Virginia Tech Spring Football: Adjusting to Zohn Burden, Wide Receivers Focus on Run Blocking

With spots to fill and areas to improve, Zohn Burden gets to work in his first spring.

Zohn Burden [Mark Umansky]

With a brand new position coach and four open spots, questions abound about the state of the receiving corps in terms of leadership, run blocking and depth. Wide receivers coach Zohn Burden inherited a unit already left thin by the graduation of Willie Byrn and departure of Josh Stanford. The group lost more weight with the pre-spring departure of Kendrick Holland and Carlis Parker.

The stellar sophomore duo of Isaiah Ford (56 catches, 709 yards, 6 TDs '14) and Cam Phillips (40 catches, 498 yards, 3 TDs '14) will be counted on for their production on the field, and leadership off it.

"It was funny. Our grad assistant Drew Terrell told Isaiah and me that we have the most experience in the receivers' room and we looked around at the seniors and juniors," Phillips said. "It felt kind of weird but we understand that that's what we need to do for the team to succeed."

Perimeter blocking

Noted as one of the most significant offensive shortcomings by offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler and Zohn Burden alike, the receivers' ability to block on the perimeter left something to be desired in 2014.

"We're out there early and come in late working on extra drills," Burden said. "Blocking is an effort thing. The run game is more of a concern than pass game."

Despite their prowess through the air, Ford and Phillips resolve to improve blocking, a weak part of their game.

"We did an okay job of perimeter blocking," Phillips said. "But those runs that got 10 yards will turn into 30 and 40-yard runs as we get better. There's a high emphasis on blocking and technique."

The Dematha High School product's sentiment is echoed by his sophomore counterpart.

"I need to improve on blocking," Ford said. "It was very average last year. I think it was because I was small but I put on a lot of weight and I got more confident in my blocking and it's improved since Burden's been here."

The 6-1, 180 pound Ford noted that he's put on eight pounds of muscle since last season and is carrying just four percent body fat. His goal weight is still 10 pounds off. After getting closer to his target, however, Ford's starting to flirt more seriously with his second love.

"I didn't play basketball because this year I felt like I needed to get in the weight room and get stronger and faster," Ford said. "Next year, we'll see."

Depth and Options

It's no easy task for a coach to come into a new system and be objective. They're naturally faced with the internal dilemma of inheriting things as they are or making new judgments of their own.

Burden's kept this in balance.

"I watched the game film prior to spring ball and when I first got hired to make my own evaluations of everyone," Burden said. "I'm trying to make sure everyone's improving on their weaknesses."

Aside from the obvious top-dog tandem of Ford and Phillips, who only figure to keep getting better, Burden has found some guys who have earned favor with their early progress.

"Jaylen Bradshaw, Deon Newsome, Demitri Knowles and Kevin Asante are starting to come along the more we practice," Burden said. "Kevin (Asante) understands the offense. He's been around the program for a while. He's a big, physical guy. He'll definitely be in the mix for playing time."

Burden also noted that Demitri Knowles is one step away from making a significant leap.

"(Knowles) is starting to come along," Burden said. "He runs track and it's not very physical but I'm trying to get him to learn that football is. If he can master the physical element then the sky's the limit for him."

Burden made it clear that there are undoubtedly spots still up in the air.

"We're working on it," Burden said. "I think guys are starting to gain some confidence. We're trying to figure out who can step in and fill a role and be the next guy up."

Burden noted that he hopes to rotate in six to eight receivers each game.

Adjusting to Burden

It was inevitable that there would be some losses when former wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead left. Even so, most receivers are taking the adjustment to Burden in stride, and some are already very comfortable.

"We like him a lot," Ford said. "He came with a chip on his shoulder. It kind of reminded me of our receivers. A lot of people think of us as "dbu." We want to change that.

"Coach Burden is the best person we could've hired."

Burden is making a particular effort to know each of his players on a personal level in an effort to enhance overall efficiency and chemistry.

"We're going to do things off the field where we talk about everything besides football to try and get a relationship where we get to know each other," Burden said. "So when I'm yelling at them on the field they understand I still care about them but want to get the best out of them."

Logistically, Burden hasn't had any problems assimilating into a new offensive scheme.

"We ran a pro-style offense like this when I was at the University of Richmond," Burden said. "We threw it around at Old Dominion too so this is nothing new."

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