No position on the Hokies' depth chart is more scrutinized than the quarterback spot. Fairly or unfairly, Tech fans are accustomed to elite, athletic quarterbacks that can make chicken salad out of chicken trash. Scot Loeffler's offense demands a high level of athleticism, but now Tech's QBs must be heady and able to make all the throws required in a mature passing scheme. Michael Brewer's up-and-down 2014 season left many to believe spring ball would feature an open competition for the quarterback position. Instead, despite missing some scrimmage work with an injury, Brewer solidified his standing as the clear cut starter for the 2015 campaign.
R-SR Michael Brewer (6-0, 196 pounds)
I was as frustrated with Brewer's erratic performance down the stretch as anyone else, but it's easy to forget how outstanding he was against Ohio State. Tech's offensive line was a sieve much of that game, and Brewer masterfully worked underneath the Buckeyes' Cover 4 coverage with deep-in and deep-out routes to Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips, Bucky Hodges, and most importantly Ryan Malleck. Malleck in particular made several huge third-down catches on deep flag routes that required hard, precision throws from Brewer. Brewer took plenty of licks against the Buckeyes, and the physical toll on his body increased over the course of the season as the lack of a rush attack and poor pass protection compounded game-to-game.
Opponents adjusted and played zone covering underneath to take away quick pick routes. Corners hid in short zones dropped back under longer comeback routes. On this play, Georgia Tech tricked Brewer into throwing a critical interception.
The Yellow Jacket corner has Cam Phillips in a cover 2 zone on the quick curl. The corner is reading Brewer's eyes. Brewer reads that the corner is in man and covering Phillips, so he throws to Hodges on the post-corner. The Yellow Jacket corner dropped back underneath Hodges and Brewer never saw him.
Brewer also neglected the middle of the field as Malleck became more involved in pass protection. Slant and crossing routes were almost non-existent. Coach Loeffler attributed some of those issues to receivers running incorrect routes. However, Brewer was clearly more comfortable with throws near the sideline or breaking outside than ones over the middle. His struggles in blitz recognition only contributed to what appeared to be an unreported upper body injury.
After a brutal performance against Wake Forest (15/18 126 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 5 sacks), many fans called for Brewer to be benched against Virginia. However, he remained at the top of the depth chart. Against the Hoos, Brewer was pummeled in the first half, and he was sidelined after UVA defensive end Mike Moore delivered a blow that popped out his shoulder. Brenden Motley (8 rushes, 28 yards), who saw action earlier in the game, spelled Brewer for a series, but he was knocked out of the game. A battered Brewer returned and completed 8 of 18 passes for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns en route to a 24-20 Hokies win.
Coach Loeffler made a series of adjustments that helped Brewer lead a terrific comeback. To shore up pass protection, Augie Conte moved outside and replaced Wade Hansen at right tackle, and Caleb Farris was inserted at right guard. Loeffler also utilized a two tight-end, two wide receiver spread look.
When Virginia played in a base defense, defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta moved his best pass rusher, Max Valles, out into coverage on Bucky Hodges and UVA couldn't muster the same pass rush. When Tenuta moved Valles back inside to stop J.C. Coleman and the running game, Brewer was able to find Cam Phillips and Hodges against backup safety Wilfred Wahee for big plays. Brewer showed playmaking ability and a ton of grit to put the worst game of his career behind him, and overcome an injury, to lead Tech to another Commonwealth Cup win and bowl berth.
In the spring, Coach Loeffler and Brewer looked to improve the vertical passing game. As Ford, Phillips, and Hodges beat the young Hokie corners time and again on double moves, Brewer separated himself from Brenden Motley by being more accurate on deep throws. If the Hokies can add more of a vertical passing element, that opens up even more space for an improving running game. Brewer seems poised to be significantly improved stretching the field.
Brewer's 15 interceptions must be reduced for the Hokies to win the ACC Coastal. It could be a special season for the Hokies if Tech can combine together: an improved run attack, more experience at the skill positions and the Brewer we saw in the Horseshoe.
