Hey everyone and happy Friday to you. We have another spring game review in the hopper taking a close look at the defensive front seven in the spring game. To tide everyone over to next week, I will do a VT football ask me anything until 3:00PM EDT today. Put your question below and I will respond from the hip.
Also, I am considering doing a look back at one game from last season with fresh eyes to take a look at how some of the young players who are being counted on this season performed last year. Outside of Georgia Tech and West Virginia (which I consider outliers), add which game you would like me to re-review with your AMA question.
Here we go...
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Is this a real AMA, or football-only AMA?
Because, my questions could be vastly different
I am open ended. It can be about anything.
What is the most important position in a Fuente offense to recruit?
Outside of LB what is most important position for a Bud Foster defense to recruit?
Quarterback
Cornerback and Defensive Tackle
Edit- Defensively, when Bud's defenses have been at their best, they have been strong at defensive tackle. That allows the athletic hybrid players to make plays in space, rather than bang away inside the hashes. The other key position that takes solid and turns Bud's defenses into great have been corners. When Bud has a corner like Flowers, Kendall Fuller, or Jimmy Williams who can take 1/3 of the field away from a defense, it allows Bud the opportunity to disguise defenses and get extra defenders into run support.
If you could set up the offensive depth chart any way you want, what would it be? no need for justification. just give me the starting 11.
Split End- Phil Patterson
Split End- Eric Kumah
Slot- Hezekiah Grimsley
H- Dalton Keene (all three guys will play frequently)
LT- I think Darrisaw may overtake Silas Dzansi. We will see
LG-Plantin
C-Chung
RG-Pfaff
RT Nijman
RB McClease
QB- A crapshoot right now
No Savoy? Why?
im going to go with drops for 100 alex. /s real answer consistency.
Savoy would be in the rotation. I think the increased role for Grimsley will cut into Savoy's work. I still think Savoy will be as productive. Fuente will rotate Hazelton, Patterson, Kumah, Savoy, Murphy, and Smith outside and Grimsley, Savoy, and Carroll at the slot.
Kinda thought Savoy and Hazelton would start over Phil and Hezzy
Savoy played almost exclusively outside during the spring game, and Grimsley was targeted more than any receiver. If Jackson wins the QB job, Grimsley is a guy he feels very comfortable throwing to.
Hazelton I expect to be a top contributor. But because he missed the spring, I don't feel comfortable saying he will start over two guys who A) had a huge spring (Patterson) and B) was becoming productive at the end of last year in Kumah. Hazelton may end up being better than both. I love his film, especially in this type of offense. But until I see him in person snap in and out in a game situation, I think saying he will be the guy is disingenuous.
This probably won't be a popular thing to say, but I don't see a single likely All-ACC player on that list (maybe Nijman).
Who on that list is most likely to prove me wrong?
Since this is an actual AMA, and I started binge watching Cobra Kai last night...
Have you seen any of it? If you have, did you have to change your shorts after the Iron Eagle homage? Which I think is the 1st episode, but honestly, I was in a binge-watching rabbit hole and have no idea.
I have seen previews. I haven't seen the show. If Iron Eagle is involved, I need to find some time. #HADESBOMB
Just know there's a little nugget in there just for you.
I'm a little worried this yrs offense will start right where it left off last season (excluding the bowl game); 5 yd passes needing perfection to sustain long scoring drives. QB and receivers just a little off, leading to drive-killing mistakes. Ineffective running game from both QB and RB's that defenses don't have to commit to stopping.
What do you expect from the offense to start the season, and does Fuente have more weapons this year?
So (spoiler alert) I have been going back and watching some film, specifically the ODU and UNC game film. At a high level, contrasting those games with the very limited view we saw this spring:
1) I think the offensive skill position depth is better. I want to see if whoever becomes QB1 can find a security blanket like Cam Phillips was early last year. Note, Grimsley seemed to be that guy in the spring game for Jackson, while Willis was more aggressive working to Patterson down field.
