Hokies fail to take out Boise
by Greg Frayser
If the Hokies don't fumble and/or have a kick blocked, we're probably not talking about how they lost the game. That being the case, they lost the game. If you want to look for reasons they lost, other than the above two, it's pretty simple.
First, they didn't win the ground game. For a long time, Va Tech has prided itself on its strong run game and defense. But tonight, they were just plain awful, gaining only 55 yards rushing when you take out Tyrod Taylor's 73 yards on the ground. That's just not going to cut it against a BCS-caliber team, even when a substantial portion of the country doesn't believe that Boise is a BCS-level team. If you want to be elite, you have to be able to run the ball for first downs, whether it be in the NFL or the NCAA. And the Hokies just did not do that tonight.
Now, second, Tyrod Taylor did not come through. He's a tremendous athlete, no doubt. But with the game on the line, in long yardage situations, Taylor looked completely uncomfortable in the traditional pocket passer role. When his team needed a first down, Taylor couldn't produce in the way that all quarterbacks are expected to at one point or another. That's not to say he is incapable of it, but for whatever reason, Boise State had Taylor feeling very uncomfortable in the pocket tonight, perhaps not evidenced in the stat line but very apparent whenever the Hokies needed a big throw.
The atmosphere was unlike anything this Vandy fan had ever experienced before. The Boise St. crowd had a decent showing right behind the Bronco bench, but the stadium was at least 80 percent Hokie if not more. But after the first quarter miscues, the crowd was not as much of a factor as it could have been. All in all, it was a very good game that could have gone either way. The personal foul call on the Broncos last drive was awful. I'm not sure it would have mattered, but it is a shame that such a terrible call contributed to the go ahead touchdown.
In the end, people are going to look at this as a big win for Boise. And maybe they should. I can't help but think of all the missed opportunities for the Hokies. This was a game they could have won, perhaps even easily. All I know is this... if the Broncos go on to win out, I'd be hard pressed to say they deserve a BCS title game apperance based on this victory. It just wasn't that impressive to me. If Boise St. played in the SEC, they'd be lucky to come out with less than 3 losses. Fact.
I'll agree on most accounts. I had hoped this would end the Boise St argument for awhile, but instead, maybe they will win out, and we'll have that discussion of why we need a playoff.
ReplyDeleteVaTech coughed it up in the first quarter, and we all know good teams play all four quarters. Also, I was disappointed that Foster didn't rush at all in Boise's last possession.
If Boise beats Oregon St, and goes undefeated, are people really going to sit and say they'd beat Alabama and/or Ohio St? I wouldn't think so, but anyone can beat anyone in one game (see above). But they would've cake walk through any season in the SEC/Big10/ACC/Big12. We'll have to wait and see.