R-JR Brenden Motley (6-2, 223)
Brenden Motley's effectiveness on inverted veer and play-action from the Hokies' "Wild Turkey" package left many fans clamoring for Motley to replace Michael Brewer prior to the Virginia game. A shoulder injury to Brewer midway through the game gave Motley the opportunity against the Wahoos. However, Motley was injured before he could establish an offensive rhythm.
Motley exited 2014 spring practice as Tech's No. 1 QB (beat out Mark Leal, prior to Brewer's arrival), and had a strong spring this past April. He is an athletic weapon in the read option game, and his experience in the Wing-T system at Christiansburg High School makes him excellent on ball fakes. Motley has a strong arm and looks like a slightly smaller version of Logan Thomas with his cannon on intermediate throws.
Last season, Motley fell down the depth chart due to missed practice time as result of a class conflict. The lack of reps made it impossible for him to practice the entire offensive playbook. Motley worked with both the No. 1 and No. 2 team offenses this spring, and performed well, however his occasional inaccuracy on deep throws damaged his chances of supplanting Brewer. For example, Motley had Isaiah Ford wide open for a sure touchdown in the spring game and overthrew him badly.
Those throws, and Brewer's outstanding performance, relegated Motley to the backup spot.
Motley comes into the season as a solid No. 2 who has the ability to be a very capable ACC quarterback if called upon. The onus is on Brenden to stay healthy and be sharp on the full playbook. If he is, he could be the best backup (besides the whole Tyrod/Glennon fiasco) since Al Clark backed up Jim Druckenmiller.
R-FR Chris Durkin (6-4, 221 pounds)
Redshirt freshman Chris Durkin has become a bit of a forgotten man. He came to Blacksburg in need of major work on his throwing mechanics, but Durkin's power and elusiveness as a high school player impressed me more than Tim Tebow's high school film. There was buzz around Blacksburg that Loeffler considered burning Durkin's redshirt after some impressive efforts in short yardage drills during fall camp. If he had, Durkin would have been the goal-line/short yardage QB. Ultimately, Durkin redshirted and traveled with the team as an emergency QB.
Durkin continued to impress with his power running during spring practice, and his mechanics have improved. Durkin isn't a threat to Motley as the No. 2 yet, however don't be surprised if Durkin ends up winning the job as the Wild Turkey QB. The kid can be a really unique weapon in the running game.
FR Dwayne Lawson (6-6, 207 pounds)
Hype has surrounded Dwayne Lawson ever since he flipped from Miami to Virginia Tech before signing with the Hokies. Lawson has remarkable elusiveness for his height, and that evasiveness is paired with tremendous speed and athleticism. Furthermore, Lawson has a live arm and great touch on deep balls.
Despite his tremendous skill set, Lawson is a work in progress. Scot Loeffler's offense is complex, and Michael Brewer has been working with Lawson on learning the system. Lawson will be expected to make many more sight adjustments at the line of scrimmage than he did in Hillsborough High's spread system. Lawson's mechanics also need work. He has a tendency to bring the football down near his waist on his drop backs, and his footwork sometimes breaks down. When his feet are not set, his accuracy suffers. In the Semper Fidelis Bowl, Lawson threw a beautiful deep touchdown to USC commit Tristan Payton, and had some nice gains on the ground, but he also missed some easy short throws and fumbled on a scramble.
It was impossible to go to any public event where the coaches spoke without someone asking if Lawson will beat out Brewer. To me, that is totally unfair for a very talented freshman. Lawson could contribute right away with his athleticism, however with three talented quarterbacks ahead of him (all of whom have used their redshirt year), I would expect Lawson to redshirt and travel much like Durkin did last season. The only way Lawson sees the field is if he comes into fall camp and his performance significantly exceeds Brewer's, Motley's, Durkin's and he convinces the staff that he presents the best opportunity to win. After the spring Brewer and Motley had, only a once-in-a-lifetime freshman could achieve that goal. Keep in mind, Michael Vick didn't burn a redshirt as a freshman. Tyrod Taylor only burned his redshirt(s) because of a horrendous pass blocking offensive line, and broken offense. I expect Lawson to redshirt, and then the battle between Lawson and Durkin will be fascinating to watch down the road. Both could be special players.
