The play call was simple enough.
On first-and-ten on its own 24-yard line, Virginia Tech and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen called for an inside power-read handoff to tailback Bhayshul Tuten. It’s a play Tech has run dozens of times during the 2023 season.
But then quarterback Kyron Drones recognized the Tulane defense was in disguise mode. He noticed the safety move down a step. He sensed the nickel and SAM linebacker sliding inside. This play wasn’t going to work.
So, the Hokies’ QB instantly and instinctively changed the play to an outside zone run to the left.
Shotgun snap to Drones, delivers the ball to Tuten, hard sprint to the left, perfectly blocked up front, Tuten explodes through the line of scrimmage and sprints for a 44-yard gain.
That audible brought a smile to Bowen’s face in the press box at the time, and he reflected on that very moment months later during a recent conversation.
“Kyron made that play,” Bowen told me. “We make the calls upstairs, but he has a check for every single play we run. (Drones) has the chalk in his hands last.”
And as the 2023 season progressed, Drones used that chalk more and more.
He made more good decisions than most fans ever realized. We all see his passes and his tremendous gallops when he carries the ball. He’s a highlight machine.
But what we don’t always recognize is that successful running plays start with Drones calling—or, in many instances, changing the play.
Protection recognitions and run-game audibles aren’t official stats. But they are analytics tracked by the coaching staff, and getting the right play called and executed is what a winning QB does.
“He was really good at understanding what we want, which is the Rule of Zero,” Bowen said. “We want to eliminate negative plays. We want to eliminate turnovers. So, the worst thing that should happen on any play is a zero. In other words, we are right back at the line of scrimmage, and it’s second-down.”
In his first year as Tech’s starting quarterback, Drones threw 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Only FSU’s Jordan Travis (20 TDs/2 INTs) had a better ratio among ACC quarterbacks. Drones completed 58.2 percent of his passes, a number that Bowen wants to see increase, hoping his adjusted completion percentage (which takes into consideration dropped passes, throw-aways, spiked balls, etc.) is closer to 70 percent this fall.
“He did a terrific job last year,” Bowen said. “He…
On first-and-ten on its own 24-yard line, Virginia Tech and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen called for an inside power-read handoff to tailback Bhayshul Tuten. It’s a play Tech has run dozens of times during the 2023 season.
But then quarterback Kyron Drones recognized the Tulane defense was in disguise mode. He noticed the safety move down a step. He sensed the nickel and SAM linebacker sliding inside. This play wasn’t going to work.
So, the Hokies’ QB instantly and instinctively changed the play to an outside zone run to the left.
Shotgun snap to Drones, delivers the ball to Tuten, hard sprint to the left, perfectly blocked up front, Tuten explodes through the line of scrimmage and sprints for a 44-yard gain.
That audible brought a smile to Bowen’s face in the press box at the time, and he reflected on that very moment months later during a recent conversation.
“Kyron made that play,” Bowen told me. “We make the calls upstairs, but he has a check for every single play we run. (Drones) has the chalk in his hands last.”
And as the 2023 season progressed, Drones used that chalk more and more.
He made more good decisions than most fans ever realized. We all see his passes and his tremendous gallops when he carries the ball. He’s a highlight machine.
But what we don’t always recognize is that successful running plays start with Drones calling—or, in many instances, changing the play.
Protection recognitions and run-game audibles aren’t official stats. But they are analytics tracked by the coaching staff, and getting the right play called and executed is what a winning QB does.
“He was really good at understanding what we want, which is the Rule of Zero,” Bowen said. “We want to eliminate negative plays. We want to eliminate turnovers. So, the worst thing that should happen on any play is a zero. In other words, we are right back at the line of scrimmage, and it’s second-down.”
In his first year as Tech’s starting quarterback, Drones threw 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Only FSU’s Jordan Travis (20 TDs/2 INTs) had a better ratio among ACC quarterbacks. Drones completed 58.2 percent of his passes, a number that Bowen wants to see increase, hoping his adjusted completion percentage (which takes into consideration dropped passes, throw-aways, spiked balls, etc.) is closer to 70 percent this fall.
“He did a terrific job last year,” Bowen said. “He…
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