THE STATE OF THINGS

For it to be WVU Week, it seemed to this listener that the focus of the radio show Monday night wasn't anything like what it usually is when VT is preparing to play WVU.

There was some discussion of the Mountaineers, but most of that was prompted by Bill Roth or the coaches. The questions dwelled on Michael Vick, is he pressing, does he throw too hard, why do we drop passes, can we throw it long, are we too conservative, Suggs didn't have enough yards, who's the punter gonna be, etc.

Offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle said he and MV had a long talk Sunday. Vick had a great week of practice last week, Bustle said, and came out trying to do too much after the BC game. The dropped passes may have affected him somewhat and Bustle said he tried to talk MV through it.

The hardest thing to get a young quarterback to do is to accept that sometimes it's OK to punt or throw the ball away, to understand that it's a field position game, Bustle said. Roth noted that Al Clark understood that phase of the game so well -- he took some sacks but rarely threw interceptions.

Bustle was pleased with Tech's running game against a Temple defense that had fared well in earlier games. If you took away the uniforms and just looked at X's and O's on the field, the defensive scheme last week was the same up front as Boston College's, Bustle said, and the Hokies made strides in running against it.

Teams are backing off of Andre Davis and even though some deep shots were called against Temple, Bustle said that when the corners play that deep you need to take advantage by going elsewhere with your throws.

VT has scored 229 points in five games. That's a school record and yet, Roth noted, there are questions about the offense. Last year's VT had a great pass-catching team, but this year there have been 3-4 drops a game, he said. Bustle said they don't like to make a big deal about drops at practice because then "you couldn't catch a cold" [presumably because of the mental aspect].

Bustle agreed that Vick drills his passes and they are hard to catch, but as Beamer put it, good receivers should catch MV, and they get it done in practice.

Is MV staying in the pocket too long, a caller asked. Bustle: MV has a couple of reads they want him to make, then he should take off. The plan is to "move" MV more through sprintouts and bootlegs.

There was some discussion of a couple of new plays -- the throwback pass by Kendrick, intended for Vick, and the TD pass to Hawkins. Bustle guessed that perhaps 15 percent of the VT playbook hasn't been shown yet.

A caller wondered about the Hokies' ability to run the option to the short side of the field. Bustle said the tactic worked better last year, but said there are reasons for running it to the tight end side even if it's the short side.

Beamer thought the defense improved in a week's time at playing position responsibility against Temple. He didn't think things got conservative against Temple; it was more a case of taking things for granted after going up 21-0. He credited Beasley and Pugh for picking up leadership of the team.

Beamer tried for a light moment when someone asked who will punt against WVU. "Let's have a vote out here," he told the Gobblertown Tavern audience.

While he said he hadn't made up his mind, after a long answer to the question, it seemed that it's still Peaslee's job to lose.

Beamer said the cold and windy conditions Monday made it difficult to work with the punters. He twice said that Peaslee has the talent and just needs to take the next step, to stop worrying about perfection and kick the ball. A lot of people have to find their way over that hurdle in competition, he said. Peaslee remains the quickest at getting the ball off. Vinnie Burns is "up and down" and there was no indication that his redshirt status will change. Backup punter Ben Taylor likes the challenge but hasn't done it enough, Beamer said. Eric Green has a strong leg but likewise hasn't worked at it much at VT.

INJURIES

VT is in good overall shape with injuries although Beamer said it's a concern that they are cropping up at the same position. Corner Garnell Wilds will not play against WVU due to a knee injury. They hope that corner Billy Hardee (groin) will be available. WVU also has a couple of corners injured. Jarrett Ferguson did not practice Monday due to an ankle injury but will play Thursday. Andre Davis left practice with a shoulder problem but is expected to play.

WVU GAME

WVU receiver Khory Ivy has caught a pass in 33 straight games and Beamer said it seemed like the guy has been around forever. He also singled out the punt returner named Brown, a real speedster.

The West Virginia defense is giving up 95 yards rushing per game. Bustle talked about how he's been going up against WVU defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap for years.

The Mountaineers are always physical and played great vs. VT in 1999, Beamer said. He said he could tell at the 2000 Big East pre-season media day that Coach Nehlen thought he had a better team than sixth place, for which it was picked.

TECH NOTES

• The Hokies had 50 recruits at the Temple game. Beamer said recruiting is going well and that if they can finish it off it will be "very, very good." He agreed with Roth that the benefit of last year's national championship game will be felt more in recruiting this year. The coach said that signing a couple of quarterbacks is a real priority. While prohibited from directly answering a question about last Saturday's unofficial visit from the country's top rated running back, Beamer said that getting any top national prospect has an effect in pulling in other recruits. (A few football recruits will be at the WVU game, and Roth said Ricky Stokes' top three basketball recruits will attend.)
  
  
• A caller said he was watching an interview with Seattle Mariners manager Lou Pinella the other day and noticed a copy of Beamer's book "Turn Up The Wick" in the background in Pinella's office.
  
  
• Another caller asked about rumored plans to eventually reseat season ticket holders based on their contributor level. Roth's reply: that's a good question to ask Jim Weaver sometime. Longevity and loyalty by donors is something to be considered, he said.
  
  
• It sounded like the new lighted football practice field will be ready in about 10 days. Radio faded while I was driving, so I'm not sure?? (Note from Will: I believe I heard that the practice field construction will start in ten days, and will be ready in time for Spring football.)
  
  
• Roth marveled at how a program like Florida State's could lack a dependable kicker. Beamer said he's pleased with Carter Warley, although he said the direction of his kickoffs is "suspect" at times. The coach said he learned the importance of developing a backup kicker in 1994 when Ryan Williams was hurt and Atle Larsen stepped in and helped win a game for Tech at Southern Miss. (Beamer said Shayne Graham may try the XFL. Graham will be a kicker somewhere, he said.)
  
  
• Beamer brought up how Kirk Herbstreit likes to talk about Lane Stadium's atmosphere for night games, and said the team is counting on having that this Thursday.
  
  
• Tech and WVU will play on ESPN Thursday night for the Black Diamond Trophy. Monday was Day 373 of Virginia Tech's possession of the Commonwealth Cup.

-- GalaxHokie

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