It turns out that talented high school players aren't always college studs on day two of spring practice. Whether it's Fork Union product defensive end Yosuah Nijman, early enrollee linebacker Carson Lydon or redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaylen Bradshaw, they're raw, but with ability, although it's too early to tell how much they'll contribute after two padless practices.
That's how their respective coordinators would describe their high-ceiling youngsters, who squeezed their second practice out on the small sliver of grass that remains between Lane Stadium, Merryman Athletic Center and the Virginia Tech football team's new massive, albeit incomplete, indoor practice facility.
"We need that thing built," beamed offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler.
Secondary shuffle
The Hokies are currently without 2014's opening-day starting cornerbacks Kendall Fuller (wrist) and Brandon Facyson (leg). At the moment, the depth chart lists Greg Stroman and Chuck Clark as Tech's No. 1 corners, with Donovan Riley at rover and C.J. Reavis and Desmond Frye sharing the top spot at free safety.
It's a fluid arrangement. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster highlighted the need for speed at free.
"We were looking at Reavis and Frye a little bit for our free but we need a guy that can run and run vertically so that needs to be more of a corner type. I was concerned about Desmond and Reavis' long speed," Foster said. "My biggest concern is free. I think (Chuck Clark) would be a good free. (Secondary coach Torrian Gray) thinks we need him working at corner right now.
"We're also looking at Riley a little bit at our free. We're toying around with it."
So, potentially the scenarios implied were:
- Riley switches to free. Reavis and Frye switch to rover. Clark stays at corner.
- Clark moves to free. Riley, Reavis and Frye stay put.
- Clark moves to free. Riley moves to corner. Reavis and Frye move to corner.
- Fuller and Facyson return healthy and there are more pieces to the puzzle.
To make matters more cumbersome, Greg Stroman went down with a hamstring injury.
Whatever happens, it doesn't sound like Reavis and Frye are in the plans at free safety. Foster seemed pretty certain that they didn't have the speed to match up with slot receivers.
McMillian Impresses
Redshirt freshman Travon McMillian's size and speed combination got head coach Frank Beamer excited during Tuesday's press conference.
After coming in as a quarterback and taking a redshirt year, the Woodbridge, Virginia, native is getting his first chance at running back this spring.
Unlike questions about other notable newcomers that elicited "yeah, well" responses, Loeffler was relatively emphatic about McMillian.
"It gives us a whole different element to our offense having that kind of speed," Loeffler said. "He's got natural vision for a guy that hasn't played the position."
McMillian's confident at his new post and isn't fazed by contending with the top-dog veterans.
"The adjustment period went well," he said. "Technique-wise I'm getting better at blocking and running comes pretty naturally.
"I don't worry about the depth chart. I just try to go out there and work as hard as I can and show the coaches what I can do."
Defensive Line Depth
Missing three of their premier defensive linemen (DE Ken Ekanem, DT Luther Maddy, DT Corey Marshall) has opened the door up for the Hokies to evaluate a slew of backups.
The initial take on Yosuah Nijman is that he's a massive athlete with a lot of potential that needs to learn the ropes.
"He's a very raw guy. He has a lot of ability but is still a long way away, as expected," Foster said. "He's getting used to the new terminology and scheme. His mind's tying up his feet a little bit right now. There's a process."
Tech's returning stud end is continuing where he left off from his nine-sack campaign in 2014.
"Dadi Nicolas is playing really well," Foster said. "The guy that's, so far during the first couple days, playing much faster and with a lot more confidence is Seth Dooley. Melvin Keihn gives us something with his speed."
Ricky Walker has high expectations. The Hampton, Virginia, native, who made a significant impact in his true freshman campaign, is listed as the second tackle behind Nigel Williams.
"I'm expecting big things from Ricky," Foster said. "He's going to get a lot of work in there. Ricky did some really good things last year but he also did some freshman things so we're hoping he'll take that next step."
Comments
Big relief hearing the light may be turning on for Dooley. Serious position of need, and this was an under the radar local (Roanoke I think) kid that had big potential written all over him. Be great to see that pay off.
Very excited to see McMillian play. He sounds like a real game-changer.
Hope Stroman's hammy gets sorted out quick. That kid is going to win games for us if he stays healthy.
I think at the end of the day, Clark makes the move to free safety. He's a big hitter, and obviously is also good in coverage. If they don't move him, I'm going to take that as a sign that one of the younger guys starts shining bright.
Walker didn't redshirt?
? He played every 4th series and in short yardage every game after Maddy went out.
He made a big play in the redzone against UVA.
He was very effective in goalline/short yardage D all season. I'd like to see more pass rush and penetration from him as he matriculates into a more regular role.
I looked and he had 160 snaps on D, about 12 a game. I guess in watching I just really didn't realize he was playing.
I think the snap limit for red shirting is 155; bowl game must have put him over.
