I never thought I would mention his name in a column about uncertainties, but Tremaine Edmunds is going to warrant close evaluation on Saturday. He was noticeably quiet against West Virginia, and when I watched the film, I realized that Tremaine did not have a good game. He had trouble getting off blocks and tackling in space. More significantly, he wasn't consistently playing with the right leverage. Using correct leverage is a must in Bud Foster's defense.
Let's look at this long run by Justin Crawford. West Virginia runs an isolation play. The interior line splits the two Hokies defensive tackles. That leaves Edmunds and Andrew Motuapuaka to take on the isolation block and the tailback.
With the fullback isolating on Edmunds, Motuapuaka becomes the free hitter on the play. Edmunds should be forcing Crawford to cut to his right where Motuapuaka is waiting. In order to do so, he should take on the fullback's block with his inside (left) shoulder.
Instead, Edmunds inexplicably takes on the block with his outside (right) shoulder. Edmunds has no help to his right side, and he also is picking off Motuapuaka's pursuit angle. With both Hokies linebackers in the A gap and there are no defenders in the B gap. Crawford is off to the races.
The match up with Delaware is a great opportunity to give some depth players more experience. However, with a short week you can expect a very vanilla scheme. Veteran players like Tremaine Edmunds will need to improve their individual game to ensure opportunities for those young depth players to get some experience. Some maligned veterans like Chris Cunningham, Eric Gallo, and Kyle Chung stepped up against West Virginia. I expect Tremaine will deliver a great performance on Saturday.
Comments
I'm a big Tremaine fan, and I was watching him closely whenever we were on defense. By the end, I was waiting for an injury announcement or something to explain his performance. He just did not look aggressive. I hope he finds his missing can of Whoop-Ass, and opens two cans next week.
If there is one reason that spreads are tough for VT to defense, it is that they fit gaps and spreads make it tough to bring an extra defender in the box. When you don't have the extra defender, every defender has to be gap sound. TEIII wasn't on this play and Crawford got a big run. I really expect Tremaine to deliver some big plays this weekend. And, he was very good at getting pressure against WVU in the rare case that Bud sent him on a blitz.
Given how many teams we play that run a spread, and especially Clemson who will likely be more run focused this year, should we be worried about his run fits? Or do you think Tremaine just had a bad game?
I'm wondering if he's just not there mentally, seems like he would never make a bad play last year.
He seemed amped about the game when I talked to him at fan day. Doesn't mean something didn't break his focus, but I know he and a few of the other LBs were really itching to hit some 'Eers.
Everyone is bound to have one of those nights every now and then. I still feel bad for Kyshoen Jarrett having a bad game after so much solid play in Pittsburgh back in 2014.
Yeah, I'm definitely not worried about Tremaine. He'll bounce back.
After I saw so much AP All-American hype from him I knew he would probably not be able to live up to it. Just seems to be how it goes with us. Hopefully he keeps growing as a player, because I think his growth as a human has garnered some unrealistic expectations for him.
In all fairness, he had a very good year last season. Reasonable to assume he would continue to improve. I don't think the hype is from measurables alone though they of course play a part in it.
Definitely, he had a great year so it wasn't out of the blue hype, but honestly measurables can be the driving force behind hype. Bucky got a lot due to his size as well.
I was really surprised at how little I heard his name.
Hopefully it was just a bad game and he'll get it going...I think he will.
Hmmm...best case scenario: He has an up and down year (though not down enough that it costs us any games) and he gets a low draft grade and decides to come back next year where he puts everything together and becomes the first LB (I think?) to win the Heisman, becoming a perennial pro-bowler, VTs biggest donor and single-handedly grows the Hokie Club to 25,000,000...everyone on board?
It's funny. I about got crucified on two other VT forums for saying this exact thing. I certainly hope he's not holding back to preserve his NFL future, but I do feel like he read a bit too much of his own press this off season. I want to see him bring the wood and hit people. He just seemed tentative and out of position quite a bit Sunday.
but I do feel like he read a bit too much of his own press this off season
I think it has a lot less to do with that and a lot more to do with the fact that he still isn't completely comfortable playing in space. WVU's spread prevented him from being able to play instinctive football. Despite his measurables - this is what will hold him back from getting drafted high this year. Like Hodges, Edmunds may benefit immensely from continued development.
He wasn't moving around as well as I am accustomed to seeing him move around. Maybe he is dinged up? But the play I highlighted was a basic fundamental error in Bud's defense. You can't do that and expect for the offense not to get a big play off of it (unless the DT whips the guard and makes a spectacular play.
OK French, I'm anxious to see something on Tremaine Edmunds this week as well.
His stat line looks great! He looked like he was moving around better this week! But... I saw some plays (I was watching) where he and Motu sort of ran into each other in the same hole/gap. I was wondering if we are seeing a trend.
He was awesome this week, both by the numbers and within the framework of the defensive scheme.
Tremaine is BAK
Hurricane Tremaine.
Agreed, he played like he read the criticism of him after last weeks game.
Nothing I like more when a player rebounds, even if it proves me wrong!
When he is at his best it is also a forgone conclusion theDline is having a good day. Staying cleaan is going to allow him to roam the way he did saturday. That and his filling the correct lanes/gaps.