I know this is only one game of data and we most likely won't know what kind of a team we really have until after Western Michigan, but here goes...
The Hokies came into the season with a lot of hype due to the way they finished last year (going 5-2 down the stretch) and that they brought back pretty much EVERYONE from last season. I've seen some publications say they returned 22 of 22 starters. However, the season got off to a resounding thud last week in Nashville as Tech trailed 17-0 late in the 2nd quarter to end up losing in overtime to the Commodores. We saw all of the beauty marks and blemishes that haunted Virginia Tech throughout last season. Inconsistency at the QB position, a puzzling absence of a running game, and a defense that will take a series off here and there.
I believe we saw enough in Week 1 to know that this still isn't your dad's Hokies and we should be able to play with them as long as we don't puke the ball up several times.
Things I like:
The Hokies came into the season with a lot of hype due to the way they finished last year (going 5-2 down the stretch) and that they brought back pretty much EVERYONE from last season. I've seen some publications say they returned 22 of 22 starters. However, the season got off to a resounding thud last week in Nashville as Tech trailed 17-0 late in the 2nd quarter to end up losing in overtime to the Commodores. We saw all of the beauty marks and blemishes that haunted Virginia Tech throughout last season. Inconsistency at the QB position, a puzzling absence of a running game, and a defense that will take a series off here and there.
I believe we saw enough in Week 1 to know that this still isn't your dad's Hokies and we should be able to play with them as long as we don't puke the ball up several times.
Things I like:
- I like our intermediate passing game against their back 7 (I know it's only one game, but this is the first time since Tommy Shuler walked off the field down at Boca Raton that I feel like we have a semblance of an intermediate passing game).
- I like our secondary against their receivers. We are DEEP at corner and safety this year. There may not be any all stars, but they play really well together in our scheme and do a great job of communicating back there.
- It sounds bonkers-crazy to say out loud, but I like our special teams vs. Virginia Tech's special teams - can you imagine saying that during the Beamer years!?
- I'm concerned about our run fits on defense, specifically with our LBs. I don't foresee our front four getting pushed around, but I am concerned about gaps opening up and someone not in position to fill it. Again, first game impressions - I hope I'm dead wrong.
- I'm concerned about our pass protection...and this isn't even necessarily just about our center, guards, and tackles, but also our backs and tight ends. And, I noticed in the first game (again, 1st game impressions) that Earle tends to drift in to pressure and leave clean pockets. There were a few times Saturday that we had beautiful pockets set up and he could have taken his time and picked them apart, but he started to drift in one direction or the other and then take off with the ball.
- I'm concerned about our outside pass rush ability this season with no Porter, Alston, Burton, etc. Green has the potential to be THAT guy and we have some others that look like they can grow into the role. Braydin Ward from Riverside High is an impressive looking kid who really jumped out at me Saturday. But we need 3-4 guys who can win right now and I'm not sure we're there yet. I'm concerned that we're going to rely heavily on blitzing from the 2nd and 3rd level players and it's going to compromise our coverage ability. Again, I hope I'm wrong.
| Marshall (1-0) | Virginia Tech (0-1) | |
| PPG | 45.0 (32nd) | 27.0 (83rd) |
| Points Allowed | 3.0 (13th) | 34.0 (107th) |
| Total Offense | 549.0 (21st) | 397.0 (75th) |
| Rush Offense | 259.0 (21st) | 181.0 (102nd) |
| Pass Offense | 290.0 (42nd) | 322.0 (31st) |
| Offensive Pass Effic | 193.31 (20th) | 157.79 (56th) |
| 3rd Down Offense | 45.5% (63rd) | 50.0% (45th) |
| Total Defense | 252.0 (46th) | 371.0 (91st) |
| Rush Defense | 94.0 (49th) | 181.0 (102nd) |
| Pass Defense | 158.0 (53rd) | 190.0 (72nd) |
| Defensive Pass Effic | 88.70 (33rd) | 216.0 (127th) |
| 3rd Down Defense | 28.6% (42nd) | 41.7% (94th) |
| Turnover Margin Per Game | +1.00 (19th) | -1.00 (88th) |
| Penalty Yards Per Game | 10.0 (5th) | 40.0 (42nd) |
| Net Punting | 40.5 (53rd) | 32.33 (110th) |
