Helped themselves:
1) Keyshawn Burgos
2) Lance Williams
3) Jason Abbey (especially with the injury to CJ McCray)
4) Ja Riccous Hariston
5) PJ Prioleau
6) Malachi Madison
7) Deric Dandy
Disappointing day
1) Kevin Gilliam and Wilfred Pene
2) Entire linebacking group
3) Armani Cotman
4) Layth Ghannam
5) Parker Clements (in pass protection, was fine run blocking)
Scrimmage format and team distribution makes it difficult to assess:
1) Aeneas Peebles (didn't have a strong two gap next to him, making him vulnerable to being trappped.)
2) Corners (lots of basic zones, with throws targeting linebackers)
3) Backup QBs
Notes about position movement.
Gunner Givens played left guard.
Gerard Johnson played defensive tackle.
Cam Fleming played boundary safety.
Quentin Reddish played field safety. When he was in, he played a lot of man coverage with the other safety high.
Joshua Clarke was at corner and was around the football a lot.
Ghannam and Brody Meadows switched back and forth between left guard and left tackle on the Orange team.
Comments
Nice to see this. Hopefully the light turns on for him at this position. Feels like he wasted a year with his stubbornness to play DL.
Didn't Burgos already have a lot of playing time, he really just cemented himself as the undisputed starter.
He was getting time, but wasn't always reliable in terms of being in the right place in the scheme. He looked better on Saturday on the basic stuff, and the speed and disruption off the edge was an added bonus.
It sounds like Bud has been around a ton of late and watched a ton of spring ball....can we just hire him as an "analyst" to just work on the linebackers? Another year of bad linebacker play when we have Pry as a HC and our D coordinator played the position (and by all accounts was seen as a perfectly fine position coach in prior stops) is just mind boggling.
See hole, hit hole, what am I missing? Looking forward to the full review.
Linebackers, damn, we can't seem to fix this. Portal!!!! At this point, where is the coaching? Bud to the rescue? I don't know if he can fix this group. You have to be able to apply a blow to the lineman or te that is blocking you. At least you can disrupt the play with penetration into the hole. It is painful to watch. They seem slow to the hole , and completely indecisive
Even Bud was not immune to the untouched running back 60 yards play
The classic Break But Don't Bend lunch pail defense of legends
Bud... one of only two epic coaches I've studied/played under who virtually refused to sit 1's. (i.e., their 2's matriculated NOT during game-time reps. Which only services further validation of their practice-field acumen all the mo'.)
Some of you ROA/Bluefield types recall the other...
💯
b.street
That happens sometimes when the LB fits the wrong gap.
/sigh
I haven't heard a bad word about him, and being thrust into this role right away makes me think everyone is seeing the same things. Not sure how he factors in this season, but he seems like a future starter.
Worst possible news, but we did have the group split up a bit. Layth disappointing is a negative because he was one of the ways we could *potentially* improve the OL from last year.
Yeah I'm not going to hit the panic button quite yet on the LB corps, given how they were split up and a lot of mixing/matching. But run fits did seem to be an issue still. Brumfield, even though he was in for relatively limited snaps, seemed to get washed out of the play a few times and was hung up on a block or nowhere near the football a few times I noticed. We have to find some answers at LB this fall.
Also with the OL I think tackle is the biggest concern - we don't appear to have many true tackle types there. I think we're going to need at least a RT from the portal. Even Cunningham is likely better suited at guard.
Everything I've heard about Brumfield this spring has been extremely positive. The staff is highly encouraged by his play.
It should make a material difference once he is playing behind the first choice DL, with the first choice WILL and SAM beside him. I'm withholding judgement on the run fits and run offense until we get to the season. The Spring teams were mixed up quite a bit.
My greatest concern was passivity, and the Hokies offense can do that because it strains a defense at different points. But, seeing the MIKE and WILL (be it Brumfield, Keller, McDonald, or Woodson) make initial contact with a blocker four yards from the line of scrimmage instead of at the line of scrimmage in the gap they are supposed to fit is concerning. There was a lot of disjointedness in terms of pressures and slants between the first and second level, but the linebackers were very passive in a system where the linebacker has to be assertive and in the gap to spill or force the ball where it is supposed to go.
