5 takeaways from Virginia Tech’s loss to West Virginia
The West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies, 33-10, on Thursday evening in Lane Stadium. The ultimate rating is as unhappy and miserable as indicated. No, the sport wasn’t a blowout from the start, because the Hokies final led only some minutes earlier than halftime. Sadly, issues unraveled from there.
The Mountaineers pulled away within the fourth quarter in opposition to a drained Virginia Tech protection. Nevertheless, at one level, the Hokies had been accountable for this sport and let it slip away. Realistically, although, the Hokies had been by no means profitable this sport. Positive, a few of us had been optimistic — with hesitation — in our predictions, however we understood the offensive points would doom the Hokies if WVU’s high-powered offense received going.
Now that we’ve had two days to decompress let’s check out a few of our ideas from the sport.
Two performs actually stood out within the loss. Let’s go all the best way again to West Virginia’s second possession of the evening. Bear in mind, the Hokies compelled a three-and-out on the primary possession. On the second possession, West Virginia confronted a Third-and-4 from its personal 8-yard line. One other cease, and the Hokies may have terrific subject place.
WVU quarterback JT Daniels discovered RB/TE C.J Donaldson for a brief cross and Virginia Tech cornerback Armani Chatman had a shot at tackling Donaldson for a brief acquire however missed the sort out. This fully crushed all of Virginia Tech’s early defensive momentum and the Mountaineers would drive the sector for 14 performs and 92 yards earlier than settling for a brief subject aim.
On the above drive, the Hokies would commit 4 penalties [more on that later], together with a cross interference on 2nd and 17. You by no means know what would’ve occurred had the Hokies gotten off the sector, but it surely was a missed alternative.
The obvious momentum changer was the 4th & 1 missed conversion. The Hokies had been up 7-3 halfway by way of the fourth quarter, and quarterback Grant Wells had simply discovered working again Keshawn King for a nine-yard cross. The Hokies confronted a third and 1, which offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen referred to as for a run up the center to select up that yard. King didn’t get it, citing fourth down.
On fourth down, Bowen had the Hokies lined up in shotgun, requires a QB sneak up the center and it’s brief. Turnover on downs. Enormous missed alternative. What occurs if the Hokies simply kick the sector aim?
We shouldn’t must preserve discussing this so early within the season. The theme of the loss to Outdated Dominion was turnovers and penalties. In opposition to WVU, the Hokies dedicated 15 penalties for 132 yards. Unbelievable.
Look, we will return and say some had been ticky-tack. The roughing the passer penalty on linebacker Dax Hollifield within the fourth quarter was a questionable name. Nevertheless, WVU had some questionable penalties, too, simply not 15 of them.
That is on the coaches. The Hokies lack expertise proper now, so something you do to make issues tougher for yourselves is an issue.
There was one sequence the place the Hokies had been referred to as for a false begin. On the very subsequent play, they had been referred to as for delay of sport. How within the bleep does that occur? These weren’t questionable calls. This falls squarely on the shoulders of Bowen.
If the identical guys are committing penalties, notably procedural penalties, then maybe the coaches ought to pull them for just a few performs. One thing wants to alter.
Offensive is an efficient phrase for Virginia Tech’s offense proper now. And I don’t blame the gamers. The job of coach is to tailor your scheme to your expertise. As we’ve acknowledged, the Hokies lack expertise. The brief passing sport with Wells was working. You may tire out the protection with some no-huddle and proceed to assault the sides and the center of the sector with brief passes. Wells generally tries to throw fastballs on his brief throws however was higher on Thursday.
What number of downs do the Hokies waste simply working straight up the center? As an entire, it hasn’t labored for 4 weeks. It’s paying homage to what we watched for the earlier six years. The Hokies must get inventive with the working sport. There are such a lot of issues you are able to do to get the bottom sport going. Wells isn’t the kind of quarterback you need throwing 40+ passes every week to win the sport. He wants assist.
If the beginning offensive line isn’t opening up holes, let’s play among the younger guys; on the offensive line, within the backfield and the vast receivers. The 2022 Hokies aren’t profitable the nationwide championship. Let’s discover out what a few of Virginia Tech’s youthful gamers can do.
We have now one thing lovely and particular in Lane Stadium. Not solely the stadium however Enter Sandman. Virginia Tech does every thing proper main as much as the sport; the doorway, the gang, all of it’s elite. Then the sport begins.
This isn’t new. This has been the case for years. We’re mocked. Ridiculed. Nobody fears taking part in in Lane Stadium. How unhappy is that? Have a look at among the groups Virginia Tech has misplaced to in Blacksburg over time.
Don’t blame the followers. They carry it. The power inside Lane Stadium when the sport begins is unreal. It’s as much as the staff to make followers convey the identical emotion within the fourth quarter.
After the primary 4 takeaways, how can we inform you to chill out now? We should always. Head coach Brent Pry isn’t going wherever. I imply, that is his fourth sport. May we argue that he ought to’ve employed extra skilled coaches on his employees? Completely. But it surely doesn’t matter now.
Bear in mind, Pry is a first-time head coach. And I don’t assume he’s unwilling to ask for assist if he wants it. He’s studying some issues on the fly. There are issues, for positive. We should always all be involved with recruiting. Whereas I believe Pry and his employees are placing forth the trouble, we nonetheless aren’t seeing the outcomes. Now isn’t the time or place to say why, however Pry had a lot of floor to make up, notably within the state of Virginia.
The Hokies want a expertise infusion and should do one thing, something, to maintain some children in-state. Virginia Tech needs to be competing with North Carolina, N.C. State, Maryland and South Carolina for recruits — and profitable a few of these battles. As a substitute, the Hokies are dropping nearly all of these battles and competing with Group of 5 colleges for recruits.
That should change. In some way, a way.
Let’s regroup and beat North Carolina subsequent week.
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