Comments
so much talent! cant we line up a QB at H-back and WR and QB and TE and......
This is Tech, we make TE's into QB's and QB's in TE, RB, WR, DB, SS...
So yes, we can do it all!
Durkin is only 221#'s? I thought his tank-like structure was much larger. I am all for kids red-shirting and getting some time in a college weightroom and filmroom. This Job is Brewers to keep away from Motley and we should only burn Lawsons redshirt if all 3 ahead of him are injured imho. The year of learning can only help Lawson realize his full potential, just imagine what would have happened if T-Mobile had been allowed to redshirt his freshman year, he would have taken us to great heights with the talent on that 2011 team...
if they feel Lawson has pro-potential and he shows that he could be the guy for next year I think he should be playing this year. Would be nice to blow out a few teams so we could get backups some reps for once.
potential being the key word here. If as stated in the article, Lawson comes in and completely out does all the other QBs on the field and the staff is comfortable with his knowledge of the playbook and he has a good timing and relationship with the receivers.....then he should play. Just because he may have the "potential" doesn't mean he currently has the know-how to run CSL's offense. Again, as mentioned in the article....Vick had pro-potential and red-shirted.
apparently coaches have told recruits that he's going to be a first rounder or something along those lines. I don't think they have any intention of RS'ing him.
Times have changed tremendously since vick was a freshmen as well.
Vick redshirted due to a promise from CFBeamer to him and his high school coach. Apples and oranges. I'd be quite surprised if Lawson has Vick's potential. That said, if the kid wins the position, why wouldn't he play? I just have a really hard time believing he'll be able to do that, and unless he'd be gaining more than a token appearance here and there, it doesn't seem to me that it would be smart to burn his shirt.
and- as good as Vick was, he wasn't playing ahead of a 5th year senior with the ability and respect of his teammates as Al Clark. The promise was more the reason that Beamer didn't burn the shirt after Clark started to get banged up and the Hokies had to use Nick Sorenson instead.
If he is the best QB, he should play. However, I have not seen anything on film that would indicate that he will be the best guy day 1. He has very good ability. However, when I watch him, I don't see sure-fire stardom. I see potential, and unless he is far and away the best guy, you let him learn. When you factor in the learning curve for the offense, I think it is really unfair for the kid to deal with people calling on him to be the new starter. I don't care what his age or physical maturity is... only once in a lifetime players are ready to step in and be a solid D1 QB on day 1 of their freshman year. The speed of the game is too much. Look at recent great college QBs.
Andrew Luck- redshirted
Michael Vick- redshirted
Tim Tebow- played as a goal-line/special package player
Peyton Manning- was 3rd string, forced into action after injuries to Jerry Colquitt and Todd Helton. Rotated with another freshman QB until improving at the end of the season.
Matt Leinart- Sat for two years
Jameis Winston-Redshirted
Johnny Manziel- Redshirted
Vince Young- Redshirted Year 1, 2nd String for half a season behind CHANCE MOCK year 2.
Marcus Mariotta- redshirted
RGIII- started most of the games freshman year and won Rookie Offensive Player of the year, but Baylor went 4-8
Cam Newton- package guy at Florida- transferred
I think we would all be thrilled if Lawson was anywhere close as productive of any of these great college players. Coming in and being great as a true freshman QB just doesn't happen.
Too much going on in the field of play, too fast.
Way different from High School.
I dont think a lot of people are saying he should come in and be the starter, but want him in on certain packages.
The weigh out is:
If he's good enough to be a potential high round pick in 3 years, you put him in on certain packages, so he has more time to learn the offense first hand and get game reps.
If you burn a redshirt, you'd better have a good reason for it. "Getting more experience" is a contradiction here, because you are throwing a year of practice out window on the off chance that he leaves for the NFL in 3 years.
