Plenty of notes from Day 2 of the ACC Kickoff on Monday:
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Plenty of notes from Day 2 of the ACC Kickoff on Monday:
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...
Comments
Disappointed to read about Marshawn's weight. Did Beamer say how much he needs to lose?
The dude needs to start running some sprints.
the kid is huge anyway. with the way he performed in the spring i have no doubt he'll be motivated to drop weight if the coaches want. he has shown he wants to play and i think he'll do whatever it takes to get on the field.
It sounds like keeping his weight down is going to be an ongoing issue. That doesn't portray someone as dedicated as some might wish. Hopefully he will learn immediately that he has to work hard all year long, not just in April and the fall. Remember, he was supposed to be The Answer at RB.
think you're reading way too much into this. He came in a little over for Spring and got it down and by all accounts was the star. This sounds like Beamer giving him some public shaming to remind him to keep it down and not wait for practice to start. Also, he is only a pup in the gentrification process, give it time.
That's my hope - that he will wake up ASAP and realize it takes more than he's done thus far. Hopefully, just a freshman attitude that needs to be corrected. We need him to be good this season, though, not as a soph or later.
Furthermore, when was the last time anybody heard of a college football player struggling with weight issues? I struggle with weight issues because I have the metabolism of a 90 year old sloth and sit at a desk 10 hours a day. I'm sure they'll straighten MMFW out.
I'm assuming Marshawn is in Cochran Hall, which is connected to West End. I lived in Cochrane Hall my freshman year and found it way too convenient to get food whenever I felt....
Ah the memories.
I'm more concerned with Beamer's weight at this point.
Heavy Beamer = ACC Championships.
Skinny Beamer = Nail Biter Russell Athletic Bowls.
I still maintain he kept his special teams brain in that gut.
From this pic, looks like a bit of ACC championship is starting hang over that belt line.
In other news, Coach Paul Johnson looks like he just ripped off a nice one, and Larry Fedora is just starting to catch a whiff of it, while Coach Jimbo and the Commish are trying to blame each other for it.
Mike London thinking "yea, this is my last one of these..."
Dangit...beat me by a minute...
I really hope this in not London's last one of those. I honestly believe that London is the best thing to happen to UVA football in my lifetime. I think the Cavs need to do everything in their power to assure the athletes and students that Coach Mike London is there to stay. He and his teams represent all that is right and good and dang it, they need to offer the man an extension and a raise. I may chip in a buck or two myself.
AlGroh was more entertaining, because as an alum he was all things UVa, especially the arrogance. London is a nice change of pace, though. If you figure that they first chose AlGroh, then replaced him with London, you've got to figure that their next selection will be just as inept. I'm sure it will strike the right chords for them, but it will also continue their lack of production.
You can't be serious...
Al Groh is the best thing to happen to UVa in our lifetime, followed by London.
It really has been an embarassment of riches for us eh?
While Shafer is mid-rip of a loud one, and Petrino is laughing hysterically at it
Speaking of rips, does anybody get the vibe that CFB is about to formulate his "who farted" face?
Nah Petrino is on the hunt. He's looking for a honey to take on a motorcycle ride through the country.
"Man, this seat is toasty." - Mike London
I don't know who the hell some of these guys are. Who did Wake hire? Syracuse? Is NCSU's coach wearing a bowling shirt? Cutcliffe looks both balder and younger than I normally think of him. Paul Johnson looks....simple minded. The Louisville coach looks like he's interviewing potential interns.
London. Yeah.
lol Golden looks like your prototypical nerd on picture day in elementary school
"I guess this is my last picture like this with the ACC. Oh bother." - Coach Fondue
So many questions from this photo.
How and/or why is Steve Addazio simultaneaously staring at the wrong camera, yet some how magically staring at the right camera?
Didn't anyone tell Dave Doeren that he is suppossed to tuck in his shirt? Maybe they do their photos untucked in the MAC.
Did Mike D'Antoni take the WF job thinking it was for basketball, only to realize that something was amiss during this photo shoot?
CoughBrewercough
I KNEW IT!
Bud keeps a collection of vipers in it now. He adds a new one every time VT beats UVA. When asked why he collects vipers, he simply replied, "You will see soon...soon."
I had to blow it up once more, but I finally see what you are getting at.
All my life, I thought it was a vein about to pop out of Bud's forehead when he got upset. You have now exposed the truth.
Its all starting to finally add up now...
