(Click to Enlarge)
Unfortunately, that would be as close as it would get in this one. (Photo courtesy of Heather McMillan, Planet Blacksburg)
Yes, I was wrong in predicting the Hokies would win this one. However, anyone calling Saturday's result a 'blowout' must not have actually watched the entire game, for they would know that this one was much closer than the score showed at times during the contest.
Had the Hokies capitalized on just a few crucial moments of the ball game, we'd most likely be looking at an entirely different result.
Here were two individual points of Saturday's loss that stood out in my mind:
Essentially, capitalizing on those two drives alone would have made the score 35-38, as opposed to 27-38, an obvious eight-point difference. This alteration in the score would have completely changed the scenario for Virginia Tech on its final drive, making it a one-possession game. This would have allowed them to go for a game-tying field goal, let alone a touchdown for the win, as opposed to the game being totally out of reach.
Having said that, I fully agree that the Hokies did look completely lost in the opening minutes of the game, as the Yellow Jackets' raced out to a 21-0 lead behind an offense that was firing on all cylinders, courtesy of Mr. Calvin Johnson and his two touchdown catches.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the ball, the Hokies couldn't conjure anything offensively early on. The majority, if not all of the blame in the case of the Hokies' offensive struggles, however, don't deserve to be placed on Hokies QB Sean Glennon, or Branden Ore, but on the offensive line and the pass blocking.
Time and time again Glennon was hurried or hit in the backfield, causing the passing game to sputter. Virginia Tech's two turnovers, which were both fumbles by Glennon, was a direct result of the Hokies' miscues in the pass protection. On both occasion, Yellow Jacket players hit Glennon from the blind, after having sprung free from botched blocks on the backside. That being said, you can't really put much blame on Glennon there. I thought he had a respectable day in trying to lead a Hokie offense in disarray. If only he had received a little help up front, we'd be looking at a whole new ball game, no doubt about it.
On the flip side, much is to be said about the performance of the Ramblin' Wreck, who played some magnificent football. In fact, some could argue that they couldn't have played any better. Conversely, I dare to say that anyone with the slightest amount of knowledge on Virginia Tech Football would testify to the fact that the Hokies could not have played any worse. And on top of it all, let's not forget that the Hokies were missing two of their best players in Josh Morgan and Chris Ellis. The fact of the matter is, and I say this with no hesitation whatsoever, nine times out of 10, on any other given day, Virginia Tech wins this ball game. Though I will give Georgia Tech its props for pulling out such a huge win, I still honestly believe Virginia Tech is the better team. It all boils down to it just wasn't the Hokies' day, and as outlandlish and crazy as that remark will come off, VT's trip to the conference championship (as opposed to the Yellow Jackets') in December will reaffirm who really is the best in the Costal Divison. Just you wait and see.
On that note, I'm exhausted. This week has been unbelievably busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars. Unfortunately, it won't be getting much easier anytime soon. As a friend of mine once put it, "Classes only get in the way of college." I couldn't agree more.
TOMORROW: (Quarterbacks, Tailbacks, Offensive Line) Position Breakdowns
Your thoughts, praise, and/or complaints, are highly welcomed, so do let me know what's on your mind...
| Menu |
| Sponsors |
| [blogad script will go here]
Ticket Source for Virginia Tech Hokies Football Tickets and Hokies Basketball tickets.
|