According to sources, the crystal ball now points to Michigan. This 3* cornerback out of Mass decommits. Mike thanks the coaches at VT for all they did for him...but needs to take some time to reconsider.
Respect my decision 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/wQDkl6Bo2P— Mike Sainristil 🍬 (@MikeSainristil) October 23, 2018
[Mod Edit: Add tweet for source.]
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DB decommits from DBU to go to Michigan? must be looking forward to that trip to rome.
DBU is currently 96th in total defense. Maybe that is weighing his decision?
DBU just had 4 dbs go to the NFL last year and idk some crazy # like a DB go in the NFL like 23 of the last 24 or something like that. maybe that should weigh in on his decision. but just for giggles maybe he should go to any of those other schools in the top 10 in total defense if that's what hes looking for..... im sure cincy, app st, southern miss, Utah, and a bunch of other teams ranked better than 96th would be a better place for him.
top 10 D overall 2018 rankings
1 Miami
2 Michigan
3 Appalachian State
4 Southern Mississippi
5 Iowa
6 Clemson
7 Iowa State
8 Cincinnati
9 Mississippi State
10 Utah
Don Brown might be the best DC in college football right now. He is a world class DC, yes there are others out there that are good coaches. Michigan's defense is legit, they are ranked in the top 5 right now and put a ton of defensive players in the league. And I'm not talking about App State. I'm talking about VT and Michigan.
teams that call themselves DBU and have an argument.... Us, UF, LSU, OHst, FSU.... Michigan has never been a part of that discussion. So if im playing DB. i don't care what the overall rank is for team D for one season vs ours. I can point to plenty of instances that our overall team D was better than theres. But at the end of the day, if im a DB im picking tech over Michigan. I was really only joking in the original post. there are a ton of reasons why kids pick schools over other schools and being DBU or not may have little to Zero influence on this kid. it could be academics, location, relationship with coaches, players, gf, family, heck he could just like free jordans and navy and maize are his favorite colors for all we know. I wish the kid the best. where he goes. I wont miss him. or remember him. unless he turns out to be the steph curry of football or he recommits to us.
OK, I don't think we have any argument to that THIS year. We are terrible in the secondary right now. Injuries, attrition to the NFL, what have you. It is where we are right now. These kids don't care about DeAngelo Hall or Kyle Fuller. They care about tomorrow, not yesterday. I'm not saying our current defensive numbers are why he decommitted, I'm saying that if he commits to Michigan, he is committing to a damn good defense and great DC, which you can understand. If he was committing to Syracuse or UNC or Texas Tech, I would be more concerned.
He must somehow understand this strange man.
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Here's how this will play out: He's going to Michigan if he is a take, if Michigan gets someone better late in the process and he is no longer a take, he will end up here or BC.
dude will be treated like the smart girl in math class. I'll flirt with her, just so she can help me when I need help but as soon as the cheerleader in the hallway texts me, I am out the door.
Why the heck would you want the cheerleader over the smart girl in math class?
#smartchicksareawesome
Because your high school brain often doesn't realize the long term value of the pretty, smart girl.
I truly appreciate that you assumed the "smart girl" was also pretty. Solid mindset!
the smart girl is typically a 6 in high school and turns into an 8 by junior year of college when she gets out of the shadows of her parents.
Or about 40 minutes into the movie when she lets her hair down and wears clothes that fit her.
Underrated movie IMHO.
I went to elementary school with Janey Briggs.
Aw c'mon, she's got glasses, and a ponytail, and she's got paint on her overalls.
One of my favorite things about those types of movies is when they try to sell someone like Rachel Leigh Cook as not being obviously beautiful even in a stupid outfit.
...I watch a lot of romcoms
A gif that works on multiple levels is the perfect gif
What are you doing hanging around high schools? You pulling some Matthew Mcconaughey dazed and confused nonsense?
How do you think he gets his insider info?
I blend in well.
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this whole thread gets a lot creepier when you remember that BAG works at a high school...
If he's using us like that, I don't want him
That's what recruiting is.
Unfortunately, you (we) have seen this movie a lot of times, whether you realize it or not.
Pretty sure Bag meant Sanristil will be the smart girl.
I wasn't referring to BAG, I was referring to the "he'll go to Michigan if he's a take"... I don't want someone who is stringing us along as a backup plan. If he's all set on Michigan, then sayonara, and focus on bringing kids in who actually want to play here.
