Of all the positions on the team I'm the most critical of the o-line. I played offensive line in high school so I think I have an idea of what it would take to play it on college (I definitely don't), and when I'm watching a game in Lane it's easiest to spot a big guy lumbering after a defender that's slipped by, rather than a running back that missed the hole. During Curt Newsome's first few seasons at Tech (first season was 2006) his o-lines were a dreadful part of a dysfunctional offense. Newsome's lines have gotten progressively better as Tech recruited more athletic players for his "zone blocking" scheme. In 2009 and '10 they turned a corner, and 2011 was the best unit he put on the field (t-22nd nationally with 17 sacks allowed, and 23rd with 198.71 yards per game). Last year's starting five featured four seniors, and now with players being recruited to fit his system, I'm cautiously optimistic Newsome will be able to reload, not rebuild.
As I wrote back in March, Tech isn't depending on four fresh faces.
Despite Miller being the only returning starter, other experienced linemen are back. Nick Becton played almost as many snaps at left tackle as Andrew Lanier. Lanier and Becton rotated series in 2011, and there were times when Becton looked like the more dominant player. Michael Via played as much as a reseve could expect, filling in at tackle, guard and center. His versatility afforded him early playing time and experience. The coaches planned for David Wang to play, probably as much as Via, but a broken right foot sidelined him for most of the season. Georgia transfer and former blue chip recruit Brent Benedict is the favorite to fill the final spot at guard. It still remains to be seen if Benedict can overcome inexperience/injury and pickup the Hokies athletic blocking scheme.
During spring I wanted to see if Painter would step up, Benedict could still play football, and if there was depth behind the starters. By all accounts Painter had a terrific spring and asserted himself as a leader, the tools were always there, and he held his own against James Gayle. Benedict was a powerhouse inside at guard, but lacked the mobility and range to play outside at tackle. The second and third team groups gave up a lot of sacks.
David Teel interviewed Curt Newsome Wednesday. The entire transcript is worth reading. Specifically, Newsome talking about Caleb Ferris, Laurence Gibson and Via caught my eye.
Caleb Ferris [a 6-3 sophomore] is a guy that will battle Benedict. We're going to move him over to guard. He'll also be the backup center, but we're going to get him reps, and he'll be in a battle for a starting position [at right guard]. We were going to do that earlier, but Caleb got hurt in the spring and missed a couple days, and we just weren't able to make that move.
My hope is that Ferris practices well enough to be a part of the rotation at guard. Andrew Miller is just a junior so he won't be getting experience at center. If Tech can depend on him at guard, then that'll free up Via to rep at tackle.
QUESTION: So [sophomore guard] Laurence Gibson isn't ready?
NEWSOME: Not ready, and he's still got three to play. That's one thing, the interior guys, you talk about Andrew Miller's got two to play, but then David Wang's got three to play [if the NCAA grants a medical hardship for last season], Matt Arkema's got three to play, Ferris has three to play, Benedict's got three to play. So you've got some youth inside.
Gibson came to Tech as a 4-star recruit at tackle, but then got bumped inside to guard. He's not way behind schedule as most of Newsome's linemen don't see the field until at least three years in the program, but his future would be more promising if he was in the mix more.
QUESTION: How's Michael Via's knee [the 6-7 reserve played most of his junior year with a torn ACL and had offseason surgery]?
NEWSOME: He's going extremely well right now. His summer workouts have been great. He's gained weight. He's good to enough to start. He started several games [in 2009] for us at center. He's alternated at guard every third series with Jaymes Brooks a year ago. He can play tackle. He's the guy we didn't have this spring that really adds depth. He'll be in a battle [with Painter] to start at [right] tackle, and if we feel like there's a need somewhere else, and the other person isn't getting it done, we'll put him inside.
With Painter having the spring under his belt, he's in the lead. But I don't see Via watching too many of our games beside me. Smart guy, coach's son. You talk about toughness now, played with a torn ACL the entire season. Wanted to do it. Asked if he could do it. Came to us and said, "I want to play."
Even though he might not be the first on the field, Via is just as important to the line's 2012 success as the five starters. He adds solid depth at every position, especially at tackle were there are no other real options.
Come September, I'll feel more confident about this group if: 1) there are no injuries and the starting five have all of camp to gel, and 2) another backup in addition to Via comes to play.
Comments
Great read. Maybe it's just me, but given Via's experience and versatility, doesn't it make sense to start him at RG? Especially given Benedict's challenges this spring, the rust after having not played for a few years, and the severity of his injuries. It seems better to bring Benedict along slowly in a rotation rather than starting him against Georgia Tech. I realize that takes away Via's ability to spell Painter at RT, but it sounded like VP locked that down this spring and maybe wouldn't need the sub.
If Caleb Farris starts, they are in a world of trouble. When "top heavy" is the first adjective that pops into my mind about an OL, that is worrisome.
It doesn't matter. Newsome just wants to push Benedict and Painter. Ultimately, if Benedict isn't very good, Via is going to start at right guard where he rotated with Brooks.
Farris
I agree with you Caleb has a ways to go to start but I was very impressed with how quickly he was able to see the feild and perform when he did step onto Worsham. Farris has got the nasty attitude on the feild and plays to the whistle on every play. Small sample size but compared to how long it took some of the highly rated guys I was surprised to see him play and impressed when he did considering his youth. I agree though don't really feel comfortable with him starting over one of these guys yet.. What is going on with Shuman and Gibson? Those guys were big time recruits and haven't heard anything positive about those Big-Uns yet..
