So long 2010 season...but here's one for the road
by chicagomaroon on Sep 14, 2010 3:57 AM EDT
in Virginia Tech Football
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PrintI'm so tired of hearing "Well give the Dukes credit for what they did." I'm not about to take anything away from them, but when you start talking like that, it makes it sound like they were some UNSTOPPABLE force, and that you could not beat them no matter what. That was not the case here. All they did was run a simple little read option and watch our offensive line and defense put the metaphoric gun to our own head.
It's hard to say where this ranks among our most painful losses in the Beamer era, but it's up there if not at the top of the totem pole. Despite how painful it is for me to stomach and even talk about (I think I'm still dreaming), I will try to explain and give meaning to what we will remember as the darkest day of modern Virginia Tech football...I hope (no ill-advised Nick Saban September 11 remarks, I'm sorry).
For all intents and purposes our 2010 season is over before it started, which is extremely disappointing because of the overall level of talent we have and the expectations that were rightfully established after the 2009 season. As it has been written, no matter if we go undefeated from here on out, the national championship trophy that will continue to elude us is long gone, the status of the Virginia Tech program has taken a hit, and no matter what the end result, every fan will remember the season being tainted by this inexplicable and easily avoidable loss.
Additionally, in becoming only the second ranked team (boy isn't that soon to change NOTE: I began writing this Saturday night) to lose to an FCS team, we are drawing many comparisons to the only other team to do it which was Michigan. Even though Spencer Hall of SB Nation said in the What They're Saying that this was not a bigger upset than Appy. State over Michigan, I have to completely and categorically disagree.
No offense to James Madison, but they are nowhere near the team Appalachian State was! People talk about JMU (who finished last season 6-5) like they are really great, but Appalachian State won 3 consecutive national championships, and that Michigan game was during that span. That team produced NFL talent in Tim Hightower, Dexter Jackson and Armanti Edwards. In fact, I maintain that the Michigan game was not an upset from the standpoint that it is not an upset if the guys on the other side of the ball just flat out cannot catch the guy with the football (Armanti Edwards, who is the fastest player I've EVER seen with pads on live!). That was not the case today.
So let's try to make some sense of this...
- Stiney again gets a little bit of a reprieve because of the conditions.
- Better distribution amongst our talented corps of backs. No offense to Ryan Williams, but when he wasn't making any headway in the Boise State game, I would have liked Bryan to vary it up a bit with another back, even if just for another series instead of just running our head full steam into a wall again and again.
- Was not at fault for any of the 3 turnovers.
- It was another incredibly unimaginative, predictable lackluster Stiney performance. We actually looked more pathetic vs. JMU at home than we did against Boise State in D.C. There's a lot wrong with that equation, and I'm not even close to solving for x yet, but let's hope for our sake that Bryan Stinespring is a math whiz!
- Would it kill you to throw in a screen? C'mon man! They work! They do! I promise!
- I know that we want to improve the left side of our line, and I know that we thought we would win this game handily, so trying to establish that is okay by me. But when you're in a nail-biter with a FCS team and you keep doing that, that's either really ballsy or really stupid...or both. Every major run on the day that didn't involve Ryan Williams or Tyrod Taylor pulling a rabbit out of their backside occurred to the right side of the line. That's too much correlation to be a coincidence for me. RUN RIGHT!
- For all the poor blocking the offensive line is doing, Stiney is compounding it by not allowing pressure to be taken off. Again, Stiney, read above! SCREEN! DRAW! RB IN THE FLATS! PLAY ACTION! PLEASE, DO SOMETHING!
- Where did the option go? No seriously, where did it go? Have we run any more than one option play in two games? When Michael Vick was BMOC the option was a staple of our offense. Especially considering our speed at QB and RB, and our difficulty pounding it inside, we need to get creative offensively, which would make me want to see a whole lot more option! And if we establish it, well guess what? Option pass opens up! YAY!
- Remember how a few weeks ago David Wilson was not redshirted, and the coaching staff vowed to get him touches by putting him at flanker, running him in the wildcat as the slot/h-back (player that comes across on the motion), and giving him carries out of the backfield? Has anyone seen this, because I haven't. Welllllp...looks like it was another classic bluff by Beamer and staff. Yeah, they bluffed themselves into thinking they could change and get this playmaker the ball without totally wasting a year of eligibility. Two games in, the joke is on us.
