I liked this term "catch radius" Foster dropped in describing what makes a standout receiver. That's perfect to describe how good a guy is at catching whatever is thrown to him, be it on the numbers or anywhere around him.
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Foster laid down some great tidbits about some of the position questions:
-Clark is starting out at Free, leaving Reavis, et al battling for the Rover
-Fisher has been moved to Whip behind RVD
-Nijman is staying at DE as long as he can "run"
-He considered Keihn a DE
-Lyndon is "slotted" for back up Mike already
-Minor and Moss are going to battle for back up Backer
Can't wait for next week when pads start poppin!
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Whip is going to be an interesting position going forward. I think Foster is going to start using more Nickle and Dime type of Ds to combat the 4 wide looks but we are always going to have teams like Pitt where we need to have a Whip ready to go and play.
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this is the reason why I like Fisher there. Really he is a safety, but he looks to have run stop ability. So he could be someone that would be able to play whip like a boss, like having Kyle Fuller versus GT but in every game. Or at least that's what my daydreams keep telling me.
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Seems like the opposite movement compared to the transition Kam made. Kam was probably always best suited for strong safety but we needed him at free, so he moved farther away from the ball. Fisher might have been well suited to strong safety initially but we'll get more out of him at whip, which I think is is a great fit for him.
But look at the whip position: it's the one that worries me the most that those two guys may end up being the best that never were
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if you get a chance during the Spring would love to know what the reason is for not putting Mihota back at DE. Is it speed? Just seems like he was damn good there coming in and we need depth there.
thanks for the article, really great stuff
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Getting Corey Marshall some PT at DE would be a nice reward too. Move him outside to spell a DE, then you bring in Walker, Settle, Williams, etc for some reps. Then bring in the DE, Marshall comes out for a breather, then back into the DT. Everybody rests, share some reps, line remains dominant.
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Fair enough. But my gears are still grinding about moving a DE with great NFL size to the inside. And if the DTs coming in step up, maybe it's not such a bad deal for anybody. But that's just me from the outside looking in.
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It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but he was very difficult for interior linemen to block throughout the year at DT, and had a tendency to completely disappear at DE. If we need a body at DE, he can slide over. If we need a guy to be disruptive and set up shop in the opponent's backfield, we need him at DT.
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I would love insight on the above question as well...my assumption, is that Mihota doesn't have the "bend" that the position demands. In looking at Buds quotes from the attached article, he speaks about how the DE position is arguably the most talented man in the front 7, and in spite of his frame, maybe Mihota doesn't make the speed. Just a blind thought from what I've read long distance.
Also, great article Andy! Fantastic questions.
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RVD returns to the field, blocks the entire anOSU team on a game-sealing pick-six, and becomes subject of an award-winning football move, "Ronny," which overtakes "Rudy" as the greatest story in football history. Because RVD wasn't offsides.
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Comments
Thanks Andy. Great questions as usual.
I liked this term "catch radius" Foster dropped in describing what makes a standout receiver. That's perfect to describe how good a guy is at catching whatever is thrown to him, be it on the numbers or anywhere around him.
That was a good read when it's all said and done.
I imagined Bud delivering the line like this (overdub "we'll be ready" instead):
Then smashing his desk in half with one swift chop. That happened, right?
Foster calling Cardale Jones "the big kid" had me rolling for some reason.
Probably cause he looks like a chubby 10 year old when his face is squished into his helmet.
Foster laid down some great tidbits about some of the position questions:
-Clark is starting out at Free, leaving Reavis, et al battling for the Rover
-Fisher has been moved to Whip behind RVD
-Nijman is staying at DE as long as he can "run"
-He considered Keihn a DE
-Lyndon is "slotted" for back up Mike already
-Minor and Moss are going to battle for back up Backer
Can't wait for next week when pads start poppin!
Fisher at Whip is something I have been thinking about for a long time. he just seems to fit there. Hope it works out.
Whip is going to be an interesting position going forward. I think Foster is going to start using more Nickle and Dime type of Ds to combat the 4 wide looks but we are always going to have teams like Pitt where we need to have a Whip ready to go and play.
this is the reason why I like Fisher there. Really he is a safety, but he looks to have run stop ability. So he could be someone that would be able to play whip like a boss, like having Kyle Fuller versus GT but in every game. Or at least that's what my daydreams keep telling me.
He has a safety type of body but from what I'm hearing he does not have safety type agility/coverage skills.
Seems like the opposite movement compared to the transition Kam made. Kam was probably always best suited for strong safety but we needed him at free, so he moved farther away from the ball. Fisher might have been well suited to strong safety initially but we'll get more out of him at whip, which I think is is a great fit for him.
But look at the whip position: it's the one that worries me the most that those two guys may end up being the best that never were
I wouldn't be surprised to see him slide to Backer eventually. He was a MLB in HS.
alright! another horribly undersized LB in the making.
I really wanted him to succeed as a safety, and now I really hope he succeeds at Whip. We don't need another 6'1 210lb linebacker.
French mentioned him as a possibility at Mike in last years First Look piece.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2014/march/10/class-2014-first-look-ho...
I am so excited.
And you just can't hide it......:)
Those caffeine pills, they'll get after ya!
Andy,
if you get a chance during the Spring would love to know what the reason is for not putting Mihota back at DE. Is it speed? Just seems like he was damn good there coming in and we need depth there.
thanks for the article, really great stuff
Getting Corey Marshall some PT at DE would be a nice reward too. Move him outside to spell a DE, then you bring in Walker, Settle, Williams, etc for some reps. Then bring in the DE, Marshall comes out for a breather, then back into the DT. Everybody rests, share some reps, line remains dominant.
I think the staff is hesitant to play Marshall at DE simply because he's just so much more productive at DT.
Fair enough. But my gears are still grinding about moving a DE with great NFL size to the inside. And if the DTs coming in step up, maybe it's not such a bad deal for anybody. But that's just me from the outside looking in.
It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but he was very difficult for interior linemen to block throughout the year at DT, and had a tendency to completely disappear at DE. If we need a body at DE, he can slide over. If we need a guy to be disruptive and set up shop in the opponent's backfield, we need him at DT.
I would love insight on the above question as well...my assumption, is that Mihota doesn't have the "bend" that the position demands. In looking at Buds quotes from the attached article, he speaks about how the DE position is arguably the most talented man in the front 7, and in spite of his frame, maybe Mihota doesn't make the speed. Just a blind thought from what I've read long distance.
Also, great article Andy! Fantastic questions.
In four years, we'll look back and say, "Of course, Carson Lydon was the best player in that recruiting class."
Not sure I agree (I think it will be Reynolds or Hill), but I can't say you won't be right either.
I really like those two though -- and they will probably be playing the critical (in the VT D scheme) boundary corner and DE positions.
I know other schools in the ACC recruited him and he was a major target for them to get. I agree, he could be a steal.
I WANT TO SEE RVD PLAY WHIP!!!! GLORIOUS FOOTBALL GODS, HEAR MY PRAYER!!
Yeah, I shouted. And I don't care.
man, I love that play, but then I think about how much he's been injured...
Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a redemptive senior year. Everybody loves a come back story.
RVD returns to the field, blocks the entire anOSU team on a game-sealing pick-six, and becomes subject of an award-winning football move, "Ronny," which overtakes "Rudy" as the greatest story in football history. Because RVD wasn't offsides.
Sounds like he'd be the whole damn show.
Like this RVD?
...that's what I was going for, yes.
Just making sure we understand each other.