Virginia Tech 41, NC State 30: Postgame Stream of Consciousness

by furrer4heisman on Oct 2, 2010 9:50 PM EDT in Virginia Tech Football

So how many of you were ready to rip everyone on this football team at halftime? I know I was. I was ready to rant, rave and go off on anyone and everyone involved in what was surely going to be a debacle for the Hokies. Well, just like we saw the last two weeks, both sides of the ball came around in the second half, this time delivering the largest comeback by Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer.

Oh, there are still plenty of things that need to be addressed, but for today, we probably need to just chill out and enjoy the fact that we're 2-0 in conference with four of our final six ACC games coming at home.

Make no mistake, nothing will come easily for this team this year.

The Positives

Tyrod Taylor leading Tech into the end zone when down one late in the fourth quarter. After an abysmal first half, Tyrod improved his decision making and helped the Hokies score 34 second-half points.
Darren Evans, who finally ran like he did in ~~2009~~ 2008 and averaged over 10 yards per carry while pounding the NC State defense. Evans led the way offensively in the second half along with Tyrod.
Jayron Hosley. Not much more you can say about three interceptions. He made one mistake in the first half, but was great the rest of the game, especially in man coverage.
Antoine Hopkins, who was a force in the middle when he needed to be and finished with two tackles for loss.
Antone Exum played well in man coverage. He was called for a couple of pass interference calls, but both of them were questionable.
Special teams, which finally got its act together with the exception of a missed extra point. David Wilson returned a kickoff for touchdown, Brian Saunders had two punts downed inside the 20 and Justin Myer was able to get the ball deep consistently on kickoffs.

The Negatives

We came out and played terribly on both sides of the ball in the first half. We didn't match NC State's intensity, which is on the coaching staff. It's up to the staff to have the team ready to play from the get-go and that didn't happen. Again.
Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, who was poor in pass coverage again when he was out there. We didn't see much of JGW in the second half.
The offensive line, especially in the first half.
The receivers, who struggled to get open and ran some lazy routes out there. The best example was on Nate Irving's sack of Tyrod late in the second quarter. Tyrod had plenty of time and Danny Coale was coming across NC State's zone coverage when he pulled up and eventually came to a stop when Tyrod wanted him to continue his route to the vacated sideline.
Our clock management, which was atrocious when we were ahead by one in the fourth quarter. Trying to run out the clock, we tried to go deep on second down, when deep passes weren't working the entire game. I just don't get it.
Tyrod's accuracy. He missed high a lot throughout the game and it eventually cost him with the interception that was high and off Andre Smith's hands.

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Comments

I was absolutely ready to rip them a new one come halftime. Also, Darren Evans ran in 2009…? I think that’d be 2008, but you’re right, he was back to that kind of effectiveness AND some. Looks like he’s added some to his top-end speed.

by chicagomaroon on Oct 2, 2010 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook

by furrer4heisman on Oct 2, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

That language is offensive to me!

Haha, hey this could be between us. You don’t have to do that! It can be stricken from the record. But, aren’t you glad I did this when you’re on an emotional high after a win and not like after JMU? See, now you do feel better. Also, I thought about saying BOOM like those stupid new Nike commercials, but then I realized I don’t like them and there’s no reason to get that excited about a year’s difference.

by chicagomaroon on Oct 2, 2010 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

So sick of Tyrod

Let the Logan Thomas era begin.

Of course, the coaching staff will just screw him up too.

by VTinACC on Oct 3, 2010 12:07 AM EDT reply actions

Just Crazy

All Tyrod does is give this team a chance. I’m 100% convinced, without a running back at quarterback in the Beamer/Stinespring/O’Cain offense, that the offensive production would be so much worse. But I do agree, Tyrod is not a great quarterback, but he sure is a hell of an athlete and he keeps many drives going with his shifty running. My biggest question, however, is why does he run out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage? THROW THE BALL AWAY.

by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Oct 3, 2010 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Tyrod was terrible to start the game. Especially the second one, where you could pin the problems on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down all squarely on his shoulders. Overlooking wide open receivers, holding the ball too long, inaccurate with his passes… But then without him at other points we don’t win the game, either. So it’s a love-hate thing…

by hokiegrad on Oct 3, 2010 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

No Tyrod?

Wait, what? Sick of Tyrod? I feel like the guys in Semi-Pro clamoring for blowjobs because Monnix wanted them to stop playing specifically for that end every night. They all said “What? I vote that we keep those blowjobs!” Likewise, how is Tyrod Taylor a bad thing? I mean I was his harshest critic at once, but I’ve done a 180 on him. He’s tied for the all-time lead in wins in Tech history, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that would have occurred without him.

by chicagomaroon on Oct 3, 2010 12:42 AM EDT reply actions

Both of you

are right. There would no good ending WITHOUT Tyrod at the controls, HOWEVER…….Logan NEEDS to get some snaps ASAP.
BTW, is this a sophmoric discussion, do we we have to talk about BJ’s to make a point…….just saying.

by mhubb on Oct 3, 2010 8:18 AM EDT reply actions

Told you so...

Never had a doubt about this game. Vegas knows the Hokies.

I’m seeing negative comments on Tyrod. You people are ridiculous. With this team, these coaches, Tyrod is the only reason that VT is in any game that they play. Without TT, yesterday would have been a blowout.

by Leonard Thompson on Oct 3, 2010 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

one name.