- One of the biggest issues with this game is not just the problem of losing to JMU and the stigma that comes with it, BUT ALSO it inhibits the growth of younger players who may be called to step into the fray later in the season and beyond. Even if every player just saw one play, that's one play of game experience that they would have gotten. And you cannot simulate game experience, even if it's against JMU. How much good do you think Logan Thomas could have gained from this game? I'm guessing a lot! But now with the season and the 10-game streak in the balance, who foresees Thomas getting any snaps going forward? Who would they come against? This game was imperative for his development and yet he never saw the field. Big loss on that front, especially considering Tyrod's gone by year's end and it looks like Thomas is the guy. Stiney's not the only one to blame for this too. Bud's D was not anything resembling a D, and we'll get to that, but Bud's second unit could have used some more time too. So Bud, this is against you too! (I don't feel like re-writing it for his evaluation).
- If you can think of one, let me know. His hair looked pretty awful throughout since it was soaked. Looking bad and getting humiliated on a national broadcast (well, it was the internet, but still)...that's not a game to remember.
- Where to begin...well first, the aforementioned bad hair day.
- His inability to get his troops prepared and motivated for battle. I'll even concede that it's hard to get a team with this much talent to subscribe to the fact that every game (even one against James Madison) is a fight and that you can lose. But, usually a team realizes that in the first quarter, not after it's already happened. Not only was it bad preparation going in, but look at the Virginia Tech sideline in the second half. Did you see Darren Evans after the fumble? That was a great play by the JMU defender (he put his hat right on the ball), and nothing that Darren could have done. Yet he sat there sulking with the rest of the guys accepting the loss as if there was no changing it on a team full of playmakers resigned to the fact that none of them could make a play. As a head coach, you've gotta get your kids up! I MEAN SERIOUSLY!? GET UP! You're playing for respect, your program, your integrity as men and football players! That's all on the line! And you're telling me you can't get them charged up to play? A person like that should not be the head coach of a football team. You can make what you want out of that, but I'm sticking with that statement without going further. That's why Bobby Bowden is no longer a head coach and why Paterno hit a brick wall before he moved into the press box.
- Last but far from least, if it is true what the insiders of the Tech program tell me about Stiney's lack of control over playcalling and his offense, Beamer has A LOT MORE to answer for than does Stiney.
- Foster was doing Beamer's job of riling the kids up in this one, but that's no surprise. Bud is always an emotional shoot from the hip kind of guy.
- There were times (especially early on), where Bud's D not only looked okay, but looked pretty good.
- Although I think Hopkins (the elder one) is better than Kwamaine Battle (who the commentators were mysteriously referring to as Kwame...how do you get Kwame out of that...there are 3 extra letters that they just ignored on multiple occasions), his injury did seem to affect us for the worse, at least from the standpoint that we played worse after he left.
- As terrible as Bud's D played, this is his hardest rebuilding job I can remember. Many people liken it to the 2008 squad, but if you look, even guys who were first year starters like Brett Warren, Purnell Sturdivant and eventually Cody Grimm all had pretty considerable experience. Compared to this year's squad, only Lyndell Gibson and Eddie Whitley have comparable experience. Add in injuries and a second unit that Bud publicly berated by saying he only trusted four of them, you've got our current predicament. Bud's not at fault for that stuff. But, you cannot begin to tell me...
- ...That even if those guys are your best 11 out there, you wouldn't get them out of the game to at least TRY something else, make some kind of adjustment to get them to read and react to plays better and to...
- TACKLE! PLEASE SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, TACKLE A GUY WITH THE BALL! These are Division-I football players, so trust them or not, Bud should have absolutely diagnosed the tackling problem and gotten other guys in there. If I'm a D-Coordinator, I'm always telling my guys "no matter what, no matter how many guys I have to bench, there is no shortage of guys on this team that can tackle!"
