Gobbler Country - 2013 Virginia Tech Football: Alabama Story StreamThe Gold Standard For Virginia Tech Athleticshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50377/gobbler-fav.png2013-09-03T21:53:17-04:00http://www.gobblercountry.com/rss/stream/44202032013-09-03T21:53:17-04:002013-09-03T21:53:17-04:00Roundtable Edition: Lessons From The Alabama Game
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<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In this week's edition of the Staff Roundtable, we discuss what we learned from the Alabama game. See if what we thought hits home with you. If not, call us out on it in the comments section.</p> <p>Here's what the staff have to say about the game versus Alabama:</p>
<p><b>Casey Richey:</b></p>
<p>What I learned from the Alabama game: When all is said and done at the end of this season--preferably sometime in January--I think we'll be very happy with Jeff Grimes' first season. I know the Alabama game is an incredibly small sample size, but it certainly showed a lot of bright spots. The blocking on Edmunds' run was outstanding and the fact that Logan Thomas was only (technically) sacked once was a welcome sight against a tough Alabama defense. The thing that I liked the most, however, was that I rarely saw a lineman standing alone looking for someone to block. I can't say that's true on every play of the game, but more often than not I saw every lineman engaged in a block which is a stark contrast from the daydreaming lineman of olden days. As for the defensive line, they were a revelation. It seemed as each player had a renewed fire, the chip was back on the shoulder. I think they will be a force all season long and make up for any inexperience among the linebackers and defensive backs--which may not be all that much any way.</p>
<p><b>Chris Hatcher (Chicagomaroon)</b></p>
<p>I would venture to say the team is unhappy with how they played against Alabama, given that, if they had just played a little more sound on special teams and hadn't had some serious (though repetitious) gaffes on the offensive side of the ball, they would've made this a real game and we might even be talking about a 1-0 squad coming off the biggest win in program history right now. But that aside, I think there were some serious positives. I knew by the way that they won it, no one for Alabama was happy with the way they won it. Not the players. Not the coaches. Not the fans. And that was confirmed with everything we've heard over the past couple of days. Basically, while we're disappointed, I would say the tenor of the two teams reflects the opposite result (i.e. Bama is a pretty sultry 1-0 and the Hokies are a fairly content 0-1 all things considered).</p>
<p>While there are some big issues going forward, particularly special teams and wide receiver, I think the coaches have already made some corrections to ensure that's a thing of the past. Time will tell if they work or not, but it's tough to come out of that game not thinking the Hokies should be at least competitive in every game they play this year if healthy.</p>
<p><b>Ty Hodges</b></p>
<p>My reaction from this game is somewhat mixed. On the one hand, the Hokies did get beaten by 25 points. I know plenty of fans are using hypothetical scenarios to make the game appear closer, such as, "Well if we just made a tackle on a kick return" or, "Well if we didn't have players hurt on this play." The fact of the matter is that all of those things either happened or didn't happen, for good or for bad. No hypothetical is going to reverse a 25 point loss. Normally it's hard to find positives from a loss like that.</p>
<p>Except in this case, that is. I can definitely point out positives from this game, and I don't have to look very hard for them either. The defense was outstanding and exceeded expectations in every facet. The long touchdown pass was given up when Jarrett was out with an injury. Kyle Fuller was banged up for a brief time. And despite all of the Hokies' offensive woes, they still out-gained the Crimson Tide in terms of yardage. That's a true testament to the work done by this defense. Oh, and this is all before Exum returns to the lineup in a few weeks.</p>
<p>Next, I have to point out the offensive line for their great job as a group. I was expecting this group to get absolutely manhandled against the number one statistical defense from last year. What happened was almost the opposite. True freshman Johnathan McLaughlin more than held his own at left tackle and rarely got beaten hard off the line. Outside of an early reverse pancake on Andrew Miller, he was stout at right guard after moving from center. And David Wang performed admirably in his first game at center after moving inside from guard. Moreover, there was good aggression and leverage in the run game, which helped spark <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds">Trey Edmunds</a>' 77-yard touchdown run. If this group can handle Alabama, they should be able to handle most every team on the rest of their schedule.</p>
<p>Lastly, I have to talk about Trey Edmunds and the job he did. Not only did he have the 77-yard touchdown that I just alluded to, but he also became just the third player in five years to rush for over 100 yards against Alabama. It's worth mentioning that he did that in the first half. He put on a heck of a show as a redshirt freshman and I expect him to only get better as the season progresses. JC Coleman coming back will give the defense another player to have to react to, and this should open up the middle for Edmunds to rumble his way through as defenders respect Coleman's ability to bounce the ball outside.</p>
<p>The offense and special teams obviously need to get better, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Frank Beamer said all of these problems are fixable, and he's correct. There's a lot that this team can build off of and I expect them to do just that.</p>
<p><b>Trevor Greene</b></p>
