"Son, do you know who you're playing?"

"YOU PLAYING VIRGINIA TECH!"
- Rick "Doc" Walker

Doc Walker uttered the above quote during a replay of a blocked punt by Virginia Tech against Duke in the second quarter of today's game in Durham, NC. For what currently seems like the first time all year, the Hokies are demonstrating an ability to execute in all three phases of the game. The defense has made great strides since getting embarrassed at LSU, the special teams broke out and asserted itself last week against Clemson with a kick return and a punt return for touchdowns, and the offense appears much smoother and multi-dimensional in today's contest against the Blue Devils. Even more surprisingly, the offense's emergence has been on the arm of backup quarterback and former starter Sean Glennon. Tyrod Taylor had led the Hokies to two early field goals after benefiting from excellent field position and had also thrown for a touchdown on a nicely executed play that took advantage of blown coverage. However, Hokie fans were sighing deeply when Taylor appeared to suffer an ankle injury early in the second quarter on a third down play, resulting in Glennon's appearance in the game to begin their next drive.

A change in the offense was immediately apparent as VT opened in a more traditional power-I formation, abandoning the spread that Taylor had operated in much of the game, and Glennon began confidently throwing the ball down the field, taking advantage of the Hokies athletic advantage at the wide receiver position, making big plays on his first two plays from scrimmage. The offense looked confident and efficient for the remainder of the first half as Glennon led the Hokies to 24 unanswered points. The operation was noticeable for the outstanding protection the revamped Hokies' offensive line provided to the largely immobile Glennon, aided largely by the full time return of RT Ed Wang and the shifting of former RT Nick Marshman to his customary LG position. Configured as planned in the offseason for the first time this season, the line provided Glennon with ample time to drop back, set his feet, and throw to Tech's gifted wide receiver corps of Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Josh Hyman, and Justin Harper, along with TE Sam Wheeler. This group looked rejuvenated as they broke open time and again, gaining separation and yards after the catch. Though mobile and mature, providing a spark to the team, Taylor had struggled to consistently get the ball to his teammates. Glennon, demonstrating the poise that coaches and teammates had raved about in the offseason, was throwing the ball accurately and on time. Instead of hanging onto the ball and slowly moving through his progressions, Glennon appeared decisive and quickly got rid of the ball, trusting his wideouts to execute their routes and get open.

Now, caveat all of this with the fact that they are playing Duke, who, though markedly improved this year, competing in all their contests this year, is still a 1-5 team. However, VT is finally putting on the kind of multi-pronged domination that is a hallmark of their best teams and results in the type of quotes at the top of this post. Virginia Tech has been swarming to the ball on defense, thoroughly shutting down one of the top QBs in the ACC this season, Thaddeus Lewis, in spite of the absence of MLB and defensive leader Vince Hall. LB Brett Warren has capably filled in while the remainder of the defense has applied pressure and yielded few big plays, thus far causing Duke to go 0 for 9 on third downs. The special teams has blocked a punt, caused and recovered a fumble on a kickoff return, made numerous big hits on kickoff returns, and thoroughly harried Duke's punter into several poor punts. The offense, again keyed by Sean Glennon, has consistently moved the football through the air. The worry that continues to persist on offense is the relative inability to run the ball with power and consistency. RB Branden Ore continues to look tentative, playing with a variety of ailments. Instead of attacking defenders and making the decisive jump cuts he displayed last year, he appears to shuffle his feet and search for contact at the point of attack. The offensive line appears to be creating space and it's up to Ore, backup Kenny Lewis, Jr, and perhaps third string RB Jahre Cheeseman, to take advantage of these openings. The offensive line, assuming that it can avoid injury (LT Duane Brown limped off the field early in the third quarter after getting his knee rolled up, but has returned to the game, exhibiting a slight limp and some decreased mobility), looks much better and provides the time for Glennon to throw the ball down the field, as he just did on a beautiful 45 yard touchdown pass to Josh Morgan. Of course, PK Jud Dunleavy just missed his first extra point of the season, to go along with his first missed field goal earlier in the game (he has hit successfully from over 40 three times today though).

QB Tyrod Taylor, wearing no pads and watching the game while sitting in a golf cart on the sidelines, may not be a candidate for the October 25 Thursday night game against #4 Boston College. If healthy, he and Sean Glennon (with a big assist from the offensive line), has given coach Frank Beamer a difficult decision as Tech continues to climb the national rankings and contend for an ACC title.