The coaches believe he is good enough to leave in 3 years. Of all the QBs French listed (I agree with is premise, btw, but just follow me for a sec), I'm pretty sure all of them left with at least 1 year of eligibility remaining. So, we have a talented QB who is almost certainly not going to be ready to shoulder the load day/year 1. No worries, that's normal. However, we also have a good bit of evidence showing that good QBs leave with eligibility remaining. Hm. What should we do then? If the coaches believe Lawson is on the same level as Mariota/Winston/Luck at leat in terms of pro potential, then why waste a redshirt year? I can 100% see them thinking it'd probably be good to get him on the field and going through practice with the 1st team offense and experiencing a real, big game environment, even if it's only for a handful of plays per game.
The bottom line is this: NFL QBs get paid. Even though it would probably benefit most of the guys who leave early to stay another year and develop, if you're good enough to be considered a first-round pick, the reality is you leave as soon as you freakin' can.
First round picks stay another year all the time. Luck was seen as a lock to go first in the 2011 draft and he stayed an extra year. That OT from Notre Dame was a top 5 pick this year and he stayed. Granted, I'm mostly trying to convince myself here that Kendall will stick around for one more year, but it does happen.
I wish. Also, even though he was so good, Luck still had another year of eligibility remaining when he declared for the draft.
The coaches believe this? Source?
Source: Loeffler.
I think that is a bad idea. You only put him in packages if him in that role helps the football team win games. If you run him with Wild Turkey, 1) Durkin is probably more physically mature and powerful to get short yardage, even if he may not be as elusive. 2) The Wild Turkey isn't the regular offense. It is a specialty system designed for specific situations, and it doesn't accurately reflect the decision-making a quarterback has to make even on a basic offensive call in Loeffler's system. Playing him now just to get some value before "he bolts to the NFL is silly", unless he is far and away the best chance to win, does him a disservice, screws over other guys that are probably better suited to play that wildcat role etc. etc.
Tyrod Taylor is the highest rated QB that the Hokies have ever recruited to play in Blacksburg, and he stayed four years, and should have been here a 5th year BECAUSE HE WAS COMPLETELY UNPREPARED to contribute in the passing game. I like Lawson. The kid could be excellent. However, if you think he will step on the field Day 1 and be as good as Tyrod was year 1 (and Tyrod had a ton of flaws as a freshman), then you are watching different film than I am. I will be thrilled if I am wrong, but you play your best guy, period.
Exactly. Play your best guy. But don't burn a QB redshirt for a few plays. If you burn the redshirt, it's gone, whereas you might be able to convince a QB to stay his senior season.
I've always felt that the Wild Turkey or variants thereof had to be handled very carefully during games. If done haphazardly or too often, I get the feeling the coaching staff are Monty Python fans....
How would you compare Lawson and Deshaun Watson? Watson learned on the fly but Clemson looked like a completely different team when he was running the offense and healthy.
Watson has much better footwork and mechanics, and he is still a (very good) work in progress. I think Lawson will be excellent. Great players sometimes redshirt, especially at the QB position. It isn't a knock. It merely means that no position requires more of an adjustment to the speed of the game.
I was surprised to see Durkin's weight down to 221 as well. Apparently, the heights and weights have been updated from the spring on the site. That's down 21 pounds from this spring. Maybe an effort to increase agility/mobility? Still a big guy at 6'4" 221. I think Motley shrunk an inch or two as well. Interesting.
Will the last incoming guys have their weights posted today does anyone know? I am curious about Settle.
Should be tomorrow...
6'18" and 500# of oline clobbering muscle would be my conservative guess. He made our new indoor practice facility look small when he was walking through it in those pictures Joe posted the other week...
"Tyrod Taylor only burned his redshirt(s) because of a horrendous pass blocking offensive line, and broken offense."
I can still hear the boobirds calling for Sean Glennon's head. I always thought he got a bad rap that year. He wasn't a very mobile QB and his offensive line gave him absolutely no time to execute. Druckenmiller wasn't mobile but look was he was able to accomplish with a line that protected him.
