Other than the ACC and Orange Bowl titles, there are a few things I'll remember most about the 2008 edition of Hokie Football. Please leave your own ideas in the comments.
Cory Holt vs. Florida State
Holt played well at quarterback against the Seminoles in a losing effort. Injuries to Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon gave Holt his first significant snaps under center for the Hokies and he did his best to rally Tech, but came up short.
James Evans Sleeping at the Maryland Game
C'mon, Tech fans. You couldn't make enough noise to wake a two year-old? While dad was tearing up the Terrapins, James was sound asleep at Lane Stadium. He was getting just as much camera time on ESPN as Darren as well.
The Grimm Reaper
Cody Grimm had an excellent last half of 2008. The under-sized linebacker made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks and made his Pro-Bowler dad proud.
Jarrett Boykin's Catch vs. Miami
The Comeback at UNC
Yes, we needed some luck, but for a very young team to come back from 14 points down on the road was impressive. You knew the team would continue to improve and that Darren Evans was a star in the making.
The Rollercoaster
The Hokies looked like a doomed team at three different points in the season. The losses to ECU, FSU and Miami seemed to end any hope of 2008 being a successful season. But somehow, this team and coaching staff rallied to have one of the best year's in team history.
Showing posts with label darren evans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label darren evans. Show all posts
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sunday, November 9, 2008
VT 23, UMD 13
Hats off to Bryan Stinespring. He called a good game. Glennon was less than sharp, but played well for a one-legged quarterback. The offensive line played like we all thought they could at the beginning of the season. The question is, how much of it was due to how bad Maryland was on D?
Quick Hits
- The Wild Turkey or Wild Boone or whatever you want to call it worked two ways. Boone is tough to take down and took his toll on whoever tackled him. It also pumped the crowd up every time he took a snap.
- It will be interesting to see if Boone still gets plays under center when Tyrod gets healthy.
- Our offensive and defensive lines were dominant, as predicted. The Terps couldn't do anything on the ground and when Turner was forced to throw, he never had enough time.
- Taco Thompson and Cody Grimm share defensive players of the game in my book. Grimm was all over the field on both defense and special teams. Thompson always seemed to be around the ball and seemed like he knew what the snap count was going to be every play.
- Maryland was able to use Tech's aggressiveness against it on the Heyward-Bey screen pass touchdown. However, you won't fool Bud Foster on the same play twice, as Heyward-Bey later learned in the red zone.
- Finally a decent game from Kam Chancellor.
- This was an experienced, good offense that the Hokies shut down. Yes, Da'Rel Scott was banged up going into the game, but everyone else was taken out of the equation as well. Other than the Hey-Bey screen pass, it was a damn near perfect performance by the D.
- Maryland's defense, particularly its defensive line, isn't very good. As they like to do, they lined up in a 3-4 a lot with their "leo" player on the the line in a two-point stance. That's the main reason Tech was able to destroy them up front. The Terps were under-sized and compensated for it by not stacking the box and running a 3-4. It was comical.
- However, give credit to Darren Evans. He ran with purpose on Thursday. It was great to see.
- Glennon is still missing high. That's going to lead to interceptions if he isn't careful.
- The receivers continue to get better. They made some tough catches and ran much better routes this time around. Boykin and Coale have stepped up as the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers. Roberts is getting better and hopefully is close to emerging as a legitimate deep threat.
- Speaking of Roberts, he was a machine on kick returns. Macho also had a nice punt return.
- On the flip side of that coin, we let another punt get blocked. The punt coverage team is still terrible, but the kickoff coverage team had a better game.
- Miami is a much better team than the Terps and the game this Thursday will be on the road. While I feel better about this game than I did on Wednesday, I still think it's going to be tougher to move the ball and get pressure on the quarterback this week.
- Apologizes to anyone who sat near me in the Tech student section Thursday. I was invisible. Sure I've been much drunker for Hokie games, but that was probably the most belligerent I've been in a while.
- The staggering hangover I had Friday was cured by the Cracker Barrel in Bristol, Va. Damn skippy I stopped on the Virginia side. The only place in Tennessee I'll give my money to is Corky's.
Quick Hits
- The Wild Turkey or Wild Boone or whatever you want to call it worked two ways. Boone is tough to take down and took his toll on whoever tackled him. It also pumped the crowd up every time he took a snap.
- It will be interesting to see if Boone still gets plays under center when Tyrod gets healthy.
- Our offensive and defensive lines were dominant, as predicted. The Terps couldn't do anything on the ground and when Turner was forced to throw, he never had enough time.