1 snap burns a shirt unless an injury. Gallo is burned with just having 14 snaps
I also think it has to be declared by a certain point. Like, if he hadn't broken that snap threshold but had played in every game, we cant just label him a red shirt.
Yeah, I'd really like to know where this "snap limit" thing came from.
I was under the impression if you played less than a certain percentage of snaps they could give you a medical redshirt. I always thought with regular redshirts you couldn't play a down.
I am sure they would have tried to shirt Ricky especially since Maddy return. That would have been great for Walker
The deal with medical redshirts is that you can only play 30% of the games (rounding up I think) and none after the halfway mark of the season. Regular redshirts are, as you said, burned the second a kid plays a down. I was just curious where 155 came from.
Edit:
/sarc
There we go. Dammit, Joe... Look what your lack of a sarcastica don't has done. Well played, sir. I fell for that hook, line and sinker.
I really hope McMillian can establish himself as a legit 3rd down back in this rotation, I have no idea how he is in pass protection but hopefully he can hold his own and pick up a blitz. If he can, he's going to be dangerous with his open field ability.
Two words: Wheel. Route.
I hope to hear them a lot with him this year...and that he can catch.
If healthy, Edmunds and Rogers are going to be the third down backs. Loeffler needs their ability to pass protect, especially given the concerns at tackle.
Plus, from what I have seen of McMillian as a runner, he will have a chance to be an every down back. He isn't just a quick little scat back type. He will be effective between the tackles if he gets a little bit of blocking.
Thanks French, have you seen how well McMillian does in pass protection at all? Also I just looked it up and I did not know he was almost 200 lbs, is that the weight program or did he come in that big?
We have no idea. He was a QB. I think, given his running ability, he will be a good running back. However, I KNOW that Trey Edmunds is an outstanding pass protector. It isn't a knock on Travon. I just side with a known quantity.
At least, as a former QB, he should understand the IMPORTANCE of pass protection. Unlike some career RBs (not singling anyone out) who got to college (any college) and thought their only job was to tote the rock.
Going back and watching McMillian's hudl, the kid has some wheels and moves. He looks like the best athlete on the field all the time, which is exactly what I want to see.
Regardless, as we saw last year, every running back will probably play at some point. I hope McMillian makes the most of his shot. He's going to have Caleb, Edmunds, and JC to get through. and I doubt Coleman is going to want to go back to the dog house he lived in last year. Oh, and somewhere in a rehab room is a man that wears #42 waiting to get back on the field.
Exciting times
Don't forget about DJ Reid. He looked like a burner in his highlight video and it looks like he's in the 220 lb range now. Hopefully he still has that speed.
I will be real interested in how Riley and Clark look when getting work at free safety. Scheme-wise, by the end of last season, Bonner was essentially an extra corner playing quarters or man on passing downs. He rarely was playing a deep centerfield. Being a half the field guy means you don't need as much range.
When I watched Reavis, I thought he had plenty of speed. Foster's comments about Reavis and his "long speed" are vexing. Frye, I get that. I expected him to be at rover anyway. It will be interesting to see Riley in that free safety role. He has some similarity to Bonner. Communication and coverage-wise, that is a good thing. Tackling-wise, not so much.
My other worry is Facyson. If Gray is fighting so hard to keep Clark at corner, to me that is a big red flag about Facyson's long term health.
If he's serious about becoming a doctor, he probably has a pretty full plate. May not be health related.
Maybe Gray wants to keep Clark at corner for all of the Nickel we will run. Or maybe Gray sees his future as brighter at corner than at safety. Or maybe Gray expects Facyson to get healthy but is just covering his bases in case he doesn't. All of last season was a big red flag about his health. A lot of maybes. I trust them to know what they are doing, especially Gray. I think it is rather telling that Foster obviously trusts Gray's judgement, even over his own.
They haven't started putting in the nickel package, but Bud said Clark may end up as their starting nickel guy. Said Mook will also get a strong look there too. Until I hear more on Facyson, I'm gonna assume Torrian just wants to keep a guy at what he believes is his best position.
Do you think his head is tying up his feet a bit, perhaps?
I will know better when I watch the scrimmage. RT and safety are my two key targets.
RT and safety? I'd be watching that two-way player as well. Way to go, Reavis!
(/s)
What about a split backfield of JCC and McMillian. Not sure how well McMillian can catch out of the backfield but it seems to me that if we lined with them split we would have two dump valves in addition to 2WR and a TE to keep the defense from bringing the blitz. From what we know about JCC and what we think we know about McMillian, any way to get the them ball in space would be an effective use of their skill sets.
How about 4 TEs and two RB sets. No WR, no problem
HB get of the HB unless you invite me over!
Andy...one question:
How did you get this from what was said?
"So, potentially the scenarios implied were:
- Clark moves to free. Riley moves to corner. Reavis and Frye move to corner."