Vandy vs VaTech

[Music] welcome to blackburg Virginia home to a team that brings this lunch pail each and every game the Virginia Tech Hokies we've got a terrific match up for you today rich and page ENT and tradition and it ought to be a fantastic flash as we'll see a squad from the SEC the vanderville commodor taking on a team from the ACC the Virginia Tech hokey for EA Sports college football ree Davis with you alongside David polling and Jesse Palmer and guys can't wait to get this one started [Music] [Applause] and the hokes will put total we and will get started he'll bring it back from inside to SP really disciplined job by the coverage unit to get down there and make the stop at the 19 so Vanderbilt's offense will get the first crack at it here and here's the man they'll try to feed the football to no matter what the coverage looks like Jesse he's their best player on offense and I like the way this coaching staff moves him around and tries to create good matchups to take advantage of David and that makes it so hard to defend when AER lines up in the same spot every time I can bring extra coverage man use this guy all over the field as a weapon of mass destruction he will step out of bounds but not before the big pick up and a first down for this offense that's a way to give yourself some breathing room now the second play of the drive from the 36 now improvising able to get just a few before sliding to avoid the hits there's always that issue of conference Pride keeping up of proving your worth on this stage and the ACC loves to get a chance at the SEC to do just that and these kids grow up in the same area and you don't think the ACC teams here all the time SEC SEC about the dominance the draft pi all the stuff that goes with it it definitely adds some of that fire it makes you want to beat them more I love these Big Time games yeah they really do David and I think this is one of those games where if you're the ACC team and your players in that locker room you've had this game circled all off Seas this game is your opportunity to prove not just to your conference not just to the SEC but to everybody in college football just how good you are as a team how good your conference is and the commodor will try to pin them back with the punt this will be their first punt of the [Applause] afternoon he'll get it out to about the 20 yd line and that's where they'll Mark him down so Virginia Tech offense will take the field for the first time as we take a look at our impact players for this one what are you looking for Jesse for a guy to make an impact well these are simply put the leaders of this football team and generally games go how these guys play if they make plays they've got a shot to win this one no doubt they got to show up these are the team leaders these guys have to play well if they're going to win the football running hard and getting six yds out to the 26 as college football involves guys and players have more rights and they capitalize on name image and likess and teams are in different conferences maybe the biggest thing and the thing that keeps coaches up at night dealing with the transfer for cuz they got to make sure that everybody in their locker rooms often times you're re-recruiting your own players and trying to keep the Wolves at Bay and the phone calls that are coming in from other programs trying to steal your guys it is not easy probably as difficult as it's ever been David to be a head coach now with the transfer it is and think about players man if I'm not happy if I'm not getting the run I want like I can just leave I can go get some go somewhere else I can get paid by another opportunity so I think players always having their having their eyes to that portal looking at a better destination makes it miserable for [Applause] coaches a most efficient pick up of six on first down it's second and four you want to talk about making it easy for an offensive coordinator you pick up a bunch of yards on first down make that second down really really manageable that's a great job by the offense fires to the tight end and he's ridden to the ground but there's also a flag down let's check the call the officials for the deal and the coach accepts it they will take the penalty now on second [Applause] down motion trying to get the defense to show his hand touch pass on the Jet Sweep obliterates him still on the Move he's run out of bounds but not before turning in a big pick up and moving the sticks for a first down the hokes are rolling down the field they'll throw it on first down tip ball put it up for grabs and I thought he had it but somehow it slithered through his fingers let's see if they go back to the air after the incompletion second and 10 from the 48 they'll go to the ground he's brought down but there's a flag on the field let's see what the call is person foul defense [Applause] that's just an obvious face mask penalty there no way you're getting away with it got to keep your composure [Applause] there the offense will gladly take a fresh set of downs after the penalty he'll keep it himself and a nyd gain on first down leaves him with second and short and that's the hard thing about these C move and run all over the place and give you so many options is that that didn't even look like much but he chews up so much yardage and gets those little gains that just Death By A Thousand