It's football season for the next 4 weeks y'all! These are my thoughts on the reports from Tech's first day of spring ball.
We all clamored behind our keyboards for Trey Edmunds to strap it up last season, and it sounds like he looked beastly at practice today (6-1, 215 lbs). Chris Lang caught up with Shane Beamer.
"He's extremely explosive. You all saw what he ran the 40 in. I saw it with my own eyes," Beamer said. "And to have that strength and that power, it's exciting. And it's intriguing. He's just very raw."
/Drools
It's also important to note the Beamer and Loeffler are working to find their featured back and rotation this spring, "I certainly would like to get a solidified rotation coming out of spring."
Mike Barber noted the early focus on the power running game.
In the brief glimpse the media got, it was obvious Tech is focused on returning to its power-run game. Most of the plays run during the fourth period came out of the I-formation or double-tight end sets.
Loeffler, one of three new offensive assistant coaches, made his presence felt, or better stated, heard during the workout. He is a decidedly more vocal personality than deposed play-caller Mike O'Cain.
As much as I've obsessed over the importance of the offensive line, it should be the noted if Tech wants to go big and play man-ball, the tight ends are going to have to be capable blockers. The top-3 today were Ryan Malleck, Duan Perez-Means, and Darius Redman. Other than Malleck, who was underused last season in the passing game and was an average blocker, the position is an unknown. Perez-Means is an athletic talent, and could be the shocker of the group if he can block.
Vomiting on day-one of practice, yeah we've all been there.
Shane, summing up tonight's practice: "It was intense and it was fast-paced. A couple guys from offense left their lunch out there."— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) March 28, 2013
DJ Coles and Andrew Miller practiced minimally today, and will be limited throughout spring. And neither of them should be rushed back, because Tech can't afford to be without them in the fall. Miller will anchor the offensive line, and we all saw how the interior play diminished when he was lost last season. At 100%, Coles is the team's best all-around receiver, but he hasn't played since his 13 snaps against Georgia Tech. Also, he's 22-pounds heavier than last spring (238). Hopefully he's able to kick the rust off.
Andy Bitter confirmed what Mike noted earlier in the day, sophomore wide receiver Christian Reeves plans to transfer. Seems like early attrition.
HokieSports.com posted an interview with Coach Grimes.
- He is tall.
- David Wang is working in at center as well as guard.
- Grimes' ultimate goal is to get the best five guys on the field, so there may be position changes.
- Grimes talking about physical line play, "establish(ing) his will on his opponent", and putting defenders on their ass got me quite excited.
Player reactions:
First day of practice went well. Really loving the new changes.— J.C. Coleman (@jc_coleman4) March 28, 2013
Practice has never worn me out this much!— Darius Walter Redman (@RedmanVT_33) March 28, 2013
One recruiting note, 2014 defensive end Jalyn Holmes will visit on April 6th, Tech's open scrimmage will also double as a junior day event.
Ima be @ vt the 6th— Jalyn Holmes #⃣1⃣1⃣ (@JayHolmes_) March 28, 2013
Holmes is rated a 4-star by both Rivals and 247. In January FOX Sport Next' Michael Clark reported his Top-8 as: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, UNC, USC and VirginiaTech.
Comments
I want David Wang to prove me wrong and impress the hell out of me his time left at Tech.
Sweet tits I'm excited for the next four weeks.
FOOTBALL NEWS!!!!!!!!
Why do I keep picturing Grimes coming out in pads a la The Rock in Gridiron Gang?
I could see the new coaches coming out in pads to get a point across!
I love how our O-line coach is a massive man with a gritty mentality yet is called "Grimey".
It makes me so happy today to see actual practice footage today. awesome. We really need a decent indoor facility. It looks sad.
Fantastic. Loving every word of this. And i'm quickly getting more excited about Loeffler.
Sabans gonna crap himself
Saban is beatable. Beamer has done it before (LSU). This Bama team is great but they are beatable. We can do it. I can't wait for #AUG31 #BEATBAMA
Beamer has also beaten Bama, now he just need to do both at once. TAMU (whom I consider a natural rivalry for VT) of course did it last year.
Inorite? I would die if there was a VT-TAMU game. Corps vs. corps at halftime? Yes please!
Happened years ago. Great game, even with a hurricane barring down on lane.
Twice, actually. We beat them at College Station & the following year in Lane in the Thursday night hurricane game.
Allow me to rephrase... *another* VT-TAMU game... or series? :P
Thanks for making me feel old.
My Keydet father ('68) remembers the original Military Rivalry of the South: VMI & VPI going at it in Memorial Stadium in Roanoke. I've heard some wildly-entertaining stories from both alum bases!
The Frankinator have hit a grand slam. Nuff said.
