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At some point in the 2nd half, I think HokieNation came to a realization that nobody wanted to face: This Virginia Tech team is just not that good. There are no playmakers on either side of the ball. The defensive line that we all predicted to be dominant looked pitiful against a stout North Carolina offensive line. That secondary we thought would progress this season couldn’t cover UNC’s athletic wide receivers. Then there’s the offense that just cannot run the football effectively.
It’s hard to pull any positives out of this game. Giovanni Bernard torched Bud Foster’s defense for 262 yards rushing, the most ever allowed by Virginia Tech in their 100 plus year’s of football history. Bryn Renner delivered bullet after bullet into our secondary, often to open receivers.
In fact, Virginia Tech was extremely lucky the outcome of this game wasn’t worse than what it was. UNC hurt itself consistently with self-inflicted wounds. If they played sharper, the Tar Heels could have given West Virginia a run for their money today in the amount of points that were there for the taking.
We’re through six games this season and we stand at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the ACC. Sadly, the Hokies do still control their own destiny but it’s hard to take that statement seriously when it’s been a month since we beat a team that was worth a damn. At the end of today, I’m starting to question what the rest of this season will bring. By this point, I thought the defense would be progressing back towards a typical Virginia Tech defense and I thought the offense would be serviceable enough to put up just enough points to win games. Neither of those two things has happened.
I am less disappointed in the offense today than I thought I would be. Honestly, I thought our offense played well albeit inconsistent at times. On that side of the ball, we’re as talented as we’re going to get this season. Logan Thomas needs to play well and throw the ball efficiently for us to have a chance. He did that today. Thomas threw for 354 yards and two scores. But, we should never have to throw the ball 49 times in a game like we did today.
The problem on offense is what we’ve discussed all season; the running game and the offensive line. I will admit I liked Caleb Farris moving to guard. But, it just seems like no matter who we put there, they immediately become ineffective. Farris battled but eventually left the game with a non-serious ankle injury (I’ve been told he is fine). Like we’ve all debated, the Hokies do need to make a change on the offensive line. But, there’s nothing you can do until December, at the earliest.
Now, the biggest concern, for me at least, is Bud Foster’s defense. I know, I know, we all love Bud Foster. But, I saw a lot of fans posting “fire Stinespring” on Twitter after this game. Which, after this game at least is just silly. We scored 27 points offensively today when you subtract Demitri Knowles 93 yard kickoff return for the touchdown. That’s not a great effort but with this group and this offensive line, you can’t ask for much more. You can’t blame our offensive line and then expect 50 points out of this offense. This isn’t NCAA 13 where you can just call four go routes and beat the computer 75% of the time.
My point is Coach Foster needs to adjust his defense and do something that’s going to put our guys in a position to succeed. If that means playing Dadi Nicolas over James Gayle, than do it. James is a great guy but he’s been a non-factor this year. The same can be said for both J.R. Collins and Corey Marshall, aside from a few plays here or there. The only constant on this defense has been the play of both linebackers but even they have made mistakes. Bruce Taylor’s lack of gap control allowed Giovanni Bernard to scamper 60-plus yards on that 4th and one conversion in the 2nd quarter.
At this point, the Hokies are just not a good football team. Now, we’ll head back home to play a 5-1 Duke team that just finished off a route of UVA 42-17. I can already tell you that I will not be picking the Hokies to win next week. Duke can throw the ball and we can’t stop the pass. They have three running backs and we’ve struggled against the run as well. I can tell you how next week turns out but you probably won’t like it.
Unless something changes, the Hokies are going to experience a season like the Texas Longhorns in 2010. Texas started that season 3-3 but went 2-4 the rest of the season and didn’t go to a bowl. Outside of maybe B.C. and perhaps UVA, do you see a win on this schedule? Clemson, nope. Miami, no way. Florida State, hell no. Duke, I can’t even say yes here right now.
Sadly, if Virginia Tech wants to ever be an elite team this streak of ten win seasons needed to come to an end. This coaching staff is at a stalemate. Frank Beamer has been able to use this 10 win shield to avoid taking that next step as a program. It’s cost us in recruiting (that Travis Hughes forced fumble was a huge kick in the balls, huh Frank) and now it’s costing us on the field.
Now, I’m not for coaching changes unless it’s absolutely necessary. Mainly because the typical football fan doesn’t know all the hardwork that goes into making recruiting connections. Often times when a coach leave, so do the connections you had to a certain school. But, baring a miracle, the Hokies need to make some drastic changes on offense.