Hope he finds the place the fits best. Good luck to him
This is fine. We've got a lot of talent on the back end. Grab another DT instead.
Didn't want him anyway, I mean look at the battery percentage. Way too high.
And he's got T-Mobile
We had T-Mobile, but now he's sitting on Cleveland's bench :(
I want a job that pays $18 mil to sit on the bench, sign me up!
not for long. the jags are going to have to do something. and then he can win a super bowl and get joe flacco money!
Question: Is a 3* CB going to see the field as a starter with who's on the roster and who's being recruited?
Regardless of stars, I would argue that playing time in our secondary is WIDE open in the near future.
Of course you would...
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I'm all ears on our secondary depth chart for next year being all good to go...?
Jeremy Webb, Farley and Watts, Nadir Thompson, Quillen?
Yes those are names, but Webb hasn't played a snap at the P5 level, Nadir is coming off an injury, Farley will be playing the position (and on the defensive side of the ball) for the 2nd year in his life, and still has a TON to improve on...
His concerns are valid.
How in the hell are you supposed to have no concerns about depth if inexperience disqualifies the players? Depth will always either be inexperienced or has been players.
You're spinning my response significantly. The post I was responding to was an ask of why our secondary would be 'good to go' next year. Just naming guys on the roster doesn't make everything 'good to go' - especially when half of them cited haven't even played. They've got a lot of growing up to do and significant improvement to make, which isn't a given
Objection!
Our DBs are young now and will be getting better as they get older. I'd argue that our DBs are in the process of locking down their positions.
Yeah I'm hoping (possibly predicting) that this is the DB version of our 2008 WR situation. Boykin, Coale, and Roberts all turned out to be really good and highly productive, but they sure took some lumps in 2008 as freshmen.
There's a reason Michigan has been pursuing him. He was evaluated to have a lot of upside and might be more natural as a CB than some of current players who play more like converted athletes. Facyson wasn't highly rated as a recruit either (3*) but he was a terrific corner as a true freshman. I get the sense people think Sainristil has similar instincts.
It wasn't just instincts, it was a veteran safety helping pre snap.
The inexperienced nature of the entire secondary is a huge problem this year. Normally VT has had experience at corner, safety or both. Having neither is a disaster.
ummm? 2013 we had Soph. detrick bonner and JR. Kyshoen both playing safety for the first time both played DB the year before. and at DB we started with some depth with kyle fuller and antone exum but exum got her and kyle moved to whip. I wouldn't say that there was a ton of veteran help. Facysons freshman year he was forced into action and int wise had his best season as a hokie.
Detrick Bonner played as a freshman in 2011. He had played as a DB previously but was an obvious leader for the 2013 secondary breaking in 2 freshmen DBs.
so you would consider bonner playing one year at DB and then moving to safety as an "obviously leader for the 2013 secondary" but not Floyd as the same for us this year? what did bonner do to give those freshman a leg up that Floyd doesn't?
honestly I would say deuce riley and desmond frye were more leaders than bonner in 2013. they may not have gotten the playing time but it was the older leadership we needed to keep the guys level headed and focused every play that we are missing right now. the fact that we have NO upperclassmen at all in the secondary is really scary because there is no one there to teach during practice outside of coaches. frye and riley may have lacked the talent to be on the field for that 2013 team but mentally they were sharp guys with a good work ethic.
Bonner was the free safety and made all the defensive calls and helped get everyone aligned properly. He was immensely important. Bonner was also at least a 2 year starter at free in 13 and 14, he played some corner in 2011 and I can't remember exactly his contribution in 2012 but he might have been playing safety then as well.
bonner was JR in 2013 and started at DB in 2011. so he had like 13 games starting at FS going into the 2013 season. I do get the importance because clearly you can see the difference in communication when diablo is on the field and he only started 2 or 3 games prior to this season. but I don't think bonner is responsible for Bfaces successful freshman season. I agree with the OP that bface was an underrated guy with exceptional instincts and length (not to mention dude was extremely intelligence DR Bface and all so probably had a great understanding for what bud wanted from him and the D) that lead to his successful freshman year more so than bonner or any other barely experienced player helping him get in the right position to make plays.
I think I misunderstood the context of your initial argument. That said, you keep using the term DB as a position, I assume you are referring to our 5th DB (nickelback, slot corner, nickelwhip, whatever you want to call it) as just "DB."
