#Hokies coach Brent Pry announces on the Triumph NIL livestream that Grant Wells will start at quarterback in the Sept. 2 season opener against ODU.Notes Bob Schick will start at right guard with Xavier Chaplin (LT), Braelin Moore (LG), Kaden Moore (C), Parker Clements (RT).— Damien Sordelett (@DamienSordelett) August 23, 2023
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More worried about Schick at RG than QB. I have my concerns about Wells, but given the commitment to rework the WR room to open up the field, they need the guy who can get it in their hands quick. Wells has the better arm talent and looked pretty comfortable in the more-play pass focused offense in the spring.
But, they better be able to run the ball with that lineup. I sure hope Meadows steps up and overtakes Schick.
Wells had 9 touchdown passes in 11 starts last season.
You must be REALLY worried about Schick, because I'm very concerned about our QB position.
I predict Schick will be razor sharp in his first start.
Insert drumming monkey giff here....
It's hard to throw TDs when (a) your receivers don't get open, (b) you don't have a running game, and (c) the line can't block for you.
Tyrod did it. Mikey.
Tyrod's passing TD's were never very impressive. Maybe his senior/final season he had the most. Every other season was on the order of 1TD/game or less I think.
Are you saying his volume numbers weren't impressive, or the throws themselves weren't impressive?
This is a really bizarre take to me. I think 2009-2010 Tyrod was the best QB play we got since Vick, without question. Raw numbers don't tell the whole story with Jerod Evans in 2016. If Tyrod was in a modernized offense he would have put up ridiculous numbers as well like we saw from many QB's in the 2010's, many of which were much worse QB's than Tyrod.
Tyrod YPA in 2009: 9.5
Tyrod YPA in 2010: 8.7
Tyrod in 2010: 24 passing TD's on 315 throws.
Jerod Evans YPA in 2016: 8.4
Jerod in 2016: 29 passing TD's on 422 throws.
No sorry...2010, definitely among best QB play we've seen in a season. I meant that it took until his final year of eligibility before he had 20+ TD passes in a season.
The comment above me was talking about the 9 TD passes for Wells last season. And I just meant to say that Tyrod's first 3 years were low TD numbers. He was splitting time with Glennon and the offense was not pass heavy. Just saying Grant could take a big leap with more talent around him and more experience. Tyrod definitely did.
I definitely misread the context of your post.
I think our defense was scoring regularly and we had decent running backs too so we didn't need video game qb numbers to be effective. What a time
You really want to compare:
Wells might be Glennon-level with the improved receiving corp. He ain't ever gonna be Tyrod.
Yeah, you right. My post was mostly tic.
Tyrod absolutely had better talent around him than Wells had last year or will have this year. But I also remember lamenting how awful our oline seemed to be even when he was here. When Tyrod was here I remember lots of fans thinking if we had an oline that could actually block and wrs who could actually get open and catch, our offense would be unstoppable. Kinda funny, and sad, to think about how much we would love to have those players now.
In 2008 we had a good run blocking line but they were often a sieve against a good DL in pass pro. I remember rewatching the 2008 Miami game and Tyrod was having to pull miracles in a collapsing pocket pretty regularly.
In that sense, this years OL could be similar with how we will hopefully improve in our run blocking, but could have some growing pains with a talented, but untested LT, on top of what we already know that some from this group struggled in pass pro last season as well.
Didn't Chris Drager play tight end/defensive end? I don't remember him being an olineman
I'm with you Bar. And for what it's worth, I'm really eager to see the staff prove that they ca actually develop a quarterback. Been many years since a VT QB that had meaningful snaps in year X actually got better in year X + 1. Hopefully the line and WR group are better as it would not be fair to judge Wells or the QB coaching if we cannot run, cannot block and cannot get anyone open.
