Grading the Bucks-- Week 1: Virginia Tech

Decent performance in week 1, but I'm going to be honest, I will be a very tough grader this year.  This team isn't vying for a conference championship...they're trying to be an all-time great.  If you want to be the best, criticism is needed.

Let me be clear, I think Urban made the incorrect decision concerning the starting QB, but that is NOT the purpose of this weekly post.  I will grade based on the on-field performance (sans coaching).

Offense: B+
Coming out like gangbusters with the tough grading.  Cardale was...good, but I expected more from an accuracy standpoint.  The interception wasn't an issue (fantastic play by VT), but some of the decisions baffled me (the decision to throw late over the middle on the pick was bad).  12 Gauge continues to show the absolute jaw-dropping strength to casually flip the ball 40 yards while jumping backwards.  Forgetting about accuracy, that arm strength is astounding.  The passing game was fine but Cardale let a few passes go that he never should have attempted (and one was a TD).  When you have a backup H-back making a diving catch while being interfered with, there just aren't words...  Jones running was OK, but the option is not his game.  The QB power is his strength so use it! Cardale will be fine, but his decision making still needs work.  

Zeke was in midseason form from the first run, but Urban clearly didn't see the need to wear him out.  More carries for the bell-cow would be nice, but the Oline needs some work.  VT has a really good Dline and it showed here.  Hard to knock the Oline that gave up 0 sacks and produced 300+ rushing yards, but Cardale's raw physicality kept the sack number round and the ball carriers were simply the top of the game.  Price and Boren need to pick up their play to be an all-timer team.

JT comes in and immediately runs for 40 and throws a gorgeous touch pass for 26 for a TD to the next big star Mike Thomas.  I loved the way the offense flowed effortlessly under JT.  It was the style and panache to Cardale's muscle.

Finally, the biggest story was the forgotten Braxton Miller.  What a fantastic resurgence!  There aren't words for how amazing he must feel for reminding Buckeye Nation what he brings to the table.  I think he's found a home position that will earn him a nice chunk at the next level and push the Bucks to another title.  I thought he'd be ok as a WR, but I never expected the hands to supplement the raw athleticism.

Defense: C+
Secondary looked pretty darn good (other than Apple getting juked by a fullback...C'mon Man!).  The concern is in the front seven.  Bosa will certainly shore up the pass rush, but the interior line wasn't as dominant as I'd like.  More concerning was the inconsistent play of the LBs.  Lee, Perry, and McMillan made some nice plays, but were out of position on just as many plays.  Hopefully, it was first game jitters, but that unit has a history to live up to.  The biggest positive was the young guns.  Hubbard, while not Bosa, filled in quite well and Conley was fantastic (other than a baaaad DPI).  The downgrade is because I have no belief that VT is good on offense.  Brewer was moving the ball comfortably when VT got the momentum.  That shouldn't happen.  It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard. Final Note: The throwback TD was defended pretty well (options 1-4 were covered).  When it comes to goalline defense, you need to sell out on a few options and hope for the best.  The only realistic way to stop the throwback is to get to the QB (which we didn't).

Special Teams: Butt
Oh boy, here we go again.  Let's see: kickoff out of bounds (check), hold on a punt that wasn't fielded (check), muffed punt (check), missed FG (check).  Come on guys. There is simply no excuse here.  I know Zeke isn't normally a punt returner...so don't make him return punts.  Honestly, while Jalin Marshall provides home run potential, I'm not more confident that he won't fumble.  Get. Better.

Coaching: C
The playcalling was very questionable. While Cardale was the starter, it sure seemed like the playcalling was optimized for JT's game.  JT runs the option (read and/or speed) better than pretty much anyone in the game, but speed option isn't in Cardale's repertoire.  The lack of the slant game still baffles me, and honestly, VT was giving Cardale single coverages all day.  Why didn't we take more shots downfield?  I don't understand the gameplan.  Props to the coaches for preparing Braxton and making us completely forget about the suspensions.

Overall: B-
Good start, but I want more.  If Brewer didn't go down, would the game have been different? I don't think so, but the question bears consideration.  The defense needs to turn up to the level at which they finished the title run.  The offense is going to be next level and we just scatched the surface.  Let's not forget: the best player in college football (arguably), the number 1 punt returner, and 2 key receivers/Hbacks have yet to play...and we dominated a decent team in a tough environment.  Check that, the score says dominated, but I don't give them that description...yet.  We saw the flashes of all-time greatness.  This entire season is about the chase for history.  It has begun.