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rehokies OP
Sep 02, 2025 at 07:45 PM ET
Kyron ready for 2025?
It would be interesting to me to know if Drones was fully able to participate in Coach Ferguson’s preseason workout regimen. I thought he played somewhat like damaged goods, sort of unable to play with the fire he had in 2023.

48 Replies

GblGbl GblGbl
11mo
The problem is healthy or not he is just not very good
He has regressed every year. The more tape people have on him the worse he gets. ** Edited by GblGbl at 9/3/2025, 9:51:13 AM
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
He hasn’t “regressed every year”
He was misused the first 3 games last year but played his best vs Miami, Stanford, BC before he got hurt in that game One game doesn’t mean he’s had a bad season Definitely not one game under a new OC with 9 new starters vs a top 10 defense
banishedtothelounge banishedtothelounge
11mo
INTs into the EZ = dead to me...
Value the potential 3 pts, seems like that might frequently occur with the offense...
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
Several realities. Some would say excuses but I say reasons
1) he hadn’t played since late October 2) first game in new system (game speed is very different than scrimmage speed) 3) 9 new starters 4) vs a top 10 defense with multiple first rounders (their game speed is even faster) 5) offenses each season are always behind defenses early Yes he has his shortcomings and is inconsistent…but it doesn’t help that he’s on his 3rd OC, and 3rd set of receivers in his career either It’s obvious that he’s been better as seasons go on (if he stays healthy). He was really playing well vs Stanford & BC ** Edited by hokiepro at 9/2/2025, 8:02:56 PM ** Edited by hokiepro at 9/2/2025, 8:55:41 PM
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marcbvtgm
11mo
Plus some other things
3 or 4 dropped key passes (as well as a few well thrown 50/50 balls), defensive secondary was position group strength for SC and receivers struggled somewhat getting separation resulting in a number of throwaways, plus getting put behind the 8 ball with key penalties (not Drones' fault) and 4th qtr special teams and VT secondary gaffes (not Drones' fault). Did he make a horrible decision throwing the INT? Absolutely. Could his accuracy have been better in spots? Yep. Did he miss some open receivers? I don't think many, but I haven't had a chance to give the game a second look yet. But he wasn't nearly as bad as his stats and the peanut gallery suggest. I think we'll likely see some improvement this week.
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Jmac610
11mo
Playing hurt could have introduced some bad habits that he hasn't resolved
If it was hurting to throw or run, he may have changed his mechanics to alleviate the pain. It may have been intentional or likely was without even realizing it. But it becomes a habit that requires first identifying it and then re-training to change it.
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Happy Dog
11mo
He looked rusty....hopefully he will work that off soon
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BuffaloTraceHokie
11mo
These are all true, however...
Not seeing the field well could be a product of some of the things you mention. But none of the things you mention explain his complete lack of ability to be able to hit open WRs or any WR in stride. Drones is not good at the basic things (carry out a fake much??) and that is the head scratcher IMO.
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VTCALS72
11mo
What I don't know is whether USCe was just good enough on D
to play at a level KD can't or if it is something KD is still working on or just does not have. He may look completely different against even a Vandy defense or even a NCSU one.
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BuffaloTraceHokie
11mo
Again, most of the issues from Drones...
aren't related to defense. When you can't hit an easy swing pass; when you constantly throw balls into the dirt, that's an entirely different issue in my mind.
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VTCALS72
11mo
I understand but I think they are.
I think the defense that good was able to get KD out of his comfort zone, a zone that when he is in he doesn't miss those throws. I think the USCe defense made the alarm clock in KD's head ring before he was ready. Like a hurried shot in BB.
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BuffaloTraceHokie
11mo
You and I are likely going to see this differently, which is OK...
I don't happen to think Drones has every been particularly good with the short to intermediate throws. He has never shown touch or precise accuracy. At least not at a consistent level. For me, it's what we've always seen from him, only exacerbated. If he makes a 180 degree shift this week, then I'll gladly eat crow. However, the best indicator of future performance is history. And his isn't particularly good in that regard.
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
Looked like a couple fakes weren’t there because RB went wrong way too
I’m not denying he missed throws. The most glaring was the first INT, the swing underthrown to Hawkins and the last couple of bounced ones to Gosnell I’m hoping that was rust plus being rushed and under duress for the first time since last Oct ** Edited by hokiepro at 9/2/2025, 9:32:33 PM
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ancient alien 2018
11mo
Drones said as much in post-game presser. Took the blame and said it will
be corrected this week.
Link: KD
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BuffaloTraceHokie
11mo
Nah... I'm going to respectfully disagree. His lack of
willingness to carry out a fake has been part of his play during his entire tenure at VT. He simply isn't committing fully to that particular play.
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ancient alien 2018
11mo
Bottom line on the Drone's Offense: Someone a couple of days ago stated an
amazing/unknown, to most, fact. When Drones throws less than 30 times a game, VT wins ( don't remember actual number) all it's games he the QB. Throws over 30 times? Losing record. I will "go out on a limb" and say that VT must run the ball for at least 200-225 YPG to beat all but two remaining games on the schedule!!