When I see what Glennon's brother has accomplished, it saddens me to think of what Sean might have done.
I always felt that he was a good pocket passer, but I remember joining a Facebook group that was titled "Sean Glennon has the Pocket Presence of a Cinder Block," for a good reason. Respect the guy though, definitely was a hard worker, but the O-line/Glennon combo was hard to watch.
I hated the way things ended up for Glennon. He certainly wasn't the best QB, but that offense didn't play to his strengths at all. In any case, no one deserves the treatment he got from certain pockets of the fan base. In spite of it all he put on the orange & maroon every week and gave everything he had, even though a lot of the fans didn't deserve that commitment from him, and he had a few great games.
I will admit to not being a Glennon fan, but VT fans include some pretty rude individuals. The same mentality led to Maurice DeShazo's tires being slashed his senior year. If you don't like a player, wait a year or two, they'll be gone. I can understand ragging on the professionals, but these are just kids playing a sport, largely for our entertainment and they don't deserve to be treated as anything but students, generally trying their best while also trying to learn how to play the game of life while they're at it. Give them a break!
I'm a Glennon supporter as well, but he exacerbated his protection problems with poor pocket awareness and decision making.
I was really excited for the Glennon era as a way to get over the crutch that the mobile QB had become for VT football. Then Glennon happened at the same time the OL hit its nadir.
Not to mention being a grade A jackass off the field.
I can't speak to his off the field behavior personally, but if I got the kinds of flak that I heard lobbed his way, I'd be pretty salty, too.
Boobirds? Eh, What can ya do?
Something special this way comes. Would that a beastly offensive line also appear. I drool in anticipation.
For some reason I read Brewer's weight and made the Homer Simpson gulping "daooohh" sound
EDIT: not to be confused with his trademark "D'OH"
Yeah you would have thought he would have tried to bulk up a little during the offseason. I am still amazed he was alive let alone playing after the * game last year, he is much tougher than nails!
Coleman makes a nice block in the first play in Motley's clip.
He does. I also liked the way the OL worked together there. Conte didn't have anyone after Nigel slanted in to Gallo so he chips him a little and watches his side to see if any blitzers are coming and then heads out to help Wade (knocks Wade out of the way though) and buys an extra second for the QB. Baron rolls over to the gap that Conte vacated late but Teller is able to slide into Nigel and pick him up from Gallo and free up Gallo to take Woody as he rolled over to that gap. It shows some chemistry was developed with that group in the spring and it will have hopefully improved even more over the summer.
And on the GT play, the C (I think that is Farris) is playing straight up and down and gets driven backwards by a lower defender.
Farris was clearly hurt early in the season. I'd have to go back and watch to remember which shoulder, but I can remember that he could barely raise his arm to block, and instead had to lunge his shoulder at guys in the run game. The kid played through a lot of pain.
I don't doubt it. I am not questioning him as a whole at all, just saying that play he did not win the leverage battle.
Some fan I am... I only know the names of the top 3 in Ohio State's QB depth chart :(
Self deprecating sarcasm will get you far here.
Yeah, like that'll ever be usefu-oh wait...
The Brewer play highlighted above was a smash route concept. That corner did a good job of showing cover 2, but dropping back to get in the throwing window of the corner route. That was great film study by that corner as well as seeing the wide outs inverted (meaning outside wr off the ball, slot wr on the ball) at the LOS. Brewer has to do a better job, but that was a helluva football play by that corner. It happens, especially when you have a smash route concept to the boundary. The defense wins sometimes.
If I'm not mistaken he (brewer) threw that same route/play earlier in that game and the outcome was decent yardage..
Correct. It was run several times throughout that game, and the season. Every team in America runs that concept. The corner just made a great football play in a big spot.
Bingo. Brewer and Loeffler said later that that's a coverage they hadn't repped against more than a couple of times, which made Brewer an easy target for that particular brand of deception.
Correct: here is a more detailed review of that game that features Brewer making a correct read. http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2014/september/22/lack-trust-georgia-t... Against tOSU Brewer also hit Malleck on a similar route concept for a huge 1st down and I believe the GW Hodges TD was also a smash route.