I don't think it's stupid I just don't think I've ever seen it referred to as just DB as its position name.
this was what I was initially arguing my point with.
but would you prefer I use boundary corner or field corner? I was just trying to keep it simple. cornerback= DB. facyson started at field corner as a freshman to clarify. I don't recall where bonner started at in the secondary but I know it was at a corner. but exum started at the boundary both he and fuller rotated there because of injuries and fuller played the nickel and whip (really all over the field at all the positions lol)
Exum played strong safety in 2011, he moved to corner in 2012. Our starting defensive backfield in 2011 was
FC: Kyle Fuller
FS: Eddie Whitley
Rover: Antone Exum
BC: Hosley
Cris Hill (#9) started the ACCCG I believe because Hosley was out injured, Hill primarily played nickel in 2011. Bonner may have played in 2011 as an extra corner in Nickel/Dime sometimes depending on injuries and subs, but he was definitely not a starting corner. I think Bonner may have gotten an interception in the ACCCG, which he got more snaps in due to injuries.
From there, I believe Bonner became the starting free safety in 2012. It's listed that way on the 2012 depth chart I googled to see if I was right. That does mean that he had a full year as starting free safety (and Jarrett at Rover) before playing with true freshman BFace and Kendall in 2013.
you are correct sir. as I stated above.
VThokies904
| 1 hour 27 min # ^ ∨
bonner was JR in 2013 and started at DB in 2011. so he had like 13 games starting at FS going into the 2013 season.
I think we agree on most everything, I just don't attribute facysons good freshman year to bonner. I attribute it to facyson himself. I don't think if you sub in quillen, Farley, or any other current corner on our roster that bonner would make them anymore of less successful than they currently are. Now that D line and the backers may have helped. Were really struggling to get any pressure on the QB right now and for a DB that doesn't do them any favors.
Yeah I was just pointing out that he was approximately the 6th DB in 2011. That said, I do think BFace was just a really good corner and was really underrated. I also think that the secondary as a whole benefitted from Kyle Fuller, Bonner, and Jarrett's experience. I don't think they are mutually exclusive so I definitely agree that BFace was just way ahead of schedule as true freshman at corner.
Maybe part of the recent down tick in our DBU can be attributed to coaching with a sprinkle of a downturn in talent. Listening to the "this is home" podcast, they slightly messaged that they are not super impressed with our current staff and questioning whether we'll be at that DBU level again. We've had plenty of freshmen and sophomores come in and play at a mid to high-level. Maybe it was better talent and/or a few more seasoned people around them, but I have never seen a group of players look so clueless sometimes and 20 yards out of position on the field.
Say what you want about him, but there is a reason Torrian Gray now coaches DBs for the Redskins...
I think it's more unique to this season. We just sent Stroman, Alexander, Facyson, and Edmunds to the NFL since the draft. That's 4 DB's just last year that were NFL quality DBU guys. I do think we are currently in a rough spot because of an extremely abnormal amount of attrition, particularly at defensive back, but I think Farley athletically is absolutely elite. The story with Farley will be how he progresses technique/understanding wise and if he can become a more reliable tackler. Talent is definitely not the issue with Farley. Also, Jeremy Webb was supposed to be starting this season alongside Alexander, so both of our starting corners weren't meant to be starting this soon. That said, I do think we have some DB's right now that are currently not up to DBU level.
I agree with this, but have not been impressed with Mitchell. Including his time at WVU when Big 12 teams passed all over him. That said, depth of talent is down across the roster- not just DB. Fuente is addressing this, but it takes time. That's why we've been an average team the past 6-7 years.
As many people as CJF brought with him to Blacksburg, I don't think he's also going to be as Beamer-esque in terms of holding onto a guy for loyalty's sake. For better or worse, we are just as susceptible to the Coaching Carousel at the end of every year as anyone else.
Also can't discount the losses on the D Line. Losing Settle and then Hill has an impact on the DBs as well since our pass rush is not great this year.
This can't be understated. 3-4 seconds is a long time to be following and staying with somebody. Any competent QB can find an open receiver, or throw one open in that amount of time. Heck, even incompetent ones can find an open receiver in 4 or more seconds.
Until the line gets some good pass rushing and consistently get to the QB in less than 3 seconds, the CBs are going to have it rough.
