I opened Tidbits on a serious note earlier this week, and tried to avoid doing so again; then the Urban Meyer news happened.
I won't bore you by preaching about Ohio State's handling of the situation, as there are people far more capable than me of pointing out all the various reasons that it boggles the mind that Meyer still has a job.
They can expound on the university's report that Meyer deliberately tried to delete old, incriminating texts, or the ridiculous explanation that Meyer didn't "deliberately lie" to reporters at Big Ten media day or that Meyer quite deliberately didn't really apologize to Courtney Smith at all during his thoroughly inadequate press conference after his suspension was announced.
Rather, here's what I will do: ask you to remember 2014.
Sure, it's worth chuckling over the memory of a Hokies team that turned out to be quite mediocre blasting the eventual national champions at home.
That was quite a year for Meyer, all things considered, given the way it rehabbed his image around the college football world following his messy departure from Florida. But even amidst that nearly perfect season, he managed to get out-coached by (a nearly retired) Frank Beamer, Bud Foster, and yes, Scot Loeffler.
All of that is to say this: Meyer may be quite the talented coach, but like anyone else, he can make mistakes. Maybe, just maybe, Ohio State could've found another, similarly talented head coach to take over for Meyer, one who'd be capable of losing to a lesser team and turning that loss into a title run.
Instead, Ohio State's leaders chose to stick by their man, even after all we've learned about him. I hope they can sleep well having made that decision.
The rest of us have much more trivial things to worry about.
Grimsley Finds His Place
Call me a Key Players Club shill if you will, but man, you're missing out if you missed my esteemed colleague French correctly predicting how Justin Fuente would use his wide receivers a couple weeks ago.
French's thesis was that Hezekiah Grimsley would get the bulk of the reps in the slot to start camp, even though Sean Savoy also played that role a good bit last year.
Sure enough, Fuente comes out and says this during Thursday's media session.
Fuente said Lafayette High grad Hezekiah Grimsley has taken advantage this preseason of being able to stay in one spot - working out of the slot. Said they moved Grimsley around last season out of necessity. #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) August 23, 2018
Given this, it would sure seem likely that French is also correct and that Savoy will play primarily on the outside this year.
That means the main question the Hokies have left to sort out is who will join him as Josh Jackson's top target at wideout.
Eric Kumah came on a bit as the year went along, and Damon Hazelton has gotten plenty of hype for months now, ever since he transferred. Kumah definitely has size to be a possession receiver, now that he's up to 225 pounds.
But I really like Phil Patterson as well, another tall option at 6'2" who Fuente has had plenty of kind words for this year.
It is a bit worrying that the Hokies don't have an obvious big-play threat in the mold of Cam Phillips and Isaiah Ford. Yet it sure seems as if they have more options at the position than they have in a long while, and I fully expect at least one of these guys to step up and match Savoy as a playmaker before too long.
Subbing in for Stroman
Speaking of Grimsley, it seems he could factor into the punt return game too, as the Hokies look to manage the very big task of replacing Greg Stroman.
Shifty slot receiver types do tend to be good fits for the position, and he certainly has experience at the spot from his high school days.
Grimsley on being a pretty prolific return man in high school: "It was more me being scared to get tackled." Said he made good decisions to avoid defenders as a result. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 23, 2018
But, on Tuesday, Fuente said his current top two at the position were Hazelton and C.J. Carroll. Should those two not work out, only then would he look to CB Bryce Watts and Grimsley, per Mike Niziolek, newly of the Roanoke Times.
If we're to assume that Grimsley is indeed bound for full-time slot duties, perhaps it would make a bit more sense for Carroll to emerge as the main guy. He does have some experience at the post, though it mostly came in 2016, when he returned 11 punts for 98 yards. Last year, he fielded just two for four yards.
Plainly, it seems as if there's room for one of the younger guys to separate themselves. My memory of Carroll is that he was a steady, if unspectacular, option at returner.
If the aforementioned wide receiver depth makes it difficult for someone like Hazelton to see a ton of time on the field, perhaps this is where he could make an impact instead.