Yes, Wells can throw accurately, and yes, much better when not pressed. That said, it's not his throwing skills that worry me. He seems to panic throw poorly, and there are going to be times he's not going to be in a perfectly protected bubble and it is those times I worry about. Have they been able to deal with his mental state when the play breaks down? Like golf, it's those 6'' between the ears that are the most important distance for a QB. I'm hoping, but Wells came to us with those interceptions on his resume, and so far, well we'll see.
I've noticed we all tend to assume that players (especially QBs) will be exactly the same from year to year. Probably because it's been a while since we had the same QB 2 years in a row and actually saw any development from year to year. I'm cautiously optimistic that a better cast of supporting characters and some actual skills improvement could see us in a better place than last year.
If not, well the backup QB is always the most popular and talented player on the team!
Given that our best receiver was at one time a walk-on, paired with a lack of run game (Holston/king), and a new offensive scheme, I don't believe it was all on Wells.
The WR room was so bad last year - hard to judge Wells based on that. He gets a clean slate from me for the first 3 games - if he stinks with betters WRs across the board - then Pry has a tough decision. Drones playing keeps the pressure on Wells which wasn't the case last year - could be good or bad depending on how he handles it.
I don't think Wells is going to suddenly be great - but he can get back to his 2021 Marshall stat line (65% completion, ~3K yards, and 15+ TDs) - just hopefully without 10+ INTs.
Drones not putting up a bigger fight is my disappointment. Just never felt like a threat he was going to win it. If Wells plays poorly - is Pry really going to make the call and move to Drones quickly? I just don't see it.
Qualifying this- it is put up or shut up for Wells now that he theoretically has a better supporting cast. Also, I had hoped Drones could beat him out. The fact that he couldn't suggests a big beige flag on his potential upside.
Yeah not sure he'll be here next summer if Pop keeps breathing down his neck...
"The fact that he couldn't suggests a big beige flag on his potential upside."
^^^that^^^, in... spades.
b.street
I think it's possible that Schick is getting the veteran tiebreaker here after contesting that position. If he's the best option, great, but I think we could see Meadows or someone else claim that spot over the course of the season as well.
I could see Meadows starting this year before it's over.
This. If Wells stays clear, we have the receiving talent that will put up numbers. Even more so, get the running game going and the play action will be there. If anything, I think this is why you might see Drones - bad O-line play favors the big mobile QB.
I don't know how I feel about him commenting that Drones will play every week.
Doesn't seem like Drones is enough of an athlete to provide much of a running game spark.
big mobile backup QB? Line them both up on the backfield then motion him out as a short yardage receiver/TE.
From what I've read he's not *that* mobile though...
It sure didn't seem, besides IZR, that they had much of a QB design run package, and I don't recall PSU having one either.
It may be close, and Drones may get a shot. We will see. But, unless Drones excelled/Wells crapped the bed, this was likely the outcome. I will be pessimistically optimistic until I have reason to be otherwise. Sometimes guys take big leaps from year one to year two. See Greg Stroman.
For a QB comparison, see Kenny Pickett. He went from meh as a 4th yr senior to QB1 in his covid year and is now starting QB for the Steelers
I am in the minority... I thought Pickett was a complete pain in the ass to play against before he blew up statistically his last head. He had moxie and a great sense for the game. But, their passing offense was at best antiquated until his last year.
I don't see that in Wells, but he should be better than last year.
Seconded, he was good before he was great. Kinda like Burrow.
I think it was Fontel Mines that said Drones was the most athletic freak on the offense. It could have been a different coach, but it was in a podcast from prior to fall camp beginning.
Not saying Drones playing every week is a good idea, but there is at least a thought that the coaches view him as one of the best athletes on offense.
There has to be at least one pass play in the Drones package or the defense is going to be all over them...
I know why everyone is so worried about this but he threw some decent balls when he had 0.25+ seconds in the spring game I don't think he'll have the QP package that pretty clearly was never gonna work.
I am hoping it's a true RPO package, where it's a chance to throw on every play.