Can we upgrade the LB coach potentially? Or is it a budget thing? Just asking
My opinion? Yes. I know the spring game isn't showing much of your hand on scheme. But, it is basically the Bud defense, but lacking in the sharpness, the timing, etc. Saturday was basically two schemes- slant to the boundary with the STAR blitz/WILL blitz slant to the field. One man high vs three man high. It was pretty easy to predict and pick apart.
My worry was the linebackers sitting back and fitting late or not at all.
Well, we have critiqued LB play for several years now. Different players, same issues. Perhaps a coaching upgrade is necessary at this point.
It's a little baffling given Pry's background + handpicking Marve as his DC.
Wonder if Marve needs to just focus on being DC and Pry needs to bring in someone else to handle LBs.
Isn't that quinn?
Quinn is listed as Stars/Nickels Coach, Marve is Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Might that have been intentional, given it was the spring game? No need to show complexity for other schools to analyze.
This has been my issue ever since Pry arrived to town. His LB group has been terribly passive. We've talked/written long about how this was a personnel issue. I even pointed out the passivity a few times last season and was quickly "corrected" that it was a personnel issue. I'm scratching my head a bit now. Again, I know players can be limited in at various levels (not everyone is a stud), but being passive isn't a trait that seems isolated to a single LB, rather it seems to have infected the entire room.
There were a number of passive defensive players that I think didn't want to try and hurt players. One of the DBs gave up 3-5 yards to push some one out of bounds vs tackling.
That being said, the LBs haven't ran through guys to get to the ball like Pry has mentioned so we shall she because at some point it is a personal issue as we had a lot of athletic guys that couldn't get to the ball.
Are you saying: 'passive' under '22 Pry (calling plays) and also under end-'22 and all of '23 Marve (calling plays)? Or, mo' so just 'passive' during the '24 spring/spring game itself?
Any scrimmage/Spring Game could be an exhibition mentality-- only injuries really prema' count... best to get it over with A.S.A.P.
Now, if you think it is 'passive' prior to and/or including the '24 spring... that is a different kettle of Duck Pond fish, good Sir.
Some of that -to me- would be... a lack of scheme familiarity-- tho' I will grant you; you'd like to see that smoothing out in year no.3. Some of that could be lack of schematic 'fit'. Star in particular harkens to light here. Likewise no home position Fs1 for the first two seasons. The New River Valley is not so much a happy valley in terms of how they hit that on film up at P.s.u. And that could take a recruiting cycle to restock/reshape.
So, that we can understand; and a few could even dazzle via showing patience with the same...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spit-balling/wondering out loud a bit here... K?
Although, the only other thingy (could) be... mo' Read-n-React looks?
Eye say this... 'cause having seen what we (4) have seen this spring practice; this current stock of ballers does -at least a little bit- fit the early 'cane D's. Which were quad warhorses upfront and 7 kinetic/out-velocity you guys behind it that were okay with forcing you to win a speed battle repeatedly over the course of forcing you to drive 50-80 yard fields. i.e., they bet their speed would limit you to 9 yards and a punt on 3 downs at some juncture or a turnover or an FGA.
I say that... as this is the first time we've passed any Eye Test since the '16 team overall sorta and D in heightened particular enjoyed several "wow" guys. Could this be something they are vetting/shifting to a bit o D?
--------------------------------
Keyshawn Burgos=Efe Ajagba... (from the weekend ESPN+ boxing card). Stronger than he looks; looks like he could still add/gain a bit cleanly enuff. Needs to put it all together.
'24 Hairston=my peeps Coney ('23) moment. He made several nice Corner/Fade snags threwout the Spring-- so to speak...
HTH's,
b.street
p.s. we find it most strange that Mike1 (Brumfield) got sat last year when he got sat. A legit Mike1 does not do that that situationally often. Not even in the basketball on grass era... that, and he ain't what he is listed at in person.
Dude, just write plain English.
Or even American.
I just skip his posts now. Don't have time to play translator to someone speaking their first (presumably) language.
"that is a different kettle of Duck Pond fish"
If dudes been eating fish he caught in the Duck Pond it might explain some things.