"I do think he has some size and strength that can be adventitious at that spot," Fuente said of Hazelton Tuesday. "But kind of the baseline level is who in our evaluation can field the ball, communicate and handle the stress that goes with being a punt returner before we even talk about making guys miss and doing some of the things Greg had done over the last several years."
The David Hale Depressing Stat Corner
ESPN's resident ACC expert has a way for finding stats that speak better than words ever could, and today's nugget on Tech's running game was no exception.
Since 2012, Virginia Tech avg 4.37 yards/rush (not counting sacks) - 6th worst in FBS just ahead of *gasps* Virginia (4.35).Take QBs out of the equation and it's worse (4.20) - ahead of only Wake, Ga State, UConn and FIU.Consistent run game might be biggest need in '18.— A David Hale joint (@DavidHaleESPN) August 23, 2018
Gasp indeed. Any Hokie fan keeping up with the team won't be surprised by this stat, necessarily, but it should be disturbing nonetheless that there's such hard and fast evidence of the team's ineptitude in the ground game since David Wilson left town.
Fuente hasn't been able to build much of a running game since he arrived in Blacksburg, with the exception of using Jerod Evans as a quite effective battering ram. This year, however, could be a real turning point, if the offensive line and Deshawn McClease live up to the hype.
As the angry people in my mentions today were sure to point out, Tech's problems in the running game had a ton to do with the offensive line, beyond just the backs themselves. And this year, that position group could be the strength of the whole team, which surely bodes well.
The mix of McClease, Jalen Holston and veteran Steven Peoples also represents a more talented (and, perhaps crucially, experienced) set of runners than the team's had in a while. As we've discussed ad nauseam this offseason, it could surely make all the difference between the offense taking a next step and remaining stuck in neutral.
I leave you tonight with a look at what the youths are up to.
Bradburn said DT Tim Settle was one of the biggest Fortnite players on the team last year. He was good too. "He never shut up about it," Bradburn said with a laugh. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 23, 2018
More Fortnite! Chung says he and QB Josh Jackson play each other all the time. Chung says probably 90% of guys on the team play Fortnite. He played from the start. Calls himself "The OG of Fortnite." #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 23, 2018
Comments
Watching Jackson and Grimsley from the video game angle during the spring game, it was very apparent that Grimsley was going to be tough for nickel corners to handle. He has length and still has wiggle, making him too big for the traditional shorter quick nickel and too fast for the new age safety/linebacker hybrid (spoiler: FSU uses the latter.) It also became very apparent that Jackson feels very comfortable throwing to Grimsley, perhaps too comfortable as Jackson missed some openings downfield while hitting Grimsley on a quick comeback.
I expect Grimsley and Carroll to be in the slot. Savoy will get some work there as well, but it will be the exception rather than the rule. Instead, expect Savoy to use spacing outside as part of a four man rotation between the split ends (Patterson, Kumah, Hazelton will be part of the rotation.) I don't think the term "starter" is appropriate. All four will play and split snaps about equally unless one guy really steps up.
Why did Grimsley do so little last year?
True freshman. By the bowl game he was playing really well. Is still physically growing.
I say this a lot. This is football. It isn't a video game. At 18, players are going to physically and mentally mature at different paces. If you don't expect a true freshman to start/dominate as a matter of rote, you will never be disappointed.
Never? If this OL doesn't approach their hype train level on the field:
Do you think Kaleb Smith will see the field much this year?
It will depend on how deep they want the rotation to go. If they travel 8, I would imagine all 8 would play. Smith, Turner, and Simmons have all had some buzz. Turner is probably leading the pack for the 7th man up. However, if they travel 8th, that 8th guy better be capable of playing special teams.
call me crazy, but I disagree about the chances of Savoy playing outside. Maybe there's been some insider reports I've missed or something but for a variety of reasons, I think he platoons with Grimsley at Slot.
1) Experience. He has proven to be an effective Slot - both catching passes and running the Jet.
2) Roster balance. The coaches have consistently stated they want to be able to play up to 8 receivers. Savoy and Grimsley have both proven themselves to be effective slot receivers, giving us rotatable depth at that position. Carroll is OK but he can't really play anything else. He can hold down #3 Slot while Ellis redshirts.
