Rain pushed Thursday's practice into the Beamer Barn, so the media was once again unable to catch a glimpse of the Hokies in action. But as the players filed out and headed towards the locker room, I did notice that DT Corey Marshall was wearing a white jersey, a positive sign given that Marshall has spent some time in blue this August.
Cornell Brown and Torrian Gray both spoke to the media after practice and both seemed excited about their respective position groups heading into the season. Kevin already tackled the secondary, so my observations will be focused on the defensive line and linebacking corps.
While Ronny Vandyke is firmly entrenched as the Hokies starting whip, Coach Brown likes the depth they've been able to build at the position after adding both Anthony Shegog and Raymon Minor to the ranks. For his part, Vandyke, entering his 5th and final year in Blacksburg, seemed genuinely excited to have the opportunity to mentor some of his younger teammates.
Some other notes and observations:
- Vinny Mihota is a large person. He's sitting at about 270 pounds right now and wants to get down to 260 or 265.
- Mihota prefers playing defensive end over defensive tackle and thinks his move to the outside will be permanent.
- Mihota broke his thumb during his freshman year of high school and played with a cast for the rest of the season. When asked about the difference, he deadpanned "it gives me a better club."
- The Dahman McKinnon weight question was finally put to bed - he's at about 220 now and doesn't know where the 275 figure came from.
- Coach Brown says he isn't working with the Hokies defensive ends any more than he normally does.
- Raymor Minor expects to get playing time at whip this season and will also contribute on special teams.
Player/Coaches Quotes
Cornell Brown
ON DEPTH AT THE WHIP SPOT:
"We've got some young guys, got some guys that we think potentially can be a factor at the position. So that's the good thing. We have created some depth there, so that's the exciting part about it. So you look forward to seeing these guys that you've moved there.
ON NICKEL VS. WHIP PLAYING TIME:
"The offense dictates pretty much how our whip plays. It's more of an offense, 11 personnel deal, pass oriented type of game now. A lot of time is spent having guys that can cover on the field.
ON RAYMON MINOR LEARNING A NEW POSITION:
"We got some crossover being that the backer position and the whip position have some similarities, but overall he's just learning the overall nuances of the position. It's going to take him a little bit, just to get it all down, but hopefully we can put him in a position where he can just use his athletic ability.
Ronny Vandyke
ON BEING A LEADER:
"I'm really just trying to focus on being consistent and really being a leader for my teammates. Adversity is going to hit us, it's inevitable, and I really want to be there for my teammates — emotionally, spiritually, physically.
ON HIS MINDSET ENTERING HIS FINAL SEASON:
"This is my last season so I have this mindset of there's nothing to lose. Why not run that extra mile, do that extra set in the weight room, go watch some more film, just trying to be best I can be for this season to help my team win.
Dahman McKinnon
ON RETURNING TO THE PROGRAM:
"It was an attitude issue that I had, I guess, and I had to straighten myself out on a personal level first. That's all that was."
Vinny Mihota
ON HIS SIZE AT DEFENSIVE END:
"It just brings a lot of power and stability off the edge. I feel like I can be a lot more effective against run and passing downs, but especially the run in short yardage and goal-line situations."
ON HIS ABILITY TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND IN SPACE:
"I feel like my first ten yards are just as fast as anybody on this defense."
ON DIFFERENCE OF RUSHING THE PASSER FROM THE OUTSIDE:
"Rushing from a 3 (technique) is a lot like rushing from a 5 (technique) at end, so it wasn't too terribly different. It's a lot of little things here and there that Dadi (Nicolas), Ken (Ekanem), and (Charley) Wiles really coached me up."
RAYMON MINOR
ON HIS MENTALITY REGARDING PLAYING TIME AT WHIP:
"Go out there and try to make them play the whip more than last year or the years before that. I'm just going to go out there and do my best. If me and Ronny (Vandyke) and (Anthony) Shegog all get better at the position and just show coach we can do it, I think he'll play the whip more.
ON WHERE HE NEEDS TO IMPROVE:
"I was playing backer when I got here and that was more playing in the box. Now it's outside so I have to work on my covering more and stuff like that. Just learning the stuff the whip does in coverage."