Aside from that, the Hokies need to get back to recruiting players who fit our scheme. We need quick and aggressive defensive linemen. Not 6’4” guys with NFL size who can’t run. I’m also for rebuilding our defense before we try to keep guys on offense. That means Trey Edmunds should move to defense as should Joel Caleb. Both players have extremely high potential on that side of the ball. At least if we suck on offense, we’ll have a defense that’s worth a damn to bail us out like in 2007.
For the rest of this season, I just don’t know what more our coaches can do to fix our current issues. We can’t trade for better linemen nor can we pickup a free agent at running back. We have who we have and unfortunately, that may cost us a bowl trip here in 2012.
Ok, I’m done. Feel free to sound of in our comments section below.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah I totally agree I think we struggle big time with Duke next week and probly lose. This Tech team reminds me of West Va with coach Stewart very boring and coaching changes have to be made. I hate West Va but damn are they fun to watch now, that could be Tech if beamer makes the right decision and fixes this average staff. Newsome is going to get logan killed with this sorry o-line, it’s not all logan’s fault but some of it is with his decision making I don’t know what happened to him except o’cains coaching the guy has been fired 3 times for a reason. Ugly season but if it gets coaches fired I’ll take it! Anyone want 2 free Duke tickets!
You can’t put the blame on one player this year, because frankly it’s a different group of players every week. We have been terrible. The problem isn’t just the offense because our defense is just as bad. While I don’t want to fire Stinespring, at least he is trying to change unlike foster and beamer, but barring a miracle this year it is inevitable. We need to totally revamp the offense this year. Keep Shane, keep Kevin Sherman and then can the rest. I know that it’s not our identity, but it’s time to get with the times and go with the spread. There’s a reason that we can’t ever defend it. We have the players that could make the transition easier. If we see it every day in practice then we would eventually figure out how to stop it. I don’t have a clue who we would go after but their has to be some young charismatic coordinator in the FCS with potential that we could go after. I may be nieve, but I truly believe that the defensive struggles are due to the lack of depth and that they will be fixed when we get these talented secondary players in the 2013 class on campus. Justin, you summed it up with your article earlier in the week. Having players like Michael Cole on the field when they’re not ready is killing us. Still there needs to be some change made to stop the run. We have two great line backers and apparently 8+ talented lineman and we give up 250 easily.
Everybody is calling out for major coaching changes and if any of the fan sites are an indication Newsome will hopefully be fired. There is no hope for the offensive line. However what happens if the offense continues to improve like they have but we lose games because the defense is continuously bad. This seems like a likely scenario to me. Who would you fire then? Changes do need to be made and hopefully we can get all these “NFL prospects” back for next year. It appears that we have a good 2013 team with a lot of talent, but after this year you can’t be to sure. I have given up on this season and hopefully we can somehow benefit from it.
Yes, from a points on the board standpoint, the offense seems to be “getting better”. But the fact that we ran for all of 40 yards continues to expose the o-lines lack of push.
As for the defense, I’m stunned. For a while I wrote a lot of it off as being tired due to overexposure since the offense couldn’t keep them off the field. But…it’s like the whole damn team is sand bagging.
Bud’s got to be pissed! How many years has his defense been what saves this team? Now the year he needs the offense to do something…anything…they do just enough to make it look like it was a game. I’m so happy our local cable provider cut the game off at the start of the 4thdays quarter.
Davis should start watching game tape from other teams in the ACC to see how a tall, athletic reciever takes over a game. It’s the closet he will ever get.
Our offense has had to carry this team for the last four years. Bud is pissed but it’s probably not with the offense.
Just a couple of comments from me tonight. VT has not lost in Chapel Hill since 1938, has not been 3-3 since 1992 and had won 13 straight in the state of North Carolina since arriving in the ACC. Uncharted territory! Some of this I saw coming from game one…but even I can’t believe how bad this team is right now. Through the first 5 games I truly believe we had more talent than our opponents…so in game 6 we hit the road against a team that is equal in talent but wanted it more and as Justin said it could have been worse! So the big “red flag” is VT for the first time in a LONG time we are getting drilled by equally talented personal. Quite simply we are being out coached and our players are underperforming – no emotion. I said it after game one something is going on behind the scenes that causes this group to not buy into what’s being coached between Saturdays! The hurry up/spread has exposed Bud’s coaching strategy big time and he has no answers. The spread has also caused Bud to give up on of our best and brightest athletes “Ronny Van Dyke”. Michael Cole is playing Safety, Nickel Back and Whip LB…and it is not working…PEROID. I have been to 3 games and all loses. Last week it was very bad DB communication,,this week it was very bad DB execution. For the first time I can remember we are not flying to the ball..I could break down every position on defense but don’t have the time or energy tonight. One last thing, out tight ends played terrible again…they missed blocks all day and they and have no hands…the worst set of TE’s under the Beamer era… does anybody think Duke has better players than VT? Does anybody think we win?
