CC On Sunday: Run Defense Woes And Questionable In-Game Management

Chris Coleman

Lead Analyst and Columnist

November 03, 2024 63

Virginia Tech's loss to Syracuse was a tough one to take. (Ivan Morozov)

Oh, Hokies. You had them. It was 21-3 and Syracuse was dead in the water. You had me fired up, too. That touchdown pass to Ali Jennings was probably as excited as I’ve been at any point this season, except for that brief moment at the end of the Miami game that I’d just as soon forget. Virginia Tech was about to win its fourth game in a row for the first time under Brent Pry, setting up a huge game with Clemson in Lane Stadium next weekend. Things were trending up in a major way.

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63 Comments

VTAtlantaHokie November 4, 2024 at 9:41 PM

Don't know if it will be good for our program's future long-term trajectory but something tells me Clemson will surprisingly be a blowout or a one score victory that Pry & team finally win.
Mapmaker November 4, 2024 at 4:02 PM

Apathy is setting in. I find myself checking who else is playing at the same time. Don't want to and don't like it but confidence in this HC and coordinators is simply drying up. I have not worn VT gear once this year. It is sad. I even left the garden flag on the mailbox at Halloween but no one vandalized it or took it. Ugh.
DCL November 4, 2024 at 3:40 PM

I like Pry the way he represents the university but I am very disappointed the way he head coaches the team. We are into the third year of OJT and the same boneheaded decisions are still being made. I hope we play well and win against Clemson because the criticism will be even worse after the game. Candidly I see no way we keep Marge regardless of how we finish this year
justolerable November 4, 2024 at 12:00 PM

On another note. Where is some love for Gosnell. He is our best WR by far. Should be highlighted in offense review. All the coaching points are the same stuff beaten to death over and over. So how bout WR that flies under the radar?
steves13 November 4, 2024 at 10:53 AM

I am back again in my "who cares mood" regarding the Clemson game and this season. It was to be a season of hope but it turned out to be our normal season of destiny (which is disappointment). Pry is very likeable and maybe he ought to lead recruiting because everyone can tell he loves VT. But so do I but I know I should not be the HC. And neither should he.
OhioHokie74 November 4, 2024 at 10:47 AM

1. Save your timeouts 2. Don't use them to help a defense that is on its heels 3. Don't use them on offense when you get the ball back with a good chance to win in regulation 4. Send your unused timeouts to the timeout cemetery 5. Enter another L in the ledger
TimmyBarkVT November 4, 2024 at 10:33 AM

Why did Syracuse have so much success on the ground in the fourth quarter, especially on the game tying drive? Did we only have three down lineman versus 12 personnel?
1. King of Hokies November 4, 2024 at 11:28 AM
  
  Their OC noticed that our MLB is not a linebacker and stands with his feet planted 4 yds from the LOS. At most he then shuffles side to side. The Jaden Keller experiment is a disaster.
  1. Boblope November 4, 2024 at 12:21 PM
    
    Sad but very, very true
  2. McHokie78 November 4, 2024 at 12:54 PM
    
    Our LBs were clueless in 2nd half.
huskerHokie November 4, 2024 at 10:12 AM

As Chris said, I really like Pry. Still, I don't believe he is P4 Big Whistle material. His game management decision making leaves much to be desired. Add to that his choice of inexperienced OC and DC - explains how we lose the close ones. I can't say that there is much of a coveted brain trust when you group those 3 together on the same staff.
earmuffs November 4, 2024 at 9:16 AM

We are going to be effin' 6-6 again.
Atlee Hokie November 4, 2024 at 3:10 AM

After reading Bitter's "5 Thoughts" article, I wanted to throw up. After reading this article, I wanted to break a whiteboard. I know that it's silly to talk about a "curse" WRT the Jiffy Pop Dome. Well, I will also say, I predicted a 1 score SU victory in the fan vote last week, and as long as I have breath, I will continue to predict a SU win in the Dome until VT proves it can actually win in the Dome.
Bugle76 November 4, 2024 at 1:01 AM

