VT-ECU short shots
It’s cliché to say this was a different football Saturday than ever before in Blacksburg, but it’s the truth. So all criticism, particularly of first-half play, should be taken with the caveat that I expect smarter, more-focused play in every other game this year.
That said, 17-7 was a far cry from the score we expected from a Virginia Tech-East Carolina game, and we need to discuss why. ECU was a bowl team last year, and has a defense that would be mid-tier at worst in the ACC, but 34 yards rushing is unacceptable from any Virginia Tech team.
Offensive line was a known problem going into the season. Sergio Render aside, it remains so. Branden Ore didn’t seem completely on his game, but the OL was pushed at least two yards deep by the time he got the ball on each play. The most effective run plays were misdirections; the rest were almost completely useless. Pass blocking was marginally better, but Sean Glennon will still need to improve his throws on the run in order to maximize his opportunities.
Speaking of Glennon, had his first pass gone incomplete rather than been intercepted, the postgame impression would have been of a solid day under heavy pressure. 22-of-33 for 245 yards, 1TD/1INT is tough to argue with. The problems were the complete lack of run-game production to complement Glennon’s arm, and the resultant lack of sustained drives, which forced the defense to stay on the field longer than they’re used to. Through the third quarter, ECU held the ball for 25:37 to Tech’s 17:14. That fatigue cost yards, but thankfully only 7 points.
But, since Michigan helpfully provided a major distraction to the general football public, a win’s a win. We learn more about the OL this weekend, and our entire ACC schedule remains ahead of us. A loss against LSU we can take if it teaches us a lesson for the conference schedule.
And a win? Well, I’d take that too.
3 September 2007 / 0 Comments / Tags: football