via Mike Barber
A defense dominate enough to make you feel nervous and insecure about the offense, that's Virginia Tech football in April. The headlines are usually the same this time of year. Avid fans know what the offense is working with right now —four new starters on the o-line, rookie tailbacks, veteran-ish receivers and tight ends— but I think we gloss over what that means. It's going to look ugly now. A flawless closing night performance doesn't come right after casting. There's rehearsal, and boy does this group ever need that. There's a lot of talent on offense, what remains to be seen is if they gel, and that doesn't happen overnight.
Misleading statistic that you've probably heard 100 times: 11 sacks in 85 plays. That was mostly the second- and third-team offense getting worked. It's also important to note the defense has their blitz package in.
"A lot of people don't let the defense blitz on the first scrimmage," Beamer said. "We go the other way — blitz, learn from it on video. Then, next time we'll pick it up better, and we'll pick it up better when we're working with two groups as opposed to three groups, or third team guys that don't quite know what they're doing."
However, I can't downplay Brent Bennedict getting pantsed by Luther Maddy, who Bud Foster noted was one of the most improved players on the defense. The skinny on Bennedict was he couldn't pass block in space, but there was hope he'd be superb inside at guard. We'll see.
After another fantastic scrimmage (lone pick on LT), and overall strong spring, Ronny Vandyke is pushing for serious playing time this fall.
"He's a kid who can run," Foster said. "But he's got size. He's close to 6-4, 215 pounds. Having a long body in the flat or getting underneath throws on the corner routes and things of that nature. But he can rush the passer, he's a physical kid in the run game. And he has coverage-ability. So I think he's a complete package for us."
Straight up, he can be a playmaker at Whip. Tweedy stood out with 5 solo tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. It's going to be a battle once G-W is 100% and back in the thick of it.
Marcus Davis, an annual spring stud, caught three balls for 56 yards Saturday. We need him to be a consistent beast this fall. Hopefully he's improving on the little things: blocking, running tight routes, etc...
The offense is indeed becoming more spread-ish. "Receiver motion, tailback lines up behind Thomas and Randall Dunn lines up as an h-back?" Keep in mind the offensive staff met with former Boise offensive coordinator and present Texas coordinator Bryan Harsin. On a subsequent trip Shane Beamer met with Major Applewhite.
Comments
What had Logan Thomas so pissed off? He posted something on twitter one morning over the weekend about people talking shit about him and the offense. I really hope it wasn't any of our "fans" being a-holes to him on twitter, but i didn't see any blogs or articles that were too negative towards them.
mainly the beat writers I would say ... i mean -- look at this article, look at hokiesports.com, techsideline.com, the list goes on .. head lines everywhere -- offense needs work and defense is dominant .. i didn't take his tweets that he was pissed off -- lt is pretty cool headed.
maybe i just read too much into it. just seemed a little out of character to me
#SCALES4HEISMAN
INT was from Leal I read
I think I read somewhere the INT was inappropriately given to LT and that Leal threw it but I could be mistaken I wasn't there.
Anyways offense always behind defense in spring #factoflife
Nope LT threw it
But Dyrell had the oppurtunity to make the catch (went off his fingertips) but instead the defensive back plucked it from Dyrell's hands.
It isn't suprising that the offense is worlds behind the defense early in the spring. The offensive line is looking for continuity and is focused more on individual matchups versus utilization of line calls to take advantage of their familiarity with the defense. Accordingly, defense that uses blitz packages when the offense isn't audibling or calling plays accordingly to a down and distance which suggests a tendency to blitz is going to have a huge advantage. This advantage is increased by a quick whistle to protect QB's, and with the receiving corps only including one guy who is a full speed starter right now with Dyrell getting back into the swing of things and Coles sitting out full contact work.
The offensive line coaches will focus on head to head physical matchups in the spring, and that is tough to gage against a slanting, stunting front four. I have not heard a real clear description of how the offensive line is fairing in those matchups where the defense plays base. The exception is Benedict, who by all accounts is either jumping offsides or getting worn out by "Lex" Luther Maddy. Maddy showed last year that he is a very solid plugger, but it doesn't make me feel good that our potential starting right guard can't get a hand on "a solid plugger." We know Michael Via is going to start somewhere, and I am going to watch the spring game with the assumption that Via will be ahead of Benedict in the fall. I have heard very little about Becton-Wang-Miller-Painter, and by all accounts Shuman-Arkema-Farris-Gibson-Goins is playing like Jon Dunn blocking Deacon Jones. I had hoped for better by the whole crew.
