Sugar Bowl preview from VT blog Gobbler Country
VT blog, Gobbler Country, put up their Sugar Bowl preview yesterday. Didn't see it posted yet. Anyway, they see having a difficult time with our defensive front 4 (Martin and RVB, in particular) and Denard. They make some good observations about our team and, best of all, they predict a 31-21 Michigan victory.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
Exactly how does Virginia Tech score 21? This is the same crew that put up 17 on East Carolina and 14 on that defensive powerhouse Duke.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
Look like a great QB. I don't think it'll happen but the players could get too excited again and make mistakes.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
December 29th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
No he isn't. He's a bit better.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
Definitely a better passer, but a much worse runner/scrambler, and therefore a much easier matchup for our defense. OSU ripped us because we sold out to stop the run (leading to PAs) and Miller scrambled for key yards and points. Thomas may be a better QB, but he's nothing we havent seen (and stopped) before.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
You're right, Logan Thomas was much better than Braxton Miller throughout most of the year.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
Didnt wemake him look great because madison sold out to stop the run? I mean if I remember right, a few defensive backs being out of place a few times. But didnt we know that Miller had trouble passing so we just didnt want OSU to beat us with the run? If im wrong I apologize but doesnt VT have a qb that can pass so we will at least respect the pass.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
OSU also OWNED the okie package. Every time they saw it, Miller took off - which gave him confidence and, more importantly, lots of yards.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^
Dangerous too. I don't think we'll be as run D heavy as we were in the Ohio game but I think we'll lean that way. Hopefully the month off has given our guys time to heal and learn from their mistakes in the Ohio game.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
This is true, but since Mattison knows that VT likes to run AND throw the ball, he's less likely to try and play a 4-4 robber defense against VT. Please remember that by the time we played Ohio, they were averaging somewhere around 9 total pass attempts a game. Sure, Countess made a couple mistakes but that'll happen when you're a true freshman college cornerback going against a 5th year senior, NFL caliber receiver.
Keep in mind that Thomas is no Vandenburg or Cousins. He completes somewhere around 59% of passes and has thrown almost twice as many interceptions on the season as Vandenburg has and Cousins has in Cousins' last 6 games. If Thomas decides to check into a QB draw when we roll out the Okie package, he's probably not going to have nearly the same success as Miller since Miller is about the same level as Denard Robinson in dilithium and Thomas is more like Scheelhaase.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
When did we fire Mattison? Damn I hate being the last to know.
December 29th, 2011 at 3:33 PM ^
I thought that Madison coached against us in that game? I is confused...
December 29th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Bowl games are often high-scoring. Teams have a month to prepare and their offense can get healthy over that time. Plus, teams are going to get more pumped up to play Michigan than Duke or ECU.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
Um because if history is any indicator the opposing teams only need to get within 2 yards of the endzone before a touchdown is called?
December 30th, 2011 at 11:13 PM ^
Just seeing that picture again gave me a migraine. I can still remember my old man just about putting his foot through the TV...
December 29th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
How can VT get 21?
Go over the top of the defense that will be clearly playing to stop the run. I can see Kovacs sneaking up into 'the box' for the various option/veer looks that VT will bring with Wilson and Thomas. This would obv. expose Countess and Floyd to man on the WRs. Both can be beat, even if VT does not have Posey-like clones on the field.
I think Denard and Fitz gash VT to death, though. VT's DL really does remind me of Nebraska's given all the injuries they've sustained.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
Y'all are gettin worked up by a one solidatary dude who's woefully short on cash? No offense, but that's now Ron Jawarski* or anyone there talking. It's just Some Guy.
* Not that Jaws is the Font of all Knowledege, but I mean, someone with 30+ years of experience who spends every waking minute breaking down film.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
I think it's a reasonable article. I don't think 21 points is all that much. Logan Thomas may not be as good a runner as Braxton Miller, but he can still get 10-15 yards if there is a gap in coverage. And they will try a trick play or two. Perhaps they bust a couple long plays in the running and passing game.
Aside from that, they will try to methodically move the ball downfield. I do agree that we will be able to control them with our strong D line and their relatively weak O line.
Offensively, if we have balance and limit mistakes, they will have no answer for us.
December 29th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
Pretty good article. There was only one point that made my inner Mrs. Garrett say, "WHHHAAAAATTTT???" it was:
"Illinois' rushing stats look like garbage in that game because the Illini fell behind early so they threw more and the Wolverines tallied 49 yards worth of sacks. But they were able to move the ball effectively with zone-read."
Illinois went most of the first half without a first down. They moved the ball "effectively" when the game was out of reach. Zone read didn"t have much to do with it.