Perhaps the best rationale for lack of offensive production and an explanation that could justify Stinespring's performance as the team's offensive coordinator this season could be the fact that he has had to work with only four returning starters on this year's offense. In addition, three of the Hokies' four top receivers this season are freshmen.
"In our last six games last year, when we started to protect up front better, we threw the ball pretty well," Hite said. "We have a young group of receivers right now. Everything is not going to be perfect. But a year from now, we're going to be a heck of a lot better. Some of those people complaining right now will stop soon because it's not going to be this way next year."
Stinespring was the offensive coordinator during quarterback Bryan Randall's 2001-04 tenure. Randall is Tech's all-time leading passer, and holds school records with 6,508 career yards passing and 48 career touchdowns. Stinespring was also the offensive coordinator with Tech's top two career receiving leaders, Ernest Wilford (2000-03) and Eddie Royal (2004-07), who caught 126 and 122 passes, respectively. during their collegiate careers.
"He understands the game of football," Hite said. "Not only does he do a great job coaching, he does a great job calling plays and recruiting. The kids that he's signed in this program have been absolutely unbelievable. He's a loyal and dedicated guy. ... This game means so much to him and he does everything he possibly can to make sure the Hokies win on game day. He spends 90-plus hours a week preparing our team to win."
Even though some criticize his play calling as at times predictable -- including Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant, according to a Roanoke Times article printed on Wednesday -- Stinespring continues to see potential for success in every play he calls.
"Of course I wish I had some plays I've called back sometimes," Stinespring said. "That's just part of coaching, though. You always want to be in a perfect scenario and part of the game plan week-to-week is preparing plays that have opportunities for success. There's always opportunity for success after the play has been designed and after the defense aligns itself, though. I'm never going to call a play that doesn't have a chance for success."
Continue Reading: « Previous123
Leave a comment 6 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Anyone catch the GT game last night? Anyone see them run for more then 400 yards?! Paul Johnson took a sophmore throwing qb, and a pro style offense and in one year turned it into a crazy throwback option attack. If they didnt fumble so da** much, they would probably be undefeated in conference play. All of that in one year, with no excuses. What is our deal? I know it is like comparing apples to oranges, but if our D can plug in new guys after injuries/graduation, why cant the O? Someone help me out here.
Reply to this Top
Youth can't be used as an excuse. The ACC is full of young squads this season including some younger than Virginia Tech's. Virginia Tech ranks dead last in total offense in the ACC. For the past 2 seasons, VT was ranked 99th and 100th in total offense respectively. We're on track to finish even further down the bottom 20. This is despite the fact that our recruiting rankings continue to improve and the number of Hokie NFL draftees goes up. We'll need a good offense to go along with an elite defense if we are to win a national championship. Clearly, Stinespring is not getting it down. It's time for a change. He can stay on in another capacity but he is not fit to call plays for a program that aspires to win a national title.
Reply to this Top
Reading into this article we basically get the same comments from Stinespring. (i.e that we are almost there and are a young team.) Under his tenure we have had some of the best talent overall in the history of the program. He has done nothing with it and has even got worse. For once, I would like him to just man up and take some blame. Foster has done it. Greenberg has done it. Stinespring is not the guy thats going to take the program to the next level. Wake up Beamer.
Reply to this Top
Here's the thing...if you have a player with amazing talent on the practice field, yet chokes in the game, very quickly he finds his way to the bench...Seems to me Stinespring has great skill set, but when it comes to crunch time on gameday he chokes...why hasn't he been benched?
Reply to this Top
Fire Stinespring, Fire Beamer. Let Bud Foster do it all.
Reply to this Top
Stinespring needs to be replaced as the OC. however i think we should make him in charge of recruiting. He is great at that and i do give credit where credits due. We have great playmakers and its time they get used in away to improve the team and the numbers 112 out of 119 ru kidding me were VT not duke but last time i looked there numbers are better.
Reply to this Top