The grim analysis got here on the heels of a 33-10 loss during which Virginia Tech managed a season-low in factors and complete yards (228), drawing jeers from what was at kickoff a extremely charged, overflow crowd at Lane Stadium. As a substitute of harnessing that vitality the Hokies managed simply 35 dashing yards for his or her fewest since 2015.
Pry’s remarks additionally served as a stark reminder of simply how a lot must be addressed to ensure that Virginia Tech (2-2, 1-0 ACC) to emerge from years of offensive decay marked by a revolving door of quarterbacks.
Heading into its sport in opposition to North Carolina (3-1, 0-0) on Saturday evening at Kenan Stadium, the Hokies have had six gamers take snaps with some regularity over the previous three years, underscoring an alarming lack of continuity on the most impactful place on the sphere.
Virginia Tech, meantime, is ranked twelfth out of 14 colleges within the ACC in each complete offense (330 yards per sport) and scoring (20.3 factors per sport).
Grant Wells, this season’s beginning quarterback, has accomplished 79 of 131 makes an attempt for 844 yards, 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions over 4 video games. In opposition to the Mountaineers he went 16 for 35 with 193 yards, one landing and one interception.
Wells’s interception handed West Virginia the ultimate factors of the sport when Jacolby Spells took the ball again 27 yards to the tip zone with 9:36 to play within the fourth quarter, sending followers streaming towards the exits.
Wells additionally missed on a handful of deep passes to wide-open teammates within the first half that would have drastically altered the complexion of the sport when the Hokies had been nonetheless inside attain of reclaiming the Black Diamond Trophy.
“I believe we’ll proceed rising and studying from one another till the final sport of the season,” Wells mentioned. “Everyone’s studying how [first-year offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen] likes to name a sport, and that may proceed all through the season. Clearly we’ve realized from our errors sport to sport.”
The redshirt junior switch from Marshall, the place he was chosen Convention USA first-team and freshman of the yr, received the beginning job following a contest in spring observe and preseason camp in opposition to Jason Brown, a switch from South Carolina.
Pry didn’t trace at a quarterback change this week, indicating Wells has performed nicely sufficient in spots for the Hokies to have the ability to win if it weren’t for committing 15 penalties for 132 yards or different psychological errors comparable to being out of place at vital instances.
Plus, Wells was clearly extra snug directing the offense throughout spring and camp, the place he gained appreciable separation over Brown and compelled Pry and Bowen to call him the starter with out reservations.
“It’s what you’re investing in, what you consider in snap after snap,” Pry mentioned. “We nonetheless are a piece in progress in that space, and a very powerful factor is that we be taught from each one among these conditions, and we develop to change into a extra mature soccer workforce.”
The extra urgent concern in going through the Tar Heels is that if Virginia Tech can get its dashing assault in gear. The Hokies are ranked second-to-last within the ACC in dashing this season, averaging 112 yards per sport and three.1 yards per carry with 4 touchdowns.
Keshawn King, a redshirt junior who began one sport final yr, leads Virginia Tech with 179 yards and a landing on 29 carries. Jalen Holston has 144 yards and a team-high two dashing touchdowns on 45 makes an attempt, and Wells is subsequent with 81 yards and a landing on 26 carries.
Reinforcements at operating again could also be shut with Malachi Thomas on the verge of rejoining the lineup after lacking the primary 4 video games with a foot damage. Thomas, a sophomore, is the Hokies’ main rusher from final season (four hundred and forty yards, three touchdowns, 93 carries) amongst gamers on the present roster.
“He’s doing extra,” mentioned Pry, who indicated the anticipated rain Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C., wouldn’t issue into whether or not to play Thomas. “We’ve acquired to decide by [Thursday] morning if we’re going to journey him and experience this factor all the best way to sport day, however he’s wanting a lot, significantly better.”