2) Offensive line should be at least a push. Lost in the struggles with pass protection after he got hurt, Nijman took a big step backwards last year. He played slow, and I am not sure how his leg injury impacted his mobility. I think he is better suited to the right side. So, if Dzansi or Darrisaw can be better on the left side than Kyle Chung was as a right tackle (which I think they can), I think the OL group is a better sum of their parts than the group last year.
3) I think Willis is better arm-talent wise than Jackson. I don't know if he has the mechanics in the run game (although his play fake on the Phil Patterson spring game touchdown left VT defenders grabbing at air) that are better than Jackson, and I certainly don't think Willis is a guy who can run the inverted veer and read option who the defense will be forced to defend. If the VT QB doesn't force the defense to account a run defender to the QB, running the football becomes much more difficult.
4) While Jackson became less effective as a runner as he got more beat up, the red flags we saw from him in the passing game were there even when he put up big numbers early in the season. When the game manager isn't managing the game well (ie- making good reads, accurate low risk throws, and understanding situations properly) that presents problems. The space created by the scheme and the presence of Phillips helped Jackson immeasurably. However, defenses began to adjust by taking away the middle of the field and forcing him to go to his second read. His accuracy and decision making took a major step backwards when forced to throw outside the hash marks. I didn't see anything in the spring game to make me feel better about those issues.
What is your favorite omelette?
IHOP vs Waffle House?
Coffee vs juice?
Savory vs sweet?
I have breakfast on my mind...
I don't eat eggs unless it is fried egg whites, and then I mix them in rice.
Waffle House. I prefer waffles to pancakes, and Waffle House also has much better hash browns.
Juice. I have not had a cup of coffee since I was in 8th grade. I am naturally hypertensive, so caffeine is not my friend. Also, I don't like being around people who are heavy coffee drinkers and get "coffee BO." I am a heavy sweater so I would be one of those people.
My favorite breakfast is a good chicken biscuit. If I am feeling sweet, either a krispy kreme glazed with chocolate icing or a bowl of dry Honey Bunches of Oats are probably my go-to.
Fuck yeah, Waffle House for life. I always order hashbrowns: onion and double ham. Always delicious after a late shift at work.
I enjoy plain hash browns, as crispy as they can make them.
Can you kind of explain how the play call is communicated to the players during the course of the game? In example if Cornelsen is up in the box calling the play how does he effectively pass that call on to the players and coaches on the field (obviously I realize that they talk through the headsets) in such a short period of time? Does he dictate the blocking scheme to the OL coach who then signals it to the players and same with WRs, RBs, QB or do they just know what do to based on the name of the play? I'm not really asking specifically to VT but just football in general.
Wow... so I assume that there are signals which send in the concepts for the players since VT does so much without a huddle. The signage and hand signals on the sideline- well that you would need someone in the locker room to tell you what each means. I suspect those are just distractions to some extent.
In college, we got a play number and that number would tell us the alignment, our blocking assignment, and the snap count. I will walk through it as best as I can remember.
Here would be a typical play call.
CON Y OVER 19 ON TWO
The first word was formation. Our offense did not have "right tackles" and "left tackles." We flip flopped our offensive line. In our formation "PRO" had the Quick Tackle and Quick Guard on the left, and the Strong Tackle and Strong Guard on the right. "CON" meant the OL flipped. Normally the tight end would be on the strong side.
HOWEVER, on this play call, Y Over meant that the tight end aligns to the quick side. This was done in essence to prevent the defense from always keying the TE to the Strong side.
19 tells us the play. It was a speed option to the 9 hole, which is wide to the quick side. My assignment as the strong guard would be to backside scoop the center-guard gap to my side, or the center could call a "roll it" block where he would block back on the center-guard gap, and I would pull around him on the play side. We were trusted when we got to the line of scrimmage and saw the defensive alignment to make line calls and adjust our blocking.
On two was the snap count.
