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Perhaps Holland Fisher will be the answer to your question!
I know you have talked about this a little in the past but what is the configuration of players at linebacker you would like to see? Do you think that Bud would be better off trying to find more of a Kyle Fuller type player to essentially run his base defense with Nickel personnel, as opposed to trying to find Whips that have recently had some difficulty in coverage?
At the half, its warm and overcast.
DJ Coles hasn't done much on offense or special teams
Other than that it's pretty fun.
Fridge's offense is kickin'.
Front row next to the falcons cheerleaders.
Warm and the sun is peeking but overcast
SCSUs band is outstanding
13 american-3national
How about Tyrod Taylor, Kevin jones and Jameis Winston?
In your opinion, who is the best returning player at each group (Offensive Backs, WRs, OL, DL, LB, Secondary) and what type of pie best relates to them?
I have to take a break for a little while. I will be back on shortly. Keep them coming.
I think the whip stays, especially given how well RVD can cover guys.
In the spring, my guess is that your starters will be RVD-Williams-Clarke, but Devin Vandyke may have been the most noticeable player on the field in the spring game, and Moutuapaka is the perfect archetype for a Bud Foster mike linebacker. With their trust in Clarke probably shaky, I could see Williams playing at backer and (likely) DVD playing at mike. His instincts and jumping through gaps to make tackles for losses were a revelation at the spring game.
Of the young offensive line recruits, who has the best chance to see lots of playing time? Second, which offensive freshman will be starting by the end of the season?
Safety. Also, don't sleep on Anthony Sheggog.
The offensive talent will not improve next season and the talented freshman class will likely not see the field with the exception of a few players. That being said, I fully expect next season to be a rebuilding year. Our only hope is that the offensive line gets better and some of the young players can take over starting roles.
When I played, I always thought if you were right handed, it was easier to pass block on the left side (because you could make initial contact with your stronger hand and force them outside) and run block on the right side. For some guys, it may not make a bit of difference. Offenses tend to run more to the throwing hand of the QB, so the left tackle would need to be a much better run blocker at the point of attack with a left QB, while your right tackle would need to be a better pass blocker.
I think McLaughlin would ultimately be better as a strong side tackle, as he has a bit of a struggle handling a really quick pass rusher, but unless Teller is ready and as quick on offense as he looked on defense, expect McLaughlin to be a fixture on the blind side.
Chuck Clark... FS or CB?
Who are the starting linebackers next year and their top backups? And will we see the continued death of the true whip position or will it make a comeback with RVD?
AJ "The Tractor Beam" Hughes. Because once he lays hands on you, you ain't getting away.
film review idea: improvement of different guys/units over the course of the year, and what the next steps would be in your opinion.
And, if Andrew Ford does win the job in the spring, you have a left QB. Does that mean that McLaughlin and Teller flip flop so McLaughlin still has blind side protection responsibilities?
I was wondering this the other day. I figured that was how it worked but I had never considered it. How much would that affect McLaughlin? I can see where your body and brain could adapt to blocking a certain direction and flipping to the other side of the line could throw you off slightly?
This is nonsense. A few guys have done it, but far, far more have failed.
Logan Thomas' best shot right now is as a QB. And whichever team drafts him, it will be as a QB. And almost certainly they are not going want a guy with LT's potential upside at the most important position in sports working out in training camp at TE because what he needs is reps, reps, reps at QB.
That is a tough question, because I have always been of the opinion that there are only a few schools who are ever "National Championship or the season is a failure" legitimate. The empty trophy case was always a bit of a Quixotic dream.
What I would prefer is that the Hokies continually get the best players that fit the best for their system (see misses like Jonathan Allen, Marquise Williams, and Stephone Anthony), coach them up (something that we have not seen from the past offensive staff), be dominant at home, and be considered an elite program in the ACC again. For a national championship season, you need to have all those things in place, and then luck out by having superstars emerge from your foundation. You need depth for that to happen, and they have not had that depth since around 2006. If you get that, and you are healthy and well coached, you have a punchers chance. Remember, even Oregon, which has TONS more resources and national exposure than VT, has only gotten to one title game. It requires a truly special season with a bunch of luck in today's college football, even at the programs that have a leg up like Alabama, USC, Texas, etc.
