Boise State 33, Virginia Tech 30: Morning After Stream of Consciousness
by furrer4heisman on Sep 7, 2010 12:45 PM EDT
in Virginia Tech Football
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PrintFirst of all, thanks to Mark for actually mustering up the courage to write a post last night. I just shut it down and watched Hoarders. Also, a huge thank you to Sir Patrick in Florida for making me feel better about myself. I may take Virginia Tech football too seriously, but at least it's not dolls.
Random Things:
- At some point today, one of my friends is going to get punched in the throat. Sometimes it's just gotta happen. A good throat punch always makes friendships stronger.
- On the unis: The helmets looked sweet, but the numbers didn't work for me. The circuitry fade-pattern looked fine on the pants and shoulder stripes, but didn't look good on the numbers and made them hard to read at times. The visibility of the numbers were my biggest complaint.
- Stop scheduling non-cupcakes for the opener. Just quit doing it.
- This season is far from over. While the national title is out of reach, the conference title isn't as long as we improve. However, if the players feel like the season's over we're going to lose three or four more games. It's up to the coaches to keep that from happening.
- Let's see. In the first quarter we had a botched snap, had a punt blocked, had a kickoff go out of bounds, made some inexcusable mental errors in special teams and made life pretty easy for Kellen Moore. A whole lot of that boils down to coaching and having your team ready to play. And I'm convinced there is no coach in this country better at having his team ready to go than Chris Petersen. Every time I watch Boise State, they are prepared for everything that's thrown at them.
- That said, I have a feeling we're going to play like garbage against James Madison.
- I really wish OBNUG would just send over their post for the blog bet so I can start posting about the Dukes.
- Yes, I realize that every time we lose a game it's Bryan Stinespring's fault and every time we win it's because of Bud Foster. I got that memo long ago. There's no need to re-send it after every game. Thanks.
- While we're on that subject: It's B-r-y-a-n S-t-i-n-e-s-p-r-i-n-g.
- Continuing on that subject: The one play call that was absolutely horrendous was the decision to pass on 3rd-and-8 at our 33 with a little over two minutes to go in the game. Yeah, if we get the first down, the game's over. But Boise State had no timeouts left. If they had one left I'd be all for going for the first down and ending it. But since BSU couldn't stop the clock, they would have gotten the ball back with about one minute to go if you run the ball on that play.
- Surprisingly, the Stiney Screen actually worked in this game. After the first one in the second half, which was stopped for no gain, we gained a first down on it the next drive and might have had a nice gain on it on the next play if Jarret Boykin hadn't slipped.
- Those screens also forced Boise to not clog up the middle as much and gave Ryan Williams probably the only running room he had all day.
- We couldn't run to the left or up the middle at any point during the game, but runs to the right weren't failing nearly as dramatically as Mark pointed out during the game thread. So it was really frustrating to watch us try and run to the left side on nearly every down.
- Tyrod Taylor was a man possessed last night and should have erased any doubt that people had about his abilities as a quarterback. He led the Hokies back from a 17-point deficit by completing 15 of his first 18 passes and running for 85 yards (with sacks taken out). It was one of the gutsiest performances we've seen from a Tech quarterback and if he'd had some help he would have come away victorious.
- Our offensive line is horrible. Their D-line was as physical as advertised and we got manhandled. If there isn't some serious improvement up front it's going to be a long season for Williams, Taylor and Darren Evans. Two-point-nine yards per carry. Every year we hear how this O-line is better than last year's and how everything's going to be fine and the world is filled with lollipops and balloons. And then every year the O-line is terrible again. Of course, next August we'll fall for it all over again.
- That was some of the worst tackling I've seen from a Virginia Tech defense. Bud Foster said before the game that his fear was shoddy tackling and he turned out to be spot-on. We had a lot of guys going for kill shots or grabbing at the ball instead of trying to bring guys down.
- We didn't hear John Graves' name a whole lot during the game. That's never a good sign.
- Steven Friday did a decent enough job of getting pressure on Moore after the first quarter.
- I actually though Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, Rashad Carmichael and Antone Exum played well. JGW's pass coverage was good for the majority of the game.
- We couldn't defend any passes to the middle part of the field, meaning we have issues with our middle linebackers and free safeties in pass coverage again. Although I did think Davon Morgan had a decent game.
- Take away the 71-yard tribute to arm-tackling and we still have up 4.2 yards per carry, which kind of surprised me. I thought we did a good enough job of stopping their run game when it mattered, but we were never able to stop their run game consistently enough to make them one-dimensional.
