Regardless of what the final score ends up being, Virginia Tech might be in for something promising this season from an overall offensive standpoint. Going up against a serious College Football Playoff contender in the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Hokies offense seemed up for the challenge with Kyron Drones at quarterback and Philip Montgomery as their new offensive coordinator for this year.
Much was made about the matchup between Drones and South Carolina Heisman Trophy hopeful LaNorris Sellers, but the college football world may have slept on the new coordinator hire made up in Blacksburg. Most people know of Montgomery for his eight-year run at Tulsa before briefly serving a Hugh Freeze's first offensive coordinator at Auburn. Clearly, his spread attack is starting to work out.
Drones talked about what he could do in this offense before the start of the season. It already feels like a departure from what Virginia Tech had been running under Tyler Bowen previously. While South Carolina has not exactly played a clean game up to this point, Virginia Tech has been able to keep things interesting due in large part of the offense picking up chunk plays throughout the contest.
It keeps feeling like Virginia Tech is one clutch play away from really making a game of this now...
Virginia Tech Hokies could be much better offensively this season
Truth be told, neither starting quarterback has been as sharp as they have been in their respective college careers. However, Drones' willingness to throw the ball outside of the numbers to the likes of Ayden Greene and Donavon Greene have been duly noted. Not being able to do much between the tackles with the rushing game has been a challenge throughout for the Hokies. Again, there are signs!
Overall, Montgomery's offense seems to be having Virginia Tech playing with more confidence in all three phases than the Hokies have in years. This could be a turning point, possibly a saving grace for head coach Brent Pry entering a critical season at the helm. While South Carolina was the decisive favorite coming in, this new wrinkle in the Hokies' game plan has had the Gamecocks out of sorts.
Ultimately, big-time players still need to make plays. Drones has it in him, but Sellers has been far more likely to make something happen over the last year or so. The longer this game stays within a possession or two, Virginia Tech will not be out of it. Again, Montgomery's offense seems to be a catalyst for positive change for this team. It may not manifest today, but good times are on the way.
For now, let's sit back and watch the second half, knowing the Hokies still have a chance in this thing.