The Key Play | Virginia Tech Hokies Football and Basketball News, Recruiting, Analysis and Humor

ACC Championship Preview: Act Like You Have Been There

By: french60wasp

on November 30, 2011, 2:51 PM | 7 comments

Well folks, our long journey has brought us full circle. The Hokies arrive in Charlotte prepared to face a Clemson team which dominated them in Blacksburg several months ago. The Hokies have improved their level of play since that loss, as several key receivers have returned to health, Logan Thomas has gone from a question mark to THE ANSWER, and the defense has seen growth from their young players standing in for injured defensive stalwarts. Clemson however, stumbles into this game as losers of 3 of their last 4, including being dominated at the hands of South Carolina (who was without several top offensive weapons including Marcus Lattimore.) Vegas has established the Hokies as solid favorites, despite Clemson's win in Blacksburg.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Game Review: My Own Scoop of Humble Pie and Wahoo Shame

By: french60wasp

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on November 29, 2011, 12:13 AM | 13 comments

Damn that was satisfying. I will write that again. Damn that was satisfying. Following our festive consumption of succulent turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a tall glass of Avery Brewery Joe’s Pilsner, we nervously spent our time with family and friends nervously awaiting perhaps the most important football game to take place between Virginia and Virginia Tech in the last decade. I know I did. I ground on my teeth while I slept envisioning Logan Thomas running away from UVA’s pass rush. I woke up at 6:00AM Saturday morning in a cold sweat after a nightmare where UVA successfully bled the Hokie defense with short passes and power off tackle runs. I won’t lie to the readers of The Key Play. I was a nervous wreck.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Hate Week: UVA Game Preview

By: french60wasp

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on November 21, 2011, 4:08 PM | 25 comments

Here it is. One big game that has implications on Commonwealth bragging rights, recruiting supremacy, an ACC championship, a BCS bowl, and a long shot at playing for a national championship. Any Hokie football player, whose focus is not 100% on not only winning in Charlottesville on Saturday, but making an emphatic statement of dominance, should be punched right in the dick.

From a matchup perspective, UNC provides Virginia Tech with a pretty good "scout team" look for what UVA does and does not do. UVA uses a multiple pro-set offense and a base 4-3 defense, both very similar to what we saw from UNC. I have only watched one UVA game this season (the debacle against Florida State) and I saw the following tendencies.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Sour Tastes: A High Level Review of VT's win over UNC

By: french60wasp

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on November 18, 2011, 3:41 PM | 28 comments

Good afternoon folks. I hope your hangover and frostbite has been as minimal as possible. I for one am dealing with elevated bloodpressure and a sour stomach after what at best can be called an "uneven" win over the Tarheels on Senior Night at Lane Stadium.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Death by a Thousand Sneaks: Second Half Analysis

By: french60wasp

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on November 14, 2011, 10:09 PM | 3 comments

Happy Monday everyone. I have reviewed the full film, and I had completely reviewed the 2nd half for both the Hokies O and D. Unfortunately, I lost my first draft and rather than re-watch the play by play for the full second half, I will just focus on the offense. Some quick notes on the defense first.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Death by a Thousand Sneaks: Film Review of the Hokies versus the Yellowjackets

By: french60wasp

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on November 12, 2011, 11:07 AM | 7 comments

First Hokies Offensive Series:

1st and 10- One TE, 3 WR, DW at tailback. Line is 72-75-74-68-62. Bootleg on first down. Not a great ball fake by Wilson or Thomas, but plenty of time. LT3 looks a bit tenative and doesn't find anyone downfield. Scramble and gets back to the line. Good blocking, but Drager lost his man late to make Thomas scramble.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Gut Reactions: VT versus GT in Review

By: french60wasp

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on November 11, 2011, 5:49 PM | 7 comments

I don't know about you, fellow Hokies, but I am EXHAUSTED after last night's football game. That war had everything you could hope for in a big football game: offensive execution, defensive playmaking, dominant offensive line play, outstanding individual effort, and yes, mistakes. Mistakes often make the game that much more dramatic.

Virginia Tech again rode the undulating roller coaster of emotion, yet found a way to calm the seas and execute in the biggest moments of the football game. And, I know many of you don't share my respect for what Paul Johnson does, but his kids, especially on offense, really took it to the Hokies, and it is a testament to the Hokies that they were able to win the game.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Georgia Tech Preview: Glory, or Death by a Thousand Cuts

By: french60wasp

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on November 3, 2011, 12:15 PM | 26 comments

It almost seems surreal that, given Virginia Tech's long standing rivalries with Miami and UVA, that over the last 4 years the ACC game which has caused many a Hokie the greatest worry has been the Ramblin Wreck of Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson has successfully been able to implement a true flexbone offense in a BCS Conference, and despite a clear drop in his offensive recruiting talent, Johnson has been able to adapt his lesser athletes into a system that works.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

8-1 and Unhappy: Initial Reactions from Durham

By: french60wasp

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on October 31, 2011, 10:58 AM | 27 comments

I just returned home from a weekend in the North Carolina Triangle. This was my second game down at Duke, and both have been causes of anxiety that I didn't anticipate upon arrival.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Post Game Ranting: A Quick Game Overview

By: french60wasp

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on October 23, 2011, 5:06 PM | 8 comments

Well, that was certainly interesting wasn't it fellow Hokie fans? I have not had a chance yet to review the game film, but after watching the Hokies 30-14 win over Boston College yesterday, I wanted to share some quick observations as they stand fresh in my mind before I watch the film and find out that I am all wrong.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.