- I'm actually going to say that Bud may have been too lenient with the players missing tackles on the field. I'm not advising constant public humiliation of players or being berated in front of their teammates, but sometimes it just HAS to happen. This was one of those times. I would have Beamer call a timeout so I could call the whole defensive unit to the side of the field and teach them the fundamentals of tackling like they were four years old, even if I have to make an ass out of myself. Think that would get their attention? I'm not above ANYTHING that works. It may be too much for some people's tastes, but at halftime of a 2007 Minnesota Timberwolves game, former GM and legendary big Kevin McHale came down to the team's tunnel after a miserable showing. Sarcastically clapping, he yelled out at PF Craig Smith, who played big minutes due to Kevin Garnett's foul trouble "Hey, great job out there Craig! Yeah, you had one more rebound than a dead guy!" Like I said, that may be too much, but for me, if I were playing any kind of sport again, you had better believe that in the second half I would be a man among boys out there and my coach would get the absolute best out of me.
- We have got to take better pursuit angles to the ball, especially on plays where we have it contained and multiple players stack one direction and over-pursue. Give him no lanes to go through and don't try to predict which way a player will go. Especially when you've got a play contained with multiple defenders, you need to stay at home and let the ballcarrier make the first and fatal move.
- Play through the whistle. This is just terrible. The 78-yarder should have been stopped for a loss, partly because of what I said just above (we had it contained and then several players overcommitted), partly because of some of the worst tackling I've ever seen, and partly because our players for whatever reason don't want to play through the whistle. This game it was on D, but in the Boise State game, on the last drive where the punt was returned down the sideline and they eventually picked up the flag, our guys just attempted to corral him instead of knocking him out many yards beforehand. Was it because of the penalty flag? The fatigue? Both? Either way, it's unacceptable.
- The biggest strategic error on Bud's part is that he is bringing the blitz way too often and going for the big play with the same frequency. Already we have been burned for huge runs up the middle because we stacked the box, blitzed, and had no support if we missed...which every single one of our players did. I know you want to get off the field and make a statement, but the risk is far greater than the reward. As I wrote this, I thought back and remembered a disproportionate amount of long runs beating our D over the years, and I guess now that could be attributed to this. But the frequency that they have occurred with so early in this season is scary! I know you can't be yourself without blitzing Bud, but mix it up and be a little bit more conservative with it.
- Furrer4heisman and everybody else who has highlighted the tackling is absolutely right! Bruce Taylor (although has had two terrible calls go against him in the first two games) and Jeron Gouviea-Winslow can't tackle or cover to save their life. Especially Winslow (he doesn't deserve the extra time for the hyphenation) who looks absolutely pathetic out there on the field. They are among the many culprits who are missing tackles at a CRAZY rate. These kids are D-I college football players! They know better than to go in high for tackles, yet they keep doing it!
- I know that the coaches can't help it if players don't execute (to a certain extent), and as TheKeyPlay noted, certainly the Tyrod pick and fumble and the Evans fumble were not the coaches' fault. But, when those things keep happening, it absolutely is the coaches' fault. I have to say that I am more pissed from a preparation and adjustment standpoint, both of which I fault the coaching staff for HEAVILY!
- Did anyone see Ryan Williams' quote? According to CBSSports.com and ESPN.com, Williams is quoted as saying "I don't know what's going on. I really don't." Sounds like the problems go a lot deeper than on the field on gameday here. I'm not so sure we can just up and turn around this mess if our best player is saying this. It sounds like for the first time in a looooooong time we've got some locker room and chemistry problems.
- With that said, if we tank this season is anyone interested in TEAM DIVIDED bracelets to counter the 2004 TEAM UNITED? Cause if so, I'm your guy!
- I really think this may be the end of the Beamer era of dominance. We've had teams talented enough to take us over the top but didn't live up, we've reached the pinnacle of our recruiting success with the team on the field right now, it's going to be very hard to convince Commonwealth prospects that we are the elite program in the state and one of the best in the nation when we can't fend off FCS teams at home, and I think teams have finally figured out how to beat Beamer. His gameplan is very static. This James Madison win proves that there is a roadmap for beating the Hokies under Beamer, and with the increased availability of technology and exposure of a team's tendencies, teams will be downloading that map to their TomTom (no more MapQuest for them) and getting their directions easy-peasy. Right turn ahead ECU.
- Remember when I said last week that we should retire the black jerseys and never return to FedEx field? Well I think we now need to scrap those fugly white ones on Herma's Readers' Day. We always play pathetic in those things.
- It will be interesting to see if any redshirts are lifted in an attempt to save the season, particularly on the defensive line, where stud freshmen Nick Acree and Zach McCray are talented enough to come in and make an impact immediately.
