Marcus Vick and the Hokies had their way with UVa.

This week’s respective unit grades also reflect the collective effort of the Cavaliers. In a loss such as this, it’s often difficult to fault one particular area of the offense or defense because the breakdown was across the board.

From play-calling to execution, the Cavalier offense was inept. Five three-and-outs (or less) and nine of 12 drives lasted just five plays or fewer. The Cavaliers had four possessions in which they held the ball less than a minute. The Hokies held Virginia to its fourth-lowest rushing output of the season, its second-worst passing output and its lowest offensive output of the year Saturday. I guess the offense can take solace in the fact that only three Tech opponents produced more than the 254 yards of total offense Virginia managed.

Virginia’s defense certainly had little to be enthused about with respect to its performance, but in defense of the defense, Virginia Tech scored on three possessions in which the Hokies were required to travel a combined 57 yards to score following offensive and special teams turnovers. Virginia’s defenders didn’t have a prayer, being asked to play for 10:57 of the first quarter as the offense ran just eight plays in the period.

Still, the Cavalier defense was completely overwhelmed by Virginia Tech’s methodical, chain-moving, uncomplicated offense. Virginia held the Hokies to three-and-out just three times while allowing three drives of 11 plays or more and six drives of 62 yards or longer. The respective defensive grades are a collective compilation of an overall poor effort that included few negative plays, poor pass coverage, dismal run support and poor tackling across the board.

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