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VT - Post Game Thoughts and Observations

I am happy for the win and as a relatively young fan I’m used to seeing us getting punched in the mouth and folding if we don’t start out hot.

We have flaws, but so does pretty much every team not named Texas or Ohio State at this point (imo) I just think can our D get enough stops and force 3s and not 7s will make a big difference since our Offense will score plenty of points

I think the Ole Miss game mirrored ours and we came out on top and they didn’t. Just keep winning, now it’s the 12 team playoff era so just win stay within the top 12.

Excited to see the write ups on Cal because they’re supposed to have a quality DL, with one pretty good DE. QB is ok, RB is legit, but not sure how good their OL or weapons are.
 
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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.
Click to expand...
The defense biggest problem was not completing plays, 4 sacks missed-killer, 21 missed tackles- killer, that balloon pass Drones completed on a 3rd and 9 for a TD, should have been a picked by number 0. It doesn't get better than that, QB (under pressure), throwing going back across the field should be pick off. It looks like our DB's wait on the WR's to catch the ball, then come up and wrap.
 
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