French have you seen a list of walk-ons yet. Someone wrote that Brandon Sturdivant isn't coming. I think he wrote " no college" on his twitter account. Just curious, some of the kids we offered walk-on offers to were good. Big fan of your work by the way. Thanks..
I can't remember a single offseason when we didn't hear about how great the offensive line was going to be. And this year with relatively little experience returning- I'll reserve judgment until I see them on the field, but I'm not going to get my hopes up based on how the coaches talk them up.
I agree 100%.
However, I think it's hard to prove that last year's line was anything but good to excellent. They had two really piss-poor games, both against Clemson. Andre Branch ate out lunch in Lane, and the wheels fell off in Charlotte. I'm still not sure if they got worked on talent or scheme, probably a combination of both.
Like you, I'm reserving judgement until the season. When Newsome was first hired, a lot people including myself were fooled into thinking it would be a quick transition and he'd produce excellent lines right away. Unlike the NFL, there are no ready made free agents available to support such a change. He had to bring his guys via recruiting, then build 'em up. Also, it didn't help that there were a few busts along the way. Things seem to be running smoother now, and we seem to be replenishing talent along the line with better success. I'm banking on us fielding a better than average to solid line because their the last few seasons have been trending upward and Newsome has his players.
If this group is healthy, and they don't produce, then that's on Newsome. They know the system, and there are some really talented kids playing for us. Fielding a great o-line in seasons only when it's 4/5s seniors doesn't cut the mustard. However, he only way I see us struggling mightily is if there are injuries to both tackles. I wouldn't want Via protecting LT3, and there isn't much in the cupboard.
I can't disagree with anything you've said there, but Newsome has had his guys in the system for a few years now with mixed results. Last year's senior heavy squad was a relative success, but as you point out got exposed vs. upper echelon competition.
And there are going to be injuries. Every team has them every year. They've got to get to a level where they can overcome a normal amount of adversity. So I'm worried.
I think it's going to be an uphill struggle to win the ACC this year. They can do it but it's going to take some serious grit. It's going to have to get real gritty. Go to home depot, buy a bag of gravel, pour it into a cereal bowl with some milk and then eat it. Now you know how gritty I'm talking.
Indeed, the ACC is pretty loaded his year. I wrote that with a straight face. If the league actually wins non-conference games national media folks might even pick up on it. Depending on the health of the secondary, special teams, o-line, and play at whip we'll be somewhere between 1st and 4th best. We're somewhat fortunate that in the year UNC looks pretty capable on offense, and we play FSU and Clemson, they're banned from postseason play. It's early, but I'd peg us at 10-2, losses to both FSU and Clemson, but getting back to Charlotte where anything can happen.
You leave out the Michigan game, where the Hokies did whatever they wanted EXCEPT run the football effectively in between the tackles at winning time. Greg Nosal, Andrew Miller, and Jaymes Brooks were effectively blown up at the point of attack.
Hokies pass protection has been excellent over the last couple of seasons except in two circumstances.
1) Versus elite, NFL caliber edge rushers (see Branch.) This screams to Newsome's inability to recruit NFL caliber left tackles. Moving converted tight ends to tackle improves the athleticism issue, but doesn't bring with it the wingspan and often the lower body strength needed to handle a guy who has both the speed move and the bull rush. Our starter this year, Nick Becton is a guy who is an upgrade over Andrew Lainer, but has weaknesses that are crucial against a top pass rusher. A) He is slow on snap count. B) He has less wingspan than an average tackle.
The combo of Branch's edge rush, and Brandon Thompson blowing up Nosal and Miller every play basically took away the entire left side of the field for the Hokies offense. The rest of the Clemson D loaded up on the outside gaps, corners pressed, and forced the Hokies into very limited options. It was textbook.
2) The Hokies have struggled mightly against interior blitzes. Part of that results from a series of tailbacks who are willing, but engage the blitzer too close to the QB, or poor recognition by the guards and center. The 2nd half of the Stanford game made the Hokies interior look like me in a flag football game. Benedict, Via, and Wang must be better than their former teammates in this facet. Luckily, ACC coaches have been too stupid to watch the film and make that adjustment.
I'm just not that worried about the O-line
When I hear VT fans ranting about the O-line, my mind typically goes to the 07 LSU game when we knew we had no line protecting Sean Glennon. We knew before the season started it was bad and I remember hearing all about it everywhere. Our starters are solid. If anyone gets injured in practice, including Via, then I will start to worry, but for right now I'm thinking about something else.
Coles and Davis were not totally reliable last year-I still think Davis played a large part in our first Clemson loss-and we are assuming they will step it up a notch this year? They have the physical gifts but they still need to prove they are reliable. Is Roberts 100%? The backups have too limited experience to know what they will do in a game and we are blessed with a likely first round draft Cam Newton QB who has the talent to beat Don Strock's passing record....with these receivers?? Rate this receiving corp against previous ones and it worries me. Someone please ease my pain right now.
If Coles is healthy, and a reliable possession guy is found, I am not worried about the receivers. I still am of the opinion that Coles should have started over Boykin last year based on effort and ability, but Boykin was a senior and they were not going to bench him. Route running is the big question mark for this group. They need to be sharp and sell underneath routes to get DB's to bite on the double moves that were so valuable to the Hokies down the stretch last year. This is going to be a very vertical offense.
definately agree
while working on my 2012 trailer and looking at the footage I have of number 18...I think he is going to be really special this year.
I am watching the UVA film. Via will start somewhere, and he will be solid.