Tech Talk Live Notes for 9/13/10

Tech Talk Live (football and basketball season)

When: Every Monday from 7:00-9:00 during football season, 7:00-8:00 during basketball season.

Where: Click here for a list of radio stations, and to find the link for listening to the show on the Internet (look to the right on the hokiesports.com page that loads when you click the link). You can see the show in person Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill in Blacksburg.

Jim Weaver

• Tech didn’t put enough points on the board this week, and they didn’t run
  they ball like they thought they could. They have a lot of work to do.
  Everybody is frustrated right now, but it’s not a time to panic.
• ESPN and the ACC asked the Hokies to play on Labor Day night. It is in the
  ACC’s TV contract that they have to play on Labor Day night, so the ACC
  asked the Hokies to do it this year. Thus, the Boise State game was moved
  from October 2 to September 6.
• There was going to be a short week either later in the season, or after
  the Boise game. Tech chose to go with the Boise game since they could get a
  1-AA team in the next game. Later in the year it would have been a Saturday
  game and then a Thursday game.
• The Virginia Tech-Kansas State series has been canceled for 2014 and 2015.
  With the conference realignment in the Big 12, it is really throwing off
  that league’s scheduling. They are now playing nine conference games. (Link:
  TSL
  Future Football Schedules Page)
• Rather than replacing Kansas State with a BCS opponent, Weaver wants two
  home games rather than a home and home. Right now the focus is on a MAC
  team.
• Weaver is anti-pro stadiums because they serve alcohol at those stadiums.
  There have been several reports of bad behavior by Tech fans after the game.
• Weaver thanked the Tech fan base for their great turnout in DC. The
  atmosphere was electric.
• There is a new Hokies Respect Hotline in Lane Stadium. You can now text
  “respect” to 57375 followed by your location in the stadium if you
  are experiencing difficulties with other fans.

• The practice was very high energy on Monday. The attitude was top notch.
  The team appears to have a lot of want-to right now. You just have to get
  back to work.
• 44% of Tech’s running attempts have gone for two yards or less this year.
  It’s hard to be consistent while running the ball like that. Teams have been
  defending the running game well, and Tech has to do things better.
• Everybody has to do a better job right now. Both the players and the
  coaches. They are going to try their hardest to get it right. Tech fans
  deserve better. Ultimately the responsibility is Stinespring’s.
• Defenses are doing some things against the Hokies that they’ve never shown
  on film. That’s not an excuse though. The Hokies left 22 points in the red
  zone, which is inexcusable.
• Stinespring thought the 4th and 2 play was closer to 4th and 3. He knew
  JMU was going to blitz Tech and leave Boykin one-on-one. The play was set
  up, but it just didn’t hit. You live and learn and get ready for the next
  one.
• Stinespring likes to talk to opposing coaches of teams they have already
  played. Even though the computer tells him that they might not be
  predictable, but he still likes to talk to other coaches. He already talked
  to some of JMU’s staff on Monday.
• Tech does run some man blocking plays along with their zone blocks.
• It’s different for Ryan Williams running behind a fullback. Last year he
  had more space behind a two tight end formation. However, that’s a small
  element of what’s wrong right now.
• Stinespring would like to get a second tight end on the field more. That
  would help balance the defensive alignments.
• Tech needs to have more positive plays and less self inflicted mistakes.
  That’s the bottom line.
• Stinespring is evaluating whether or not the Hokies are doing too much.
  Are they a jack of all trades but a master of none? The Hokies have to focus
  on what they do best. They need to do a better job of that from here on out.
• Coach Beamer gave Stinespring a little incentive in their chat after the
  game on Sunday.
• The Hokies do have to be a little more intense up front. Stinespring
  realizes that, and the offensive line realizes that.