How'd you like to tangle with Coach Bud?
"Beamer says QB decision will be made 'quickly' come August."
Translation: QB decision has already been made. (?)
Hearing from #sources that Motley is most likely going to be academically ineligible this fall. Trying to work some things out, but that's apparently a very real possibility.
Gotta be careful with assertions like that out in the public.
From all the talk from coaches and players it does look like Vanilla Vick is picking up momentum as the starter. Even if he's closer to a Vanilla Marcus Vick (w/o the headaches of course) it could be a great season.
Yeah, that was probably pretty offensive /sarcastica.
I'm not asserting anything, just saying don't be shocked if that happens. As has been said before repeatedly, Brewer seems to be doing all the right things to win the job already.
I think HokieJoe3 is suggesting that it might not be the best practice to throw out unsubstantiated rumors that reflect negatively on specific players/recruits unless you are essentially certain of that outcome.
I don't think he overreacted or called it offensive, but we know players, recruits, and parents read this site and they might not appreciate these things being publicly aired. If rumors turn out to be false, it can be difficult to change the perception resulting from the rumors. Basically, TKP seems to have a solid relationship with recruits and players right now. It would be a shame for rumors to have a negative affect on that.
I was more referring to the downvote, which I found more funny than anything. And it's a fair point, one which I did consider before posting, but I don't see how that's much different from speculating based on on-field performance. I'm not saying he's lazy or unintelligent, but there's a possibility of him not being eligible.
I didn't down vote, just said in my post to be careful. I didn't find anything you said to be offensive.
A suggestion - there are ways of sending the info about academics without just saying it. Subtlety helps in not tarnishing a player's rep when it comes to that. Academics is an entirely different matter than athletics, or legal issues. Those, you can be blunt. Academics? Not really.
I can't say I understand lamenting a few downvotes or feel like they should be taken personally. It's just not that big of a deal. While I didn't downvote in this case, others posters have articulated how your post could be perceived as detrimental to the TKP community and its mission, which would make a few downvotes understandable (if turkey legs are all that matter you still received upvotes, so is it worth fretting over or calling out?).
I am with Joe. Until the SID tells us, there is no need to discuss anything having to do with any player's life off the field. Gossip and rumor is not only cruel to the kid, it is also the death of one of the core principles that keep me in this community.
Fair enough. We'll see how it goes.
I hope that's not true.. fighting for a starting job you've got to make sure you're able to play
That would make this a lot simpler.
Good to hear that the Shuman over McLaughlin thing was a mix-up of some kind instead of being the real deal. I like Shuman, I think that there's a role for him on the OL as a guy that can play both guard and tackle, but over the guy that started every game at LT last year? That would've been hard to believe.
Right. I asked this in the media guide thread. Then, this quote in Bitter's article:
We'll see how it checks out.
When asked about the situation, Coach Searels simply threw his hat (approximately 47 yards) and stormed off.
his hat then created such a big gust that it blew over Lane Stadium East and all the wahoo's fell down.
Man, that's the second time this week. The first time? Bucky Hodges laughed. Hooville promptly imploded.
Buddy of mine knows Greg Nosal, who's back at Tech as a GA. According to him, it is unquestionably going to be Brewer this year.
Also, sounds like next guy up is Durkin. Said the coaches LOVE him, and Ford is on the outside looking in at this point. Obviously we're a ways off, but that's the rumblings I've heard.
None of this is surprising, but man I wish it was August already.
Yeah nothing shocking. He also mentioned that the offense is going to be VERY reliant on Bucky Hodges, and we'll see a lot of wildcat, so they really need him to stay healthy.
Well that's just downright exciting. That kid's gonna be special.
Meh. We've heard the wildcat thing before and it's never turned out to be as big of a deal as it was made out to be. In my personal opinion, we're in for a long season if the offense is very reliant on that type of package.
That was under the O'cainspringsome system.
Lefty is known for creating mismatches (see our WR routes last year). WildTURKEY screams that!
I do find it kinda funny when people generalize things like that. Just 'cause it's something VT has traditionally done (ignore the TE, not have too much success with the wildcat, equip their O-line with roller skates instead of cleats, etc), doesn't mean that it's something the new coaches will do.
So thats why our o-line has been so transparent
Those are definitely converted tight ends.
First off, I'd bet $50 that either our offense doesn't use the Wildcat for more than 5 snaps in every game or isn't ranked in the Top 60 in scoring.
