Virginia Tech=30, Boston College=14
Well, this was a game of inverse proportions, to be sure; as the Virginia Tech offense got on track and got better as a rather friendly late
October day weather wise worn on down in the New River Valley. The Virginia Tech defense however is another matter; as ending the day down no less than eight full starter’s is what’s the matter there.
Think long and hard about it, and be as R.A.T.T. as you can be, ending the contest with only 27% of your defensive starters available for duty is a good thing? Think again men. Now that said, this should aid and abet future 2012-2013 stop-unit personnel development, to be sure. In fact, Marshall, and Maddy should be much more precocious for it, ditto Jack Tyler, Bonner, Ty.Wilson, McCray, Tweedy and Hooper. Just don’t try to telling that to the season otherwise known as 2011 thank you very much.
Now, as in as of right now, VT stands in at a none to shabby 7-1 overall, a #12 national ranking, and perhaps most importantly, alone in first-place in the A.c.c. Coastal Division in what is shaping up to be a three-way dance in the race for an A.c.c title tilt rematch with Clemson. Ergo, a win down in Durham North Carolina this Saturday is a whole lot more exciting than you think prima facie. What with Georgia Tech set to host fifth ranked Clemson this weekend, and enigmatic Miami set to play archrival Florida State the week after that.
So chilllax (chill-out plus relax) and don’t flip out just yet, as we have Duke up next and we will beat them in anything other than Men’s hoops and Lacrosse and beat them rather routinely at that.
After that however, you might just wannbe “gripping your pillow tight”, as this 2011 Virginia Tech regular season will formally exit the glorified scrimmaging phase, and formally enter 8 consecutive quarters of nationally televised prime-time Thursday night football that will decide our 2011 pigskin fate indeed.
“………….off to never never land…”
3rd quarter, 12:36 remaining:
A 1978 Ford Thunderbird fly ride for a Tb who is on pace to be 1,800+ yards worth of super-fly indeed. You know you wanna drive it — don’t act like you don’t.
3rd quarter, ~9:30 remaining:
Watch the other best MLb (not named Kuechly) in the A.c.c as his season comes to an end. B.Taylor may have hurt his foot twice on back-to-back plays. On the first one, his right-foot appears to get hung up in the Worsham Field turf as he is spun at an oddball counterclockwise angle over the pile trying to make the off-tackle left-side B-gap stop (see: below). Watch the end of the play however, where B.Taylor’s right leg/foot appears to get accidentally hammered with said foot pinned in the turf by #28 for B.C. who’s right-shoulder acts like an axe coming down on B.Taylor’s extended and pronate right foot. </damn>
Between plays you see Taylor trying to shake one out on his right-leg while tapping the same into the turf to try to knock the pain off. That’s not a good sign folks. Then on the second play, you see him almost lamely leap over the pulling Guard in an aerial attempt to get to #28 on the screen pass as his season was already over, done, through. God Bless #51. (down-n-out)
This was an UGLY set of O&M plays gentlemen, as on this second play, you will also observe Whip Lb #28, ‘zo Tweedy’s season nearly come to a close as he lands awkwardly on the deeded no-contact impact with the field-monster otherwise known as the Worsham Field turf attempting to deflect the pass from Rettig over to the right. As Tweedy nearly got nuked out on this one for the second time on the day.
–although the Taylor injury is just flukey looking on film, i.e. nothing to do with the new lighter possibly less sturdy Nike’s that I can detect
3rd quarter, 8:16 remaining:
God Bless poor ‘Quell Rivers, as he just does not move that well on that ruptured quad-tendon once he gets outta the Ot-box at all. You can clearly see him laboring downfield on this one on his left leg. If I’m seeing this, you can better believe that our future opponents are seeing this. That and the fact that Rivers is just too heavy, as he does not look like he’s seen his listed weight of 250 lbs. for a while to me. This kid has to be north of 260 and he is a very beefy looking 260+ at that. No way in the world that any extra weight above said ruptured quadriceps tendon is gonna do anybody any good.That said, Barquell can still be effective in short-yardage/goaline sets, or when he is simply attacks moving forwards inside the Tackle to Tackle box. Like the very next play where he drilled Rettig on the blitz or his nifty stop in the left-side A-gap at the 3-Q, 4:15 minute mark. (“Where’s the beef?”)
Just don’t ask him to do what he can’t, with stop-n-starts or a change of direction. The poor kid, he will know whenever it is gonna rain/snow ahead of time for the rest of his life..
3rd quarter, 7:51 remaining:
Note the oddball split by Drager over on the left-hand side. I do not know if this is an anomaly or outright intent. Though I’d tag-n-bag this one for future reference if I were a VT opponent; as little things like this mean a lot (NOTE: play was a outside-zone run to the right-side B-Gap or 6-hole with Drager cut-blocking the left-side B.C. De; Wilson only broke 4 tackles and it only took 8 Flying Eagles to ground him on this one; “four” sucks, what a bum) (time to make like a banana and Split)
3rd quarter, 6:02 remaining:
Scrutinize the (mild) forearm shiver by Boykin to the dome (head) of #21, who seemed more surprised by this act than pissed-off. Have I ever seen worse? “Yes.” Do I deny that? “No.” Though still, what good is this nonsense after the whistle? This was not all that violent, and “yes” again, I’ve seen much worse go uncalled (just ask Miami); and yet, according to the strict letter of the law –know what I mean?