• It’s been an awesome ride at Tech. He got a scholarship from Coach Beamer
  before the season started, and he was able to stay at Tech as a result.
• Hazley was at a wedding in North Carolina and decided to check out the
  Tech campus on the way back. That’s how he decided on Tech. His sister went
  to JMU, so he was somewhat familiar with the area.
• Hazley didn’t kick as well in the spring as he would have liked, but he
  settled down in the month of August.
• Hazley feels very confident in kicks within the 30-35 yard line. His
  snapper and holder are doing well, and the whole operation is smooth right
  now.
• It was a very quiet locker room after Saturday’s game. Not a lot of people
  had much to say.
• There’s no point in worrying about Boise State and JMU anymore. It’s just
  time to move on.
• Coach Beamer told the team the story of the 1995 team after the game on
  Saturday. Tech is capable of doing that, and Hazley can’t imagine that the
  team won’t bounce back.
• Tyrod Taylor talked to the team after the game as well, and he took the
  blame himself. His teammates were quick to tell him that it wasn’t his
  fault.

• In this business, things change quickly. Tech has to come out on Saturday
  and make things change in the right direction.
• James Madison played well and were coached well. They had a good game
  plan, and Tech turned the ball over. Everything that had to happen for JMU
  to win that game happened.
• Beamer would not play on a Monday night again and then immediately follow
  it with a Saturday game. He would try to schedule an open date for the
  following Saturday. That’s what Boise State did.
• It’s very disappointing, but it’s not over. Whether the Hokies are 2-0 or
  0-2, the most important part of their schedule is coming up. You don’t cash
  in your chips early and go home.
• There is no case of lack of effort. There has been a lack of concentration
  and not taking care of the details. The players are very disappointed and
  they’ve put a lot into this. They are still giving great effort, and things
  will get corrected.
• Tech needs to continue to develop depth, particularly on the offensive
  line. Injuries to Nick Becton and Michael Via really hurt depth for the
  beginning of this season.
• Beamer wouldn’t change anything if he got to prepare for the Boise State
  game again. The team had a great chance to win. The Hokies just couldn’t get
  it done as a group.
• Beamer talked to Mack Brown on Monday. He is good friends with Brown. East
  Carolina runs the Texas Tech offense, so Beamer wanted to get Brown’s take.
• Tech has some new starters on the offensive line. It’s not that they
  aren’t working hard, but the Hokies have to block better.
• Beamer agreed that Tech might trying to be too much offensively. It looks
  good on the blackboard, but it’s something the Tech coaches are taking a
  close look at.
• Tech needs to have a good week of practice, make sure the players are
  blocking the right people, and the players need to have a nasty attitude
  while they are doing it.
• Logan Thomas will see his time on the field. How he does it remains to be
  seen.
• Beamer doesn’t think other teams are doing anything differently to defend
  the Hokies. They are getting an eighth guy in or close to the box. Tech has
  the personnel to play better though, and they have to do it. The weather
  played a part on Saturday, because Tech couldn’t go over the top with the
  passing game.
• Tech has excellent leaders on this football team. Beamer certainly feels
  like this team has a chance to rally. He looked forward to seeing his
  players on Monday, even after the tough loss. That’s a good sign.
• Tech doesn’t have a lot of depth defensively, partly because of injuries
  to Chris Drager and Kwamaine Battle. They would like to play more people on
  that side of the ball.
• Tackling is a major focus in practice this week. Tech needs to run through
  guys rather than dive at them.
• Tech isn’t going to make any defensive personnel changes right now.
• Beamer doesn’t know if Chris Drager will be able to play against East
  Carolina.
• Tech took a step forward on special teams against JMU, and they need to
  take another step forward against ECU.
• Tech has responded from two losses in the past. Last year they lost two in
  a row, and then won their final five games.
• East Carolina is a big time offensive team. Their quarterback is doing a
  great job for them, and they have excellent wide receivers. They have a lot
  of speed on that team.
• Tech will be facing a completely different type of offense for the third
  straight week. They just have to get out there and get it done.
• Beamer thanked the fans for their great support through the first two
  games. They will get this thing right.

Monday was Day 2,116 of Virginia Tech’s continuous possession of the Commonwealth Cup.