- Unfortunately, I see us being 0-3 after this weekend. As much as I hope that this is rock bottom, I watched ECU's first two games, and I have to say they are almost as potent as Boise. I just don't know if we can stop them. You remember the running back and wide receiver that ran all over us two years ago in the opener? Yeah, they're still there.
- I don't want to be one of those people who loosely throw out the "Fire Stiney and Fire Beamer" statements, but as Hokie fans, we do not deserve the inordinately high number of letdowns that a football program of our stature endures. It is unacceptable, and I implore you to not let the Beamer shtick of "we are sorry for our fans" and "we are disappointed for our players and our fans" and "we're still a good football team" and "this won't define our season and we still have plenty to play for" to suffice and ease your mind as if it never happened. That is just Beamer talking in circles, and it lets him close ranks and validate what he and his staff are doing, even with tempered success (like if for instance we finish the season 8-5 again). We can't just let his good-natured persona and his attachment to the program give him a free pass. Changes MUST be made. Are those changes firing Stiney and or Beamer? I don't know yet. But believe if we lose this weekend that I will be screaming from the mountaintops for their heads as should you. I'm not saying revolt just yet, but everybody be on standby.
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Thank you...
I know we’re supposed to stay positive but thank you. Was “Hokie Respect” the beginning of the end?
Yes.
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 Sep 14, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Here's the deal...
Frank Beamer is a stubborn hard head. Period. Now, his hard-headed ways were good for VT football 10-15 yrs ago, when he was ahead of the curve, but like this post said, the rest of the world has caught on to Beamer’s plan. Big time college football, like pretty much everything else, is very Darwinian. In order to survive, you must be able to adapt. The dinosaurs that are now extinct, were hard-headed. They just weren’t going to put on a coat even though the earth was cooling, because, by God, short sleeves had been good enough so far. Same thing with Beamer. He is too stubborn to adapt. He has a fat contract through 2016, and he’s just not working OT like in 1995. I hate it, because if it comes down to forcing Beamer out, it will get U-G-L-Y. Bobby Bowden, anyone? However, I’m loyal to VT football, not a coach. And just because Beamer is not going to put on his coat, doesn’t mean VT football has to left out in the cold.
by Leonard Thompson on Sep 14, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions
Tim Hightower went to Richmond
Get your facts right.
Fixed
Thanks
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Sep 14, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
This is all getting to be a bit much...
I am as frustrated as anyone with the start to the season. I believe, as many do, that Beamer’s loyalty to his staff (read: Bryan Stinespring) has hindered Tech’s ability to play up to its talent level on offense. But this “fire Beamer” stuff I see popping up on blogs this week is just crack-addled lunacy. Many Hokie fans have developed a sense of entitlement (which Beamer ironically helped create) that is completely out of whack with reality. They act like there’s some grand championship tradition of VT football going back decades, and that the head job in Blacksburg is some coveted jewel like Alabama or Michigan. Reality check: for all practical purposes, Frank Beamer IS the history and tradition of Virginia Tech football. No one at Tech even knew WTF the words “national championship” even meant before he showed up. The fancy additions to Lane Stadium? The national love from ESPN, etc? The money for Seth Greenberg’s contract…Frank Beamer made it all happen. The assumption that the VT football program has the cache to attract another coach of his caliber simply by posting a want add, and that a change would be likely to result in more success and not less, borders on delusional. The only real chance for continued success with this VT football is to allow Beamer to leave whenever he is ready, helping with the transition on his way out. All this “fire Beamer” crap amounts to a bunch of malcontents who got emotionally invested in a 12-0 season before it had actually happened throwing a childish tantrum.
by BleauxLeaux on Sep 14, 2010 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Well Said!
Things have gotten a bit crazy in Hokie land. While this year has certainly sucked, I remember losing to Miami (oh) and Temple (at Homecoming!). We actually have much more of a tradition of sucking than of being champions. I get fairly tired of all the NC talk all the time. I kinda miss the 56K stadium and the immobile QBs and the runs up the middle (oh wait, we still have that…) The point is exactly what BL just said-this is not Alabama or USC, so lets not lose our minds here.
Mutiny a bit much right now
I agree with most of what chicagomaroon wrote. There is no question that the majority of the blame for the way this season has gone thus far is coaching.
