Monday Thoughts: Boom Goes the Offense

Will Stewart

October 02, 2023 44

Well, this is awkward. For the last couple of weeks, we’ve all been talking about Tyler Bowen being replaced, but today we gather to talk about how he coached a good game against Pitt.

This article is for TSL Pass subscribers

Get full access to premium articles, recruiting intel, and analysis from the team that's covered Virginia Tech sports since 1996.

Subscribe Now Already a subscriber? Log in

Article Virginia Tech Football Subscription Content

Monday Thoughts 2023 VT-Pitt Football

Share This Article

Twitter/X Facebook

44 Comments

eghokie15 October 4, 2023 at 10:52 AM

Great read! ? Question: Do short and long snappers get PFF grades? Asking because I've been seeing some terrible snaps; no one seems to address them and probably won't until one bad snap costs us a game.
Al Czervik October 3, 2023 at 6:15 PM

Fat or flush Will, you always bring the voice of reason and a balanced way of looking at the big picture. As always, thanks for your perspective.
TomA October 3, 2023 at 2:32 PM

At this point, if the HOKIES can end 6-6, I'd call it a satisfying season because before the Pitt game 3 wins looked hopeful. So, 6 wins would show improvement and would have us thinking 8-4 was possible if the HOKIES had come together sooner. I'm not holding my breath for a 6 win season, but it looks like it may be possible if the HOKIES keep playing hard and improve.
VTDad October 3, 2023 at 12:51 PM

Hokies really needed that effort and win against a mediocre (at best) opponent. I suspect the next edition of MT will be a bit more sobering. Drones is the right answer regardless. Tute is fun to watch. Looking to see mental toughness in the face of superior talent on Saturday. Go Hokies!
HokieDad2003 October 3, 2023 at 12:27 PM

Great article, Will! Really enjoyed watching this game. What a great turnaround from where we have been. Hoping the team can see its enthusiasm grow each week, and I certainly hope our offensive mindset from this game continues.
hokie_world October 3, 2023 at 10:51 AM

First it's a WIN!!! Second, against a weak team similar to Tech. Third, did stop the run against, but against a poor team Fourth: 1-0 in the ACC Fifth: team had a brain fart that took us from up 3 scores to up one. Then righted the ship to go back up three scores to finish the game. I had fun at the game, made the rest of the weekend enjoyable. I hope we have a few more games like it the rest of the way out. GO HOKIES AND BEAT DA 'noles!!!
`lag October 3, 2023 at 9:46 AM

I would add I think he really sees the field well, that may come with his standing in to the last moment as others have commented below but he's well on his way of developing a passing tree mentality. I would have to go back and see if he was releasing balls before guys came open but I think he's certainly heading that way.
joshydod October 3, 2023 at 8:34 AM

Great commentary Will. I will add that every highlight package you have linked you can hear the crowd is into it as if we're competing for an ACC title or even more. As Chris stated in an earlier article, this fanbase deserves better and I am glad we were able to experience a better product Saturday night. Me and my family had a blast in section 18 with my 7 year old son leading Let's Go chants on our way to concessions and in the stands and dancing to every song playing in the breaks. I just hope we can keep this momentum moving forward because it sure was fun. Thank you techsideline for the amazing coverage!
1. Totally Hokie October 3, 2023 at 9:16 AM
  
  Agree that the crowd was great. I made my annual trek from FL to attend. I was very impressed that my parking lot (Lions Club) was pretty full at 2pm! and also that the students sections were full at least 30 minutes prior to the game and most stayed for the whole game!
VTGrad_n_Dad October 2, 2023 at 11:36 PM

Hey Will. Great article as always. I enjoyed meeting you Saturday after the game as we walked out of the stadium. I am a long time subscriber going back to Hokie Central days and always read but comment very little. Hopefully, this game will help to negate some of the negativity on the site that has been making it hard to read lately. Meeting you and talking with you put a nice cap on an already nice evening. Keep up the good work! Go Hokies!!
1. vtsam October 4, 2023 at 5:26 PM
  
  As a long time Hokie Central supporter , I thank you. Of course we all want better
2. Will Stewart October 5, 2023 at 7:46 AM
  
