Well it wasn't on TV but thanks to 'Hokie Playback' and Bill Roth / Mike Burnop's radio play by play I was able to catch the Hokie game on Saturday. Not much to comfort the woes from last week. The offense continued to struggle and while the defense and special teams were improved, given it was a I-AA opponent that doesn't earn much brownie points with Hokie fans.
Insertion of Tyrod Taylor back at the QB position had the desired effect, he was clearly their top play maker as he often was last year. But the problems from week 1 still lingered: trouble with the running game, spotty offense line play, inability to convert 4th and short, and the general lack of confidence the staff's ability to get the offence into a rhythm and call the right play at the right time. Maybe things will improve, and certainly TT will make his share of plays this year, but at this point its hard to see the offense being a strength this season. And unlike last season, there is not a top 5 in the nation defense for it to lean on.
If you read the blogs, articles, and message boards, the offensive struggles in these first 2 games have reignited some lingering hot buttons with Hokie fans. Primarily, does Frank Beamer really have the most qualified coaches on his staff on the offensive side for a program of VT's caliber? I saw a stat that showed VT's NCAA rank in total offense since 2002, and while I don't remember the specifics, each year was in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or greater. I looked it up for last year at it was #100.
I personally don't need the statistics (while they are corroborating) to see that VT's offense is generally less sophisticated than most Div I-A teams. I watch plenty, and I often get envious of other schools more imaginative, complex, and productive offensive schemes. Personally, I'd love to hire a young offensive mind from a school with a spread/option type attack (I'm thinking Oregon, Missouri, and dare I say WVU) as those just seem to be offenses that put up points in piles in college football these days. Obviously there are complications with the other qualities and duties of the current offensive staff, the amount of time VT dedicates towards other things (like special teams) in practices that other teams don't, and frankly just FB's philosophy that I won't ramble on about. But I sure would like to be one of those teams that put up 50, 60, 70 points yesterday against a non-BCS conference, than have to worry about what Georgia Tech's defense ends are going to do to the Hokies on Saturday given we could only put 3 point on Furman by halftime.
hokieg
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