Cuts that continue to happen with this offense that completion has them right on the doorstep they'll mark it at the one it's a nice job running the in route there by the receiver and the best thing he did after he made his break he didn't Trail and fade away he actually attacked the football that's a good lesson for young receivers out there watching try to Bar their way in and to the end zone he [Applause] goes first touchdown of the game in Lane stadium and take my hand the hokeys want to go to never Neverland that is perfect that's the way you start a ball game get the crowd rolling at home especially these fans Tech has some of the best fans in that punch about to kick it off after punching it in for the touchdown here he comes from inside his own five he was hoping for something a little more Dynamic but they get him on the ground at the 20 vanderbeld has the ball again and here comes that Commodore offense that last Drive won't go on the Highlight Reel after ending in a punt they'd like to be more productive this time oh he dropped it oh look what I found I'd say that's a stroke of Good Fortune the offense keeps it man those are so frustrating when you're a defense and you swarm to the football and you stick the quarterback and you make him cough it up just to have the other team recover it again and you don't get it still a good stick still a good physical play keep it in that quarterback just sort of a Relentless run getting everything that was available to him and they'll Mark him down at the 40 nyd pickup on first down and now they can take a shot on second and short they go to the draw tackled at the 45 after a 5yd pickup you wonder now on offense have they found something in the Run game finally it's been tough for them to get the Run game going but they picked up a nice gain on that last one let's see if they go back to using the quick game he's R out of bounds but a big play on that one it'll be a first down and a big key on that throw to the slot receiver guys is putting the ball out in front the location of the throw is what helped that guy get extra yards after the catch can't hold on he had it right down the middle and he flat dropped it we reached the end of the quarter and Virginia Tech is on top we've played one before we move on let's have a look at the stats [Music] [Applause] heading in the opposite directions now as we Crank It Up in the second we'll get this quarter going with a second down play misfired on first down back to the air on second this time it's complete at the 20 he's got space finally run out of bounds but he has this offense rolling with a first down we see another catch by this guy this defense is going to need to do a better job of tackling the catch in coverage I know they want to slap the ball away but if you can't do it and force the incompletion you've got to at least make sure you're able to drag him down to the ground as soon as he catches the ball from the Red Zone looking for a receiver snares it outside it's Alexander and they're going to lose yardage there the defense completely owning the front one of the big story lines coming into this year was the rising temperature of the coach's seat and the process of cooling things off starts now oh and he's all bottled up and now it's worse the ball's loose a defense Scoops it up and there're bringing it back and the defense able to get pressure to the quarterback and they've got everybody trying to swipe at the football and the impact on the hit sometimes jars the ball loose great job with the pass rush and a better job forcing a turnover defense goes down quickly after a gain of three they'll mark it at the 32 and those physical runs take a toll it might not be a big game now but down the road third fourth quarter late in the ball games they tend to turn into bigger runs back to throw it's drones fires to the big fella they get him at the 42 but he picked up 10 there love that throw I'll tell you he keeps making more of those Lane stadium in this incredible crowd out is going to be going nuts we've called games here plenty times in the past this is one of the best venues in all of college football this guy right now is heating up at the QB position watch out it's going to be a sonic boom in here and I love working the slot receivers and you see so much of that it's about matchups right I can put a fast guy in that slot maybe get him matched up on a linebacker a safety I like working those guys in those matchups favorable for the offense for sure leaves it with the back and he'll pick up the first down after a tough run there fundamental football with a hoke we talk about special teams but the running game has always been part of their DNA and when you continue to find guys at the running back spot like David Wilson and those guys that you can feature you can give them the ball establish that physicality establish that play and that pass is intercepted he'll go out of bounds but just what they needed to get the ball back it's so nice to see Defenders squeeze that pig skin a lot of times in great position you see him there to make the play but there's a reason they play defense not this time great job securing the interception vanderbeld has it back and heading out to go on the attack he'll PLL it on the read he goes out of bounds after a solid gain on the play yeah and it's so hard to contain this guy with all those