Photos by Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Bryan Stinespring (right) has been Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator since December 2001 and has been a full-time aide to Frank Beamer since 1993.

Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant (right) expressed frustration with the Hokies' offense Tuesday.

BLACKSBURG -- Fans frustrated by Virginia Tech's offensive woes got concurrence from an unlikely place Tuesday -- the Hokies' own locker room.

Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant said the offense is too predictable and offered little support for embattled offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, adding that his sentiments are not uncommon among the team.

"Pretty much every team we face this year knows what we're going to do" on offense, Sturdivant said. "I have a couple friends at Carolina, a couple friends at N.C. State, things like that, they're pretty much just calling out the plays that we're going to run on offense. Our offense is pretty much predictable. You know what you're going to see each and every week."

Asked whether he thought Stinespring should go, Sturdivant said: "That's a hard one." But he added that he didn't think the outside criticism was unfair.

"Yeah, I can definitely see where they're coming from," Sturdivant said of the critics. "Me and a lot of guys."

Stinespring's unit has slipped to 109th out of 118 Division I-A teams in total offense, a year after finishing 100th in the rankings.

The Hokies put up 400 yards in a win over Maryland two weeks ago but stumbled badly last week at Miami. They ran just six plays in the third quarter of the 16-14 loss and finished with 250 total yards.

When asked if he could say whether Stinespring would be the offensive coordinator next year, head coach Frank Beamer deflected.

"We're working way too hard to be talking about things like that," Beamer said.

After Tuesday night's practice, Stinespring declined to comment on Sturdivant's quotes.

"I'm not going to talk about that," he said. "I'm not going to talk about it. No, not a bit. I'm only thinking about Duke and going to get a win this week."

After Tuesday's practice, several offensive players wrapped their arms around Stinespring. Three of the offensive linemen gave him a group hug.

While Stinespring was talking to reporters, running back Dustin Pickle put his arm around the coach and interrupted: "This is the best coach I've ever had in my life."

One player, who asked not to be named, said that Beamer asked Sturdivant to speak to the team before Tuesday's practice. Sturdivant, the player said, explained away his earlier comments as a misunderstanding.

Other players expressed their support of Stinespring.

"We always supported him," wide receiver Danny Coale said after practice.

"We think he's a heck of a coach. We all do. Every one of us. ... He's a great coordinator. We've just got to go execute right now and make some plays."

Sturdivant, a fifth-year senior out of Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, said he had not informed Stinespring of his sentiments or the comments from his friends at other schools. But he said he had a close relationship with the coach, particularly during his first few years on campus.

"Actually, he recruited me," Sturdivant said before practice.

"It's tough. A lot of people assume stuff from the outside in and they don't really know what's going on. At the same time, anyone could look at the TV and see the production that the offense gave and the production that the defense gave. I guess that's something they've just got to work out with the coaching staff."

Sturdivant said whatever happens with Stinespring, he deserves to remain on staff as a recruiter.

Earlier this month, the 45-year-old assistant lured Brookville High School's Logan Thomas -- the No. 1 rated tight end in the nation by rivals.com -- to Blacksburg.

"He's a heck of a recruiter," Sturdivant said. "So I would give him credit there. He knows talent when he sees it."

Offensive lineman Nick Marshman said he ignores the growing criticism from the outside.

"I don't pay any attention to that," Marshman said.

"He's the offensive coordinator. I love him as a coach. People writing stuff out there, that's their opinion. They don't know the guy like we know him. They don't spent 17, 18 weeks with him. So if they think they know what they know then let them say what they say. He's a great guy."

Sturdivant doesn't have as much day-to-day contact with Stinespring as Marshman, but he said it's plain to see the offense needs more variety.

"I think that's the main key," Sturdivant said.

"Change up the plays, you know, so they can't get a feel for what you're doing. I think that would make a big improvement on the points we put up, the yards we put up."

Stinespring said he was "a little disappointed" with the Miami loss -- and particularly the third quarter -- but said practice has been good and indicated that this wouldn't be a distraction.

"You keep blinders on," he said. "You stay focused on what you can control. And what we can control is our attitude, our approach, our mind-set and how we go about getting ready for this."

(Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reporter Kyle Tucker contributed to this story.