- So how do we fix the defense? Is it as simple as fixing the missed tackles? It was in 2008 when the defense did the same thing in the loss to ECU and struggled early only to rebound to win an ACC title. The defense might be fixable if we cut down the missed tackles and shore up the middle of the field.
Hey, Boise:
- Your team is certainly ready for prime time, but your fans aren't. That's the only thing I'm going to say on the subject.
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Boise State Fans...
I am a Boise State fan who tries to remain level-headed and humble. Just curious – did you encounter obnoxious fans at the game or on the message boards/comment sections? Bronco fans have a tendency pound their chests after games like this from the perceived lack of respect the Bronco’s receive.
I thought last night was an excellent game between top 10 teams. Boise State is lucky to have Kellen Moore at quarterback and Chris Petersen as head coach.
Tyrod Taylor was magnificent last night – especially after VT spotted us 17 points. Now that VT is off our schedule, I’m excited to see how he plays through your ACC schedule.
Best of luck through the rest of the season.
In all honesty, the fact that you guys were ranked #3 to begin the season should say BSU has arrived and is respected. We all saw the wins over Oklahoma, Oregon, etc. The media is giving BSU love. Herbstreit and Musberger were driving me crazy last night in the first quarter with the BSU lovefest.
I used to root for BSU to win, but that changed last year. I can’t root for them anymore, which is a shame because they are my brother’s favorite team (he is stationed in Boise). Once the fans stop acting like the world owes them something, then I’ll be more than happy to root for them again.
I’m sorry if I sound bitter, I’m just tired of BSU fans that ended up over here talking crap. And this is in no means a shot against you personally.
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 7, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I blame the internet
I start off thinking, “yeah, we have a nice team, probably top-25, could compete most days against team in the country, though we’d lose a lot to the Longhorns and Gators of the world, but hey who doesn’t?”
Then I read somebody who’s all, “Boise State doesn’t play anybody, their two/three star recruits are pussies, why don’t they ask to play in the Pac-10, etc., they don’t belong on the same field as a real team like Virginia Tech or Oregon.”
So I overreact, get defensive and am all like, “we’re the bestest team in the history of the world, bitches,” even though I know that’s not true.
We want to build a university our football team can be proud of. -- Dr. George Lynn Cross
Boise fans
From my experience (ie. reading OBNUG), most Boise fans have just had a little too much success too fast. Other than the Georgia blowout, they have never dealt with real disappointment in CFB.
Whose fault was it?
“Yes, I realize that every time we lose a game it’s Bryan Stinespring’s fault and every time we win it’s because of Bud Foster. I got that memo long ago. There’s no need to re-send it after every game. Thanks.”
— My .02. The defense and special teams lost it for us, and I think blaming the OC only goes so far. Tech hung 30 on Boise State. Most teams can’t say that. Offense (read: Tyrod Taylor) kept us competitive. Didn’t see any BSU runs around the ends other than the wildcat snap and maybe one or two others. Arm tackles. Miscommunication.
— In some ways there were some things that the defense just couldn’t help. On quite a few plays, Kellen Moore just put the ball in a spot where he expected his receiver to be, and the receiver was there, making the cut after the ball was in the air. Secondary had
— Kellen Moore isn’t God. He was accurate at times, and some times he was not, particularly when he’s hurried in the middle of his first read. Tech just wasn’t in position to pick it off.
— Concur with the competely asinine call on pass on 3d and 8 at the end of the game. 45 seconds is a big deal. Should have called on Tyrod to carry the team on his shoulders one last time.
Was being facetious
because people who call for the offensive coordinator’s (or anyone’s for that matter) head every time we lose annoy me to no end.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Sep 7, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Its not every time we lose. Its the fact that he can’t adjust his game when the game situation changes. Last night was a perfect example of that. Once the offense got settled down (and I don’t think that is really something he has all that much to do with) he got into a play calling rhythm that worked. It worked fantastically, but because Tyrod Taylor played like a man possessed. Who knows how many of those TT awesome plays were busted bad calls. Whatever. The game was going fine (for various definitions of ‘fine’).
But with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter and a slim lead, he didn’t adjust his game plan the way the clock, score, and talent level of the opposing team dictated. You alluded to this in your post (see also: trying to run down the left side all night.) A similar thing happened on the last ‘drive’. No creativity within the game situation provided. There was time to move the ball and give the passing a chance. Instead, we just went deep 4 times, timeouts be damned. That is my big problem with him. He has had 700 bajillion years to learn to adapt. At this point, it just is not happening. If I’m going to see those kinds of mistakes I’d rather see them from a greenhorn OC.
