Recent Comments
Umm I'm pretty sure you'd only get down votes if you thought he was a team-first guy. As much talent as he had it truly is a shame that Davis didn't take advantage of it. Had he listened, blocked, and did the small things he very easily could've been a high draft pick.
I know he is a Hokie and I'm risking some down votes but man, who cares? Marcus Davis was a selfish and lazy player. He cared about himself more than the team and dropped so many passes that hit him square in the hands it was embarrassing. But not half as embarrassing as the video of him half-assing, or not even attempting, all his blocking assignments.
Far side blocking assignments are forgotten by 90% of people watching the game, so that should tell you just how terrible he was to have that video made of him.
I hope he finally gets his attitude right and finds a team that he can play for, but I hold no love for this particular former Hokie.
I'm all for finding a suitable replacement as valuable as Jarrett is, but I say leave him for the Alabama game. No matter who else you put back there, they'll be inexperienced and that is too much pressure on front stage against Bama. That game is not one where we can play "not to lose" much less have any muffed kicks...we have to play to win and Jarrett gives us a threat that could break something at any time. In a game where we need everything we got, I say risk it, then start easing someone else in to replace.
A punt return for a TD or large gain can be a game changer so I would like to see KJ back there returning punts in some situations, especially against Bama since he's the most experienced and proven that he can take it to the house. Perhaps we can bring some of the other guys along prior to ACC play to give them reps, but not against Bama.
I can dig it. I just think our defense is good enough to keep this a low scoring affair, thus one turnover can be the difference. But you are correct. I think +2 is the minimum to keep us in the game.
Joe Caleb on punt returns
Porter is great, the Boch is good (I'm just not really a Boch guy). Thank God they took out that crappy Cranberry Lambic. It tasted like feet and can rot in hell.
I hope Grimes gets them in gear, too, but I am also a little worried (or, maybe hopeful?) that we'll experience one of those I-recruited-my-guys-so-the-upperclassmen-might-get-bumped scenarios next year.
I don't necessarily think a turnover hurts us as much as a turnover margin under +2. If we have 0 and they have 2 we have a shot. If we have 1 and they have 3 then I think we still have a shot.
I feel like it's beating a dead horse to say it but we need the old Beamerball. While I don't think we will see as many blocked kicks due to scheme changes, we need the disciplined, no mistake approach that you mentioned. Alabama has their weaknesses, albeit very few and our coaches are intelligent enough to figure them out. The only way to give ourselves a remote shot at winning is to make very few mistakes. We need less than 1 turnover, less than 80 yards in penalties etc. Alabama is good enough that that 1 turnover could ruin us.
Either way: game plan: make no mistakes. play great defense. put pressure on their o-line. score points.
To sum it up in 2 words: Play Football.
We made our own share of mistakes to help Bama in that game too. 2 fumbles lost during punt returns deep in our own territory. I think they got a field goal off of the RmfW fumble and a touchdown off of the second fumble.
It's the first game of the season. Each team is going to make its own share of mistakes. We just have to capitalize on their mistakes and keep them from hurting us too badly when we make our own.
We will have to have big plays. We have beaten ACC teams but not making mistakes, working field position and just beating them out on talent and discipline. That will not work against Bama. We have to have some big plays on our side on top of playing sound the rest of the game. We will need a combination of a long TD pass, INT return, Fumble recover deep in their territory or a ST TD. We will need to be +2 in these in order for us to win.
We can sit here all day and say "We need to be able to run the ball" but that is obvious but also sadly unlikely it will be efficient enough. LT will be throwing the ball more than we want but I think the difference this year will be he will be throwing to the flats more often and shorter routes than Ocainspring liked to call. This will open up some double moves and give us that long TD chance.
Great post. I thought it was interesting in regards to Teller. I was curious as to how fast he to see if he could turn the corner. Based on the photos I saw, he very much reminded me of an inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme just by size. (I am thinking of Kerrigan and Orakpo of the redskins vs. Fletcher). He will be a force to be reckoned with on the inside more so than the outside (my 2 cents.)
Hmm, on the Jets' website, it says he was paid an injury settlement on Aug 5th but then placed on IR on Aug 7th. I'm not sure where that leaves him.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets
thanks for this brian, thats a lot of busy work looking for news on everybody. we appreciate it!
What about Knowles? He is one of the fastest Hokies. I guess this is kind of similar to Jarrett though, since he holds a starting spot.
I wouldn't mind seeing what Fuller can do back there.
I think Jarrett is a linchpin player like you described. In a way he reminds me of DJ Parker... not because of his skill set but because of how important he is to this D, how effective he is at his position, and how under appreciated he is vs the other guys that get a lot of the press (2007: Adibi, Hall, Macho, Ellis, Flowers 2013: Gayle, Tyler, Fullers, Hopkins, Maddy, Exum).
So if there are serviceable guys that can return punts instead of him and that protects him, great. But I also think he is a dynamic PR guy and that's good for VT. Good for KJ too as that makes NFL scouts perk up if they can draft a guy that might contribute in multiple ways. So part of me wants to see him get some action there, even if he isn't the primary guy. I also like having starters who play special teams... it's just old school Beamerball and also I think those guys are more confident players on ST. But if it exposes KJ to potential injury more than it should, I think the primary objective is keeping KJ the Rover healthy and productive at Rover.
So... I hope we can make Newsome or Magnus or maybe even JC our PR guy if need be. I'd like to see someone who is a playmaker there but he also has to be someone your trust to not make mistakes in terms of fielding the ball or fumbling it.
I don't think he got cut, could be wrong though. Via Wikipedia (not the most credible source) says, "On March 15, 2012, Royal signed a three-year contract with the San Diego Chargers worth $13.5 million, $6 million of which is guaranteed."
I'd agree but it would be a long season if something happened to Jarrett. Imagine Bonner being the leader in the secondary...
Best punt returner in my lifetime was Brian Mitchell, and there was nothing shifty about him. Give me a guy who doesn't let those directional kicks hit the turf, and then gets up the field. Having the instinct to get to where the punt is going is so critical. If the choice can catch the punt, then being a game breaking threat is icing on the cake.
I have made no secret that I think David Prince will do exciting things at VT. Perhaps this is an area where he can make an impact.
They cut him about a week after signing him.
Here's the link
I am in the 757 area, give me some names and schools and I can check them out possibly.
I agree with your comment 100%. If you need an assistant for your football team. I can send you a resume.
Did I miss Eddie Royal get cut from San Diego?
I just can't stand all jawing. Call it a pet peave I guess, but I hate a guy that makes a routine pass break up or tackle and acts like he just made a game-saving interception and then gets burned on the next play......
The Skins had a bad perception at one point last year for needing an attitude adjustment and he doesn't help that.