Sunday Thoughts...

Greetings Hokie fans everywhere,

I have been writing this blog for almost 6 weeks now and have found that it is always easier to sit down and write when things are going well. The positive attitude about wins, a sack here, a forced fumble there tends to make the keystrokes and words pour out just a smidgen easier. It's always tougher to talk about the losses. The missed opportunities. The offense.

I'll admit it. When Brett Warren took a pick 6 to the house in the first offensive series for Boston College, I was stoked. After all, it was just what our team needed to get going. On the road. Conference game. What better way to start then to not only stall their opening drive but also put them 7 points behind. One thing our defense has been able to do over the last 15 years is force opposing offenses into bad decisions, and we lead the country in interceptions since 2000. A startling statistic when you consider all the fantastic defenses in college football these days. And even with an anemic offense, an opportunistic defense that helps you with points and field position has always been one of VT's strengths.

But I digress. On the one hand, I am upset at the execution on offense, the major gaffes on special teams coverage. On the other hand, let's hold on here folks. Let's understand where we stand here. Have we forgotten all the youth on this team? The running backs? The receivers? The defense? Let's all cut ourselves a break here. After the ECU loss, NO ONE with a sane mind could of predicted we would have been 5-1 going into our bye week. So, do our expectations change? These kids are only 5 weeks older then they were when we predicted a rough season. So, they overachieved in those 5 weeks. Do we then expect them to go undefeated the rest of the way? Of course not. But perhaps it is how terrible the offense looked last night.

Do you realize if you take out Tyrod's 113 rushing yards, VT would have had 130 yards of offense on the day. Wow. There is no question that BC has a very physical defense, one of the best we will face. But that is downright awful. Yes, we are young. But the O line is not. Blame some of it on the playcalling. Really, a quarterback draw on 3rd down when you have no time left? Hmmm. But coaches don't miss blocks, miss tackles and drop passes.

So, where does VT go from here? Well, at FSU is no picnic. But, one thing Beamer and his coaches have been able to do in the past is rally the troops after a rough and tough loss. We'll see where we are next week.

One final thought for you. If I told you I just watched a football game and one team forced 5 turnovers - 2 of which were interceptions returned for touchdowns, AND blocked a field goal AND lost the game, would you have believed me.

Didn't think so. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

For all the criticism, it must also be said that no one has done more with less then Beamer this year. All of those losses to the NFL and we are still 5-2 and control our own destiny in the conference. Can Miami say that? Clemson?

Nope. My money is on Beamer rallying the troops and finishing out strong - 8-4 or 9-3.

Not bad for a young team, is it?