Recent Comments
Of the QB's in the class of 2013 that I have watched on film, I thought Jennings is the most complete of the bunch. I has some questions about how he throws timing routes and his arm strength, but he has tremendous poise in the pocket and put perfect touch on the ball to allow his teammates to make plays. His coach validates my thoughts on his film with his comments, and it sounds like a strong endorsement. The fact that he plays a refined game in an offense that is similar to the spread look VT employed about 35% of the time last year helps his game. He may not have the upside of a Bucky Hodges, but right now he looks better prepared to be a DI starting QB than Hodges.
"But running 3-4 different offensive styles will just make you average at all of them, and not excellent at any of them. Jack-of-all trades vs. expert craftsman."
Nailed it.
If VT wants a spread offense, they need to hire the correct offensive coordinator.
I agree with the need to have an offensive identity, get good at it, and stick to it. Of course, you gotta modulate and adapt with the players around you. But running 3-4 different offensive styles will just make you average at all of them, and not excellent at any of them. Jack-of-all trades vs. expert craftsman.
VT should stick to the power run game, mix in the pass, dominate on defense and special teams. Now, with LT3, mix in quick passing game, some QB draws, and with the athletic RBs, some RB screens. Feel free to get creative, mix in more motion, split the TE out, motion the RB out to the slot, utilize bunch formations. Good offenses find a way to get their players in match-ups they can win. That can be done in any offensive scheme, just have to find a way to exploit it.
I'm with you french, I was a bit weary when I heard about those being installed. Its the flavor of the month and no we'll never commit to it full time, nor should we. That having been said, it doesnt hurt to throw some wrinkles in there right? Break it out at the right time, should lead to points. The only thing that stopped Clemson's O last year was turnovers and maybe it'll get the kids excited.
excellent article btw
Yep, Vince Young made the read option where the back dives left and the QB reads the backside instead of playside DE a thing of beauty. It also makes it easier to run play action as you can drag the backside slot against the flow of the defense and the QB is going in the same direction.
Also, MORE WAGGLE. The Hokies were deadly last year, and this year Logan will have bigger targets on the deep double move off the waggle action. Lets hope Marcus Davis can get the timing down like Coale did there at the end of the year.
The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking about that Vince Young team where they just ran variations of that option play all the way to a national title -- so I was happy to see you reference it in the end.
This makes too much sense, but not as much sense as sending a wide receiver out for a punt strategy he's never tried. So, back to the drawing board Mr. French.
I think Clemson's defense knew what to expect, but just sucked because they're Clemson. They see a spread offense every day in practice. That was just one game, and that same Clemson D also sucked against GT. Spread offenses are good and many of the best offenses in college football run a spread offense, but I'd rather run a pro-style offense with a stout defense, much like Alabama or LSU.
Consider this, in conference play Clemson with their spread offense scored 34.2 pts/game in 2011, top in the ACC. What offense was best in 2010 and 2009? Oh, VT and their antiquated offense with 35.8 and 33.6 pts/game, respectively.
Don't get me wrong, VT's offense needs work. But more than anything, the offense just needs to play to their player's strength within their own scheme. Sure, throw in wrinkles of other offenses, but stick to your bread and butter. If you want a new scheme, hire a new Off. Cord.
1. Bryan Jennings, TE
2. Brandon Pace, PK
3. Dwayne Thomas, RB
4. Dwight Vick, OG
5. William Yarborough, S
6. Brandon Samones, WHIP
7. TJ Washington, OT
He'd be on my list...
with a smart, experienced QB who knows how to audible based on LOS matchups, use options, misdirection, zone-read, scat-backs, a spread-like offense is basically unstoppable -- refer to clemson vs wvu -- dana basically put on a 60-minute clinic of how to perfectly execute that kind of offense. clemson had no answer
if you don't have an athletic-enough defense, especially linebackers who can play the run and pass ... as i look at the schedule, fsu is the only team defensively that has the athletes to even have a chance at containing this kind of offense ... not to say that a spread can't be stopped -- but in the acc, if a team can execute a spread very well -- most acc defenses don't stand a chance.
The Diesel, Ken Oxendine.
Brandon Semones
David Pugh
Jarrett Ferguson
Browning Wynn (much better TE than Greg Boone)
Joe, what do you make of Malaki Roy? Should we offer? Sounds like he's all about playing for the Hokies so was wondering if he would be a good gain or not. Thanks!