options he has and the experience at the quarterback spot but nice job by the defense limiting the damage didn't give up a huge game wants to throw one second down going to try to pop one on the screen bulldozes him they make the stop but not before the screen has hit him for a first down and much more really good execution by this offense dropping back it's Dicky they're bringing heat it's can anyone catching and he slipped through the crowd and he'll house it touchdown vanderbelt and that is the first passing touchdown first of many of the season for this offense nice drive by the offense way to finish it take care of the football make some of plays in the passing game this offense looks like they're going to be a really hard one to stop and he takes this from inside the five nice job by the kickoff Team every body stayed in their lanes and they'll stop him at the 16 and we're about to get another look at this hokei offense after that last pick David they really need to take care of the ball this time no doubt and Palmer I want to know what spur said to you on the sideline after a pick do that again and you'll be right here beside me for the rest of the game you got to go out you got to call your plays and I hope this coaching staff isn't going to be afraid to throw at this drive on the run it's Thomas tried to move that pile forward he maybe gets two he's down at the 21 and now on third down after that last run from the gun wants to pass unloads to the Wi out can't quite make the connection there might have let him a little too much and the hokes will putt this one away they'll look to pin him deep BRS a tackle and he's got room he only needs a sliver of daylight he'll be guided out of bounds but not before a Nifty return on that one man down on the play as the officials take a break to let him be checked out Vanderbilt has the ball again and here comes that Commodore offense how big is this drive scored a touchdown the last time they had it defense get to stop and now it's up to them in a tie game all right so if you're the offensive coordinator here let's dial it in who are your best matchups and best Playmakers to take advantage of this golden opportunity yeah and I'm interested to see this defense too like the momentum is clearly not in your favor how do you get it back how do you make a big play do you be more aggressive here to try to get the football back to your offense after the three- yd pick up they come to the line Second and seven he'll run it again they'll wrestle him down just short of the first down I don't even think they're going to bring out the change to measure this one just a simple power play again not sexy run the ball up the middle physicality offensive line get see assert themselves run block what they love to do this pays dividends down the road the fourth quarter trying to pick up a first down [Applause] dropping back it's dicki gets it out fast really nice job to convert that third down and they've got it at the 33 I was starting to think about what they would do if they didn't pick up the first down here but I guess that's a moot point now moot point for sure and the head coach was probably telling them four down territory we're going to keep a field goal whatever the next decision was going to be now the OC is like don't worry about it new set of downs nice execution by this offense they were able to make the completion but he had to pick his way for just a little bit needed a little more help to Spring him for some yardage yeah if you're going to have success when you throw it outside like that you're going to need some more blocking and better blocking downfield give the defense credit though they were able to rally and made it time he's looking for a man on second down makes his connection and just a short safe pass play they pick up a few that's a good job by the drag outout there understanding it Z cover so instead of continuing to run across the field he settles down into an open spot making it easy for his quarterback and they reacted well to the completion but it was too late to keep them from getting the first down the offense will have to use its first timeout of the half the commodor have it with a first and 10 looking to move it through the air they finally make the stop with the big run and is plenty to move those sticks for the first down this offense in scoring position with a fresh set of downs they'll run it on first and goal he bullies his way all the way down to the 5 yd line just a few seconds remaining here as they try to put something up before halftime someone not clear on the snap count it'll be a false start they'll move it back so the decision has been made and the coach will take the PTY that's going to wrap up the first half here and now we join Kevin with a halftime update men it should come as no surprise that we have ourselves a fun matchup in blackburg and the commodor will kick it off to start the second half and they desperately wanted to attempt a return but decided not to instead they'll take the Touchback and Virginia Tech sends the offense onto the field first drive of the second half always fun to watch you see what type of tweaks were made at the half especially when you're locked up in a ball game like this one yeah and it's been a good game I mean it's been a little bit of back and forth and a feeling out process and now what you get in the