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VT - Post Game Thoughts and Observations

FL Cane said:
Here are some thoughts on today's complete rollercoaster of a game as we escape the Rock with a win and head into Cal week:

Offense
  • Nothing in the world is more frustrating than watching an offense beat itself, and Miami's offense did that routinely today. The fact of the matter is that we did not have a problem moving the ball down field. We just self destructed inside the VT 20 twice. We had one terrible unlucky pick that got bobbled inside the 20, and another pick that Cam just whiffed on. All in all, there are very few games that you'll win with 3 turnovers.
  • We spotted VT 14 points on offense. It's inexcusable. Could've been another blowout, but we helped them start quick (they've started slow all season).

  • The Run game is a problem. It got going more in the second half, but it is not reliable enough. Too much inside zone; ground and pound football. We're not opening up lanes, and Damian Martinez was unimpressive (for the most part) tonight. I don't understand why we don't try to bounce anything outside or run a counter every now and then.

  • Say what you will about our Sloppy O, but this was yet again another fantastic performance from our WRs and TEs. Our TE group won us this game.

  • Despite the mistakes Cam made, he had Heisman moments. Elite players find ways to win, and he is ELITE. This was Cam Ward on a bad day. That's how good he is.

  • Coming back down 10 is no small feat. Prior Miami teams would've mailed it in. Like last year, this team fights. We do not go down easy.

  • Our OL got manhandled. We need Jalen Rivers back ASAP. Markell Bell is going to be an excellent OL, but he was outmatched today and got beat multiple times. Cam got hit a lot (not many hard hits thankfully), and we gave up three sacks. Thankfully, VT has one of the more talented DLs in the conference, but we need to tighten the ship quickly.

  • All in all, this was a bad night on O, and we still scored 38.
Defense
  • I think on re-watch, our DL won't look as bad as perceived tonight. Yes, we missed too many tackles, but we had about 3-4 sacks that Drones saved himself from by heaving the ball at the last second. Most QBs can't do that or don't have the awareness to. Props to him, it was frustrating to see him do that.

  • I'd also add that VT was holding or committing a block in the back on just about every play. Hard to push back an OL when they can manhandle you like that.

  • Kiko Mauigoa had about his worst game as a cane. Bad in pass coverage, missed multiple tackles, and he absolutely whiffed on the first drive where VT scored.

  • Tackling was an issue most of the night. Lots of arm tackles and terrible angles.

  • The Secondary was bad tonight. We gave up so many chunk plays to an average WR group. They had us on the ropes all night and we couldn't get a stop.

  • We struggled and failed to contain their running game. We couldn't adapt to their misdirection and motion. We were out of position constantly.

  • Guidry has a lot of work to do with this defense.
Overall
  • Miami was extremely lucky to come out with this W. After watching the last play 40 times, I believe they made the wrong call on the field. No way anyone could've ruled that complete. The guy bobbled the ball all the way down and did not have possession. Should've been incomplete to begin with but the incompetent refs tried one more gimmick.

  • We have an elite, CFP caliber offense. This was a bad night for us, and we still scored 38. That's good enough to beat about any team in the country. Cam Ward had a bad game, and even then threw for 300+, 4 TDs, and made Heisman plays that kept our undefeated season alive.

  • We do not have an elite, CFP caliber defense. We got absolutely worked by VT today. Yes, there were terrible calls on our D and our offense gave them two short fields, but that's no excuse. They did come through on that second to last drive, but they came within a review of blowing this game on a hail mary. Guidry has a lot of work to do with the defense top to bottom. Any top Ten team would light us up on D with the performance we had tonight.

  • The officiating was god awful. It would've turned into a Miami boat race if not for the Markell Bell phantom holding call. That call completely swung the momentum of the game.

  • This team needs to use this game as a wakeup call. We travel to a very hostile environment next weekend against a team that has talent. Late game and our first long trip of the year.

  • Also, shout out to Brent Pry who corched away this game. Worst clock management I've ever seen in my life, and went for a fake FG instead of a kick that would've given his Lou Groza reincarnation of a kicker a chance to win the whole thing.
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I saw it the way you did...our back level D is not great, poor tackling from LB's and DB's. I thought Malik Bryant brought a lot of energy on D, including the fake FG stop. We are going to have to outscore other teams...
 
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S&C and nutrition need to find a fix. Last week was a fast paced game in high heat and humidity only to come back 6 days later and do it all over again with another scrambling QB. From the start our D looked slow (they’re not) and lacking physicality (they don’t). Gotta figure a lot of that was environmental and physical breakdown from last week and the short week this week. Get them in cold tanks, leg pressure sleeves, etc this week to prep for Cal.

Also need to get some of these injured guys back. With Rivers, Bain, Brown out there last night and if Cam doesn’t fumble it early we win by 21.
 