Say what you want. If spring game Grant shows up the ACC is cooked
Is this anything like 1PM Kirk Cousins?
I'm also not worried about the ACC... I'm worried about escaping ODU with a W
Spring Game Grant was also going up against one of the worse defenses (talent-wise) in the ACC
I doubt SGG shows up and even if he did, I doubt he'd "cook" the ACC
SGG has been elite two spring games in a row. Had 11 chances for SGG to show up last fall, and he never did.
I really do hope that he turns the page and gets to a near-respectable 60% completion rating against P5 this year, but I just don't know if that's a reality for him. Everything around him is better, but it's not easy to go up 5% in completion percentage in one season.
yes, exactly. I don't think we're going to see much, if any, real progress from the QB spot this year. I think Wells is who he is and it's probably unfair to expect much more from him. I don't think the OLine is going to give him gobs of time and it's uncertain, at best, if the run game will be able to help in any way. Our offense is going to look like poop again. We have 11 games of evidence to suggest that Wells is going to struggle, particularly when pressured. And he will see a lot of pressure, likely more late in games when there will probably be more of a need to pass anyway. Unless Tuten turns out to be a gamebreaker like Herbert was, I don't think our running game is going to do him many favors.
How nice that would be. But as we all know, if wishes were horses, all beggars would ride.
From what I saw at the practice I was able to sit in on, it wasn't close. Maybe it was just a bad day for Drones, but Wells looked way better putting the ball where it needed to go, leading receivers, timing, throwing them open, etc. Drones looked liked he's thinking too much, slow to throw, accuracy was off.
Now, Wells did have a tendency to not even look at one half of the field and had a wide open receiver on the backside a few times, but maybe it was just the structure of the drill.
Who I really enjoyed watching was Pop. He has the "it" factor. Really looking forward to the future with him. Hopefully he adds a few inches of height.
Yeah, idk if I'm a Drones believer. He's still young and could definitely develop, but I think his 4* pedigree is more based on him being an incredible athlete not an incredible QB.
So basically you're saying he's Logan Thomas?
If he can't hit a RB in the flat, then yes
This is where I'm at. I don't think Wells or Drones are the answer. I think Pop may be and it's going to take a couple years for us to get there.
Well, if Mugsy and Spud could play pro basketball...
The season is finally starting to feel real... but I'm not sure how to feel about it. I guess I'm just happy there's some football again.
Is he going to be able to wear a different jersey so the other team knows not to tackle him?
I hope this means Bowen ran the offseason simulator and Wells went from a 78 to an 84.
2nd group of receivers has some crazy surprises: Holloway, Takye Heath, Bradshaw, and Ayden Greene. Lofton is receiver #9, which is crazy since he was probably #2 last year and didn't have a terrible season.
Also twitter rumor mill says Nick Gallo and
Gunner Givens out indefinitelyPry clarified it is a minor injury. I think it will be Benji Gosnell time first half of the year at least.Link?
Very concerned about RG (Would be surprised if Schick stays in the starting line-up long term).
Feel much better everywhere else (QB, RB, WR). It will be nice to see Grant play with some real weapons this year. Last year's WR core was the worst in P5 football.
Love the speed at WR right now. Hopefully Wright is healthy at TE.
Things are on the up.
I'll say this, I really hope that Wells takes a massive step forward, if for nothing else Bowen needs it to happen. He didn't have an OL last year. Our run game wasn't good, but he really didn't help himself out either. I mean, the kid had zero touch on the ball and missed soooo many short - medium range throws because of his lack of touch.
I'm like French - pessimistically optimistic.
The people who didn't see this coming are the same ones who will probably be furious if we go 5-7 or 6-6.
If we go 6-6, I am going to be very happy and know that we overachieved this year.