<p>Aside from what I have already said in my column after the game, I am very encouraged by what I saw from the team. Yeah, it would had been nice for a win, but give the offense and defense credit. They went into the game where everybody expected a beat down, and instead had Alabama fans paying all kind compliments about Bud Foster's defense, and assuring us fans that the offense will be fine. The most ugly aspect of the game, aside from the dropped passes, were delay of the game penalties, two committed by the punt team, if I remember right. However, most of the mistakes committed in the game are fixable, so it's not the end of the world as some of the fans are making it out to be.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see how Loeffler plans to utilize running backs like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159684/j-c-coleman">J.C. Coleman</a> and converted wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159682/joel-caleb">Joel Caleb</a>, especially since Loeffler has unveiled the triple-option attack. It will be interesting to see who will replace <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134480/ryan-malleck">Ryan Malleck</a>, who Beamer said was in line to be a huge part of the offense.</p>
<p>The defense was stout as expected, but the biggest surprise was how well the offensive line held up against a defense that returned nine starters, and given that Grimes named the starting five only a week before the game were just as impressive. I think that nobody was really surprised at Trey Edmunds, but it was enough to give us hope that we finally have a featured tailback who can be depended on for the tough yards. Seriously, how many Alabama players did it take to bring that dude down? It seem to take all eleven players.</p>
<p>All in all, I think we may have a fully competent offensive game plan that highlights areas of strength and masks some weakness. If the offensive line continues to jell and grow, I think they will be scary good when we hit the November slate.</p>
<p>For more staff roundtables and as much football coverage as you can take, <a href="http://gobblercountry.com/" target="_blank">Gobbler Country</a> is the place to be all season long.</p>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/9/3/4692066/virginia-tech-hokies-football-gc-staff-roundtable-what-we-learned-from-alabama-crimson-tideTrevorSGreene2013-09-03T18:34:33-04:002013-09-03T18:34:33-04:00Where The Hokies Dropped The Ball Against Alabama
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<figcaption>Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>For the third time in the five seasons I've been associated with the site, unfortunately the Hokies have started the season with a loss. While I can write about how much of a damper losing the first game puts on the season, it is unlikely that I will write something more salient than <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Casey%20Richey">Casey</a>'s by-the-book <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4681018/alabama-defeats-virginia-tech">post game recap</a> or my impassioned "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gobblercountry.com/2012/10/1/3433058/the-gobbler-country-manifesto">Manifesto</a>" from last year, so I'll spare you the time in that regard.</p>
<p>After the season the Hokies experienced a year ago, a lot of us had to come to terms with what exactly this team is and how much we put into supporting them. Likewise, we all had to concede that it is at least possible that this is the beginning of the end for Beamer. That's what make losses like the one to Alabama on Saturday more confounding than ever. In some respects, the Hokies impressed beyond what many, including myself, thought they were capable of. But in other areas, which need not be mentioned point-by-point, the Hokies appeared to have regressed considerably. It was on the whole, inconsistent -- a team battling with itself and its identity.</p>
<p>Without getting too verbose, we will take a look at the problem areas below, again, not to fixate on the negative, but to provide a roadmap to you readers about what needs to be ironed out going forward. We begin with the wide receiver play.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of how the Hokies played Saturday night revolved around the play of their wide receivers. I think I mentioned on Twitter that it was the worst I had ever seen a unit play at the collegiate level. Perhaps there is something to explain how poorly the receivers played, but the excuse-ridden cover ups by the staff over the last few days didn't hold water. The experience or youth of the receivers in question did not factor into their inability to catch balls or play with the effort required. It had everything to do with dropping balls, not playing hard and to some degree, ball placement. But as the saying goes for receivers, if it hits you in the hand, you have to catch it.</p>
<p>As a result of the drops, Logan Thomas' stat-line was drastically altered and skewed towards the bad. While he did not play a flawless game by any means, he's the scapegoat of the Hokies' effort to upset the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide on Saturday, and given the circumstances, he performed at least on par with what you could expect from a quarterback going up against the best returning defense in the nation. After going back through the game tape multiple times as a staff, we have come to a consensus on how many dropped passes there were and what Logan Thomas' stat-line should have been, using our best judgment on yardage based on where the player would have caught the ball, his momentum, his location on the field, the location both vertically and horizontally to the receiver of the nearest defender(s) and his/their momentum towards the receiver in question. As that is an inexact science, we stipulate that there is a slim margin of error when determining yardage, but generally, think our projections are accurate.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>Total drop tracker: 9</span></li>
