I like the top 5 and agree with them. Hopefully Trey can get back to form. I think that would allow for the red-shirting of both Juice and shai. I would think extra time for them to heal up wouldn't hurt. Plus you always have them in reserve if someone goes down. But I think the Trey, JCC, and McMillian will be a good trio of backs.
As for Brewer, I think there is no doubt that he will be better. People tend to put all the interceptions on the QB because he's the one who threw the ball but I wonder how many were due to the receivers that were true freshman. But as stated he only had a fall camp to work on the plays and was then thrust into action. With a years more experience in the system along with the receivers I think their output has tremendous potential to be better. If it's not then we are in a bad place. I saw on College Football Live (I think) the other day that they were going through UNC's schedule and looking at who they thought were wins and losses for them. They gave UNC the win against us because of Michael Brewer. The failed to mention the things that I just stated however and really just said Brewer had a hard time grasping VT's offensive system. So whatever.
I'm most looking forward to a healthy and lethal Facyson though. I loved him his freshman year. I think he's every bit the player that Fuller is and can dominate that spot as well. If he hadn't been hurt there's no doubt that they would be the best cornerback duo in the country. Hope he gets back to form this year.
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I saw on College Football Live (I think) the other day that they were going through UNC's schedule and looking at who they thought were wins and losses for them. They gave UNC the win against us because of Michael Brewer.
... Even though Brewer helped beat them handily on the road last year and had one of his better games? Not saying we can't lose, but that's not a terribly good argument.
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Agree with the list but I would probably put Motuapuaka at the top because that is a huge question mark on D. Gray grows NFL caliber DB's on trees so I am not worried about the secondary at all, but I am very worried about the LB corps. We shall see what it brings...
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I'm just gonna throw this out here: Last time we were concerned about a new Rover's ability to tackle on a Labor Day opener, Kyshoen Jarrett came out and wrecked his fair share of Georgia Tech runners. Reavis is a loss, no doubt, but don't count out one of the young guys stepping up in a big way.
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I think the linebacker youth that Andy talks about needs to be discussed more completely by the TKP writing team for all of us TKP/VT Football junkies. That is an issue which could be a big Defensive problem unless some youth shows up big - starting with the anOSU running game.
We focus a lot on our D strengths (DL and CBs), time to discuss this weakness - which is probably our biggest potential D weakness this year.
French? Joe?
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Agreed. I worry less about the secondary (replacing two safties) because there is a lot of talent and experience there, but the LBs are Motuapuaka, Clarke, and....
Seems like my concern area.
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The linebackers are the biggest question marks, no question. And that's really almost by default. Clarke is gonna be just fine, he played really well towards the end of the year and had a pretty good game against OSU last year too. If RVD can stay healthy (a big if up to this point), he'll be a good one too. Motu is the big one. He didn't have a great spring game, but he had a pretty darn good spring up until that point. He needs to work on playing a little lower and making sure that he plays fast enough to attack downhill and get guys on the ground where he hits them, when he hits them. Foster has said repeatedly he likes where Motu is at right now, but the next few weeks of camp will be really big for him.
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Totally agree. Motu is the biggest question mark to me.
We will have a good idea of his progression come 9/7. I see OSU pounding the rock with Elliott all night and thus putting a ton of pressure on the shoulders of the young LB.
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I completely agree. The only thing I think of when Motuapuaka brought up is the spring game when he got straight plowed over by Trey Edmunds. Scary to think what that grown ass man of a RB for anOSU could do.
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I won't give away the baby with the bathwater, but Motuapuaka's biggest growth area is being more aggressive attacking the bubble created in the gap fits up front. The mike isn't like a traditional middle backer that goes sideline to sideline. He has to attack his gap North-South. Motuapuaka tended to play like a more traditional 4-3 MLB and chase the ball. This created three outcomes: 1) He made a ton of tackles 2) By not fitting up into his gap/bubble, it created increased space for running backs to slip into. 3) By staying back, it allowed the backs to get downhill.
As result, Boston College and Duke in particular had several big runs that were in part the result of Motuapuaka not aggressively attacking the bubble. We saw it again in the spring game, where Motuapuaka was one on one with Trey Edmunds in the hole. Andrew stayed back a bit, and Trey ran over him.
I don't have any worries about Clarke, and by all accounts, Motuapuaka looked terrific in the spring up until the spring game. Frankly, he wasn't good in the spring game. To me, he has the most to prove on a veteran defense besides the safeties.
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His interception in the first public scrimmage his freshman year was the first play that made me jump out of my seat like a crazy person since I started reviewing the film of the team. In that fall camp, he was better than Fuller.
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Comments
I like the top 5 and agree with them. Hopefully Trey can get back to form. I think that would allow for the red-shirting of both Juice and shai. I would think extra time for them to heal up wouldn't hurt. Plus you always have them in reserve if someone goes down. But I think the Trey, JCC, and McMillian will be a good trio of backs.
