October 22, 2003
WVU-VT: The Hokie Pregame
First off, I should thank Derek (and Kevin, in the comments) for covering my usual turf. I don't have much in general to add to their excellent reports, so I'll make a few specific observations.
The optimal start for VT would be a couple of quick strikes to take the Mountaineer fans out of the game. WVU runs an odd 3-3-5 defense with two hybrid DB/LB positions, which could complicate things early for Tech's offense, as VT's OL blocking schemes have been redesigned to accomodate this configuration. If Tech can win this game with a steady diet of Jones and Humes out of the 2-WR, 1-TE, 1-FB I, it will do so gladly. On the other hand, Richard Johnson returns to VT's receiving corps, and just in time -- the successive injuries to Johnson and Chris Shreve had given VT fans cause for concern. With the double coverage Ernest Wilford gets as a matter of course, output from the flanker position is absolutely crucial to VT's passing game this year.
Defensively, it's a simple game for VT -- as Derek says, the key is stopping the run. WVU's Rasheed Marshall has not been impressive throwing the ball.
Special teams could be an adventure. WVU runs a rugby-style punt like VT saw against UCF, and it's been conjectured that a kicker who leaves his kicking position is no longer subject to roughing rules. The relevant section of the rulebook reads
"ARTICLE 3. a. When it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be made, no opponent shall run into or rough the kicker or the holder of a place kick (A.R. 5-2-2-I and A.R. 9-1-3-I, III and VI)."It would seem that when the punter runs, that means that it's no longer "obvious" that a kick will be made -- and, if such an interpretation can be confirmed by the refereeing crew, that opens the door for some serious blocking shenanigans. In placekicking, Carter Warley's back is acting up again, so he will be restricted to PATs and FGs; Brandon Pace will return to kickoff duty.
Expect a quick report post-game for what is only VT's second road game this year.
Comments:
posted on October 22, 2003 5:41 PM — 24.125.39.120 — link — abuse?Josh Crockett said:
Well, yeah, I think we should win, but I generally don't do predictions.
One interesting angle on the fans/hype bit came on TSL this afternoon, where Culpeper Hokie wondered if the 'Eers would work themselves into such a frenzy that they aren't ready to just play football. East Carolina was extremely fired up against us in 2000 when they hosted us on a Thursday night, and we nuked them 45-28.
WVU isn't ECU, but that game does show that the psychological effect could go both ways.
posted on October 22, 2003 9:13 PM — 24.125.39.120 — link — abuse?
As would I, but like Beamer said as we came into halftime, VT has played about as badly as they could possibly play. That's not taking anything away from WVU (they've executed far better than expected in the passing game, and they've pulled, what, 3 Statue of Liberty plays so far?!), but it's the truth.
WVU's gonna show up in the second half. The question is whether VT does.
Kevin said:
posted on October 22, 2003 9:17 PM — 12.239.232.140 — link — abuse?
I'm not so sure that WVU isn't the more prepared team going into the half. (I'm on Tivo so I'm watching with a slight delay tonight). A couple of bad calls on both sides of the ball (running into the kicker??!...please!), but that VT fumble recovery shouldn't have been points for Tech.
The Governor will have to call in the guard if WVU pulls this off - that crowd is amped!
posted on October 22, 2003 9:24 PM — 24.125.39.120 — link — abuse?
That fumble recovery is nothing less than payback for the completely blown non-call of a TD by Lee Suggs last year in Blacksburg. Suggs crossed the line on second down and it wasn't even close. We got stopped on that drive 4th-and-goal, and eventually lost by 3.
And yeah, the crowd is amped -- you saw that bank of speakers and the ref telling them to turn the amplifiers off on VT's first offensive drive. Completely classless move by WVU.
posted on October 22, 2003 10:02 PM — 24.125.39.120 — link — abuse?
I'm starting my post-game column now. I think I'll call it "My Advice To You..." in honor of Bluto. And then, as a floundering Virginia Tech Hokie, immediately after posting, I'm going to take his advice.
Mike said:
posted on November 5, 2003 4:47 AM — 152.163.253.104 — link — abuse?
Josh, are you kidding me? Suggs was stopped, I have it on film, I like to watch it over and over!!!
LOL it's great, no what was great was celebrating in LANE STADIUM!!!! Then making 100 times the noise the amps made after they were told to turn them off!!!!!!! That's the only thing I agree with you on, they shouldn't have been there!!! Hell we didn't need them anyway, if you'd been there it was louder after the refs asked them to turn it off.
By the way WVU's team had nothing to do with that!!! THEY DIDN'T NEED IT!!!!!! CLASSLES CHOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted on November 5, 2003 12:52 PM — 168.215.162.254 — link — abuse?
(WVU) Mike: perhaps you should have read my post-game report where I stated: "[F]or visiting WVU fans, please note that I give your team full credit for coming to play and playing well. You guys kicked our butts."
I'm not gonna argue the Suggs play from '02 with you -- I've watched it just as many times as you have. No WVU fan would ever concede that Suggs crossed the line -- since the final score was 21-18, that would amount to admitting that WVU didn't deserve to win the game. At least this year's disputed play didn't decide the game.
See you guys next year in Blacksburg. And speaking of "classless," be sure to lock up your couch before you come down.
Kevin said:
posted on November 5, 2003 2:51 PM — 24.0.196.177 — link — abuse?
No one from a school that has a tradition of taking couches from front porches and tossing them in bonfires should ever judge anyone else for having/lacking "class". The mere fact that there are couches on porches at/near your school precludes you from ever questioning someone else.
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
Kevin said:
posted on October 22, 2003 4:53 PM — 12.239.232.140 — link — abuse?Very, very insightful. I hadn't given a whole lot of thought to the rugby punt. I've seen it a couple of times this year, but I hadn't thought about the roughing aspect. Good stuff!
I presume you agree with the predictions of a Hokie win??