As I said in a post on an earlier article, I’ll remind everyone, we had a coach who lost 5 o6 one score games in which we lead in the 4th Q one year. The coach basically removed his whole D staff the next year. That coach is now in the CFB HOF.
1. 133222Hokie November 4, 2024 at 12:28 PM
  
  This comment from Bugle76 is "so on the money". Beamer did clean house and brought in Phil Elmassian as his new DC. Bud was on the staff as the linebackers coach as if I recall, and Frank gave him the DC position when Elmassian left after the 1994 season. Frank went from 2-8-1 to 9-3 and a win in the Independence Bowl vs Indiana. It looked to me like Syracuse adjusted their offense to what VT was doing to limit them to only 3 points in the 1st Half, and we never adjusted after that. A "ton" of bad angles were taken by our LB's and DB's to allow big gains.
ChazB November 3, 2024 at 8:04 PM

Mar entered s coaching for his job now as the LB play all season has been punted to marginal at best. Or said another way, 2/3 of Babs 1st time hires worked out. Marve's LB coaching and recruiting as Sam I am was his chosen one has been horrible. Time to move on and wish all the best as this DC experiment is OVER
1. phtbddh November 3, 2024 at 8:58 PM
  
  100% agree. His in game adjustments are just too slow.
HOKIERIT November 3, 2024 at 8:00 PM

Excellent work Chris. I agree with every single thing you said. The "loved one drowning" analogy is spot on as well. I REALLY like so much of what Pry is all about. He IS the kind of guy I'd like to have to bring the Hokies back...Unfortunately, he keeps making questionable in-game and clock management decisions. Those ARE the kind of things that cost you in close games. I don't see it getting better, even if he does get rid of Marve (who I am on record as saying has been stealing money). I am trying to hold on, but he lost me (hopefully temporarily) when he gave up with 29 seconds, 3 time outs, and one of the country's best kickers. Never MIND that we could have had more time (as you discussed) to begin with....This stuff makes it hard to trust that a coach will be a help and not a hindrance at crunch time. I will be in Blacksburg Saturday, because it is what I do...I don't hold out much hope, but at least I will be with my old Hokie buddies in a place I will always love.
1. OhioHokie74 November 4, 2024 at 9:09 AM
  
  One doesn't have to be an experienced HC to understand basic game management. We are talking things that are obvious to analysts, journalists and even comment boards. Either the HC is too stubborn to adjust or he is unable to think clearly in real time. I suspect it is a combination of the two but lean toward the former as Pry seems to be stuck in a time warp where ultraconservative play was erroneously thought to be the smart, safe approach.
2. HokiePride November 4, 2024 at 11:21 AM
  
  You can also throw in that he gave up in the first half by accepting a 10 second runoff instead of trying to get 15 yards to put our NFL caliber placekicker in position to tack on 3 points.
boyd November 3, 2024 at 6:49 PM

With the coaches we have, we will lose to clemson and duke and just beat uva I hope.
meglow000 November 3, 2024 at 6:13 PM

I thought he called a timeout before the review. I heard the refs didn’t give the timeout back so thus the choice of runoff instead of using the timeout. I think Andy mentioned Pry should have complained more to the refs and after some of the earlier calls this year, should have a long leash with the refs. Might be a good ask the ref article for this week.
1. HokiePride November 4, 2024 at 11:27 AM
  
  Not saying he shouldn’t have gotten the called TO back, but he still had one left and opted to run out the clock.
2. King of Hokies November 4, 2024 at 11:33 AM
  
  The refs gave him the option of taking the timeout and snapping the ball with 0:17. But he chose to allow a 10 sec runoff. He's trying to convince young men to be courageous but acting like a coward himself. Ugh.
uvabasher November 3, 2024 at 6:04 PM

This isn’t a knock on Chris because is a well written and insightful article. However, I’m exhausted for CC that he has to keep writing these same articles, highlighting the same issues and it never gets better. At least they have figured out how not to have 2 players wearing the same jersey number on the field at the same time
jesuisvtguy November 3, 2024 at 5:38 PM