I realize it's the offseason which means hope springs eternal (even for Hoos), but let's not act like we experienced an offensive renaissance and couldn't be stopped from reaching the end zone last year. Here are the reasons I'm taking a "wait and see" approach when I hear about a Wildcat package being the cure-all for our offensive woes:
1. Not only has VT not traditionally had success with a Wildcat package, no other Division I team has had great success or been reliant on the Wildcat in recent years.
2. Even during it's most successful implementation, the Wildcat utilized running backs (Ronnie Brown, Darren McFadden) rather than larger, TE-style players.
3. There's a reason Bucky was moved to TE rather than kept at QB. If Bucky is so effective when taking snaps for our offensive to become "very reliant" on the Wildcat, why wouldn't we have kept him at the QB position permanently? The entire reason he's moved to TE was that the coaches determined that he needed too much work to become an effective QB.
4. Bucky has NEVER played a single down of QB or TE at the Division I level. He's an unproven asset on the field at this point, which holds more weight than pre-season summer rumors when players aren't even suited up and limited contact is permitted between coaches and players.
5. It's great that people are confident in the new coaches. I certainly think the coaches are an improvement over what we were working with, but I also haven't seen enough to be sold on us becoming an offensive juggernaut that creates mismatch nightmares and regularly strolls into the end zone. We were 99th in scoring offense last year. I know some people will point to Ryan Mallack's injury, but that's an ludicrous excuse in my opinion. Ryan Mallack was never exactly Reggie Bush, and plenty of football teams have to overcome injuries to starters.
If that makes me skeptical, so be it. As Bragghokie said, "Hopefully it's in the mix and throws some defenses for a loop but hope that we don't have to rely on it to move the ball. Otherwise our stable of QB's sucks....which I don't believe they do."
We will be fine.. Trust #VanillaVick
Look at that mustache. Give him the starting job already.
Let's just hope he doesn't do something foolish like shave. The power of facial hair need not be underestimated.
I agree, the Wildcat stuff is nonsense. It's either a ruse, dated 2006, or it's a main ingredient for an ineffective offense.
First off, will you give me 1000:1 odds on that bet?
If we did use Bucky in that package, I'm imagining it being something a little more like the way Duke used Connette last year, although definitely not as extensive as that. Essentially, I'd like to see Hodges used in short yardage situations mostly as a runner, with a pass or two thrown in to burn safeties cheating up too much.
Also, It's been well-documented that Malleck's injury was absolutely devastating to the offense. Would we have immediately been an Oregon or Bama or FSU or Stanford? No, but I'd be willing to bet we would've at least been a middle-of-the-road offense that would've won a couple more games. Lefty said Malleck was supposed to catch about 60 passes last year. Cline caught almost 30. The receivers dropped another 30 (give or take). That's a whole lot of production the coaches were counting on that disappeared in an instant.
I will agree with you and Bragghokie on that last bit. I don't think we'll have to rely on it and I don't think our QBs suck.
IMO we will use it towards the Red Zone area. I would 100% trust Bucky to make the right read and make a 10-15 yard pass for a TD. I would like to think there are 5-6 different runs and maybe 2-3 route combinations. So the run plays should be fine and again those 2-3 route combinations would hopefully be a read defense pre-snap and attack the weakness. Much Easier said than done but I remember UF having a similar package.
I remember from spring practices that they would go hurry up and throw in some Wildcat with Bucky as a change up. I can see that being a way to get an extra big play when you already have the defense on their heels a bit.
Just imagine Trey picking up a first down from a I formation run and then the team sprints to the line and Bucky takes a snap from the wildcat. We could really get some defenses uneasy that way.
I also don't think that Bucky is going to play like or be the second coming of BOOOOOOONNNE. The wildcat is not a certain play, it's just a matter of who receives the snap. You can run a Hail Mary, a QB draw, or a simple Quick Slant from a Wildcat. Being that Bucky was once thought of as our future at QB, I can easily see him working with a very condensed playbook, consisting of maybe 3-5 plays max and their appropriate counter, and being very effective. As Tristan said, similar to Connette at Duke.
I think using Bucky in the wildcat is a graet idea. it will force defenses to spend time preparing for it and less time preparing for our other sets. I think this will make it harder to stop our offense!
I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly. Time is limited. Put pressure on your opponent at all times. I have no idea if Bucky will be effective, but I would definitely worry about it if I was an opposing coach.
