I noticed in Bitter's blog that Bucky was playing Tight-End in practice to simulate UNC's Tight-end. Bud seemed to be impressed saying that he looked good at Tight-end. I know a lot of people said that he had really bad mechanics when throwing the ball in fall camp. Does anyone think that Bucky would consider moving to Tight-End next year or do you think he can turn things around for him to battle Ford and end up being our QB of the future?
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I have a feeling Loeffler will work on those mechanics
I have a feeling that Leal and Ford are the QBs of the near and not-so-distant future, I think Bucky is out. I also know less about quarterbacking than I do about the mare anatomy, so, grain of salt and all
He will have a year longer training under Loeffler than Ford, but Ford is Loeffler's recruit. If Bucky is the kind of player I have been hearing about I think he would consider moving to tight end if it gives him playing time and would help the team. Ford is not the only QB he has to battle next year, even if Ford is redshirted there is still Leal.
#TheReverseLoganThomas
Wouldn't he just be doing a Greg Boone impersonation? BOOOOOOOOOOONE!!
Who was it he threw I believe a punt return block against? I thought he literally killed the kid. Duke?
http://youtu.be/OKx0my_MO-c
Found it. Not sure if you can follow this link. Sorry I'm old.
Future reference: under the video screen, there's a set of buttons where you can share it. Click the one that says "Embed," then copy and paste the text into your reply on TKP. Voila.
Mahalo! Will give it my "Hokie" best next time!
Didn't realize your name meant you were in HI! Aloha! Went to maui this past winter for valentines day. Mamas fish house is the real deal.
That's about as clever as I can get! Been here almost 2 years on the island of Kauai, The Garden Island! Being a Richmond guy never learned how to surf but have my first lesson scheduled for next week! Go Hokies!
Awesome place to live my Hokie friend, my wife and I were there for 2 and a half great years at Barking Sands. We survived Hurricane Iniki and then got to help the island rebuild. 6 months without electricity, and the folks on the island really pulled together to get everything up and running again. Kalaheo Steak House was our favorite restaurant back then and I see that it is called Kalaheo Steak and Ribs nowadays. We miss everything about Kauai and would love to visit again. Hope you are enjoying your time there, and watch out for those north shore reefs, my son got a serious cut on the heel up there. Have a Lappert's waffle cone and some chocolate macadamias on me. Shaka Brah!
I'm just a haole
Ouch! That one still smarts.......................
I feel like we need a whole "Best blocks in VT history" thread or something. This one is epic, of course RVD's from last year, and I can remember one from a WVU game many years ago that definitely makes the highlight reels.
This!
My thoughts exactly
We can't assume anything about the QB situation next year, just who will [likely] be in the pool.
I like the fact that we have four fairly capable quarterbacks going into next year. None have legitimate game experience yet, but all have the tools to succeed. After Leal, though, none of those guys have even stepped onto the field in game time, so we have no way of establishing an order there.
He'll get qb reps before any Dr Frankenstein transformation takes place.
I'm sure Loeffler is trying to work with Bucky about his side-arm throwing motion. If he can fix that by the Spring, that gives Bucky a huge edge in the QB competition. If not, the job likely goes to Leal or Ford
Bad mechanics or bad results?
Philip Rivers has bad mechanics be he can get the ball out quick and accurate.
I haven't seen Bucky in action yet (other than highlight videos), but I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss a guy who is 6'-6" and can move around in the pocket.
Bad mechanics very rarely lead to good results. Sure SOME players can thrive with bad mechanics (just look at the MLB) but if Bucky can be taught to throw overhead, that will hopefully help his arm strength and accuracy.
Leal will be the starter next year, and I'll be surprised if Bucky surpasses Brandon for the number 2 spot.
When Leal graduates, that's when things will get interesting. I think we could see a true QB controversy between Brandon, Bucky, and Ford.
If Bucky can't get into the top 2, then the smart move for his future (if he's thinking NFL) is TE.
Just curious why most people seem to have pretty low future expectations for Bucky.
I was under the impression that he was our #1 QB target for the class of 2013.
He has pretty good measurables - height - quick feet. Looks the part in his high school film. Played in a very competitive high school football district and was successful.
Have things changed since he got to campus?
Bad mechanics - they will need fixing before he becomes competitive at the QB position.
Well timing is important.
He definitely won't start next year, I'll be shocked if anyone besides Leal does. That will also be Ford's redshirt year. In 2015, you'll have 3 QB's vying for two spots. The QB that doesn't get in the top two will almost certainly be the odd man out the rest of their career at Tech.
Brandon has already showed he has the athleticism to make plays, and I think he has a good enough arm for an ACC QB. Right now he's working on learning the playbook and the offensive system. Bucky is working on how to throw the football. Brandon is much further along in his development and Bucky isn't likely getting the necessary reps in practice to catch Brandon in the fundamentals department. Brandon is likely to at least be the number 2 QB in 2015.
And Ford is Loeffler's guy. He's the player that Loeffler went out to get. Loeffler believes in him and knows what skill set he's looking for in a QB. Ford is a better thrower then Bucky already, IMO. If I had to guess right now, Ford will be the starter in 2015.
This is all wild speculation, that is likely to change dramatically once the spring scrimmages start back up and we see how improved Bucky and Brandon are.
