Immediate Impressions: Duke Game

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It was cold.  My son and I drove down Saturday morning, tailgated for 4 hours with friends, then headed into Lane Stadium to watch the Hokies take on the Blue Devils.  We spent the whole game tightly under the new Virginia Tech blanket we had just bought.  Gameday in Blacksburg is always great, tailgating with friends, the scene in the stadium, but it took true fans to sit through that game in that cold.  I think I had every Virginia Tech sweatshirt, t-shirt, jacket, and of course my Hokie hat and gloves on to endure it.

It was the same old same old for the Hokies.  We got treated to some outstanding defense, but we also watched two miserable offenses.  Here are my thoughts on the game, but don't blame me for sounding like a broken record.

• Its interesting that the starting quarterback for the Hokies will be on any given Saturday has become a guessing game.  I really didn't know who would start, or if they would split time like last week (I hoped not).  I guess it ultimately didn't matter because the offense didn't particularly thrive with either, though Sean Glennon avoided any catastrophic mistakes.  By they way, who starts against UVa?
• I wasn't able to see many replays, but Tyrod's turnovers were partly gaffs (fumbles and poor pitches) but his INTs looked like they could have been unfortunate tips.  In the stands, we wondered if it was a factor of "trying to do to much before you get the hook" kind of deal.
• The theme for the offense continues.  For me, its a lack of creativity and sophistication.  There are no inexperienced players at this point.  We know we can run and throw and block and catch.  Sure we are more talented in some places than others.  But the Hokie offense is the same predictable, vanilla, conservative scheme its been for a while. 
• I was most disappointed in the lack of throws to the tight end, screens, and the continued insistence to run off-tackle on first down.  I was amazed in looking at the stats that Darren Evans had over 100 yards because the Hokies seem to have tons of runs for 2 yards or less.
• As for the defense, they look more impressive in person than they do on TV.  The DBs simply let no one get open.  Again, it was Duke and their back up QB, but each time they ran a passing play (which was rare), you really wondered where the QB could go with the ball for any success.
• That said, Duke even had me envious with their option read run attack at times.  Its amazing how when your only weapon is a quarterback draw, and everyone knows its coming, you can still create a formation and movement to generate 6 yards from it.
• Virginia Tech got no advantage from its special teams.  Beamer seemed unwilling to go after any punts.  I assume the roughing call in the FSU game has him spooked.  Macho never had a chance for a return (and Duke had many, many punts).  Punting in Lane stadium just didn't have the ominous feel for the opponent that it normally does.
• I had a bad, bad feeling when Duke got the ball down 7 - 3 in the final minutes.  You could tell Cutcliffe had played the whole game just to have a chance at the end, and he had it.  I told many of my buddies pre-game that this game worried me because it seemed an after thought to Hokie fan base.  Most of them felt the Hokies would win big.  Again, defense to the rescue, and it only make sense that the D scored as much as the O.

So that's it, frankly this was a dull (and did I mention COLD?) game that the Hokies survived.  Next week should be different as the 'Hoos come to town with everything on the line.  We get a good long holiday week to let the Hokie and 'Hoos rivalry simmer and let anxiety build for what should be a evenly matched game.

Enjoy it, its weeks like this on that is why wea are Virginia Tech Fans!!

Go Hokies!!!

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