Another Derrick Hopkins Appreciation Post

Just another comment on Hopkins. The biggest weakness when he started his first game at Virginia Tech was the defensive line. The unit, lead by Stephen Friday and Chris Drager was one of the weakest groups, if not the weakest group Foster rolled out in a long time. Hopkins was a spot starter on that team, and JR Collins and James Gayle got significant work as backups.

Against GT in both 2010 and 2011, Foster sold out with both tackles, the mike linebacker, and the defensive ends against the dive, and the Yellow Jackets managed to get big plays on the inside. JR Collins even moved inside and took an absolute beating in 2011 trying to hold up the interior line and keep them off Jack Tyler.

Fast forward to 2013. The entire night, Tyler played well off the football. That made it very challenging for the play side tackle to down block him. It was also possible because Hopkins and Maddy were taking away the dive by themselves. Tyler was not nearly as focused on crashing into the pile to stop the veer. Instead, he was freed up to move laterally and scrape to the quarterback. In years past, GT quarterbacks were essentially one on one with the safeties moving up in support (as the option defender most often covered pitch). Now, Lee had to contend with a safety and Jack Tyler coming across from the inside. THAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF THE DEFENSIVE TACKLES ARE COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN THE INSIDE. Hopkins was not only shooting gaps to make plays, but when the defensive call was made for him to do so, he absorbed double team blocks to free up other players to make plays. His motor, effort, and intelligence make him a special player, and it is clear that his effort has influenced Luther Maddy to also play with a terrific motor and smarts.

I hope some day Derrick Hopkins gets the credit from the Hokie fan base that he deserves. He is a four year contributor. He has made big play after big play. And, when you see him up close and in person, I really don't think he is more than maybe 5'10, 290. My hat is off to him, and hopefully this season he is recognized as one of the Hokie greats.