Michael Brewer Responds to Pressure, Dadi's Middle Name, More Notes and Quotes

Michael Brewer's move to Blacksburg brought with it high expectations from teammates, coaches and fans alike.

For the Virginia Tech football team's transfer quarterback, just finding his way around took some time.

"I had to do an interview a couple weeks into the season last year," Brewer said. "They said let's go eat on campus and I didn't know where anything was. I've gotten into a routine now."

When he's not eating breakfast at Joe's Diner, the redshirt senior has spent his time builing a rapport with third-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler.

"I just feel so much more comfortable," Brewer said. "I feel so much better out there, being able to get a signal from the sideline and visualize it in my head — okay, if the defense does this then I do that. If the defense does that then I do this."

Brewer's second-year improvement has been something Loeffler has enjoyed. The former Auburn offensive coordinator has frequently celebrated the benefits of getting to spend more than one season grooming his quarterback.

"It's hard to develop a guy and get them to do what you want them to do with one season," Loeffler said after the Hokies' second spring football scrimmage. "It's great when you get to work with a guy for more than a year or two."

Loeffler's guidance has accelerated Brewer's development not just physically, but mentally.

"I'm being really efficient with what's going on in my head and knowing where to go with the football," Brewer said. "I know when to get us into a certain play and when to get us out. There were little things like that I had a grasp on last year, not a great grasp — I didn't have a lot of time to learn it.

"After going through a year, I can now sit down and breathe and truly learn it has been great."

The intense pressure that Loeffler resolved to put on his quarterbacks this spring has produced ideal results starter.

"Lefty is hard on us but it's bringing out the best in us," Brewer said. "The five years I've been doing this, this is the best spring I've ever had. I feel great. I look forward to continuing to get better this summer and translating it to camp."

Slowed by back spasms and burdened with the whispers of recurring lower back injuries from his Texas Tech days, Brewer proved that it wasn't going to be a repeat of two years ago.

"(Brewer) started off the spring with a little back tweak and wasn't feeling too good but he came back that scrimmage and threw five touchdowns and did the stuff that he does," said tight end Ryan Malleck. "I think he's taken strides and he'll have a hell of a year."

Brewer's efforts haven't gone unnoticed by his inter-squad opponents.

"He's just been a leader on the other side of the ball," said defensive end Dadi Nicolas. "He's leading his troops."

Not only has the rapport with his position coach improved, so has the relationship between Brewer and his record-breaking freshman receivers.

"Where timing is lacking last year we've dug deep and gotten that timing down," Brewer said. "Especially with (Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips and Bucky Hodges). Developing against man coverage will be a big part of our success, having explosive chunk plays that put defenses in a bind."

The Hokies didn't break a whole lot of big plays in Brewer's first season. Tech ranked 114 of 128 Division I teams in yards per play with a paltry 4.6.

Brewer suggests that a meticulous approach is the solution.

"We're not really moving on until we've mastered a certain concept," Brewer said. "We've taken it a little slower this spring but it's been great the way that (Loeffler) has been coaching. We're doing more things really well rather than a lot of things just okay. It's been good and we can start adding stuff every day now."

In an effort to maximize Brewer's potential in his final season, Loeffler has aimed to transform his senior quarterback's good attributes to great attributes.

"We did a lot of things that we were good at last year that I'm real comfortable with," Brewer said. "We've been harping on getting better at those things and going from there."

Tight end depth seemingly solid

Hokies' tight end coach Bryan Stinespring has been pleased with what he's seen from Kalvin Cline.

"Kalvin had one of his better days today," Stinespring said. "He's been very good. The biggest thing that he had to do was get his timing and feel for the game back. During 5:45 AM workouts the first couple days he was very sluggish. Towards the end he got his legs back underneath him. Last four to five days he's been very good. Had a big catch down the middle of the field today and made some terrific blocks."

Stinespring also praised No. 4 tight end Xavier Burke.

"Xavier is a bigger body. As a true Y, Xavier is the next guy who fills that role – put your hand on the ground, but still capable to run routes and catch the ball, behind Ryan Malleck," Stinespring said. "He brings an extra body and a guy that can be effective in the run game. You see him in goal line sets but also In pro sets. He took 55 snaps in the scrimmage. The next tight end took 30. We wanted to get him a lot of reps because we think he can help us."

Offensive line dot, dot, dots

Left tackle Jonathan McLaughlin has assumed a leadership role on the offensive line.

"It's weird not being the younger guy anymore," McLaughlin said. "I have to take the next step and be that guy who can be a leader, and I can definitely do that."

While noting that he's equally comfortable at either tackle spot, McLaughlin praised the work that redshirt senior Wade Hansen's done on the other side.

"Wade's coming along well," McLaughlin said. "It's amazing how much he's improved in such a short time."

With new names emerging up front, the mentality has changed for the offensive line.

"We have a different mentality than the previous lines," McLaughlin said. "We all want to get better at everything. We have a summer coming up to get where we need to be.

"I definitely feel like we're closer off the field. You need that in an offensive line."

Dadi Nicolas' Middle Name

Defensive end Dadi Nicolas made reference to his new name listed on the HokieSports.com roster, Dadi Lhomme (pronounced "Luhm") Nicolas.

"I learned a little history behind (the name) that makes me want to carry it," Nicolas said. "It's my grandpa's middle name. That's where it originally came from. My grandpa's like 94 years old."

Despite honoring his name, Nicolas is still yet to meet his grandfather. It's something he hopes to do at some point in the near future.

"This is going to be my first time meeting him whenever I do it," Nicolas said. "It's in the process. I have exams and have to handle what's in front of me first then once I have free time.."

Maroon–Orange Game is an opportunity for gamers and recruiting

Running backs coach Shane Beamer noted his excitement for the Hokies' annual spring game.

"The biggest thing in a spring game situation is being able to watch our guys compete in front of a big crowd," Beamer said. "Some guys, when the lights come on, elevate their game to another level and some guys, unfortunately, the moment is too big for them so I'm just eager to see that."

Beamer noted the spring game's importance for recruiting purposes. Despite receiving commitments from the likes of J.C. Coleman and C.J. Reavis in the past, Beamer thinks this is the most talented group he's hosted for a spring game.

"It's huge. We'll have a lot of prospects here this weekend," Beamer said. "It's probably the best group we've had here for a spring game. It's a huge tool. When you can get them on campus here and let them see what the atmosphere is like here versus other places it's a good impression."

Beamer also mentioned that while running back D.J. Reid has had an okay spring, he's too big and needs to lose some weight.

"(Reid) is naturally big," Beamer said. "We wanted him to get in here and attack the weight room and see how far he got and he got a little too far. He's a strong guy and he's naturally athletic. We need to get the speed element back because he's a little sluggish right now.

"We do incentive-type things where I may get him a pizza for different things he did in practice and things like that. His pizza has now been substituted for grilled chicken or salad."