Virginia Tech ranks 72nd nationally with 157 yards per game. The Hokies have lacked a reliable and consistent rush attack all season. Beamer Co.'s newest solution, distribute the carries among less players.
"I think four backs is too many," Beamer said Monday during his weekly teleconference.
Virginia Tech (4-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) ranks fifth in the 12-team conference in rushing yards per game at 157. It's per carry average of 4.3 yards is also fifth in the league.
"I still think consistency in running the football, I think that's our No. 1 priority right now," Beamer said. "If we could get that squared away, I think that would affect other things. We have our moments at times but I think to consistently be able to do that is a key objective for us."
And to get better execution, Beamer said the coaching staff is discussing cutting down the number of tailbacks they're preparing each week. Redshirt freshman Michael Holmes, true freshman J.C. Coleman, junior Tony Gregory and senior Martin Scales had been splitting reps in practice and carries in games. Beamer didn't offer any specifics yet on how the rotation would change.
"I think we've got to narrow it down," Beamer said. "I think they all bring something. They're all great kids, but I do think we need more consistency. Probably getting more precise will help us in that regard. We're talking about it and looking at it, and we'll work with our guys on that."
Here's the breakdown of the carries and rushing production for the entire season.
| Name | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.C. Coleman | 56 | 338 | 6.04 | 2 |
| Logan Thomas | 92 | 298 | 3.24 | 5 |
| Michael Holmes | 61 | 257 | 4.21 | 4 |
| Toby Gregory | 29 | 158 | 5.45 | 1 |
| Martin Scales | 23 | 109 | 4.74 | 2 |
| Dyrell Roberts | 8 | 72 | 9 | 0 |
| Marcus Davis | 4 | 61 | 15.25 | 0 |
| Demitri Knowles | 3 | 11 | 3.67 | 0 |
And now here's the same information over the last two weeks, first for Duke, then Clemson.
| Name | Caries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Thomas | 11 | 50 | 4.55 | 0 | 20 |
| J.C. Coleman | 13 | 183 | 14.08 | 2 | 86 |
| Dyrell Roberts | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Michael Holmes | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 8 |
| Tony Gregory | 8 | 33 | 4.13 | 0 | 11 |
| Martin Scales | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Name | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Thomas | 21 | 99 | 4.71 | 1 | 19 |
| J.C. Coleman | 12 | 19 | 1.58 | 0 | 7 |
| Dyrell Roberts | 1 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Michael Holmes | 5 | 18 | 3.6 | 0 | 7 |
| Tony Gregory | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 | 16 |
| Martin Scales | 4 | 27 | 6.75 | 0 | 16 |
| Demitri Knowles | 1 | -10 | -10 | 0 | 0 |
Who are the odd men out?
Logan Thomas will continue to be an integral part of the ground game. The coaches designed the offense around him in the offseason, and aren't ready to give up on it. That also leads me to believe the receivers will continue to get their touches, otherwise the jet action and pre-snap motions that became an emphasis this year aren't much of a threat.
Unlike last year with David Wilson, Tech doesn't have a true feature back. So there will probably be at least a two man rotation. Even though he had a forgettable game against Clemson, J.C. Coleman has really impressed me. He runs downhill, and hard. Despite his size, he looks for contact, and when he makes it he keeps his feet moving. He's also one of only a couple playmakers on offense. He needs to keep getting touches.
Based on his carries early in the season, the coaches thought Holmes could develop into a fixture in the backfield. However, he's had the least production with the most opportunities. He's had some good runs this season, the second half against Cincinnati springs to mind, but not enough to justify how much he's been fed.
It seems like whenever Gregory and Scales come into the game, they rip off a big run, then turn around and head to the sidelines. Tech's found a good rhythm when Coleman has been at the slot, Gregory at tailback. And Tony has the speed to take any well blocked play to the house. Martin has been able to line up deep, and hammer down the field. They should both get more touches, but since Scales has been more successful in a traditional Tech attack, I think Gregory might be the guy.
