They've Formed like Voltron

VTBox is doing the Lord's work.

Blake DeChristopher has "graded out" 90% or better in 9 out of 10 games this season (88% Arkansas State), Jaymes Brooks has 40 knockdowns on the year. Those metrics are utterly subjective, vaguely defined and couldn't be any less helpful when trying to convey the success the Hokies' offense is having in 2011. These are more concrete and well understood. David Wilson leads the nation with 1,360 rushing yards. Logan Thomas has thrown for almost 20 more yards per game in his first year as starter than Tyrod did his senior year, and has only been sacked ten times. Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale will finish their careers as Tech's receiving yards and receptions leaders.

Like most of you, when I'm watching a game live I'm watching the ball, I don't pick a particular player or group to key on before the snap. Where the ball goes, my eyes follow. I notice David Wilson flying down the sideline, not the blocks that setup the run. I focus on Logan scanning the field looking for the open man, then marvel over the one-handed, toe tapping sideline catch that follows. I overlook the backside blitz pickup that afforded LT3 the extra couple of seconds to stand in the pocket and deliver the throw.

The offensive line is under appreciated when the scoreboard is getting lit up. They're overly criticized when the team's struggling.

Before we met up with the rest of the team for warm-ups my high school o-line coach would break each huddle with, "it starts and stops up front." That's common knowledge for any player on a football team. It's why an NFL running back will buy his line expensive watches after a record breaking season. Or why in high school our quarterback's dad was the de facto equipment manager and made it his business to make sure we always had fresh spikes for our cleats, the newest shoulder pads (all-black Riddell look so sexy out of the box) and the gnarliest face maks. It's why I'm writing this piece.

Really Voltron is the perfect analogy. Lanier, Nosal, Miller, Brooks, and DeChristopher have come together to form a formidable unit that’s given a young quarterback a chance to grow and lightening fast running a stage to shine. They’re capable of leading us back to the ACC Championship Game and Orange Bowl. Twenty-eleven is the most productive the offense has been since Tech's joined the ACC, and it's no coincidence that it's the best the offensive line has played.