Per Andy Bitter (twitter.com/andybitterVT) Antone Exum has been cleared to play by the Andrews Institute.
blockquote class="twitter-tweet">DB coach Torrian Gray says on TTL that CB Antone Exum was cleared to play by Dr. Andrews. Gray got text from Exum's mom. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) September 30, 2013
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Beat me to it, great news!
Thanks to Andy Bitter for his coverage of Tech Talk Live this evening.
Exum's return comes at a critical time. UNC runs the speed-up high volume of play no huddle. They also have a much more variable offense than the other spread teams the Hokies have played to date, and all their top wide receivers are big players. A healthy 100 percent Exum helps match up with them, as long as he is ready to play at a high level.
My concern is, will he be 100%? While many players can return 9-10 months after injury, for many it takes 12-16 months to be back to 100%. Adrian Peterson did it, RG3 tried and is coming back slowly...
Do you think this creates the option of running a true dime defense? Exum can line up at slot corner and play flat zones and help in the run game. Our safeties have proven to be the weak link in man pass coverage, I think both to well in over-the-top zones, but once Exum gets up to speed this will really prove a boon against some of those spread teams.
I seriously doubt it.
Bud would much rather force UNC to pass by leaving in the LBers than take one of them off the field for a Corner. Gray has specifically said Exum will play safety not corner when he returns, so I doubt he'll be coming on for Jarrett or Bonner either.
Can I get a source on Exum going to safety? Not trying to call you out, just looking to see where you heard that, as AB quoted Gray as saying "When hes full-go, hes going to play cornerback" in his post about Exum coming back.
I think it was a typo, given that he went on to say Exum wouldn't replace Jarrett or Bonner when he returns.
Figured that may be a possibility, but I have no idea what kind of defensive packages Bud could dream up with this secondary and if anyone was going to help me out, I figured Mason would be one of the best
So what happens in the defensive backfield now?
Well, I believe in Torrian Gray.
So now we'll have three shut down corners? That's awesome! But I hope we can get all of our best players on the field. I would hate to take Brandon or Kendall off the field with the way they've been playing.
... or 4 shut down corners (Is that even allowed?)
We're at DBU. We can do that! (Awesome profile pic btw)
I wonder if we keep Kyle at Whip now?
I've heard that would be a disservice to him since he projects as a CB in the NFL..it will surely be interesting.
Torrian said Kyle is a cornerback too. GT was a one-time thing.
Well, now we can always have fresh CBs on the field, if need be. But I know DBs aren't rotated like the DL.
I think that Exum could be a situational substitution instead of being full-tilt like Coles was during the Alabama game, which Loeffler admitted was not the smartest move they made as a coach.
That said...I really like our secondary right now with Bonner hopefully having a bounce back game against UNC.
Quick question: when it says cleared to play does that mean that he has been practicing with the team and is cleared for actual games or is he just now cleared to begin practicing with the team? The defensive backfield is much different than last year at the corner position and it might be a good idea for him to get some time in practice working with Facyson and Ke Fuller before putting him back in for games.
From what I understood, Exum has been wearing blue jersey (limited contact) in the last few weeks and was working out with the scout team, so I think he has been doing some moving.
The difference is practice vs real time game speed are two vastly different things.
True, and CB's do a lot of planting, twisting, and bursting so hopefully there won't be a dropoff from the short turnaround, but if he's been practicing w/ the blue jersey then awesome.
Classic.
Damn was just about to post that haha
Now we really have to win the division so we have a chance to see this Clemson match-up between Exum and Watkins that was always meant to be!
I want to see the return of #YouWasInTheLibrary
Finally time to break out the t-shirts!!
I wouldn't be surprised if him and Bonner switch time playing FS to start off with. But by the end of the year I wouldn't be surprised if he was back at corner. We will see. Anyway, this a very good problem to have.
Just when you think our defense can't improve, we get another weapon back there.
agreed, let's see how bud foster feels about this
Can anyone make out what Bud said here? Looks like he said fucked in the ass..bet that was the forth down play lol
I think it's "fuck yes," though either sound like our dear old Bud.
Fudge cake. He's just excited to have a desert discourse with French later on.
If he wants to have desert discourse, he better come stronger than lame-ass cake talk.
Oh I agree, it's like bringing a Hoo to a Sam Rogers fight
hahahaha... can't unsee...
Can't wait to see a little more Swag on the field.
I don't believe Exum will spend any time at FS, much less replace Bonner. Exum had the same issues at FS that Bonner has exhibited this season.
Exum Island, Super Fuller Bros and Put Your Game Face On? It's an embarassment of riches at CB
And I'll give a bountiful amount of turkey legs to the man (or woman) who pulls off an awesome gif/meme of the Fuller Brothers as Mario and Luigi.
This defense may be the one that I'll tell my grandchildren about one day.
I am just extremely excited about our future in the d backfield. when we get fisher in here wow. WE ARE DBU!!!!
Oh man, I can not wait for Fisher to get here. We are going to be special. I hope we can get our linebackers and line up to speed.
So the best defense in the country just got our 2nd team All-ACC player back? This will definitely be fun. What does that do to Facyson, the nations leader in interceptions, make him our 4th corner?
I don't think it will effect the next two weeks.
Facyson doesn't deserve to see the bench with the way he's been playing. In fact, none of them do. That's what makes Exum coming back so bittersweet.
One nervous thought on Exum coming back. First I am very excited about Exum finally being back. He is one of my favorite people on our team. I mean that on and off the field. He is an amazing person and a great representative of VT in every way. I am glad to see our defensive staff easing him into the game plan. However he has to get in quickly as to prove himself and not further injure draft stock. I have one big fear as it pertains to his coming back out full. Early last season many were calling for Exum's head due to the amount of pass interference calls just how they have been to Bonner this week. (Bonner also made some clutch plays last week) This was mostly because he was getting used to the position from his transition in the offseason. I think if they re open Exum Island Day Care we could be looking at some pass interference calls until he gets back up to game speed and beats the psychological parts of overcoming something like this. In coverage you grab all the time but you definitely grab when you feel as if someone is getting the best of you or has a step on you. This will happen, I hope people on this blog don't forget he is coming off a tremendous injury that would end most careers.
Ok, move Kendall to WR.....
That's actually not a terrible idea. Not as a pure receiver obviously, but Kendall wasn't just a great corner in high school he was also a great playmaker on offense. Maybe now that there's so much depth at the position the coaches will feel more comfortable moving him across for a couple plays, a la DeAngelo Hall.
brilliant!!!!
And #1 punt returner and KO returner too.....Wait....we won't need a KO returner anymore....well, once a game.