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UNC will soon regret this.
i just want to see some offensive cohesion. i want to see the o line come together to support the run game. which in turn will hep the passing game. if we can just have some consistency there i think all the pieces will fall into place. i feel like in the last few years the oline going into every season is our biggest weakness and concern. more time in a new system will help all aspects i hope
go get em morehead!
What's one thing you're not going to worry about heading into August Camp and the Alabama game?
AJ Hughes and the starting front 7. Those guys are solid. I'm also pretty confident in our OTs, especially in run blocking.
What's one thing that definitely needs to be fixed in August before we play Alabama?
The OG/C positions and pass-blocking in general along the line. I'd like to see how McLaughlin plays when lined up against Nicolas or Gayle play after play.
Who were the players that really impressed you?
McLaughlin. The dude can play. Facyson and Stanford had solids springs as well, and AJ Hughes looks like a big-time punter. Finally, Dadi Nicolas. That vertical jump number doesn't lie, the guy is explosive. Seemed like he was in the backfield at the snap of the ball just about every play during the spring game and he's looked good all spring.
Which second-teamer is going to push for playing time this fall?
Despite the depth at DE, I think Ken Ekanem will actually make a pretty strong case for some playing time this fall. I've also thought that Joel Caleb has been improving quite a bit and he might actually be ready to compete for some serious time in August.
Who are the players that need to improve before kickoff?
Farris and Miller. Those 2 guys need to improve (see French's O-line article) if we're going to have ANY success running the football. Personally, I'd like to see both of those guys doing T-time drills every single day with Maddy or Hopkins.
Wonder if the 'breds will hold that grudge against UNC like they do Tech?
I saw that too. And Lewis's Scout profile. Haven't been able to find film on him, but he's listed as a receiver. Dude's 6'3", 230 pounds. Maybe an H-back type a la Randall Dunn? I'm interested to see if the Hokie staff jumps on this.
sign him up! Let him be the University of Non Compliance's loss!
What's one thing you're not going to worry about heading into August Camp and the Alabama game?
Punters, Kickers, and D-Line
What's one thing that definitely needs to be fixed in August before we play Alabama?
The entire offense playing cohesively
Who were the players that really impressed you?
The new defensive players
Which second-teamer is going to push for playing time this fall?
DVD. Dadi Nicolas. Ken Ekanem
Who are the players that need to improve before kickoff?
Every player always has room for improvement, but the offensive starters really need to step it up.
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On another note, today I'm 2 in TKP years! LET'S RAGE AT TOTS!
What's one thing you're not going to worry about heading into August Camp and the Alabama game? Logan Thomas. And, you know, the defense. I think it will be a top 10 defense in all of college football next year.
What's one thing that definitely needs to be fixed in August before we play Alabama? Offensive Line, just finding five guys who can play.
Who were the players that really impressed you? McLaughlin, certainly. Facyson. Stanford. McCray. Dadi.
Which second-teamer is going to push for playing time this fall? I think Exum will miss at least 4 games, maybe half the season, and be much less effective when he's out there. I think Facyson will either be the starter in his absence or play a lot with Manning or Riley.
Who are the players that need to improve before kickoff? Farris/Miller/Benedict/Shuman. I think we've got OT figured out, but the OG/C position scares me.
Bonus thought: I'm concerned about Corey Marshall and Kris Harley. Both may be part-time players this year, but they need to progress because they need to be stalwarts on the DL next year (and the year after?). I know Wiles likes to be a non-filtered hardass, but these two guys need to be brought back into the fold.
He's right, impatience is a huge part of the problem. I would say the biggest part of the problem is that it is too easy to transfer. With the redshirt year never being used, a kid doesn't lose eligibility in transferring. I don't know how to fix that.
Secondly, with only 13 spots, coaches can't wait for a player to buy in to his system. If the kid doesn't commit, acts surly, starts thinking about transferring, you gotta clear the spot and try to find someone who wants to be there.
This doesn't happen in football because 85% of kids redshirt. If you want to transfer, you lose 25% or more of your remaining eligibility. The result in hoops is living with your girlfriend, she can leave much more easily than if you were married, shared a bank account, both names on the mortgage. There isn't sufficient commitment on both ends for the two parties to make it work.
What's one thing you're not going to worry about heading into August Camp and the Alabama game?
D Line in general. I think there is talent there and if they play to potential could be a dominant group. I think Maddy could give the new Bama center fits.
What's one thing that definitely needs to be fixed in August before we play Alabama?
Line play and Logan's consistency. The D can hold its own for 3 quarters but the O will have to keep the D off the field. We would have won in 09 if teh O would have kept the D off the field.
Who were the players that really impressed you?
Sounded like DVD had a nice game and the freshman o lineman, McLaughlin(?).
Which second-teamer is going to push for playing time this fall?
I would say DVD but Bud never rotates his linebackers.
Who are the players that need to improve before kickoff?
Logan, RB's.
1. DE's/Kicking Game
2. Repeat Hokie_x3_Hi Offensive cohesion
3. Dadi, Gayle, Jarrett, McLaughlin, Fayscon
4. Dadi & a younger receiver yet to be determined not sold on knowles
5. The entire offense needs to improve as to be expected with staff turnover on that side of the ball: rbs need to be more consistent, receivers need to run routes with a purpose & catch the ball, need to find a fullback & our 5 best lineman, and continued growth between Logan and Loeffler.
I don't think a bias towards FSU would look good on Bitter...#Bitter4Heisman
Sad part is, they really don't even get to use the lounge that much. If it wasn't in such a vulnerable spot, I'd say it should be open to the public on weekends or something similar. Otherwise that is a lot of wasted money (although not from a recruiting stand point) to have 6+ flat screens and PS3/XBOX 360s and two really nice pool tables. Of course they could just rent it out for parties (TKP party anyone?) and use that money for something useful.