<li><span>Demetri Knowles Drop Tracker: 5</span></li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76670/d-j-coles" class="sbn-auto-link">D.J. Coles</a> Drop Tracker: 3 (+2 for stopping the route/slowing down for no reason/moving completely out of the way for the Alabama DB to come right up and pick the ball off)</span></li>
<li><span>Terrell Edmunds Drop Tracker: 1</span></li>
<li><span>Logan Thomas adjusted stats: 16-26 199 yards with 2 interceptions</span></li>
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<p> </p>
<p>Right away, you can see how night and day Thomas' stats would look without the drops. Again, this is assuming all dropped balls were caught, including the two dropped interceptions by Alabama. That may be a bit too much of a perfect world scenario, but it is meant to illustrate how different Thomas' performance could be viewed had the receivers caught the passes he threw to them. The number of drops, however, is beyond troubling, as it was one of the main issues throughout fall camp. Again, it is not meant to single out any one player, and we hope that this group can rectify this issue going forward.</p>
<p>Here, as outlined by our Casey Richey, are some more in depth statistics about the passing game before we move on:</p>
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<p>"By my count, ELEVEN of his 21 incompletions hit receivers in the hands and he had four throw aways to avoid sacks/interceptions. I'm not saying that completely absolves him but if you take away the throw aways, he hit his intended target about 73% of the time, but only 22.7% turned into actual catches. I think the offensive problems go much deeper than Thomas' arm. When you have a 6'4, 235-lb senior that's afraid to stick his arms out in traffic leading your receiving corps, it's not the most encouraging sign in the world.</p>
<p>Here's a quick break down of his targeted receivers (there will also be a more in-depth post on this later):<br>Coles-6 targets, 1 catch, 4 passes hit his hands, 1 stopped running to let Sunseri cut in front of him<br>Knowles-10 targets, 2 catches, 5 hit hands, 3 were overthrows<br>Edmunds-3 targets, 1 catch, 1 hit hands, 1 short hopped throw<br>Stanford-2 targets, 1 catch, 1 overthrow<br>Parker-1 target, 1 overthrow (where Parker and the Alabama DB got their feet tangled)"</p>
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<p>That's pretty damning.</p>
<p><b><i>UPDATE: HERE WERE FRANK BEAMER'S QUOTES REGARDING THIS ISSUE FROM THIS WEEK'S ACC PRESS CONFERENCE:</i></b></p>
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<p><b><i></i>How many of the incompletions were actual incompletions from Logan Thomas and how many drops did you see?</b></p>
<p>Beamer: I'd rather not get into particulars. We need to be more consistent in catching the football. We're going to work hard this week throwing a lot of balls. The guys have done it before. We've seen those guys be positive players so we just have to get back to being a positive player now.</p>
<p><b>Were you happy with the way Logan threw the ball and was it more on the receivers?</b></p>
<p>Beamer: Yeah, for the most part. Even on the interception we had poor spacing and ran a poor route, which caused the interception. In the game we thought they fooled us, but really it was just our team not executing, lining up correctly and not running the correct route at the proper depth. Overall, I thought Logan did a good job. We're going to work on his read progression but overall Logan did okay</p>
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<p><b><i></i></b></p>
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<p>As for another possible cause for Thomas' performance, we will analyze the average down and distance of the Hokies' third down plays against Alabama.</p>
<p>1st possession: 3rd and 10</p>
<p>2nd possession: 3rd and 14, 3rd and 10</p>
<p>3rd possession: 3rd and 4</p>
<p>6th possession: 3rd and 6</p>
<p>7th possession: 3rd and 1</p>
<p>8th possession: 3rd and 1, 3rd and 4 (turned into 3rd and 9 with delay of game penalty)</p>
<p>9th possession: 3rd and 7</p>
<p>10th possession: 3rd and 5</p>
<p>11th possession 3rd and 11</p>
<p>12th possession 3rd and 9</p>
<p>13th possession: 3rd and 2, 3rd and 10</p>
<p>(4th, 5th and 14th possessions not included, as the Hokies did not reach 3rd down on either the 4th or 5th possessions and Logan Thomas was not in the game for the 14th and final Virginia Tech possession)</p>
<p>The final average was just over 3rd and 7 (or just under 3rd and 7 if not tacking on the delay of game penalty). That's a fairly long distance, on average, to be dealing with on 3rd down, and almost certainly requires a passing situation (which the defense knows is coming) each time.</p>
<p>Speaking of delays, that was another troubling aspect of the game on Saturday. While the Hokies did well enough as a whole in not committing penalties, the delay of game penalties were particularly troubling, and the coaches share blame with Logan Thomas, A.J. Hughes and the up-back on the punt for allowing the clock to run to zero with timeouts available to use.</p>
<p>The 4th and 5 delay of game on the punt in the first quarter was due to an audible by the up-back and no one realized the time on the clock, including the up-back and Hughes. No coach took a timeout. The same thing was true for 3rd and 4 at the Bama 17 with 4:10 in the 2nd. The Hokies absolutely CANNOT HAVE THOSE PENALTIES! COACHES HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION THERE IN CASE THOMAS/HUGHES ISN'T!</p>
<p>One other interesting note is that according to Hokiesports, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76674/james-gayle" class="sbn-auto-link">James Gayle</a> was not credited with a single statistic on the night, despite playing over half of the snaps. As disruptive as it seems he was, after going back and watching the tape, the only things I could find is that perhaps there were a few QBH's (quarterback hurries), depending on preference, and possibly two assisted tackles, but nothing more. Basically, Gayle had a big impact on the game without registering a single statistic and this is a prime example of that cliché.</p>
