OK just an observation for discussion about KD
He has had three years as a starter and everybody knows what we have: good runner, bad passer. Doesn't see the field, locks in on a receiver, can't check off and happy feet. He is what he is. Probably, as CC has pointed out, the offensive system doesn't suit his skill set. So
Why not try Pop or Rangel? Posters point to Pop's bowl game. Many opt outs and he missed some throws. OK, not a good game for him but this wasn't a fair game for evaluation. Hey. and how many bad games and missed throws for KD as a three year starter?
And Rangel isn't sniffing the field. No idea what he can do.
Don't see a lot a downside risk at this point....... JMO
39 Replies
9mo
When Drones inevitably trots onto the field this coming Saturday, you know precisely what you will get from him. Failure to read defenses, total lack of pocket presence, dirtballs on passes that should be easy completions, poor decisions on read options, bad body language. There is THREE YEARS of evidence that is what you get.
No one knows what Pop or Rangel would do. Could be worse. Might be better. But knowing that you will consistently get a bad performance from the guy in front of them, what exactly is it that people are afraid of? We are not beating GT, or most of the teams left on the schedule, with Drones. We might or might not scrape together a few wins with the other guys. Only one way to find out. And if you're afraid the backup QBs wouldn't work out, by sticking with Drones you're realistically playing it conservative to get to 4 wins instead of 3. If coaches won't take a chance in this situation, when would they ever be willing to?
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
I.e. there's no future development benefit or upside. You might as well just play the guys you trust the most, even if you know what their limits are.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
NFL coaches have been saying for a while that players entering the draft are far less skilled than in the past. Other than maybe OL, college coaches are paying and playing guys who can help now. Guys who can't portal downward to G5. Young guys who perform well portal up to P2 then go pro when their draft stock dictates it. As for QBs, forget about it. You aren't sitting behind a starter for 3 years then starting your last two. The writing is on the wall after 2 years for most players.
(In response to this post by Synaesthesia)
9mo
Make it an open, live audition. If one of them seizes the job, great. If not, youâre into the final 4 games by that point. You can play either AJ Brand or Kelden Ryan without burning their redshirt.
Either way, Iâm done with Drones. We absolutely must make a change.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
S
solareye
9mo
entire team.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
The QB also is unwilling or unable to step up in the pocket.
So much of the alleged pressure that Drones faces is not due to failures on the OL, it's due to his failure to see what's happening in front of him and react as quickly as an average D1 QB should.
(In response to this post by solareye)
9mo
line average. They block the run okay. Opponent DC's watch the film and see an indecisive QB very exposed to backside pressure by blitzing. Wake hit him from behind several times with a wide set corner/backer. They just pinned their ears back and sprinted straight to Drones...hit him before he could react.
(In response to this post by Gobbler Guru)
9mo
Drones has weaknesses, but it doesn't help that he's got to roll out all the time (or by design) and reset or throw on the run. When he stays in the pocket, he's got like 2 secs.
Doesn't seem like any QB's going to do great there.
(In response to this post by solareye)
9mo
Morris is a TO machine at times, but he's also confident and is getting the job done.
(In response to this post by solareye)
9mo
You look to the future. You take chances. You bench players who make poor choices to gain control of the team. You blitz the quarterback (like WF did) during critical downs. We canât defend the receivers. We give too much cushion. Our pass defenders never turn around. The list goes on and on.
These are coachable issues and can be moderated if not eliminated. However, no matter how many coaches we hire, we always seem to hire the same guys.
My biggest criticism of Drones is he doesnât seem to see defenders right in front of him; much less the peripheral vision. Itâs almost heâs in âpracticeâ mode during the game and doesnât believe these guys will really tackle him.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
It was designed to get them injured with so many intentional QB runs and slow developing pass plays. Plus we have had known offensive line issues for a couple of years. So no good QBs want to play in that system and get beat up and only have limited chances to get good stats.
And now we are stuck with a QB who has no pocket awareness, holds the ball far too long, is inaccurate when he does throw, often chooses the wrong receiver to throw to, and is easy to rattle with a blitz.
