Here are my immediate impressions fresh from watching the game. My guess is this is they type of game we should expect this year. Why not enjoy the ride?
The First Half: All our Hopes, All our Fears
The defense that showed signs of a typical 'Bud Foster' D last week, was in full force again this week. And it showed almost right away in the first half. Like most of you, I watch the defensive line. John Graves is going to be fun to watch. They made it clear they were going to live in the UNC backfield today. UNC's ground game was non-existent. The LBs, whip, and rover acted as another smothering wave of tacklers. Cody Grimm played better than I've ever seen. So lets not get too excited yet, but this defense looks like its gonna be stout.
The offense was exactly what we feared. UNC did the obvious thing - keyed on TT and bottled him in. There would be no big plays for Tyrod like last week. The mistake I worried about came with the INT, and of course the passing game was anemic. Throw in the embarrassing double time out / delay of game / penalty sequence, and I could just imagine the Fire Bryan Stinespring blog overheating.
Yeah, I Was Thinking It Too
How many of you were thinking at half time "this would be a good game to put in Glennon"? The UNC defense wasn't generating a pass rush, wasn't letting TT make plays, and the running game was, well, average. So, yeah, I'll admit (like I'm sure many other Hokies), I wondering if it might make sense.
Of course, after TT's injury, when Glennon promptly lead the team down the field in the 4th quarter, I collectively figured the Hokie football nation was heading again towards the QB flip-flop abyss. Who knows, maybe we are.
Let's Face It, We Escaped
I'd be a very frustrated Tar Heel fan right now. Probably looking forward to hoops. This was "their year" to beat VT, win the ACC, blah blah blah, and penalties, turnovers, an injury to their QB took it away. VT hasn't made a lot of comebacks like that. Not sure we deserved that one, but hey, I've always said winning programs find ways to win even in down years. I'm sure some UNC fans will gripe about calls, but VT had a safety not given as well.
Other Thoughts
- Stephen Virgil, get down on the ground!!
- These WRs are green, but man they look the part
- Chris Drager should play more
My main takeaway from this game, though its still early, is how Bud Foster continues to take new, fresh talent and turn it into a premier defense. You can just see this group turning into yet another one of his master pieces, which makes watching Hokie football worth the price of admission itself.
I'll savor this win, but hey its still only UNC, and that "landmark win" against Rutgers which shot their stock up? Well Rutgers just got beat by Navy.....
On to Nebraska! Looking forward to that Trip!!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Agree about the defense. Worilds was all over today as well. They are going to be good. Foster does it every year.
So I wasn’t the only yelling at my tv for Virgil to take a knee. Haha, I still think they should use the 2 QB system though. Tyrod can’t try to run all the time when d’s key off it.