Recent Comments
Woah. I like the ranking- very fair if not a bit too favorable (I thought we were a lock for #16 or #17). I guess LT3's Spring and others stepping up during Spring Ball must have helped quite a bit along with the cake schedule. FSU at #5 is wayyyyyyy too high. Though a solid team coming back that's a lot of hype making its way into the minds of the AP voters. I would've thought #7 or #8 would've been perfect. I also have a problem with Bama being #2. Though they've got a lot coming back they lost their National Champion QB- no way they're the second best team in the land or the best in the SEC- I think LSU is better from what I've read and heard through message boards and the ole' grapevine. Also had no problem with Boise State at #7- still top ten and possible NCG run but with the loss to Nevada last year they still have something to prove to the nation and the AP caught that well to be another top three preseason team. Also had a question about Texas A&M- no clue what they have coming back but the loss of Von Miller was huge I thought. Overall its ok with a nice surprise for Virginia Tech's fans- LETS GET THE SEASON STARTED!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E07W15p5Q0c (Miami Winner)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YUjA32MPn8&feature=related (Royal brings Hokies to within 2 of the Jackets)
Deep thoughts...with Blake DeChristopher. Beard and all.
and how could i have forgotten about notre dame's mandatory top 25 ranking
BDC is actually trying to turn into a Grizzly Bear.
And go watch the short video on hokiesports.com of practice yesterday, if you have not already done so. Amazing how fast DW4 looks. He looks stupid fast (and hes probably only running at half speed). Also, good little inspirational pep talk by Beamer in the video as practice kicks off. Got me pumped!
With only one TV in the house there's a lot of Project Runway being watched. I now have a fine eye for fashion. Huzzah!
I wouldn't want to be any lower, because then you have to have serious concerns about getting to the top if things work out for you over the season. FSU at 5 seems way too high, but hopefully it won't go to their heads until they play us in the ACCCG. I also thought the nation might finally be over Boise, but at 7 they are poised to annoy me ever week this season. Also, OSU and aTm at 8 and 9, really??
Don't love em, but they could be ok with a white helmet. would much rather have orange pants than orange jerseys. btw, love that this is the 2nd fashion post in as many weeks
Hes so crazy by far the best big play threat we have. Reppin for Danville
I think the ranking is good for our egos. I have issues with other rankings, mainly Florida State..I would put them closer to 10. If we didn't have such a physically inspiring quarterback who had a great Spring we would be lower. Based on other high profile games early in the season, I think we are setting up to be a top 10 team by the end of September and even a top 5 by the end of October.
Who's going to be the backup quarterback is something I've just glossed over for a couple of reasons. First off, I've been incredibly naive believing there's no chance LT3 won't get hurt, which is great considering I've been championing him running the ball more than Tyrod ever did. The second reason is because I don't know enough about the backup QBs. I've seen enough of Ju-Ju to know he's good enough to come in on a short term basis and manage us to a win. And I think that's who you'd first see come in and relieve and finish out a game for Thomas.
In a long term, multiple game, situation, I think Leal has the advantage on Young. He took the most backup reps in spring, and he looked good in both the spring game and the scrimmage I saw. Young is talented, but Beamer talked up Leal on the radio so much after the spring game that I'd have to think he's the favorite. Also I don't know if anyone's read through Young's Twitter timeline, but Jebus, to put it mildly, it seems like he has a lot of interests other than football. That concerns me.
The backup QB battle is one thing I'm going to have my eye on all August.
is 12th cause of the 'ol ball coach and the QB Mullet, back again for a sixth try.
Actually, if Latimore holds up, they could win the East and be higher than that at end of year.
The best part about recruiting for the offensive line is that we no longer need to convert TEs and DLs to OLs. Despite the fact that we've had excellent success converting TEs/DLs to OLs (Duane Brown, Ed Wang, and Brandon Frye...all in the NFL), Nosal and Lanier are the last two TE conversions on the current OL roster. Nick Becton and Courtney Prince are last two converted DLs.
