The Paradox of Trey Edmunds

Well, the shoe has dropped. Frank Beamer announced today that Trey Edmunds will be redshirt and won't dress the rest of the season.

I was very vocal prior to the season that Edmunds is an elite talent at linebacker, yet for reasons I still don't fully understand, the lack of experience at tailback caused Edmunds and the staff to put Edmunds at running back. It was a absurd decision. The staff clearly saw that Holmes and Coleman were going to be 1 and 1a, and both have four years of eligibility. When you add Chris Mangus, Drew Harris, and Derrick Green's sudden increased interest, running back is a position that is solid for years to come, even if it struggles this year. Meanwhile, the only backer/mike prospect of any "starter" ability is Deon Clarke, and Edmunds looked like a more polished product than Clarke at linebacker coming into camp. After watching the Peay film, Chase Williams looks more like a short term caretaker rather than a long term star. He is also much more of a mike than a backer.

Then, I attended the two scrimmages. In the first, Edmunds gouged the 2nd and 3rd team defensive units. He operated exclusively from the I and ace formations, and ran in between the tackles. He looked polished, exhibiting huge burst, sharp subtle cutting, and the ability to drag tacklers. He got the most work of the backs. In the second scrimmage, he worked with the 2's against the 2's and the 1's. Edmunds didn't get quite as much empty space, and he had two fumbles which I think blinded the coaches from the fact that he was MUCH more dynamic against the #1 defense than any of the starters. He also was outstanding in blitz pickup, so I don't buy that he is a liability in passing downs or doesn't understand the scheme. I honestly think that if you asked any educated football person which tailback has the ability to be a superstar in the ACC, every one would have picked Edmunds. He looked like a man, surrounded by kids.

Nevertheless, it makes sense to go with the four running backs on the dress squad. Scales and Gregory can both play special teams. Holmes looks like he can be a solid workhorse, and Coleman is the one back who can provide big plays. Edmunds would need 20-25+ carries a game to really be effective, and there isn't a scenario short of 3 of the aforementioned backs being hurt that he would get that degree of work.

At the same time, depth is an issue at linebacker with Taylor dinged, Edwards not getting better, and the two deep having a true freshman in Clarke. And, you have a kid who is good enough to be in the two deep on both sides of the ball, who was a top recruit, and who KNOWS that he is better than guys who are playing ahead of him.

I have always been a "best players play" guy, and some of the personnel decisions that Beamer and the staff have made have caused me to grind my teeth. I recall some classic examples, such as Lamont Pegues starting over Shyrone Stith or Jim Davis barely seeing the field until his senior year. More recently, Bruce Taylor was moved all over the scout team (yes, defensive end) and we all know my feelings about the safe/limited upside of some of the recent offensive line starters.

At the same time, decisions not to redshirt David Wilson in 2009 or 2010, Tyrod Taylor in 2007, and perhaps Ryan Malleck last year all have had negative consequences.

I just can't agree with Beamer's decision. Because of it, Edmunds is a year behind in learning linebacker if he changes position. If he stays at running back, we have one of the 3-4 most talented football players on the team who isn't seeing the field, or we have three 4-star caliber running backs/athletes who are angry about playing time, while there are talent-gaps at other positions. Talent gaps killed national championship aspirations of several Hokie teams (defensive line in 2010 being a great example.)