<p>Lastly, not to beat a dead horse, but Knowles really struggled on kickoff return as well. So much so that the staff put other guys out there in his place as the game progressed to try to get a different look or make something happen, and while it wasn't definitive, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159648/der-woun-greene" class="sbn-auto-link">Der'Woun Greene</a> seemed to be an upgrade at least in the interim. Knowles' biggest issue (aside from having to go up against Alabama, which really limited how much room he had to work with) seemed to be that again and again he ran the same way on the kickoff, going east and west for way too long before cutting it upfield. On one occasion when he had the perfect opportunity to get outside and be 1-on-1 with a guy/get a big return, he turned it up into a bunch of traffic. He is capable back there, as he displayed a year ago, setting single-season records for yardage and scoring on a long return TD against UNC, but Saturday was not his best display in that area...or any area for that matter.</p>
<p>There are, however, some who really deserve to be honored for how they played on Saturday, and to those players, we will award game balls, even in a loss.</p>
<p>Game Balls: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76672/tariq-edwards" class="sbn-auto-link">Tariq Edwards</a>, Kyle Fuller, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/203113/kendall-fuller" class="sbn-auto-link">Kendall Fuller</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114772/jack-tyler" class="sbn-auto-link">Jack Tyler</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76671/j-r-collins" class="sbn-auto-link">J.R. Collins</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds" class="sbn-auto-link">Trey Edmunds</a> and the entire offensive line.</p>
<p>For more football coverage than any other site, <a target="_blank" href="http://gobblercountry.com/">Gobbler Country</a> is your Virginia Tech landing spot over the next three months and beyond. Make sure to tell your friends (half-jokingly of course)<b>.</b></p>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/9/3/4682040/virginia-tech-hokies-football-analyzing-breakdown-passing-game-vs-alabama-crimson-tide-odds-and-endschicagomaroon2013-09-01T12:26:58-04:002013-09-01T12:26:58-04:00Key blocks clear way for Edmunds
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<img alt="Alright, Trey. Take this thin and run as fast as you possibly can. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SQUq_bgCRh5rVXj_xTJOZthkLuI=/0x185:4000x2852/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18801769/20130831_ajl_sz2_044.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alright, Trey. Take this thin and run as fast as you possibly can. | Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>If the blocking on Trey Edmunds' touchdown is a preview of things going forward, Virginia Tech should be very happy with Jeff Grimes. </p> <p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158209/t-j-yeldon" class="sbn-auto-link">T.J. Yeldon</a> had just scored from two yards out to put Alabama up 14-0. The Hokies were having trouble finding anything positive on offense. The first play from scrimmage following the kickoff had some excellent blocking and really put a spark in the Hokies. Though the final score wasn't in favor of Virginia Tech, there were several positives from the opener against Alabama. Namely the play of both the offensive and defensive lines.</p>
<p>We'll break down the excellent execution that lead to a 77-yard scamper from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds" class="sbn-auto-link">Trey Edmunds</a>.</p>
<h4>The video:</h4>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XZWDc45Xof0" height="315" width="420"></iframe> <br id="1378052098712"></p>
<h4>The breakdown:</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140363/edmunds-1.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140363/edmunds-1_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Edmunds-1_medium"></a></p>
<p>(click photo to enlarge)</p>
<p>Alabama lines up with eight in the box due to the multiple options (Logan Thomas, Trey Edmunds, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134453/darius-redman" class="sbn-auto-link">Darius Redman</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114751/willie-byrn" class="sbn-auto-link">Willie Byrn</a>) in the backfield for the Hokies. The two linemen to watch in this clip are Andrew Miller and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114774/laurence-gibson" class="sbn-auto-link">Laurence Gibson</a> on the right side of the line. Gibson is lined up opposite defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158238/dalvin-tomlinson" class="sbn-auto-link">Dalvin Tomlinson</a> (#54), while Miller's first responsibility is the linebackers--<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131858/trey-depriest" class="sbn-auto-link">Trey DePriest</a> (#33) in this case. Look at how quickly Andrew Miller is off the ball and ready to get into the next level, clearing the way for Gibson to do his job.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140371/edmunds-2.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140371/edmunds-2_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Edmunds-2_medium"></a> <br id="1378051023260"></p>
<p>(click photo to enlarge)</p>
<p>As the play develops, Gibson drives Tomlinson to the left side of the field and Miller takes his man further upfield. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115118/jarrick-williams" class="sbn-auto-link">Jarrick Williams</a> (#20) is caught having to play it safe and watch Logan Thomas and Willie Byrn in the event that Logan keeps the ball and runs to the outside with Byrn. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115126/c-j-mosley" class="sbn-auto-link">C.J. Mosley</a> (#32) reads the play well and begins to make his way towards Edmunds. Darius Redman comes across and gets just enough of Mosley to keep him from making a play on Edmunds.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140379/edmunds-3.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140379/edmunds-3_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Edmunds-3_medium"></a> <br id="1378051193294"></p>