  Good meeting you, too!
OhioHokie74 October 2, 2023 at 7:23 PM

So in week 5 of year 2 the coaches (Bowen) did what every armchair coach had been calling for all along. That's a good thing, but one has to wonder why it took so long and whether the coaches will now revert to their previous conservative and ineffective game plans. Pitt didn't adjust, but their defense was actually pretty good coming into the game, so it isn't as if every team has figured out how to attack them,
1. HtownHokie October 3, 2023 at 7:54 PM
  
  tv commentators repeatedly (multiple games, multiple seasons) say that Hokie fans in Lane are "smart" or/and "smarter than many others" in their football knowledge and game awareness. so as for "why 'it' took so long", maybe CTB has been around long enough (1.333 seasons as of last Saturday) for some of that smartness and Hokie-never-say-die spirit to get into his head and heart! let's hope 'it' continues to increase and flourish for the next 8 games - and 9, if we win 5 [or more, please] of the 8 remaining. it will be a remarkable turn-around in itself; and, if the growth and advancement continues into/through the '24 season, it may become another addition to the "We ARE Virginia Tech" legends we all love to rehearse and smile about. amen! = 'let it be'/'so be it' Go Hokies! take those 'noles to the tallahassee Waffle House-Appalachee: make 'em eat pancakes off CJCP's head.
downjerseyhokie October 2, 2023 at 7:13 PM

I thought Tuten looked a little banged up after one play there in the 3rd quarter. It seemed like he was gutting it out the rest of the game.
LaneRat October 2, 2023 at 5:58 PM

That screen to Tuten for the TD was a thing of beauty. Great touch. Hope Drones is consistent through the season.
VAHokie89 October 2, 2023 at 5:30 PM

AS with a batter "snapping a hitless streak", it only matters if that hitter goes on a good tear. If after a good game, the hitters poor streak continues, then that player didn't really snap out of their streak.
OlderHokie October 2, 2023 at 5:29 PM

Nice to see a little level of mea culpa on the part of the writers and I am guessing many of the "the sky is falling" posters. I personally did not go a long with any of those folks. Pry constantly noted that Tech was able to play well sometime but could not be consistent. Saturday night showed they could be consistent.
1. LXNTN_HOKIE October 2, 2023 at 8:38 PM
  
  Agreed.
2. NokieHokie October 2, 2023 at 9:52 PM
  
  What are you talking about? There was no mea culpa in the any of the writers' articles, not should there be. The coaches should be the ones doing the mea culpas for not running the proper offense earlier.
  1. gaholder81 October 3, 2023 at 11:29 AM
    
    Absolutely. These coaches are 5-11 (with 2 wins against P5). I hope that somehow the light suddenly came on for Bowen in the 5th game of season 2, which is very odd but I'll take it, and it isn't just a flash in the pan. Who would give a mea culpa for 5-11??? Look at the whole body of work. I hope it continues but pump the brakes on the, "I told you Pry is competent!!!" talk.
  2. ShockWaveVT October 3, 2023 at 9:21 PM
    
    there's something to be said for waiting to bring added plays / more complexity to the scheme until the players have shown themselves capable of executing those plays in practice
GreenvilleVT October 2, 2023 at 4:26 PM

Ok I will reduce the anticipation for basketball season for at least a week.
nkhooch October 2, 2023 at 4:24 PM

Awkward? Ha! I completely understand critiquing and analyzing play calls. That's part of what this is all about. To do this people presumes a level of knowledge and expertise (and often hindsight that coaches don't have at the time of the call) above the coaching staff which may or may not be warranted. The world is full of commentary from folks who believe they can do other people's jobs better than the people in place can. Sometimes they might be right. But, I think the calling for firings and replacements, especially given the short time the current crew has been in place, is a bit much. That's what they do on sports shows to generate drama, debate and interest. I have never thought of this site as being about that. Coaches and players can learn and adapt and they should be given some time to do that. That's why there are multi-year contracts. In the end, we are all on the same team and Saturday's performance was awesome and I enjoyed the write-ups. Although it's a long shot, I have a glimmer of hope for 4 more wins. We will likely be favored against Wake, BC and UVA (that's still no guarantee of wins), but at this point, I am having trouble finding the 4th win. An inexperienced staff and team has a lot of upside. So, that's what I am holding out for. Go Hokies!
1. LXNTN_HOKIE October 2, 2023 at 8:39 PM
  
  Well said.
2. hokiepro October 3, 2023 at 7:14 AM
  
  The team that played Saturday can beat NCSU & maybe Cuse
  1. HtownHokie October 3, 2023 at 8:00 PM
    
    N 2: Bingo!
Kboy65 October 2, 2023 at 3:50 PM

The emphasis of your comments were the turnaround of the Offense which it should have been. I will give a little more credit to the improved defensive play and coaching albeit against a weak Pitt O- line. Just as you commented that Pitt never adjusts, they just keep doing what they do, that sentiment also applies to their offensive philosophy. Always run the football until you wear your opponent out is their mantra. Well our boys did not allow it! And this gave our O-unit opportunities to operate their new style scheme which actually physically beat down the Pitt defensive players. As a TV viewer of this game there is one more credit to be extended to Hokie Nation which was brilliantly captured by the ACCN broadcast. The unsurpassed passion of Hokie fans was on full display from the onset of Enter Sandman throughout the entire game. This game showcased what Hokie Football is all about. Let’s hope this game marks the turnaround we all have been wishing for.
VBHokieman October 2, 2023 at 3:43 PM

