Another week, another loss for the Virginia Tech football team. The Hokies dropped to 2-5 with a 35-20 road setback at 13th-ranked Georgia Tech. A two-touchdown underdog going into the game, Philip Montgomery's team proved the line to be right.
Now entering a bye week for the first time this year, Virginia Tech needs to get healthy over the next 12 days before California visits on Oct. 24 for a primetime ESPN game. Here are three things we learned from the loss to the Yellow Jackets.
Virginia Tech's inability to stop the run
The Hokies' defense did what ACC Network analyst Eddie Royal said they needed to do: contain Haynes King when he rushes. They held him to 60 yards on the ground, 35 yards below his average this season. The problem was, Malachi Hosley rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown, and the Yellow Jackets racked up 270 yards on the ground.
Yes, the Virginia Tech defense had a lot of players out, but watching Georgia Tech get what they wanted, when they wanted, was tough. The secondary didn't do themselves any favors after getting tormented for 213 yards for King through the air.
Kyron Drones continues to make untimely mistakes
Three years into his Virginia Tech tenure under center, Kyron Drones continues to play well at times, but he also makes a throw where you scratch your head. He also doesn't always have the best pocket presence and takes sacks, or he doesn't get the ball out in time before a sack or intentional grounding is called.
I get it, the offensive line is a disaster between injuries and everything else, but he also needs to get down more when running the ball instead of taking huge hits. His third-quarter interception in plus territory was as bad a throw as he has made this year. Could there be a change coming at some point this year?
Virginia Tech's roster is just not good
Not breaking any news here, but Montgomery doesn't have a very good roster to work with. Between injuries and players in the portal following Brent Pry's firing, the roster is thin. There is not much depth on either side of the ball, and it is exposing just how bad a roster Pry put together last offseason. Boy, was he in over his head. He never addressed the needs in the portal and instead took a look at players who played for the Hokies last year and some of the players' performances from that year. Disappointing to say the least.
This feels like a team that gets maybe one more (California?), but two more wins are going to be difficult to come by. This might actually be the year that Virginia beats Virginia Tech. I mean, if they don't, then look out.