Monday Thoughts: Marshall

vt_fb_derrick_hopkins_2013_02As kickoff approached for this one, I started to really look forward to it. I was anticipating it the way I anticipate conference games or bowl games … okay, not really bowl games, but I was excited by the challenge the Hokies were about to face.

I knew from the research we’d done that Marshall, in particular Rakeem Cato, was the real deal. I knew he would challenge the Tech defense in a way that ECU hadn’t, maybe in a way that even Alabama hadn’t.

I also expected the Hokie offense to be challenged by the Herd defense, the fifth-ranked defense in the nation coming in. Sure, that had come against a schedule of Miami (OH), Gardner-Webb, and Ohio, but any time you’ve got the #5 defense after three games, you’re doing something right.

I think a lot of people hear the name Marshall and see the green jerseys and think “easy win,” but I went into this one eyes wide open. Virginia Tech’s defense is very good, but their offense is inconsistent, to put it nicely, and the program is at a point where Marshall presents a tough game. Sorry, but that’s where we are right now.

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