Same Old Song: Dissecting Virginia Tech's Loss in Music City

Despite all the good vibes during Virginia Tech's offseason, I had a lingering worry that the issues that plagued the Hokies in 2023 had not been addressed through the portal, recruiting, or player development. Offseason talk belied those concerns. 'Sam Brumfield is a difference maker.' 'Jaden Keller had his best camp ever.' 'Mose Phillips took a big step forward.' 'The new faces at defensive tackle are an upgrade over the departing seniors. 'The position changes on the offensive line make the group more physical and quick.

But the film doesn't lie. The spring game film highlighted that Brumfield struggled to get off blocks, while the rest of the linebacking corps generally looked lost. Phillips and Jaylen Jones looked wobbly, while Jalen Stroman battled injuries. Aeneas Peebles freelancing without a stout complimentary presence inside left holes in the middle of the defense that the linebackers couldn't fit, while Kelvin Gilliam and Kemari Copeland looked pedestrian at best. The offensive line allowed frequent edge pressure. All of these same issues raised their heads again in a stunning loss to Vanderbilt.

Commodores Put the Virginia Tech Defense on their Heels

Vanderbilt's offensive game plan was perfectly designed to slow down Tech's defensive line pressure. Diego Pavia operated the RPO system to perfection. The Commodores gave Pavia multiple run and pass options on almost every snap, and from the start the multiple options froze the linebackers and safeties. The first offensive play of the game was a harbinger of what was to come.