1) There is no good excuse for the ill-prepared, sloppy product that Beamer and his staff put on the field the last two weeks, and I am bored of Beamer’s “we just didn’t get it done….we need to get things righted….the effort is there…..I believe in this team…..the season is long” soundbites.
2) There is no credit due JMU. To the contrary, there is only blame to place on Beamer and his staff for their coaching negligence which resulted in Hokie Nation being humilated. This wasn’t a talented and scrappy JMU team that surprised an unsuspecting Div. 1 team with impressive play. This was a demoralized and unmotivated VT team that played like garbage and caused JMU to look great.
3) For years I’ve given Beamer the benefit of the doubt when it came to the major disappointments that came around. I just considered the disappointments something every program has and luck has a lot to do with it. I kept telling myself that recruiting is getting better and better and pretty soon it will all fall into place with a national title. Lately, I am starting to inch over towards the belief that Beamer is one of those coaches who is very good and well respected but may never quite put it all together.
4) Without Beamer or Bud at the helm, I think VT would be in trouble. I think it is a BIG mistake to assume that we could bring another top coach to Blacksburg who would take the program to new heights in a short period of time. It’s not like VT is a sexy place for national recruits to visit. Beamer and his staff do a LOT to put together great teams from good players. We are fortunate to have a great coach who usually comes through with very good seasons and teases us with national title dreams every few years. I just hope he puts together a team that demonstrates what we all think he’s capable of before too long. Patience is wearing thin.
Yeah, ouch, don’t know why I mixed that up, but I guess it’s because I was at a Richmond-Appy. State game. Thanks VTHOKIE2002
No worries
I wish he did play for Appy State. At least them it would help our argument a bit more……
Spot on BleauxLeaux. Nobody is arguing that it isn’t the house that Beamer built (or the program for that matter), but it’s interesting that you bring up Bowden. I don’t subscribe to the fact that you dip to mediocrity just to show loyalty to a coach. Are going to follow the Bowden plan at FSU? Like I said, I’m not saying fire Beamer, I’m saying Frank needs to adapt to prevent becoming a dinosaur like Bowden and Paterno as Leonard Thompson nailed above. Change is a MUST, because whether or not he was the one who put those expectations in place, they are here to stay!
I agree wholeheartedly that changes are in order. Losing the BSU game was tremendously disappointing, but losing at home to a I-AA team with the talent Tech currently has on its roster is a whole different animal. VT has grown dangerously complacent about an offense that doesn’t produce up to its ability because they’ve gotten away with it for so many years. Now, the defense and special teams can’t make up the difference and we’re running in to big problems. I’d love to see Beamer do something to shake things up; but like many I’m not sure that he will.
What I find objectionable are the lynch mobs that are forming that want to completely gut the program (which is exactly what calling for Beamer’s job amounts to) and start over.
I am not advocating a Bowden model (head coach in waiting; years of speculation) so much I’m in favor of letting him say “You know, I think this is my last year, I think so-and-so would be a great fit for you guys” when he is ready. Also, I just can’t qualify a two game skid, no matter how upsetting, as meaning the program has suddenly “dipped to mediocrity” after sixty-plus wins and three BCS bowls the last six years. This idea that axing Beamer is going to be the magic cure that puts us “over the top” (not that you’re saying it, but I see it implied a lot this week) is a dangerous road to go down. I think people are thinking with their wounded pride more than their brains.
Agreed
Certainly the consistency cannot be replicated, and I don’t pretend to have any fantasies about someone coming in and replicating Beamer’s success. And like I said, I don’t want to be one of those people that just loosely throws around the “fire Beamer” chants. I agree, we can’t really quantify an 0-2 start. It’s way too small of a sample. But obviously I’m writing from an emotionally charged up state, and I would rather see a slew of 8-5 or 9-4 years with a national championship sprinkled in with less painful losses and minus the flat starts than continued teasing and disappointment. Obviously I would much rather do it with Beamer, but there is no indication that he is willing to make the necessary changes. If for nothing else, the calling for him job should be to motivate him to perform by making changes.