<p>(click photo to enlarge)</p>
<p>It's hard to see the Alabama defenders in this one, but trust me. Gibson has effectively taken his man out of the play and Redman is laying a block on Mosley to delay him long enough for Edmunds to hit the hole. As I mentioned to chicagomaroon yesterday in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4679158/virginia-tech-hokies-football-losing-jc-coleman-injury-alabama-crimson-tide-2013-chick-fil-a-kickoff#181546649">comments section of his post</a>, one of Edmunds' best traits is that he sees holes quickly and has great acceleration through them. He bursts through the hole created by Gibson, Miller and Redman and with his speed, that's all she wrote.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140395/edmunds-4.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3140395/edmunds-4_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Edmunds-4_medium"></a> <br id="1378051394314"></p>
<p>(click photo to enlarge)</p>
<p>As you can see in this reverse angle, look how far Gibson has pushed Tomlinson down the line. Keep in mind that Tomlinson started the play on the opposite side of the line, but Gibson's blocking got him out of the way and cleared a sizable hole for Edmunds. In the video above you can see that Miller's man eventually gets around him and is in the vicinity of Edmunds, but by that time Edmunds is already kicking it into high gear and DePriest is still having to fight off Miller. Miller did a great job of making sure he was between DePriest and Edmunds for as long as possible while still keeping any yellow flags off the field.</p>
<p>Excellent, clean blocking the whole way round that gave Edmunds an opportunity to use his best asset and burn his way down the field for a touchdown.</p>
<p>I'm sure you could pull a handful of plays from last night that show the opposite, the offensive line missing blocks or letting up on them early. But as the offensive line's blocking has long been a sore spot for the Hokies, seeing something this well executed is encouraging.</p>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/9/1/4682510/film-room-key-blocks-open-hole-for-edmundsCasey Richey2013-08-31T23:06:24-04:002013-08-31T23:06:24-04:00What Does The Loss Mean? Nothing Much
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<img alt="Trey Edmunds is a load to bring down." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Tmr1FRonPdSusB_dF-ImWRSIuHY=/2x0:3996x2663/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18774127/20130831_ajl_sz2_060.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Trey Edmunds is a load to bring down. | Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While the game did not go in favor of the offense tonight, there were quite a few things to consider from this point. Bud Foster's Lunch Pail defense came ready to play, and the certain parts of the offense were perhaps the biggest surprises tonight. Read on for Trevor's take on the game.</p> <p>Well, it wasn't exactly a blowout that everybody in the universe said it would be. Take away two special teams touchdowns by Alabama, the score would have been much closer and more indicative of the game than the final score.</p>
<p>Bud Foster's defense has simply been outstanding. While the injuries and attrition may have depleted aroster of some depth, they did not shy away from hitting, tackling, and making life miserable for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78259/a-j-mccarron" class="sbn-auto-link">A.J. McCarron</a>, registering a total of four sacks. Kyle Fuller simply had the game of his life tonight. Fuller made sure his presence was felt early and often, blanketing Alabama's best wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158213/amari-cooper">Amari Cooper</a>. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114772/jack-tyler" class="sbn-auto-link">Jack Tyler</a>, who is becoming a force to be reckoned with, has become a solid anchor in the middle linebacker role. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76672/tariq-edwards" class="sbn-auto-link">Tariq Edwards</a>, who has battled all career-long with injuries, looked like his old self after shaking off some rust. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/203113/kendall-fuller" class="sbn-auto-link">Kendall Fuller</a> is a rising star and should become an MVP before long. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76673/brandon-facyson">Brandon Facyson</a> was quiet, but he should form an outstanding tandem with Kendall Fuller once Kyle Fuller exhausts his eligibility.</p>
<p>Special teams, unfortunately, has continued to be plagued by poor tackling and giving up angles. If Frank Beamer, long-time special teams coach, doesn't get this fixed, expect for fans to continue to call for change in that area.</p>
<p>The biggest story, however, has been the offense. Let's talk about the dropped passes. Coles and Knowles, by my estimation, who received about 90% of the targets, dropped far too many passes that killed promising drives. Poor Aaron Moorehead, the Hokies' wide receivers coach, has got to be developing ulcers after seeing those dropped passes. Moorehead is going to have to make some tough decisions going forward. Knowles is not a reliable receiver in spite of having the speed of a roadrunner. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76670/d-j-coles">D.J. Coles</a>, playing the role of a H-back and wide receiver, had a mixed game, but was responsible for the interception that was returned for touchdown.</p>