Additionally, in the past there would have been more than a little concern about injuries to starting OLs because of a lack of depth at almost every OL position. Instead, we're comfortable with the idea that David Wang, who performed very well during Spring Practice, will start in place of Nosal, and that Via, with Painter also getting reps, will step in for Dechristopher. This allows Wang, Via, and Painter to gain valuable game experience early this season.
send me an email with your name and size...kburke12@vt.edu
i don't know the price yet, as it all depends on how many shirts i order. it'll probably be $15-20.
Marcus Davis: Our receiving corps is obviously the strength of our team. It is both loaded with talent and seasoned with veterans Coale/ Boykin. Therefor, any question about depth or uncertainty is irrelevent. Nonetheless, I think it important to see how LT and Davis gel this year. He will be the go to as we lose Coale and Boykin to graduation. LT connected with Davis a few times in the spring and it seemed as though some chemistry was developing. Its going to be neat to see how this develops over the month.
Eddie Whitley: The kids smart. We are obviously thin at safety but what Whitley does on the field is amazing in terms of leadership. I wasnt outlandishly impressed by him stat wise but he was a stable in our secondary reading the offense and assigning audibles.
I couldn't agree more with Mr. Abramson's assessments here. It's time for Painter to translate testing numbers to production on the field (likely the same thing we'll be saying about Nick Acree in a year or two..but I digress). Also, I agree that this is a crucial four weeks for JG-W. If he can become more consistent, Bud's linebacking corps will surprise a lot of folks.
One notable addition I would make (which probably seems redundant as our friends Tucker, Slater, and Bielawski have done so already) is the importance of nailing down an adequate backup for LT3.
While the man-child has us all amped to (hopefully) see Cam Newton-esque runs and Manning-like darts (i.e. 3 & 16 vs. da U), what happens if, Shane Beamer forbid, he gets injured? I personally think JuJu Clayton is the next Cory Holt--essentially a career 3rd stringer, but good leader. Ricardo Young seems smallish but talented, though a Spring Game appearance would've made us all more comfortable. Mark Leal is also an interesting prospect, equipped with decent arm and speed. I'd say either Young or Leal will emerge as the best candidate, but JuJu will be named no. 2 due to his age/experience. Simply the Beamer way--which seems to work pretty well in these situations.
Then there's the punting issue. I'd personally prefer to let Danny Coale save his legs for being wide open on drag routes--which, let's be honest, is seemingly every play. However, if Mr. Coale truly is the no. 1 punter, at least ESPN GameDay, E:60, and Sports Science will totally eat it up. I guess there's also the constant fear of a fake..right?
24th with a 5-7 and USCe at 12? WTF
If we are talking only Virginia Tech huge plays, the Deangelo Hall strip and return against the #2 ranked Miami team in 2003 was a great one. Maybe the loudest single play I have ever seen in Lane. The thing that stands out the most to me was he flipped the ball to the Hokie Bird after the TD!
Randall to Royal vs GT to take the lead late with the ridiculous catch and run or the same combo against Miami in the Orange Bowl to win the ACC in 2004? Those would be fine additions I think.
Though it took quite some time VT is now starting to get most of the O-line hanging around 300 lbs and getting 6'4" or better for most. Most O-lines I have seen from Blacksburg have been good enough to dominate D-lines in the ACC but not the Big Ten, Pac 10, Big XII or SEC. Now these guys should be able to buy LT3 some serious time and as many have pointed out since O'Cain won't have to roll the pocket as much as they did last few years with T-Mobile under center deep routes should develop nicely.
Sorry I obsess about the O-line for a few reasons- I was a center in HS and the LSU 2007 game. Since the latter I have understood that at many points our recruiting in that area needed to be dramatically improved size-wise. After seeing our o-line get eaten alive more than once (including the OB last year) its nice to see some drastic size changes in personnel. At this point, try to grow the average just a bit more and get 'em quick with their feet...oh man it could be a great year!
This is setting up perfectly...we're not so high that our heads get too big and we underperform and we're not so low that we have no shot to get to the top. Pretty good spot to be in to start the season.
But I think it's a little low, as I agree with Phil Steele... we'll climb much higher than that every week. Even if we lose to FSU in December I still think we'll finish higher than 13 after the bowl.
That is an amazing way to put it! Thanks for getting me hype!
One more thing: horrible showing for the ACC as a whole. Though not totally surprising but only having two teams in the preseason top 25? Didn't know we are becoming nearly equated to the Big East...