No matter what Beamer Co. does, it's only part of the problem. The offensive line will need to continue to get better if Tech's going to turn it around on the ground.
What do you guys think?
Comments
Back to sit out
I feel like Holmes hesitates and doesn't hit the hole like he should. I would love to see Coleman and Gregory be the featured backs with Scales coming in for blocking, or short yardage situations.
unfortunately...
Its gotta be Tgreg, he carries the ball like a loaf of bread and is fumble prone.
ultimately, I'd like to see JC and scales rotate into a more traditional speed/power third down combo
less backs???
I thought having four tailbacks (much like having two quarterbacks -Glennon/Taylor, anyone... Anyone...) was juuuust right, I mean, am I right or am I right?!
Next Year
Hopefully Drew Harris qualifies, and he and JCC will be perfect compliments to each other
Drew Harris is the key IMO
There isn't many times I think of our stable of running backs that I don't pray for Drew Harris to still come to VT and take the reigns over. Him and JC are a great two back option. Harris has great size, speed and explosive running that could really help our ground game next year. I am excited about what Beamer said last night on Tech Talk Live about working in some more younger players into the line rotation. We need those guys to get some snaps this year or we will be totally rebuilding that line again which imo has been our biggest issue.
I can't imagine why Holmes would still get carries.
But, I couldn't imagine it to start the year either. He is just there. He isn't fast, powerful or shifty. He doesn't do anything above average.
JCC is clearly my guy, but I can see the advantage for getting Gregory some touches if he gets the right plays. Same for Scales.
Holmes, Martin, Wang. Don't play those three anymore.
you can't forget Bonner
I put Bonner in a different category...
...maybe its because we don't have any option but to play him. The other three, we have players who can play and don't get a chance.
But it also feels like Bonner will have a serviceable career at VT, his skills aren't much different than many of our previous DB's who have performed satisfactorily.
I really believe both Bonner and Mike Cole have gotten better each week. With that said, Holland Fisher and Kendall Fuller might take away their playing time next season.
Corners: Kendal Fuller, Exum
Rover/Free: Fisher/Jarrett depending on size
Nickel/Whip: Kyle Fuller
I agree
I think there are some guys starting now that might not see the field again except for special teams
Is it just me or does that secondary lineup get everybody a little sexually excited?
What do you think will happen to RVD?
Play a traditional Whip for non-spread teams? Bulk up and move to Backer?
The thing I like about JC
Is how much he has matured this year. Earlier this year, you could tell he wasn't comfortable. He wasn't hitting holes, he would get there either too soon before the gap opened or after the gap had been read by the defense. Now, he's smarter. He sees his hole, makes his cut, and goes. One play from Saturday sticks out in my mind where JC was about to lose about 2 yards and launched himself into a hole smaller than he was to pick up a yard and a half. In a way, it means very little, but you could tell that he didn't want the negative yardage on his stats. He took every little bit he could and that's what you need from a back. JC is not the same guy he was at the beginning of the year. As said earlier, JC and Harris could/should be a nasty combo next year and hopefully the line will help them with that.
Turning upfield
I remember the play you're talking about when he turned upfield (and another play where I think he was able to pick up three yards in a similar situation). I was impressed, and thought it showed maturity when he did that... for as good as David Wilson was, I don't know if he ever figured out he needed to occasionally do that instead of continuing to move laterally or reversing field and possibly losing a few more yards.
Coleman and Scales
I think the real problem is blocking and not necessarily the number of backs, but regardless, Gregory has the tendency to fumble (at least in the past) and Holmes runs with no emotion. Coleman is small and shifty and has proven that he can be a playmaker. Scales is big and powerful and I think given the opportunity for more carries, can be a physically dominant threat.