Not using time outs during regulation was probably a fine strategy, as SU did have all 3 time outs... so if you stop them, then they get the ball back. However, maybe we should have used one timeout to rest the defense, but a strong argument can be made that Pry made the right decision not to call a timeout prior to SU scoring. I think Andy Bitter's critique of not managing the clock well when we had the ball were much more on point - and surprisingly there hasn't been much discussion about the 2nd and short towards the end of the first half when we let a majority of the time slip away. That was a travesty.
1. vtgriff09 November 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM
  
  Well, you, just like Pry, would have lost the game too. Scared money don't make money is real. Pry is 1-12 in one score gms because he plays to not lose....this is what losers do. There is no way we should have trusted our defense to stop them in OT. Had our coach not watched the game??? Also...CC..I disagree with one take...that Pry is a good coach in the off-season. I fervently disagree with that take....why?? Because we are never ready to start the season. We drop bad games and look clueless to start the season...almost like we did zero prep all off season. I, honestly don't think Pry is much of a coach all around. He has done good PR to get former players and alumni to like him, which doesn't get you much on the field at all. His best asset is doing well in the portal and taking other people's players. Our best players are guys coached up by other staffs. Meanwhile, the LB guru can't get 2 super freak, 4 yr LBs to play even avg football. Coaching is sub par. Bowen has shown more pulse than any of them. But DL coaching just allows us to get gashed. LB coaching for 3 all world LB coaches is pitiful. RB, WR abd Bowen have done fine...secondary coaching not bad either.
  1. jesuisvtguy November 3, 2024 at 6:19 PM
    
    I'm plenty aggressive enough. With all due respect, you're completely misunderstanding the meaning of "scared money makes money". Scared money means playing aggressively and not conservatively or safe. Calling timeouts when the opponent has the ball AND all their time outs deep in your territory is actually "playing scared", meaning you're already conceding they are going to score - and if they don't, then you risk giving them the ball back. Also - I have a minor in math/stats from Va Tech and follow sports odds feverishly. I think the odds say don't call a timeout (since SU has all their timeouts). For clarity, I'm talking about when SU had the ball, not when Va Tech had it.
    1. Chris Coleman November 3, 2024 at 6:36 PM
      
      I don't necessarily disagree, but I think that's where "feel" comes in. They were thrashing our defense at that point in the game, and once they made it to the 15, did anybody feel like we had a decent chance of keeping them out of the endzone? I sure didn't. I was pretty sure they were going to get a touchdown at that point, so I was already thinking about the timeout situation.
      1. jesuisvtguy November 3, 2024 at 9:06 PM
        
        That's a fair point Chris. Yes, if we didn't think we would stop them, then using time outs would 100% be the right strategy. Maybe it was overly optimistic hoping we would get a stop, as our defense had been pretty good at creating turnovers and coming up with stops when truly needed the past 3 games. If you call time outs, which gives VT possession with 1 to 2 minutes left and no timeouts, the concession is you may have to stop Syracuse twice instead of once since they have all their time outs. Our offense is also really good at 3 and outs at the end of games, and you're asking them to score when you need it most. Regardless of that specific "use time outs on defense" strategy, we can all agree Pry is going to be under the microscope on a lot of "what ifs" considering his 1-11 record and some very obvious mismanagement. I'm not defending him as a whole.
      2. 75hoke November 4, 2024 at 9:53 AM
        
        I think Pry was playing the stats by not calling timeout when Cuse was in red zone at end of regulation. How good has Techs defense been in the red zone? You’ve written articles about their success there. How many of Cuse prior TDs scored from the red zone? Most were long catches or runs. I may have used 1 timeout just to give the D a rest, but rely on the red zone defense to hold up.
      3. Boblope November 4, 2024 at 12:26 PM
        
        Exactly - and exactly why we should have been calling timeouts then.
      4. VTRB42 November 4, 2024 at 1:46 PM
        
        I think Pry didn't use his timesout because he either had confidence or at least wanted to show his defense that he believed the defense would get a stop and / or thought Syracuse would burn up the remaining time.
    2. 79EEHOKIE November 3, 2024 at 7:35 PM
      