As for Brewer, I think there is no doubt that he will be better. People tend to put all the interceptions on the QB because he's the one who threw the ball but I wonder how many were due to the receivers that were true freshman. But as stated he only had a fall camp to work on the plays and was then thrust into action. With a years more experience in the system along with the receivers I think their output has tremendous potential to be better. If it's not then we are in a bad place. I saw on College Football Live (I think) the other day that they were going through UNC's schedule and looking at who they thought were wins and losses for them. They gave UNC the win against us because of Michael Brewer. The failed to mention the things that I just stated however and really just said Brewer had a hard time grasping VT's offensive system. So whatever.
I'm most looking forward to a healthy and lethal Facyson though. I loved him his freshman year. I think he's every bit the player that Fuller is and can dominate that spot as well. If he hadn't been hurt there's no doubt that they would be the best cornerback duo in the country. Hope he gets back to form this year.
Speaking of Shai, what's the latest on his status with the team? He's still off the roster on Hokiesports.
probably wont change until fall camp or even midway thru the season when his suspension is over.
my prediction is 4 game suspension once he's game-ready.
Thanks Andy, this series has been great so far.
... Even though Brewer helped beat them handily on the road last year and had one of his better games? Not saying we can't lose, but that's not a terribly good argument.
You're expecting good arguments from ESPN?
Agree with the list but I would probably put Motuapuaka at the top because that is a huge question mark on D. Gray grows NFL caliber DB's on trees so I am not worried about the secondary at all, but I am very worried about the LB corps. We shall see what it brings...
You are not worried about the secondary at all?
2 new starters at Safety, a question mark on Facyson's health and the loss of Reivis heading into fall practice?
What would make you worried, if they kidnapped Fuller?
Torrian Gray, nuff said
Wait a minute... Who's "they"? What do you know? WE NEED TO FIND THESE PEOPLE...NOW!
I'm just gonna throw this out here: Last time we were concerned about a new Rover's ability to tackle on a Labor Day opener, Kyshoen Jarrett came out and wrecked his fair share of Georgia Tech runners. Reavis is a loss, no doubt, but don't count out one of the young guys stepping up in a big way.
I think the linebacker youth that Andy talks about needs to be discussed more completely by the TKP writing team for all of us TKP/VT Football junkies. That is an issue which could be a big Defensive problem unless some youth shows up big - starting with the anOSU running game.
We focus a lot on our D strengths (DL and CBs), time to discuss this weakness - which is probably our biggest potential D weakness this year.
French? Joe?
Agreed. I worry less about the secondary (replacing two safties) because there is a lot of talent and experience there, but the LBs are Motuapuaka, Clarke, and....
Seems like my concern area.
The linebackers are the biggest question marks, no question. And that's really almost by default. Clarke is gonna be just fine, he played really well towards the end of the year and had a pretty good game against OSU last year too. If RVD can stay healthy (a big if up to this point), he'll be a good one too. Motu is the big one. He didn't have a great spring game, but he had a pretty darn good spring up until that point. He needs to work on playing a little lower and making sure that he plays fast enough to attack downhill and get guys on the ground where he hits them, when he hits them. Foster has said repeatedly he likes where Motu is at right now, but the next few weeks of camp will be really big for him.
Totally agree. Motu is the biggest question mark to me.
We will have a good idea of his progression come 9/7. I see OSU pounding the rock with Elliott all night and thus putting a ton of pressure on the shoulders of the young LB.
I completely agree. The only thing I think of when Motuapuaka brought up is the spring game when he got straight plowed over by Trey Edmunds. Scary to think what that grown ass man of a RB for anOSU could do.
I won't give away the baby with the bathwater, but Motuapuaka's biggest growth area is being more aggressive attacking the bubble created in the gap fits up front. The mike isn't like a traditional middle backer that goes sideline to sideline. He has to attack his gap North-South. Motuapuaka tended to play like a more traditional 4-3 MLB and chase the ball. This created three outcomes: 1) He made a ton of tackles 2) By not fitting up into his gap/bubble, it created increased space for running backs to slip into. 3) By staying back, it allowed the backs to get downhill.
As result, Boston College and Duke in particular had several big runs that were in part the result of Motuapuaka not aggressively attacking the bubble. We saw it again in the spring game, where Motuapuaka was one on one with Trey Edmunds in the hole. Andrew stayed back a bit, and Trey ran over him.
I don't have any worries about Clarke, and by all accounts, Motuapuaka looked terrific in the spring up until the spring game. Frankly, he wasn't good in the spring game. To me, he has the most to prove on a veteran defense besides the safeties.
Brandon Facyson is a pretty damn good player. Hope he recovers fully this year. Big rangy DB's dont grow on trees.
Watching him when he's healthy is just ridiculous, even as a true freshman. Dude redefines "closing speed."
His interception in the first public scrimmage his freshman year was the first play that made me jump out of my seat like a crazy person since I started reviewing the film of the team. In that fall camp, he was better than Fuller.