second half who's going to get aggressive Palmer who's going to take some shots try to make some plays and really go for it yeah it's interesting I think his play callers right now you learn a lot about these coaching staffs with respect to who does make the best adjustments there's a lot of coaches that believe we're just going to be who we are we're going to keep doing what we do we're just going to do it better but then there are others that tweak things a little bit on offense and on defense we're going to find out here here on third down will they go back to the running game back to throw it's drones got his that'll be enough for a first down as he cres the 50 and gets it to the 48 nice job there by the receiver on the out rout not telegraphing where he's going can't be peing to the outside giving the defender an opportunity to break on the ball he kept his eyes right down the field DB had no idea where he was going and that helped make that completion a whole lot easier my job is to make sure that ball comes loose and I got to go through that guy use my shoulder pad drive my feet really really be physical cuz if he bobbles it at all or as soon as his hand gets to the ball you can tell the difference when that body jerks forward and that ball starts to come some top and he finds Some solid space makes a nice game before the defense is able to stop him a third down try for the offense they'll try to pick it up on the ground putting together a real scoring threat here as they pick up the first down at the 36 that is how it's done on third down and no doubt about it an easy hole to get through and clearly get the first down if you really want to simplify football the low man wins that time the offense got the better of the D easily picked that up they make the stop but not before they do their work up top and pick up a first down the hokes will hustle to the line from the Red Zone looking for a man finds his man it's Holloway and this one will be stopped for No Gain I know a lot of people are going to look at that play and say man that was a bad play didn't gain any yards but that could be the may be setting something up the play caller is going to remember that last now the defense reacted to it made a quick tackle they might pump that throw and then hit another player vertically down the field for an explosive play down the line just keep that in mind he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple you want to bring in your tight ends you want to bring in more beef for that offensive line I'm going to bring in more beef nice job by the defense understanding the situation Red Zone field shrinks I need more bigger Personnel on the field some big guys that can stop the run played the Run well great job by the defense understanding the situation really nice third down sub defense there that time it's third and long they're expecting pass and they're mixing up their looks they're trying to change the picture pre- snap to post Snap to confuse the quarterback now forcing the incompletion setting up for it is good and with that field goal they now have the lead and for a quick update let's go to Kevin Conor's in the studio fellas I think at least a portion of your audience will have an interest in the one that just finished up Oklahoma was able to ride away on that sooner scooter with the win but not necessarily without a few bumps along the way man nothing in college football is easy the circle of life in college football where one team moves on feeling like kings and the other heads home licking its wounds Kevin thanks a lot for that one sounds as if they had a good one there may not be the most memorable play of the day but it's important as he gets him out to the 25 yd line coaches always harp about staying ahead of the chains and when you can run with that type of efficiency on first down man you are doing just that gives it to the back on the draw and he'll be taken down but he does have enough for the first down well the defense is on their heels right now they're going to have to find a way to stop this guy when he's got aead of steam boy he is hard to bring down comes out throwing on first down off the deflection missed a great chance to force the turnover instead it'll be second down another incompletion and I've said that a lot and these teams are just struggling I mean the offense just doesn't know what to do nothing's working ground game Throw game it's kind of been a rock fight on both sides and the incompletion brings up a second down for this offense nowhere close on that one as he got T trying to deliver for the football and now they face third down they line up with some serious work to do if they want to convert this one back to pass it's [Applause] Dicky just threw that one away to avoid disaster well after struggling so much in the first half you thought they would have made some adjustments here at halftime to see if they can open up this passing game but early on in the second half they just not really able to get that done incompletion on third down in your own end you're expecting them to punt and we're about to get another look at this hooki offense the sledding has been tough scores have been at a premium Jesse in every possession seems like it could switch the momentum of the game yeah Rees for this offense just feels like they just haven't been as physical for this offensive