College Football Corner--show me state of mind...

Saturday was show-me time for Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Steffy and Jameel Sewell. Could Taylor continue to show how a true freshman is the best answer for what ails Virginia Tech (some 5th year offensive linemen would be better) Would Steffy complete passes longer than 15 yards? (does an INT going the other way count?) And should Jameel Sewell hang on to his role as the Cavaliers #1 quarterback (backup Peter Lalich, ironically, did as much for Sewell’s case as Jameel did). VIRGINIA TECH continues to take care of business, putting 27 points on the board in the first quarter of their 44-3 shellacking of William & Mary. The education of Tyrod Taylor continues to proceed—with North Carolina his quiz before October 6th’s mid-term at #13 Clemson. UPSIDE—“Beamer Ball” reared its head after an early season slumber--Brandon Flowers took an interception 49 yards for a touchdown while Eddie Royal returned a punt 60 yards for a score. Special teams also gave the Hokies short fields for two of their other scores. Tyrod Taylor moved the chains with his feet (52 yards on 5 carries) while the defense kept the Tribe out of the endzone. DOWNSIDE— Brandon Ore scored a pair of touchdowns, but continues to struggle (10 carries for 25 yards). The offense which has struggled at times this season against Division I-A (bowl subdivision) teams gained just 287 total yards against an overmatched Tribe—even in rout mode after halftime you’d expect a little more. Tech had trouble sustaining drives (one possession longer than 6 plays or 50 yards) as well. MARYLAND looked as though it was putting the finishing touches on a rout of Wake Forest in the third quarter when Jordan Steffy was intercepted at the goal line; Alfonso Smith returned the INT 100 yards for a score and jumpstarted a Demon Deacon rally that would end with Jordan Steffy getting sacked in a 31-24 overtime loss for the Terps. UPSIDE—Keon Lattimore hit the century mark for the third time this month, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Barnes continues to be a ballhawk, notching his third interception of the season. Erin Henderson remains a beast from the weakside linebacker spot, finishing with 12 tackles (he paces the team with 44 on the season) and an interception. DOWNSIDE—the defense collapsed in the 4th quarter, allowing 171 yards to the Demon Deacons…and Wake only took three plays to go the necessary 25 yards in overtime. The pass rush yielded no sacks; Maryland’s offensive line meanwhile allowed 6 sacks—Jordan Steffy dumped for losses on 3rd and 4th down in OT. Steffy still has yet to stretch the field—his 6 completions to his wide receivers totaled 45 yards. Is the quarterback or the wideouts the reason why? VIRGINIA came close to coughing up a double-digit lead as well, instead the Cavaliers capitalized on a late Georgia Tech turnover to pull past the Yellowjackets 28-23. Believe it or not, UVa leads the Coastal Division at 3-0—and they’re the only school in that division with a conference victory! Alas, both Virginia Tech and Miami have yet to begin ACC play… UPSIDE—where would the Cavs be without Cedric Peerman? The junior tailback cruised for 138 yards and a touchdown—and has provided this team with an offensive base all season…Jameel Sewell had his best outing of 2007—throwing and running for scores. The punt coverage team set up the game-winning score with a fumble recovery and the defense came up with some big plays as well: from to Chris Long’s sack of Yellowjacket quarterback Taylor Bennett on a key 4th down to Jeffrey Fitzgerald’s 25 yard interception return for a touchdown. DOWNSIDE— wasting a two touchdown lead at home is never a good thing—despite the big plays the Cavaliers defense coughed up 351 yards (they’d been allowing an average of 360 entering the weekend) to a slumping Tech team (once the ACC flavor of the week, now 0-2 in the league). Peter Lalich took a step back (4 of 10 for 56 yards and an interception)—good thing Sewell responded with his best game of the year. For now it’s back to light touches (Pitt, Middle Tennessee and UConn) before returning to ACC play.