Spring Notes

“It’s just like a burden off my back,” Thomas said. “It’s so nice to know you’re gonna be able to go out there and play every down unless something tragic happens. I could have played tight end right off the start, but I think it’s better now that I’m getting this chance to get up there and showcase my quarterback abilities.”

“I think we’re really gonna throw the ball down the field better than we did last year,” Thomas said. “Of course, a lot of that’s on my back, but with the weapons that we have — [wide receivers Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale and Dyrell Roberts] on the outside — we should be able to throw it around the yard.”

At least he's confident...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/hokies-journal/post/the-logan-thomas...

ON STANDOUTS AT D-TACKLE THE FIRST DAY: “Kwamaine. He’s fat right now. He’s 300 pounds. He needs to be 285. But he came out and he moved around great. But he’s a guy in a phone booth, too, a little bit right now (better in the trenches than getting out and running down plays). But I was impressed with him.”

via: KT http://hamptonroads.com/2011/04/vt-football-breaking-down-hokies-o-and-d...

This is good news as far as depth at d-tackle is concerned.

"I've never had someone sit down with me and actually just tell me what to look at in film and how to be a better overall player," said Gayle, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound rising sophomore defensive end who graduated from Bethel High.

"I didn't really know what to look for. Things like where the offensive tackle is looking — if he's looking at me, he's going to (engage) me. If he's looking at a linebacker, (the tackle) is going to do something different. So many things I didn't see before."

...

He set his sights on getting up to 265 pounds by the end of the summer. He also wanted to assemble the proper tools in terms of knowledge of the position, strength and speed to amass at least 10 sacks next season. Last season, he played in all 14 games — starting two — and finished with four sacks.

When he found out Tech's coaches planned to move Chris Drager back to tight end from the defensive end position he'd manned for the last two years, Gayle realized opportunity was staring him in the face.

Gayle started his preparation in February by posting some astonishing weight room numbers, including a 366-pound power clean (new Tech record for defensive ends — previously held by Phoebus High alum Nathaniel Adibi) and a bench press of 420 pounds, which tied for third-best among Gayle's current teammates.

via Norm Wood http://www.dailypress.com/sports/colleges/virginia-tech/dp-spt-tech-jame...

Meanwhile, Taylor’s back-up, Oakton native Jack Tyler, will miss the remainder of spring practice after suffering a lower back injury, according to head athletic trainer Mike Goforth.

That opens the door for redshirt senior Barquell Rivers, who missed most of 2010 with a torn quad but was ruled 100 percent healthy this spring. With both Taylor and Tyler out, he will get a golden opportunity to prove he’s ready to contribute on defense again. Rivers started at middle linebacker in 2009 and finished the season with 96 tackles.

Virginia Tech also lost some depth along the defensive line for the time being as defensive tackle Dwight Tucker suffered a high ankle sprain during the mini-scrimmage. Tucker is currently wearing a protective boot for the injury. Expect Kwamaine Battle, who started at defensive tackle against Boise State but then suffered a torn ACL, to get a chance to some more reps as a result.

And finally, we already knew redshirt freshman quarterback Ricardo Young (H.D. Woodson High) suffered a foot injury, but on Thursday he revealed via twitter that x-rays were inconclusive and doctors fear he may have suffered a stretched or torn tendon in the foot. Young, who was receiving a lot of snaps thus far as coaches evaluated whether he was ready to contribute this fall, wrote that an MRI will be taken to determine the full extent of the injury.

via: Mark Giannatto http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/hokies-journal/post/virginia-tech-sp...

If Barquell can really impress does anyone think there's a chance we could see Bruce move to backer?

ON WHETHER HE SENSES THAT OGLESBY FEELS LIKE HE’S GOT A NEW LEASE ON LIFE THIS SEASON: “Definitely. I think he’s extremely focused, extremely business-like. He’s serious about his work. He’s sitting in meetings, taking notes. On the practice field, he’s practicing with a purpose. I told them on the first day, ‘I don’t know what’s gone on here in the past. I don’t know who’s done what. We’re starting fresh. We’re competing every day and the best guy is going to play.’ I’m into results and performance, and he’s showing that right now.”

ON OGLESBY BENEFITTING FROM NO. 1 REPS WHEN WILSON IS OUT: “I think so. When David’s not there, Josh is ‘the guy.’ He gets in there and does a good job and has kind of taken ownership of that position.”

...

ON SENSING THAT GOUVEIA-WINSLOW FEELS CHALLENGED BY VT USING MORE NICKEL LAST SEASON, THEN BRINGING OVER TWO NEW WHIPS THIS SPRING: “From what I see, the kid is a student of the game. He’s always going to work to be better than what he’s shown before. That’s the biggest thing. I’m sure he’s heard everything that everybody’s saying, so he wants to go out and prove that he is a solid player – which he is. For the first five practices, that’s what he’s shown. He’s a comfort guy. When he’s out there, you’re comfortable with him out there.”

I guess we will see if GW is actually playing better or if Tweedy has not done enough to push him out. Seems like the same storyline as last year.