Most of the footage shows back ups, however...
There is rep showing Ryan Willis with the one offense. Of the tiny bit of footage that has been released, it looks like Jackson and Willis are the two guys working with the top group. Hooker has been with the two/three group.
Looking at the consistency of the groupings over the last couple of weeks, the OL depth chart looks like
Dzansi-Plantin-Chung-Pfaff-Nijman
Darrisaw-L. Smith-Hoyt-Cannon-T. Smith
Lots of mixing and matching below that. In a couple of reps, Kearns was at left tackle, Aiden Brown at left guard, Mihota's little brother was at center, and TJ Hopple was at right tackle. I couldn't figure out the right guard. Brown had a real nice block after pulling from the left side. He got square, kept his feet, and was still driving his man as the back was tackled.
Dzansi is a surprise. He must be having a very strong spring. If Dzansi is playing at a high level, Nijman on the right side really makes this line promising.
Free safety DJ Crossen picked off Hooker (off a deflected pass) in two on two work. Crossen did not look good in man to man at the Shrine Bowl working at corner. I expected that safety where his ball skills can shine would be an ideal spot. It was nice to see him make a play.
Ashby made a nice tackle behind the line in space where, if the back breaks it, the support had caved away.
Comments
I apologize for the lack of information on the defense. It is incredibly hard to pick out the numbers.
Apology accepted. (/s) As someone with more interest than time (it's been a busy spring) or Socialmedia skills, these summaries are all I really get, especially since Fuente keeps a lid on things. I don't often comment on these posts, as I have seen nothing and have nothing to add, but really appreciate them. Glad for what you do and can pass on. Thanks.
"Fuentes"? Et tu, Kvllle?
LOL Thanks for catching that - corrected. Posting on a phone without reading glasses is a lot like drunk posting. You are in for a surprise when you next log in and read it.
Apparently walk on Kaleb Smith scored a touchdown:
It looks like he is working with the 2's (Hoyt, Cannon, and Tyrell Smith all make an appearance.)
Least they fixed it to tag the right kid. This is who they tagged at first.
Damn that's a nice building.
Is Kaleb Smith the guy who turned down a scholarship at UVA to Walk On with us?
He was originally committed to WF - http://techlunchpail.com/2017/11/01/kaleb-smith-talks-commitment-virgini...
Hudl- https://www.hudl.com/profile/5330881/Kaleb-Smith
Willis has looked smooth and confident in the clips this week. KSmith made several appearances this week too. I'm excited to hear the reports from the spring game.
I am really shocked that this isn't creating more buzz. A three year starter at the most important position on the offensive line being moved to create room for an unproven commodity feels like a big story. It could mean that Silas has turned into a big time prospect. Or, someone on the staff took crazy pills.
Nijman was a little inconsistent last year, no?
He was hurt much of the season.
Yes. I thought he took a step backwards before his injury.
I think because it's spring ball and we know that they are trying different people at different positions is why it hasn't created more buzz. Now if the depth chart is released and has Nijman at RT then it will create buzz.
Kinda like how dropping Teller to second string in the spring got everybody talking? That is why this is not creating buzz for me. Starting to think this is a Vince motivational tool, not a true view into where they will really fit in. They actually make the move in the summer and I will believe it when they shuffle next Spring.
Andy Bitter just tweeted out that Silas confirmed he is currently the starting LT "as of right now".
bourbonstreet posted on TSL's pay side that the change of Nijman from LT to RT may have been a result of the injury to his right leg. Since a LT needs to kick/pivot off his right leg for pass pro, Nijman may be better off at RT, where he could kick/pivot off his left (good) leg.
So maybe not crazy pills.
And I would argue that Nijman was over-kicking his right leg, which let him be vulnerable to an inside rush, even before his injury.
Hard to read too much into a spring scrimmage, but if Jackson and Willis are taking the majority of reps with the ones and Hooker is with the twos/threes, it looks like Hooker isn't seeing the kind of progress we had hoped for this spring. Huge concerns for our run game too without more of a credible threat at the QB position. Not too surprised about Willis as it has been rumored he may have the best pure arm talent on the team.
Unless numbers have changed, the tailback that Hooker was working with on some of those clips was a walk on wide receiver. That isn't a great sign.
