Win makes it clear:Let Tyrod be Tyrod

It's time for the kid gloves to come off.

This has to become Tyrod Taylor's offense. Even if it means exposing the star quarterback to punishing hits like the one Cornhuskers All-American Ndamukong Suh laid on him early in the third quarter.

It's clear that even with their usual stout defense, the Hokies won't beat good teams like Nebraska and Miami (next Saturday's guest) without heavy doses of Tyrod. (A lot of luck doesn't hurt, either.)

As a visibly relieved Frank Beamer put it: "We don't win that one without a quarterback who can throw the football and keep plays alive."

Even the threat of Taylor's fleet feet can have a major effect. What the Cornhuskers didn't really seem to know was that the Beamer and offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring have been trying to keep Taylor in mint condition. Through three games, they've called only a handful of runs for their quarterback.

Without a proven backup, they can't afford to lose their star to injury. So Stinespring's already conservative game plans have moved even further right than Glenn Beck. They include plenty of runs by Ryan Williams and safe short pass plays to the Hokies' crew of undistinguished receivers.

Until they have to gamble, that is. Facing 83 yards of real estate yesterday and only 1:44 to negotiate it (without a timeout), they let Tyrod be Tyrod.

Said Stinespring: "Tyrod has the ability to make plays in the pocket, outside the pocket, and in the parking lot."

No one will admit it, but Taylor is clearly under orders to run only as a last resort. Even on his game-winning touchdown pass to Dyrell Roberts--on which he scrambled for what seemed to be 30 seconds--he was thinking pass almost all the way.

"[Running] was my last thought," he said. "I had three receivers in the end zone. I was just trying to buy time and get them the ball."

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Date published: 9/20/2009

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