Earth Revolves Around Sun, VT Beats Virginia

Whether it was intentional or not, yesterday's UVA/VT contest served to propagate long-held stereotypes about both schools. For ESPN's player introductions, Thomas Jones and Ronde Barber handled the assignment for Virginia in their typically erudite manner. For VT's, they threw it to a bunch of yahoos in the Scott Stadium parking lot. But more notably, the play on the field was rather indicative of why Virginia Tech beats Virginia more often than not, and why we shouldn't expect that to change under their respective regimes. This isn't to take away anything Al Groh's done this season; Wyoming or no Wyoming, 9-3 far outstrips most reasonable projections for his squad. But it's beginning to look like a cold reality that year after year, Virginia Tech is blessed with strengths that are almost specifically employed to exploit the weaknesses that Virginia teams have seemed to have year after year under Groh's watch.

Yesterday's 33-21 score (VT's 7th win in 8 years) reasonably captures the game's essence: competitive, but Virginia Tech never had to feel too nervous, particularly after Jameel Sewell's near-halftime INT led to Eddie Royal's astoundingly deflating TD grab. Because even with UVA's flair for the dramatic, it seemed like it was the same old story. On offense, while Virginia executed far more successfully than they have in years past (easily their best output since their last win...they damn near equaled their last three years worth of points), it's a system that desperately wants for playmakers that can stretch the field. Outside of Billy McMullen (a George Welsh recruit), one could argue that the most dangerous receiver Virginia has had under Al Groh was Marques Hagans. Relying on power running and short passes to a battery of tight ends, it can kept under wraps by a team with quick linebackers and sure-tackling corners. In other words, the exact defense Bud Foster puts on the field. I realize that Branden Ore had himself quite a contest, but UVA fans almost had to feel relieved any time he got the ball. Simply put, with Sean Glennon under center, if it was between 10-15 yards, Tech could have it. Easy. You would've thought MIke London was gameplanning for the U.S. 4 x 100 team with the kind of cushion the Hokie receivers were getting. Corresponding with their lack of edge speed on offense, Virginia's pass defense has been suspect all season, and the teams that chose to exploit this (NC State, UNC, Wyoming) more often than not came up big. Eddie Royal finished with 6 catches and 147 yards, but it felt like far more than that, considering most of it came in the first half. Vic Hall continues to play like someone way over his head, and Virginia's safeties continued to get abused by the sort of rangy, quick receivers that are a VT staple.
In terms of quarterbacking play, Tyrod Taylor looks like the real deal. His ability to escape pass rushers demoralized the Virginia defense, particularly on third down. Though there's almost no doubt that Jameel Sewell is the best fit for the Virginia offense that formed its identity during the course of the season, he doesn't quite have the natural speed of Taylor. And his UVA frosh counterpart Peter Lalich seems to have regressed over the span of this year, although that could likely be the result of an offensive gameplan that has been catered to Mikell Simpson and Sewell.. It remains to be seen how Taylor will be employed once Glennon is no longer around to keep defenses on edge, but there's more to his Vick comparisons than a number and a Tidewater homebase...just not the extracurricular activities.

As far as special teams, Virginia Tech had just enough game-changing plays to make a difference; on their first punt-return, Eddie Royal pitched a reverse that went for 42 yards and set the tone, and of course, there was the obligatory blocked punt. VT has almost completely reversed the sort of reputation that plagued them during their latter days in the Big East- they're a team that gets far more dangerous as the season goes on, and Boston College better be on their game to a far greater extent than they were last time they played. I mean, the game was technically meaningless, but they only beat Miami by 14!

Once again, this proves as a sobering reminder for Virginia that speed kills at the college level, and although Al Groh has admirably tried to recruit more athleticism over the last two years, it has yet to translate into something tangible on-field, although the play of Ras-I Dowling and Dontrelle Inman has been promising. It's not like VT always caps the recruiting top tens...they just seem to know what fits their program better, while Groh has put teams on the field that are talented, but unbalanced.

In terms of what Virginia can expect for a bowl game, they might be better off rooting for VT in the ACCCG. It'll be interesting to see how a BC win would cause things to play out. Tech has an incredible ability to mobilize, and if they were to be available for the Gator Bowl, they might rethink their stance of not taking the Champ loser this year. And though Clemson would be a very attractive option for the Chick Fil-A Bowl, I'm sure they wouldn't mind having the Hokies come back. For Virginia, the Champs Sports Bowl is the prohibitive choice, though the Gator Bowl could also be an option...and if they were to send an invite, it would be the Cavaliers' first New Years Day appearance in over a decade. Then again, I've seen prognostications that indicate a potential opponent in Texas Tech. Vic Hall. Michael Crabtree. Let that sink in, Wahoos.