By TOM BONE
BLACKSBURG, Va. — With Tyrod Taylor passing the ball in a white jersey and Ryan Williams multi-tasking for the Maroon Team, Virginia Tech’s spring football game on Saturday afternoon produced thrills on offense — though few points.
A crowd estimated at 41,000 endured 80-plus-degree heat at Lane Stadium to watch the Maroon Team edge the White Team 13-7, concluding the Hokies’ spring practice season.
Head coach Frank Beamer said, “The encouraging is, I think we’ve got some playmakers out there.”
He wasn’t completely content, of course. He said the team needed to identify another starting defensive end and linebacker. “The good thing is, you got the whole summer, here,” he said. “We understand we got a lot of work to do, too.”
That included the special teams, which Beamer coaches personally. That unit misfired trying to punt the ball.
Taylor threw for 188 yards, hitting Dyrell Roberts with a 3-yard scoring toss in the second quarter. He was 16-for-33, throwing the ball away when he felt he couldn’t get a completion.
Taylor, whose forte is scrambling with the ball, ran for a net 14 yards. He was hampered by ground rules that labeled him “sacked” when merely touched by a defensive player.
“I think I played very well,” he said. “There are some things I could work on, a couple of miscues with the wide receivers. ... But I think our offense, and on the defensive side of the ball, that we played well.”
Williams, a freshman itching to become a starter, chalked up 153 total yards. On the first play from scrimmage, he took a dump-off pass from Ju-Ju Clayton for a 56-yard touchdown. Williams also ran 10 times for 85 yards.
“When you put the ball in his hands, you have a chance of having a good play,” Beamer said.
Rashad Carmichael, a redshirt junior cornerback, led the Maroon defense statistically with six tackles, five of them solo.
Teammate Antoine Hopkins stole the defensive show, though. He “sacked” Taylor on back-to-back plays, and in the fourth quarter he returned a Zac Evans fumble 20 yards for the game’s final touchdown, after Kam Chancellor dislodged the ball with a big hit.
Cornerback Cris Hill said, “Overall, I think the secondary did a very good job. ... As a group, I think we’re going to be very good next season.”
Clayton struggled a week after winning the backup quarterback assignment. He was 4-for-15 passing with an interception, and was confused by the coverages several times.
“Ju-Ju just needs time,” Beamer said. “I have great confidence that Ju-Ju will do that. He’ll learn from what happened out there today.”
Marcus Davis, converted from QB to wide receiver, caught three balls for 48 yards for the White Team. “He needs to be on the field, somewhere,” Beamer said.
Beamer was encouraged by the play of the offensive line. “I think we’re more athletic. We’ve just got to continue to work, and get tougher, mentally tougher.”
Roberts said the young receiving corps has matured, and predicted “there’s going to be a whole lot of plays made this season. (There are) no limits to what we can do on offense. We can be one of the most high-powered offenses in the nation.”
The support of the crowd by the thousands impressed several players.
Roberts said, “It wasn’t the biggest crowd we’ve played in front of. Nebraska, that stadium’s pretty big. But this being a spring game, playing against each other, and seeing that turnout, that felt really great.
“That’s showing us that the fans have big expectations in us, and they’re believing in us, by coming out.”
Hill said, “In front of a big crowd, you’ve got to bring out your ‘A game.’ ”
Roberts said, “We want to go out and show everybody that we’re trying to fill the expectations, just like they’re wanting us to.”
“We’ve got a couple of areas of concern,” Beamer said. “But the guys have the opportunity to work over the summer and prove themselves. I think we’re going to be a good football team, but as I’ve said, I think every team in the ACC is going to be better.”
— Contact Tom Bone at
tbone@bdtonline.com