And, with the playoff looming, the chances of it happening for every team improve.
Yes, and I ask that I leave it at that until my film review on Loeffler's offensive game plan comes out on Monday. While I still am of the opinion that one of the freshman tailbacks makes an impact next year, Wright played well enough that we could see a scenario where two guys emerge from Edmunds/Coleman/Mangus/Wright/Caleb, and all the true freshmen running backs redshirt. I wouldn't discount a position change or a transfer at the RB position either. Even without Williams, McKenzie, and Taylor, it is already a crowded backfield.
That is a tough question, because I have always been of the opinion that there are only a few schools who are ever "National Championship or the season is a failure" legitimate. The empty trophy case was always a bit of a Quixotic dream.
What I would prefer is that the Hokies continually get the best players that fit the best for their system (see misses like Jonathan Allen, Marquise Williams, and Stephone Anthony), coach them up (something that we have not seen from the past offensive staff), be dominant at home, and be considered an elite program in the ACC again. For a national championship season, you need to have all those things in place, and then luck out by having superstars emerge from your foundation. You need depth for that to happen, and they have not had that depth since around 2006. If you get that, and you are healthy and well coached, you have a punchers chance. Remember, even Oregon, which has TONS more resources and national exposure than VT, has only gotten to one title game. It requires a truly special season with a bunch of luck in today's college football, even at the programs that have a leg up like Alabama, USC, Texas, etc.
And, with the playoff looming, the chances of it happening for every team improve.
I think Miller struggled a bit with the lingering effects of his injury, and he struggled a bit in space early in the season, especially against Marshall. Loeffler sort of worked around Miller's initial lack of mobility by using him as a down blocker and pulling Caleb Farris (see inverted veers.) As Miller's quickness improved, he became much more effective. He was the team's best lineman against UVA and UCLA.
As for who replaces him, that is a bit of a mystery. I still think Brent Benedict is better suited for the guard position, and he has the most experience. Both Shuman and Conte got repetitions inside (although my faith that Shuman can be productive took a big hit with his poor play after returning from injury.) The staff is very high on Alston Smith, but some guys are more comfortable playing one side or the other, but he will have a better opportunity to get on the field immediately if he moves to right guard.
Then of course, you have Wyatt Teller looming. Given his past experience and tremendous mobility, does Grimes look at moving Gibson inside to right guard and play Teller at right tackle? And, if Andrew Ford does win the job in the spring, you have a left QB. Does that mean that McLaughlin and Teller flip flop so McLaughlin still has blind side protection responsibilities? It will be a fun spring.
Not knowing the locker room chemistry of the team but just watching how they interact on the field, I would look at Kyshoen Jarrett on defense. If Foster can find a dependable third corner, Jarrett will return to his role of playing down low and would be leaned heavily upon to make tackles while the young linebackers grow up. Or, while it is a long shot, Foster may have to move Bonner back to corner (playing nickel) and moving Jarrett to free safety (which would require him to be better in man coverage against trips formations), with Clark, Greene, or maybe Fisher or Reavis taking over the rover role.
Offensively is a tougher question. If you are looking for a lead by example guy, I think Byrn, Edmunds, McLaughlin, and Farris have all impressed me with their competitive streaks. But, in interviews at least, none really come across as vocal guys. Whoever wins the quarterback job, we better hope they have a major alpha-male leadership quality.
I now see you're referring to a QB competition in 2014. I was referring to 2013.
Nevertheless, pronouncements aside, there will be a competition in 2014 as well. It's not as though the coaches haven't been evaluating the QB candidates already; they have and my guess is right now (for better or worse) they see the a large gap between Leal and the rest. I think Beamer is a fan of picking a QB and giving that guy confidence (and there is loads of evidence to support such an approach), but I think he's a bigger fan of giving his team the best chance to win. If the coaches see an upside to someone else over Leal, they'll go there. But just because they aren't making a show of it, it doesn't mean that they've stopped evaluating the best options on a daily basis.
Yep. I did it fast enough to turn a parsec into a unit of time instead of distance. You know you're moving when you break fundamental universal laws.
That's the best I have seen that question answered.
Reminds me of the John Wooden statement about never mentioning the word "win," only prepare yourself to be at your best and let the chips fall where they may.