coordinator David he's having to go deep into the Playbook just to try to generate a first down and the good thing is there's not a ton of game pressure cuz the other side's not scoring either but if you can find that one thing that get that one positive play and then maybe you get those juices going and something can start to build trying to get to it and the quarterback is knocked down back at the 13 and how about the strong safety on that Blitz great job timing it and also getting to the quarterback sometimes you're going to have to negotiate around tight ends and running backs and that strong safety he' just beelined into the back field you make up the game plan and not a lot on the play sheet for this third and long from inside their own [Applause] 20 looking downfield and he needs a bunch snagged in the middle it's Holloway and sure tackling there to keep him from getting to the first down marker and the hokes will send out the punt unit this will be the second time they've had to kick it away fair catch called for and made Vanderbilt has it back and heading out to go on the attack and in a lowc scoring game like this one David every possession is magnified and I think more than anything it just gets frustrating and you got to put that behind you you got to see what this defense has been doing to be so successful caller now use it against him yeah David I think for a play caller this is tough right it's like you have to get the perfect play on just to get a first down in these types of games I think you're just trying to get guys out in space see a dude can break a tackle maybe that generates an explosive play and it breaks this Tren they get him on the ground and that'll be the final play of this third period we've reached the end of the quarter and Virginia Tech is on top they've done the work to build a nice cushion now to bring it home as we check out the stats after three quarters not only is the scoreboard on their side but so too is time as we open the fourth back at it to open the quarter with this first down play from the shotgun they'll run it and they try the middle of this Stout defense and they rise to the challenge unless there is a dramatic turn of events this is not going to be a way to cool off that hot seat and they're going to have to be able to handle adversity and handle the outside noise moving forward because losing this game in week one all the detractors all the naysayers that noise is going to get louder that hot seat is getting even hotter and I think all eyes are going to be on this program now D seeing how they turn the page and move on from next and I give you exhibit a Jesse Palmer just turned up the hot seat all eyes are on them they got to win they got to do this starting off on the wrong foot this is exactly what happens it becomes a distraction we we're going to find out how good of a coach he is and we're going to find out how loyal these fans are really quickly in this season on Third and long you'll need to push it downfield finds a man in the middle and he's not going to make it the defense denying him the first down well this offense has given a lesson right now on how to fight through adversity because first and second down was ugly but they come up with that huge completion to Now set up a manageable fourth down opportunity to keep this drive alive fourth down and the punt team sends it the other way no return coming he'll call for the fair Catch and Virginia Tech sends the offense onto the field here's another opportunity Jesse to stretch out this lead after punting last time I think it goes back to your Playmakers reys I think it's finding the guys that have been working for you earlier on in this game and getting them the football yeah and there's obviously no need to panic I mean think about it you got the lead you got the football you got to be smart with the football make your plays put a good drive together looking to throw it's drones makes the grab on the left at the 40 there he goes ripped off a huge shun play on that one as he gets the first down before he steps out of fou moving the running back trying to get the D to tip its hand ripping off a good chunk inside the 25 and they're set up with the first down it's so hard a defense to have to stop plays like that because it really forces you to play with great eye discipline you see the pre- snap motion defense doesn't know if he's just running across the field he's going to run a route if he's going to block or if he has the football that time he was able to outflank the defense and hurt them to get that first down boy there wasn't much room to wiggle for that running back there none at all great job by the defense get in the back field quickly closing up all the holes Nowhere to Run out of the gun the running back has it and the defense stops him just short of the first down maybe needed a few more chain Lan to move the steps I think the OC would have been really happy with a small game and and an easier third down but how about the effort by the running back to get this close he he saw the first down marker tried to get to it got close enough now where it's an easy and he cruises his way to the house touchdown Virginia t one of the reasons this offense is so exciting to watch they've got guys that are dangerous after the catch if this quarterback gets through his progression David he hits you in stride these