      Totally disagree, your defense is winded and been a lace curtain for the last 20 minutes, using time outs would give you about 90 seconds once they score. If they don’t, it’s a win. If they do, you have time for a chance at a field goal, unless you turtle. You also have to consider you are away, with an injured quarterback, and elect overtime? Total incompetence.
    3. King of Hokies November 4, 2024 at 11:38 AM
      
      This is lame. The offense "risks giving them the ball back" on every possession of every game. It's a cowardly way to look at the game of football, and the best coaches no longer do that. Because it's a losing strategy over time. And that's because the offense "has a chance to score" on every possession of every game. And when you look at the game that way, it turns out to be a winning strategy over time, especially when there is almost no time left in a game. At 1:30 of the game, Syracuse either scores a TD or loses. They aren't worried about the clock or another possession or anything. And what Pry needed to do was give his freaking team a *chance* to win in regulation by calling timeouts to conserve the clock. This has been demonstrated over and over and over again to be a winning strategy. But Pry took the cowardly option, and hugged himself hoping the defense could just please, please, please hold them. Lame.
      1. 75hoke November 4, 2024 at 4:51 PM
        
        Here’s a scenario you haven’t considered. Tech takes the time outs and holds Cuse out of the end zone. Tech takes over at the 10 yard line with more than a minute remaining, then executes 3 no gain runs with Cuse using their 3 timeouts. After a punt, Cuse has the ball on their 40 and nearly a minute left on the clock.
  2. ancient alien 2018 November 3, 2024 at 7:20 PM
    
    I really hope your personal life is a happy one, since your posts can be negative beyond being anything close to constructive. You obviously want Pry and staff gone, and on their current trajectory, that could happen in a year or two. You offer no suggestions as to how Pry can fix some of his problems, both with assistants and with himself. He needs a Jerry Kill or Charlie Chryst type of guy beside him on the sideline. Pointing out problems is fine, but just venting offers the rest of us no ideas that could possible help out. You seem to know football and I would like to hear some takes on what you feel would offer Pry some help in game-time situations.
    1. Glen Allen Hokie November 3, 2024 at 8:08 PM
      
      we ALL know how griff feels about Pry, painfully aware.
    2. Reston Hokie2 November 3, 2024 at 11:48 PM
      
      To think that i paid the year subscription price only to be bombarded with negtives. Yes, I too think CC want Pry gone. But didn't he want Fuetense gone as well? TSL, can i get a refund?
  3. Steeltown Hokie November 4, 2024 at 10:37 AM
    
    Amen griff! You nailed it. All this talk about Pry recruiting?? He stinks. He's middle of the pack. And he flat out sucks on game day. His ONLY qualification for getting the job was that he was a GA under Beamer in the 90's. I have family that played and currently play at PSU and ironically had Pry as a position coach. He was not missed when he left.
2. huskerHokie November 4, 2024 at 10:07 AM
  
  Excellent point - not much being said about the time that was wasted BEFORE the 10-second run-off occurred. It was as if VT was of the mind to run down the clock until halftime - then, they were suddenly in position where scoring was a possibilty, only to poorly manage the game at the end of the first half (with a little help from the Zebras).
3. icelus November 4, 2024 at 10:10 AM
  
  I watched the game on TV. Yes, Coach Pry said during HT interview that it’s either a TO or 10s runoff. He carried one TO to the locker room.
RustyHokie94 November 3, 2024 at 5:36 PM

The un-MARVE-lous defense gave up 35 points after halftime. That is TRASH. GTFO.
1. ancient alien 2018 November 3, 2024 at 7:21 PM
  
  And it is Marve's inability to adjust after half-time. He neeeds to GTFO ASAP!!
  1. King of Hokies November 4, 2024 at 11:40 AM
    
    Had nothing to do with adjustments. It's the fact that Marve/Pry can't put a competent MLB on the field. And it took Cuse OC an entire half to notice. But once he noticed it was all over with. They finally put Brumfeld on the field but it was too late by then.
133895Hokie November 3, 2024 at 5:18 PM

Pry is a standup guy and I will stick with him at this point. I see 2 continuing themes in games: 1) One quarter where the team does nothing and lets the opponent back in the game. 2) when we get a comfortable lead in a game, the offense/offensive coordinator seems to take his foot off of the pedal rather than continuing with a good variety of plays that would put the final dagger in our opponent.
1. RustyHokie94 November 3, 2024 at 5:33 PM
  