<p>The offensive line, long a weak link in Blacksburg, was solid across the board. They only gave up one sack the entire game, against a defense that returned nine starters, and was solid in pass protection. More importantly, the run blocking was outstanding. The offensive line, with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76682/david-wang" class="sbn-auto-link">David Wang</a> as the center, made terrific push all night long, and the offensive linemen kept fighting until the whistle, a departure from last season's woeful offensive line unit.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds" class="sbn-auto-link">Trey Edmunds</a> is going to be a stud. Edmunds exploded out of the backfield for a 77-yard touchdown run that stunned the Alabama's crowd. I nicknamed Edmunds Judge Dredd a while back, and tonight, he showed the world why he is a star in the making. Edmunds should be either flirting with or breaking David Wilson's single-season rushing record by the time the season is over if he keeps this up.</p>
<p>The most important thing going forward, Hokies, is for the team to use the loss to Alabama as a springboard going forward. They have shown they can play against one of the premier teams in America. The rest of the ACC better take note, because the Hokies are coming, and they are coming HARD.</p>
<p><b>Trevor's Game MVP</b></p>
<p>Defensive: Kyle Fuller.</p>
<p>Offensive: Trey Edmunds.</p>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4681240/virginia-tech-hokies-football-alabama-crimson-tide-trevors-column-offense-gives-hope-going-forwardTrevorSGreene2013-08-31T21:11:52-04:002013-08-31T21:11:52-04:00Alabama downs Hokies 35-10
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qjm_MA0xm_YS_Etc6eGpXHqsCvM=/0x252:3232x2407/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18773911/179120901.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown from Christion Jones were just the beginning of the miscues for Virginia Tech against No. 1 Alabama. Though the game finished at 35-10 , it doesn't mean it was all negative for the Hokies.</p> <p>Alabama was in control from the start. Winning the coin toss, holding Virginia Tech to a three-and-out to set up Christion Jones' 72-yard punt return for a touchdown. Jones would later return a kick off 94 yards for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Though the final score wouldn't reflect this, Alabama wasn't dominant by any means. Virginia Tech's defense was incredibly strong all night, forcing several tackles for loss and playing strong at the point of attack. A key mismatch with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134477/kyshoen-jarrett" class="sbn-auto-link">Kyshoen Jarrett</a> out of the game with a short-lived injury lead to Jones' third touchdown of the game, sealing the game for the Crimson Tide.</p>
<p>The Hokies head back from Alabama with a lot of questions on offense and special teams, but the defense will be just fine.</p>
<p>Here's a quick recap of the game, in case you missed our quarterly updates.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech got the ball to start the game and a lackluster three-and-out forced a punt from AJ Hughes. Hughes booted a decent punt, but Jones returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, putting Alabama up 7-0 before AJ McCarron even took the field. The Hokies moved the ball for a first down on the next possession, but had to punt again. The defense's first outing ended with a solid tackle-for-loss by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114772/jack-tyler" class="sbn-auto-link">Jack Tyler</a> on 3 and 1 to force an Alabama punt.</p>
<p>Alabama's T.J. Yeldon scored the first offensive touchdown of the game for Alabama from three yards out after a 5-minute 49 yard drive to put Alabama up with 1:48 to play in the first quarter. After the ensuing kickoff, Trey Edmunds took the ball 77 yards from scrimmage for a touchdown to cut the lead in half.</p>
<p>The Hokies had cut the Crimson Tide lead to 7 and forced a punt at the start of the second quarter. After a short rush by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds">Edmunds</a>, DJ Coles let up on a route and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131854/vinnie-sunseri">Vinnie Sunseri</a> cut in front of him to intercept the ball and return it 38 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 21-7 lead.</p>
<p>With Alabama driving mid-way through the first quarter, Kyle Fuller intercepted AJ McCarron to set the Hokies up at the Alabama 32. After a few decent plays to gain some yardage, the drive sputtered before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76677/cody-journell">Cody Journell</a> punched through a 39-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136280/christion-jones">Jones</a> returned the kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech's defense was strong in the first half, holding Alabama to under 97 yards of total offense.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech and Alabama swapped strong defensive performances for the majority of the third quarter. Jarrett left the game with cramping issues and forcing <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159653/desmond-frye" class="sbn-auto-link">Desmond Frye</a> into relief in the secondary. Jones blew by Frye and hauled in a 38-yard pass from McCarron to put Alabama up 35-10.</p>
<p>The Hokies sputtered on offense and couldn't get much at all going throughout the game, sending the Crimson Tide back to Tuscaloosa with a 35-10 win.</p>
<h3><span>Quick thoughts:</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><span><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76670/d-j-coles" class="sbn-auto-link">D.J. Coles</a> was an absolute disappointment tonight. He is a large, large man at receiver. There's no reason for him to let up on a route because he see a safety that he outweighs by a lot coming towards him. He dropped several passes that a NCAA DI receiver should have absolutely caught. </span></li>
