* I attended the game. Late in the first half when Beamer started calling those time outs, I didn't mind at all. We had 17 rushing attempts and Kaaya was averaging more than 8 yards per attempt. That's a motoring offense. Beamer played into percentages that didn't favor him nearly as much as he believed they did, and got burned by it. That late touchdown completely changed the math in the second half.
* Brewer is terrible. I also attended the game at Blacksburg last season. Hokie fans had already turned on him, despite the outing at Columbus two months earlier. By the time Miami played them, Brewer's weaknesses were already glaring and the Canes were taking full advantage. He is a turnover machine and lacks a big arm. He rolls smack into the rush. He takes senseless sacks when the team can least afford it. Other than vs. Ohio State twice he hasn't done much of anything. With the other kid, they were more dangerous. The other kid is still a work in progress. He made some poor decisions in the passing game and not the best angles or timing while keeping the ball. But you could see the potential. I was worried while he was in there but not at all once Brewer entered. The nearby Hokie fans were discouraged when Brewer entered. The other quarterback had a bit of bad luck in that Miami was more energized and wrestled jump ball situations on both sides of the ball. Otherwise that game could have unfolded differently.
* The talent gap isn't as decisive once you include interior defensive linemen. They gave us fits and Clemson will be better yet.
* That Virginia Teck kicker had the biggest leg we've faced. Line drive cannons regardless of whether it was into the wind or helping.
* Kaaya is a very impressive college quarterback in most situations. He was the major difference in the game. This season we are exploring the middle of the field aggressively in home games and when James Coley apparently feels confident. It was still ridiculous how often we resorted to tight low percentage windows on the sideline at that Cincinnati game I attended a few weeks ago. Absolutely no reason for it. They had skinny vulnerable defenders other than a couple of linemen. We allowed them to get confident and tough by refusing to run the ball out of power sets and throwing too **** many worthless sideline plays, particularly on third down.
* This game should have been more lopsided if we used the same offense as last season on the road. Duke and then Gus pounded Virginia Tech via snaps from center and basic football. We basically have no idea what we are doing with this shotgun finesse approach with a quarterback who never actually runs the ball, so don't expect big points and margin unless the opponent is truly pathetic. Shame that our quarterback improved but other than more passes over the middle our overall offensive approach is weaker. Notice how the Dolphins bloomed yesterday when they finally brainstormed to take snaps from under center half the time instead of sitting back in the shotgun all day.
* That new tight end is the personnel highlight of the season so far. So dangerous and it looks like he has some athletic arrogance. Second would be the pairing of Thomas and Muhammad off the edge, and all the potential that brings.
