Tell me again why we'll be so terrible next year?...
Net in/out transfer portal rankings: Number 2 in ACC, Number 14 nationally. These are instant impact players, not ones that need to be developed over 1 or 2 years.
76 Replies
1y
We don't have playmakers or depth on the dline or at Lb.
Qb is the most important position. Drones is inaccurate and pop hasn't shown he can handle a blitz. Plus he's too small for our dual threat system. Oline is lacking talent which won't help the qb's.
Coaches can't manage in game adaptations or key decisions. They didn't plan for and are having trouble getting a DC. No home run hire is stepping into a hot seat situation. So, our coaches are below avg.
We importaled a lot but exportaled 9 who were picked up by P4 and graduated some great players like Tuten and APR.
5-7.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
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VPI 1924
1y
We have been a 6 and 6 team since the 1890s. Except for a blip during the Beamer years. If the portal guys are that good, they would not be coming to VaTech.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
Why would you expect anything different than recent history?
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
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Blake843
1y
Yes the transfers in are better than the guys who transferred out (minus Chaplin and Moore) but the transfers in and freshman won’t be as good as the seniors leaving. APR, Tuten, Lane, Felton, Gosnell, Peebles, Jenkins etc.
Honestly we could be better in the secondary, linebackers, TE’s and possibly QB if Drones is healthy and can improve. I see a step backwards with this roster on the OL, DL, RB, WR.
Hopefully we can find some experienced Offensive Tackles in the portal if not Coach Moore will have to coach his butt off. We also really need a really good Defensive Coordinator to take a step forward
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
Obviously are big losses. You might want to check Jennings and Felton's numbers. We're not taking a step back at WR.
(In response to this post by Blake843)
1y
The staff simply hasn't shown they can get the job done and the close game record speaks for itself. We made some changes which I hope net positive results.
Show me they can get it done. They sure as hell didn't in 2024.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
king tut'? Yah; he was... ...who is '25, here?
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
But we could never do a good job of opening holes even for Tuten. A lot of outside stretches and he did the work.
If, and this is a gigantic if, the offensive line could allow inside the tackle running with an actual running back, I think we can replace Tutens production even if not replacing his talent.
(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)
1y
(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)
1y
All the time
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
(In response to this post by hokienole)
1y
most of the production in 2024 and IMHO wasted the talent. I just don’t see this coaching staff having what it takes to get the most out of the returning and incoming team.
Plus game planning and in-game adjustments not strengths of this staff.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
1. There is no QB currently on the roster who has shown the ability to consistently read defenses and deliver the ball accurately and quickly.
2. Our best offensive player by far (Tuten) will be gone, and there is no obvious successor.
3. Our best defensive player by far (APR) will be gone, and there is no obvious successor.
4. We will be breaking in a new defensive coordinator on a team with only 2 returning defensive starters (3 if you count Spencer).
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
(In response to this post by Gobbler Guru)
1y
Who’s more than capable
We MUST land Jimorri Robinson as a transfer IMO to somewhat replace APR
(In response to this post by Gobbler Guru)
1y
I will admit my optimism is waning, but I do realize that with merely a mediocre DC this year, the team would have won 9 or so games. We did well in the portal in areas of great need, and we had some young guys step up recently. Better OL, better D, better S&C could translate into a decent season.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
Getting the same from a football fanbase isn't even hard. If you truly, deeply believe that the sky is falling then you will never be hurt by a bad result.
** Edited by Beerman at 1/14/2025, 4:05:08 PM
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
I feel pretty strongly about this because we were better talent wise than a sub .500 team this year. Even going back to Pry's first year. That team wasn't great.....but they were better than three wins. Pry seems to lose two to three games below the team's talent level every year IMO. I think that trend is likely to continue. I don't see any point in complaining about it incessantly, but you asked why folks why we aren't exactly confident.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
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Flanker
1y
Tech does not have a proven QB. Drones can't pass and he isn't fast enough to win with his feet. Watson shows promise but he needs a QB coach to improve. Bowen can't figure out how to score in the redzone. Schedule is tough as well and the other ACC programs hired coaches who won in their first season. Pry doesn't know how to win and it's too late to teach the old dog new tricks.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
he can't take a step up than we certainly can confirm he's getting horrible development from his QB coach. Utilize his strengths. And, yes, that does mean he will have to carry the ball!