I find it really amusing that after all the comments and hate towards coaches, especially Bowen and Marve, that they were both selected as ACC Coordinators of the Week. After all the discussions about our offense we have the ACC QB of the Week and the ACC RB of the Week as well. That is why I wish folks would just chill out a bit and have some damn patience for this thing to work out. Great fun Sat in Blacksburg, what a day/night that was. Whew.
1. Lane2024 October 2, 2023 at 9:15 PM
  
  Hold on now, don’t be rushing to sign everyone up for extensions just yet. We have been a consistent loser, putting the same product on the field for the past year or so. Took an injury to see our best QB was on the bench and too long to realize Tuten is a machine. I need to see more, week in and week out. Not that we’ll win every week but that the coaches are putting our players in the best places for success.
  1. gaholder81 October 3, 2023 at 11:30 AM
    
    ?
RichlandsHokies_66 October 2, 2023 at 3:38 PM

I also thought about the Tyrod 3rd and 31 after that 3rd and 31 against Pitt. I also was curious if anyone else was.
1. HtownHokie October 3, 2023 at 8:13 PM
  
  i can't transfer TT's amazing, successful 3rd and 31 pick-up to any team not wearing maroon and orange. if it had been us with Drones looking at 3rd and 31, i would have had fanciful hope based on fond memories of experiencing it with our (then) soon-to-be Hokie son and that incredible win over 'free shoes u' - in person! speaking of which ... let's play that one again this saturday down in "doaks" for '23's sake. Go Hokies!
Bwaterhokie October 2, 2023 at 3:21 PM

The TD pass to Jaylin Layne was impressive as Drones stood in the pocket until the last second before delivering a strike. That type of pocket presence combined with his athleticism puts VT in good shape for the next two plus years at QB. The long pass to Felton was also a beautiful throw.
1. Beach Hokie October 2, 2023 at 5:44 PM
  
  Exactly right!! My husband and I both remarked about how Drones waited till the last possible minute to release the ball and upon viewing Jaylin racing across and down the field my husband said “Dayum, he is really truckin!!”
  1. LXNTN_HOKIE October 2, 2023 at 8:45 PM
    
    On the podcast with Tucker Holloway, when asked the top 5 fastest players on the team, he put Lane on that list. Also, himself and Cole Beck and Felton and I forget who the other one was.
2. `lag October 3, 2023 at 9:43 AM
  
  Yeah, I think an issue with duel threat QBs is the happy feet/one and run reflex, I'll call it a reflex because it's hard to break even when they're aware they're doing it, why you need to unlearn it/learn standing in early and often... I think it's a fork in the road for development and Drones is heading the right way. Everyone oohs and ahs when a quick QB gets outside and rips off some yards but that's one less step towards developing a passing tree in the head, end up with a guy who's a so-so passer and the D knows to spy on his running; he becomes less effective.
DJ Golf October 2, 2023 at 3:09 PM

The expression "elephant in the room" actually refers to something --nobody-- wants to talk about because it's too awkward or embarrassing. I'm not sure what you call the thing --everybody-- is talking about.
1. Beach Hokie October 2, 2023 at 5:45 PM
  
  The OC and DC — whether they are worthy to continue in their jobs (would be my guess)
VTChip October 2, 2023 at 3:03 PM

Great job, Will. It is just one game, but man did Hokie Nation need that!
59 Burst October 2, 2023 at 3:03 PM

You mentioned that all 18 offensive players for the Hokies who played in this game are eligible to return next season. Can y'all post the table that shows this. The extra covid year always messes up the redshirt designation for me. Thanks.
IB4TECH October 2, 2023 at 3:00 PM

What a relief! Did anyone else notice that Parker Clements helped Drones score that 'backing in' td by grabbing Drones?
1. Blobster October 2, 2023 at 4:53 PM
  
  I think it was #77, Meadows, helping pull him into the end zone (although he was going in anyhow).
meglow000 October 2, 2023 at 2:41 PM

Your Monday Thoughts are always better after a win. Although as I've said many times, you and Chris talk me of the ledge after losses.

Monday Thoughts: Boom Goes the Offense

This article is for TSL Pass subscribers

Share This Article

44 Comments

Leave a Comment — replying to Cancel

Leave a Comment — replying to