That said, it was nice to see Boykin hit somebody downfield for a change; just ask the very next play if you don’t know what I mean.
3rd quarter, 0:52 remaining:
Mr. Boykin and the rest of the VT Wide Receiving crops, I’d like you to meet Mr. D.J. Coles, he will be your blocking drill instructor this week. Carry on. (D.J. spins a tune on #4 of B.C.)
3rd quarter, 0:16 remaining:
Nice little steal by Nosal at the end of this one on #24 of B.C. at the bottom of your screen on the Belly-play to Josh Oglesby up the gut. However, you might wanna keep this one in your pocket, as D.Coale accidentally combined with Nosal to Hi-Lo poor #24 from underneath. The Zebras were clearly just “letting ‘em play” in this one and swallowing their whistles as best they could (1 flag on B.C. and 3 on Tech says so). At the end of the day, that is all you can EVER ask of any officiating crew –just be consistent. Be that strict, or lenient, just be consistent with either school of thought from start to finish, home or away.
4th quarter, 14:57 remaining:
Memo to 6`3“ 2o2 lb. #37 of B.C.: “eat your Wheaties” son! This is what a lot of you were salivating about all spring and August as L.T. just made #37 ride bitch on this option keeper around the left-end. xL truly is a Qb who runs like a Te; “three” goes looking for contact, not avoiding it.
2010 UPDATE:
See that pic below? That’s how much weight ‘Quell Rivers was power-clean(ing); or at least attempting to power-clean when his quadriceps tendon basically exploded while shooting for 10th place overall all-time as the power-clean mark goes at VT and of course that would have been a Mike position record all by itself! (video LINK of the T.C.U. lift)
No less an authority than Bud Foster described the sound that the bursting quadriceps tendon of ‘Quell Rivers made in the weightroom as: “…turns your stomach” as they could actually hear the quad-tendon rupture out loud! UN-freakin-REAL! (HINT: mouseover the pic to see how much)
4th quarter, 8:07 remaining:
Note the zone-blitz coverage drop by the right-side B.C. De, who actually has his hips and back turned to David Wilson who is flaring out into the left-hand flat on a safety valve release route. IF xL had only seen my home-boy, #4 would still be running on this one as he had nothing other than green grass out in front… (Eagle Drill 1o1)
4th quarter, 7:18 remaining:
David Wilson’s A.c.c. triple-jump mark may not be in any danger, though I gotta give much love and say: “give ‘em hell Jen!” Think prissy little E.A.
would have taken the big-boys on up on the booth and tried this one on for size during a live national television broadcast for everyone to see? Think again. You go girl!
4th quarter, 5:1o remaining:
Take a good close look at #19 -who played a most fitful game- for B.C. on this one, as he attempted to deliver a forearm shiver that would have made even the great Ray Nitschke shudder. Good thing #19 went “mighty” Casey and swung and missed on this one or Andrew Miller’s head would have been swimming and #74 might not have gotten up from this volatile of a shot. Do be clear, forearm shivers are still legal; yet they are also seldom seen; and one might even go so far as to argue that they would be considered unnecessary at best at this stage of a soon to be 30-14 game that was pragmatically already decided. (look out if this one had connected!)
4th quarter, 3:43 remaining:
Mmmmmmm-k, raise you hand if you’ve ever seen (or heard) this one before? Me neither folks, as Meyer surely has an N.F.L. sized leg. Don’t believe me? Just as the south endzone cross bar, as that is what this kickoff hit as you can audible hear the “thud” from the impact with such clear as a bell on ESPN3. The orange ellipse shows the football ricocheting upwards silhouetted against the left-side upright for your viewing convenience.
4th quarter, 3:38 remaining:
This look familiar to you? It should; as this is the 4-3 Iowa eagle-down invert look we went up to Iowa City to study to help defense the Georgia Tech flex-bone triple-option attack two springs ago. You have to wonder if Bud was showing his Wrambling Wreck hand just a touch on this one. (note the OLb in a quasi 6-man front)
4th quarter, 2:34 remaining:
You never wanna see this, though you really don’t wanna see this in a game that is all over less the shouting. Watch as Poor Dunn gets his right hand (thumb) caught in the facemask of #49 of B.C. blocking downfield on the Tony Gregory off-Tackle inside-zone carry into the left-side B-gap or 5-hole. God Bless on that and ditto God Bless #23 for B.C. who turned his knee on a accidental Tony Gregory leg-whip on the play before; and God Bless #33 for B.C. who gets hurt two plays later. Football sure is one cure and unforgiving mistress folks. Just ask the 2011 Virginia Tech training Staff and about 20 odd O&M ballers how that one tastes this season.
