Just a great win with little stress which is music to my ears:
1. I think we have to start with the play of the offensive line and George Aston. If you were going to make an instructional video on run blocking you'd use the tape of this game. Not only was the blocking clean, it was rare for a VT player to disengage from his block. And make no mistake George Aston is a huge part of this running game, his ability to read the defense, kick out or punish defenders is just indispensable. Kudos to Quadree for bringing his blocking mates to the podium.
2. Shawn Watson is a stubborn dude and I like it. So many times you'll see OC give up on a run when it gets stuffed on first down but not Watson. He knows the strength of this team and keeps running the ball just off different formation. I think we can safely say that Mr. Watson has done a really really good job especially the last 5 games.
3. Pickett made some really good throws yesterday. Dropping two bombs in tight coverage but he seems unable to make the wide side throw to the far hash for some reason. He had two receivers wide open and missed them both by a mile. And KENNY PLEASE protect the ball on your runs or slide. That's the only time I felt stress after he fumbled in the end zone and VT came back and scored.
4. Ok we all want the QB and the players in general to be protected but how can you not call the QB for VT down after Weaver has his arms around him? His momentum is stopped for like 10 seconds. Is the ref waiting for someone to take a shot at him? I mean come on? Also I realize that there is a lot of hand fighting on these alley oop throws but when a VT receiver puts two hands on the Pitt CB and pushes off to get leverage that's an offensive PI.
5. The defense still has issues but in the second half I thought they went to soft zones to eat clock. Vt scored after a 17 play drive. We also rarely blitzed in the second half. When your up by that much why allow big plays so while I didn't love VT getting to within 16 I understood the strategy.
6. Does Alex Kessman miss anymore?
7. I actually don't think Carter played yesterday but I'm sure Chris Peak will comment. He still has two games of eligibility without burning his red shirt. They didn't need him yesterday but I think he'll be a factor before this thing is done.
8. I get you want to give AJ Davis a carry at the end of the game yesterday, but do you really need to have Aston in the game? What happens, God forbid, if that kid gets hurt up by 30 with a 1 minute to go? Don't get it.
9. Miami and FSU are shells of what they've been. Willie Taggart can coach there's no question but I just don't think those 5 & 4 star kids are buying what he's selling. Wonder if they'll have a ton of transfers. Miami's problem pure and simple is they are getting no play from the QB position. None because their d is very stout.
10. Make no mistake, the Wake game will not be easy at all and I'm really curious if this team lets down after yesterday but with the senior leadership on this team I doubt they will. Crossing fingers. I want to win 8 games and not back into the Coastal.
11. I LOVE Quadree Ollison, great kid great teammate but flipping into the end zone was silly. I realize the game is out of the hand but why? What if he gets hurt? Especially coming off his hamstring issue.
12. Where this team is now compared to say 7 games ago is really astounding. The execution right now especially offensively is night and day. The defense still has issues but the defensive line is making things uncomfortable for opposing QB's and they are playing the run and the screens much much better.
13. Not only is Bama the best team in cfb they also get a host of calls. Disgraceful some of the calls that went against Miss St. yesterday. I mean does anyone play defense in the Big 12? I guess maybe WVU but I turned on the Ok-OkS game yesterday and it's like a video game.
14. If Michigan loses to Ohio State in a few weeks not only will Jim Harbaugh's head explode but the talking heads will push for Ohio State to be in the Final Four and that would be a mistake. Honestly if you have Bama, Clemson, ND and an undefeated UCF take a flyer on UCF it would be a lot more fun to watch than a bland Ohio State team that has no offense.
15. I realize that VT is starting a ton of young kids on defense, and they are banged up but it's still impressive that with Bud Foster walking up safeties to the line of scrimmage and stuffing the box that we still had such clean holes. Says a lot about our OL .
16. This might not be the most talented group of seniors we've had but I can't remember a group that has persevered like this one. Herndon, whose sad family story is in the ppg, was a little used defensive lineman same with Ditino. Ollison was the forgotten RB during the Conner years. Briggs was consistently criticized, Zeise was a former WR, 23 was a walk on same as Aston, Rara came from California through Juco. I really love this group. Rock solid.
17. After the debacle in Orlando you really wondered if Narduzzi would lose the team, if the team would splinter. They didn't and that's a credit to the HC and the makeup of the team. God, it's so much fun watching this team right now, and can't wait for the Wake game. I'm very proud of this team because they didn't give up, they kept working, kept listening and it's paying off. I love that Narduzzi got emotional yesterday talking about the seniors. Says it all.