Wow people are really getting ahead of themselves saying they don't think Drones is the answer since he didn't beat out Wells. The guy hasn't even played a single down for us and he's already getting written off by some. Clearly he's got talent and the fact Pry is so keen on him playing even though he hasn't passed Wells just shows what they see in him that they want him on the field and getting experience. Let's see the guy play first
I think, weirdly, it has more to do with just how bad Wells was last year. Many of us (myself included) just assume that Wells is pretty close to his ceiling and won't be markedly improved this year - working with that assumption, one would then surmise that Drones isn't good enough to beat out a bad version of Wells.
What's possible, though I think unlikely, is that Wells has improved DRASTICALLY and Drones really is good but Wells is just slightly better than him (and, much, much better than he was last year)
Unfortunately, all many of us have to go on is how Wells looked last year (which, isn't good). Even with the lack of a supporting cast last year, he wasn't great. Locked onto receivers. Failed to look at half the field most of the time. Was sporadic with his accuracy (sometimes right on, sometimes way off), and threw 4 picks in the first game.
Basically, if you assume that Wells is about the same as last year, then yes, its pretty disappointing that Drones couldn't beat him out and probably isn't the answer we're looking for. BUT (and that's a big "but"), if Wells is way, way better than he was last year and that is the reason Drones didn't beat him out, that's not such a bad thing.
I completely get all that. To your point about maybe Wells is drastically improved and Drones actually is good, but maybe not as good as Wells- I wonder if this whole time Drones is getting compared to "practice Wells" or "spring game Wells" where we assume he looks good in practice. Maybe Drones has been pretty good but he just goes against practice Wells everyday and thats why he couldnt beat out Wells. Not necessarily that he was losing to the in game Wells we saw last year, but the version we've seen in both spring games that I think we can all agree was pretty solid. The coaches are then willing to see if practice Wells does translate to the game this year (big if), but thats why they still want Drones to get action every week and keep him up to speed/ready to start.
This is purely speculation for the point of speculation by me, but would be pretty interesting if it were the case.
I could see this being the case too
I also think by saying "both will play" it allows the coaches to hint at the ability to keep drones engaged and swap in drones if wells falters; without telling wells "you have a short leash" and fucking with his mentals.
Or a nice way of saying with our pass blocking we really need QB2 to be ready....
Also makes our opponent have to game plan for both.
This is giving me PTSD
If practice Wells is a completely different quarterback than game Wells, that speak very poorly about the talent at VT. Guys aren't great against players that are competitively at their level. They are great against players they are better than. If practice Wells is lighting it up, then we should all hold our breath.
there is an element to this that is true. Also, I think some people just falter when the lights are brightest. I think both things could be true. Practice Wells might look great, in part, because he's going up against the worst talent in the league in practice. And also, he might legitimately be better in practice than he is in the game. The pressure or the moment might get to him in his head.
QBs don't get touched in practice. QBs also don't run downfield live in practice. QBs in practice doesn't equal QB in game. Some QBs like Hooker are better game QBs than what they show in practice. And other QBs show better in practice but falter as soon as that no-contact jersey is taken off. Wells may be one of those QBs in the latter group.
It should be noted, in Pry's press conference yesterday, he noted that Drones athletic ability has not been on full display in practice due to the lack contact. He's big and fast, can shake off tackles and get downfield in a hurry.
I hope this year goes Wells and we're all eating humble pie. I'd saddle my fat ass up to the dinner table for that!
So would I, hoss. So would I.
And I'd pay for the pie and join you.
Feel like there had been some optimism here leading up and now getting news that we all should have known has opened flood gates of writing off this season already. I think it's hard to jump to conclusions on Wells given the roster last year. I've been very enthused by the momentum the coaching staff has made recruiting even after the poor performance of last year. If they can keep that up, and develop the kids, I'm going to feel good about the future. I think going 5-7 this year will be a good sign of the direction of the program
I am just looking for improvement. And 3-8 doesn't make for a very high bar for that. So I am optimistic.