Just saw the new depth chart for spring ball. Only part of the offense came up so I guess there was an error posting it, but a few things popped out to me. Josh Stanford listed as second team split end which is exciting, I hope him and Caleb have great springs. Also tight end went Malleck, Perez-Means, Darius Redman. No Zach McCray. I guess he is still learning the position? I expect to see him up there before spring is over.
Running back was listed as JC first followed by Edmunds, Gregory and Mangus all listed at second team. Is a position change for Holmes imminent at this time? That should be interesting. Also thought there was a chance that Gregory would move out to DB or WR but looks like he may be getting a shot at tail back.
Also does anyone know if Christian Reeves is still on the team? He is not on the roster anymore.
Any other thoughts on the depth chart?
Comments
First reaction. A PDF? Really. Come on athletic department, it isn't 2003 any more.
At least it's not a word doc
No real suprises here.
1) It looks like Nigel Williams is a step ahead of Alston Smith for that 4th tackle spot.
2) Dadi Nicolas is not in the two deep. Collins is listed as the starter ahead of Marshall.
3) Arkema has moved to right guard behind Benedict (with Acree behind Wang... there is a size contrast, at left guard), and it looks like Jake Goins is ahead of Adam Tarashcke at right tackle behind Laurence Gibson.
4) Safety depth is still scary. Riley starting, and Fayscon gets a jump on Cequan Jefferson by enrolling early and makes the two deep.
I only counted 7 total seniors or redshirt seniors on the entire two-deep. Lots of youth still with this team.
Lots of great quotes from the coaches in the Spring Outlook
Grimes: "I think it is important when you come in as a new coach to be sure all of them feel like they have the opportunity and the challenge to prove themselves. I have told them from day one the best five players are going to play, I don’t care how much experience they do have or don’t have."
Moorehead: "We are not going to have any excuses and we’re not going to have any explanations. Either you’re
getting your job done or you’re not, and that is kind of the message that is going to be in the receivers’ room this spring."
The entire two-deep along with the spring outlook is here for your consumption.
A 3-deep was just posted at http://www.hokiesports.com/football/depth/
Surprised to see no Joel Caleb on the 3-deep
Also, no Zach McCray on the three deep, and Jerome Wright as the #2 tailback
*Fullback
But, Biero is listed as being in a blue shirt, which I think moves everyone up a spot. I'm guessing realistically Wright is starting out at 3rd string. But we shall see...
I'd really like to see Nick Acree earn one of the starting guard spots. He's 6-5 316, total beast, if Grimes can teach him the technique he has all the physical tools in the world to drive guys out of the box.
It would be big if Acree could take Wang's spot. That automatically improves the line. Or I wouldn't mind another commenters idea of Conte at LG, just to get the 5 best on the field.
Please, Nick, please!
How is Joel Caleb not even on the 3 deep?
I think its more of a reward for Willie Byrn than an indictment on Caleb. I wouldn't read into pre-spring practices.
It seems odd for Moorehead to even be able to put together a 3-deep. He hasn't seen any of these guys play and they all look the same (at least Grimes can sort them out by size and shape for position).
That said, I would strongly consider moving Caleb to FS/Rover if he doesn't rise into the two-deep at WR this spring. Between Coles, Asante, Knowles, Stanford and Meyer, we've got some bodies at WR. Even Irick, Smiling and Byres have a chance to contribute. But, at FS/Rover, we need some help.
Agree, I think the new depth chart is heavily based on the end of last season, aside from some position changes, and will probably be pretty fluid. Caleb could probably see the field earlier at rover or safety, but I think he has a ton of potential and high ceiling at receiver. I was looking at the 6:00 AM workout thread, and he's nowhere to be found by virtue of ctrl + f: http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2013/march/18/600-am-workouts-are-happ....
I hope we're not going to see another attitude-based issue with him. We had enough of bad locker room mojo.
I also want to see Joel Caleb move up, I thought he and even Charley Meyer would be ahead of Willie Byrn. HokieHaven talked about how they thought Dadi Nicholas would be the undisputed No. 3 DE after spring, but I simply don't see him passing Tyrel Wilson or Corey Marshall. Nicholas has tons of potential and has the talent to be the third DE right now but Wilson and Marshall are legit.
French mentioned this earlier about Gayle probably taking limited reps this spring but I wouldnt be surprised to see Dadi get a ton of reps this spring (which he still needs) with Gayle entrenched. To quote Wiles "Obviously, James Gayle is going to be hard to beat out" It does seem like Gayle is a man on a mission.
David Wang as a starter scares me to death. Especially against Alabama.
Grimes will probably realize that too after the spring.
Reports were that one of the WR's was late a 6:00 AM meeting, and that Moorehead made the next meeting at 5:00 AM in response - - could that WR have been Caleb?? That would explain why he might be buried in the depth chart right now.
I like Charlie Meyer and Willie Byrn - they are both ballers and I can see them contributing one of these years.
Jerome Wright is listed as the #2 FB, but the Spring Primer mentions that he's strong enough to play LB. He looks like a big old mean Mike to me.
Spring primer also seemed high on Chris Mangus. I also recall Bud Foster giving him positive reviews from the scout team last year.
Spring primer / Bud was hopefully about DVD and Deon Clarke providing depth at Mike and Backer. I'm hopeful for that too.
Holmes still listed as #2 on punt returns...why?!?
at least he's not number one!
I don't get it. He hesitates way too much to be a breakout returner. They try to keep Jarrett fresh but he is always a threat. I could definitely see young fuller coming in and bumping holmes down spot.
For some reason I feel Chris Mangus is destined for punt returns
yeah good point. Mangus is a burner. Looking forward to seeing what happens. I can't wait for the spring game
He's also very shifty on film.
What about Tony Gregory? I see him getting buried at RB, but he seems pretty fast and one of the more nimble RB's. I just can't see him taking a whole season of punishment as a running back, so maybe this would be the right level of contribution from him.
Considering his injury history I'd be a little cautious at putting Gregory at any returning (infact, I think one of his first injuries may have been on a return. Can anyone confirm)
EDIT: Checked it. He tore his ACL the first time in 2010 on punt teams in the UNC game. This ACL also bugged him during the next season. With this kind of injury history, and influence on his playing, I don't think he should be playing returns. Stick with him just as RB, maybe WR if we want to shift bodies.
Maybe I'm in the minority on this, but I don't want to see him shift to WR. I'd rather see some of the young talent we have step up. Obviously there are question marks, but with Coles healthy and the leader of the group along with Moorehead's intensity I think we have enough there. It's not like he's been a WR before, he's as much of a question mark as the others and is gone after this year, I'd like to see Coles, Knowles, and then some combo of Caleb, Asante, and Stanford, but I trust that the WRs on the field for us will work hard and BLOCK or else Moorehead will pull them.
yeah i see your point but it may be difficult for him to see much action at rb and we could use another fast option for WR. I hope Moorehead can get the younger guys ready.
Did anyone else notice that the Defense is listed as 4-2-5 in the Spring Outlook? Are they counting the Whip as a DB or are they considering the Nickel our primary D now?
Whip as a defensive back.
It's pretty ridiculous that at EVERY position on offense comes with SEVERAL question marks. Seriously, look at the starters and find one that we know will be a solid contributor, no questions asked. This makes me sad.
I really think this list as of now needs to be taken with a grain of salt. It seems to be solely based off of last year. I imagine players like Caleb and Ekanem will appear on the list once spring ball kicks into gear, and Edmunds will separate himself from the rest of the 2nd string.