Coach Beamer released some interesting news yesterday regarding transfers and the updated roster, just two days away from start of spring practice. He confirmed other moves that have been known for awhile, so I'll just focus on what came out yesterday.
The second part of my spring preview. If you missed my take on the offense, check it out here. Please enjoy.
The Defense
The defensive personal and scheme are anything but cut and dry this season. Right now I'd only feel comfortable penning in Bruce Taylor, Eddie Whitley, Jaryon Hosley and Kyle Fuller as starters. Usually when there's so much up in the air and unsettled it's a bad thing. However, the defensive side of the ball features a lot of talent and depth, most of it just happens to be at linebacker. The depth along the defensive line is great, but there are no studs, yet; the potential is there though. I like the look of the secondary, how can't you really? Jayron is a legit All-American and Kyle Fuller just balls. I think Antone Exum has a lot of potential and he played well in the Nickel, but he's going to have to prove himself at Rover.
Luckily we have the best defensive coordinator in the country putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I'm sure Bud would be the first to say the defense underperformed against elite opponents last season (see: Boise State and Stanford), albeit in a rebuilding year. The reason why Foster is the master of his craft is because he's not afraid to tweak what he's got. Running a heavy dose of Nickel and 3-3-5 might not have been outside of his comfort zone, but it was something pretty foreign for us as fans to watch. I think Bud's willingness in the past to change schemes (the abandonment of the 4-4, etc) is what's led to all the speculation that the defensive philosophy will be going under another makeover. Clearly the Whip backer and Rover are two of the main keys to a defense noted for its adaptability and versatility. Those positions require a unique athlete with the skills of more than just a linebacker or safety respectively.
And now for something completely different. Virginia Tech made the assistant coaches' 2011 salary information public a couple of days ago, so why not rank them in terms of compensation value, replaceability difficulty, recruiting prowess and by any other subjective criteria you feel is applicable. One is the highest ranking and I'm really only considering what they've done over the ten wins a year era.
Xavier Boyce and his girlfriend Olivia Hutchins, both 20 and of Blacksburg, were arrested on charges related to cruelty and injuries to the girl, Blacksburg police said today.
Police believe the child was injured Jan. 31 at the couple's home in the 1200 block of University City Boulevard, police said. They did not say in what way the child was hurt.
Boyce and Hutchins were released on $5,000 unsecured bonds.
via: http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/breaking/wb/281071
Well it looks like we're back in the Fulmer Cup, and this incident most certainly won't help dispel the public perception produced by the SI/CBS College Football and Crime Report published at the beginning of the month.
We will let you know more as we hear it.
With spring practice getting ready to start football is almost here again. Like all of you I will be salivating over every big play and worrying about every player that seems like they are nowhere near where they need to be for opening kickoff. Luckily we have the NFL draft to distract us--with Mel Kiper’s promise that he knows exactly what is best for every team. We can watch as he tells us that anyone who dares choose someone not on his big board will be doomed to the Cleveland Browns fate (see Chicago Cubs for example). Like most Hokies, I will be hoping that Tyrod ends up where he will be used as a true quarterback and not left for some last ditch wild cat package or forced into playing wide out for the Raiders.
It's football season again!
/drives to ABC and buys bourbon
//heads to Giant to replenish charcoal and supply of dead filleted and smoked farm animals
///purchases new 55" LCD television
For the next few weeks at least.
////sighs
This is the second edition of Springapalooza, our all too comprehensive spring preview. Check back next week to read about the defense. Throughout spring for Kevin will have practice updates. And after the Maroon and White Game the BCO will wrap everything up with a neat bow.
The Offense
Adios Amigos
Ralph Wiggum once stated, "Tyrod Taylor not Hokies quarterback, that's umpossible." It's unfortunate for us that's not accurate. Tyrod's graduating and taking his career 7,017 passing yards, 2,187 rushing yards and 67 touchdowns to the NFL where hopefully he'll get his shot at quarterback and not be slotted into some seven win team's Wildcat package. However, replacing Tyrod will prove umpossible. He did it right both on and off the field and he was all about winning, duh.
David Wilson DERPs sheriffs.
Be patient. Let the blocks develop. Burst through the funnel. That was too easy.
In what can easily be described as a microcosm of this season, the short-handed Hokies battled throughout but fell in the waning seconds to Wichita State 79-76 in the second round of the NIT. The loss finishes Tech's season at 22-12 and marks the end of the careers of Malcolm Delaney, Jeff Allen, Terrell Bell, and Paul Debnam. This senior class tied the 1985-86 class for the most victories by a class (87) in school history.
Neither team led by more than six the entire game, but things looked bleak as Jeff Allen fouled out with a little more than six minutes remaining in regulation. WSU went on a brief 4-0 run to open up a six-point lead at 63-57. Victor Davila picked up his fourth foul in the process and Paul Debnam checked in with 4:36 to go. Debnam's appearance during meaningful minutes sparked Tech, who went on a 7-0 run to take a 64-63 lead with 2:37 remaining.
With the game tied at 66, Manny Atkins sank a big time three-pointer, but was countered by J.T. Durley with 47 seconds left. After Terrell Bell missed a three-pointer, Joe Ragland missed a floater as time expired to send the game into overtime.
Who: Virginia Tech Hokies (22-11, 11-8 ACC) vs Wichita State Shockers (25-8, 14-4 MVC)
When: Sunday, March 20 @ 11:00 a.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA
The Opponent: After knocking off Bethune-Cookman in the first round of the NIT, the Hokies face an experienced and deep Wichita State squad. The Shockers, out of the Missouri Valley Conference dominated Nebraska 76-49 Wednesday night to advance to the second round in Blacksburg.
The Shockers are 25-8 on the season and don’t have many bad losses. They lost to Connecticut in Maui by four, at San Diego State by 14, twice to Missouri State, and by one to Virginia Commonwealth in the BracketBusters game this year. WSU was shocked (no pun intended) in the MVC Tournament by Indiana State, the eventual tournament champion.
Here’s a look at their starting lineup:
"We're all so pissed about missing the tournament," Deege told me. "Four years in a row. We've been overlooked four years in a row. It's been tough, getting First Four Out four years in a row when teams like VCU and UAB get in with no right whatsoever."
via D.C. Sports Bog