On a separate point, I completely blame Bud Foster for not calling a timeout when the defense couldn’t tell up from down on Boise’s last drive. I’m sure he was trying to save the timeout for the offense, but there is not much point in doing that unless you are resigned that they will score. If you are that resigned, just let em have it and keep the time on the clock, otherwise, call the TO and get the defense’s collective heads screwed on straight.
Fire Bryan Stinespring!
Its time to make adjustments for lack of adjustments
Well spoken. Your analysis is on point. You must be a coach or something like that.
If football coaching staffs were a democratic republic I would petition for a recall vote on all incumbants and try to create enough momentum to vote out the offensive play callers. I agree, year after year it seems that they do not adjust to diffiicult real time situations in the prime time critical games.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Things that I noticed as an upcoming opponent
-Your OL looks shoddy. Tyrod on a scramble showed that Boise didn’t have the most athletic defense so how did they beat your tackles and guards off the ball every freakin’ play.
-WR’s look solid.
-RB’s gotta step up. They may have “lost weight” or whatnot but they’ve gotta give you more on the ground. Maybe this was a playcalling issue as you guys seemed to be content with trading complicated motion plays and formations with Boise rather than sticking to your O identity.
-Tyrod has progressed more than any other four year ACC QB I’ve seen since P. Rivers or Matt Schaub. Should be relatively safe NFL pick up in 2011.
-Defense really wasn’t that bad other than coverage. Your blitzes landed home. It looked like a young defense not a bad defense.
-Special teams lost the game for VT, imo.
That’s it. Peace dudes.
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
No arguments here
D has a lot of promise, just needs to reach it.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Sep 7, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
From a BSU fan...
I sincerely appreciate the back and forth exhanges over the last few months. Almost every VT fan from this blog has had intelligent, insightful comments. Trust me, this is a far cry from our (OBNUG) experiences with the Oregon fans leading up to last years opener. I am sorry you had a bad experience with some of the people you have come across but please know that while there surely are some overzealous knuckleheads the majority of us are not like that.
On a separate note, Tyrod Taylor was very impressive last night. If VT is able to resolve some of the OL problems from last nights game that offense is going to be scary good.
While the VT defense looked a bit out of sorts at the outset last night they settled down fairly quick and played solidly for the majority of the game. Trust me, we understand how you feel about the arm tackling issues. BSU went through some of that last year allowing teams to rack up ridiculous rushing yards at times.
I have enjoyed the exhcanges and will be watching VT throughout the remainder of the season. I expect that the Hokies will run roughshod through the rest of their non-con schedule and the ACC. Good luck on the remainder of your season.
BSU fans are now VT’s second biggest group of fans.
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 7, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
The call to throw on 3rd and 8 wasn't puzzling
Tyrod had a good night throwing, you put it in your QBs hands, etc. But why not something that will almost definitely be a completion, such as the slot WR screen that had been working all night.
the second down call was worse. You just gained four yards running with Evans and you call a QB counter run, a play that develops 4-5 yards behind the line of scrimmage? Line up, do the Virginia Tech thing and POUND IT.
Pathetic Play Calls on Last 2 posssssions
It’s like the VT offensive play callers get brain freeze in the critical moments of big games like this. The 2nd to last posession was the turning point. One more first down and the game is over. Even my wife knew not to call that covered pass play on 3rd and 8.
Frank Beamer was just on the Radio blaming the mental mistakes of the players. He failed to mention the obvious … Why on the 2nd to last drive did you go totally away from what had worked to get you back in the lead?
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
so agonizingly close to just bleeding the clock out
Give me two runs with Williams or Evans and I’m pretty sure we can get the 6 needed yards. Even though they’d been stuffed all day they were finally gaining some good yardage on the ground.
Agony is correct ... so close by nornal football standards but this is VT football
Honestly now, though it seems so obvious to us, it still seems that the VT play callers did not recognize it in real time, or perhaps they felt that the nature of the task was to simplistic and straightforward that it couldn’t be the right course of action for them to take at that time.
It’s like that need a real smoe (a joe plummer) in their midst during crunch time in big games to help them see the trees in the forest, to keep them from overthinking the next play.
I’m grasping at straws here, trying to find some way to ratationalize this in my mind.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Was an Williams/Evans backfield utilized at all? That’s a triple threat in the backfield.