Wow. If true,
I didn't even know who Wilis was until now haha. I always knew JJ was gonna be our QB, but from everything I was reading on here is seemed like the only other options were gonna be Hooker and QP.
I'm glad see Willis making those deeper throws with good accuracy. Hangs the ball just enough for receivers to run under it. I haven't seen his short throws yet on instagram but might missed them. I really think he's a serious challenger to jj if not at least he'll push him to play better.
I'm not too worried about hooker. CornFu will help develop him, he still has time to develop and has 4 Years of eligibility.
I'm really looking forward to see what Willis can do next weekend if he's repping steadily with the ones. Looked over some of his highlights, and he's got a live arm with excellent touch on the deep balls as you mentioned. Also seems to be very patient in the pocket and had the awareness to step up and avoid pressure while still keeping his eyes downfield. Nobody will mistake him for Mike Vick, but he can definitely pick up some yards with his feet when he needs to, and has a durable frame at 6'4" 220.
One big weakness last year was connecting on the deep throws with any consistency. If Willis can add that extra element, as well as avoid turnovers (must value the football if he's splitting 1st team reps), he may be a serious contender.
Pure guesswork on my part, but I'd bet this is happening:
Jackson gets 70% of the reps with the ones
Willis gets 30% of reps with the ones and 60% of the 2's
Hooker getting 40% with the twos and then working with the 3's in scrimmages and team work (walk ons getting a smattering)
Hooker was with the 2's when he threw the INT.
Yeah, I don't think there's any QB controversy here either, but it's nice to see Willis looking smooth with what little information we have.
For fun, let's suppose this is the day 1 starting OL: Dzansi (6' 5" 312) - Plantin (6' 5" 312) - Chung (6'3" 310) - Pfaff (6'5" 308) - Nijman (6' 7" 322). That's a lot of size, do you think this impacts play calling at all (e.g. - might continue the run heavy approach we saw at the end of last year)? In addition, how would rate this hypothetical starting OL compared to the day 1 starting lines from the last several years?
I think that this OL could be better. There isn't that single dominant blocker like Teller. However, this is a quick, athletic group especially at tackle. If they can stretch the defense and stay on blocks, that should create some seams inside.
I will also add that some of those numbers seem a bit dubious (at least until I see them in person.) I think the height and weight has been exaggerated a little on those three interior guys.
Fishermen measurements. ;)
Speak for yourself! Fishing's too important to exaggerate about.
Their current sizes don't seem too out of whack compared to their recruiting profiles as incoming freshmen. It's common for recruits to be shorter when they get measured by their college team, and we see that with Pfaff and Chung.
As for weight, Chung (+50lb) and Pfaff (+33lb) have been in the S&C program for 4 years now, not to mention the college OL nutrition plan.
Plantin -
As a recruit - '15 @ 6'5" 290
As a player - r-Junior @ 6'5" 312
Chung -
As a recruit - '13 @ 6'4" 260
As a player - r-Senior @ 6'3" 310
Pfaff
As a recruit - '13 @ 6'6" 285
As a player - r-Senior @ 6'5" 308
how they shrink tho
It's cold in Blacksburg, Shrinkage.
Honestly, I'm not incredibly surprised by the emergence of Willis. HH is still very young, and I would think that QBs who can transition from high school to college ball in only one or two years are few and far between. JJ is also quite young, and while he has a solid year of game experience and two years of practice, we clearly saw some limitations in his game towards the end of the season in particular. I have to wonder if the recent increase in attention of Willis has more to do with the overall mediocrity of our other QB's to date...
Or Fuente just likes having his backup qbs get first string reps. Last year it sounded like it was neck and neck between Jackson and Bush for most of these. Then the season starts, and Bush essentially never sees the field, even when Jackson is playing through an injury for at least the last month of the season. People always want whatever qb they haven't had play who looks promising, but I'd be shocked if Jackson doesn't have a firm hold on the position by the season opener
Good point. It would make perfect sense to habitually give backup QBs some reps with first-stringers in order to prepare for potential injury scenarios. I wonder how many coaches value this, and how they choose to balance reps because of it. Unfortunately for us and our curiosity, we simply don't know what Willis's reps mean and we're left to make our own assumptions based off of what we see in a few seconds of video clips taken from hours of practices. They're often not fair to the players (guilty as charged), but can we really help ourselves? It goes without saying that every off-season, we're all looking forward to the coming season and the changes that come with it. The more I know, the less I understand.