(In response to this post by Flanker)
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Flanker
1y
He showed promise in 2023 but he failed to improve. A quick review of game logs will show that he played poorly against the good teams but he shined against the 2023 cupcakes.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/gamelog/_/id...
He also had at least one WTF play per 2024 game and good QB's don't make those mistakes. He's certainly a physical specimen but he can't make the downfield throws. I contend that he is not able to make the quick decisions that are necessary for a quality QB. My first warning sign was that Drones couldn't beat out Wells and Wells was a horrible check down merchant.
The only strength of Drones is his toughness and durability so he's less likely to leave the game with an injury. He's too slow to win games with his feet. He'll run a lot against cupcakes but he'll have to throw the ball to avoid embarrassment against the real teams.
(In response to this post by BG Hokie)
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MKD
1y
and his accuracy issues severely limits play calling for any offensive coordinator.
(In response to this post by BG Hokie)
1y
offensive coordinator?
Please define "natural" passer, actually don't, utter meaningless term.
His accuracy stats are pretty much on par with all of our QB's in the last 7 years. The only guy that showed clearly better numbers was Hendon Hooker, who is now in the NFL.
** Edited by BG Hokie at 1/14/2025, 6:44:50 PM
(In response to this post by MKD)
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Flanker
1y
A mediocre rSR who holds the ball too long and cannot throw downfield WILL limit the playcalling... especially for a clueless OC.
Accuracy stats don't mean a thing since stats can be padded against cupcakes. Checkdown merchants can juke the stats by throwing for five yards on third and fifteen. Winning big games is the ultimate number.
It is kind of odd that Hooker and Evans had high completion percentages.
Part of that might be Fuentes' offense that relied on a lot of screen passes.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/virginia-tec...
(In response to this post by BG Hokie)
1y
Drones needs to be used in a way that his legs set up his arm…not the other way around. This comes with the added benefit of giving DC’s more to think about and defend.
I don’t know why Bowen used Drones as though his dropback passer skills are his strength. But whether it was choice or forced by Drones or both, hopefully the responsible person(s) have gotten a slice of humble pie and will return to what is most effective and not what is pretty or glamorous or resume building.
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 1/14/2025, 6:41:23 PM
(In response to this post by MKD)
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Flanker
1y
Drones doesn't have enough foot speed to be effective against better teams. He also holds the ball too long and cannot consistently make accurate downfield throws.
Bowen is a clueless OC who only met Pry's benchmarks because Tuten consistently broke chunk plays. I'm confident that Bowen will not be able to put together good game plans next year.
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
1y
consistently be better than his counterpart on the other sideline. He hasn't proven that he is a good gameday coach. He has done a more than admirable job recruiting and building out the roster IMO. But at some point the coaching aspect has to take over and turn into wins.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
So I think "impact" player is a stretch. We lost a ton, so we had to sign a ton. None of them have ever played in our system.
Pry showed he couldn't do anything with 20 returning starters, so what do you supposed he will do with 17 FNG's?, with new coaches to boot?
There's zero reason for optimism, other than just blind "hope". Sorry to be negative, but I'm just looking at the data in front of me.
** Edited by Techsupport at 1/14/2025, 2:57:20 PM
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
vast! In the portal era, especially, it's really pretty hard to tell how much incoming transfers will make an impact. I'm satisfied, certainly, about the transfers we've brought in. I think I'm more optimistic than I was before we got portal commitments, however, we essentially lost, what, like 90% of our starters? That's a lot of parts and pieces that need to fit together, to include a lot of guys who haven't yet played meaningful snaps for us to step up in 2025!
Somewhere between 4 wins and 8 wins! Book it!
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
And compare to the results.
