There are a bunch of surprises.
I. Ford is the No. 1 X, Carlis Parker is his backup.
The starting o-line from left to right is: Gibson, Wang, Farris, Conte, McLaughlin. Teller is backing up Wang, Wade Hansen is behind McLaughlin, but ahead of Taraschke.
TE depth is: Malleck, Hodges, Cline.
J.C. Coleman and Marshawn Williams are Co-No. 1 tailbacks. Shai McKenzie is the backup and Edmunds is third-string, but really the fourth man. I'll make an educated guess and say Edmunds isn't 100% recovered from his injury, but it's encouraging that Shai is.
The starting defense is as you'd expect it, except that Chuck Clark is listed as No. 1 along with Facyson. That might indicate that Clark is the starting nickel.
Ricky Walker is listed as injured, even though it was reported as not too serious.
#Hokies trainer Mike Goforth just told me Walker is fine. Just got his knee rolled up on in scrimmage. Nothing major, acc. to Goforth.— Norm Wood (@normwood) August 22, 2014
Woody Baron is the second-team nose, which probably means he won't be taking a redshirt this year. That was a possibility at the beginning of camp.
Comments
As long as we've got Big Wang on the frontline we be good.
You can't go Wong if you have a Wang.
David is Little Wang. Ed was Big Wang.
Just nitpicking like I always do though...
Stack 'em together and that makes for one gargantuan Wang.
I've said it many times on these here boards: the Hokies have the largest Wangs in NCAA, bar none.
the running game could be special this year if the O-line steps up.
Marshawn Williams leapfrogged McKenzie? He must have looked mighty good on Friday.
Ohh and French, you were right about Alec Eberle. He is not listed as a TE as I thought but as a Offensive Center. My B.
Wait I thought Eberle went to FSU?
He did, this was a Convo we had at the Hokie Happy Hour on Thursday.
Agreed. The coaches made positive comments about him getting to the right weight and then Friday he reminded them about all of the power running that was on display in spring. I have a feeling this guy really wants it and seeing Shai in fall camp motivated him that much more. 6 more days...
Mckenzie and williams have the chance to be like batman and robin, the dynamic duo.
Cue the nickname debates.
Gin and Juice
Alien and Predator
Wang at LG...I guess Teller is still learning..I don't expect wang to be starting for long...Gallo at no. 2 center...Knowles is buried on the depth chart...like Amo said... he has to bring it everyday
HokieSports.com updated its copy: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/depth/. I assume Quinton Taylor as Co-No. 1 Whip is a mistake.
I like that the O-Line guys are pushing each other to get better. We all know how Big and Strong Teller is, so its very encouraging of our O line depth if Teller isn't even listed as a starter.
I hope that we can blow out some teams this year so we can get some experience for the backups...Teller needs reps..
If anything it might tell me that Teller and Smith haven't been consistent enough considering Wang has been the 2nd center and in blue for most of camp. I still think Teller eventually takes over at LG this year and takes over at LT next year with Smith sliding back to LG.
Poor Leal even lost out the battle to be the FG/PAT holder. I thought he had a stranglehold on that job!
Has anyone heard a word or even seen a picture of Holland Fisher this camp?
This is from a week ago.
What is he looking at?
I know we joke a lot about Bucky, but I he could seriously be our most dangerous threat on the receiving side of the ball.
I thought this to, so I tried to draft him in a college fantasy league as one of my last picks. The problem was that he was listed as a QB and not a TE, something I'm sure some people might say during this year's pro fantasy drafts about Logan, but I digress. I hope we see a bunch of Bucky making some big plays and exposing LBs and Safeties.
We'll see a lot of Williams and Shai.
I know Shane loves JC and it's hard not too cause of the kids great attitude and work ethic. but I wonder if he doesn't produce how long it'll take before Williams and Mckenzie are our 1-2 punch (with trey being hurt)
I could see it happening as early as the 2nd half of the anOSU game if JCC really struggles but I think JCC will surprise some people this year with what he can do when he's actually healthy.
Yeah, J.C. on even 1 good ankle is a good RB.
Go look at the film from Dook 2 years ago. He was very key in the offensive comeback.
My contribution to the depth chart discussion:
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...
Is Chuck really equal to Brandon in terms of skills? Also, if Knowles were to supplant one of the back up WRs would it be Byrn or Parker?
@Hokieknight I assume that means Chuck is going to be the starting nickel
It always makes me nervous when we have key starters involved on returns. I'd rather see young speedsters who are lower on the depth chart (like Caleb for example) getting a shot at returning. It just seems like a lower risk, higher reward scenario to me.
Unless they're no good at returning.
You may be right but with the young athletes on our roster that are buried in our depth chart, I'd have to think there are guys who are at least on par with Jarrett and JCC in the return game. Our team seems to struggle enough with the injury bug as it is to make it worth risking IMO.
Hey, if we could find the next Christian Jones or (insert UNC return man name here), I'd be all for it.
Sometimes discoveries are made later in the season.
REMEMBER what Beamer said after the loss to Alabama last year? after we gave up two special teams TD and a Pick 6.
he said " we have to have the best athletes out on the field at all times."
