[Mark Umansky]
The Hokies' first practice of the 2015 season is in the books. We made it everyone, football season is upon us. Mark Umansky photographed Friday's practice in the Beamer Barn, and as a bonus, he attended the media session after and captured some video of the interviews.
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Great vibe from all the coaches. OT: Just looking at Frank I can't see him coaching too much longer, old age will get after ya. But watchin Bud Foster and yes I know there is another thread on this but man would I love to see him get a shot at HC...
He does seem a bit older - probably just from being that much leaner - but he also looks and sounds fantastic, especially for where he was in December. The energy is definitely there, and by all accounts he was very much front and center at practice. It's still his team 100%.
I thought Frank looked great. I laughed at loud when he said he was going to put a tollbooth on his new highway to help supplement his retirement.
Thanks for the videos... Just thanks, the amount of coverage is ridiculous.
I love hearing Bud talk defense..
A lot of orange...
I mean i know coaches generally speak positively of their guys and the outlook of the season, but isnt there an exciting feel to how they all talk? I mean they make it sound like were way better looking than we have been for the last several years.
They gettin me amped!!
When Foster mentions how you cannot double Dadi because then you have to deal with Corey, Ken, and Maddy, he breaks character for a split second and smiles. He knows how special that line is going to be.
An ever so slight smile but Hokie fans know that is almost a grin for Bud.
It's gotta be one of the best DLines in the country.
"It's gotta be
one ofthe best DLine in the country."FTFY
I would say the lack of DE depth probably keeps us from that.
It's comparable to 1999 when Moore-Engleberger were backed up Ron Cook and Chris Cyrus. That lack of depth was helped out with an offense that scored 41ppg. Lots of blowout snaps to preserve the two starters.
Dadi and Ekanem played a ton of snaps last year and didn't seem to wear down. But worth watching this year. Need Mihota and Dooley to provide quality snaps. Play the 3-man front more might help to.
I'm really hoping one of the freshmen will play big, whether it be Gaines or Fullwood.
I'm hoping the offense creates some space on the scoreboard 3 or 4 times to allow the OL and DL starters to take 100 or more fewer snaps.
A returning QB and depth behind him that all have been in the system on SL for 2 years.
Stability and talent with a good coach on the OL. We actually are putting guys in positions and
trying to let them develop chemistry.
Very good tight end group and WR talent but need a little help in the reserve area
Very solid at RB and maybe excellent if Tre and Mac take the next step.
Defense the DL deep and talented across could be our best ever . If Dooley and Mihota
take the next step look out , Got Tim , Ricky and Steve outside the 2 deep , Wow .
Secondary , Kendall , Brandon and Chuck are as good of a 3 we have ever had . We need
to get the rover ironed out and if we do this is and elite CFB secondary. LB we are fine at OLB
assuming that RVD stays healthy and plays up .Middle is the 1 question but feel we will be at least
adequate there. Could be better than everyone thinks Moto and getting Sean back is good insurance.
Players Like Stroman and Knowles could be big positives with there abilities and think Stroman
will be dynamic on defense in the nickel after he gets some games under his belt.
We have been in a flux for like 4-7 years very little stability from year to year . Players like JC ,Hopkins, Maddy
Maclaughlin having to be thrown as freshman to cover deficiencies well before they were ready and because we had holes. Ford and Phillips last year . This is by far the best we have been coming in for a while. We really
are not needing any newcomers to come in and fill a hole . So we should feel pretty good about our chances.
I'm so stoked about our DT depth.
If the back up DE's can prove it (Mihota and Dooley have a large upside) then Wiles can rotate the fool out of our D-line. If we can keep the game close, the second half should belong to our D-line. (Think 4th qtr tOSU game last year.)
I can't wait to watch them unleash hell on the opposition.
As a comparison, the 1999 D-line accumulated 258 tackles in 11 games (not counting Nat'l Championship),
for 23.5 tackles/game.
Our 2014 D-line accumulated 187 tackles in 12 games (not counting bowl game),
for 15.6 tackles/game.
Our D-line has the potential to disrupt this year and push that number much higher, IMHO.
Was the philosophy any different in 1999 though? I know now we use the gap fit scheme to free up a defender (usually a LB or S) in the hole or for a spill but was it the same before?
At the risk of fan-on-fan homerism, there is a lot to be optimistic about here.
I'm also loving the coverage from The Key Play. You guys are doing great work. Thanks.
Bud's interview was great. Love hearing him go through his guys with high praise. Lefty seems cautiously optimistic which is expected with a couple 2nd string holes to fill.
Hope Bud wasn't giving us fluff when he said the thing about Facyson being as healthy as he was two years ago. Bud doesn't seem like a very fluffy guy tho.
He isn't and players have been saying all summer he looks good. Facyson is back like Miami if they ever actually meant it.
Seeing how they have been ever since we've been in the ACC, that's not a very promising comparison.
Bud doesn't do fluff. He tells it like it is. Since the end of April (post spring ball), both he and Torrian have said Facyson is back to his old self.
This is huge!
Yea, I like seeing Facyson with the football...
Those eyes when Lefty is asked about Stroman on offense.
And I must say Bud sounds more and more Big Whistley every time I hear him speak.
Might be whistleful thinking on your part.
What is it about Hokies names that fosters bad puns?
Agreed, he is always intense, but man he could light a fire in anyone.
If we had this same team returning during our 10 win streak, there would be a national buzz about the possibilities. I'm very optimistic about this team.
If this team won 10 games last year, it would imply that we are returning a quality offensive line. Our offensive line (and RBs) has too many unanswered questions to warrant national buzz beyond what they are currently getting.
Really like where we are right now. Great to see everyone confident about personnel and attitudes this year. Hopefully it all comes together and this could be special.
Might have only been practice #1, but Bud's angry scowl is already in midseason form.