After watching the VT game 3 times now, I have analyzed it enough to realize that the showing wasn't just VT being terrible. For one, Coley is getting better as an OC and realizing the team's strengths and just becoming a better OC overall. There isn't really much denying the offense has continued to improve. If we can keep it up and the 3rd down woes become a thing of the past, then the offense will continue to light it up and there is no reason why they shouldn't.
Now on the defensive side of things, a lot of things were different. The scheme overall was the same, but there were plenty of adjustments that made it work the way it did. One is the fact that the linebackers were a couple of yards closer to the ball at all times than previously all year. This allowed our guys to meet the ball at the LOS and not 3 yards past it. Also, the LBs were reacting much quicker to plays and I don't know if they were playing more one gap assignment or what, but they were the quickest they have been all year and that applies for the o-line too. Again, that is pure mental decisions and VT being bad has no barring on that aspect. So there is true improvement there.
Also, we were matching personnel more often and not just sticking with the same base all game long. VT and Brewer looked terrible, but when I watched the game over a few times, I noticed a lot of that had to do with Miami. The secondary was much better. There were plenty of times they were playing physical and were trusted to hold on one on one and more times than not they did.
It was also nice seeing safeties coming in to support the run defense. The box was being loaded at correct times finally and it paid off every time. The blitzes were also very nice and called at perfect times and were successful nearly all night.
Basically, the defense was the absolute best it has been under Golden yet. Bad team or not, there were plenty of things improved tremendously that the competition level has no affect on. That is what gives me hope again. If the defense continues that against UNC, then I truly think we have a shot against FSU. And if we do play FSU close or even beat them, then we should also win out, and if that happens, I am all in.
I realize I will get negged and whatnot from some posters here, but I can handle that. After watching nearly every game multiple times and really analyzing the team over and over, I am very confident in the fact that something changed with the coaches and team altogether and something just clicked. I don't know if they went with more 1 gap defense, told the d-line to just wreak havoc, or what, but the scheme was not changed a whole lot, but there were some noticeable changes that had huge affects on the game and they are big enough changes that if they carry on for the rest of the year and into the future seasons, the defense will continue to impress.