Once teams started getting a book on Brewer, they started taking away a bunch of the quick underneath throws with cover 2, just like GT did. There was a long stretch (Pitt to Wake) where they really struggled to stretch the defense. The lack of a running game didn't help, however life was easier for the D because they knew Brewer wasn't going to challenge the middle of the field. Whatever was causing his loss of velocity was a contributing factor. I loved seeing so many beautiful deep throws in the spring, but I was disappointed that we didn't see more slants and crossing routes. Can you imagine how much more of a weapon Bucky could be as a single WR on the boundary running a sharp slant route on a 3rd and 6? Good lord.
I wonder if Brewer's height plays into that?
I think it does. However, teaching the O-Line how to P-hole block on quick slants can help rectify that.
What is a P-Hole block you ask? Well, in old football coach terms, it means that on quick three step drop in breaking routes, the offensive line should get down in a three point stance and fire off the ball like you are run blocking. Literally, you hit the DL "in the P-Hole." That gets their hands down and allows the QB to see his target. With so many quick screens and slants in college football, it amazes me how passive OL's are taught to play on those types of throws. Passiveness hurts success on those throws, and even more so on play action.
Fascinating! Thanks.
I hope I get to the point where I can read things like this without giggling like a teenager. But seriously, this is why I joined TKP, thanks for the insight.
Didn't Jameis Winston getting suspended for saying this?
Not in as many words, but pretty much, yeah. The lesson here: location, location, location.
On short punts that are going to bounce, everyone on the sideline screams "PETER PETER PETER." Why? "Don't play with it."
Remember kids, no one wants to touch a peter.
Hit the a-hole in the p-hole. Should be easy enough to remember
Whack-a-p-hole.
Wow. Leg.
Is it weird that Im pissed off that Im very attracted to Ms. Stewart?
Not really. She's a stunner, but a bit nuts.
Stunning is a great enabler of tolerated insanity.
That's a pretty good diagram. You can enter "the danger zone" for short durations. Just don't get stuck there.
But there should be some shaded area in the danger zone where you should never, ever go. Maybe above 8 in the crazy zone, no matter how hot.
My rule is that you enter the danger zone if she demonstrates the capability to catch live bait for your king mackerel rigs. If she can, but she tells you that she is an excommunicated mormon on your first date, bail.
Good rule on the bait, but an excommunicated mormon is probably the only mormon I'd be likely to date...theoretically speaking, of course.
Telling you on the first date is the bigger issue, I can assure you.
You funny!
Never date a Tiffany. Just.....no.
Disclaimer: I'm sure there are good Tiffanys out there that are more than dateable but I made the mistake of dating one way too damn high on the crazy scale. Forever shaken
I agree 100%. I even dated one that spelled her name 'Tiffini'. Crazy hot, crazy sex, but in the end, just effin' crazy, period.
The video that goes with this is hilarious.
My advice is to stay away from girls named Kathryn (only this spelling), and Erin. Erins are always bad news. Never had any experience with Tiffanys because I knew better already.
Craig Ferguson. Wasn't too unlike the rest of the interview. "It's been a while since I was in an awkward pause with a woman called Stewart."
So true on the Tiffany. I've never had much luck with Ambers either.
Hell the insane ones are the most fun. Unfortunately they usually murder you half way thru the fun. But ya have the time of your life before you go lol
They're fun right up until they're not.
Ask any male praying mantis.
I'm guessing we won't have to imagine anymore after September 7.
That GW TD against UVA that Hodges ran was very slant-ish though. I suspect he needs a more consistent target than Malleck to throw into the middle of the field to - and honestly, if Bucky doesn't become that man then i'm not sure who will.
You either have an A) Willie Byrn-type receiver that can cut it inside and take a hit; more like a slot WR role, or B) a bigger TE type of player that can withstand hits.