When we got to the line of scrimmage, if the QB yelled "GREEN" that was an audible, and then we listened to the play call. The number told us what we were supposed to do.
Generally, we ran "see me at the line" in no huddle, and the QB had a handful of 2 minute plays that he would call on the fly. Otherwise, receivers were rotated in with the play call.
This makes me happy. I remembered the formation and hole number almost instantly
Not too surprising since it is pretty close to the system we ran when you were coaching, the only thing I noticed that was different is that I'm pretty sure pro and con only indicated which side of the formation had the tight end or more receivers, but I never played on the line outside of maybe two games on the punt team, so I could be wrong.
The Solid Verbal did a podcast episode with Chris B. Brown (excellent football writer, http://smartfootball.com/) all about play communication in college football. It's pretty fascinating and gets into how it works with different schemes and coaching styles.
I strongly recommend and endorse Chris Brown's Smart Football. He did a great write up on Bud Foster developing the concepts around quarters coverage when the spread forced him out of some of his inverted cover 2 concepts.
Was this write up in the book or separate?
I believe it was the second edition of the book.
What's your projection on the VT football record this fall? I'm sitting at 8-4 at the moment. Also, if it ended up being 8-4 would you consider it a downward trend in the Fuente era or just the natural ebb and flow of remodeling the program?
7-5 if Jackson isn't better. I think the defense takes a step backwards. I think Ricky Walker is probably more valuable than Settle was (he was down to down better) but Settle's replacement, Mihota, Hewitt, Burke, or Cam Goode will be a major downgrade. Walker is going to get double teamed a bunch. I think the DEs are better, but inexperienced linebackers behind a major question mark in the middle is worrisome.
I am also very nervous about the cornerback position. That group did not have a good day at the spring game.
Looking at the depth chart and knowing some incoming recruits, over the next 3-4 years when would you expect Tech to have it's best team, last year the defense was ahead of the offense, this year who knows but the defense lost a lot, when would you think things best line up for a possible playoff run?
2020 should be very promising on offense. Defensively, I love the young DEs, linebackers, and safeties. Corner and DT are the big questions for me.
If Farley can be a Macho Harris type player, corner suddenly looks much better. That is a complete mystery in my mind. I know he was a game changer offensively.
football related question.
I have only heard good things about Hazleton. Should we be worried about his non-participation injured status during the Spring? Have you been able to see anything from him through practices last year to give us a good idea how he fits into the offense going forward, and am I wrong in thinking he might be one of the most overlooked new weapons in the Coastal going into the season? Watching his Ball St film, he looks like a guy who can turn our offense from a good one to a legitimate great one.
Non-football related question.
What's the one topic/inside joke on TKP that will always get an upvote from you? What is the one topic/inside joke you just wished would go away for good?
All I have on Hazelton is his Ball State film. While he isn't as quick to get away on short throws like Cam Phillips, I think he is a high volume catch guy who can go up and win some 50-50 balls. He can play that Isaiah Ford role that was missing last year, a dependable guy on screens and fade routes. Those fade routes open up the slants and posts that guys like Kumah and Savoy are more comfortable running.
In a previous AMA, I asked which returning players you were most excited to see next year on each side of the ball. For offense, you said Caleb Farley. So, which returning player are you most excited to see next year on offense?
What is the toughest position at which to project talent making the transition from HS to NCAA level?
Well, since Farley is on defense, I will go with Phil Patterson. I think he is the guy who can change the dynamic offensively. But, while he is a bigger play threat than last year's regular players when healthy, I don't think his speed threatens to take the top off the defense like Farley doesn. I also have said that I think Grimsley may end up leading the team in catches because he does a really strong job of creating space on quick routes.
Drake D is another guy that I think will open some eyes. He showed me some physicality I wasn't expecting between the tackles. He was much more fluid as a pass catcher than Keene in his HS film. If he can thump as a blocker and get more short catches than we saw from the Y spot last year, that could open some things up.
Can the QB get the ball to those guys? That is my question mark. I think the potential at WR and TE is looking really good.
toughest position to project talent?