by chicagomaroon on Sep 14, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Changes
I don’t know if firing Beamer is the right course of action, but changes definitely need to be made. On Saturday, I will be devastated again if we manage to lose at home to ECU and drop to 0-3, but a lot of good will come out of it. You will see changes starting from the top…at least I hope you will. But again, this goes back to Beamer’s old school approach…is he really too stubborn to not ruffle any feathers if this program drops to 0-3? Whats most difficult to stomach this loss is that just a week and a day ago, we had serious national title hopes. In that short span of time, two heartbreaking losses have led us to question, are we seeing the beginning of the end of the Beamer era of success? Honestly, I hate to think so, but Beamer has clearly hit his ceiling…1-26 vs top 5 opponents shows a lack of being able to win the games that take you from ACC title talks to national title talks. I am not advocating firing Beamer…as bleaux mentioned, he has done far too much for this program to earn such treatment. But the times are changing, and something tells me Tech needs an emotional leader that will recruit out of the Commonwealth…someone along the lines of Bud. What is interesting to me is, if this team does have a poor year and basketball has an exceptional year, as its panning out to be the case…is this the year we truly see the gap close between football and basketball in Blacksburg? Honestly…I’m more looking forward to getting back in Cassell than returning to Lane six more times this year…and thats saying something.
Sounds like Bud either read my article or is on the same wavelength as I am. And well said steelhokie03.
“It wasn’t the structure of the defense and they’ve got to perform. We’ve got so many young kids that they don’t know. They think they know the expectations. They think they know how to work as major-college football players, but they don’t. Somebody has got to lead them and it’s got to be me.”
Change is good
I get the loyalty to Frank Beamer and, to a point, I am willing to give him credit for the moderate success Virginia Tech has enjoyed during his tenure. But Michael Vick is responsible for putting VT on the national college football map. Sure, Beamer recruited him, but the resulting 11-1 season and appearance in the national championship game was not because of coaching – Vick and the rest of the athletes on that roster improvised their way to a shot at the title. Players like that make coaches look good, just like bad players make coaches look bad. Since that 1999 season, everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – at Virginia Tech changed. Admission standards went up with the huge jump in applications, Lane Stadium grew, and recruiting became MUCH easier, as all it took was a visit to Hampton Roads and a Michael Vick VT jersey and those players were sold.
Now, we’re seeing the result of Frank Beamer actually having to work for, and grind out wins (or gut-wrenching losses). He’s being out recruited by UVA and UNC, Stinespring should not have a job at any college level, his teams are full of show-boating, trash talk, and personal fouls, “Beamer Ball” is a distant memory, we are losing games we should win to ECU, JMU, and NC State, and we can’t find a way to beat teams like LSU, Alabama, Boise St., Georgia, and USC, that would help to legitimize not only the program but our conference in general.
In 1992 we were 2-8 and called for Beamer’s head. What we got was wholesale change (except for Beamer) in the staff and the mentality. In 1993 we were 9-3 and won the Independence Bowl. It’s not that we expect perfection every year, but it would be nice to see this program add a signature win to the resume every once in a while, without throwing in the devastating loss for good measure.
50-50
It’s true that the program really took off beginning around the time Mike Vick and we have had a whole bunch of great players since then. I don’t think Mike Vick is the main reason VT recruited so well over the past 10 years. But Bud Foster’s defenses have also made waves for a while now and I don’t know how much of that can be attributed to Mike. Obviously, this team built its reputation on defense and special teams.
I also question the claim that Virginia and North Carolina are outrecruiting VT? I don’t follow recruiting too closely, but everything I have read the past few years says that VT has been crushing UVA in recruiting since the 90’s that it is hardly even a competition for talent. Has UVA all of sudden become really competitive in recruiting with the new coach? I do acknowledge that Butch Davis appears to be getting some great players, but how many of those recruits were VT targets? I’d be curious to know.
I do agree that Beamerball is a distant memory and I don’t know why. I pine for the days when we’d block a kick in almost every game. Now, it has become somewhat of a rarity. I also miss the days of players like Corey Moore and the other great defensive line players that had swagger, would terrorize QBs and cause a lot of turnovers. Those players haven’t been around lately.
I guess the bottom line is that the program is coming to a crossroads. It built up a great reputation and has been on the verge of joining the elite for a few years. Beamer built up a lot of credibility and people have been waiting to see where his career ends up. The teams have now faltered in a few very important games that everyone saw as stepping stones to the top and now the entire program is being questioned. The next 2-3 seasons will be very important to the overall reputation of the program.
