Solid Win for the Hokies...

The Hokies traveled to Atlanta and are in the midst of wrapping up a nice win against the Yellow Jackets. The Hokies went into this game knowing that the Jackets would be shorthanded with their top two tailbacks sidelined with injuries. With an inability to lean on the running game, as they have all year, QB Taylor Bennett struggled as he was forced to shoulder the load. The Hokies continued to do a good job of generating pressure with their front four, but also mixed in some aggressive blitzes by the linebackers, perhaps taking advantage of the inexperience of the Jackets new running backs in pass protection. This may have also been in response to some of the criticism that Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster has taken this week after a perceived lack of aggression at the end of the BC game. The pressure that the defense generated forced Bennett to make several poor throws and the defense responded by picking off GT QB's 5 times.

The Hokies not only took chances by bringing pressure on the defensive side of the ball but they also took a chance on special teams. After tying the game at 3 on a Dunlevy field goal, Coach Beamer called for an onsides kick. Maybe Beamer saw the front line cheat back in film study. Either way, the Hokies took a chance, with Dunlevy recovering his own kick.

Finally, the Hokies opened up slightly on offense. Employing a game plan that was similar to the first half against BC, offensive coordinator Stinespring called for shorter routes, allowing Glennon to throw the ball in rhythm, situations in which he has demonstrated success. Glennon got the ball out quickly and the Hokies wide receivers showed their superior athleticism. In the 3rd quarter, after an ill advised attempt by Glennon to pitch the ball to Ore as he was being tripped by an offensive lineman, the Hokies faced a 3rd and 15. In a situation that historically results in a patented Stinespring draw call, Glennon dropped back and heaved one down the right side, where Josh Morgan, matched up one on one, made a terrific catch, going over the CB, corralling the pass and taking it in for a 71 touchdown that put the game out of reach. This was particularly encouraging as the Hokies offense, which looked smooth and efficient in the first half, had come out in the second half and struggled early, seeming to pull back into a conservative game plan, potentially letting GT back in the game. Instead, the Hokies took a more aggressive route and stepped on the neck of their opponents.

On a side note, the jerseys of four Hokies - Glennon, Taylor, Flowers, and Chancellor - mysteriously disappeared from the Hokies locker room before the game. With no backup jerseys on hand, the four Hokies wore three year old Yellow Jackets jerseys with black marker used to scribble over the Yellow Jackets wording and to letter on the players respective names on the backs (which, incidentally, looked horrid). The final look was pretty damn funny. You have to wonder, could this have been a motivational ploy made by someone associated with the Hokies? I can't imagine that someone would actually think up something like this but, in the end, the Hokies won the game. Slap that jersey on Glennon again next week!

With the game out of reach late, the ESPN crew digressed into some conversation. Discussing GT QB Taylor Bennett's decision to dress up as the Teletubbies Tinky Winky on Halloween (no wonder they lost), Chris Fowler easily named all four Teletubbies. When questioned how he knew this info, Fowler responded with something along the lines of, "I've watched the Teletubbies.....I might no have been all there." Hmmm.....maybe he picked up some bad habits in Boulder?

In any case, the Hokies march on, set to face Florida State (who, led by Coach Bowden, have never lost to the Beamer led Hokies) in Lane. Let's hope the aggressive nature continues...