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Game Highlights | Game Stats

We’re sorry it took so long to get this recap of the game up on the site, but we seriously needed to take a step back and calm down before we put our thoughts on the Web for all eternity. We might have written something we couldn’t take back. So, here goes the PG version…

Tough loss. No doubt about that. There isn’t a Hokie fan anywhere that isn’t hurting right now. Even though most knowledgeable fans knew that ECU was capable of beating us, not many of thought the Pirates actually would. Surprise.

Neither team played a great game, but ECU certainly looked better on offense putting up 369 yards to Virginia Tech’s 243. It was the fourth worst offensive production for the Hokies in their last 15 games. And 62 of those 243 came on one play, a bomb from Sean Glennon to freshman Dyrell Roberts – the lone offensive highlight. Not to be outdone by the offense’s poor play, the young defense gave up the fourth highest yardage total in its last 15 games (389 vs. Boston College; 380 vs. Clemson; and 589 vs. LSU).

OK, so what went wrong?

Breaking Down the Offense:

Things got off to a bad start when offensive right tackle Blake DeChristopher left the game in the first series with a deep thigh bruise. But, the Hokies running game looked good early. Kenny Lewis, Jr. rushed for 28 yards on Tech’s first drive, but it stalled when Sean Glennon, the undisputed (for now) starting QB, threw an interception on his first pass of the game. Glennon’s first pass of the 2007 season, against ECU, was also an interception. Ouch.

The Hokies got the ball back on their own 44 and slowly moved the ball to ECU’s 14. But the Hokies couldn’t get in the endzone (or a first down) and turned the ball over when they went for it on 4th and 1 and got stuffed. Glennon went on to throw another INT that was returned to the Hokies 1 yard line and ECU later punched it in to pull within 14-7 at the end of the first half.

The only positive offensive play, as mentioned earlier, came in the third quarter when Glennon threw a perfect pass to true freshman Dyrell Roberts who was streaking down the sideline and made the over-the-shoulder grab in full stride. That set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Darren Evans. That was it offensively.

When the Hokies needed to run time off the clock late in the fourth quarter, they passed instead of running the ball. And when they got the ball back with 1:52 left, down by five, they went four and out including a fumbled center-QB exchange on the final play.

Immediately following the game, sports Web sites all over the place started asking the question, “Will Beamer take the red shirt off Tyrod?” Let the great debate begin. VTHokieFans.com will weigh in on this in the days ahead, so stay tuned.

Breaking Down the Defense:

For just the fourth time in the last three seasons, the Hokies defense was unable to sack the opposing team’s QB; East Carolina and Florida State last season and Duke (of all teams) in 2006. I think the fact that ECU held the Hokies’ 2007 defense (with Ellis, Hall, Adibi, Powell and Flowers) without a sack speaks volumes for the talent level of its offensive line. Still, you’d think that Bud Foster would have been ready for them this year.

The defensive front for the Hokies managed just ONE (1) QB hurry and as I mentioned earlier, no sacks. ECU QB Pat Pinkney was never pressured and had plenty of time to complete 19 of 23 passes (82%) for 211 yards. Meanwhile the running attack used three tailbacks to pile up 134 yards rushing – Pinkney added 24 yards to give ECU 158 total rushing yards. Tech’s young and inexperienced secondary got torched today. They definitely missed Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris, but that’s how these guys will get better – with playing time.

Still, the lack of QB pressure and a young secondary were not what killed the Hokies on defense today. No, that would be the inability to tackle, which is how the Pirates got the majority of their aforementioned 158 rushing yards. Honestly, I think we’ve seen better tackling in a flag football game. I was reading Kyle Tucker’s post-game blog and Beamer addressed the poor tackling by the young defense.

“We have to tackle a lot better. We missed a lot of tackles today. A lot of tackles. I bet when we go back and count the number of missed tackles, it’ll be a bunch,” said Beamer.

The lone highlight for the defense was Stephan Virgil’s 30-yard scoop and score fumble recovery for a TD in the second quarter to give Virginia Tech a 7-0 lead. Virgil also returned a blocked PAT for a 2-pt. conversion score.

Breaking Down the Special Teams

With the exception of the blocked punt returned for a touchdown that gave ECU the win, Tech’s special teams played well. They blocked a PAT (point after try) and returned it for a two-point play that gave the Hokies a 16-13 lead instead of tying the game at 14-14.

The return teams did well averaging 21 yards per return (5 for 105). [EDITED 9/1] Surprisingly, though the Pirates punted three times in the game, Virginia Tech was not able to return a single punt. Tech’s kickoff coverage team did a good job holding ECU to just 11.5 yards per kickoff return and recovered a fumbled kickoff return following the Hokies first touchdown. The Hokies’ punt coverage was not as impressive allowing a 22-yard per return average.

[UPDATE 8/31/2008] There were some troubles with the kicking game including a missed 44-yard field goal that hit the upright and the missed extra point. But, with rookie kickers, none of whom are on scholarship, this was to be expected. I really fault Beamer for not letting Dustin Keys kick the FG on the Hokies second drive of the game when they were facing 4th and 1 at the ECU 5 yard line. That would have been a huge confidence boost for the kid playing in his first college game. Instead, Beamer trots him out there for a critical 44-yard field goal, which he missed by hitting the upright.

It’s unfortunate that Tech played one of its best “Beamerball” games in recent memory and ended up getting beat at their own game. We’re not sure what will happen with the QB situation, but you can bet the Hokies will be working on punt blocking and tackling this week as they get ready for the Furman University Paladins on Sept. 6.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back with more breakdowns and previews in the days ahead, so stay tuned and keep your heads up. We like our odds next week!

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