What does everyone think of the rotation? I want to say Shane Beamer is rotating each back for an entire series (although, I'm not sure how consistent that is with reality) and going with the "hot hand". But why not, have them subbed in an out constantly to keep defenses on their toes and to have a fresh set of legs. Of course you'd have to avoid creating tendencies like always using a power back like Scales on third and short, so maybe that's too complicated for our OC/play-calling geniuses.
Technical question
Can we move O'Cain to RB and cut his time back?
Bravo
Would this effectively narrow down the WR screens? 1 is too many.
I just hope Drew Harris is doing his homework. . .
Finally!!
The magic bean that will save our season!!
Gregory cannot be a feature or dedicated number two back. He's already proven this season that his knee isn't up to the challenge.
The coaches obviously don't trust Scales for some reason, else he would have already been given a shot to be da man.
That leaves Coleman and Holmes. Coleman looked all world against Duke and then screwed the pooch against Clemson. Makes me wonder if the starter role is too "big" for him, if you catch my drift.
Holmes... I got nothing. I just think he's an alright kind of back. Probably the least complete starter we've had around this joint for a decade. Solid effort, low ceiling.
So I think if the coaches are serious (and who the eff knows anymore by this point) then we'll see Holmes and JCC given more shots to prove one of them is the starter - which both will continue to struggle to do - and Scales and The Man With Two First Names will slide into obscurity to finish out their VT careers.
But let's be honest, we aren't going to find a ground game this season.
How did JC screw the pooch against Clemson. He took care of business as best as was allowed by the D. Others may have had bigger gains, but that was strictly due to better blocking on those particular plays. It was as though as soon as Coleman came in the D new exactly what plays to expect/the line decided not to block. Coleman ran "his nuts off" and every one of his yards were earned by him rather than the line.
JCC fo sho
Gotta go with Coleman! The question is who's the 2nd? Do we really need to split them though? Maybe the other 25% going to either Gregory or Scales. It seems clear that Scales is our guy to punch through on goal line or short yardage, but then again we have LT3 for that.
I've hated the big rotation since game one and glad they might finally narrow it down.
*lets face reality though, it's the O-line that isn't getting it done. Seeing JCC's yards per carry plummet is a direct reflection to the o-line not holding their own last week.
Coleman and Scales are the two backs they need to stick with. Scales is a consistent threat to break one off because of his hard-nosed running style but he's also a big back that has fought for yards.
Coleman is just a decent all-around back. He's played with what most of us will take as consistent effort this season and has the potential to be quite dynamic.
As far as Tony Gregory is concerned, every time he touches the ball I just expect him to put it on the ground. With the offensive troubles we're having it really shouldn't matter but nonetheless, you can't score if you don't have the ball.
All that being said, if the O'Cainspring brain-trust doesn't provide better opportunities to gain yards on the ground it doesn't make a rat's ass if I'm running the football because we won't score.
Without a doubt
Jc Coleman ..because he will be part of our futures and scales because he is the back with power ..gregory has shown flashes but he is injury prone, coughsup the ball, and is an upper classman..he has nothing that jc lacks..Holmes Will fall out of the rotation with Harris and edmunds in the mix next season
Yep
JCC #1, Scales #2. JCC is not only the best back today, but he has much more upside than any of the others. That much is clear. As for #2, I think it's pretty clear that we don't have the great backup option that we'd like to have this year. I wish TG and MH the best, but I don't think either has shown that they deserve significant carries. Scales hasn't had enough carries to get a great appraisal, but he has impressed with the carries he's gotten, and gives us some things none of the others do. So give him a real chance, make him #2 and see how he does.
Let's not get too hasty
We should give each back 1 down in the game vs Miami. Figure out which one is hot, and ride the hot hand.
Game plan:
Let's try some stretch plays with Scales, short yardage runs with Holmes, and leave JC on the sidelines after he runs for 183 yds.
You must have taken Stinespring's 2 day online class on offensive coordination
Bench Holmes. Put Gregory on the hot seat. Give Scales and Coleman the ball, depending on the situation.