Expecting different results from what you’ve previously experienced when there has been no change in personnel or coaches is the definition of insanity. What we saw in the ODU game was a hiccup. Evidence points to this team as being the same as last year’s team and the Fuente years - poor game planning, especially from the OC, poor execution on offense and defense despite the players playing hard.
The players are not the problem. Their execution is a result of two factors, one is the players individual skills and the other is how those skills are being developed and used by the coaches. VT has not recruited well in the last 10 years. While there have been a few gems, like Delaney, recruiting players with the skills to match up with ACC/SEC/Big 10 opponents has lagged. Coaching up has not worked and game planning has been abysmal, especially on the part of the OCs. I was very critical of Stiney due to his play calling. But he was a genius compared to Bowen. Bowen lacks imagination as well as the ability to see what his skilled players do best. Drones is suited best for RPOs and rolling pockets, yet we saw drop back passing the last two games. Drones has proven talents as a runner. You don’t unleash that because …. You don’t want your QB to get hurt. No, you play to their strengths. You open up the field. You have vertical as well as horizontal targets of various depths. You mix draws in with power sweeps. I see no evidence that Bowen can win against any of the DCs Tech will face over the next 8 games. The evidence says…. Get a new OC. If the Head Coach won’t do it, then you move on with a new HC that will. I like Pry, he recruits well by evidence of the new class anticipated next year. The kids play for him. He was a good DC. But being a HC requires approaches he may never have had to take before… like Demoting a friend.
The players are not the problem. Their execution is a result of two factors, one is the players individual skills and the other is how those skills are being developed and used by the coaches. VT has not recruited well in the last 10 years. While there have been a few gems, like Delaney, recruiting players with the skills to match up with ACC/SEC/Big 10 opponents has lagged. Coaching up has not worked and game planning has been abysmal, especially on the part of the OCs. I was very critical of Stiney due to his play calling. But he was a genius compared to Bowen. Bowen lacks imagination as well as the ability to see what his skilled players do best. Drones is suited best for RPOs and rolling pockets, yet we saw drop back passing the last two games. Drones has proven talents as a runner. You don’t unleash that because …. You don’t want your QB to get hurt. No, you play to their strengths. You open up the field. You have vertical as well as horizontal targets of various depths. You mix draws in with power sweeps. I see no evidence that Bowen can win against any of the DCs Tech will face over the next 8 games. The evidence says…. Get a new OC. If the Head Coach won’t do it, then you move on with a new HC that will. I like Pry, he recruits well by evidence of the new class anticipated next year. The kids play for him. He was a good DC. But being a HC requires approaches he may never have had to take before… like Demoting a friend.