3) Size. Savoy is 5-9 on a good hair day. Meanwhile we have 6 receivers at 6-2 or taller available to play outside. Four of which are clearly pushing for playing time this fall - Hazelton, Kumah, Patterson & Turner. I also can't see playing Carroll over someone like Turner, which is what would happen if Carroll is the #2 at Slot and Savoy is #2 at SE or FL.
In the interest of rotating WRs and keeping talent on the field, I expect a lineup something like this:
SE: Hazelton 60%, Patterson 40% /R/S: Smith
SL: Grimsley 60%, Savoy 30%, Carroll 10% /R/S: Ellis
FL: Kumah 60%, Turner 35%, Denmark 5% /R/S: Simmons
Ehhh, Kumah is going to play 60% of the time? I don't feel great about that.
He's our best receiver, screenshot it
This breakdown seems to assume we'll only put 3 wrs on the field at any given time. Is it possible we go spread a lot more this year with the unprecedented receiver depth for the Fuente era?
I feel like I remember hearing from French or someone that he usually kept a RB and/or TE on the field even when he had plenty of WR depth at Memphis, but I don't remember specifics.
let's assume I'm guessing about snaps with 11 personnel only.
re: Kumah 60% of snaps... I think the 1st string will end up playing more snaps than the 2nd string.. by virtue of being better. (if they weren't better they wouldn't be 1st string). Maybe not such a dramatic ratio, but even at 60-30 it's a dramatic shift from Isiah Ford and Cam Phillips playing 80%+
I had to Google that word to see if it even exists. It does.
I think Fuente should have said advantageous.
I too thought he meant advantageous, having never heard of the word adventitious. However, on reading the definition, I think the word makes perfect sense in this context.
He is saying that Hazelton's larger size and strength is uncommon for the position but can be, counter to popular belief, very effective.
Interesting that Hazleton is fighting for starting punt return man. Maybe he is faster and shiftier than I had thought.
Hezekiah Grimsley, 1880s Vampire Hunter
I tend to picture Hezekiah Grimsley as the name of a renowned mountain man, like the title characters from famous films like Jeremiah Johnson and Guy On A Buffalo
Fine figure of a man. Yes?
Guy on a buffalllllllooooooo
For some reason, I think of him as Reverend Hezekiah Grimsley.
I have not fallen into the fortnight blackhole yet, but if all the players are playing it I may have to give it a try...
Just don't catch ligma
Wait what are deez?
It is fun.
I'm not a huge gamer anymore but I played it a little bit. It's free so there was nothing to lose.
...but your time and, you know, your soul.
I know. I'm rationalizing my actions.
I don't even know what fortnite is
Do you mean Fork Knife?
Like this?
You must listen to Sports? with Katie Nolan
Love Katie Nolan
The period of time spanning two weeks (fourteen days)
how do you play that?
Go to work to win paychecks every other friday. Drink regularly to keep health up.
Very curious to see how Grimz will do this year. He had a lot of buzz in fall camp last year but it never really materialized until the end of the year. Seems to be a reliable receiver and shifty athlete, but I'm concerned about the explosiveness of that starting group with him in the slot. I know "starting" is just a label with this group, but I would prefer that we either have Savoy in there for Grimz or PP replacing Kumah just for a little bit of speed on the field. Kumah and Hazelton have a little bit of overlapping skill sets and to me would be a bit redundant there. I'm also of the opinion that Savoy presents more of a threat on jet sweeps that Grimz does.
Sounds like even with "starters" being very fluid, it might be Hazelton on one side with Kumah backing him up, and Savoy on the other with Patterson backing him up, and then Grimsley in the slot with idk maybe CJ backing him up? Then Turner etc will fill in?
Also any word of how Sam Denmark has done?
The "starting" group will likely be Hazelton, Kumah, and Grimz.
Haven't asked about Denmark. I don't imagine he'll be getting much playing time.
What if Fuente is taking the Buzz route and bringing big role players in off the bench (Zach LeDay)?
You let Grimz and Kumah start and bait the LBs and DBs into a false sense of security with how quickly they need to react and cover. Then once that's established you bring in the fast guys to take advantage of the defenders complacent reactions.