Comments
Really hoping RVD can put together a good season. Was always excited about him but he just seemed to have setback after setback.
Mihota is going to be a monster. can't wait
RVD how about add "stay healthy" to your list. You have worlds of potential, hopefully you get to use it this year...
No disrespect but what is Cornell Brown doing - do we still need a dedicated Whip coach for what is becoming a part time position. Even Foster admitted he runs more of a 4-2-5 these days. When Cav held his role he had 2 positions that were almost always on the field and he led recruiting.
Big picture - is this the best allocation of resources?
Cornell works with the DEs as well, otherwise I'd agree with you.
A Super Bowl ring is also helpful for recruiting purposes too.
I agree, but Cornell isn't exactly reeling in the 4- and 5-star recruits. And just a Super Bowl ring isn't enough to justify a position on a college football staff. Perhaps he answered Joey's question modestly, but I was hoping to hear him talk about how he was working closely with Dadi and Ken on their pass rush. Whip is becoming somewhat obsolete in the sense that it's no longer a fulltime position for Tech. Although, Boston College, Ohio State, Pitt and Miami will all go heavy and the Whip should be on the field.
This is true. I'm not 100% sold on Cornell, but you can't say that isn't a part of the reason he's still there. He's got a good story to pitch the ability of VT to get you to the next level and he's young for the players to connect to so I'm sure that plays into it. But Cornell is on my list of first to go and it's not because of him personally but just the coaching position he's in probably needs moved somewhere else.
Any chance to swap Cornell for Corey Moore????
You really think this look is gonna help recruiting?
Can you imagine him sitting in your living room telling you "You want to go to Tech!"
And this doesn't hurt. Moore At MSU
Yeah i guess he would Jedi mind trick them into commiting with this look
Or people would be too scared to say no.
"you're a great player and we'd love to have you at VT...psssht. Psych" {rolls eyes and storms out of house and knocks plate of cookies out of mother's hands}
After he hears they are interested in loluva...
Seems like you have a problem with how Beamer is running Beamer co.?
No, not at all. But if there was a coach whose position isn't necessary, it's the one that Cornell is in. If those who are clamoring for a Special Teams coach want someone to remove, he would be it for me. Beamer wants Cornell there and that's good enough for me.
Cool, happy to hear the clarification. Have a leg
I started with Cornell 1 on 1, and several other reporters joined in a few minutes later. He was asked some type of the "are you working more with the defensive ends" question about 3 different times. He laughed it off and said that he thinks we looked too much in to the youtube video and that he's just helping out with the ends here and there like he always has.
No disrespect but you should educate yourself before you complain about a coach's lack of responsibilities or contributions.
http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/brown.html
Right in his title on Hokiesports is "Outside Linebackers Coach and Assistant Defensive Line Coach". The Whips are not his only responsibility.
People get hype about Nicolas and Ekanem and then completely ignore Cornell Brown's contributions to their development. The man was a sack machine when he played at VT in the 90's and he is imparting that knowledge to our current players.
Hi.
Just got back from a one-week vacay in Scotland. What did I miss?
so, if you only have a week to do Scotland, what do you do?
Edinburgh as basepoint, then checked out a few other places, but mainly the Fringe Festival in town. All the highland tours were essentially booked up, but still managed to check out a few single malt distilleries. Boy - I will never again drink anything under 18 years old!
er.....i think you guys know what I mean by this, and not to be taken out of context.
Definitely hate you a little bit right now. I don't think I would have made it back. Have a leg anyway.
'Twas hard - but needed to get back to the job that helped finance the trip!
Vt beat osu. uva cans the football program and Dadi and Ken had 19 sacks between them.
Didn't that happen years ago?
Vinny's the newest member of the quarterback club...
He should see a doctor and get those lumps checked out.
Andy Bitter in his blog mentioned that "Holland Fisher's days at Virginia Tech appear to be numbered". Does anyone have any background on that statement?
I believe there was some talk of him having some academic issues that have kept him out of some practices possibly. He also hasn't picked up his position as quickly as many people thought he would.
Thanks for the update.