<li><span>Scratch that, it wasn't just Coles, the receiving corps as a whole is a big problem for the Hokies going forward. The pundits will look at Logan's 5/26 performance and think it was all him, but the receivers had to have dropped somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 passes.</span></li>
<li><span>Trey Edmunds was certainly a bright spot, and I don't just mean his 77-yard scamper. He showed quick decision making ability and racked up 132 yards against a very stout defense. </span></li>
<li><span>Alabama only sacked Logan Thomas once. Jeff Grimes, you'll do. </span></li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/172501/jonathan-mclaughlin" class="sbn-auto-link">Jonathan McLaughlin</a> played a pretty solid first game for the Hokies. I think he'll just be alright as a freshman. </span></li>
<li><span>There was a brief moment in this game where it looked like Virginia Tech might hang with Alabama. Then that window of opportunity closed pretty quickly on the ensuing kickoff that was returned 94 yards for a touchdown.</span></li>
<li><span>I honestly don't know what to make of Logan Thomas' performance. Sure, on paper it's atrocious. But as mentioned before the drops certainly didn't help and the fact that receivers didn't create much separation gave him little to throw to.</span></li>
<li><span>Maybe I'm reading too much into this game, but given how the Tech defense was very strong and borderline dominant at times against the top team in the nation, I think we'll be just fine against the ACC this year.</span></li>
<li><span>We gained more yards on offense than Alabama. What? The stats in this one would indicate a much closer game than the final scoreline did. Even on turnovers, only :45 difference in time of possession, and Tech holding Alabama to under 100 yards on the ground.</span></li>
<li><span>I'm sad.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span>Scoring plays</span></h3>
<p><b>First quarter</b></p>
<p>13:21--Alabama--Christion Jones, 72 yds (punt return)</p>
<p>1:53--Alabama--<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158209/t-j-yeldon">T.J. Yeldon</a>, 3 yds (run)</p>
<p>1:37--Virginia Tech--Trey Edmunds, 77 yds (run)</p>
<p><b>Second quarter</b></p>
<p>14:04--Alabama-- Logan Thomas pass intercepted by Vinnie Sunseri, 38 yds (interception)</p>
<p>3:39--Virginia Tech--Cody Journell, 39 yds (FG)</p>
<p>3:20--Alabama---Christion Jones, 94 yards (kick off return)</p>
<p><b>Third quarter</b></p>
<p>3:43--Alabama--Christion Jones, 38 yards (pass)</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Stats</h4>
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b><i>Virginia Tech</i></b></td>
<td><b><i>Alabama</i></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Total Yards</b></td>
<td>212</td>
<td>206</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Yards</b></td>
<td>59</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Yards</b></td>
<td>153</td>
<td>96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Turnovers</b></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Logan Thomas--5/26, 59 yds, 0/1 INT</td>
<td>AJ McCarron--7/14, 67 yds, 0/1 INT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Trey Edmunds--20, 132 yds, TD</td>
<td>TJ Yeldon--17, 75, TD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>3rd down conversion</b></td>
<td>3-17</td>
<td>6-17</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4681018/alabama-defeats-virginia-techCasey Richey2013-08-31T20:14:52-04:002013-08-31T20:14:52-04:00Christion Jones continues to dominate the game
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1XdJPBWxawsLpevSXV5z-DX3nxI=/96x0:3903x2538/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18771217/178969872.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Alabama 35, Virginia Tech 10--end of third quarter</h3>
<p>Virginia Tech and Alabama swapped strong defensive performances for the majority of the third quarter. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134477/kyshoen-jarrett" class="sbn-auto-link">Kyshoen Jarrett</a> left the game with cramping issues and forcing <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159653/desmond-frye" class="sbn-auto-link">Desmond Frye</a> into relief in the secondary. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136280/christion-jones" class="sbn-auto-link">Christion Jones</a> blew by Frye and hauled in a 38-yard pass from AJ McCarron to put Alabama up 35-10.</p>
<p>Logan Thomas hit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159664/joshua-stanford" class="sbn-auto-link">Joshua Stanford</a> on 2nd-and-13 and on the next series a crucial completion on third down moved the chains for a new set of downs as the third quarter ended.</p>
<h4><span>Scoring plays</span></h4>
<p><b>First quarter</b></p>
<p>13:21--Alabama--Christion Jones, 72 yds (punt return)</p>
<p>1:53--Alabama--<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158209/t-j-yeldon">T.J. Yeldon</a>, 3 yds (run)</p>
<p>1:37--Virginia Tech--Trey Edmunds, 77 yds (run)</p>
<p><b>Second quarter</b></p>
<p>14:04--Alabama-- Logan Thomas pass intercepted by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131854/vinnie-sunseri" class="sbn-auto-link">Vinnie Sunseri</a>, 38 yds (interception)</p>
<p>3:39--Virginia Tech--Cody Journell, 39 yds (FG)</p>
<p>3:20--Alabama---Christion Jones, 94 yards (kick off return)</p>
<p><b>Third quarter</b></p>
<p>3:43--Alabama--Christion Jones, 38 yards (pass)</p>
<p> </p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Stats</h4>
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b><i>Virginia Tech</i></b></td>
<td><b><i>Alabama</i></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Total Yards</b></td>
<td>201</td>
<td>163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Yards</b></td>
<td>59</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Yards</b></td>
<td>142</td>
<td>53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Turnovers</b></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Logan Thomas--5/21, 59 yds, 0/1 INT</td>
<td>AJ McCarron--10/21, 110 yds, 1/1 INT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Trey Edmunds--18, 132 yds, TD</td>