In a class of in-state QBs that included Hackenberg and Ryan Burns, Bucky was the one the coaching staff wanted.
But remember, that was the FORMER offensive coaching staff.
It was, but it won't matter if Hackenberg continues on his trajectory and Bucky ends up at TE or another school. I'm not calling Bucky a bust yet, merely stating the facts as they are at this moment.
I would not be surprised if Motley don't give Leal the run for the money. As you once alluded, and I will agree, Motley can flat out ball. The kid has good awareness, got jets when he needs to take off, and has the necessary height to see a bit (6'4"). What concerns me is his arm strength. I think with Motley coming from a Jet Wing-T offense, I think he has a bit of good understanding of the offense. However, given that Leal has been with the team for a long, long time, backing up Thomas for two seasons, I think Leal may have bit of an edge.
If Ford is as good as folks are saying, then the battle will most likely be between Ford and Motley, I think.
Bucky has the height and speed to be a good tight end, if he is willing, he could be a contributor as a tight end. It'll be interesting to see how he response.
Everyone seems to be dismissing Motley, but he was chosen to be the 3rd-string QB, not Hodges.
I'm sure all of the QBs currently on the roster will benefit from another year of Loeffler's coaching, just as Ford will benefit once he arrives.
After Leal graduates we might have the biggest QB competition in a long time. Maybe even more than Tyrod-Glennon.
To be a competition it can't be one-sided though
i'd heard from a friend with good sources back in the summer, bucky could very well end up at tight end.
smoke ... fire.
Take this with a grain of salt, but I think it would be kind of dumb to start Leal in his sr year. If he starts that means we will have 3 diff qbs in consecutive years. And at qb you need continuity to get timing and rhythm down with wrs. I personally think they should choose a young qb next yr and just roll with him.
I've heard this sentiment a lot regarding next year and while I understand where people are coming from, I disagree. You start the player that gives you the best chance to win. Period. If you've got two players who are equal in talent, then fine, start the younger of the two. But not if one is clearly better.
You can't just throw seasons away when you are trying to build a championship level team. Having one off year can destroy a recruiting class, which will have a multi-year impact on a program's ability to win the National Championship. If the National Championship is the ultimate goal, then bringing a young QB along by working them into games and giving them snaps in practice while also winning as many games as possible to help keep recruiting rolling is the correct recipe for success.
I understand your position, and can see the logic in it as well. I, for one, would like to see what Leal can do on the field before handing the position over to a RS sophomore with a Wing-T background and no game experience. While I agree that Motley could be a stud, I do not expect him to earn the starting nod over Leal, though I do hope that Motley pushes Leal and that they all work together "as iron sharpens iron". If Leal struggles, there will always be several hungry young QB's behind him eager for the big stage.
Wing T? who said anything about motley? Im almost willing to bet my paycheck Andrew Ford will be the young kid that gets the nod if leal doesn't start. Ford is coming in early. And with his football mind I can see him competing Very early with leal.
Ehhhhh I doubt it.
Ford has very good high school film, but not jaw dropping. To beat a senior who has a full season of 2nd string reps in Loeffler's offense under his belt... He'd need to show up and straight ball the Eff out.
Anything could happen though. Maybe. If he did, I'd be pumped because that'd mean Tech got an absolute stud at QB.
Let's keep in mind that Andrew Luck redshirted at Stanford behind Tavita Pritchard who, you may notice, is not currently on any active NFL rosters (unless I really missed something). Even assuming Ford has clearly superior talent, you can't dismiss the value of college experience at the QB position.
If Leal's the best option and he ends up sitting that won't sit well with the players. Leal's been the good soldier and hasn't transferred even though it's been obvious he won't get to play until his senior year. Play whoever gives the team the best chance to win regardless of how many years they have left.
does anyone else see the irony of potentially converting a QB to tight end?
Like Greg Boone and Brian Rody?
The good 'ole Wild Turkey
RIP
Yes
Hate to point this out, but Heath Miller did that at UVA, and he turned out pretty well. In fact, he killed us in 2003, the last time UVA beat us.
UVA's current TE is a QB convert as well. From what I've seen he's the only decent player on their offense.
We're going to start the best QB we have, whoever he is, and no matter what year he is with the program.
Motley probably doesn't get much love since he wasn't a highly touted QB recruit like Hodges and Ford but he seemed solid during the open practices.
Really looking toward the future QB competitions and see who wins out. Don't care who wins, as long as they win us games.
If nobody on here had ever seen Greg Boone throw a deep ball you missed out! That man could throw 60 yards with one step and I've seen him throw it even farther.
Boone had a heck of an arm! But he was woefully inaccurate - he was just as likely to kill some fan in the first row as he was to hit a Tech receiver downfield.
AGREED!!
A year ago, the consensus was that Motley was destined for Safety. But he impressed the coaches in the summer scrimmages and now he is our Third String QB
Lets hold off on relegating one of our QBs before we've seen any of them play. 2015 is a long time away and somebody is going to get left out. That's what happens in big-time football programs. Georgia had Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger on their roster at one point. Let's cross that bridge when we come to it.
So are you saying one of our young QBs is gonna get kicked out for doing something dumb clear across the state?
I hope not...