GT-VT thoughts

Is it me, or did Paul Johnson hurl at least one obvious f-bomb every single time the ESPN cameras zoomed in on him last night? There's a drinking game in there somewhere.

Overall thoughts on what unfolded last night and what it means:

-- Pretty sure it was Johnson who once said: "Physical superiority cancels all theory." In essence: "My genius play-calling doesn't work as well when my guys up front are getting whipped."

That's pretty much what happened last night. Virginia Tech is really big and physical on the defensive line, and the Hokies' linebackers were doing a good job of sidestepping blocks on runs to the outside.

Giving Bud Foster months to prepare for the flexbone had to help, too. Johnson's offense will always be productive over the long haul, but the two biggest weaknesses are 1) extra time for defenses to prepare, and 2) inability to recruit top-flight talent to that system.

The Hokies looked exceptionally prepared last night. And the Jackets didn't look very talented.

-- I think Logan Thomas can be a good quarterback. But great? That part has been greatly exaggerated.

Yeah, the guy has a stature strikingly similar to Cam Newton. But these comparisons are laughable, at least for now. Newton was a significantly better passer and runner in his first college game than Thomas is right now. Newton was an absolute force of nature the minute he stepped onto the field. Thomas is ... a developing quarterback.

Thomas missed a ton of throws last night, made mistakes that would've gotten the Hokies beat by two touchdowns had they been playing an elite team.

-- I really like Georgia Tech's front seven. They are fast, physical and play with an attitude. Seems they've really made progress there heading into Year 3 under Al Groh. Imagine Jeremiah Attaochu at, say, Alabama. He'd be a terror.

-- Virginia Tech's offensive braintrust added some bells and whistles during the offseason, more moving parts to make them look more modern. But it still has to be painful for Hokies fans to watch as their coaches try to decide on an identity.

They spent a considerable portion of last night's game seemingly unaware that they have two pretty good tailbacks on the roster in Michael Holmes and J.C. Coleman.

It's almost like there's this constant tug between two extremes: 1) the spread stuff with Thomas throwing and getting loose on the perimeter, and 2) the I-formation stuff that pounds the running backs between the tackles.

It is possible to integrate your running backs into the spread stuff and generate a productive running game.

-- Upon seeing me praise Georgia Tech's front seven, some people might say they merely looked good against a bad Virginia Tech offensive line. It's a reasonable point. The Hokies entered the season with big questions about their offensive line, and they didn't look very good last night.

-- Man, have the Yellow Jackets experienced a drop-off at B-back since Jonathan Dwyer and Anthony Allen. Just no "wow" factor there anymore. Similar deal at receiver.

-- Marcus Davis has gobs of athletic ability, but I doubt it'll translate into stardom. Just looks like he's in his own little world at times. And he'd better learn how to protect the football when he's running with it.

LW