And most of his big throws to Malleck were on passes where Malleck broke towards the sidelines. The only in-breaking route of significance I can remember Malleck catching was early in the Ohio State game on a 3rd and long. The catch got a first down and set up Shai McKenzie's touchdown run. The rest of the season, I don't know if I can remember an important catch from a tight end that was on an in-breaking route in the middle of the field.
Check that- Henry Coley PI on 2nd down at the end of the UVA game was on a slant route to Malleck. I was off by one play. :)
HOW DARE YOU BE INCORRECT!?! I DEMAND PERFECTION FROM YOU!
Linebackers nightmare!!
On this play, Georgia Tech tricked Brewer into throwing a critical interception.
Was this a "trick" on Georgia Tech's part, or a just a great read by the corner? Seems to me there is something wrong with the timing of Phillips' route. The corner initially seems to be covering Phillips, but when Phillips stops his route before Brewer even throws the ball, and Brewer isn't looking his way, it's clear that the intent isn't to throw it there.
Between the body language of Brewer and Phillips, the corner KNOWS the ball isn't going there, so he gets a jump on covering Hodges. Phillips is now wide open, but Brewer can't really see this as the pass rush is moving in quickly, and he's already committed to throwing to Hodges in what he perceives is man coverage. Slow Phillips' route down or add two steps to it, and it would seem that the corner wouldn't get enough of a jump on the play.
Forgive my naivete, I really don't know that much about these routes.
It's a trick. He baits Brewer into thinking he's got a basic cover 2 and makes a throw he's made a few times very well- specifically against GT and OSU - which in his mind should go over the corner and under the safety. Once the corner realizes he's made this read, he bails off of the curl and sinks under Bucky to pick it off. The corner was never going to actually cover Philips. He was just going to hang there long enough to make Brewer think he was playing a different coverage. Even if Brewer had thrown it at Philips, the corner's first few steps would have been back toward Bucky.
Very deceptive.
Exactly. Brewer recognizes the coverage and based on that recognition, it should tell him which routes should be open. He sees cover 2 with the corner on Phillips so the smash should be open but the defense outsmarted Brewer and that corner got him. It could be a case of going to the well 1 too many times or Brewer not looking off the defenders. When Brewer stopped going to the middle of the field, these routes were doomed when defenses could slide their coverages to the sidelines without much fear of being beat on slants and crosses.
Right coverage, great play by the corner given the throw, howvever if Brewer makes the right read, the corner is way our of position to defend the short throw. I am guessing they had a good read on Brewer's tendencies. He read Cover 4 instead of Cover 2 and the DB dropped off.
That's the way it seems to me.
Phillips is wide open before Brewer throws the ball. He doesn't have a heck of a lot of time, though, and there is pressure in his face.
Gentrification seems to be doing wonder in the offseason. Motley shrunk from 6-4 to 6-2 while Brewer went from 200 lb to 196 lb. The team should fly around a lot quicker this season, hopefully they can take the hits.
What about Leal?
Start Leal...Just kidding...
Great insight once again from French. I'm hoping Brewer can be more consistent after spending a season under Lefty.
I'm not sure how much progress Durkin will make. After not getting much reps in his red-shirt year, he then missed the latter part of the spring with an injury. I hope he bounces back and gives solid competition to whoever is in the QB room the next 2-3 years.
Looking forward to Lawson and then Joshua Jackson.
Would it make more sense to run Durkin or Lawson as the Wild Turkey QB instead of Motley as a way to keep Motley healthy in case Brewer goes down (which is a distinct possibility)?
It would make a whole hell of a lot of sense. Shoot, I'd run Lawson AND Durkin as WT QBs - Lawson normally and Durkin in short yardage.
I'd run Durkin, seems silly to burn a redshirt for a few plays out of wild turkey for Lawson.
Unless there was a promise to give Lawson early playing time.
That is exactly what I think will likely happen.
good god imagine 1st and goal from the 10 and 2-3 straight run plays for a Durkin TD.. that would be so lovely to see.