Apparently Loeffler didn't believe in it...
But yea, Fuente is pretty tight about showing stuff. I think we're all guilty about expecting whatever backups show promise to be the next big deal. Farley as a wr was/is my weakness lol
Based on the National Championship, I bet Alabama values it
I wasn't trying to imply a quarterback controversy. At this point, I would guess Jackson has pretty much locked in the starting job. I think the bigger story was Willis separating himself as the second option. As I noted, that is conjecture on my part. We have such a ridiculously limited window without the benefit of public scrimmages or credentialed media being allowed to see any of the practice that these guesses represent a pretty big leap.
Hey, it beats sitting here in silence, am I right?
From what I've heard, there's still a pretty heated battle for #2. HH has a good first half of spring practice, but has regressed as we entered the latter half of the second week. RW has apparently been on the exact opppsite trajectory. Heard positive things about JJ, but that he still is more of a game manager than a game breaker. If the talent out wide has actually improved from last year like we hope, then he may be improved himself. But if we're leaning on him to make plays, he's going to struggle.
Is it a fair assessment to say that JJ is like a shorter Logan Thomas who can't run as well?
Basically, Byron Leftwich??
Oof
Considering Leftwich was the #7 overall pick out of Marshall I think we'd be doing pretty well if JJ performed at that level.
Leftwich was a really damn good college QB.
Even in the game they lost to us at Lane, he kept them competitive moving the ball.
even on one leg!
No, Thomas as a runner was a game breaker for short yardage. The dude literally was our offense in 2012. And Jackson & Thomas have nearly opposite strengths/weaknesses in the passing game
I agree JJ to LT is a weird comparison. Their playing styles are almost nearly opposite.
Agreed. I'd probably go with Bryan Randall if I had to compare JJ with a former VT QB. Logan Thomas was a boom-or-bust QB as he flashed tons of potential with his athleticism and arm but always struggled with consistency and limiting turnovers.
I would take a Bryan Randall career for JJ in a nanosecond.
Between this and the comments about Wheatley, this pretty sums up how I feel:
I agree that the #2 QB is normally a fan favorite because they haven't let you down yet but just to be clear, I never wanted the second string QB in 99 or 00.
I'm not convinced these were 'limitations' rather than 'areas for improvement'. He was a redshirt freshman, he'll improve over time.
Where exactly would you say he improved from game 1 and 2 to game 13 and 14?
Yea you could have made the same critique of Tyrod in 2007. I mean we can talk about other factors that may have affected this (such as JJ's supposed injury) but typically noticeable improvement takes years, not 3 months.
Yep. We didn't see Tyrod take a step forward throwing the ball until the end of his junior year.
But most players DO get better during the season.
Also, Tyrod was a dynamic athlete and a threat to run no matter how poor his passing game was. At worst, he was an ACC-caliber running back taking snaps, in a heavily run first offense. JJ does not have any 2nd dimension to his game, so to even hint at or hope for Tyrod-like improvement is questionable.
So you ARE going to discount his alleged injury?
Also, comparing a Freshman to the 2nd best QB in program history at this point is a stretch, no?
JJ will be make strides. There's no reason to think he won't. He had a good season for a first year starter, perceived regression or no.
Not to mention the improved quality of opponents and the loss of important pieces on the offense, Peoples and Nijman in particular.
Its now been said twice - alleged. Everyone is banged up late in a football season. It wasn't keeping him out. There was no talk of him missing practice, clearly he wasn't missing games. If he was really hurt, we would have heard about it during the season. You don't think any of our previous QBs were dinged up by game 11, 12, or 13?
Also, I didn't bring up the TT comparisons - a different poster did. I was saying they were ridiculous, because they are.
I don't necessarily think JJ "had a good season." 8 TDs, 7 INTs, and 1 game over 251 yards passing (in an almost entirely passing offense last year) against our ACC slate isn't good. He really struggled to get the ball down the field at all against decent competition.
