Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Week 11 Thoughts

I don't know about the rest of you, but every year after the Georgia Tech game, win or lose, I feel like there is a huge weight lifted off the shoulders of the football team and us fans. They're the type of team, that no matter if you're more or less talented in a given year, they're going to be a problem. Their style of play requires more preparation than any other game you'll probably play, and once it's over, you're glad you can just forget about it for another year.

Having said that, I feel a lot better about our chances against them the next couple years at the very least. The Hokies played with probably the youngest and possibly smallest front seven that has ever beaten the Jackets, and should only get better from here. Jack Tyler gets the biggest shoutout from me, because while even though he had a dumb mental mistake early in the 3rd quarter, his ability to play against this type of defense with almost zero game experience shows how well focused and coached he and this team is.

As I said in my keys to the game for a Hokie victory, we didn't need a shutout, just enough stops to have the opportunity to capitalize on offense. That is exactly what happened. After giving up a touchdown on their first drive, we held them scoreless until a last second field goal to end the 2nd quarter, which seemed like a mental lapse not expecting them to come out firing with less than a minute on the clock. After giving up 13 more points to start the 3rd quarter, the defense once again buckled down, and didn't allow even a threat of a score from the Jackets. The big stand came on 3rd and 2, then 4th and 1, allowing the offense to raise the lead from one to eight.

As is usually the case, many were afraid of another lethargic showing from the offense. After getting into GT territory twice early, and having to punt both times, it looked like this may be another game where the coulda/shoulda/woulda would fill the message boards for how close we could have been to winning. Luckily after those two drives, the offense came out to one of its best showings of the season.

Another one of my keys regarding the offense was to spread the ball out to all its playmakers. David Wilson went buck wild for a career high in yards. Logan hit three different receivers for touchdowns. DJ Coles came up with a big catch on a 3rd and long, which was long because of a false start on him on 3rd and medium. Even Oglesby had his moments in relief of DW to help move the chains. And of course The Lieutenant was an unstoppable force anytime he wanted to go forward.

Next on the docket we have the Tar Heels of UNCheat, with what should be a hyped, albeit freezing cold, home crowd on Thursday. Last time the Heels visited, also on a Thursday night, we were upset in a game I'll never forget having to leave. I'm a huge hater of the Tar Heels, and not only had I invited a UNC friend of mine, but I was also living in Chapel Hill at the time. Luckily I moved down to Florida two weeks later, so I didn't have to put up with any crap for too long.

Across the ACC


I suppose we should start with Clemson this week as they're the first team to punch their ticket to Charlotte. After giving up 21 straight 3rd quarter points to go down by two touchdowns to Wake Forest, the Tigers settled down, and with a little bit of help from the refs, kicked a game winning field goal as time expired. It's still unknown if the ACC will get its dream matchup of two 11-1, top-10 teams, but Clemson and their fans being at the ACCCG is probably best case scenario from a selling point. A Clemson/VT matchup, regardless of records and rankings, will be a rocking time in Charlotte.

The only team at this point who can break up what will probably be the best ACCCG game in history, is UVA. After putting away Duke late (really Duke, how many dropped passes can you have in one game when that's supposed to be your only strength?) the Wahoos are still in control of their own destiny in their division. If they can upset the Noles on the road this weekend, then the Commonwealth Cup won't be the only thing on the line the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That's asking a lot, but you never know in this conference.

Boston College and NC State played about as boring a game as you would expect from those two. The Pack had many opportunities to try and win with a late touchdown, but the Boston College defense did a remarkable job at playing for pride in front of the home crowd, and walked away the victory. Many people will talk about FSU being the most disappointing team in the conference this year because of their pre-season ranking, but if you go by fanbase feelings at the end of the year, I think NCSU would get my vote for this "honor". The lone highlight for them this year was shutting out rival UNC, but besides that, there isn't much for them to be happy about this year.

FSU and Miami had a pretty entertaining game that was ruined by the worst reffing job of the day in the ACC, which is saying A LOT. Even though neither team was playing for anything except what mid-tier bowl they'll be going to, the players appeared to be playing for a lot more. There were hard hits, lots of trash talking, and some pretty good plays throughout the game. FSU winning never seemed in doubt, but Miami got it close enough to keep the game on my main tv until the very end. I'm a big fan of that matchup being an opening season game, because you can only imagine how much better the game could have been if there was something to play for.

And Maryland played and lost.


Week 11 Predictions: 5-1
November Predictions: 8-3
October Predictions: 24-7
September Predictions: 31-8
Overall Year-Long Predictions: 63-18


H-O-K-I-E-S HOKIES!!!
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