Durkin isn't logan. Last I heard he was down to 220 lbs and it's not as if he's one of the strongest guys on the team or anything. Would rather utilize our running backs.
sorry hes only 220... and about 3 inches shorter than LT3..
Call me crazy but i'd rather see durkin get at least 2 chances than see JC get gobbled up by a d linemen that's 3 times his size. Granted JC has done a lot lately, still no guarantee.
Is it really a "wild turkey" if the player receiving the snap is a QB?
And isn't the point of lining up a running QB in that situation that he can actually throw the ball often enough to keep the defense honest?
1st point is correct.. with Bucky flourishing at TE no need to use him here.
2nd point- Motley never threw it out of that formation..would he be trusted to throw this year who knows? But looking at injury history I'd rather keep his jersey clean and let durkin get some yards.
Imagine another freak quarter where motley gets concussed/ankle injury and brewer takes a huge lick.. you're then relying on durkin or a true freshmen to come in and actually move the ball.
Has anyone seen a practice schedule for this summer? I'm going to be in town late August for work, and would love to dovetail it with an open scrimmage.
Looks like most/all scrimmages will be closed, alas.
If true, IMO this is GREAT news. I hate open scrimmages and much prefer our staff to keep practices as private as possible. I'd rather win games by surprising some opponents than having our fans be able to attend scrimmages.
If you really believe that coaches are actually going to give opponents anything to look at on film in an open scrimmage, we need to get together. I've got all kinds of bridges, trinkets, and magic beans that you may be interested in.
What kind of magic beans?
I might know someone.
Well, closing the scrimmages worked pretty well last year. Although now it looks like we might get at least 1 open one. It'll probably be a lot like the spring game - really basic looks, basic plays, nothing spectacular.
I don't want to see the game plan for Ohio State. I just want to sit in Lane on a nice NRV August evening and watch some semblance of football, after a tasty Mike's burger.
I understand the need for a fix in August
For real, I was driving the kids up to the airport to look at planes/walk the huckleberry this morning and saw a bunch of the football players sitting outside of merryman. I actually had the thought, "if they're practicing today, I'm sure the kids would be up for trying to sneak in and watch." You know 'cause 2 and 4 year olds are known for their attention spans and stealth...
If you were a Hokie Club member AND increased your donation you have been given a tour of the Beamer Barn and a look at a closed practice.
It seems the coaches had approximately 0% cofidence in Motley throwing the ball last year, based on how much Brewer had to play injured. Do you think they will feel differently this season?
Was it that, or the worry that if Motley also got hurt, you're out of good options?
Maybe not "good options" but "good options who know most/all of the playbook."
Motley didn't have the whole playbook because he had to miss practice time due to his class schedule.
This guy hates chicken trash...
Pick that shit up, chickens.
Wait...we've got four quarterbacks?
FTFY.
Barring injury, I'll be shocked if Lawson doesn't play this year. That's not to say that he should. But I think he will.
My prediction:
I think Brewer will be the starter and primary QB as long as he is healthy; Motley will play regularly as a change of pace, run oriented spread QB; and Lawson will get series if/when games are out of hand. I don't think anyone on staff believes Lawson will stay more than 4 years. Lawson will likely be the starter next year and anything they can do this year to help that along, they'll do.
I think Lawson has all the potential in the world to be our next 4 year starter, even with a redshirt this season.
I mean, really, even with all the talent we've had come through and play QB for us, only Mike Vick went on to be a starter in the NFL, let alone 1st day draft pick. I don't see a QB going early anymore unless he's graded out as a 1st round talent, and after seeing what happened with Tyrod and Logan... I don't know.
I'll believe it when I see it in regards to any of our QBs going early to the NFL.
I agree with you. He wasn't a 5*, he has a ton of potential but he needs a lot of work as well. I would plan for him to be here 5 years, redshirt him this year and give him the chance to start 3 or 4 years. If he turns out to be that good of a QB, we are going to win a lot of games and Leoffler will have a poster child for QB recruiting the next couple years to refill the cupboards. It is wise to prepare for exceptions, but you shouldn't plan around them and a QB leaving early would be an exception.