Tech’s Taylor making better use of all his tools

BLACKSBURG — There were times earlier in Tyrod Taylor’s career where he found it easier to tuck the ball and run. Then, as he evolved as a starting quarterback, he made more of an effort to stay in the pocket and pass.

He was a dual-threat quarterback, but he didn’t always harness both of those capabilities in the same game. That’s starting to change.

Lately, he’s been making better use of all the tools in his arsenal.

“The coaches just basically want me to take what defenses give me. I think I’ve been doing a good job with that, whether it’s running or staying in the pocket,” said Taylor, who leads the ACC and is 16th nationally in pass efficiency (148.0) and is third among ACC quarterbacks with 292 rushing yards.

Taylor, who has completed 56 percent of his passes this season for 1,720 yards, 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions, has had some great run-pass games in his career, but recently he has made more consistent use of all his skills as a runner and passer to fuel the Hokies’ attack.

Only five times in his first 31 games did Taylor pass for more than 130 yards and rush for more than 50 in the same game. He’s done it in each of Tech’s last two contests.

Lately, Taylor has seemed more comfortable mixing things up — running when he sees the opportunity but also being patient in the pocket and waiting for his receivers to get open.

“I think I’m more mature in the pocket, finding receivers down the field and using my legs to allow guys to get open,” he said. “Not just taking off and getting past the line of scrimmage, but just working behind the line of scrimmage and letting guys get open and me finding them downfield.”

Taylor, who passed for 137 yards and rushed for 67 and a touchdown in the Hokies’ 16-3 win at East Carolina on Nov. 5, followed that with what could easily be judged his best collegiate performance Saturday in a 36-9 win at Maryland.

He completed 13 of 23 passes for 268 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and also rushed for 81 yards on eight carries against the Terps. It was the first time in his career he topped 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in the same game.

“He played a heck of a game,” Tech running back Ryan Williams said. “He’s had a lot of good games ... but this is one of his best.”

One sure sign of a great quarterback is an ability to put the ball in places he knows only his receivers can catch it.

Taylor did that several times against the Terps, finding Jarrett Boykin down the left sideline on a nifty fade pattern in the first quarter, and then again in the second when he threaded the ball between two defenders and into Boykin’s large hands for a 64-yard catch and run touchdown.

He also completed two highlight reel passes to sophomore receiver Dyrell Roberts, who made both plays possible with spectacular catches.

“It was my job to get the ball around (the receivers), and they did a great job of just making a play,” Taylor said.

Taylor, who moved into fifth place in career total offense (5,142) at Tech, is becoming more adept at throwing the deep ball, which was something he struggled with at times early in the season.

The light seemed to come on during Tech’s home game against Nebraska, during which Taylor threw a perfect rainbow pass to receiver Danny Coale for an 81-yard gain in the fourth quarter to set up his game-winning touchdown throw to Roberts with 21 seconds remaining.

“The one criticism I had of him early was the way he was throwing the deep ball,” Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain recently said.

“He was throwing a couple of them out of bounds and a couple of them over the receivers’ heads, and now … he’s been throwing the deep ball well. That’s where I’ve seen the most improvement.”

Trusting his receivers has been a major part of Taylor’s maturation. Most of his top pass-catchers were freshmen last season, so it took some time for all of them to get on the same page.

That doesn’t seem to be a problem now.

“He’s just relaxed in the pocket, or if he scrambles out, he’s not looking to take off,” Boykin said.

“He’s still looking downfield for his receivers breaking to the ball. You can tell he is a lot more comfortable, and he’s having a lot more fun seeing what we do.”

But don’t forget about that magnificent speed. Taylor, who has rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns in the last four games, strikes fear into opponents with his ability to break off long runs.

He might be more willing to wait for a receiver to get open, but the Hokies want him to continue to run when there’s an opportunity.

Taylor has been doing more of that lately. Five of his eight rushes Saturday went for 10 or more yards (two were sacks for negative yardage).

“He’s very elusive, very quick,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “He has a quick release and is very accurate.”

Coaches used to talk about Taylor’s speed. Now they can’t help but praise his passing ability as well.