To my point... a top 25 team needs to have more than 1 DT or DE that can get to the QB.
I am regularly having to explain this to my casual Hokie fan friends. They generally fail to realize that Farley, Watts, and Ladler were supposed to be the 2nd string this season and complain about how Foster is losing it or Mitchell is no good compared to Gray.
Once I explain that vs compared to last season we've lost basically 5 CBs that would be playing over our current starters they start to recognize the attrition we've suffered and how it might impact play on the field this season.
Lost both starting corners (Facyson, Stroman) to the NFL is bad enough, and yet we had two veteran corners with great size & athleticism lined ready to step in (Alexander and Webb) guys who could fight for jump balls with tall receivers... who we then lost to grades & injury. Then losing Reynolds, who could have played Nickel or Corner or maybe even FS this year depending on need, amplified the losses, taking another veteran off the field.
That's not even getting into Dealbo's injury and how that's affecting how our secondary plays.
Hush you and your "sense". Arm Chair QBs that think they know better on this site don't want to hear your "rationale thinking" crap.
Excellent post. Nick Saban said it best earlier this year.
And that's at Alabama.
I'm not one who thinks the sky is falling for the future of our secondary but the picture painted here isn't very accurate. Facyson and Stroman were seniors who were out of eligibility regardless of making a NFL roster. So they wouldn't have been playing over our current starters and the coaches were fully aware of that. Secondly, Alexander missed several games last season and had been on thin ice for some time. The coaches should have been aware of his academic status and preparing to potentially move forward without him. Finally, I understand that Webb was expected to be a more prepared to step in coming out of JuCo, but I think it's a stretch to call him a veteran corner along the Facyson, Stroman, Alexander lines when he has never taken a D1 snap.
Not sure what you're getting at... everything I said was 100% accurate.
We lost 5 players who would have started over our current CB's. Graduation, injury, discipline, grades... all valid reasons that a player is not back this season. In a good year all we have to worry about is Graduation.
The current starters were expected to be 2nd string this year. The word on Webb was that he was going to start at CB. You can nitpick the meaning of veteran if you want, but JR > SO/rFR in a lot of ways, not just playing time.
Two of them (Facyson, Stroman) would not have started over our current CBs, because they would not be eligible to play this year. I think that's what shakeitallabout was pointing out.
I see how you could read I that way. I meant that more of an indication of relative talent/ability/skill than actual eligibility.
Yep. Those two were gone regardless. Adonis and Mook were on thin ice and everyone knew it. Webb tore his achilles in his first workout and it's impossible to say how he would have performed (granted I'd rather have had him available as an option). Anyway, our starting CBs this year have been getting 1st team reps since the spring. I would agree that we've had some unfortunate luck but think it's also valid to say the starters had a decent amount of time to prepare, get reps, and learn the system. Even when considering the extenuating circumstances, our DB play hasn't been at the level which would be expected.
These issues are not exclusive to VT. Every team has graduation, transfers, injuries to deal with. Stroman and Facyson can't start at CB for VT for 15 seasons, and the coaches know this. Sure, Adonis and Webb are tough breaks but there is some space between that and giving up 600 yards passing to ODU and 500 to UNC. And if the guys we have now are 2nd string level players, then it's on the coaches to recruit better. To me the only real "surprise" was Webb. Adonis wasn't exactly Mr. reliable last year, but yes losing Webb to injury hurts- but again VT is not the only college football team with injuries. GT lost their best RB a few games ago for the year. Next man up.
Yards allowed per game rank:
2018 - 95th
2017 - 12th
2016 - 19th
2015 - 34th
2014 - 17th
2013 - 4th
2012 - 18th
2011 - 10th
2010 - 52nd
2009 - 12th
2008 - 7th
2007 - 5th
2006 - 1st
2005 - 1st
2004 - 4th
Youre right - it probably has something to do with our coaching and recruiting, not a one time anomaly that can be attributed to a massive amount of attrition in the secondary.
One of these does not look like the other.
It has 100% to do with our "recruiting". We are not starting 5 true freshman back there. Coaches recruit- that's a huge part of their job, some would argue the most important part of their job. If the vets back there can't play at our "normal" level, we need to recruit better- simple. If it's not "talent", then mitchell, etc. needs to coach them better. When one unexpected early departure and one injury kill your entire pass defense, it's not an "anomaly" it's a huge issue in terms of your depth.