BLACKSBURG -- About 90 minutes after Boston College pulled off its comeback I was driving off campus when I saw Daily Press columnist David Teel walking by.
I rolled down my window to say hey and Dave says “You ever see anything like that?”
Well…yeah, I have. Maybe not exactly that, but I’ve come to expect situations like last night from Virginia Tech.
The Hokies are new to this elite football game and aren’t quite good at it yet. They aren’t winners in the proper sense. They aren’t finishers, be it a game or a season (in years prior, Tech has been notorious for not finishing a season). They’re a step below the Southern Cals, LSUs, Michigans, Ohio States and even Floridas of the country. The proof was in last night’s pudding.
As for the end of that game: What happened to the play calling on defense? Where was all of that pressure? If the prevent defense didn’t work the first time around when Matt Ryan put together his first touchdown drive, why go back to it? Furthermore, if you drop eight guys to cover the field, why is one of them defensive end Orion Martin. Not sure who that is? He’s the guy who haplessly flailed at the ball as Andre Callender camped out in the end zone with 11 seconds left.
You can’t ask a defensive end to play safety in a prevent. If you want to give up rushing the quarterback, make sure the guys you entrust to stop a touchdown are familiar with their roles (read as “Let no man behind you”).
I don’t blame the players. This one is chalked up to the Tech coaching staff, no questions about it.
But, like I said. I’ve come to expect situations like that. I’ve caught a lot of heat for riding Tech a little too hard in the blog this season, but I feel vindicated. Boston College didn’t make my pick look good, Virginia Tech did.
Oh, and just for the record, Matt Ryan is not a Heisman quarterback yet, but he sure is a great pro prospect.
I’m just gonna rip through a few picks for the weekend and leave it at that. I forgot how tiring it was to watch a game from outside the press box. Enjoy the games this weekend.
USC at Oregon (-3) – Southern California
Ohio St. at Penn St (+3.5) – Ohio State
Pitt at Louisville (-11) -- Louisville
California at Arizona St. (-3) – Arizona State
WVU at Rutgers (+6) – WVU by 7
South Carolina at Tennessee (-3) -- Tennessee
Georgia at Florida (-8.5) – UGA to cover, Florida to win
Kansas at Texas A&M (+2.5) -- Kansas
UNC at Wake (-6) -- Wake
Colorado at Texas Tech (-13.5) – Texas Tech
Comments (7)
Adam, VT has been overrated. Good defense, usually, and their offense has not been good at all.
The first time in my life I ever rooted for VT, and you Hokies let me down. :-)
I keep looking at B.C.'s remaining schedule hoping I'll that a team will appear on there that stands a chance of beating the Eagles.
Alas, it hasn't happened.
Okay, this is coming from a Rutgers fan - I agree with you Adam - why did Tech back off and not bring the heat on that final BC drive? A speedy safety would have been better suited driving the QB to the ground or at least chasing him to the sideline. It was very frustrating to watch Ryan stand back there with all that time. During the majority of the game when he was being harassed, he was completely ineffective. Let him stand back there without any pressure, and he will play like a Heisman candidate.
My perspective is a little biased as I'm used to seeing everybody and the kitchen sink being thrown at the QB in tight Rutgers games and watching the likes of Brohm and Grothe being driven into the turf to ensure they can't find the receivers deep down the field. Very frustrating to watch Ryan stand back there untouched. VT has very capable players on D that should have been able to pummel the QB to the ground if the coaches would have let them.
TDC--I agree. Ellis was unblockable at times on the edge. As was Booker up the middle. I had the luxury of watching the entire second half from a dry suite and because of the delay I would watch each play on the field then look up to the TV and see it again. Why the philosophy changed, I don't know...but people who didn't know what I do for a living said to me in the fourth quarter "Wow, you have amazing eyes for the game." Coolest compliment I've ever received.
BNG--They let me down every year, but I keep coming back.
Paul--Like I said in the preview, the offense has been in the Top 50 once since Michael Vick graduated. A lot of pepole have been, and continue to, call for OC Bryan Steinspring's head. I don't know that I disagree.
Time for me to hit the road back to DC. I'll try 'n stop by on here this evening.
Tiring to watch a game in Lane? What has happened to you?
What has happened to me? I'm not quite sure, haha.
Where are you Adam? I'm waiting to see your rankings this week.
Should be interesting after we get past the Top 5-6