OL and cornerback. OL because it is such a developmental position. All you can predict is if they have the feet and the athleticism to play. You can't measure their ability to play fast on a highlight reel.
Corner is even tougher, mostly because HS film doesn't show the corner until they have come out of their break most of the team. Also, many HS teams don't have QBs that can make the corners pay for being overly aggressive.
Louis Gossett Jr. could be Idris Elba there.
So what you're saying is reboot it with Idris Elba and Millie Bobby Brown?
Speaking of underrated 80s movie characters...
El Guapo has a delicious beer named after him
And Biff Tannen is a National Treasure. See my signature. Has to be one of the greatest movie lines of all time.
via GIPHY
"There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, and everything else is cream cheese."
-Coach Bobby Finstock
How could I leave out Mike Damone?
Five Point Plan:
1) you never let on how much you like a girl. "Oh, Debbie. Hi."
2)you always call the shots. "Kiss me. You won't regret it."
3) act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. "Isn't this great?"
4) when ordering food, you find out what she wants, then order for the both of you. It's a classy move. "Now, the lady will have the linguini and white clam sauce, and a Coke with no ice."
5) now this is the most important. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.
Kids these days: "Side one?"
I screwed up this post, so here is Vigo the Carpathian.
That is a strong pull.
And be still, my beating heart. 8 year old French's first crush.
DAMN YOU THANOS
Goonies is one of the greatest movies of all time and always will be
Watched it not too long ago. For a movie of its age and clearly designed for kids, it still holds up extremely well for adults
I always about lose it when he gets locked in the fridge with the stiff, and it keeps falling on him and he looks at it and tells it to "STAY"
How did you feel about Hendon Hooker in the spring game?
For the re-review, Oklahoma State.
Very incomplete. He was working with players who were, outside of Kaleb Smith, likely scout team guys. And, the format with quarterbacks not being live essentially negated his legs. He threw two pretty balls, and otherwise looked much more like a freshman deer in headlights than he did last spring.
What's your least favorite work of the devil?
The movie Home Alone
Where is the best place to buy pie if you do not have time or someone to make it for you?
What are your thoughts on Fish Pie, English style?
What fruit pie is best for breakfast?
Are Jamaican pasties meat pies?
Not including the Championship game season, which season of Hokie Football was the most enjoyable for you to watch? Which players/coaches made it that way?
2004- that team got more out of less than just about any other VT team I have watched.
Most enjoyable players to watch:
Brandon Flowers
Ricky Walker
Ryan Williams near the goalline
Isaiah Ford
Derrick Hopkins
Woody Baron
Darryl Tapp
Chris Ellis
Jimmy Williams
Wyatt Teller
Jimmy King
Lee Suggs
Jonathan Lewis
Vince Hall
Jamal Smith
we got a bit out of order there
Side note, I'm planning to partially celebrate my 33rd Birthday this year by re-watching the BSG miniseries the day before and the appropriately named first episode the day of.
Is Devyn Ford really the missing link for Fuente's offense? Or is it a "do it all tight end", as I've read in the past.
I think Devyn Ford and a run/pass threat at QB would make a huge difference. Without watching Memphis games from the Fuente era in detail, you can't appreciate how much they relied on Lynch in the run game. Ford, with that extra defender being tied up by the QB, would be a game breaker.
You can change one NCAA on-the-field football rule. What rule do you change and why?
I would eliminate RPO's. An OL should not be downfield when a ball is thrown except on passes behind the line of scrimmage. I was an offensive player, and I still think allowing an OL to be in a linebacker's lap when the ball is thrown is completely unfair.
When you say 'eliminate RPO's' you mean enforce the current 3 yard rule?
Bingo
can the 2018 offense match the production of the 2016 offense?
Yes, if they get the QB play. They will need to be much more efficient in the passing game and base running game to accomplish it. If they get consistent efficient passing, I think it can happen. But, right now I would bet the under.