Inside The Numbers: The Virginia Tech Passing Game

12 Comments

1. 

   HokiesandHerd November 20, 2024 at 2:37 PM

   I think the film got out on our passing game from last season and Bowen hasn't been able to adjust. I also think he didn't have any experience being a QB coach prior to assuming the position at VT, and that could explain Drones' lack of progression. Quite frankly, I think a vast majority of this team's issues comes down to coaching.
2. 

   VT_ZERWIN November 20, 2024 at 9:39 AM

   I think another piece to the early season struggles was how they were trying to make the receivers too much of a focal point of the offense, without establishing the run to setup the types of throws Drones is comfortable with. After listening to the bball podcast last week and how the receivers NIL would take up the majority of the bball NIL budget I wonder if this factored in. Not that it would be that transactional, as in we're paying you this amount we're guaranteeing you this many targets or catches, but that could have crept into their game planning of making the receivers more of a focal point that running game.
   1. 

      tspoon5 November 20, 2024 at 3:16 PM

      Sounds like Clemson too. So not just early season struggles...
3. 

   132703Hokie November 20, 2024 at 8:42 AM

   A lot more dropped passes this year certainly feeds into the decline.
4. 

   Suffhokian November 20, 2024 at 8:03 AM

   Great insight for the upcoming Duke game.
5. 

   selhini November 20, 2024 at 3:00 AM

   From my perspective the average depth of target went from outside the depth of a free safety being able to walk into the box to inside the depth (usually about 15 yards). That extra defender is now able to defend both the pass and the run. If you keep that safety over 15 yards out, he’s better able to defend the pass, but less able to defend the run. A good DC will have watched early 2024 game film and moved that safety up. A bad one won’t and we’ll put them in a situation where they have to defend both. That’s probably the difference between losing one score games and blowing them out.
6. 

   atlhokie1 November 19, 2024 at 9:36 PM

   My simplified rationale - last year the running game was terrible until the Army OC stepped in and fixed it. Seems like we need another coach to step in and teach our OC a passing game. Orrrrrrr..... we need to get a real QB coach for Drones.
7. 

   phtbddh November 19, 2024 at 6:39 PM

   If Drones is anything less than 90%, we need to start Schlee and pray that Tuten is healthy enough to be effective, if not feed Coney.
8. 

   GO_HOKIES_GO November 19, 2024 at 4:12 PM

   I suspect the reason the passing game is less effective is that Drones has been injured most of the season (which, not surprisingly, is why most of the VT QB’s over the past 10 seasons have been “inconsistent”). When Wells got hurt last year, Drones didn’t have any tape and was fresh. Now the DC’s know how they want to scheme against him and he has a “lower-body” injury (sounds like a NHL description). Trying to become a pocket passer, multiple-read plays, and the numerous drops have not helped Drones’ cause much either FWIW.
   1. 

      Maroon Effect November 19, 2024 at 7:05 PM

      This ^^^^^ When Drones is fresh and there’s no tape out on him, he’s bound to be better. Our coaches are good enough to stay ahead of that curve.
9. 

   vtgreg November 19, 2024 at 2:28 PM

   Is the emphasis on more RPO going to drive a lower ADOT? A large driver in the lower passing yards per game is Tuten doing less. Would be curious to understand why that may be the case as well.
10. 

    FloydsBarberShop November 19, 2024 at 1:47 PM

    Hoping for the best but braced for the worst. Tech can and should win out ... but will they? Time to hit the accelerator and play solid football for 120 minutes.