Xavier Chaplin is No. 1 in the ACC in pass blocking grade, though he struggled in the run game. (Jon Fleming)
Virginia Tech is 1-0 after a 36-17 victory over Old Dominion on Saturday night. Let’s take a closer look at a couple of things that stood out during the game. Today, we’ll focus on the positive numbers that came out of Saturday night’s victory, though I also want to go back and touch on the linebackers again now that the final PFF grades have been released.
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Thanks, Chris. I love that new stat. It makes more sense than almost all others. It's the "bottom line".
N2VT2
It's amazing that we did so well offensively without running the ball. Since Bowen worked for Rahne at PSU, Rahne knew exactly what the offensively challenged Bowen would do in the run game: nothing except inside zone! Maybe all the rest of our opponents will operate from a mental deficit of not knowing Bowen so well, but I'll bet they watch some film. I expect nothing different from Bowen, it's all he knows or he's just plain hard headed. And Pry will back him to the nth degree.
mcannaday
Great point. There are literally so many things you can do and ways to block to open up the running game. If you’re have success with quick hitting passes, you should be able to run off that. Creativity is lacking in Blacksburg. I have never understood why a coordinator would not “steal” or mimic what great offenses are doing? Everybody else does it.
Hokies93
The Tisdale and Keller grades surprise me. I saw Tisdale continue to miss gaps and tackles despite having been in the program for about a dozen years ;). I'd be curious to see Will Johnson's grade. He "looked" like the best LB out there.
Also, I am curious that no one is talking more about the poor snaps. Low snaps make the QB move early and throws off timing of the play. That must get fixed this week.
VTaimhigh
This is a great, meaty article. Gives me not just data, but hope.
No_Limit_Hokie
Available Yards Percentage. Great stat!
Skip johnson
These metrics are great in helping me understand the game.
ChazB
Mochas Gracias, any chance to share the running statistics on the OL and RBs
fosterD1
Who rates these players to come up with these percentages in that matrix? Are they coaches, ex-players or just football know-it-alls? How do they know what actual responsibilities each player they grade has on each snap? I’m skeptical.
Chris Coleman
Football know-it-alls probably. And FWIW, Tech (and many programs) have a subscription to PFF.
Chris Coleman
Basically I'd say they employ a bunch of Brandon Pattersons and French60Wasps.
pharlap_99
they have an army of folks who go through interview process, then training. basically you give up your fall saturdays, watch assigned games, score them, submit. they are reviewed, then final scores published. i believe you are paid by the game
since I chose not to give up my Saturdays I can't report first hand how the training is, the actual scoring process, etc... might try it next year
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