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This is a thread for folks to post things that stood out to them that helped win the game Saturday for the rest of us who might not have noticed. I have three in mind.
1.) DJ White pulled a brilliant and classic bait-and-switch on that VT QB on the last interception. The defense had given up that short out route all game long and the VT QB had been taking it all game long. You know that QB wanted to make the longer throw, but we were always playing it conservative and giving them the short one. Then the stakes were raised on the last drive and the VT QB wanted to make a bigger play down the field to make the game winning drive. And, DJ baited him right into it. He sat on the flat route like he was determined to finally stop that short route, and then the instant he saw the QB go into his windup, he took off in a backpedal toward the corner route, and it was a can of corn at that point. I marveled at that play. I am still wondering if that was all DJ's jedi-mind-game or if somehow he was coached to do it. Either way, that was crazy-brilliant. I'll never forget that play.
2.) Chris Milton's block of the field goal. HUGE play ... not only to the final score but to the momentum and psyche of each team. It looked like we had just handed them the game right at the start of the 2nd half with the pitch-fumble turnover in our own redzone. For them to come away from that with no points was amazing by the defense and then by Milton with the block. All effort and pure speed. Some guys just have a knack for blocking kicks ... he's got it. I'd like to see them send him after some punts too. I had been sort of down on Milton in my head for some of his defensive play and then he does that AND makes another huge tackle for loss on a bubble screen on a key drive late. He's got some weaknesses but he can make some plays too.
3.) Zack Laskey and the OL established the dive. That was a major factor in the game - much bigger than the stat line would show. The OL was driving folks off the ball and making the dive a productive play and gave it a chance to even break a few longer ones. It didn't quite break the really long one, but it showed that it was a major possibility. That changes how a defense plays and helped JT to do his thing with other plays - on the edge, play action, pass blocking, etc. Establishing that dive helps everything. I loved seeing that.
Check out the OL drive blocking on the first play of the game. Every one of our 3 options could've gone for big yardage on that play. That VT defense knew it was in for something tough that day.
1.) DJ White pulled a brilliant and classic bait-and-switch on that VT QB on the last interception. The defense had given up that short out route all game long and the VT QB had been taking it all game long. You know that QB wanted to make the longer throw, but we were always playing it conservative and giving them the short one. Then the stakes were raised on the last drive and the VT QB wanted to make a bigger play down the field to make the game winning drive. And, DJ baited him right into it. He sat on the flat route like he was determined to finally stop that short route, and then the instant he saw the QB go into his windup, he took off in a backpedal toward the corner route, and it was a can of corn at that point. I marveled at that play. I am still wondering if that was all DJ's jedi-mind-game or if somehow he was coached to do it. Either way, that was crazy-brilliant. I'll never forget that play.
2.) Chris Milton's block of the field goal. HUGE play ... not only to the final score but to the momentum and psyche of each team. It looked like we had just handed them the game right at the start of the 2nd half with the pitch-fumble turnover in our own redzone. For them to come away from that with no points was amazing by the defense and then by Milton with the block. All effort and pure speed. Some guys just have a knack for blocking kicks ... he's got it. I'd like to see them send him after some punts too. I had been sort of down on Milton in my head for some of his defensive play and then he does that AND makes another huge tackle for loss on a bubble screen on a key drive late. He's got some weaknesses but he can make some plays too.
3.) Zack Laskey and the OL established the dive. That was a major factor in the game - much bigger than the stat line would show. The OL was driving folks off the ball and making the dive a productive play and gave it a chance to even break a few longer ones. It didn't quite break the really long one, but it showed that it was a major possibility. That changes how a defense plays and helped JT to do his thing with other plays - on the edge, play action, pass blocking, etc. Establishing that dive helps everything. I loved seeing that.
Check out the OL drive blocking on the first play of the game. Every one of our 3 options could've gone for big yardage on that play. That VT defense knew it was in for something tough that day.