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 7, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
a couple times
but for marginal gain.
remember we were getting nothing from running the ball with Williams, Evans and Wilson until late.
We were actually gaining some momentum in rushing the ball late in the game, but that is when you really need it most. There seemed to be some types of running plays that were more successful than others. Boise clogged up most of the off right tackle plays. We had some better success running the left side. My plays on the 2nd to last drive, 2nd/3rd down would have some type of Taylor bootleg/draw or that funky direct snap play to 34 or perhaps that quick WR screen that seemed to alway get 5 or 6 yards.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
i would have lined up in I and run it
you have success doing it. I don’t want a shotgun run that develops 4-5 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Make the defense beat you, don’t beat yourself. if you’re lining up in a power set and the defense stops you, then the other team has earned it. Win or lose, I will never complain about an OC having his offense line up and try to run the ball up the gut to win a game. Never ever.
But Stinespring just can’t get pretty in that situation. We’re not Oregon, we’re not Texas Tech. We’re Virginia Tech. We’re supposed to be best at lining up and pounding the ball against the defense’s will.
I thought he called a pretty good game, actually, until that fateful possession.
When we were in the I
and tried to run up the middle, there was nothing but massive fail. Their DTs snuffed out anything between the tackles. We got some success when we starting throwing those screens and got their LBs to move away from the middle a little bit.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Sep 7, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
we were getting yards late in the game
Evans had just run for four yards the very play before. And earlier on that drive we had run three times in a row with Williams and got a first down.
I just don’t like running a QB counter on that second down. It just makes no sense.
Well, no
the QB run on 2nd did suck. I’m just saying they were eating us up between the tackles the whole game. If we line up in the I and run it, we still probably don’t get the first, but at least BSU has 40 fewer seconds to do something.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. Gobbler Country | Twitter | Facebook
by furrer4heisman on Sep 7, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
i'll take my chances with williams or evans up the middle over a QB counter and a pass.
Evans was good. He only ran thrice, but for 12 yards. Its reasonable that they didn’t want to run him too much and the way he was carrying the ball was frightening, but I still can’t get over what could have been on those two plays.
Were you even watching the game
They were not moving the ball rushing it straight up the middle. Why waste two vital plays at the end of the game conceeding defeat.
What makes you think it would work at that point. Tech needed a first down guys in order to win the game. They needed plays to get 10 yards. Why go away from what was actually working. (And again…. Rushing Williams up the middle was not working.)
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on dude… our offensive line couldn’t open enough a gap for a fly much less a hole for a running back all game … running straight at them. The only things that worked were from the shotgun with Taylor improvising (not actually going back to simply thow). I would not have gone away from that.
My Taylor action/bootleg play would have been a “Taylor you think run first, throw only if the guy is wide open and you have no option of running”.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Evans missed a huge Block
On 2nd and 6, the quarterback designed run to the right, Evans run straight past the corner, blocking nobody. If he blocks the corner, Tyrod gets to the outside, it’s 3rd and 2 at the worst, but more than likely a 1st down. Instead, the corner contains Tyrod, forcing him to try and split the corner and end, we lose two yards. 3rd down and 8.
I think the 3rd down and 8 was the right call, just wasn’t executed. We had one on one on a sideline route that we had success on all day. I just would have preferred Boykin getting the call, not Roberts.
I have to give Stiney credit, he made the right calls, mental mistakes cost us a chance to run out the clock.
by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Sep 7, 2010 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Execution Mistakes
Sanity has come to the post. Thanks. I was too emotional to notice the missed block and lack of execution by the players. I jumped straight to blaming the coaches. I will look at the TIVO and see exactly what broke down at the end.
by UB on Sep 8, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
same wavelength
I couldn’t agree more with both of the points you made – the 2nd down call was insane and I agree with the decision to throw on 3rd down but why that lower percentage route? Those are the differences between a good OC and not.
MadJay
www.techsuperfans.com
Watch the replay
I thought the call was horrendous until I watched the play again this morning. If Evans blocks the corner, and Taylor can get to the outside, the game is OVER, or almost over (probably still have to pick up 2 yds on 3rd down).
by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Sep 7, 2010 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Now I'm more upset
I have found that I am more upset now than before. I prefer blaming the coaches than actually finding out that the call was good and the lack execution of a single (seemling routine & simple) bock by a marquee player may have actually caused VT to loose the game.