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marcbvtgm
11mo
I wonder what the stats are when he runs >10 times a game (not incl sacks)?
hoosnowahokie hoosnowahokie
11mo
Better Bottom Line: That was 2 games last year. Miami and Vandy. In 2023
It was 3 games, Rutgers, Marshall and NCSt. So VT has also lost plenty of games where he doesn't throw 30 times. However, in games that VT won, he generally threw over 60% completion all but UVA in 2023 (55-17 game so it didn't matter much) and GT last year where he had a pass, rec and rushing TD. In games that VT lost and he started? He threw above 60% once, against Vanderbilt (which they should've won). Every other game was 59.4% or less. It's very, very simple. He has to complete throws. He didn't do that against USCe, with his worst completion percentage of his VT career when starting. This team goes as Drones' arm goes. Complete passes, win games. Miss passes, lose games.
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ChrisLords
11mo
He probably had to throw the ball more because we were behind.
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ancient alien 2018
11mo
true in 2nd half.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96
11mo
I am surprised you didn't pull out the "he's hurt" excuse
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
He’s not. But playing hurt shouldn’t be something we need
But he tried last year and the coaches let him when he wasn’t Playing when hurt shouldn’t be an excuse because it shouldn’t be allowed to happen
MP4VT2004 MP4VT2004
11mo
IMO, if you're being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to play...
...and you are a better option at less than 100% than the guys on the bench behind you are at full strength, you should absolutely be asked/expected to play. If players don't like that, then as Dan Hawkins famously said, "go play intramurals, brother!"
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Pride_and_Joy
11mo
All the above can be true
and he can still just suck.
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RJHokie
11mo
How dare you post reasonable explanations…….😁
vtchem75 vtchem75
11mo
Good Analysis… BUT, a QBR of 44 Needs Massive Improvement
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
Oh he can play a lot better for sure. I just don’t buy the
“He’s no good” narrative We had fans who wanted Bryan Randall benched…he became ACC POY We had fans who were down on Tyrod after losing first two of 2010…he became ACC POY and is still in NFL Backup QB is always the most popular player on the team It’s also true that Drones MUST play better or we won’t win much. He’s definitely capable of a lot better performance than Sunday
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marcbvtgm
11mo
Two words...Mark Leal
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Hokie`79
11mo
Drones missed some throws, but also had receivers drop balls when wide open
Catch those balls, eliminate a couple penalties and we could have won. The game was close until that punt return, which came about because of a formation penalty.
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Tailgate Guru
11mo
Bryan Randall didn’t take 3 years to develop as a passer
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ancient alien 2018
11mo
Wrong. He wasn't truly effective until jr. season. He also didn't have the
nagging injuries Drones had had, until late his Jr season and sr. campaign
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Tailgate Guru
11mo
He was a much more natural passer from day one
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marcbvtgm
11mo
No he wasn't. And the game was much different then. You're romanticizing.
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 9/3/2025, 11:27:39 AM
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Tailgate Guru
11mo
Opinions are like noses. We all have them.
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
You’re not remembering very well
He couldn’t throw very well at all before 2003 his junior year and then he was very erratic He was a scrambler and very shifty strong elusive runner Drones has a much stronger arm and did as Chris Coleman said…make “big time throws” on Sunday…but he was off on the “easy” ones
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marcbvtgm
11mo
And 3 or 4 of the easy ones were dropped.
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Tailgate Guru
11mo
We get it. You’re a Drones fan.
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
I’m a Hokie QB fan; I’m not going to dump on our QB1
I loved Bryan Randall & defended him as he developed but he would’ve likely been passed by Marcus if he wasn’t a knucklehead off the field Randall & Drones both seem to have good work ethics & are respected leaders amongst the players
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Tailgate Guru
11mo
No one is dumping on anyone
We just see what we see. There are reportedly close to a million reasons Drones is not Randall. Doesn’t make Drones a bad guy; doesn’t mean he isn’t trying his best. But he’s not beyond objective analysis either. I hope he improves a lot, and quickly. But if he doesn’t, we don’t have time to waste on false hopes.
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
You may not be but there are people sayjng
He “sucks” or we can’t win with him After he had an admittedly poor game vs a top 10 team…again in his first game action since October in a new system with 9 new starters Just not ready to give up on him Does Cade Klubnik suck? Should Clemson replace him? He had a worse grade than Drones ** Edited by hokiepro at 9/3/2025, 8:50:54 AM
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96
11mo
Who is saying it?
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
Here’s one example
There are others on other platforms And you are implying it without saying it ** Edited by hokiepro at 9/3/2025, 10:21:33 AM
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VTCALS72
11mo
That is the way I remember it too
I also remember this board had a strong contengint who wanted Grant Noel to beat BR out and to move BR to some other position. Of course most of that had nothing to do with BR but was to clear the decks for MV2.
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
Uh yeah he did
More like 3.5 years He was sharing time with Marcus in 2003 because Vick was a better passer He really started hitting his stride vs GT in 2004, midway thru his Senior year ** Edited by hokiepro at 9/2/2025, 9:29:31 PM
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Tailgate Guru
11mo
Not true
Granted, Randall is not the best passer Tech has had, and Marcus was a better passer when his head was on straight. But Randall was a more natural, effective passer than Drones. He could anticipate and throw with touch far better than Drones. I hope for the best with Drones but I have seen nothing to suggest he can be a serious passing threat. He would be a great fit for Paul Johnson and he seems like a good guy. But I think we have seen what he can do as a passer.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96
11mo
Didn't you claim before the game that if the score was close in the 4th
That VT would prevail due to Jarret Ferguson's new S&C program??
hokiepro hokiepro
11mo
We lost due to mistakes not being gassed
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Marooned
11mo
Better blocking schemes and intense practices
will be key to see early improvement I think.