David Wilson runs the ball in Tech's loss to Clemson.
Amongst the myriad of problems in the Hokies 23-3 loss to the Clemson Tigers last weekend, perhaps the most notable was the lack of offensive production for the maroon and orange.
The three-point performance was the first since 2006 to not include a touchdown, and the first time since 1995 that such a debacle has occurred at Lane Stadium.
Quarterback Logan Thomas went 15-for-27 with an interception, while star tailback David Wilson coughed up his third fumble of the season.
However, despite the result on the scoreboard, the Tech offense still believes that it has what it takes to be formidable.
“I think people think, ‘Oh, (you’re not good), you only put three points on the board,’” said Bryan Stinespring, offensive coordinator. “You go back and watch the film — we were moving the ball, sometimes at will.”
As the quarterback, Thomas is naturally taking most of the flak because of his average numbers, even in the Hokies’ four wins.
According to Stinespring, though, Thomas has performed just fine in his first year as a starter and in Saturday’s game as well.
“It wasn’t Logan — I think he’d like to have a few throws back, but in a game like that, any quarterback wants a couple of throws back,” Stinespring said. “I don’t think Logan was the primary, or secondary, or however you want to look at it, the reason we didn’t throw the ball well.”
One problem, Stinespring went on to say, was that Marcus Davis’ injury forced Tech to abandon several sets that were keys to the Hokies game plan.
“We thought (Davis) was going to be able to go,” he said. “We had a lot of packages with three wides and four wides and (Davis’) injury negated that.”
In addition to a receiving corps riddled with injuries, mental errors — turnovers and penalties — are keeping the Hokies down.
“All of our turnovers have come on the 50 (yard line) going in,” Stinespring said. “That’s the thing; that’s eight turnovers. That’s a potential 56 points that we aren’t getting — and additional stats, additional opportunities we didn’t get.
“And penalties? How many times have we been third-and-one, third-and-two, on the goal line and (a penalty) negated scoring opportunities? You take away a few touchdowns, and wind up coming up with three points. Those things added up.”
Along with issues in the passing game, David Wilson and the rushing attack has caught a sudden case of “fumblitis.” After going the first two years of his career without losing a fumble, Wilson has done it three times this season.
“You go out there and get one, and you’re like, ‘All right,’” Wilson said. “Then get two, and I’m like, ‘Dang!’ When you get the third one, you’re like ‘Wow, I’m doing something wrong.’”
Despite the disturbing trend, Wilson isn’t changing anything and attributes the streak to good defense rather than something wrong on his part.
“The defense is in the perfect position,” Wilson said. “I’m in the wrong position and they’re in the perfect position. It’s not just like they come in and I fumble it on my own. It’s always a helmet right on the ball.”
In addition to the fumbling problem, Wilson is also struggling with consistency running up the middle because teams have stacked the box.
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 6 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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You cannot watch the Clemson game and say VT moved the ball effectively. You can say David Wilson moved the ball effectively, but that is it. He also fumbled because he doesn't know how to carry. The frustrating thing is that Stinespring is in this article essentially saying the offense is uncoordinated but effective. He needs to stop blaming the players for lack of execution and start taking responsibility for not putting a prepared football team on the field with a capable gameplan.
Using the example of a shoestring tackle preventing a 60-yard touchdown is pretty sad as a coach. The problem is not that he got tackled for no gain. The problem is that if we have 2nd- or 3rd-and-long, we have no gameplan to convert the first down.
The biggest issue I have, though is how he dismisses the 3 points. I don't care if we have 10,000 yards and move the ball at will. If you don't put it in the end zone, you don't win. Stinespring needs to stop letting things "fall into place" and start putting things in place.
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Of course, the problem with the offense is Stinepring, as usual.
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Exactly, doesn't matter how many yards you produce, if you don't get any points, or at least more than your opponent, you loose the game. Period. It's not about the yards, but the points.
It wasn't even a hard fought game, maybe for the defense in the beginning it was but our offense let em down.
I just wish Stinespring would leave. Become a recruiter or O-line coach. Just give the job to someone who knows how to put together an offense. Get it done! If anyone else but Beamer was head coach, he would have been cleaning out his office years ago.
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He has to leave if this offense and team is ever going to have a realistic shot at a national title. Recruiting yes, O-line coach no. How many offensive linemen do we put into the NFL and the weakest part of our offense every year is the O-line. He simply can't coach. He can bring in the talent, yes! Know your limitations. At this point, don't blame Stiney, it's Beamer's fault for not putting him where he can best serve the team.
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