True, that's a good point, +1. I agree with that mind set for getting after kicks and for punt coverage but when it comes to actual returns, I'd rather not have key starters like Kyshoen taking big licks if the talent is available (which I believe it is) to fill that role.
Remember why special teams was a game changer for us as a program on the rise was because starters played on them
Was that Suggs blocking that punt?
Yep.
Gives me goosebumps. Lane was rockin that night.
Right, I think we have similar opinions. I said I agree with having the best players on the field for covering punts and for blocking/pressuring kicks. I dig the video!
Remember David Wilson as a freshman:
Maybe, Cam Phillips, CJ Reavis, Holland Fisher, Joel Caleb etc, won't get into the offense or defense, but their athletic ability may shine on special teams. They could be the best athletes available with FRESH legs and pure determination. Let the stars shine.
David Wilson was a Sophomore that season. Always a great highlight, though.
My bad. Point still the same. When you're an uber athlete and buried on the depth chart, special teams is a great way to contribute. Seniority shouldn't matter.
We need our best football players on the field at all times which may not be the best athletes. See knowles and Marcus Davis. I know he probably meant that but great athletes are not necessarily even good football players. Instinct and heart are a big part of the game IMO.
why for kick off return is it only J.C? who's the second guy going to be? same with punt returns dont we usually have 2 guys back there as well now?
Yeah - I'm not sold on JC being our guy on returns. It'd be one thing if he was a play-maker there - but seems like for a guy that is finally healthy you'd like to give him a clean shot in the backfield, and let one of the new burners onto the field for those duties.
Ah I had a similar thought above but didn't scroll down to see your post. Great minds think alike, right? Have a leg!
Maybe Knowles since he's a speedster and buried on the WR depth chart?
Knowles was infuriatingly tentative on his returns last season. With touchbacks coming out to the 25, he also struggled to drop to one knee when he should have. The few times we've seen JC return, he's shown the ability to quickly find his seam, put his foot in the ground, and get north-south, which is what you really want out of your return guy. Not every return is going to the house, so you should get upfield and get solid yardage as quickly as possible before the coverage team gets there.
He did seem to dance around and run backwards too much last season.
God no. Nothing against Knowles, but he's one of the most passive KR's I've ever seen. And don't tell me about his stats. In 2 yrs, he had about 5 great returns (40+), 4 or 5 solid returns (22-40 yrds) and about 30 below avg to awful ones (<22 yrds). Last year he averaged 20 yds or less in 7 of the 9 games in 2013. And 7 of the 11 in 2012.
Especially with an offense that struggled to sustain drives -- and a philosophy of winning the field position battle -- a guy that consistently failed to get the ball beyond the 20 put heavy pressure on the offense...and ultimately on the defense as well.
I'm not sure Knowles is that passive. After watching A LOT of his returns this week, It's my opinion, that while he's fast, he doesn't have that quick twitch first step. He takes awhile to get up to full speed.
Jarrett, both Fullers, and Jayron Hosley always had that lickety split first step that made them great in the return game. (Yes I know Kyle didn't return punts, but he's up there on the line cause he can get back there in a hurry.)
I said that often last season. Sprinter fast doesn't always mean football fast.
I know that McMillian has been getting a lot of work returning kicks. The kid is a great athlete and is great in space
Interestingly, McMillian isn't listed on the top options as a kick returner. Perhaps the winds have changed and he will be redshirted?
Looks like something changed in TE depth? Redman now listed as third team, Cline in blue (on the Hokiesports depth chart).
Wonder if they may try and redshirt him?
I think his knee injury back during the bowl game was more serious than they thought. Cline missed all of spring too. As much as I would like to see him, Mallack, and Hodges on the field at the same time, I think a redshirt would the smart thing this year.
Not sure. Both Redman and Jackson give you good blocking options that can slip out on short passes. But if they don't choose to wait and see if Cline can get healthy and redshirt him, they better be sure that Hodges is an every down player right now.
It also means Hodges as a Wild Turkey QB goes sayonara.
Big takeaway for me- Tech had an awesome recruiting class.
Also the fact that the starting TE from last year is now third-string speaks volumes to that depth.
It speaks more to the starting TE from last year being injured right now.
depth chart at TE is all semantics since we are running 3 TE sets all day long. Am I right, or am I right?
11 TE sets***
That was Stinespring's dream...
I don't like JC being listed as co-No. 1. He may very well 'surprise some people' as many are saying, but I haven't heard a thing about him all spring/summer. And based on last season, a gimpy Trey Edmunds is more effective than JC.
I'm also very surprised as Cline being the #3 TE. Even so, that just means we'll probably have a lot of multiple-TE sets, as Mason discussed earlier last week.
Last year, a gimpy Trey was more effective than a gimpy Coleman. And yes, more attention has been on the freshmen, but Coleman's been in there too. Remember he had an 80 yard score called back because of a hold during a scrimmage. As for Cline, keep in mind that the guy has played as many college games as he did all through high school. He was never supposed to be the starter and should have redshirted last year. Being passed by the guy who we designed the offense around last year and a physical freak of an athlete is no knock on Cline.
