Collegiate Times

Tech running back Darren Evans bounces to the outside and searches for an opening as he's pursued by several Eagle defenders.

As Tyrod Taylor scrambled for another first down, the Hokies were doomed.

Third-and-five, third-and-eight, third-and-nine; quarterback draw, quarterback off tackle, quarterback tucks and flees the pocket on third-and-long. Tech's offense almost looked terrified to throw it on passing downs.

And with good reason.

Perhaps it was the botched cross routes, dropped passes or failed attempts downfield sitting in recent memory. Maybe it was the litany of freshman receivers this youthful Tech squad must rotate.

Midway through the third quarter, Taylor had moved the chains yet again with a shifty 9-yard run on third down. Moments later, the Hokies had settled for yet another field goal after failing to convert on a third-down pass.

This routine would amount to three points and an interception in a quarter where Tech's defense had suddenly clamped down on the Eagles.

Taylor's legs were averaging seven yards a pop and waxing the Hokies' primary source of moving the football, so why even pass? Well, I'd say it's tougher to call upon it during a crunch time when it's been dysfunctional the whole game.

The Hokies entered the second half down by 11 with the need to summon some sort of air attack, but were only able to produce 43 yards and an interception thereafter.

This isn't to say Tech needs a good aerial attack in late comeback and go-ahead drives. The Hokies rallied from 14-down at North Carolina and notched a late fourth-quarter field goal off a long march against Georgia Tech.

Though, Tech probably wants to prove they can do it without the massively significant aid of personal fouls and pass interference penalties on those "defining" drives.

I put quotes around defining because, while it shows character to make your breaks, I'm not sold on those games affirming the offense's functionality when playing from behind in a short period of time. Tech had made it to Boston College at 5-1 while hanging its head on the running game, but young Taylor and the passing game's glaring flaws were illuminated under the Alumni Stadium lights.

"It's once again a work in progress here," said head coach Frank Beamer. "And he made a couple throws that the receivers need to catch the ball for."

To those who have maroon and orange coursing through your veins, it's just something you'll have to accept for right now. I'm sorry.

Tech's only receivers to catch a pass on Saturday were all freshman -- that is, if you don't count players who may still be catching their breath after playing cornerback minutes earlier. On top of that, Taylor's a sophomore eight weeks removed from back-up duty.

What do you expect?

Many criticize Tech's conservative offensive approach -- it attempted 38 runs to 27 passes against Boston College while trailing for three quarters -- but maybe that's the best complaint you'd want to have with this team right now.

Tech only allowed one turnover to Boston College's five. This certainly begs the question: Why couldn't the Hokies' offense take advantage of this to muster a touchdown of their own?

What can you say? Perhaps the Hokie nation needs to accept that this will be the case for a young squad searching for an offensive identity. In the meantime, the Hokies are 5-2 (2-1) and rank No. 1 in the nation in turnover differential.

To watch opposing quarterbacks such as Boston College's Chris Crane rip off 204 yards in the first half is frustrating, but keeping things close to the vest has kept Tech in every game so far. In a blitz-happy conference, this could be just what the Hokies ordered.

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