- Taco Thompson and Cody Grimm share defensive players of the game in my book. Grimm was all over the field on both defense and special teams. Thompson always seemed to be around the ball and seemed like he knew what the snap count was going to be every play.
- Maryland was able to use Tech's aggressiveness against it on the Heyward-Bey screen pass touchdown. However, you won't fool Bud Foster on the same play twice, as Heyward-Bey later learned in the red zone.
- Finally a decent game from Kam Chancellor.
- This was an experienced, good offense that the Hokies shut down. Yes, Da'Rel Scott was banged up going into the game, but everyone else was taken out of the equation as well. Other than the Hey-Bey screen pass, it was a damn near perfect performance by the D.
- Maryland's defense, particularly its defensive line, isn't very good. As they like to do, they lined up in a 3-4 a lot with their "leo" player on the the line in a two-point stance. That's the main reason Tech was able to destroy them up front. The Terps were under-sized and compensated for it by not stacking the box and running a 3-4. It was comical.
- However, give credit to Darren Evans. He ran with purpose on Thursday. It was great to see.
- Glennon is still missing high. That's going to lead to interceptions if he isn't careful.
- The receivers continue to get better. They made some tough catches and ran much better routes this time around. Boykin and Coale have stepped up as the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers. Roberts is getting better and hopefully is close to emerging as a legitimate deep threat.
- Speaking of Roberts, he was a machine on kick returns. Macho also had a nice punt return.
- On the flip side of that coin, we let another punt get blocked. The punt coverage team is still terrible, but the kickoff coverage team had a better game.
- Miami is a much better team than the Terps and the game this Thursday will be on the road. While I feel better about this game than I did on Wednesday, I still think it's going to be tougher to move the ball and get pressure on the quarterback this week.
- Apologizes to anyone who sat near me in the Tech student section Thursday. I was invisible. Sure I've been much drunker for Hokie games, but that was probably the most belligerent I've been in a while.
- The staggering hangover I had Friday was cured by the Cracker Barrel in Bristol, Va. Damn skippy I stopped on the Virginia side. The only place in Tennessee I'll give my money to is Corky's.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
BC Game Guide
Virginia Tech at Boston College
Time: 8 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Place: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV: ESPN2
Last Meeting: The Hokies beat the Eagles, 30-16 on Dec. 1, 2007, in Jacksonville, Fla., to capture the 2007 ACC Championship Game. Sean Glennon was named MVP after throwing for 174 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers.
Trends: The Hokies have won five consecutive games and are 2-0 on the road...the Eagles have won their last three games and are 2-1 at home...the Hokies are 16-1 on the road in ACC play...however, the lone loss came at BC in 2006...the Hokies are 5-2 after a bye since joining the ACC with the last two losses coming against BC.
What to Expect: The Hokies have had their struggles running against BC in teams' last three games. In 2005, the Hokies ran wild on their way to a 30-10 win over the Eagles, gaining 212 yards on 53 carries (4.0 YPC). However, in the last three games, the Hokies have 247 yards on 125 carries (2.0 YPC).
Unfortunately, I think this will continue this weekend. BC's front seven is just too good for the Hokies to expect a lot from the running backs. DTs Ron Brace and BJ Raji are the best DT combination in the league if not the nation. Add to them a good linebacking corps led by Brian Toal and the Eagles should have no problem slowing Virginia Tech's running game.
However, the Hokies do have Tyrod Taylor. His ability to scramble and break big plays with his feet out of the pocket give the Hokies a chance to crack the century mark in rushing yards. I think you'll have to see Tyrod scramble for a few first downs on third down situations this weekend. If he's successful and can extend drives with his feet, the Hokies have a very good chance.
On defense, the Hokies will have to deal with a BC offense that is improving. The run game carried the team for the first few weeks of the season as younger players such as Josh Haden and Montel Harris blossomed quickly. The QB position was big question mark until last week when Chris Crane took the team on his shoulders on the way to a win at NC State.
In that game, Crane had 428 yards passing. He had 461 yards passing through his first four games.
Crane is a poor man's Scott Frost and is deceptively quick, which means he's a fast white guy. He will be able to escape the pocket as well and turn big losses into no gains and positive yards. However, the Eagles have turned the ball over 10 times this season, including three times against NC State.
If Crane turns into a pumpkin again on Saturday, you could see QB Dominique Davis, who is made from the Tyrod Taylor mold. Davis' isn't a very good passes, but can kill you with his feet.