  I don't know about that. We had an 18 point lead, scored 10 points in the last 11 minutes and STILL lost. Marve's coaching has been straight trash. Syracuse scored 35 points after halftime. Think about that.
  1. 133895Hokie November 3, 2024 at 7:58 PM
    
    See #1
2. NokieHokie November 3, 2024 at 7:21 PM
  
  Standup guys don't change their stories and lie about the events that occurred in a game. Pry has done that multiple times this year.
  1. georgel November 3, 2024 at 8:32 PM
    
    This!
bonedoc November 3, 2024 at 5:07 PM

Pry is a good looking, glib, likable guy who can speak well in front of a camera, obscure the facts, and can CYA with the best of them. Unfortunately for us he is not a good football head coach. He should get out of coaching and go into politics.
1. Bon Air Hokie November 3, 2024 at 9:54 PM
  
  Well, I would suggest selling used cars.
sideline guy November 3, 2024 at 5:00 PM

STF. Sunday thru Friday coach
EddieVT November 3, 2024 at 4:59 PM

Coaching is a big problem. Marve has to go, IMO. He isn't good enough.
Wiseguy86 November 3, 2024 at 4:10 PM

The title of your article is accurate. The problem is that it is the same title to describe several games over the last 2+ years. The coaching staff (and administration??) must be aware of the reality. Why can't they fix it? What were the grades for the linebackers and safeties yesterday? It seems that Jones and Phillips are improved this year. Why are Brumfield and Keller struggling so much? And Lawson is hardly playing that shows he has not improved. I think Woodson is a natural football player so that is encouraging. And have we ever received any real info on McDonald? To me these data points suggest that Marve is in over his head. I know there are 3 games to play but what a disappointing season so far.
footballunsightly November 3, 2024 at 4:04 PM

I think Chris hit the nail on the head with the comments about Pry being a poor game manager. He is very likeable and a great recruiter, but giving up games like this with bad decisions in year 3 is why I think I’m out on the guy. He’s just not it.
2hhoop3 November 3, 2024 at 3:55 PM

Good article CC. Pry had different stories at half, on the radio in post-game locker room and in post game presser. People can make their own determinations as to reasonableness and why that might have been. Your comment about situational awareness probably has examples in every game this year and certainly in the defeats but, it also gets down to a feel and understanding for the game. Your comment regarding the OT coin toss and choice mentioned one instance and also the fact that TOs in the end game situation not only have the potential to save time but, to give your gassed D a needed blow. A very frustrating day that overshadowed the efforts of backups that ably, maybe even more than ably, filled in.
1. NokieHokie November 3, 2024 at 4:04 PM
  
  Pry is lying to cover his incompetence. That's my take anyway.
2. Chris Coleman November 3, 2024 at 5:33 PM
  
  What did he say at halftime? I missed that part.
  1. King of Hokies November 4, 2024 at 11:43 AM
    
    He told the truth at halftime. The refs gave him a choice of calling timeout with 0:17 remaining or have a 10 sec runoff and run the clock on the ref's whistle. Pry took the latter. He is literally stealing opportunities to win away from his team.
    1. Boblope November 4, 2024 at 12:33 PM
      
      There is ZERO reason to save a TO unless you’re thinking about using it for a potential FG attempt. I like the guy as a guy, but he blew it at the end of both halves. Not just one - but BOTH.
NokieHokie November 3, 2024 at 3:41 PM

Pry definitely said on the radio that he chose the runoff and the blurb about the long field goal attempt.
1. TDVick November 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM
  
  Isn't a DOMED stadium the most forgiving situation for trying a long field goal? If not then, the WHEN? Changing the story about the strategic screwups just angers people more. Someone had to explain to him how dumb the decision was, so then he edits it? If he wants to be the slick recruiter front man, that's fine, just stop making decisions in-game - sort of like Mack Brown. Know what your strengths are and what you are bad at and adjust.

CC On Sunday: Run Defense Woes And Questionable In-Game Management

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