2010 Virginia Tech Football: What to Watch vs. East Carolina

The Team

• Last week I said I was watching to see if the team came out flat or motivated. Well, they certainly came out flat. Now I'm watching to see if they're embarrassed and angry at their own performance last week or if they've quit. I really hope it's not the latter.
• Again, like last week, I'm interested to see what personnel we'll see against East Carolina. Will there be any substitutions on the offensive line or in the linebacker corps? Will we finally see left tackle Nick Becton or whip linebacker Alonzo Tweedy on the field? Will Logan Thomas play?
• How many plays before the Hokie fans boo their own team?

Virginia Tech Offense vs. East Carolina Defense

• We didn't show much of anything against JMU, so I'm looking to see what the offense does to become less predictable this time around. Do we show one look and motion into another?
• I want to see if Tyrod Taylor keeps making lazy, sloppy play fakes or if his play is more crisp against the Pirates. Also, will he continue to underthrow receivers? His underthrows weren't a problem against Boise State because they led to pass interference calls. Against JMU, they cost us six points on fourth-and-two.
• Look for the Hokies to try and attack the middle of the field, both in the running and passing games. Tulsa was able to get a consistent push against East Carolina in the opener, so there's no reason we shouldn't then again, last week the line couldn't do much of anything. And in that Tulsa game, East Carolina was without both of its backup defensive tackles, Michael Brooks and Antonio Allison. Both are bigger than the starters at DT and I expect both to see time in this game.
•  The middle of the field will be open for Virginia Tech's receivers and tight ends. Tulsa killed ECU over the middle, getting mismatches against the Pirate linebackers. Look for the Hokies to try and do the same, both with Andre Smith and with guys like Danny Coale and Marcus Davis. I'm interested to see if the Hokies will run any more four-receiver sets and get our flankers open down the middle.
• As for the running backs, I think the rotation is pretty much set. We're going to see David Wilson for one or two drives and we're going to see Darren Evans when Ryan Williams needs a rest, but for the most part, Williams is the man. If one guy gets hot, Billy Hite will go with the hot hand. But with this offensive line, it's been tough for any one back to get rolling.
• When Boise State started jamming the box and stuffing the run, the Hokies ran a couple of screens to the outside the get the Boise defense to respect the pass. It opened more room for the backs. However, we never did that against James Madison. If ECU starts putting eight or nine in the box, I'd like to see Stinespring go back to those screen passes you all hate because they should get some yards and open up the field.
• The problem with the Hokie offense isn't that they're trying to do too much, it's that they're trying to do too little. I don't think the solution is going out and playing Virginia Tech football. We tried to do that against James Madison, didn't do it effectively and turned the ball over. 
• If we can get a consistent push against their defensive front and our receivers can get open, things will improve. If we run plays that set up other plays and give our players a chance to succeed if they execute, things will improve. But if we keep pounding the ball into the middle of an inadequate offensive line or run long-developing pass plays in obvious passing downs, things will not improve.