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669TH MEMBER OF TKPC
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12 years 6 months
# | Ask French: Any and All Hokie Football Offseason Questions Is it realistic to think Virginia Tech will be competing for a national championship within the next three years (based off the players/recruits we have right now)?
I am most concerned about depth and size on the defensive line. I think Nigel Williams is going to be one hell of a player, but both he and Luther Maddy both have played mostly as three technique defensive tackles who are more likely to shoot a gap and get up field than stand up to double teams. Maddy, who had a great season, has one technique flaw, and that is when he tries a leverage move and gets too high, he is susceptible to being driven well off the ball by a double team. You have to assume that Maddy, as the bigger body, will move over to nose tackle. Woody Baron is in the mix, but at 260 pounds soaking wet, it would be a tough task for him to be an every down player right now.
Behind them really is a mystery. There are no more defensive tackles on the roster (which I am praying doesn't mean that Teller moves back to defensive tackle) for the spring. With Dadi, Marshall (assuming he is back) Ekanem, Alford, Dooley, and Mihota all at end, I would assume that Matt Roth and D3 transfer Wade Hansen move inside to tackle. Ricky Walker will definitely be a three technique tackle when he comes to Blacksburg, and with the guys they have now, would likely be the number two three tech if Maddy moves to nose. Derek Nnadi is exactly the guy they need, and I think day one he goes in the two deep at nose.
I'm gonna go ahead and take a crack at this. Best lineman this year, big loss, possibly Alston Smith, Benedict or one of the more advanced younger guys.
The calls for a "competition" were ludicrous, because the notion that there wasn't a competition is ludicrous.
There was a competition in the same way that there is a competition for the New England QB job (or, better yet, the Commonwealth Cup). And like the competition for the NE QB job or the Commonwealth Cup, when the competition isn't EVER at all competitive (as it certainly wasn't with Thomas vs Leal, et al), it really isn't worth the energy or disruption to explicitly pretend it is.
The coaches and the players certainly understand this is how it works. How a sizable portion of the fanbase could be so oblivious to it is a mystery to me.
EDIT: I just realized that you thought I was referring to a competition next year between Leal and others. I was actually referring to Thomas vs Leal, etc in 2013. Nevertheless, whether they come out and directly state it in public, there will be a competition for the job for 2014.
But it's not as though an evaluation of all the QBs hasn't occurred already and my guess is that the coaches have probably determined that the gap between Leal and the others is big enough to not go through an overt competition. And I think Beamer still sees the downside of the Tyrod-Glennon situation and wants to avoid if possible. But rest assured there is always a quiet competition going on and if somebody gives them enough to make them re-consider, they will. The coaches and the players understand this even if the fanbase doesn't.
and that piss-poor editing is why I'm ignoring this article. That and the fact that coaching search only says LSU has inquired about Grimes, not that they're interviewing him. I'll wait till I see someone reputable say he's interviewing.
Where did Andrew Miller rank among our O-linemen? How great of a loss will he be and who will take his place?
In your head without seeing spring practice and the game, who becomes the early offensive and defensive leaders of the 2014 team?
Both in stats and leadership.
What are you most concerned with and most confident about with this team for the 2014 season?
Also, film review topics: all of them. LB play, line play, pro sets vs. spread concepts (QB, RB, line technique), etc.
Mo film reviews = mo bettah.
Probably how you're feeling right now...
Wow, awesome article about the success of VT in the ACC!
Let's hope this staff can get us back into the ACC championship game and a 10-win season next year!
Run Offense and Red zone conversions have to get better (110th says they can't get worse.) TEs will help, but the O coaches better start getting creative. I think these numbers show that "3rd-and-Logan" was not a good idea. Before you downvote me for the last statement, think back to the LOLUVA games of the last two years.
I was surprised at the NCAA rankings of some of our competition this year on offense; we played 5 teams in the top 20 in 3rd down conversion %, beating three and losing to two. To me that shows just how good the defense was to be facing top offenses and still getting off the field.
If we can just manufacture a run game (by misdirection, spread, power, chop-blocking, or voodoo) we would have an ACC-caliber team.
Travis is absolutely amazing at what he does, and is certainly one of the best musicians on campus. In thanks for sharing this, I'll share one of my favorite arrangements of Tech Triumph.
Let's not forget, the rules were changed after that game because of the utter travesty that was the reversal of that catch. The Danny Coale Rule exists exactly for this reason
it would really surprise me if struggles at all
Little red flag goin up for me here. Did you see the Sun Bowl? Or the Spring Game? My own observations coupled with French's review hasn't exactly instilled a whole lot of confidence in Leal. If he comes in this spring and lights it up and shows he's clearly the guy to lead this team, great. However, I'm not 100% sold on his abilities as a QB just yet.
So yes, a large, vocal portion of the fan base is obnoxious and arrogant and annoying, but there are a solid number of good ones too.
I feel like that's the case with most large fanbases.
I was not prepared for this and now there are little drops of spit on my screen.
Simultaneously disturbing and hilarious.
A good friend just shared this with me. Classic.
lane kiffin & nick saban #besties pic.twitter.com/qzrPcjX8lN— nick pants (@nick_pants) January 11, 2014
Remember, if not for a few untimely turnovers & problems with our starting PK we would have easily went 11-1 or 10-2 during the regular season, we just could'nt put up enough points to overcome those set backs.
I've seen Mark Leal in scrimmages & practice since he was a true freshman & it would really surprise me if struggles at all, he'll be fine.
Is there any way you can set this not to autoplay when the page opens?
Thus is how the discussion should go.
LSU: Can we has?
VT: 
Yes the problems do indeed start all the way at the bottom. By the time these kids are in college all you can do is damage control and help them in any way that you can. But these are still the lucky ones. There are many more that arent talented athletes that do not have football to fall back on.
Exactly my thought.
I almost struck a Lucky Strike and bought some war bonds
Our home slate is William and Mary, Western Michigan, East Carolina, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, and LOLUVA. We have a decent shot at 7-0.
After his performance in the bowl game, which to an untrained eye looked pretty good, do you see a role for Jerome Wright in an already crowded backfield?