2017 Spring Practice Number 5 Snapchat Review

This will be a bit of a rushed review, as I am speaking twice today at a conference in DC.

After warm ups, the Hokies showcased a pretty intense drill with the offense running screens and speed options on the edge. The focus was perimeter blocking and the defensive backs using proper leverage and getting off those blocks. Cam Phillips in particular had a really nice block on Adonis Alexander and drove him into the sidelines.

The offense was winning most of the battles, until corner Tyree Rodgers chucked freshman tight end Cole Blaker off of him. While you would expect a scholarship player to win a match up with a walk-on, Rodgers use of sound technique mixed with aggression made the coaching staff and me take notice. That is an encouraging sign given the lack of depth behind the big 3 at corner. Overall, I liked the physicality in the drill, and you could see the defensive backs pick up their physicality as the highlights moved forward.

Next we got a glimpse of two young offensive linemen and the development of their technique. pass blocking/pass rush drill. Redshirt freshman Lance Hoyt held his own against Tim Settle at the center spot. Hoyt did an excellent job of bringing his hands up quickly to get contact with Settle right off the snap. Big Tim looked explosive as he worked a series of leverage moves, and Hoyt stayed in front of him. This was a good rep for both guys, with Hoyt getting some really good movement.

In the second rep, Silas Dzansi repped against Xavier Burke. Dzansi moves really well, but he "overset" meaning that he was passive and dropped back away from the defensive lineman so far that it allows the defender to get speed and momentum before contact is made. That allows the defender to dictate the rep. I like seeing the offensive tackle aggressive and getting his hands on the defenders pads early to stop the primary move, and then have the quickness to recover and ghost from there. Burke gets into Dzansi's body with a bull rush. That get's separation and Silas is off balance. Burke then spins off to the inside to win the rep. I know it is a win if Burke can provide serviceable depth on defensive line. But, he looks lean, quick, and powerful. If he is doing those things against the first team offensive tackles and in scrimmage work, he may be making some noise this fall.

We got some scrimmage work, and while Bush is getting work with the one group, Jackson is going out with them in the pocket. Everything I see about Jackson I like. He is poised in the pocket, is scanning the field and getting to his reads, and steps up to run when appropriate. I want to see him in person where I can see the routes develop down the field to make sure he isn't holding the ball too long, but I have been very impressed with what I have seen of him so far.

There is an inside zone that pops for Steven Peoples in the team work. I am not sure who he hit, but Austin Cannon has a loud collision with a linebacker on a down block. It may have been Tavante Beckett. It looked like DJ Reid had a rep with the one OL. McMillian of course is getting work there, and Peoples has been getting work with both the ones and the twos.