4th quarter, 1:32 remaining:
Best block of the Paint-shop’s (Vinston Painter’s) career hands down folks. As the Paint-shop finally opened for business and business was good as Vinston physically manhandled # 97 for B.C. and nearly drove him a full 7 yards off the line-of-scrimmage on this play. Way to go Painter; as it sure would be nice if you would just go ahead and win the right-Ot job for next season which would give Coach C.News some measure of depth via Mr. Via himself.
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Time To Throw:©
Virginia Tech:
sacked=zero!
Qb hits= |||| |||| (1 TD throw from #3)
Qb hurries= ||
Qb pressures= |||| ||
drops= ||
Boston College:
sacked= ||||
Qb hits= |||| |||| |||| (1 Rettig INT)
Qb hurries= ||
Qb pressures= |||| |||| ||||
To put it mildly, as you can objectively see above via the Time To Throw scratch-mark count tallied against Boston College, VT plum got after Rettig on Saturday afternoon. Note as well the insalubrious looking offensive-lineman sized left knee brace on Rettig’s lead or left-leg as he dropped back to throw or when he ran. No real nice way to put it, so I’ll just rip the Band-Aid and say it: … I’m not sure I’ve seen a more damaged set of wheels on film study from an opposing Qb while doing the Eye in the Sky series. Rettig made turtles look fast; that’s how slow his snail paced stride was. As you had to really feel for the kid; he must dearly love football as his very own personal identity goes to be out there taking this kinda shellacking on about 1.1 good legs. You just gotta respect a kid like that; however, he also had the look and feel of the kinda kid that needs his Trainer to stop the fight in boxing terms. Why Coach Spaz’ left him in there to take the kinda beating that he took late in this game did not make Rettig a better Qb and such is beyond me and well beyond being humane.
Recall that during the entire J.Gayle summertime fling love-fest from Kyle Tucker and the tradition print media cadre; there was someone who “views” life through Emerson’s different “…lenses which paint the world their own hue, and each shows only what lies in its focus.”
That someone was really tall on someone named James Gayle, if my Ginko (whatever it’s called) is working. As of now, Collins is only second in the entire A.c.c. in sacks. Now notice that quicks, athleticism and flat-out cutthroat never say die relentless hustle and pursuit (laterally and downfield alike) of Marshal and Maddy (the M&M’s), and now mix in D.Hop and James Gayle who should return in a week or two and suddenly you have an exceptionally nimble and quick on their feet Hokie dLine that is playing rather well despite so many depletion’s as raw personnel numbers go. This left-over aluminum-foil looking 2011 Coach Wiles dLine may wear down as the season wears on in run-support terms –in fact you have seen this occur to close the show the last two weeks. However, as a pass rushing unit goes, I’ve not seen one this good shoulder-to-shoulder four across since 1998. If you drop back to pass against this crew, don’t be sending Coach Wiles any hate-mail post-game. You elect to do so of you own free-will and you further elect to do so at you own peril.
Now, here is the kicker for you to ponder: where does Bud Lite turn to make up for the 5 sacks, 7 TFL (tackles for a loss), and a downright spectacular 17 Qb Hurries that just left the O&M building and hobbled off in B.Tayor’s play-making yet very lame looking surgery required right-boot? Play-making being the key word or term there folks, as B.Taylor’s penchant for making things happen out there will be sorely missed and most difficult to replace.
As for Coach Newsome’s offensive-line; when was the last time you saw a VT oLine pass protect a pocket-Qb mind you, this well and for this long? As xL is routinely getting 3-5 seconds to throw, and the occasional bonus second or two when he moves the pocket laterally his ownself.
It was curious to me to note the near evaporation of last weeks rolling-pocket or scripted roll-out passes for “three”. I counted exactly one of them this game (L.T. nailed that one like a champ and zinged one to D.Coale). The B.C. cadre of Linebackers is pretty dang good, hell, Kuechly makes that statement true all by his ownself. Maybe O’Cain and company were a little Leary of rolling the pocket vs. such a well developed Linebacking crops? That said, I for one would not mind seeing the return of a moving pocket in the forthcoming weeks. Finally, notice that you are just not seeing much in the way of Tb (or Fb, or twin Tb’s plural) blocking outta the other Coach Beamer now that Coach Hite no longer coaches the O&M Running Backs down in Blacksburg, VA. Note as well that the signature short yardage and goaline Broken T-formation is apparently gone forever as well. Only thing I can say here is that I would like to see my boy Wilson split out into the Slot where he did some very smart home-run hitting work last year. Beyond that, you just can not block much better than Curt Newsome’s boys are doing right now, as I can put my hand on the TSL.com Bible and swear an oath that I’ve never ever seen no less than f-i-v-e, that’s 5 VT offensive-linemen warrant an overall grade of 90% with no less than a whopping 30 combined knock-down blocks for one single game.
“LET’S GO!”
“HOKIES!”
b’street