Thanks Andy. Some of the film from your Youtube video and from the Hokiesports highlights show Bonner playing close to the line of scrimmage. Did Bud mention if Bonner is getting any work at rover, flipping back and forth to build communication and flexibility like he did with Exum and Whitley a couple of years ago?
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Did not ask. Might be able to Thursday or Saturday, whenever the next time Bud talks will be. Although he gets a little skittish when you start asking about wrinkles he's trying to put in.
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In 13 years of following Hokie football, Bonner is the second DB I've constantly felt uneasy about seeing on the field (the first being Ronyell Whitaker).
I would like to remove him from that list sometime this season.
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perhaps in run support, but he was great when Bud used him in a way that augmented his strengths. Bonner played as a deep safety, in essence giving an over the top coverage threat who could cover in man against a trips formation to the field. When the Hokies could use three corners (Kyle, Kendall, and Brandon), they could leave Kyle on an island to the boundary and still play seven men in the box, with Jarrett moving up as a pseudo-linebacker.
Once Kyle got hurt, the Hokies had to change their defensive scheme in the secondary. Bonner had to play closer to the line. When the Hokies then had to face the jumbo packages that Boston College and Miami used, he was forced to mirror Jarrett near the line as the alley player in run support, and he struggled. Unfortunately, VT didn't have another option that was better in run support who could still handle all the coverage and communication responsibility of the free safety.
Can Bonner be better? Absolutely. But it is a bit unfair to throw him under the bus here. I don't know if there was any VT player who didn't have some weakness, and when the scheme or the offense puts them in a position that exploits the weakness, they are not going to look good. I could spend hours pointing out the weaknesses of some of the best players in the program... some real sacred cows.
Let's hope Bonner continues to be solid in coverage (he is a better cover guy than Eddie Whitley, who has managed to make a little bit of a living as a corner/safety in the NFL) and has taken it upon himself to be better in run support. That could be the whole point of what we saw on film from this scrimmage. Bud may have no intent for Bonner to play rover, but perhaps Bud is playing him near the line of scrimmage so he improve his run support and fits. Also, it gives the Hokies flexibility if Jarrett gets hurt.
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True.
I remember watching that game upset how the Hokies didn't stop him while simultaneously in awe of how the Hokies didn't stop him.
BC's typical O-line synched and Williams took what we gave him and then took some more.
It reminded me of us, a bit ago, and how punishing a good running game can be.
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I wasn't as much busting on him for the past as much as hoping he plays well in the future. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of his, he has come up huge on occasion. I think returning with as much experience he has will help him to play more maturely.
Go HOKIES!!
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Comments
Thanks Andy. Some of the film from your Youtube video and from the Hokiesports highlights show Bonner playing close to the line of scrimmage. Did Bud mention if Bonner is getting any work at rover, flipping back and forth to build communication and flexibility like he did with Exum and Whitley a couple of years ago?
Did not ask. Might be able to Thursday or Saturday, whenever the next time Bud talks will be. Although he gets a little skittish when you start asking about wrinkles he's trying to put in.
In 13 years of following Hokie football, Bonner is the second DB I've constantly felt uneasy about seeing on the field (the first being Ronyell Whitaker).
I would like to remove him from that list sometime this season.
I think he is a great asset pre-snap, but I'm with you after the ball is snapped
He was the Ds biggest liability last season. But he enters this year with a great deal of experience. Hopefully that with make a difference.
perhaps in run support, but he was great when Bud used him in a way that augmented his strengths. Bonner played as a deep safety, in essence giving an over the top coverage threat who could cover in man against a trips formation to the field. When the Hokies could use three corners (Kyle, Kendall, and Brandon), they could leave Kyle on an island to the boundary and still play seven men in the box, with Jarrett moving up as a pseudo-linebacker.
Once Kyle got hurt, the Hokies had to change their defensive scheme in the secondary. Bonner had to play closer to the line. When the Hokies then had to face the jumbo packages that Boston College and Miami used, he was forced to mirror Jarrett near the line as the alley player in run support, and he struggled. Unfortunately, VT didn't have another option that was better in run support who could still handle all the coverage and communication responsibility of the free safety.
Can Bonner be better? Absolutely. But it is a bit unfair to throw him under the bus here. I don't know if there was any VT player who didn't have some weakness, and when the scheme or the offense puts them in a position that exploits the weakness, they are not going to look good. I could spend hours pointing out the weaknesses of some of the best players in the program... some real sacred cows.
Let's hope Bonner continues to be solid in coverage (he is a better cover guy than Eddie Whitley, who has managed to make a little bit of a living as a corner/safety in the NFL) and has taken it upon himself to be better in run support. That could be the whole point of what we saw on film from this scrimmage. Bud may have no intent for Bonner to play rover, but perhaps Bud is playing him near the line of scrimmage so he improve his run support and fits. Also, it gives the Hokies flexibility if Jarrett gets hurt.
It didn't help that Andre Williams also was a beast all of last year.
True.
I remember watching that game upset how the Hokies didn't stop him while simultaneously in awe of how the Hokies didn't stop him.
BC's typical O-line synched and Williams took what we gave him and then took some more.
It reminded me of us, a bit ago, and how punishing a good running game can be.
love the avatar
I wasn't as much busting on him for the past as much as hoping he plays well in the future. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of his, he has come up huge on occasion. I think returning with as much experience he has will help him to play more maturely.
Go HOKIES!!
He's definitely improved over the years, no question. I think you nailed it though... he did show struggles playing closer to the line.
Kinda like Kam in reverse.