Snapchat Review: Spring Practice Number 9

The Hokies scrimmaged inside of Lane Stadium today. The "behind the quarterback" view of the scrimmage work is difficult to break down without the view of what is happening down the field. Here are some initial thoughts.

In uncovered throwing drills, Josh Jackson throws a play action slant just a bit behind his receiver. AJ Bush then does a throwback boot deep to the sideline and hits the receiver in stride. He has to put a little bit of loft on the ball, but that is an NFL-caliber throw. Bush also seems to have a slightly quicker release. The one thing I have not seen from Bush is a play where he works through progressions quickly. I think, if Bush wins the job you are going to see more quarterback runs and more one read progressions like we saw with Evans. If Jackson wins the job, you can expect more traditional drop back passing where the quarterback works through multiple progressions. It is a difficult balance, as the wide receivers are likely more suited to Jackson, but the need for a running QB may offset that. Both quarterbacks continue to get repetitions with the top group.

In the scrimmage work, it is pretty clear that defensive end (with no Hill, Mihota, and Gaines) is a worry. Inside runs were bouncing off tackle when the current group of ends couldn't maintain their fits. Peoples had a run bounce off the left side behind a really nice seal out by Nijman. Peoples slipped in the hole. McMillian and Peoples both get reps with the 1 and 2 group. Nijman is consistently getting movement on the left side. Braxton Pffaf was working as both the 1 and the 2 at right guard in the clips. I wonder if Chung got dinged earlier in the day. Chung then reappears with the 2 OL later.

Bush found a seam on either a quarterback draw or a one-read pass where his receiver wasn't open and broke a long run off tackle to the right side. Motuapuaka had a chance at Bush right behind the center, and Bush broke away fairly easily. Pfaff did a good job of running the defensive tackle well wide of his rush lane to create the hole for Bush.

Later, Bush scored a touchdown on a traditional read option (inside zone left, quarterback right) that we didn't see much of last year. The defensive end crashed hard on the dive. Bush pulled the ball and beat the inside pursuit around the edge. Chris Cunningham is moving from his original alignment as an HBack on the left side to the right. He whams the edge player on the right side and creates a lane for Bush to get through. Great block by Cunningham.

Hooker also is getting the Evans treatment, with one read and go and lots of quarterback runs. He is very quick when he goes. On his first run, Dalton Keene gives Hooker a nice lead block. If Plantin could have maintained his block on Tavante Beckett, Hooker breaks it. Beckett gets off the block (Plantin could have been called for holding) and pulls Hooker down.

Josh Jackson was only in one clip of scrimmage work. He stands tall in the pocket despite a good interior rush from Tim Settle and throws a beautiful fade route down the right side. I can't tell if the catch is made, but the throw was on target.

Tavante Beckett absolutely stuck McMillian from the backside on an inside zone left where the boundary side defenders jammed everything up. Beckett found the cutback bubble and fitted it, leaving McMillain nowhere to go.

Bush sticks a quick curl right into the receiver's chest. Again, one read and out.