You know, we have been really spoiled the last few years at RB

[Havertown Hokie]

We have been more spoiled at QB

Please find me a bad quarterback among Thomas, Tyrod, Glennon, Vick, and Randall. I don't care what people say Glennon was better than about 9 other ACC pivots. When was the last time we truly had a QB that was lower half of the ACC/Big East???? 2001? Greater than 10 years of consistent QB play is the reason we have had 10 win seasons.

Interesting, but a little off topic.

I agree about Sean Glennon... we just didn't have the OL to utilize his skills. He understood the offense like none other, until TT caught up his Sr. year (after Glennon had graduated). Glennon needed a normal OL, and he would have had a much better college career... maybe even a better chance in the NFL. I wish TT could have taken a RS season, and SG could have started his Sr. year, but VT would not have won 10 games, and maybe not won an ACC CG had that been the situation.

Obviously you won't find a bad QB from that list.

If you take a closer look back... Bryan Randall was always the underdog, especially with Marcus Vick lurking around. Randall just kept working hard and staying focused on his game, and had a very impressive Sr. year. He was our back-up had Marcus not been distracted by off field matters. I have the utmost respect for Randall's focus and hard work, and happy his career was as successful as it was. Randall was not a fan favorite until the 2004 season. I think a lot of fans respected his work ethic, and not giving up when it looked like Marcus was going to be a 3 year starter. That's what the fans were wanting and expecting, at least at first. Randall was pressed into action early, at least as a back-up his tFr. year... IIRC. Then he took a RS. It really has been a long time and details are not at the tip of mind right now... but I do remember Bryan Randall was our safety net, when Marcus Vick was kicked off the team for a year and was away from the game for a year and a half. It wasn't pretty at times, and it seems like there was a lot of grumbling, or hand wringing, before the 2004 season.

Tyrod Taylor... pressed into action as a tFr (5 weeks into his college experience)... ensured VT continued winning 10 games a season, but he was not experienced enough to take advantage of the wealth of talent VT had at WR in 2007 (Royal, Morgan, Harper and Hyman). Then in 2008 VT had all Fr or rFr WRs and VT didn't score a passing TD until well into the season... maybe even into the second half of the season. It wasn't TT's fault, but he was dissed by a lot of the media for not being a good passing QB. He did have a hitch in the throwing motion that finally got dealt with his Jr. year. There was no doubt that TT was a special player, but most of his college career he was behind the 8 ball living up to his full potential. Everyone knew he could scramble and was very elusive, but he was not known as a complete QB, until his Sr. year. Most of his stats seemed to be reflective in the media's take on TT, without caring enough to research the team situation. TT may have been a more complete QB than MV1 by the time he left college. I know that's impossible to prove... as Michael Vick made it to the pro bowl early and often...

Michael Vick was by far the most electric and talented offensive athlete to come through VT... maybe David Wilson is close... but Vick sees the field and makes everyone else look slow. Wilson seems to be a battering ram... full speed where ever he's going (sorry for getting closer to topic), and then has the power and balance to make a few miss. Vick had a knack of setting up his blocks while he improvised and even turned a CB or safety completely around in the open field, as he toyed with them as he waltzed into the EZ. These were good college players that Vick made look silly... and Vick only played his rFr and rSo season at VT.

Logan Thomas had the usual struggles that first year starting QBs have to go through, but the Miami game was his turning point, at the mid way point in the season. I do think he will have more control of the offense this year. Last year, there were a lot of firsts, so now, everything will be old hat, or at least familiar. Logan Thomas does have the potential to be a great QB, but we will still see him mature into his abilities this year. The decision making process should be much more fluid, but we should expect to see him ironing out the wrinkles. Still, Logan has not been a QB for very long... 3 years at VT, and possibly 1 or 2 partial years in HS as a QB. I think he was more a WR his Jr and Sr years in HS. Most college level QBs have played QB since sandlot, or middle school. LT doesn't have that intuition, but he sure has the tools and uses them well, already. Maybe he has fewer bad habits to break this way.

I think the bottom line is football is a team sport. While RB and QB are more high profile positions, the OL is very important too. When every position is mature and solid, that's what makes a good team. One RB or QB rarely carries an average team to a NC. Vick got us to a NCG, but couldn't quite win it for VT. This year we may not have that superstar, but the overall team is very solid. LT could prove to that superstar, but I think VT has the best offense and defense total combination... the STs are going to be average this year, at best. So... we are going to need to score TDs more often.