Facts & Film: The Value of a Quarterback

I actually felt better about Virginia Tech football after Saturday.

Don't get me wrong: the Hokies are a bad football team right now. They just got gashed for 256 yards on the ground to the tune of 7.5 yards per carry against freaking Rutgers. Their offensive line ranks seventh-to-last in line yards per carry, a stat that isolates rushing yards attributable to offensive line play. The only team worse in the Power Five is Iowa State, whose head coach is busy picking fights with unruly fans.

There are personnel problems galore. Tech has a bunch of true freshmen playing safety. They have a bunch of safeties playing linebacker. Their older players have maxed out talent-wise, and their young players have either not developed or are still too green to do so.

But there's one silver lining to this mess, and that is at quarterback. If nothing else, Kyron Drones' first career start in the 35-16 loss to the Scarlet Knights should give Tech fans a reason to watch games going forward. In today's Facts and Film column, I delve into the ups and downs of Drones' Hokie debut; plus, a quick word on how Marshall has become one of the best defensive programs in not just the Group of Five but the entire country.