Sparko i'd love to see our Hokies line up like this a couple times a game. Will it happen though?...
I like you thought of spreading the defense out and then just working our matchups up the middle for a good 3-5 yds everytime. That would be huge on a first down in the redzone, you know as opposed to our usual stumbling.
1. Nic Schmitt
2. Jud Dunlevy, Matt Waldron, Chris Hazley, or Dustin Keys (Any one of them)
3. Brandon Ore
4. Sergio Render
5. Blake DeChristopher (he hasn't played yet lol)
6. Roland Minor or Stephan Virgil
7. Ryan Shuman? We need another OL
If you can't tell from my selections, my VT knowledge only goes back to about the 2004 season.
Its supposed to be guys who didn't go to the NFL
1. Matt Lehr, OG
2. Duane Brown, OT
3. Jeff King, TE
4. Jim Pyne, C (Move Miller to OG or something)
5. DeAngelo Hall, CB (People might not like this one, but he was a shutdown CB and a dynamic punt returner. Straight up play maker! I think the guys on this team could keep his attitude in check.)
6. Cody Grimm, WHIP
7. Ryan Williams, TB
Would love to have Brent Bowden and any of the r-senior kickers that we just kept plugging in until Journell
Greg Boone would be an awesome weapon at TE, let alone his excellent run block skills his senior year...can you imagine some kind of goal line package with Boone and Thomas?
Sergio Render in at guard, for sure
Brian Edmunds - strong like bull RB/FB, could be the lead blocker and goal line vulture.
Andre Kendrick - yeah, we already have a similar back in JC, but nobody had hair like Dre.
Vegas Robinson - would you really turn down a guy named Vegas?
I would split the last 4 remaining extra years between Druckenmiller and George DelRicco and give 'em 2 each because...well...those dudes had skills that every successful team needs: they knew how to fight and party.
I wouldn't mind seeing DJ Parker and Anthony Midget. If they made an NFL squad, I don't think they had any stats.
that the O is adding the pistol package at a faster tempo, they are going to be behind for more than the spring. could take a few games into the season to get their sea legs ... if they truly are changing things some.
good point ... with such a young line and young RB corps, having a great blocker in the backfield will be necessary. i see all three of these backs having their purpose and strengths .. if we run some spread, i'd even like to see a package with 2 of 'em in at a time and going without a TE, with 3-wide .. could you imagine, on the field -- at the same time -- LT3, DJ Coles, Dyrell, MD, JC Coleman (hot route to the flat), Scales/Holmes with no TEs ?? That would be matchup HELL for a defense if LT knew where to get the ball .. matchup .. HELL
I just want to see some different looks, innovation, offensive prowess that will force so much film on defensive coordinators that they'll be eating with fucking migraines.
Also, you would hope that a veteran converted fullback would be able to be used to protect LT3 if Holmes and Coleman struggle with pass blocking.
not sure how much smaller Scales is .. is he a 'tweener or BIGGER sized tailback ... my first thought of moving a fullback to tailback?? depth ... my second thought -- a bruiser, big tailback teamed with zone-read and LT3 .. could do a lot to help with our red zone problems. run a spread-out offense in the red zone with a trim line .. gets half of the D outside of the hashes. then it's a matchup game. give it to the bruiser TB for 3-6 yds or LT keeps for 3-6 yds .. throwing the occasional slip to keep the defense honest.
from early accounts, it looks like we could very well be seeing 3 backs (holmes, scales, coleman) seeing action this coming season.
But Dyrell had the oppurtunity to make the catch (went off his fingertips) but instead the defensive back plucked it from Dyrell's hands.
Vince Hall. . .felt for sure he would have made it in the nfl
Brandon Ore. . .buyin rims my ass
Anthony Midget. . .speed kills
Jim Davis. . .nobody remembers him, had some huge plays at crucial spots in our first ACC season
Darren Evans. . . he didnt play in the regular season last year did he?
Sergio Render. . . what happened to that guy? he went from top prospect going into his senior year to off the radar
Jesse Allen. . . is he the one who jumped over the BC dude?
Brent Bowden. . . just dont let hime play enter sandman on hokievision