guys will take it to the house man it's your job to do the rest right you hit me in stride where I don't have to stop running I don't have to break down it makes it so easy the connection between quarterback wide receiver you can tell this is a good one and that's why they got six on that play and The Return Man is stopped and that'll leave it up to the offense on the next Drive Vanderbilt has it back and heading out to go on the attack they just didn't quite find the Rhythm on that last Drive Jesse they had to punt it I think they got to be more physical David I think up front they got to do a better job getting blocks and establishing this running game and how easy does football become if you're the more physical team if you can threaten the run and then then run play action it opens up the whole offense at your disposal catch in the middle it's Alexander and they wrap him up but not before he gets enough on the catch for the first down here's this offense with a fresh set of downs they'll throw it on first down fires to the wide out what a snag by the defense and they'll drag him down after a good return on the interception it doesn't get any better for the defense you know exactly the situation in the fourth quarter everything in your favor don't let him make big plays how about you make a big play nice job getting the interception it's not icing on the cake yet but it's getting pretty close and he broke one tackle on the way to a solid pick up there well they've got the lead the defense just did their part getting a takeaway it's an after on offense you want to run the ball and take as much time as possible between snaps stay in bounds and let this clock tick away the big pick up on first down leaves him with second and one [Applause] and he want that clock to run knocked down after a gain of one to the 27 that was a nice second down and set up third and now it's phal time right like they know you might run the football you know you probably want to run the football how can you be more physical sometimes bring some extra body some extra tight ends in go to that play that you know is your short yardage play they'll try to pick it up on the ground they were all over him nowhere to go as that third down play turned into a disaster defense uses a timeout quickly trying to get that ball back and preserve time for their offense so on fourth down here comes the field goal kicker in a huge spot splits the upright right down the middle and now the lead is even bigger so after putting three on the board the kickoff team is out there ready to boot it away looks like he's going to try to return it and good work by the coverage team to get the Return Man Down On The Ground Vander has the ball again and here comes that Commodore offense after throwing the pick on the last drive need to take care of the ball this time Jessie we're going to find out a lot about this quarterback right here too how does he fight through adversity after that last Drive yeah clear the mechanism move on that's a part of it right if you're going to be a great player got to learn how to handle these mistakes and move on let me tell you this senior quarterback can flat fit it in a tight window you know the defense doesn't have an answer for this slot guy right now they may want to think about bracketing him having a Defender play to the outside and to the inside probably some sort of Zone coverage where you're trying to hit the gas kid wide open ahead and he was loose and not stopped until he gets to the 47 yd line for first trying to find his man on first down down finds his man it's Alexander and he goes out of bounds after a nice pick up on that one just keep giving him the easy catches until they do something to stop him yeah you're going to dictate to the defense you're going to make the defense cover him up and then obviously it leaves the middle of the field a little bit more wide open for receiver for a tight end so QB keeps making the right decision getting the ball the running back and he's making plays he's going to take off they finally get him on on the ground but not before he rips off enough for a first down offense rushing to the line of scrimmage clock has stopped for the first down they'll try to get it off quickly he's looking to throw it and the physical play there forces the incompletion on first down that's a throw that QB would like to have back he just has to do a better job giving his receiver a chance to make the catch wants to throw it's Dicky feeling some heat always a welcome play for the defense as they get a sack at the 37 and a great job by the defense dropping in zone coverage all eyes on the quarterback taking away the options and then finally the pass rush gets home gets him on the ground on Third and long no secret what he needs here oh they really could have used that catch their physical pass defense it brings up a fourth down now no signs of any kind of kicker as they'll leave the offense out there to try to move those chains he'll try to throw and pick up the first down incomplete on fourth down and man did they need to keep that drive alive we're about to get another look at this hoki offense final minute this game's on Ice they can take a knee and run out the clock this offense has to feel great with how they're able to go out execute and perform big play play all game long I think it's sending a statement to