At this point our passing offense is slants, dump offs to RBs, and great jump ball catches by WR/TE on bad throws. Oh and drops. We also have plenty of drops.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
He brings a spark, and an unpredictability to the offense. His arm probably can't make some of the throws Drones can, but Drones isn't really making them anyway, he's SO slow getting the ball out.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
With Mike Gundy coaching him who is a vastly superior offensive mind and QB teacher than TyBow ever was
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
Go for it! Monty can stop being a caretaker and just go for it in the best interest of the school.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
They will be bought in the portal or perhaps high school recruiting post season. I suspect Monty has been advised of that with instructions to incentivize that outcome.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
(In response to this post by Hokiefied)
E
EDGEMAN
9mo
...Drones laterals to him, then he can either run it, or throw downfield?
That might work if he sees the field better than Drones?
(In response to this post by AirborneHokie96)
9mo
The bowl game gets talked about a lot but itâs his performance vs Duke that sticks out to me. No ability to evade. Just ran straight backwards and he looked slow relative to the DTs chasing him. Heâs an FCS talent brought in by a D2 offensive mind.
(In response to this post by AirborneHokie96)
9mo
The best I can give him is "mobile". One would assume because of his size that he would be quick, but he isn't. I suspect he got here based on the coaching of his father, kind of like Josh Jackson, he wasn't all that athletic either. If he can see the field better than Drones (a low bar) we should still give him a shot IMO.
(In response to this post by Hokiefied)
9mo
Guessing Monty has been told to not incentivize any expectations past this season so he and Rangel will be riding the pine save injury to Drones.
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
9mo
...him on the field and are putting outside pressure on VT to play him, under the threat that future money will be cut off if VT benches Drones. That's pure speculation on my part, but I predicted this kind of potential situation as soon as the NIL thing became "legal".
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
He is SO bad. How else is he still our starter at QB? Thereâs no way the coaches can look at his performance and go yep, we need more of that. There has to be some outside influences of some sort.
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
V
Vippie1
9mo
At the end of 2024 he knew he was on thin ice and decided Drones was a better gamble then the portal . He possibly was correct given the $$$ VT had to throw around, but in any event it was a short term decision on what was the best path to eking out enough wins to save his job. At this point I dont anyone left has a vested interest in KD but there is nothing on the sideline other than more bad options.
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
9mo
he threw some real dogs-but we had some almost blocks going on
(In response to this post by MP4VT2004)
9mo
He played well enough to win - all things considered.
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 10/6/2025, 10:39:11 AM
(In response to this post by bigbadbird)
9mo
The biggest question mark going into this season - by far - was the offensive line. As the OL went, the season would go. And between injuries, lack of depth, and honestly lack of talent overall, this season has gone south. Absolutely nothing was or is going to appreciably change that. And certainly not QB recruiting or the offensive scheme.
(In response to this post by AirborneHokie96)
9mo
the OL to put pressure on Drones.
They would rush 3 or maybe 4 defenders if the OL is a weakness.
Instead, they are bringing 5 and 6 defenders with success and forcing the QB1 to make quick throws and decisions...neither of which is a strength at all.
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
9mo
No good Defensive Coordinator is going to make it easy on the OL but rushing just 3 or 4. They know the OL is probably going to let at least 1 guy get through almost untouched if stunt (which they've been doing" or they send a 5 or 6th guy from unexpected angles.
They're doing what Bud Foster used to do against overmatched offensive lines. It doesn't really matter how good the QB is if they have no time to throw and receivers don't have time to complete routes.
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 10/6/2025, 2:38:32 PM
(In response to this post by AirborneHokie96)
F
fordham
9mo
Every game
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
9mo
Not that they are "better" but in an attempt to get a spark. Makes me curious.
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
(In response to this post by Spider73)
9mo
Which is where VT is, no?
(In response to this post by MDHokie79)
9mo
(In response to this post by MDHokie79)