Fair enough on JCC. But for me he only has the first two or three games to prove himself. Not that my opinion matters at all but still.
Right, it shouldn't be a knock on Cline, but for a true freshman with zero in-game college experience to pass a guy who started all last year is still sort of a surprise.
That Malleck is ahead of him doesn't come as a surprise, but seeing Bucky there does a little.
Bucky's a redshirt, but your point still stands.
Right, thanks
Interesting to see Slye fall back to 3rd on the kicking competition. I'm sure that's still ongoing (and may even change week-to-week based on who has a good week of practice), but I'm a little surprised Santamaria made such a big push, along with Wise coming up right behind him. That'll be interesting to keep an eye on this Saturday.
I think the big push was, he is on scholarship.
The try-outs were just a formality. He's (hopefully) going to be our kicker for the next 4 years.
And as we've learned from the past, its always good to have a little depth at the FG kicking spot.
Not necessarily. The coaches called Wise after he hit a 55 yarder in a game about a week after they gave the scholarship to Santamaria and said they now wished they had given Wise the schollie. Beamer's gonna put his best kicker on the field. He doesn't have the luxury of just handing the job to the scholarship guy.
I can tell you for a fact bucky hodges isn't 6'6, I saw him at wal-mart and I'm 6'7 and he had me by an inch atleast and that's not counting the gold mohawk!!! And my man has hit the weights his arms were huge, good luck to db's trying to cover that guy he is a monster.
looking forward to Bucky.
I think we're all looking UP to Bucky, even hokiebeast.
He should thank the tech coaches for moving him to te because if he plays like he is capable of he will be very wealthy in the future.
thanks for the update, i heard he was like 7'2 a week ago and he grows so much everyday. as someone whos 6'1 i cant imagine how tall that gold mohawk must have looked
It's gold because the top of his head is the closest point on Earth to the sun.
DING! count it...
Does anybody think it is interesting that Colt Petit is number 2 at tackle ahead of Parker Osterloh? Is Colt bringing the good stuff or is There an effort concern?
My opinion based purely on comparing Pettit's HS film vs Osterloh in the spring game is Pettit has better upside. Osterloh has always been a bit of a project. He is massive, but only has one year of any real blocking experience and did not have DI strength coming in.
Did they update the depth chart again (on 8/24)? I don't remember it being a PDF and now it has Trey at #2 behind JCC.
http://www.hokiesports.com/football/extras/VTFBdepth.pdf
EDIT: Actually I think it means Shai, Marshawn and Trey are all co-#2s
From Bitter's report "Michael Santamaria is the starting kicker, giving the Hokies a left-footed kicker for the first time in ... I'm not even sure. (Hokies historians, help me out here.) "
Can anyone answer this question?
Wasn't Brandon Pace left-footed?
I believe I remember him being a righty.
Nic Schmitt was a lefty. I think he mostly punted though.
Correct, Nic was never the primary FG kicker. In 2002, he was 14 of 14 on extra points and only 2 of 6 of FG's. I believe this was during Carter Warley's back problems. In 2004, he was 2 of 2 on extra points.
But he probably wasn't the 2nd best kicking prospect ever recruited by Beamer, next to Opie. Journell (uggh) was also highly sought after, IIRC.
I am always excited about new seasons but I am especially excited about all the new players we have coming in this season. Ford, Brewer, RBs, all have me pumped up and bouncing off the walls. Saturday, come on!
So #PunterSwag is punter AND Holder? Anyone else secretly excited?
Fake FGs may be a threat now with that kind of talent at holder.
Fake a long FG and punt instead?
Something is going on here.
That is interesting.
Maybe wanted another playmaker getting his hands on the ball?
Am I right in thinking that's rather unusual, instead of having a backup QB do the FG hold?
I think its a smart idea, you know hughes has to catch the ball from the snap to punt so why not with a FG. Also if something does go wrong I would be 100% confident that he could turn it into a 13 yard gain down the left hashmarks
In all seriousness, lots of teams do this because the punter is already very comfortable with his snapper and holding onto longsnapped footballs.
And is also familiar with how balls are kicked and how they are best arranged to be kicked.
A lot of NFL teams have the punter holding for kicks. Let's just hope that CFB doesn't telegraph a fake by having Leal come in to hold.
lets hope we won't ever have to fake a fg this year. With the Santamaria we should have these balls sailing right through the uprights!
I see what you did there
Ohhh, I get it now!
We line up for a field goal, but then we fake and kick a punt!
Actually, if it is a long FG try, a miss might give the other team the ball midfield.
A good punt might leave them within their 5 yd line.
If you are playing field position and kill the clock....
Santamaria played tailback and QB in high school, so if needed he could run or throw via direct snap or LSU style flip from the holder. I just hope it works because if he gets hit by a big ugly he might get broke in half. That's where having Joey Slye (210 lbs) would help.
The kicker is 5'9"
The snapper is 6'6"
Fingers crossed
Gonna need regular updates on the Wang & Chung situation.
Sure, tonight it's unlikely they'd both be ready to go.
But I'd like to know if by Saturday, they'll be able to move down and rip it up.
I just really want everyone to be able to have fun, and put W&M on the edge of oblivion.