I have been going to tech games since 1987,(beamers first year) I was 7. This is the first season that hae seen such a lack of execution! I have spent over 1200 dollars on hokie gear ,games ,paint for my basement etc. iam absoultly devastated on how we are playing this year and the past 10. The ad needs to call everyone in his office and put everyone one notice . This is not exceptable by Any means , our backs and o line suck , there is no energy, no swag, no anything! Who remembers when jimmy Williams used to waive his arms in the air before a play the whole 24 seconds before a snap? It used to irratate me ,but jimmy always backed that up. There is time for a change !
It’s time to stop playing old man football and adapt. Fire coaches and bring in the spread. Too bad WV got Holgerson. They are AWESOME!
Great article Justin man oh man i knw we need coaching changes butt im starting to lean your way on the fact tht these players play like straight B……. !!!!!. they have no passion no fire smh its almost like their dead inside or something. IDK maybe they are high or somethg cause they seem coma toast forreal im soo serious!!!!! Davis needs to be benched always dropping balls and hes supposed to be a leader i mean on our last drive he dropps tht !st down when are trying to comeback smh?!!!!! whats up wit that? Winners Win and Losers Lose period point blank this hokie team has no heart and they are SOFT as a pillow!!!! Roberts takes a hit and then gets scared and sits on da sideline wit towel over his head he didnt want no more of that action THIS IS FOOTBALL DAMMIT these hokies are straight soft dude!!!!!!!!!! oh btw gayle and collins should be benched too they are supposed to be the leaders SOFT asses smdh!!!!!!!
Does the loss to UNC and the strong likelihood that we will finish the season no better than 7-5 mean that we are officially a “rebuilding program?” Hey, it works for Mike London to convince recruits into coming to Hooville and playing for their loser program…
Looks like the ESPN execs will finally get their wish and have a Miami vs FSU conference championship game, unless the NCAA puts the screws to Miami before the season ends. Then again, we still control our own destiny in the ACC, we just have to start by upsettng Duke next week. Wow! that was painful to say.
Having a down year was going to happen sooner or later. It’s been what, maybe 15 years since VT has had an off year. The offense needs more tools to help Thomas. We have been spoiled over the years to have NFL caliber running backs, receivers and a good O line. Foster needs to change his defensive scheme this year. Obviously even with everyone basically back it’s not working. Honestly I couldn’t tell you what happened it. Makes little since.
My big concern is overall recruiting. We still own recruiting in VA but if VT wants to really get to the next level they need to go after and get recruits that end up at the Alabama’s, Florida’s, Ohio State’s and even now the Notre Dames of the world. How many guys have we lost to SEC or Big 10 schools over the years?? Why have we lost so many BCS games….because we don’t have the overall talent to beat them. VT is a top school and very few if any other institution has as much to offer it athletes or students.
I am stunned by the lack of plays from players like Gayle, Collins, and Marshall. What can possibly be wrong with Gayle? The guy is an athletic freak, super fast, good size, etc. He was really good last year…this year I hardly even notice him on the field. Is it lack of heart?? Its not just Gayle…its really the entire defense. If any player on this tech team thinks they should leave early for the NFL, then they are crazy.
Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to improve…hopefully this years failure will result in the changes we need to improve. Just to think we were worried about Logan, Gayle and Fuller leaving early….I don’t think so.
Fire Frank and Stiney.
Right now, the team is getting blown out on running and defending the run. I’d start with the offensive line and the coaching associated with it. If your defense has to practice against an offense that’s totally incapable of generating a ground game, you can’t accurately assess your defense or do the teaching necessary to make adjustments work for game situations.
Excellent point Les, our defense did not have an off-season practicing against an NFL-caliber running back like they are used to seeing. The offensive line is also not as proficient as last year’s unit which was quite good overall with Wilson’s record-breaking year running and a fairly low sack total. Iron sharpens iron gents, and our defensive guys got mostly lead instead of the high-level talent they have seen in recent years. Not saying Holmes and Coleman cannot develop into NFL backs, they just aren’t there yet, and obviously neither is the O-line.
fire the whole coaching staff instead of bud and sherman…… this defense is so soft bud need to change his philosophy.
This is the worst VTech team i ever seen.
Georgia Tech fired Al Groh because the defense sucks…Beamer should be paying attention. I don’t want Bud Foster fired, but I do think its a wakeup call.