Forcing opponents to be uncomfortable about a threat, long before they ever come close to the field, should be just one of many prongs of attack.
Wildcat?
Meh... Plant his ass in the corner of the end zone and throw a jump ball to him. If a corner can stop a 6'6 243 lb TE from getting a jump ball, that corner deserves his props. Throw in a play action with us fake handing off to Williams or MacKenzie and Brewer going roll-out with Stanford going to the post? Hah, good luck, defense.
oh gawd hurry up! I need football in a bad bad way. Life is sooo meh other than my 12 hours a day on TKP.. jk wife if you're reading this I love you.
I am so excited for so many different things this year its hard to contain it! Our first Redzone opportunity- Malleck 6'4 Hodges- 6'6 Redman 6'4 Holland 6'3 Parker 6'3 and then Rogers at FB and Williams at RB. ohh the possibilities, I bet SL is just oozing with play ideas/excitement as to how we create/abuse match-ups
If your wife reads TKP, then you're done. You've won. Good job.
Don't you mean a 16'6 2430 lb TE?
If I was a betting man, Eric Brewer will be Loeffler's version (hopefully much better) of Anthony Boone, and Chris Durkin will have a specific running/short yardage package. Hodges value isn't going to be getting beaten up inside. He can stretch the defense from the slot, and that vertical threat is the key missing ingredient from the offense. Also, I'd suggest watching Durkin's film again and then watch Bucky as a QB running threat. Watch them both, and Durkin gets the ball in those situations 10 out of 10 times.
Now, if the staff decides to redshirt Durkin, perhaps Bucky has a role in short yardage. But, you can expect that I will howl bloody murder in protest.
All of that is based on the assumption that Durkin redshirts, but if he doesn't, I'm all in favor of having Durkin be the wildcat/short yardage guy and having Hodges still available to be a deep threat off of playaction.
Watching practice, there were several non-wildcat plays that involved Hodges heading up inside with the ball. He may be most valuable outside, but Lefty will use him in tight spaces as well.
*EDIT* Here's what I think/hope we'll be seeing out of Bucky this year.
00:00:21–00:00:33
Definitely but we also have to think maybe he was using Bucky because he was there/available. It's much easier to have 1 guy learn the runs in Fall than have the whole offense learn it. IMO get the OLine and everyone ready for whats to come in the fall by learning/repping it early, then add Durkin come Fall and hopefully he picks it up quickly.
I'm not saying it will/could be a smooth transition but one would think swapping Durkin for Hodges would surely improve that formation
A glaring weakness on offense last year was converting 3rd and short along with doing much of anything in the red zone... I'm all in favor of trying a wildcat in these situations, it certainly can't do much worse than what we tried last year.. whether it be 5 attempts a game or 25, you have to think we're about to the point where we need to do whatever we can to put points on the board
Our red zone efficiency the last few years is so ironic considering our dedication to "stick it in". Or maybe the disappearance of the chant during the game is what led to the drop off in red zone efficiency....
When "stick it in" was banned and Newsome was hired, our offense was doomed before they even set foot on the field.
Did the Hokies ever have 3rd and short last year? I mostly seem to remember 2nd and 8 turning into 3rd and interstate 81.
Well I would certainly hope so. When you have a 6'6 243lb TE who can run 4.46 40, you sure as hell better be overly reliant on him. Even if we had the likes of Mike Vick, Danny Coale, and Kevin Jones on our offense, I'd still lean heavily on a TE with those measurables. He is going to cause matchup nightmares for defenses, and its going to open up the rest of our offense.
This is the unspoken part about our offense. Yeah, the talent across the board is definitely taking a big uptick, but we have a true beast lining up at TE this year, who has size and speed that you just can't teach. By the end of the year, I wouldn't be surprised if he's being double teamed on most plays, which will open up the field for someone, be it the running game or another receiver.
See Ebron at UNC this past year.
Exactly, and I don't doubt that Bucky could be every bit the player that Ebron was at UNC. And really, having Bucky around could not have possibly come at a better time. Everyone knows that a young QB's best friend is a good TE, so it was very likely we were going to be reliant on the TE position anyway this year, but to have a potential playmaking beast lining up at TE this year... well....
Lolz.
