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Saturday, September 13, 2008
Virginia Tech - Post Game Thoughts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While I feel a little heartsick from the loss today, I can still take comfort and feel positive for a variety of reasons.
Going on the road to face the past two ACC champions was a daunting task for Paul Johnson and a young GT team. It would be difficult even without implementing a completely new offense and without the injuries on both offense and defense which are forcing the Tech staff to play freshmen and walkons for extended numbers of snaps. (We’re really feeling the impact of our recent probation in our lack of depth right now…)
I told my tailgating and season ticket buddies that my hope was that we’d split the road trip and come home 2-1 to face a Mississippi State team that we should be able to compete with and beat. We’ve accomplished that, although the win over Boston College had lured me into the hopes that we’d be 3-0 instead. Maybe that’s why I am heartsick right now…even though we’ve met my expectations from two weeks ago.
Watching the loss today, a few things struck me as important:
1) Once again, our team showed extreme mental toughness and never gave up. Rather than pulling out a win like we did at Boston College, we went down swinging till the end. That bodes well for the future of this season and is evidence that the coaches have the team motivated and cohesive and ready to play.
2) Despite being offensively one dimensional today, we were still able to move the ball and put points on the board against an EXTREMELY solid defense in an EXTREMELY hostile stadium. We really missed Thomas at wide receiver and our ball handling problems seemed to make Coach Johnson reluctant to attempt many pitches and outside runs until later in the game when we had no other choice.
3) Josh Nesbitt is going to be a big time national level player by the time he leaves Georgia Tech. He can do it all…and he’s only started three games so far. I’m really excited to see what he can do as he progresses. I believe big things are on the horizon.
4) Coach Womack continues to do a great job and our young defenders are playing very well. The Hokies offense gained a grand total of 247 yards in 61 plays and were only able to put up the game winning field goal after questionable personal foul penalty was called on Cooper Taylor after the Hokies were stopped on 3rd and 7. (The penalty on Michael Johnson later in the drive was legit.)
5) Lucas Cox is a player. He’s a beast at the A Back position and with his recent performance, I look forward to Coach Johnson making more and more use of him.
So now we need to get Dwyer and Thomas healthy and get prepped for Mississippi State next weekend. We’re 2-1 and our next three games are very winnable at home. There’s no reason we can’t go up to Clemson with a 5-1 record and a potential Top 25 ranking.
Go Jackets!
THWG!
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Hokie Expectations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Boston College game played out pretty much as I’d expected.
But with Virginia Tech, I have absolutely no idea what to expect.
The Hokies have more big play potential than Boston College did on offense and their defense has more speed.
The outcome may ultimately come down to two factors:
1) Can the Tech defense rattle Glennon and contain Taylor?
2) How badly do we miss the blocking and deep threat of Demarius Thomas?
I don’t expect the team to get rattled because of noise up in Blacksburg. I think this team is extremely mentally tough and our coaching staff will have them focused. Its just going to be a matter of whether or not we have the horses and the talented depth to get the job done on the road.
This is a HUGE game…win today and we’d go into the Mississippi State game next weekend at 3-0 overall and with two ACC road games. We’d be flirting with Top 25 recognition and we’d be in the ACC driver’s seat with our hardest conference games behind us.
Today’s game will be a defensive brawl…something in the 20-14 range…
I’m picking the Jackets to gut out another one.
Go Jackets!
THWG!
