Never understood the hype
for the 24 season. 20 of 22 starters returning from a bad team in 23 and a few transfers shouldn’t have created the hype that led to a lot of disappointment for some fans. Just as this portal class may or may not make the team better in 2025. Go Hokies.
20 Replies
1y
Drones isn't accurate and both qbs were injured. Ol, lb, safety were areas we hoped would step up, but those were glaring weaknesses.
Going into '25 the same way. Brought in some players but no playmakers, no depth or both across most of the roster. Don't have a great qb, weak in the trenches and coaching is below avg - coming out not ready to play, ineffective in-game adjustments, poor qb coaching, duplicate numbers on ST multiple times, lost in clock mgt.
We need to clean house but w the big and sec paying $7M-$9M for the best coaches, what's the point when you're paying $4M and hoping a zero experience guy with zero experience coordinators will win big?
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
S
Squatro
1y
The OL. Really bad in ‘23 and still bad in ‘24. This team could’ve been pretty good with just a mediocre offensive line.
Having a bad OL led to many of the other problems. The defense was on the field too long and under too much pressure. Drones started reacting to all of the pressure and making bad decisions and bad throws. Bowen was not able to call simple drop back pass plays, had to call a lot of quick throws and screens.
You could see it as early as the Marshall game. That’s when you could tell this team was in real trouble. There seemed to be a free rusher on every play.
This program will not turn around until we get some players who can block somebody. Maybe the West Virginia squad can fix it this year. Losing Chaplain was a big blow, he was the only one who could play.
** Edited by Squatro at 1/19/2025, 6:42:59 AM
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
Had chances in each one except Clemson and Minnesota.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
those 20/22 starters and their coaches historically had not beaten a team with a pulse. And that turned out to be who they were.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
when I looked at the returners and then the 2 deep, it was clear that we hadn’t yet built the team that could win a championship without some breaks.Therefore, I told all my buddies that I had hope but didn’t believe the hype. A few bad calls by refs, coaches and a few key turnovers could have made it a better season but that’s sports. Gotta get a few breaks, have some luck and better coaching and talent. Still looking forward to 2025. Hopefully recruiting and portal pickups will make for a deeper team. Go Hokies..
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
or had that much momentum going into the offseason. End of 2023 season was "not" a bad team, they were a much-improved team that had found a better QB that had potential to be a difference maker. But totally outcoached against Vandy to start the season, and then in several other games, did us in. We did play closer games, but didn't win several that we absolutely should have won, hence expectations not met.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
Drones, along with Felton and Jennings had poor years for various reasons. While the somewhat unexpected return of the duo of Strong and Delane weren't terrible, underwhelming the majority of the season. That is the bulk of the returnees people were most excited about. We needed just about all of them to have great years.
(In response to this post by Scream_On_D)
1y
Jennings was dinged up most of the year too.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
1y
Not a single loss other than maybe Clemson that could have been a win. Margin between winning and losing was very thin. You are what your record says you are, but a better all against Miami and a fumble not lost at Sorryexcuse, and this team is 8-4
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
(In response to this post by Happy Dog)
V
VTCALS72
1y
a lot of people want it to be.
(In response to this post by Happy Dog)
1y
..that simply declaring a small sample size (which EVERY football season is) to be significant does not make it so
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
1y
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
Many predicted 8-4 with a 10-2 season when every bounce went the right way.
This team could have beat Miami, Vandy and Rutgers. Should have Beat.
So a little better on oline, little better coverage, little better tackling and you get 9 wins. The team was close and the hype was correct.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
"Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.".
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
Now that we got that out the way, because I fully disagree with your assessment of the team...
I do think returning those players may have been the problem and resetting the roster is necessary. Honestly, I think the coaching was the problem in on the 2024 team and that's being addressed too.
Last season felt like the 2003 team and I can see next season having a much better team than last year.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
1y
But they didn’t. The second half of 2023 was significantly better, a needed QB change was made and Drones had a good showing, and we capped it off with a bowl win. Add in all the returning starters, 2024 should have been an improvement over 2023. In the second half of 2023 it looked like we had turned the corner and things were beginning to click.
Having the same regular season record as 2023 would have been viewed as a failure, and guess what 2024 was a failed season, so much so that coaches lost their jobs.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)
V
VTCALS72
1y
are mostly over the top positive or negative in the off season. Fans expect every bounce of the ball to go their way. Reality says otherwise.
(In response to this post by vt82jm)