If they are playing read and react at linebacker as a changed approach...
a) It doesn't match up with the fundamentals being taught and executed on defensive line.
b) they were reacting slower that a snail frozen in a block of molasses.
If you are a linebacker, and you are 3-4 yards behind the line of scrimmage and haven't taken a step forward or laterally by the time an offensive lineman is in your chest, you are wrong.
Bingo
Really hope that isn't the case. As you mention, the Pry/Bud defensive line techniques require the linebackers to fit their gaps. It's just not compatible with a 'sit back and react' approach at LB. If they are reading and reacting to try and keep the play in front of them as a deliberate approach, I wonder if they are just trying to prevent back-breaking big plays because they don't trust the LBs with their run fits. The irony there is that they will, in fact, give up huge run plays in doing so because no one is fitting the gaps. The RBs will be several yards downhill with a full head of steam and blockers in front by the time they are even in position to initiate contact. Not Great Bob.gif
c) Is the new Mike1 is not so Learning & Experience Curve(s) mic'ed up yet?
Were his eyes tying up his, feets? It is new to him...
m) Eye also find it somewhere between obvious and kinda scary-- that they have moved as many peeps in/out of a Mike looksee this very Spring as they did. Consider thus... our top Will is our top Will. Not our top Mike; who curiously enuff, is named: "Sam". And yet they gave him a long-hard Mike1a check. And that Will is prolly the best P.s.u. definitional fit that our '24 2nd-layer has to boot. Maybe the only definitional fit. As our Star(s) are S's creeping up/forward layer. Our secondary is partially Wr's/Rb's who can not catch. With no pure Fs1. So, what if the M.T.S.U. kid is not a natural homeopathic scheme fit? See: ry.Willis trying to read-option the Fu'fense. It 'best available' happens when you have to actually recruit; and do not have the 'bama/u.G.a. mega name recognition clout to scheme-fit purely: 'select'.
b) FREE George Ballance!!! (had to say that... 'cause if you do not like a G.B. you do not like, football; itself). Or, Buetow... "do the Buetow, do the Buetow". As he tanked a few 1's in scrimmages; as someone forgot to tell him he was too underclassman for that. Real 60's j.Taylor vs. anyone and everyone throwback-flavored kid.
b.street
p.s. I know what you mean with the last part; standing still is hard to miss in football/boxing; or, easy to cover in hoops. (However, let us let the Vandy tape speak to this... first... maybe they August camp grow into this P.s.u. look a mite?)
How does Aycen Stevens look? He's probably the long term option there right.
If Brumfeld isn't that good why not try to upgrade. Hard to believe he's the best available tbh. If he can grow into a good player than fine but he's already pretty old right, maybe a bit too slow for this level?
I try not to lie to my peeps... 'cause you don't have to be St.Joseph the Carpenter to know that: "...lying is for, rugs."
So, I do not have much on him...
I do recall a hit this spring where I had to look up who it was (by jersey: "#") and it was him.
He has an elongated look and has the base frame to build with...
Goes by 'tank'; and that says something of itself.
Seems a serious kid. Can play Qb in a pinch.
Though too early to really grade/gauge where he might physically develop.
He is a '26 or '27 ask-- and if he answers before that?
I did a great job at being, 'rong.
----------------------
"If he can grow into a good player than fine but he's already pretty old right, maybe a bit too slow for this level?"
One of the four of us -and it was not me- was wondering; if, he had already found his (CUSA), level.
Tho' Eye did also hear... he was better in mid-April. So, maybe he was just settling in???
HTH's,
b.street
They put Reddish in positions to stretch his skillset. I would have liked to have seen him more coming up to fill the alley, but there wasn't much of that.
Lots of examples now on film maybe as to how not do it? That should help.....
Or maybe we just wanted to look less ready at LBs so that we aren't tipping our hand to any Fall 2024 opponents?
Was it me or did we have a lot more QBs than we thought? I thought it was one guy after Pop, plus the incoming Brazilian Freshman. But apparently we had a couple of others. At least one of these guys is probably putting on his portaling shoes this week.
The others are walk ons