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 is comfortable in the passing game and really took on a leadership role with the offense. And his retention of the offensive elements."
Those elements in Virginia Tech's offense fit Drone's skill set perfectly.
"Essentially, we run a pro-style offense with spread principals," Bowen explained.
"The three things we want to do is keep it simple for us but confusing for the defensive play-caller on the other side.
"Secondly, we want to control the tempo. Not always fast. Not always slow. We want to be able to dictate the pace.
"And third is to have a mentality of intensity and toughness. We want to be the toughest offense in the ACC. Our perimeter blocking last year is a good example. Our receivers get downfield and block. They're physical. That's what we need."
Bowen as well as several other Tech coaches also remarked about an increase in the team's mental toughness as the '23 season progressed.
"We gave up a touchdown in that Pitt game (Drones' fumble was returned four yards for a Panthers' score), but we never flinched. Came right back and scored.
"Wake Forest returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but we came back and scored on the next play (Drones' 75-yard pass to Jaylin Lane)."
Even in the bowl game, an unforced fumble by Drones gave Tulane an early lead, but the Hokies seemed unfazed by the early misstep and won 41-20.
And now, like all Tech fans, Bowen is excited to see what his 2024 offense will look like when the Hokies open spring practice.
What are three things Bowen will be watching closely?
- Ali Jennings' return. "I'm looking forward to seeing him moving around again, knowing what he can do." In 2023, Jennings appeared in just two games before suffering a season-ending foot injury. But in 2022 at ODU, he had 54 receptions for 959 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished third in the country with 106.6 yards per game. He's a huge weapon, for sure.
- Wide receiver Ayden Green. "He got his feet wet as a true freshman last year, but he's going to have a much bigger role in our offense this year, Bowen said. Green had played in 12 games, recording five receptions for 56 yards last year.
- Maturation of the offensive line. "There's a group of guys there, like Brody Meadows and Braelin Moore, and others; we want to see where they are. We want to identify the five best offensive linemen we have, regardless of position, and put them together and build around that."
Virginia Tech had the nation's 22nd-ranked rushing offense (189.8 yards per game) last year and having Drones and Tuten return helps in a big way in those stats. But the offensive line remains the key, and Bowen and offensive line coach Ron Crook have 18 players on the O-line to work with this spring.
"It's our third year here. For many of our kids, it's their third year in the program, and they know the system. There's continuity on this offense now, that makes everything more efficient. The meetings, the practices, that continuity is important."
The Hokies will open spring practices on Saturday, Mar. 16. Virginia Tech football's 2024 spring game, presented by PMSI, will take place on Saturday, April 13. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Lane Stadium.