OK … don’t loose control UB … stop thinking conspiracy. This was not a mafia/gambling thing … or a thing where Boise State can screw with the BCS National Championship selection in December or was it.?
by UB on Sep 8, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
From another BSU fan...
I have nothing but respect for the Hokies and for the fans of VT. Most long time BSU fans (20 plus years) are well acquainted with disappointment. It’s mostly the recent band wagon fans who excel at being obnoxious. I hope to see VT as the ACC champions. Tyrod Taylor was incredible, even better than advertised. Good luck and best wishes from one Boise State fan.
I made the call before the VT Loss
I attended VT in 1978 and as a freshman, roomed in Amber Johnson with my best friend. We attended all the VT football games until graduation. Times were tough for VT football back then … until the arrival of Bruce. After college we drifted apart and ive in different states now. We basically only communcate now during VT football season.
When VT failed to get the first down, punted and gave the ball back to Boise State at their 40 with 2 minutes to go in the game I called by former VT roomate and conceeded the loss. It was after midnight, but I knew he would be up watching the game and would answer the phone.
It was prophetic. We both knew that VT would lose at that point and we laughed and joked and cursed the day we actually started believing VT would win a big season operner against a good team. Seconds after we hung up, the final touchdown by Boise played across the TV in real time, but to me an him it felt like deja vu’.
Early dashed hopes .... again
Hopes get dashed so quickly in college football. The next two games for Va. Tech provide no real sense of excitement. By losing the first game of the season again, you, as well as the rest of us fans already know that Va. Tech has no chance of winning a national championship again this year.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
there's still the slimmest of chances
but its not even worth thinking about.
Spoken like a true fan !!
My heart is with you… I too am a true fan. Though the lost last night nearly breaks my heart and after the game, before i go to bed I curse the loss, saying that I give up … I will not watch another game.
I wake up, peak through the schedule and say … if we win the rest of the games and really beat up on Miami ….
There is still a chance this year.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha, I know that feeling.
I lay in bed till past 3 AM last night agonizing over the game. I’m still disappointed but I’m pretty excited to see what happens against JMU.
The ACC is our goal year in and year out. Gotta take care of that before we move on to anything bigger.
I hear you...
I was laying there until 4am myself replaying the game in my head. Very rough. I haven’t watched ESPN or listened to Sports Talk radio at all today (and might skip it a few more days…).
I think back to last year’s Alabama game. My mindset after that game was, “welp.. it was exciting.. let’s see how the rest of the season pans out..” A pretty quick turn of the page.
Today I have a completely different mindset than following the ‘bama game. I still haven’t thought of of the exciting possibilities this season can still bring.. (lets face it.. an undefeated ACC team still probably wouldn’t have made the BCS NCG).
Kellen Moore's last drive was a great one
and I’m thinking to myself, when was the last time we had a methodical game winning drive? Or hell, even a successful two minute offense?
Nebraska last year was complete fluke and mayhem. Bombing it 83 yards and then losing 10 and running around for 20 seconds and scoring isn’t really a drive, as exciting as it was.
I remember the Nebraska comeback. It was pure luck. It just proves that our play calling sucks down the stretch when we need it most.
That’s why I made the call to my former roomate early, when Boise got the ball back. My best hope at that time is that we would allow Boise State to score early, perhaps on their very first play, that way we would at least have enough time to get the ball back, go 3 and out and punt to them again and perhaps at that 2nd punt we could get a turnover or fumble or something that we could score on. I knew the VT offense would not have enough composure to mount a 2 minute drill and dri ve down the field. In all my years of watching them play in big must win games I have never seen them execute a methodical comeback 2minute drill to win.
by UB on Sep 7, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Stop scheduling non-cupcakes for the opener.
This was supposed to be the 3rd game of the season…..thanks a lot ESPN for getting it moved up.
With that said I don’t think that Hokie Fans have anything to hang their heads about. We were a good young team that got beat by a good experienced team. As usual, if we can win the remainder of the season, and Miami is as good as they are predicting, mark your calenders for 11/20/2010. The sniff of the BCS Championship Game may still be in the air!
Instead, Let's Have a PLAYOFF
You think Boise would want to see us again at the end of the season? Boise earned 13 of their 33 points. We gave them 20 (fumbled snap, missed assign on block punt, running into the kicker + personal foul, and kicking it out of bounds after we finally score).
But you’re right, if this is game is in the middle of the season, after testing the inexperienced athletes against mediocre teams and fixing the kinks, there’s no way VT loses.
by Chazz Micheal Michealzz on Sep 7, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
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