Of course, the really funny thing is that we are all very concerned now about the direction of the program but there is probably just as much a chance of VT winning a title in the next 5 years as there is the program sinking into perpetual mediocrity. We just really don’t know what to expect because of this year’s 2-game debacle. If we win a title in the next 5 years, we will be calling Beamer a genius again.
Two things
I don’t disagree with what you said except for two things…
1. We are ABSOLUTELY being dominated by UNC in recruiting, at least presently, and in my opinion we are being beaten by UVA in this year’s recruiting as it stands. It’s not a huge advantage, but the Cavs have 21 commits to our 11 (I’m not counting Justin Taylor who is prepping and not truly a member of this recruiting class) and have taken several PRIORITY VT targets. Don’t discount Virginia’s recruiting before this year though. Remember, one of the reasons that Groh was let go was because of his failure to have his recruiting success translate to success on the field. They have put out a steady crop of talent to the NFL that rivals ours based on how high their picks go compared to our lower round but more players taken situation. I’d have to say we hold the upper hand in that department, but it’s close. Certainly a lot closer than you’re giving it credit for. Here are some links to some articles and commitment lists on Rivals.com that may change your mind.
2. I don’t think we are likely to win a title in the next 5 years. For one, we are breaking in a new quarterback and as it stands, every impact player offensively that we have will be gone in a matter of 3 years. So it’s hard to project the future, but I don’t see it happening. We’d have to have an extreme amount of luck reloading with these guys…luck that frankly, we’re not having on the recruiting front.
This is this year’s UNC recruiting class to date
http://rivals.yahoo.com/virginiatech/football/recruiting/commitments/2011/northcarolina-6
This is this year’s Virginia recruiting class to date
http://rivals.yahoo.com/virginiatech/football/recruiting/commitments/2011/virginia-8
This is this year’s VT recruiting class to date
http://rivals.yahoo.com/virginiatech/football/recruiting/commitments/2011/virginiatech-16
These are the two recruiting updates I have done for Gobblercountry
http://www.gobblercountry.com/2010/6/19/1474853/virginia-tech-football-recruiting
http://www.gobblercountry.com/2010/8/8/1525786/virginia-tech-football-recruiting
by chicagomaroon on Sep 14, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed...
You’re right. Offensively, Beamer and his staff cannot put up the points without Vick at the helm. I don’t believe Beamer should get fired, because I believe he deserves the chance to try and fix this offense. If the offense continues it’s mediocrity this season (and so far, there is no indication that the offense will get much better), especially with the talent we have at EVERY position, changes MUST be made. Three key areas need to be addressed:
1) Play Calling… I so agree with ChicagoMaroon. Can we see a short or intermediate pass? Please!!!! Run, Run, Bomb, Punt. Run, Run, Bomb, Punt. Bryan Stinespring, You are on Notice.
2) Offensive Line… Year after year, pass blocking is atrocious. Combined with inability to run block to the left, and the O-Line is the Weakest area on this year’s team (and that’s saying something). Curt Newsome, You are on Notice.
3) Quarterback Play… Taylor, Glennon, Marcus, Randall, Micheal, Clark, and Drunkenmiller. Only Drunkenmiller can be considered a good passer. You’ve had your chance, Mike O’Cain, You are on Notice.
by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Sep 14, 2010 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Mike Vick can pass
Did you see the Eagles play on Sunday against last year’s NFL DMVP Charles Woodson? He was legit…just needed time in the pocket, which he NEVER had at VT.
Two plays that will work regardless of the o line quality
1. Option
2. Screen pass
Haven’t seen either this year…………..
We've run some
zone read option out of the shotgun, but Tyrod rarely keeps. We tried to run a screen pass to DE against JMU and it failed worse than most of the plays we ran in that game, which is saying something.
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by furrer4heisman on Sep 15, 2010 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
From the minds that brought you Seth Greenberg's contract extension...
Frank Beamer here until he retires
I almost find it comical
that anyone could even semi-seriously suggest that VT should fire Beamer.
No one is happy with the season so far, but comments of that nature border on lunacy.
Does the offense need a spark? Absolutely.
Replace Stinespring? In a heartbeat.
But Beamer is going to stay at VT until he chooses to retire and dadgummit, he’s earned it.
by Brush Mountain on Sep 14, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions
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