I agree
Respectively,
Defensive line
Logan's decision making
Edmunds, Dadi, Demitri
Stanford, Fayscon, Tookes
The offensive line is improving, but they arent ready for bama yet
Special teams and defensive front 7 is what I'm least worried about. While I know there are some depth issues at the linebacker and tackle spots, the starters are solid and I was impressed by the younger guys on the white team Saturday. The only concern on special teams is Journell when the kick is >40 yards.
On the other hand, offensive cohesion is my biggest concern. This isn't just on the offensive line, but rather all 11 clicking together. Every receiver knowing where they need to be on every play. Whether it is a passing play or a running play, they need to execute. Sell the route, make the block, make the catch. Our fullbacks/H-Backs and tight ends need to pick up their blocks at the line to create space for our RBs. Our line needs to get push on run blocking, containment on pass blocking, and minimize/eliminate penalties. We can't shoot ourselves in the foot. And Logan needs to trust his team. He trusted everyone in 2011, not so much last year. We need him to believe in the team, encourage them, and motivate them to succeed.
I agree with that! ESPN would just take him and ruin the good work that he does now!
yeah seth is right to a point for the overall picture of college basketball, but his transfer rate while at tech and the year after was among the highest of any school. that was the reason i found it funny for him to be the one to bring it up.
Sounds like he is continuing to use isolated instances at other universities to absolve him of his past mismanagement at Tech.
Lets revisit Greenberg's Resume while at Tech, courtesy of Gobbler Country:
The biggest point of contention as Weaver mentioned was attrition, both by players and coaches. During Greenberg's tenure, approximately 12 out of 34 players (figure includes all current players) transferred, were kicked off the team, or never enrolled after signing their National Letter of Intent (not including Augustus Gilchrist who wiggled his way our of his commitment by announcing the tragic events of 4/16/07 changed his mind about Tech). That is an exceedingly high number that equates to 35%. Players will transfer in basketball. Their egos will be hurt. Family illnesses or issues will pop up. Spats with coaching staffs will and do occur. Bigger programs come courting. Sometimes players just want a change of scenery. But players transferring out or not finishing at a school at that high of a rate should be considered a mass exodus and uncommon.
+1 for Strongbad
I was actually enjoying retelling this story to my coworkers. "Holmes barely had enough time to get home from the spring game, get showered, and grab his knife before he had to stab someone." Thankfully not true, but for the sake of my retelling, tragically not true.
I really like the best DE lining up against the RT. People want someone to come blindside the QB to get a fumble, but I think there's more to be said for having someone pressuring the Qb's face all game and giving him the heeby geebies. That way you can get bad decisions that can lead to more turnovers than catching him with a great blindside hit once or twice a game.
I posted this in another thread regarding Nnadi's recruitment, where people brought up the Curry brothers... figured I'd leave it here and expand on some of Greenberg's comments too:
Here's the thing on both the Curry brothers - while they were both very good high school players, there was a reason that both of them had very few offers coming out of high school. Both were small, thin guys who weren't overly athletic... that doesn't usually bode well on the college level for players becoming high-level performers. There's so many unknowns when it comes to scouting high school basketball talent, it's unfair to make the past seem like huge errors in judgment. While both the Curry brothers were great shooters in high school, does that always translate to the college game where the athletes are better (especially in the ACC conference)? Not necessarily... for all we know, getting passed over by major college programs turned Stephen & Seth players they have become.
Here's my take on the whole situation: I don't fault Greenberg for only offering Stephen a walk-on spot. People are also forgetting Munson's pedigree at the time... he was PG on one of the best teams in the nation (DeMatha) and he actually played pretty well in his one season at VT. Unfortunately, homesickness & April 16th were both factors in his decision to transfer, so there's a million 'what-if' scenarios to go through.
With all that said, there's no reason Greenberg shouldn't have offered a scholarship to Seth. After seeing the player that Stephen became at Davidson (and how he grew 2 inches in college), that should have been an indicator that Seth could have a similar career arc. Of course, we didn't offer him anything other than a walk-on spot either, so he ended up tearing it up at Liberty before transferring to Duke.
I know Greenberg has a poor reputation in the eyes of many VT fans, but he has legitimate points in his tweets. While some people are pinning his statements to his time at Tech, I think he's speaking in a much broader sense. The recruiting process IS extremely flawed and it's been compounded by the way AAU runs the high school basketball world. Sure, it's true that you get better by playing against the best players (and that's the entire principle AAU basketball is built upon), but the problems we've seen spouted on the site regarding the Thoroughbreds 7-on-7 squad are rampant in the AAU basketball sphere.
That's one of the things Greenberg means when he references "third parties" - not just that, but boosters, agents, sponsors, etc. From the time a lot of these kids start high school, there's already vultures circling around them. Elite high school school talents also have zero incentive to care about college, since there's a good chance they'll be gone after one year (maybe two if you're lucky). IMO, the college game has seriously suffered since the NBA instituted the rule that draft prospects must be one year removed from their high school graduation... I understand the reasoning behind it, but it's made a complete mockery of (and severely undermined) the NCAA's idea of the student athlete.
I could rant for ages about the problems with basketball at the high school and college level, but I'm pretty sure no one would care too much for it lol.
one thing that i am really nervous about for bama is will we be fully prepared and ready to play from the opening kickoff? its no secret that we have been at opposite ends of the spectrum during my fanhood. i thought we started great and played great in general against bama in '09(dyrells touchdown and the defense holding them to field goals their first 2 possessions), but other times in big games it seems like we don't show up till after the first quarter (boise, lsu). also not that this was a big game at all but falling 28 points down to duke is just not acceptable. all in all, can we come out of the gates guns blazing against bama?