Stiney's tenure. The play action to George² on 3rd and 1 was something I've wanted to see for the better part of a decade. And I even liked the call to pass to the fullback out of the jumbo set on 4th and 1 from the 2. But again I ask, why are we passing to Martin Scales when Joey Phillips showed the steady hands all through practice? Are we still punishing him for his drop against Appalachian State in week 1? I'm fine with that so long as we use the same logic here and never pass to Scales again.

Regardless, through three games I'm now ready to put the official IH Seal of Approval on Mike O'Cain as play caller. For three weeks we've watched the Virginia Tech offense take what the defense has given them for four quarters, when what the defense has given them has been different in every game.

I approve.

As for the running game, I refuse to press the panic button like so many others seem to be doing. The offensive line did not get great push against Arky State's defense, but again I'll say it's tough to get push against eight men in the box. The Red Wolves were selling the farm to stop the run and DW still managed to grind out 88 yards and a touchdown to compliment the passing game. Plus, we all did watch the ECU game, right? Dude was probably a little tired. And he ran for 300 through the first two games. So, yeah, no worries on the run game from me.

Defensively... 

This team could win if we had Sean Glennon. I can give no higher praise than that.