The Eagles return most of their receivers, but none of them are deep threats. This is good for the Hokies since their kryptonite has been deep passes over the middle.
The Hokies win if: They are able to establish the run against BC's formidable front seven and they get consistent pressure on QB Chris Crane.
The Eagles win if: They don't turn the ball over and stop the run, both conventional and on scrambles by Tyrod Taylor.
Dot-dot-dots: The last time the Hokies played at BC on a Saturday was 2000 when they won, 48-34...the Hokies played in BC on Thursdays in 2002 and 2006...this is the first time any VT-BC regular season game has been on Saturday since 2003 when the Eagles won 34-27 in Blacksburg...Virginia Tech LB Dylan McGreevy is a distant nephew of Nuf Ced McGreevy, the famous Boston bar owner and founder of the Royal Rooters...if you're a Red Sox fan like I am, you know McGreevy's story, made famous by the Dropkick Murphy's version of "Tessie"...RB Darren Evans has scored a touchdown in his first six career games...CB Macho Harris has an interception in three consecutive games...K Dustin Keys has made 11 consecutive field goals.
Go Hokies. Go Sox.
Time: 8 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Place: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV: ESPN2
Last Meeting: The Hokies beat the Eagles, 30-16 on Dec. 1, 2007, in Jacksonville, Fla., to capture the 2007 ACC Championship Game. Sean Glennon was named MVP after throwing for 174 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers.
Trends: The Hokies have won five consecutive games and are 2-0 on the road...the Eagles have won their last three games and are 2-1 at home...the Hokies are 16-1 on the road in ACC play...however, the lone loss came at BC in 2006...the Hokies are 5-2 after a bye since joining the ACC with the last two losses coming against BC.
What to Expect: The Hokies have had their struggles running against BC in teams' last three games. In 2005, the Hokies ran wild on their way to a 30-10 win over the Eagles, gaining 212 yards on 53 carries (4.0 YPC). However, in the last three games, the Hokies have 247 yards on 125 carries (2.0 YPC).
Unfortunately, I think this will continue this weekend. BC's front seven is just too good for the Hokies to expect a lot from the running backs. DTs Ron Brace and BJ Raji are the best DT combination in the league if not the nation. Add to them a good linebacking corps led by Brian Toal and the Eagles should have no problem slowing Virginia Tech's running game.
However, the Hokies do have Tyrod Taylor. His ability to scramble and break big plays with his feet out of the pocket give the Hokies a chance to crack the century mark in rushing yards. I think you'll have to see Tyrod scramble for a few first downs on third down situations this weekend. If he's successful and can extend drives with his feet, the Hokies have a very good chance.
On defense, the Hokies will have to deal with a BC offense that is improving. The run game carried the team for the first few weeks of the season as younger players such as Josh Haden and Montel Harris blossomed quickly. The QB position was big question mark until last week when Chris Crane took the team on his shoulders on the way to a win at NC State.
In that game, Crane had 428 yards passing. He had 461 yards passing through his first four games.
Crane is a poor man's Scott Frost and is deceptively quick, which means he's a fast white guy. He will be able to escape the pocket as well and turn big losses into no gains and positive yards. However, the Eagles have turned the ball over 10 times this season, including three times against NC State.
If Crane turns into a pumpkin again on Saturday, you could see QB Dominique Davis, who is made from the Tyrod Taylor mold. Davis' isn't a very good passes, but can kill you with his feet.
The Eagles return most of their receivers, but none of them are deep threats. This is good for the Hokies since their kryptonite has been deep passes over the middle.
The Hokies win if: They are able to establish the run against BC's formidable front seven and they get consistent pressure on QB Chris Crane.
The Eagles win if: They don't turn the ball over and stop the run, both conventional and on scrambles by Tyrod Taylor.
Dot-dot-dots: The last time the Hokies played at BC on a Saturday was 2000 when they won, 48-34...the Hokies played in BC on Thursdays in 2002 and 2006...this is the first time any VT-BC regular season game has been on Saturday since 2003 when the Eagles won 34-27 in Blacksburg...Virginia Tech LB Dylan McGreevy is a distant nephew of Nuf Ced McGreevy, the famous Boston bar owner and founder of the Royal Rooters...if you're a Red Sox fan like I am, you know McGreevy's story, made famous by the Dropkick Murphy's version of "Tessie"...RB Darren Evans has scored a touchdown in his first six career games...CB Macho Harris has an interception in three consecutive games...K Dustin Keys has made 11 consecutive field goals.
Go Hokies. Go Sox.
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