But yeah, the thing that excites me most about this is Brewer's film at Texas Tech. He loved to hit his TE in the seam and was very, very good at it. He could have a ton of success hitting Hodges all over the field. And that's something the Motley really struggled with during the spring. I think I saw him miss that throw to the TE in the seam about 4 times, which can't help his case to win the QB job. I think this offense could really surprise some people if Trey and Williams can pound the rock a bit and then Brewer and Hodges can make the safeties pay.
It's not just Hodges either, IMO. I think we'll have 3 very good TEs out there at some point this season.
Oh yes. Hodges may be the headliner, but there's a reason Lefty had to scrap 80% of his playbook when Malleck went down last year. That's gonna be one heck of a position group.
Definitely. I think he still needs to learn more about the TE position, but the potential is there. Add his potential with Malleck and it could be really exciting.
Loeffler has already mentioned that he loves the TE. If they could become a focus by the defense then our WRs should get more room and the RBs will hopefully be able to get some holes to run through.
I hope we don't have to "rely" on it to do well. Sounds like a "give it to Logan cause nothing else works" type of thing when you put it like that. Hopefully it's in the mix and throws some defenses for a loop but hope that we don't have to rely on it to move the ball. Otherwise our stable of QB's sucks....which I don't believe they do.
No, think of it this way.
We have a 3 TE threat and some serious downfield seam work from a pl,ay action with Williams and Edmunds. The Defense has to start helping the CBs cover these Everest sized TE's, then Williams starts pounding through the gaps left by the LBs helping cover the TE's and Stanford and Co. are spreading it out to the sidelines or making it 4 downfield..
That is some interesting info about Durkin, right there. I would love to hear more on that. Isn't he basically non-viewable, by rules, until practice starts? It sounds great, because all accounts of Ford are very good, and all I've heard of Durkin is that he has only thrown 5 passes in HS (sorta tic) and needs to start from square one.
I think what we're gonna see with Durkin is what LT3 would have been if he had had 4 years with Lefty. He's a bit raw as a passer, but has the size, strength, arm talent and leadership ability to be really good down the road. Let's say he redshirts this year and backs up Brewer next year, by 2016 he's ready to take over.
Nosal, from my understanding, believes Durkin could compete for the starting spot next year.
Now that doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it's intriguing.
*insert joke about fat linemen not understanding skill positions here*
I mean, if he can run the offense and take care of the ball, be my guest.
I hope Brewer plays so well that his starting spot isn't in question at all next year.
when I hear this stuff about Durkin I see little Tebows dancing in Lefty's head.
That name definitely came up. Didn't want to mention it because I couldn't remember if it was my buddy who referenced Tebow or Nosal but there was something about Tebow with a much better/more accurate arm type comment.
And, despite Tebow's failure in the NFL, I would take his college career in Blacksburg in a heartbeat.
Agree....I always enjoy seeing Tech guys doing well in the NFL but my main concern is their time at VT. I'd rather have a guy with a career like Tebow's (great in college and then not so hot to nonexistent in the NFL) than Eli Manning or Drew Brees or some other QB that did mediocre in college but had the ability to be good in the NFL. Of course it takes the whole team but you know what I mean.
I'd love to have more info, this is coming second hand and I have no access myself but Durkin is apparently really impressive to the staff. Love his mobility and his size, he's pretty big, (6'4" 234) obviously not LT3 but still has an inch and 40+ pounds on Ford.
You need to get your friend on speed dial, then get all up in his business.
All of us at The Key Play are now counting on you.
I work with him and he sits a few feet away, I'll just go throw things at him until he starts calling Nosal.
use this:
I was thinking about this earlier. I think the perfect storm would be if Durkin doesn't redshirt this year and has a few packages set up. Then Ford will have one more year of eligibility and plays well his RS Senior year. Unless of course we get a few more recruits that beat him out.
Kinda surprising about Ford given that he was a borderline 3*/5*...
Hard to believe that Ford is on the outside looking in and Durkin would be ahead of him. Durkin only threw for ~1,000 yards/season in high school. Maybe it's because he will be used as a running/short game QB this year? I would have to think long term Ford is the much better option at QB. I have high hopes for him.
definitely hit it on the wood.. Ford isn't a zone read type QB. I would compare his style to that of andrew luck ish.. The only way Durkin see's the field is if Lefty has the giggles for a tebow 2.0 package/wild turkey bourbon
Heavy on the bourbon.
Andrew Luck?
hey, i'd take it
if there is a single thread on the entire TKP site that has gotten me most excited about football season. it is this one.