Pitt82
1. I think we have to start with the play of the offensive line and George Aston. If you were going to make an instructional video on run blocking you'd use the tape of this game. Not only was the blocking clean, it was rare for a VT player to disengage from his block. And make no mistake George Aston is a huge part of this running game, his ability to read the defense, kick out or punish defenders is just indispensable. Kudos to Quadree for bringing his blocking mates to the podium.
2. Shawn Watson is a stubborn dude and I like it. So many times you'll see OC give up on a run when it gets stuffed on first down but not Watson. He knows the strength of this team and keeps running the ball just off different formation. I think we can safely say that Mr. Watson has done a really really good job especially the last 5 games.
3. Pickett made some really good throws yesterday. Dropping two bombs in tight coverage but he seems unable to make the wide side throw to the far hash for some reason. He had two receivers wide open and missed them both by a mile. And KENNY PLEASE protect the ball on your runs or slide. That's the only time I felt stress after he fumbled in the end zone and VT came back and scored.
4. Ok we all want the QB and the players in general to be protected but how can you not call the QB for VT down after Weaver has his arms around him? His momentum is stopped for like 10 seconds. Is the ref waiting for someone to take a shot at him? I mean come on? Also I realize that there is a lot of hand fighting on these alley oop throws but when a VT receiver puts two hands on the Pitt CB and pushes off to get leverage that's an offensive PI.
5. The defense still has issues but in the second half I thought they went to soft zones to eat clock. Vt scored after a 17 play drive. We also rarely blitzed in the second half. When your up by that much why allow big plays so while I didn't love VT getting to within 16 I understood the strategy.
6. Does Alex Kessman miss anymore?
7. I actually don't think Carter played yesterday but I'm sure Chris Peak will comment. He still has two games of eligibility without burning his red shirt. They didn't need him yesterday but I think he'll be a factor before this thing is done.
8. I get you want to give AJ Davis a carry at the end of the game yesterday, but do you really need to have Aston in the game? What happens, God forbid, if that kid gets hurt up by 30 with a 1 minute to go? Don't get it.
9. Miami and FSU are shells of what they've been. Willie Taggart can coach there's no question but I just don't think those 5 & 4 star kids are buying what he's selling. Wonder if they'll have a ton of transfers. Miami's problem pure and simple is they are getting no play from the QB position. None because their d is very stout.
10. Make no mistake, the Wake game will not be easy at all and I'm really curious if this team lets down after yesterday but with the senior leadership on this team I doubt they will. Crossing fingers. I want to win 8 games and not back into the Coastal.
11. I LOVE Quadree Ollison, great kid great teammate but flipping into the end zone was silly. I realize the game is out of the hand but why? What if he gets hurt? Especially coming off his hamstring issue.
12. Where this team is now compared to say 7 games ago is really astounding. The execution right now especially offensively is night and day. The defense still has issues but the defensive line is making things uncomfortable for opposing QB's and they are playing the run and the screens much much better.
13. Not only is Bama the best team in cfb they also get a host of calls. Disgraceful some of the calls that went against Miss St. yesterday. I mean does anyone play defense in the Big 12? I guess maybe WVU but I turned on the Ok-OkS game yesterday and it's like a video game.
14. If Michigan loses to Ohio State in a few weeks not only will Jim Harbaugh's head explode but the talking heads will push for Ohio State to be in the Final Four and that would be a mistake. Honestly if you have Bama, Clemson, ND and an undefeated UCF take a flyer on UCF it would be a lot more fun to watch than a bland Ohio State team that has no offense.
15. I realize that VT is starting a ton of young kids on defense, and they are banged up but it's still impressive that with Bud Foster walking up safeties to the line of scrimmage and stuffing the box that we still had such clean holes. Says a lot about our OL .
16. This might not be the most talented group of seniors we've had but I can't remember a group that has persevered like this one. Herndon, whose sad family story is in the ppg, was a little used defensive lineman same with Ditino. Ollison was the forgotten RB during the Conner years. Briggs was consistently criticized, Zeise was a former WR, 23 was a walk on same as Aston, Rara came from California through Juco. I really love this group. Rock solid.
17. After the debacle in Orlando you really wondered if Narduzzi would lose the team, if the team would splinter. They didn't and that's a credit to the HC and the makeup of the team. God, it's so much fun watching this team right now, and can't wait for the Wake game. I'm very proud of this team because they didn't give up, they kept working, kept listening and it's paying off. I love that Narduzzi got emotional yesterday talking about the seniors. Says it all.
Pitt82