Freshman records be damned, your eye test is a way better metric!
How many guys did he really have to beat out for those 'freshman records?' He was in his second year, we never start freshman, and until Fuente got here, never passed the ball. 8TDs and 7 Ints against teams with a pulse isn't an 'eye test.' 44th in ypg, 54th in passing efficiency, 47th in yards per completion, 46th in yards per attempt all in an offense that is built around the passing game...but hey, at least he's a (second year) freshman record holder.
Michael Vick and Tyrod Taylor are a start.
Understand the context. Touting 'freshman records' against a QB that had 182 attempts (vs JJ's 396), mind you MV had a better overall QB rating, and a QB who wasn't even the starter and was splitting time in run-first (and second) offenses? Color me shocked JJ had more yards...
That's an eye test. Look I get you put more stock into whatever games he did worse to fit your narrative, but he was one of (or the) best Freshman QBs in the country, by almost any metric. That doesn't take into account the subtleties that you seem to overlook such as: reports of injury, lack of stability at wideout, and an almost non-existent running game.
Take a gander at the bigger picture and appreciate that a freshman put up nearly 3000 yards, 60% completion percentage and over 2:1 TD:Int ratio, not including rushing TDs.
The 'bigger picture' should include the fact that outside of Delaware, ECU, and ODU, he accounted for 10 TDs through the air. Again, all teams are nicked up late in the year. Some of you all can call his year 'a great year' but I don't see it. I also saw significant regression, and sometimes downright ineffective play at the QB position (Miami, GT, much of Pitt), regardless of injury.
I hope he improves as much as anyone, but I'm not sure it's such a bad thing to question the blind faith that he'll just magically get significantly better in his 3rd year with the program. The comparisons to TT are ridiculous because anyone who saw TT knew he had insane levels of athleticism, and if he could get it together, was going to be great. JJ isn't even on the same playing field in terms of god-given athleticism, so to assume he'll end up being TT, just because he's still got some years of eligibility, is...interesting.
Outside of the 9 games we won, we lost all of our games.... that kind of revisionist history is why you have such a differing opinion on his potential.
Our 3rd string QB could have beaten ODU, ECU, and Delaware. Big stats against the worst competition in FBS/FCS mean nothing, in a very similar manner as our basketball team beating Maryland-Eastern Shore doesn't make our players magically that much better. Calling his season 'great' and ignoring Miami, GT, and Pitt is much more egregious.
Tyrod lost to JMU. Did that game mean nothing?
Well he was the ACC Payer of the Year and MVP of the ACC Champ game that we won...
JJ struggles to throw the ball accurately 10 yards down field and can't run. Other than that, I guess they are pretty much the same. You're right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2w6QEiSe9s
Sure looks like he can run and throw downfield here, winning in an arena that we hadn't before. Oh and that year Tyrod won ACC player of the year? He was a senior. Experience matters.
Bryan Randall threw for a total of 12 TDs and 11 INTs in 2002 as a redshirt sophomore. The schedule included games against Arkansas State, Western Michigan, Rutgers, and Temple and 5 of his TDs came in a 3OT loss to Syracuse. VT played 9 games against teams that became bowl eligible and BR only threw for 3 TDs combined against those teams. BR also didn't have the athleticism of TT and the team finished the season losing 4 of 6.
Fast forward two seasons and Bryan Randall was the ACC Player of the Year. But sure, it's insane to think that a redshirt freshman QB can improve over time unless they are a 5* recruit.
Don't you remember the reports that, among other things, JJ had been in a walking boot in November, including on this very site?
Even if you can still play, you're not you with hurt arms, shoulders, and feet, especially when your position is one of the focal points of the offense. Wouldn't have been much of an issue if it were, say, a RG who doesn't have to touch the ball.
I would like to point out that as the season goes on, Defensive Coordinators get more film on the offense and they can scheme to take away some of the first choices that an offense prefers. A relatively inexperienced player has less background on which to rely. It is one thing to say that the QB needs to go through his progressions and hit the 4th option receiver. It is another thing to do it with 300+ pound lineman who seem bent on bending you the wrong way.
