Loss Came Down to Third Down
Literarily speaking, third down is football’s down of denouement. The team that wins third down tells the tale.
The tale Virginia Tech spun at BB&T Field in Saturday’s 38-17 was pretty cut and dried. The Hokies proved time and again to be better than Wake Forest when they had to be, moving the chains on seven of 15 third downs while holding the Deacons to but one first down on 11 third-down plays. Virginia Tech’s third-down dominance was even more obvious when one subtracts the first quarter, when the Hokies failed to pick up a first on their first four third downs. So from that point on, the conversion frequency was seven out of 11.
Teams just hadn’t been doing that this season to Wake Forest, which entered the game ranked first in the ACC by holding opponents to but 23 first downs on 71 third-down attempts, a percentage of 32.4.
The Deacons’ offense, meanwhile, failed to convert it’s first nine third downs. Their first successful attempt came when Tanner Price completed a 14-yard pass to Danny Dembry on a third-and-13. But only about nine minutes remained in the game, and Virginia Tech was more than comfortable leading 35-17.
Wake Forest did convert two of three fourth downs, but that didn’t keep coach Jim Grobe from being asked afterward about his team’s inability to stay on the field and get Virginia Tech off the field.
“I think a big part of being successful on third down is what you do on first and second down,’’ Grobe observed. “It’s the type of third downs that you’re making. Really I think we’ve been OK on third down offensively, and defensively. It really has not been a problem for us. But (Saturday) I thought Virginia Tech made some great plays to make third downs on our defense. And then I thought offensively nothing was clicking.
“I really liked what Brandon Pendergrass did (Saturday). I thought he ran the pretty really good (80 yards on 21 carries). I don’t think Brandon was a problem at all. Somebody asked `Well do you think not having Josh (Harris) was a problem?’ I really don’t. I think Brandon played really, really well. We just could not get anything going in the throw game.
“To a certain extent we didn’t play as well as we need to, but also I thought Virginia Tech really did a good job in man coverage and pressuring us and not giving us easy throws. We had to work for everything we got (Saturday).’‘
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By Dan Collins on 10/17/2011 (11:26 am)
Comments
Mike, The point I made was that going into the Virginia Tech game, which was after five games, Wake ranked first in the ACC in third-down conversion defense (32.5 percent) and seventh in third-down conversion offense. For the Deacons to fall, as you noted, to fall to seventh in third-down conversion defense (41.4 percent) and last in third-down conversion offense (32.8 percent) only reinforces the point I was attempting to make of what an anomaly the game against Virgina Tech was. But if you notice, I did change the sentence ``teams just haven’t been doing that this season to Wake Forest’’ to “teams just hadn’t been doing that this season to Wake Forest.’’ So thanks for that.
Dan Collins on 10/18/2011 (2:50 pm)
Dan,
Looked up the stats again. ACC website after 6 games has us 12th in 3rd down conversions at 37.4. %.
Mike on 10/18/2011 (2:14 pm)
Dan,
How is Kenny Okoro doing after that Virginia Tech game? I don’t think I have ever seen a cornerback get beat so easily and so consistently in one game. And it would have seemed worse if Virginia Tech was able to connect on some of their passes at him earlier in the game (they were going at him right from the beginning).
I know that Okoro is capable of playing at a high level (and I understand it’s possible to have a bad game every once in awhile), but I think that a game like that would shake anyone’s confidence. We certainly need him to be at his best against another pretty solid passing attack from Duke. As Bug Noel continues to get better, the opposite side of the field is going start getting pretty busy. Do we have the next Brandon Ghee on the roster? Thanks.
DC on 10/18/2011 (1:47 pm)
Mike, on your first point you are mistaken. Wake went into the VT game ranked seventh in the ACC with an offensive third-down conversion rate of 42.3. As for your second point, Alex Wulfeck did indeed punt well. Looks like I’m going to be buying my friend Gene Overby a Fosters Beer (marketed as Australian but brewed in Canada) for betting that Alex Kinal would have more punts this season than Alex Wulfeck.
Dan Collins on 10/18/2011 (9:47 am)
2 comments- How can you be ok with our third downs offensively when we are dead last in the ACC in 3rd down conversions? Seems like we are always putting Wulfeck in a bad situation having to punt from our end zone several times a game. Hey Dan, where is your weekly slam on special teams? Wulfeck has a great game and you have no comment?
Mike on 10/18/2011 (8:54 am)
Or if Bud Noel had picked off the pass at the goal line on the play before VT’s touchdown just before half - there was no one between him at the other end zone. THAT would have been a way to end the half…with the Deacs up 17-14 instead of down 21-10. And it would have been fitting too - just like the 100-yard pick 6 Alphonso Smith had to get things turned around against Maryland in 2007. Alas, neither of Bud’s picks were to be.
Matt on 10/17/2011 (7:36 pm)
Third downs were bad….the INT at the end of the half hurt….but….IF Bud Noel had hung onto the pass he almost picked in the first quarter and returned it for a score….a 17-0 game would have surely kept the momentum in Wake’s favor. As it was….
Ken Green on 10/17/2011 (2:53 pm)
There were some bright spots Saturday. I thought our kicking game was better. I’m concerned about our pass coverage (really for the first time) as Renfrie is going to throw that ball against us. He seems to like those little dinks and VT made a full course meal off bubble screens.
Jim on 10/17/2011 (1:54 pm)
When the offensive line stops giving up too many sacks, and one particular defensive back keeps from getting beat so much we can win out our conference games, and have a rematch with Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game.Refuse to lose!
PC on 10/17/2011 (1:50 pm)
Sounds to me like Coach Grobe is admitting that the Hokies are simply the better team. And I agree with him.
Matt on 10/17/2011 (12:59 pm)
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