And I don't know that the prediction is "terrible," but a lack of optimism should surprise no one.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
years of coaching and developing the same group of players. We all hope they can, but what reason is there to believe they can put together a bunch of newbies and actually be better? That's not to say it can't or won't happen.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
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EDGEMAN
1y
...to Pry's success...especially LBs, which he doesn't seem to know how to develop. But by golly he can really cross train that bunch. "Jack of all trades, master of none" is his LB motto.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
1y
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
At this point, our coaching staff has pretty much proven what they are. We had like 20 returning starters this year and they still managed to finish with a losing record.
Barring some miraculous hire at DC or S&C coach, I don't see that changing much. Probably another 6-6 type year upcoming, if you ask me.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
I won't hold my breath.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
I don't know if we'll be great or terrible, but...
I assume that, like high school recruiting rankings, transfer portal rankings are heavily influenced by the overall numbers. We've taken 17 transfers, which is more than 12 other schools in the ACC.
We've done a solid job, don't get me wrong. But that No. 2 ranking is extremely deceptive. FWIW, we are No. 7 in 247's ACC portal rankings.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
(7th), really? interesting... +.7.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
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VTTyson
1y
which one is more accurate and reliable?
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
Oh, I'm sure you can look at the data and argue for both.
Then again, the transfer portal hasn't been around very long, and I'm sure they've slowly tweaked their system year by year. So maybe there isn't enough historical data built up for us to draw conclusions.
(In response to this post by VTTyson)
1y
these roster additions.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
1y
(In response to this post by bigbadbird)
1y
They expect Ohio state, but they are very want to do it with a hampton Sydney level budget...
Their heads are in the sand in their own bubble
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
There are two different conversations going on. It is concerning that we are in a conference that can't keep up. We can't even keep up in basketball anymore. When it comes to football I think most people are upset about our ACC performance. It's easy to see that it's coaching that is holding us back at the conference level. We got retreads like Manny Diaz winning nine games at Duke. I didn't like Fu but he would have won 8 with this team easily. Weird coach Kill would have likely won at least 8 too. Our staff just ain't it.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
1y
Whose Job is it to get a Better Product on the Field and Coaches in Merryman ??? Called a AD who went low ball in his Football Coaching hires at VT !! Dr. Sands and Whit have a Div.III Football Program here at VT !! By the way, Many VT Fans like me have seen the Lows and the Highs over the last 50 plus years. Whit & Sands has put VT at it's lowest standards since Jimmy Sharpe... Carry On..
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
1y
hope I'm wrong!
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
1y
The noisy bunch here, including me, is not expecting OSU performance. It is clear to many here that we have a losing program because of a poorly run athletic dept and football team. Why should the fans just accept mediocrity? On the same budget with the right management we are probably winning 8-9 games a season.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
1y
And that's the disappointment.
I don't expect CFP.
I just want a winning season, best teams we should beat, have some sort of consistent offensive and defensive identities,and don't have coaches that shoot themselves in the foot.
It's not that complicated.
If you think last season was a reflection on our budget... sheesh.
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
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VTCALS72
1y
Are we poorly run/ Or are you expectations just over the top for what the coach and AD can do with what VT is and can provide right now?
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
1y
VT can’t do better than Duke? Really?
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
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RiverVT
1y
Holding Babcock accountable. It is his legacy !
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
1y
(In response to this post by RiverVT)
1y
average at this point, not to mention the fact that we have demonstrated we do not know how to win close games any more
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
winning close games is on the D, hopefully the new hire will help
we don't need a star DC just a guy who has been there and done it and can make a good gameplan and CHANGE IT in the heat of the battle.
(In response to this post by Hokeedokee)
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XundaVT
1y
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
1y
Of the season including playing with injuries that hurt his effectiveness
(In response to this post by WildTurkE)
1y
Ask our last 5 QBs that were used as a battering ram in our offensive scheme. I don't blame them. I just think our offensive strategy is so counterintuitive when you don't have a stable of great QBs and you abuse their bodies.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
1y
Effective
It’s teams who have a solid backup who can come in and win in the starter’s absence that will thrive
Very few big time QBs are mainly just pocket guys now (Kyle McCord seems to be one of only a few)
(In response to this post by WildTurkE)