<td>TJ Yeldon--15, 62, TD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>3rd down conversion</b></td>
<td>5-13</td>
<td>3-13</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4681020/virginia-tech-alabama-third-quarterCasey Richey2013-08-31T19:15:41-04:002013-08-31T19:15:41-04:00Alabama boosts lead with Virginia Tech gaffes
<figure>
<img alt=""Hi, are you the new special teams coach? I wanna get rid of BeamerBall"" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xCiJTrPd5JHI61Q0xvWdhR22BcQ=/0x118:4000x2785/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18767885/178959756.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"Hi, are you the new special teams coach? I wanna get rid of BeamerBall" | Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Alabama 28, Virginia Tech 10--halftime</h3>
<p><span>The Hokies had cut the Crimson Tide lead to 7 and forced a punt at the start of the second quarter. After a short rush by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds">Trey Edmunds</a>, DJ Coles let up on a route and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131854/vinnie-sunseri">Vinnie Sunseri</a> cut in front of him to intercept the ball and return it 38 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 21-7 lead.</span></p>
<p>With Alabama driving mid-way through the first quarter, Kyle Fuller intercepted AJ McCarron to set the Hokies up at the Alabama 32. After a few decent plays to gain some yardage, the drive sputtered before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76677/cody-journell">Cody Journell</a> punched through a 39-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136280/christion-jones">Christion Jones</a> returned the kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech's defense was strong in the first half, holding Alabama to under 97 yards of total offense.</p>
<h4>Scoring plays</h4>
<p><b>First quarter</b></p>
<p>13:21--Alabama--Christion Jones, 72 yds (punt return)</p>
<p>1:53--Alabama--<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158209/t-j-yeldon">T.J. Yeldon</a>, 3 yds (run)</p>
<p>1:37--Virginia Tech--Trey Edmunds, 77 yds (run)</p>
<p><b>Second quarter</b></p>
<p>14:04--Alabama-- Logan Thomas pass intercepted by Vinnie Sunseri, 38 yds (interception)</p>
<p>3:39--Virginia Tech--Cody Journell, 39 yds (FG)</p>
<p>3:20--Alabama---Christion Jones, 94 yards (kick off return)</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Stats</h4>
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b><i>Virginia Tech</i></b></td>
<td><b><i>Alabama</i></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Total Yards</b></td>
<td>155</td>
<td>97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Yards</b></td>
<td>40</td>
<td>67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Yards</b></td>
<td>115</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Turnovers</b></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Logan Thomas--3/14, 40 yds, 0/1 INT</td>
<td>AJ McCarron--7/14, 67 yds, 0/1 INT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Trey Edmunds--10, 106 yds, TD</td>
<td>TJ Yeldon--11, 22, TD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>3rd down conversion</b></td>
<td>2-9</td>
<td>4-9</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4680870/virginia-tech-alabama-second-quarterCasey Richey2013-08-31T18:27:19-04:002013-08-31T18:27:19-04:00Alabama leads Virginia Tech 14-7 after one quarter
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w6aF9bX87OirE6CM9Fizyx7kkQM=/0x24:4000x2691/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18765631/178959846.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Alabama 14, Virginia Tech 0--End of 1st quarter</h3>
<h4>Summary</h4>
<p>Virginia Tech got the ball to start the game and a lackluster three-and-out forced a punt fro AJ Hughes. Hughes booted a decent punt, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136280/christion-jones">Christion Jones</a> returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, putting Alabama up 7-0 before AJ McCarron even took the field. The Hokies moved the ball for a first down on the next possession, but had to punt again. The defense's first outing ended with a solid tackle-for-loss by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114772/jack-tyler">Jack Tyler</a> on 3 and 1 to force an Alabama punt.</p>
<p>Alabama's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158209/t-j-yeldon">T.J. Yeldon</a> from three yards out after a 5-minute 49 yard drive to put Alabama up with 1:48 to play in the first quarter. After the ensuing kickoff, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159651/trey-edmunds">Trey Edmunds</a> took the ball 77 yards from scrimmage for a touchdown to cut the lead in half.</p>
<h4>Scoring plays</h4>
<p><b>First quarter</b></p>
<p>13:21--Ala.--Christion Jones, 72 yds (punt return)</p>
<p>1:53--Ala.--T.J. Yeldon, 3 yds (run)</p>
<p>1:37--Virginia Tech--Trey Edmunds, 77 yds (run)</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Stats</h4>
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><b><i>Virginia Tech</i></b></td>
<td><b><i>Alabama</i></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Total Yards</b></td>
<td>119</td>
<td>79</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Yards</b></td>
<td>34</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Yards</b></td>
<td>85</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Turnovers</b></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Passing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Logan Thomas--2/7, 34 yds, 0/0</td>
<td>AJ McCarron--5/8, 55 yds, 0/0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Rushing Leaders</b></td>
<td>Trey Edmunds--3, 83 yds, TD</td>
<td>TJ Yeldon--8, 24, TD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>3rd down conversion</b></td>
<td>1-4</td>
<td>3-5</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
https://www.gobblercountry.com/2013/8/31/4680040/virginia-tech-alabama-first-quarterCasey Richey