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I agree but guess we will see
I understand the pre-combine "interview" that these games create. I think in a lot of cases, the best info some of these players have (not just Tech guys, but in general) is more game film. Show what you can do in real game situations, for the full game. The showcase games like the Senior Bowl, etc. have talent trying to fit into a new/different team with a week, maybe two, of prep. Their playing time is split between several players. It's not a true reflection of what they can do, and most scouts will tell you that, although any real evaluation at these games gets done in the practices. There's always the risk of injury playing in a bowl game (ex: Willis McGahee), but that risk is present in the Senior Bowl-type games as well. I just see it as a bit of irony that a lot of athletes opt out of what could be a better showcase for them. Maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon who misses the time before college free agency.
I'd guess Watkins signal is for Greene there's been smoke about him signing the past couple days.
I think the lesser bowls are going to start dropping off if opt outs are allowed. As you said, for Minnesota it was a bowl game, for us with 14 starters missing it was a spring game and our fans didn't travel quite as much as historically.
APR was a backup at UF- we knew what we were getting - and sadly he was the best DE in a long time here. Gone are the days of a Nolan Burchette being the 4th DE here.
Peebles may have been the best Hokies DT since I started writing about the team, and that is saying something given how much I liked Settle, Walker, and Baron.
APR would be in the rotation at Penn State, but he isn't better than Carter, Dennis-Sutton, or Vanover. Would be the 4th guy at best because he wasn't heavy against the run and their wide 9 front requires the ends to crash in to squeeze kick outs with a much heavier shoulder than I saw from APR. I want him to do well, awesome Hokie who came home and hopefully blazed a trail for other kids to have success. But he was a very one dimensional player, and at best was mediocre as a run defender. He also benefitted from offenses being forced to double Peebles inside. In games where they played bad OLs, or when Peebles was being doubled, APR feasted. When they blocked Peebles one on one, APR was pretty quiet.
This just is part of the pre-draft process. NFL media, NFL scouts, NFL coaches all go to these games. This is what they're prepping for.
And there is the rub, VHSL hasn't produced an impact DL in the last three recruiting cycles. The best guy is Armel Mukam, who was in the DT rotation for Notre Dame (and he was a Woodberry Forest private school kid, a school where VT never lands anyone.) The last VHSL difference-maker? Tyliek WIlliams from Unity Reed (same school as the Stromans and Tim Settle) in 2021, and he has been a monster for Ohio State. His film was salivating, but Fuente was too busy sitting in a corner whispering to Vice to make an effort.
You don't think APR or any of the secondary guys Tech had or O-lineman could compete for playing time at either ND or PSU?
As a VT fan, you should root for ND... as part of our great ACC deal with them, we get a share of their 20 million dollar playoff money..... oh no, that's not right- we get zero. Nothing. Like basically what the ACC got in return for this deal.
If they are not there already- which I think they are- Non playoff bowl games are simply spring games against an opponent with a real clock vs. your own team and bogus clock rules, etc. That is all they are. It's certainly what they are for VT. Frank Beamer -a hall of fame coach- got murdered by VT fans for losing bowl games. Meanwhile we trot out no semblance of a D1 team against Maryland and Minnesota and it's- oh well, meh. Mayo Bowl tickets through the hokie club were $150.00 each. I went to the fiesta bowl for 40 dollars to see a playoff game. VT played their spring game team and fans paid to see it in 40 degree temps. At some point, that is not scalable. Bowl attendance is way down and will continue to do so with basically spring games. The only thing keeping it alive is ESPN needs content and irrational fans paying hard earned money to see VTs 4th string RB play in the bowl.
/S
"The size, the closing speed all over the field, the focus on dominating the line of scrimmage by both teams."- No question and I have been saying this for a while. I went to the Fiesta Bowl- sat pretty close to the field. Both PSU and Boise are bigger and thicker than VT is. PSU is no comparison. I was on the field/sidelines for several VT games 2 years ago. We are so much smaller than we were in the mid-2000's its not funny. And so long as we continue to be basically ineffective at HS recruiting on the DL, this won't get any better.
Right- nothing- zero about that guy lived up to his draft hype thus far- and predictably he's not winning. "We've never seen anything like him"- yeah horseshit. We've seen Vick, Lamar, countless others. "He makes throws noone can make"- fucking total horsehit... most NFL QBs make those throws. The hype around him was ridiculous and it was noted by those close to USC he wasn't tough Well this is a mans league.
For the new D Coordinator "recruit"?
Levels of can't play in there I would say. He can win 14 games in two seasons with Caleb probably. Minshew maybe. Depends on what he's going for. If he wants another REAL run, then yeah, either somewhere with a good QB or a high pick would be ideal. If he's shooting for 14 wins and out, it's a different calculation.
This is shooting completely from the hip, but I thought of it while I was typing the other stuff. You interested in Jacksonville if you're him? Good QB (if not great) and a garbage division. If you're shooting for two decent seasons, maybe a playoff run without Tom, you could do worse.
Best Campy Joker
Best Campy Cartoony Joker is Jack Nicholson? Can't get image to imbed.
I think for the most part we recruit players who have a great deal of will to play great football but lack the skill. That was a difference I noted. I didn't see a whole lot of VT players giving up during games this year, which I personally think I have seen in some teams in the past. I think we recruit good dudes who tend to fit the culture. However, strength and conditioning let them down at times, coaching didn't have them in the right positions at times...all contributing to outcomes.
Most of these guys are playing in the two games coached by NFL Coaches where they spend a week or more practicing and NFL scouts and executives are in attendance. The only two that sat out the bowl that aren't linked to these two games are Moore and Jenkins.
Nolan Rucci, starting RT for Penn State who was a three year backup at Wisconsin before transfering for this season, had the single greatest backside scoop block I have ever seen on defensive tackle Howard Cross on the Singleton TD that put Penn State up 24-17. He did a false step like he was doing a backside passive seal like Vice used to have VT's OT's do on backsides of zones, then completely piroutted back inside, got inside Cross (a three tech), kept his head inside, and kept the perfect position to drive him to the end zone. This is unreal.
Evan Watkins bat signal is up again
pic.twitter.com/8aCQ6y9hkE— EvanGWatkins247 (@EvanGWatkins247) January 10, 2025
Woohoo! Loved seeing ND win this one. Big ND fan over here.
Hoping they win it all against... I dunno Texas I guess
Which Greene?