I am also suprised how quiet reports have been about veterens on defense like Derrick Hopkins and James Gayle after they had breakout springs last year, and going into the spring the two lead stories were the injuries at linebacker and the turnover in the secondary. I have heard one Foster compliment of Tyler, but other than Van Dyke, silence. It looks like it will take TKP Spring Game analysis to really get a picture of how the team will really look come the fall.
add
that the O is adding the pistol package at a faster tempo, they are going to be behind for more than the spring. could take a few games into the season to get their sea legs ... if they truly are changing things some.
Also, many of us have kind of chuckled at #TheMartinScalesEffect but I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up playing an important role in the backfield this year, especially as a 3rd down back if Holmes and Coleman are not effective picking up blitzes. And, that is something that could be factoring in to the pressure on the Hokie QBs this spring.
not sure how much smaller Scales is .. is he a 'tweener or BIGGER sized tailback ... my first thought of moving a fullback to tailback?? depth ... my second thought -- a bruiser, big tailback teamed with zone-read and LT3 .. could do a lot to help with our red zone problems. run a spread-out offense in the red zone with a trim line .. gets half of the D outside of the hashes. then it's a matchup game. give it to the bruiser TB for 3-6 yds or LT keeps for 3-6 yds .. throwing the occasional slip to keep the defense honest.
from early accounts, it looks like we could very well be seeing 3 backs (holmes, scales, coleman) seeing action this coming season.
and blocking
Also, you would hope that a veteran converted fullback would be able to be used to protect LT3 if Holmes and Coleman struggle with pass blocking.
good point ... with such a young line and young RB corps, having a great blocker in the backfield will be necessary. i see all three of these backs having their purpose and strengths .. if we run some spread, i'd even like to see a package with 2 of 'em in at a time and going without a TE, with 3-wide .. could you imagine, on the field -- at the same time -- LT3, DJ Coles, Dyrell, MD, JC Coleman (hot route to the flat), Scales/Holmes with no TEs ?? That would be matchup HELL for a defense if LT knew where to get the ball .. matchup .. HELL
I just want to see some different looks, innovation, offensive prowess that will force so much film on defensive coordinators that they'll be eating with fucking migraines.
yes please!
Sparko i'd love to see our Hokies line up like this a couple times a game. Will it happen though?...
I like you thought of spreading the defense out and then just working our matchups up the middle for a good 3-5 yds everytime. That would be huge on a first down in the redzone, you know as opposed to our usual stumbling.
with a smart, experienced QB who knows how to audible based on LOS matchups, use options, misdirection, zone-read, scat-backs, a spread-like offense is basically unstoppable -- refer to clemson vs wvu -- dana basically put on a 60-minute clinic of how to perfectly execute that kind of offense. clemson had no answer
if you don't have an athletic-enough defense, especially linebackers who can play the run and pass ... as i look at the schedule, fsu is the only team defensively that has the athletes to even have a chance at containing this kind of offense ... not to say that a spread can't be stopped -- but in the acc, if a team can execute a spread very well -- most acc defenses don't stand a chance.
Spread Offense is Overrated
I think Clemson's defense knew what to expect, but just sucked because they're Clemson. They see a spread offense every day in practice. That was just one game, and that same Clemson D also sucked against GT. Spread offenses are good and many of the best offenses in college football run a spread offense, but I'd rather run a pro-style offense with a stout defense, much like Alabama or LSU.
Consider this, in conference play Clemson with their spread offense scored 34.2 pts/game in 2011, top in the ACC. What offense was best in 2010 and 2009? Oh, VT and their antiquated offense with 35.8 and 33.6 pts/game, respectively.
Don't get me wrong, VT's offense needs work. But more than anything, the offense just needs to play to their player's strength within their own scheme. Sure, throw in wrinkles of other offenses, but stick to your bread and butter. If you want a new scheme, hire a new Off. Cord.
i agree and disagree
with you and french60 has a really good write-up and i agree/disagree with the comments. to keep a long story short:
the offense just needs to play to their player's strength -- agree
within their own scheme -- disagree
If you want a new scheme, hire a new Off. Cord -- agree
I think that a spread offense plays to our offensive players' strengths (overall, year-in, year-out) than a pro-style offense does. the DOMINANT success of a pro-style offense depends on a BIG o-line that can push d-lines around, not smaller, more athletic lineman that we typically are working with. we have typically held our own .. against acc competition. we have great skill players and smaller-athletic lineman -- spread the defense out and take advantage of matchup problems.