Sean Glennon. I wonder how bad the score would have been if we still had or had a QB like Sean Glennon? Yes, TT seems to make similar mistakes each game; I blame him AND O’Cain/Stinespring. It seems to me that if TT had been better coached up, these bad decisions might not be as prevalent.

by JMUHOKIE on Oct 3, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

This is why I worry about Logan Thomas. Unless Logan is a freakish athlete like Vick/Taylor, or the coaches change, or Logan is inherently a genius QB, I believe he is going to struggle. We’ve never seen a VT quarterback develop into a polished quarterback during his collegiate career. I have no reason to believe Logan is going to be any better, and it has nothing to do with Logan’s potential or ability. Brings me to this question:

What if VT wins out? Goes 12-2 and beats the terrible Big East champion in the Orange bowl? Our offense still plays well below expectations, does Beamer have the guts to get rid of Stinespring/O’Cain?

by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Oct 3, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

No change will happen unless we have 2 to 3 bad (i.e., no bowl game) seasons or Beamer retires (but we also don’t know what Foster would do if hired as HC – we can speculate, but that’s it).

I think a lot of people would have given a pass to Stinespring this season had he continued with the offensive progression that happened last season instead of going back to the same absurdly conservative/bad red zone production that Hokie fans have become used to over the years. Heck, after the bowl game, most people were rather pleased with what the offense was capable of doing – and then this season started.

I realize Beamer’s philosophy is a strong defense and conservative offense and that’s not going to change and trying to get him to change will be about as fruitful as being a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest. I just have one question, in the last 10 years, how many teams have won a National Title with that formula?

by JMUHOKIE on Oct 3, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed...the sequel

The only QB that I’ve ever seen improve and flourish recently for VT is Bryan Randall. And still, he relied on his natural abilities in a lot of situations. What’s weird to me is that VT runs a very 1990’s style offense, and yet they look for mobile 21st century QB’s. Why not spread it out a little on offense and play to the mobile qb’s strengths?

by Leonard Thompson on Oct 3, 2010 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

True

Randall did excel. I don’t know if that has anything to do with coaching, Marcus, or himself. He was definitely a true competitor that made the most of his opportunities. He seems to be the exception though, as we can distinctly show Marcus regressing as a QB during the exact same time…

by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Oct 4, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Ohio State when they beat Miami (FL)

Pirates, Vikings, Hokies. I'm used to heartbreak. At least I have the Penguins....

"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-The Great One

by blackjackfishtaco on Oct 4, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

General Question

Does anyone else wonder why we don’t run the option? We have a fast QB and multiple capable backs. It seems to me that the option would play to Tyrod’s strength and spring some monster runs from time to time. Is it that we are concerned about turnovers on the pitch or an injury to Tyrod?

by loa777 on Oct 4, 2010 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

I think it's to prevent injury

We’ve run what looks like zone-read option out the shotgun (which has caused me to throw things and say bad words a lot this season), but it wasn’t really option because he handed off every time. Against NC State, Tyrod finally kept on the option and had a big gain with it. Hopefully we’ll see some more of it if we’re going to continue to run out of the shotgun.

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook

by furrer4heisman on Oct 4, 2010 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

So what does that say about Logan Thomas?

In preseason, they made it seem that Logan was so good, an injury to Tyrod wouldn’t be a major concern. Tyrod is definitely running more than last year though. But some spread option with Wilson would be pretty hard to cover, similar to the Pat White/Steve Slaton combination.

by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Oct 4, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

is it just me or

does it feel like darren evans had the quietest 160 yard/2 TD game in history?

by VT89 on Oct 4, 2010 1:25 AM EDT reply actions

The 54 yard run

was pretty loud. Probably seems like it because he only had 15 carries, which makes the performance that much more impressive.

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook

by furrer4heisman on Oct 4, 2010 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the option is taboo in the land of Bryan Stinespring

I agree Leonard, I always wonder why we don’t use more TRUE option plays. Based on his paper thin Herman Boone-esque (for you Remember the Titans fans out there) playbook, I’d be willing to surmise that Stiney’s not a big fan of the option. If you’ll remember, Ricky Bustle was the OC when the first Vick was in town, and in his book the option was a staple. But, It’s gotta be one of two things. One: Stiney doesn’t like the option no matter the QB. I mean we don’t adapt our offense to a players’ strengths, so this one wouldn’t surprise me at all. But the second possibility, and maybe equally as likely: Maybe Tyrod is just really not that good of an option QB. Although I don’t necessarily have a lot of good will or trust for our staff’s evaluation of offensive talent (see Ike Whitaker, who while he had his problems…and BIG ones, completely took over against the top D in the nation in the 2006 spring game, yet the staff started Glennon. Whitaker who was two weeks on the job after being suspended all spring looked like the next Vince Young! I know he had problems, don’t think I’m trying to disguise that, but does anyone else wonder why he wasn’t the guy at QB? Was it because Beamer was afraid to have another trouble maker at QB?). I swear they must not have known what was in the cards with him, or else it was the situation I laid out right there.

by chicagomaroon on Oct 5, 2010 1:51 AM EDT reply actions

i think the last time i remember the option being a significant part of the offense

was against FSU in 2008…being run by Glennon. Unless I’m mistaken, I remember an option play where Glennon pitched it to Evans a few times and it worked fairly well. It could have just been a fancy looking sweep, though.

by VT89 on Oct 5, 2010 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions