Virginia Tech football's run defense seems to be getting worse each week. (Ivan Morozov)
Virginia Tech football’s run defense has been the hot topic this week. Let's look at some interesting numbers for many veteran Hokie defenders, which seem to be trending down. We’ll also take a look at the positive impact of Brody Meadows on the offensive line against Rutgers and compare Tech’s team grades to the rest of the ACC.
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1.) PFF is by no means a grading system respected by actual coaching staffs. They don't sit in meetings and discuss players' grades. They have their own systems per position. They are well aware of the issues and needs of each position.
2.) Meadows is a large player who has very limited movement. He struggles greatly in pass pro. He is young and will grow into the OG position. OGs need to be able to move not just run block. Meadows can't pull on any run schemes. So, that's 2 out of 3 that cause concern for him to play a lot. If he is in the play calling has to match his risks.
3.) Givens comes from a small school where he dominated as a large player. He is now a small fish in a big fishbowl. He has struggled to crack the lineup. That's a question that he has to address not the coaches. If he is ready to go we will see him. He is also currently injured which has limited his ability to work out (broken wrist?).
vtgreg
Regarding the regression on the defense from a PFF ratings perspective, any theories on why that's happening now? Is it coaching and playcalling or a product of something else (injuries, step up in competition, etc...)?
It is alarming that it feels like the wheels are falling off the bus against very mediocre competition. I'm really concerned to see what happens when VT takes a trip down to FSU in a few weeks.
SWFlaHokie
With the current state of things talent wise, how many do we lose to the transfer portal and will we miss those that take that Avenue?
fosterD1
Playing DT, at just about any level of football,
is all about being able to disengage or shed blocks and get to the football. It’s not easy. The best DT’s have quick hands and superior upper body strength. I don’t think any of our guys do a good job getting off blocks.
TDVick
Pollard and Kendricks have been steady, hardworking, but undersized players for FIVE YEARS in a row now. How inexcusable is it that we haven't been able to upgrade and get them some help? There have been so many blanket, across-the-board failures by our coaches and administrator for several years now. The underachievement has been disgraceful.
Tallwino
Folks, let's be Hokie positive here. A lot we know but a lot we don't know. Also a little patience please. I'm still in the camp that thinks Pry and all will get us there. He's a very positive person and that breeds good things. Let all of us surround him with positivity. If a couple years from now it's not better, then we look for change. Right now I don't think that is going to happen.
Cheer for the Hokies through the good and bad. More good is coming.
Go Hokies!!!!
pharlap_99
We can cheer for the Hokies and still be critical of decisions this new administration has made or the lack of systemic progress over the first two seasons (to date). Blind adoration is what put us in this position ... and I was 100% guilty.
We are in a time when "if a couple of years from now it's not better, then we look for change" can seriously damage the future of the program ... which can harm the non revs at which we have drastically improved.
In today's D1 football landscape the non blue bloods (and no, we aren't and never have been one) simply cannot afford a 5 years mistake, that then takes another 3 years to start reversing.
We all love VT football ... we can support the program and the players while demanding that tangible progress is made from year to year. especially when paying 10mil/yr just for coaching and support staff (and that # may be low).
Pry still has plenty of time to right the ship ... I'm guessing at least through mid 2024 season. But he needs to show supporters that things ON THE FIELD are trending in the right direction. Or provide clear answers as to why that's not happening.
Bottom line, even if we are wrecked with injuries, some progress needs to be seen or recruits will disappear, as will prominent donors.
I hope the staff succeeds, shows me (and others) a coherent path forward. More than listening to Allman Brothers and being positive all the time. That's fun but it rarely leads to success
MDHokie79
Amen! GO HOKIES!
Steeltown Hokie
Ok so what's the time frame? This is year 2 and the article lists data that says we are worse than last year. At some point we need to see tangible improvement.
Hokie1992
What about the spread formations teams have been using against the Hokies. Seems there have been many cases where offenses are spreading their receivers wide, leaving no linebackers in the middle of the field. Then the offenses are busting big runs directly up the middle
rheckley
I am a ‘65 grad, watched a lot of bad and good VT teams. I think we are 2-3 years away
from a successful football program. I think
Coach Pry is a good fit for us, he is re-establishing our recruiting footprint in VA, but the well was dry when he took over. Will he have to replace some assistants, maybe.
I am all in for Coach Pry.
I watched Davidson beat us 9-7 at Tech in 1959, so tell me how bad we were then.
MKD
If I was a coach and prepping to play VT, it would be completely reasonable to put together a game plan for running the ball on every play. There's no need to pass the ball against VT to loosen up the defense so they can run. There's no gap integrity and very easy with motion or O line stunts to get VT completely out of position(s).
Mark Duncan
What happened to Gunner Givens?
Was he not a high 4-star recruit and he can't get on the field even with the dismal performance of the starters?
MKD
I may be wrong, but I think they changed from his position in which he was recruited. He started on the D line then moved to O line. I know him through a mutual friend and he needed to get much stronger before getting on the field. From my understanding, he was ok with that plan. Great young man and he will be a good player once he gets in the rotation.
Hokie1992
Other way around I believe. Givens was a highly rated OL out of high school, but wants to play defense. the fact he isn't on the OL must mean the coaches see him as a capable DL in the future/
MKD
You may be right. I do know that he needed to get much stronger and more activation of his fast twitch muscles. O and D line is really about five basic things... quick feet/arms, balance, leverage, strong shoulders/chest, and fast twitch muscle activation.
Mark Duncan
I really want him to succeed.
Chris Coleman
He's banged up right now, but I never viewed him as a great option as a DL anyway. I think he should play OL, but we'll see.
And actually, he was a low 4-star and borderline 3-star by the end of his recruitment. His ranking dropped significantly as things moved along, so I do think many fans view him in a different light than they should be.
vtgriff09
Start Meadows, start Frady...Frady is a proven player, be at FCS, but we know he can play football...how we can't get him on the field baffles me.
Also, why are we continually regressing players to the point it is the worst game of their 4 or 5 yr career? This is a trend. Talk talent all you want, when players that have graded fairly high no stink...is that really talent? DL coaching issues!!!!!!!!!!
teaysvalleyhokie
Chris, thank you for the sometimes brutal insight. I know analyzing that we're not good isn't a lot of fun. I also hope you're not getting angry emails from the usual sorts who get angry when they read that we're not good. I know some only want to read positive good news, but that is hard to come by lately.
HokieDelNorte
“I don’t want to criticize the DT’s, but my gosh they have sucked.”
23434
One word description… Pathetic.
ericksjr
YPG
jagerhokie
Coach Pry was / is one of the best defensive coaches in the country….he handed it off to a inexperienced defensive coordinator….it still must be tough for him to watch how far tech’s defense has fallen …regardless of injuries he may need to look hard at replacing 2 coordinators next year so he can be the head coach he wants to be….and return the hokies to where we belong ✌️
VAHokie89
Is he one of the best defensive coaches in the country?
Chasesfish
Exactly what I was thinking.
He's good, but he wasn't putting up Kirby Smart at Alabama type numbers. Penn State was top 3rd every year in defense against a run heavy conference with a team that generally had more talent than half their opponents.
His skill set should be recruiting and having the experience from a big program to run a big program. In hindsight, I hope everyone in the hiring decision is realizing there may be too much to fix at Virginia to ask the head coach to be training a pair of "up and comers"
atlhokie1
He picked his coordinators so he has to live with them.
pharlap_99
or maybe replace them? We aren't in 80k/yr for HC and 43k/yr for OC times anymore. Head coaches should not get the same time to build a program partly b/c the salaries are disproportionately higher.
We all know, if we are honest with ourselves, that Pry hiring two totally inexperienced coordinators was a colossal mistake. He's the man .. man up, make changes at 3 coaching positions, move on.
Or, back his choices blindly and most likely doom his tenure.
My caveat, as always, is PLEASE prove me wrong and I will support our staff/players no matter the outcome. But I will criticize where I feel it's warranted (not specific players, of course)
extremehokie
Gon be a long three years
teaysvalleyhokie
Three years until what? Until we get better? Or until we get a new coaching staff? (I'm not advocating for that, just curious) I'm not convinced we're going to be better after three years.
gaholder81
I assume he means a new coaching staff. The talent issue is irrelevant when it comes to progression and regression trends. That is 100% coaching. Whether it's the coaches losing the players or not motivating them or whatever. The grades should not be getting lower game by game. Maintaining at the least should be happening.
Midwestguy
Didn't Pry coach the defense last year except for the Liberty game? I'm not indicating that Marve isn't good and I also realize that we have the same D Line coach from last year and a few years before. Is it possible that the D misses Dax Big Time?
I'm with you CC, it's very confusing to say the least.
Cliffc37
They miss Dax, but they also miss Conner. I'm surprised that he isn't getting mentioned. Those guys were our top 2 tacklers last year.
ericksjr
Virginia Tech is #5 in the country in passing defense...
VTaimhigh
Much probably the result of teams not having to pass with our way below average run defense.
ericksjr
Exactly
VAHokie89
Based on PFF or just yards given up?
Will Stewart
Passing yards allowed. VT is actually #4.
gaholder81
That's one of those "less than meets the eye" stats at this point.
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