Virginia Tech's coaches weren't made available to the media after the Hokies' first open scrimmage of fall camp. However, they did speak with BeamerBall.com about what they saw on the field. Among the defensive coaches, I thought Charley Wiles and Torrian Gray provided the most interesting observations. Emphasis is my own.
Wiles:
"Well, right now, I have three of the top eight defensive linemen out. But, that also gives some other guys a lot of work. I guess that's the positive spin on that. But, I need to get Dadi Nicolas, Corey Marshall and Seth Dooley back as soon as possible. They need to get their timing back, their condition back and get back in the mix. Vinny Mihota has been a standout in this camp. Vinny is just a football player. He's instinctive, he plays hard, he's quick, he's big, a lot bigger than any end we've had in a while and he packs a punch. It was great to have Luther Maddy out there for 18 plays. He's been struggling with a stomach virus and that slowed him down. Woody Barron is having a very good camp. I have a great battle right now between Woody and Nigel Williams for that third defensive tackle spot. Ricky Walker has been very good. We played him as a freshman last year for depth and he's off to a good start. Steve Sobczcak is a 300 pound kid who can move around. He has a heavy shoulder and has playmaking ability and I really like that it's important to him. Tim Settle got a big play in this scrimmage with an interception. Hey, this guy has a lot of talent, he's just a little heavy right now. He's young, we'll get him trimmed down and he's only going to get better and better. I'm excited about him. I think we have good talent level with this group and I like the effort I'm getting from these guys. It's fun coaching them."
Gray:
"Overall I'm pleased with the defensive backs. Brandon Facyson had a tackle, a pass breakup, two exceptional plays, great tackle on a screen play and had a very good scrimmage. Greg Stroman, had a tackle, missed a tackle on the sideline, but was solid. I'm pleased with Greg's camp so far. Chuck Clark was 4-for-4 on his make the plays, 4 tackles, a couple of technique errors, but I'm pleased with him, he's been very solid. Desmond Frye had a missed tackle and has a couple things we need to clean up. Kendall Fuller was 2-for-2 on his plays, he's just been great in this camp. Donovan Riley was 3-for-3 on his plays, we just moved him back to corner from safety, and he was very good with 3 tackles, 1 assist and 1 interception, and was very solid at corner. Mook Reynolds is a young guy who's coming along at both nickel and corner. Der'Woun Green was solid, he's now our second free safety. Adonis Alexander, I'm excited about him, he was 2-for-2 on his plays with 2 tackles and 3 assists. He's young, he's learning and he's only going to get better. Terrell Edmunds is trying to overcome injury and it was good to have him back on the field and he had 2 tackles and 2 assists. I think this group has a ton of potential. If we keep working hard, we can get there."
Comments
I so hope Vinny absolutely destroys at DE. Let's keep DE size at DE.
I also have visions of the next two years where a 300 lbs Sobczcak and a 340(?) lbs Settle are lining up at DT. They're both very quick BIG men and mean. I see them being the best DT tandem in college football very soon.
My 99 jersey needs to stay relevant!
ThiS makes me feel all warm inside...
Sounds to me like:
1) Tim Settle will redshirt
2) Riley and Alexander will push Frye for the starting rover spot.
Those were my two takeaways as well. Its not good when Frye's only mention was a missed tackle. Interesting that he says that Kendall was perfect on the day. Wasn't it reported that Cam beat Kendall on a post?
It was Ford that beat him but the play got called back. Ford also beat Riley by about 10 yards on a post pattern but Brewer missed the throw.
Alexander may push Frye, although I could see much more of a platoon role (and Coach Foster mentioned that a bit during his media day comments). Antone Exum is an example of a young defensive back that Coach Foster and Coach Gray worked into the rover rotation based on certain situations and needs. Riley is needed at corner because of a lack of depth. Kendall, Facyson, and Stroman are the top three guys, however behind them are two true freshmen in Mook Reynolds and DuWayne Johnson. Unless Mook and the Rock are further ahead in development (and we have heard very little about either's development), one injury would require Riley to be back in at corner. I think the same may apply at free safety, although I could see Frye moving back to free if Coach Foster trusts Alexander to be a full time rover.
As for Settle, his performance is one factor, however there are others. When Coach Foster looks at game film against power running teams (and specifically I am thinking about Miami and Pitt), he may feel a need for incorporating Settle into the mix. Keep in mind, only Ricky Walker is a bigger defensive tackle out of the top 5 guys, and Walker struggled (along with Nigel Williams) against the Hurricanes. Also, not discussed is that Walker didn't use his redshirt year, and Foster has some flexibility there. To me, if Settle outplays Walker for the rest of the fall camp, that could be a possibility. That being said, given Fosters comments I think Walker may be winning that battle from an overall performance standpoint despite Settle's flashes of brilliance.
I had posted earlier in the summer that I talked to Bud for a bit when he was at a meet and great at the ACE Hardware in Hampton. He had mentioned that Walker hadn't used his redshirt yet and the depth that they have at DT may allow them to use it.
Wouldn't they use SS if the need was just a big body. I think he is well over 300 and stronger than and better conditioned than Settle and has already burned a shirt.
He is 300 but the talent level is much different when talking Settle and Sobzcak
I think talent is being equated to potential in this case. is Tim currently better? Since where talking about using him out of necessity vs power teams this year.
I don't think so and I am a huge Settle fan. Sobzcak , right now, is far more disruptive and makes more plays.
Plus Sobzcak has already taken a redshirt. With how difficult it is to leave early as a DT I would redshirt if at all possible. Even with 2 senior DTs we already have 2 starting DTs ready for next year so its not like we have to prep a player to start next year either. Between Settle and Walker I think we need to redshirt at least one if not both.
Sure would be nice to hear a positive report from the lb coach...
Sarcastica?
http://beamerball.com/free/news.htm
Nice report on camp...
Awesome to hear about the DL. That thing just sounds better and better. If guys are out it seems like there is almost no drop off. The ability to rotate those guys in and out and keep the fresh is going to wreck a lot of havoc on offenses.
I don't think I've heard this much excitement about the younger secondary guys in a long time. I know in the past we have always had great starters and then when they left had to "restock" and at times were a little iffy, though they seemed to pan out. This year it seems like the secondary will be able to pick right up and keep moving along when the seniors leave or others leave early for NFL.
Inb4 Foster's wrinkle for OSU is a 3-4 with Big Baby playing the nose
I think it'll be seven defensive lineman with a rover, FS and two CB's.
/s
I think it will actually be 11 TE's
Gray may be on to something with his comment about Facyson. With our defense this year, "exceptional plays" should be a new tracked stat.
Also, it is time to give Wiles some props. He has recruited and worked hard to develop ridiculous depth at defensive tackle. We have 5 guys that would start for the majority of teams in the ACC. And, if Mihota comes up big this year and Gaines and Hill develop like I think they will, we may be in better shape at d-end than we know.