Hoyacane1620 said:
Next week will be another challenge in the trenches. Cal is reportedly a pretty physical team. I hope the team that works with the guys on recovery work overtime this week because we need everyone feelling good enough to give good effort next week.
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Yup and Menoza can run to, which gives us fits
 
Brains said:
We need Bain and Brown. They make a massive difference. Our DB group isn't good, but Brown improves the situstion considerably.
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I need more popo and move Kiko as a stand up rusher rather than in space. too. slow.

please for the love of god anyone else take Richards spot. also, the final drive - the first incompletion to the back of the end zone and the second one on the final play - too many people just standing around
 
hoops156 said:
I need more popo and move Kiko as a stand up rusher rather than in space. too. slow.

please for the love of god anyone else take Richards spot. also, the final drive - the first incompletion to the back of the end zone and the second one on the final play - too many people just standing around
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I talked ad nauseam this offseason about Kiko's problems in the pass game. He's fine in run support or shooting a gap, but he's absolutely lost in east-west space.

I don't have an easy solution for that one. We don't have many ready LBs.
 
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Brains said:
I talked ad nauseam this offseason about Kiko's problems in the pass game. He's fine in run support or shooting a gap, but he's absolutely lost in east-west space.

I don't have an easy solution for that one. We don't have many ready LBs.
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Truth is all of the problems we are showing were exactly what we are as a team

Nothing is getting “fixed” because this is just who we are. A punchers chance to play with anyone but pretty sure every single fan knew, and agreed, that we had these exact issues

We just got to see them all at the same time last night
 
JHallCanes said:
Truth is all of the problems we are showing were exactly what we are as a team

Nothing is getting “fixed” because this is just who we are. A punchers chance to play with anyone but pretty sure every single fan knew, and agreed, that we had these exact issues

We just got to see them all at the same time last night
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Getting back Bain, Rivers, and Brown would really help. We don't have sufficient quality depth to replace that many key starters.

Also, on a note that is both positive and negative, our offensive turnovers were absolutely devastating. If we clean that up, the game is nowhere near as close last night. The worry, of course, is that these types of mistakes could continue.

The score line last night should have been no worse than 44-30, and we easily could have scored 52.
 
My takeaway from last night's game is that the outcome of most games will depend on turnovers. Ward and the offense are too good—we’ll score on most possessions. Our defense isn’t great, but it’s not terrible either. It will get some stops and force field goals. A good comparison for this team is last year’s Washington team. If we avoid turnovers and don't give opponents easy points, we should be able to win almost every game.
 
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CanesNation26 said:
My takeaway from last night's game is that the outcome of most games will depend on turnovers. Ward and the offense are too good—we’ll score on most possessions. Our defense isn’t great, but it’s not terrible either. It will get some stops and force field goals. A good comparison is last year’s Washington team. If we avoid turnovers and don't give opponents easy points, we should be able to win almost every game.
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Exactly.
 
Brains said:
Getting back Bain, Rivers, and Brown would really help. We don't have sufficient quality depth to replace that many key starters.

Also, on a note that is both positive and negative, our offensive turnovers were absolutely devastating. If we clean that up, the game is nowhere near as close last night. The worry, of course, is that these types of mistakes could continue.

The score line last night should have been no worse than 44-30, and we easily could have scored 52.
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Yep. I posted this exact point at the same time you did. Turnovers are key this year. If we limit them, we'll win most games.
 
Brains said:
Getting back Bain, Rivers, and Brown would really help. We don't have sufficient quality depth to replace that many key starters.

Also, on a note that is both positive and negative, our offensive turnovers were absolutely devastating. If we clean that up, the game is nowhere near as close last night. The worry, of course, is that these types of mistakes could continue.

The score line last night should have been no worse than 44-30, and we easily could have scored 52.
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bain will help when hes back for sure and same with brown. the biggest issue for me is the run game. we just cant reliably run the ball out of the formations and sets we run out of while the game is on the line. this has been an issue all year long too. theyre gonna need to go back to the drawing board and figure out new ways to run.
 
Brains said:
Getting back Bain, Rivers, and Brown would really help. We don't have sufficient quality depth to replace that many key starters.

Also, on a note that is both positive and negative, our offensive turnovers were absolutely devastating. If we clean that up, the game is nowhere near as close last night. The worry, of course, is that these types of mistakes could continue.

The score line last night should have been no worse than 44-30, and we easily could have scored 52.
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Yeah I’m still bullish on this team. Bigtime. I know it’s a struggle for the fans right now looking at positives but I’ll take Cam Ward over anyone in the country.

I thought Rivers was going to play and you’re right that to me makes a massive difference in how I expect us to play.

Felt like we were super close to quite a few INTs last night as well
 
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hoops156 said:
bain will help when hes back for sure and same with brown. the biggest issue for me is the run game. we just cant reliably run the ball out of the formations and sets we run out of while the game is on the line. this has been an issue all year long too. theyre gonna need to go back to the drawing board and figure out new ways to run.
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Combining short splits with bunch formations isn't helping. @No_Fly_Zone @JamesQuall

That said, we are going to live and die with the pass, and I believe it's time for the staff to accept that and plan accordingly.
 
Hoyacane1620 said:
Idk when Brown will be back. He was still in a boot on a scooter last night. That doesn’t seem like an iminent return….
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well we know we wont get a straight answer anyways. rivers didnt dress. bain is still out. I expect to never see them again lol
 
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