I can armchair QB and yell at the TV that the slot receiver was wide open or the running back should have cut left instead of right. We are all fans and that is what fans do. However, I am not down on the field in the midst of the battle getting the snot knocked out of me.
I trust the coaches. They know what they have and what the players are capable of doing. I am confident they will have the best guys out there.
I think Corfu is much better with a stable of quarterbacks compared to lofty. And Fuente as much as he is the head man, he's still involved with the qb, there's no doubt about it in my mind just from the way he talks.
We saw Josh become a starter after taking a redshirt year, they talked about the learning process of Willis and Hooker on the scout team last year. I think they are much better overall in terms of qb prep and having a back up ready.
And as critical as I was last year of jj and the coaches playcalling, they at least stood by their decisions and didn't make up some excuses. We will be better each year under this staff
Question: where does QP fit into all this??
I'm not French, but my crystal ball has him wearing a shirt and its red.
I can't imagine a conversation that involves QP contending for a starting job before 2020. If he does, it would mean he was really good and mature beyond his years. I would consider it a good surprise. He is very promising, and will have a lot to learn. When I watched Hooker, I thought he would be a perfect fit. Yet, after two full springs and a season of learning, he is still on a big learning curve. Each journey is unique, so sit back and hope that every kid develops to the best of their ability and then let the chips fall where they may.
QP will redshirt.
Who has the highest ceiling JJ, HH, or QP?
If Hooker doesn't win the job will he start looking at another position?
Possible QB2TE joke ....
Bet he would be a really good H-Back with his size
QP undeniably has the highest ceiling based on measurables, but he will come in, red shirt immediately, and possibly even sit out another year before he sees the field. No clue about Hooker. I'm sure it will come down to life goals and what he finds important.
I thought Hooker's HS film was more impressive than QPs. However, I have no idea what QP had around him. Hooker had multiple DI players. Ultimately, a QB is measured more on his ability to put his teammates in position to make plays more than his own ability to make plays. That is the mystery for both guys until we see it on the field.
FWIW, I was told that Wheatley has been by far the most impressive back thus far. My guy said he could stand to put on 5-10 more pounds and that he still struggles a bit between the tackles, but if he gets some wiggle room on the outside then he is gone.
This doesn't surprise me, I thought he looked really solid in last year's spring game. Obviously taken with a grain of salt given he wasn't going against the first team defense, but still I thought he looked good.
I did not expect that comment. I wasn't sure he was going to be a contributor here.
That's good for Fuente and Cornelson, as I think that French was onto something when he said that Fuente isn't even interested in gaining yards between the tackles.
I think that the thing to take away from all of this is that when we're up 42 on FSU midway through the 3rd quarter, all of the QBs will get some time to play.
Except QP. I'd hope he keeps his redshirt.
There's a big difference between being up 42 to FSU and down 42 to LSU.
Lol and hopefully the o-line isn't so bad that we need T-mobile style elusiveness from our QB just to make something happen.
84
You're right. We'll let Lawson take a few snaps though.
Including the ones that we swapped with UVA /s
Honestly I'm more nervous for this season than in previous. Not as many proven star players to get excited about. We better hope some of the last few Fuente recruits are going to pan out.
If Phil Patt finally is able to bring his practice play to the game field, then he'll be a star for us.
The way I see it, basically everything on offense should improve.
I have optimism for defensive end. Beyond that, I expect youth-related miscues on defense, but honestly I trust Bud to get it figured out relatively quickly. The fact that the offense has some experience under its belt has me more optimistic than I probably should be.
Also Bradburn is gonna own the field position game.
Thanks for that glimmer of greatness that is Bradburn's punting in this slow offseason.
Also, while we will inevitably have issues at linebacker replacing the experience and production of Drew and Maine, this is the first time in a while we could potentially have two prized recruits stepping in at the same time to replace veterans. They will still make dumb mistakes just like every other first year player does, but they also have the talent and ability to make outstanding plays that other guys stepping into a new role for the first time might not be able to.
Is there a chance we see QP play in the spring game since we saw HH play last year?
no hes not even on campus yet. doesn't enroll until summer
Read his lips...
I don't know guys, I've always been pretty high on Ryan Willis...
Those are some pretty deep balls.