Recent Comments
Steele also predicted FSU to go to the National Championship. NCState and then Florida said otherwise.
I would think that that would be considered a successful passing game, since it would get a man out of the box and Loefler and the rest of the offensive staff have repeatedly asserted that they want to be a run first team.
That youtube video still gives me goosebumps. I love it!
My friends and I were jumping on one of the bleachers in North so hard that we actually ended up breaking it right off its supports, probably the greatest accomplishment of my fan career.
God I just hope we have the problem of too many talented QBs to start...way better than the alternative.
I'd agree with your comment on Foster, as I think that was the same year Grant went to OSU (?).
BTW, who are we calling MANBEARPIG? I love it.
So with base defense formations, the triangle passing scheme seems to work fairly well. Either you've got an open guy, or a guy in single coverage on an island. I guess that leads me to the question of what happens when teams start getting out of base defense to stop these plays? In all the scenario's described, the secondary consists of two corners and two safeties with linebacker responsibilities underneath. I guess my question is, is this whole concept still able to be carried out when teams are running nickel packages, where they've got 5 defensive backs to shut down 4 receivers rather than 4 on 4.
Wouldn't a defense normally have the SS on the side with the most receivers, or alternatively have the FS up in run support, and doesn't that then ensure the zone can't be overloaded?
It depends on the defenses rules. Some coordinators would put the SS there, some would have the MLB rotate over to match up (which is how I have it diagrammed), some line up both ways depending on which hash the offense is on... It's flexible.
Whether the MLB or the SS rotates over doesn't matter, they still won't have the proper leverage to defend all three routes. Only by rotating both the SS and the MLB would the defense stop the triangles concept... but doing so would open up the backside for a short pass.
Look at this Pic. If the SS were to slide all the way over to cover the "snag" route, the only underneath defender on the right hand side would be the OLB. Having both receivers on the right hand side run hitches/slants/ins would get one of them wide open.
Strong is usually going to line up the strong side (the side with more blockers & usually the side with the TE) to help out in the run game and the Free will line up on the side where the pass threat is heaviest ie the side with most receivers. If you look at the above diagrams you'll notice that there is only one with a TE on the line and the rest have even fronts. With the even front the offense doesn't create a "strong side" so the Strong just lines up on the inherent strong side, which is the right side of the offense because mostly all qbs/rbs are right handed. On the one with the offset front (TE on the right side) the Strong lines up on the right side because that's where the extra blocker (run threat) is present. If the TE lined up on the left side then the Strong would have been right there with him.
I think based on the routes run in the diagrams and the Strong's assignment bubble, it's easy to say, "well if the Strong was on the left side he would have been right in the middle of that little cute triangle." It doesn't quite work like that though.
Well he was an outside Backer in a 3-4 scheme. Not too uncommon for them to switch to a typical DE in a 4-3 scheme (which GT is switching too this year, I believe).
I'm not sure what GT is planning on doing with him, but it's conceivable he plays some DE.
Here is a tweet from Andrew Rash about it, not sure how accurate it is:
Just want to say thank you to coach Beamer for buying out the right field seats. Really appreciate his support and generosity to our programā Andrew Rash (@AndrewRash_20) May 29, 2013
And the article about Frank buying out the left field area for Athletic Staff.
http://vtsports.blogs.timesdispatch.com/2013/05/29/beamer-buys-up-space-...
Don't sleep on Hodges now. He'd have a full year in Loeffler's system on them... Plus the kid can play. I wouldn't be shocked if Hodges starts after Leal graduates.
Almost positive that Attaochu is an outside linebacker. Not sure why he's in the DE category... Also, surprised Hughes wasn't at least mentioned for Punter. In terms of the guy that will really surprise people and have a great year, I think Kyshoen Jarrett will be in the discussion for first team.
Also, I'm assuming that Journell was left off the list because Steele is predicting him to have another run in with the law by the end of the season. Hopefully that isnt the case.
Loeffler didn't recruit Hodges when he was at Auburn. I think if we get Cornwell or Parks, they may be the next starter (probably in some initial platoon with Leal then taking over mid-season)
Burke was recently the star of one of these combines and may become a top 20 TE recruit in the country by years end. Great find.
We use to play Tiger Woods on the Wii in college when Joose first came out as a pregame. Our rules were simple you had to finish a Joose on the front nine and the back nine. 2 jooses' in 20-30 minutes always led to a good night.
I have not seen enough Xavier Burke film to know, but Holmes high school team uses him in the slot and at wide receiver at 6'4 235. He doesn't have wide receiver speed, but he has a nice release from the line and could serve as a threat deep down the seam at tight end. He catches the ball very nicely (at highest point) and runs good routes for such a big body.
His high school team runs a six-man front, with four defensive linemen all tackle to tackle, with two outside linebackers and two middle linebackers even against spread looks. Everyone gets upfield, so they look dominant. He is very similar to Ekanem in body type and style of play.
This dude can play.
I'm really excited about Bucky Hodges... But I would love to get David Cornwell as well. I think he'd fit in perfectly with what Loeffler wants to accomplish on offense.
Clearly I have! Thanks for the 411!
What point do you think they moved away from Loeffler's schemes?
I actually think I may have been overly cautious when I decided to only look at early season games. I recently watched the Auburn vs Alabama game, and didn't see Auburn doing anything drastically different from what I saw in the earlier games and what we're seeing at Tech so far.
"it is safe to say that they are a lock for the NCAA Tournament"
I don't think I've ever heard this mentioned about VT, it's a very, very refreshing change.
One thing that stands out is all the FSU love on Steele's list. They put 11 guys in the NFL last year and have another 11 as 1st or 2nd team all-Steele ACC. If they are really that good, why aren't they dominating?!? BTW, I don't consider their performance last year as dominating. Too much FSU love.
Fantastic write-up!
Thanks for going back to Loeffler's work at Auburn and mixing it in with what we saw in the Spring game. I couldn't make heads or tails of what was going on in the passing game this spring, and frankly the results didn't give me any warm fuzzy feelings. Now that you've provided some insight on Loeffler's passing schemes, all of us die-hard Hokies can go back and re-watch the spring game and look for "oblique stretches".
Thanks also for providing the link to Norm Chow's passing explanations as well. I look forward to watching games of the "Auburn train wreck" and figuring out why their offense was so horrid. BTW, in your review of last year's Auburn games, at what point do you think they moved away from Loeffler's schemes?
Lastly, I just noticed Loeffler and Grimes ended last year against 'Bama, and face them the first game this year. August 31st has all the makings of a real grudge match. He's a link to an Alabama podcast that laughs at our chances in the opener (in case our offense needs any more motivation.)
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2013/05/looking_ahead_at_ala...
#BeatBama!
I think this is the only time I've ever stopped jumping to simply take in the insanity of that moment.
That and preventing myself from falling off the bleachers and on to my face