I couldn't be more excited about what I'm seeing from these new coaches. Accountability, attention to detail, toughness, intensity. This is the kind of stuff that we've been lacking for a while and that's been holding us back from being a truly elite program. Keep up the good work, gentlemen.
http://hamptonroads.com/2013/03/new-coaches-new-attitude-loeffler-grimes...
Great Bitter read right here, I love the last part:
"If we want to have the toughness that we want to have as an offense, we need to demand that," Moorehead said. "Right now, we’re trying to establish that toughness, establish that all those little things that we’re emphasizing in meetings, we’re going to carry it over to practice. And if you don’t do it, we’re going to jump your butt for it."
I love these new coaches more everyday.
I know the defense carries the lunch pail. It's time for the offense to carry a sledgehammer. Bring the lunch pail and the sledgehammer, boys, because its time to go to work.
Great write up! I have to admit that I was in support of redshirting Edmunds before last season. I saw him in the scrimmages, and was very impressed, but HATED his fumbles. I trusted that we had multiple good backs, and I trusted our coaches, so I was all about it. But man, our running game SUCKED last year. I am really looking forward to seeing how Edmunds has improved over this past season. He has the most potential/upside of all the backs. Edmunds - Coleman could be a great 1-2 punch.
I think it's worth mentioning that the impression I am getting from the coaches is that Drew Harris is either A) Not going to enroll or be cleared or B) Going to redshirt if he does enroll. If the coaches are wanting to sort out the running back situation in the Spring, that puts Harris on the outside looking in. The coaches just don't seem to still believe he will end up in Blacksburg it seems.
Good point, although it could just be them PRing a little bit since they know every fan/talking head doesn't want a repeat of last year. Additionally I think Beamer is using this as a motivation tool to make everyone work harder.
I really think (... hope ...) that everyone on the staff realized that 4 RB's is just too many. I think they legitimately don't want that ever again...
Well first off, the coaches cannot comment on Harris, just like they cannot talk about any other prospect who has not yet signed an LOI or enrolled @ VT.
Secondly, this is one of those cases where we won't know one way or another until the decision comes back from the NCAA.
Finally, they aren't really talking about any other incoming freshmen, so why would they talk about Harris? The coaches are 100% focused on Spring Practice and the guys who are currently on the team.
FWIW, just about everything I've seen from "insiders" makes it sound like he's got a good shot at getting the waiver
They may not be able to say his name but we've heard them mention about "a kid" and the complications with getting cleared. It's pretty easy to put 2 and 2 together there. The reason they might talk about Harris is because they were expecting him in January and expected him to find his way into the competition. Most Freshmen don't come in and contribute right away though. Most will redshirt so there's not a need for them to say much on them.
I am so psyched about the attention to detail!!! I think that's going to make the biggest difference out of anything these coaches are bringing. If you do all the little things exactly right 100's of times, it's going to be much more fluid and natural in a game.
Agreed! I listened to Grimey's interview (I absolutely LOVE that moniker!!), and I continue to be impressed. The offensive version of Bud!
If you know your Simpsons.
"Deposed play caller Mike O'Cain." I liked that phrasing. Made me think of Napolean on Elba, but in stead of Elba, it's Harrisonburg. Which is about right.
At least the team practices in #ALLMAROONEVERYTHING
Offensive players losing their lunch? Further credence to the benefit of bringing a lunch pail.
Teaching the offensive players (especially the linemen) to be tough & physical... WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT!
Not sure if anyone has posted this article yet (I haven't seen it), but it got me excited.
Often times Tech was criticized for having too many plays, and none that they were really good at. Sounds like they're taking a different approach this year. They'll have a couple dominant plays that they can execute perfectly, and then they'll build the offense around that.
The whole second half of the article is worth reading, it also provides a little info about Aaron Moorehead and the receivers, like the punishment for dropped balls.
Thanks for the article. That's a very, very encouraging snippet.
Getting more and more excited for the new season every day.
That's the kind of aim and focus Thomas needs to take that next step, and it looks like he's buying in!
It's just so freaking exciting that perfection is the mentality from our offensive coaching staff. Like someone said earlier, Saban and Alabama ARE BEATABLE... And this is how it will be done.
just caught the interview with Grimes... we need bigger reporters -no excuses in any phase of the program.
I was hesitant about the new OC, but that tweet from Darius Redman put all my fears to rest. And I quote:
"Practice has never worn me out this much!"
Enough said. It is becoming more and more evident to this Hokie that the coaches had become complacent and thus, lead to our mediocre 7-6 season. I Hate Bryan Stinespring!
The players will only get worn out from practice until they get used to the idea that this is the only way you can be truly successful. Go 100%, 100% of the time!!! #BEATBAMA
Damn straight buddy. My point exactly and #BeatBama!
The Criminoles will soon have their indoor practice facility complete too. Time for us to get ours.
Anybody have any info on Friday's practice?
i was wondering the same thing
Or Saturdays?
yep..nothing but silence. must be Easter weekend