Beamer: A blocked kick could help Tech's momentum
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Tech prides itself on Beamerball -- scoring by defense and special teams that has accounted for 109 touchdowns in coach Frank Beamer's 20 years at the helm.
Beamer's 15th-ranked Hokies also have been known for blocking kicks -- 113 altogether in that period. But they haven't had any blocks since last year, and they missed two opportunities last Saturday in their 17-10 win against North Carolina.
Beamer said it has become harder for the Hokies -- who blocked more kicks in the 1990s than any other Division I-A team -- to find success.
"There haven't been many teams that haven't been well-prepared for us," he said. "A lot of times you see little changes. You see the kicker getting it out there quicker."
In one case last week, North Carolina got a 10-yard penalty for holding Chris Ellis to keep him from a block. The other miss was by Corey Gordon.
The Hokies blocked five kicks in 2006, the last being Duane Brown's breakup of a Miami field goal attempt in Tech's 17-10 win.
Blocking a kick can help give a team momentum in a game, Beamer said. The Hokies (4-1, 1-0) are the underdog going to their Atlantic Coast Conference game Saturday night at No. 22 Clemson (4-1, 2-1), and their games so far this season have lacked a cohesive spark.
"Make the catch. Make the throw. Make the block. Make the blocked kick. Make the interception," Beamer said. "All those things go in together. I think once you get it going, it just kind of goes."
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"No question," the Hokies have had too many penalties this year, Beamer said. They've averaged eight penalties and a loss of nearly 70 yards per game so far this season. They gave up 80 yards on nine penalties against North Carolina.
The team spent time going over each of the penalties in Saturday's game, he said.
Beamer called some of the flags this year "bad" penalties, and said others were due to "a little bit of a lack of poise." Regardless, he said, Tech can't afford to lose that much ground this week.
"You get playing a team like Clemson," he said, "every yard's going to count."
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Branden Ore had more than 200 yards rushing when Virginia Tech beat Clemson 24-7 last year, but he's only had 298 total yards this season. The Hokies have struggled to get their offensive line together, but Branden Ore also has had a series of physical problems, Beamer said.
The starting tailback had a sore ankle and sore hamstring last Saturday and played sick the week before, Beamer said.
Branden Ore had 1,137 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. He's scored four times this year.
Brown, an offensive tackle, said nothing has changed about Branden Ore. The difference is in the O-line.
Branden Ore, he said, hasn't expressed frustration to the linemen.
"I do it for him sometimes," Brown said.
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Virginia Tech is trying to keep it as simple as possible for its starting quarterback, freshman Tyrod Taylor, and that's just fine with him.
Beamer said the Hokies have been limiting what they're using from the playbook, and may even cut back. The quarterback reads may even be reduced, he said.
"They said they want to put me in the best situation where I feel comfortable out there playing and not try to do too much," Taylor said.
He said he's having to adjust to defense blitzes he's never seen.
His focus now is to "get the ball out quicker," Taylor said.
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