Virginia Tech has released its Week 1 depth chart. Some quick observations to follow.Most notable listing? Freshman Kaden Moore as the starting RG and Silas Dzansi as the starting RT. Johnny Jordan as backup C, though I'd expect him some at RG too. #Hokies pic.twitter.com/tCgAcqyztO— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 30, 2021
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Man, that DL depth looks ... concerning.
Man, that DL depth looks ... concerning.
you said a mouthful - it is probably an issue before the season finishes. Biggest concern other than QB for the year. How do we make it through being this thin.
Especially with nobody at LDE...
Edit: I see now it's just cut off in the pic above.
Kaden Moore with the start. Hard to believe Jack Hollifield would come in if something happened to Moore. I would think there would be some Jordan/Hoffman switching but who knows. In Vice we trust.
I think we would shift around Hoffman and Jordan (one to center, one to RG) before we see Hollifield at RG.
Or Silas slides in and Parker plays RT
Agreed. I think we see shuffling amongst others on the two deep before he sees the field.
Interesting that Tyrell Smith, Johnny Jordan and Tae Daley are the only seniors listed on the 2 deep
A lot of Juniors though are COVID Seniors this year. It's only been one year and even I'm kinda getting confused by that...
I'm assuming Jaden Payoute's hammy is still having issues if Kaleb is listed at starter. Wish that kid could get to 100%.
Kaleb got some praise from Corn in the last podcast. I bet they go with the experience to start and let some of the nerves settle and see what the Defense is doing some before the younger guys sub in IMO.
Our only paper Senior on the first team is our kicker? This is basically a tradition now!
DL looks whew.. Back 7 looks solid, assuming Peoples Hawkins and Thompson are all coming along (JR Walker conspicuously absent).
Payoute not beating out Smith might be concerning. I'm assuming it's because he just got back from injury and Smith has more experience. But with what we know about Smith I hope Payoute can become the starter there
This is exactly what I was thinking when I saw the chart. Not sure if it's his play or Daley coming in or whatever else, but seems interesting that he didn't crack the 2 deep
I have a feeling that despite not being listed as a starter that Daley will see the field quite a bit, whether it's in the form of 3 safety looks, rotating safeties based on personnel, or playing him in dime/slot type stuff. It will be interesting to see.
On the Walker front I'm starting to think he just hasn't found his fit here, and he may not find it. Though, I think it's great that he has stuck it out and continued to fight for his place in the team. I hope he finds the right spot and gets to play significant snaps at some point in his career.
While he was coming off a COVID protocol, Walker's performance vs UNC was perhaps the single worst game I have seen from a safety at VT. Matheny was much much much more engaged that game.
Lot of youth in that two-deep right?
I think that's a new norm in the portal era accross college football
I keep having this image in my head of John Parker Romo prancing to kick field goals.
Interesting that Strong and Chatman are listed as co-starters for the corner spot opposite Waller. Great to see Chatman really pushing Strong. I think we are going to need both - I'm really nervous about Conner being matched up on the slot all night vs UNC. He really struggled in coverage against Dazz Newsome the last few years. I think it might be best to put a true nickel out there, but I guess we will see what Ham has up his sleeve. Also interesting to see Williams and Pollard as co-starters at NT. I would have figured Pollard would be starting beside Williams at the other DT spot. Kendricks must have made some improvement if he's the other starting tackle. I also though Fuga would have been at the nose spot. Interesting that McCray is not in the two deep at LB and Artis and Ferguson are backing up Dax and Tisdale. Interesting that Artis is at backer and not Mike.
Love to see Lofton, Jones, and Payoute in the two-deep. I really want to see what that trio can do.
Yeah hopefully Kendricks starting is a signal that he has taken a significant step forward, and not that others have seen their development plateau.
904 represents deep on this chart!
So, we done with the whip for good?
Unless there's a specific heavy package, it looks like it...
I was sort of hoping that one of the freshmen (Lofton, Jones, Harvey) would seize the punt return role. Until I see consistent punt catching from Robinson, I think I'm going to be holding my breath every punt.
I just want to see fewer muffs! (yes I know, bring on the jokes)
I can't believe I'm saying this, but unfortunately, I've seen too many muffs.
Normally, that would seem like a humble brag.
To anyone other than VT fans.
That's not a thing....
Yeah, I wouldn't have thought so, either.
The coaches talked about Robinson last year lost some confidence and that is when they switched him out but he came to them and said he wants that job and worked at it so they seem to have confidence back in him.
Nice to See Kendricks, I hope Pollard will still get a lot of Playing time though, you can't beat that Quickness.
Yeah Man - that Punt return, can't we give it to Raheem?
On a related note, it looks like UNC will be without their best WR. Corrales out
Telling you now, even healthy he would have been their 4th guy. Brown, Greene, and Downs were all ahead of him. There have been rumors that Brown may not be able to go either (Dynami's little brother.)
Hearing that even if he plays he will not be close to 100% - unlikely to go at all for what it's worth.
I am still on the side of that there is a lot of change for Howell between this year and last at skill positions. Returning line will be a strength and a huge test for our thing D line. If there is a time to play Howell it's early as they still try and work through some of the chemistry they will need to build. We will see how this comment ages, but I find it hard to believe everything will be perfectly in sync.
Yeah they are high on Greene and Downs big time. I've heard a lot of smoke about Downs being a major impact guy.
They could have me at WR. If VT's scheme is as screwed up as last year, and UNC's OL controls the LOS like last year, the skill guys won't matter much. (UNC Offense and Defense previews this week for TKPC members.)
Really happy with the depth chart overall!!!
Last year we played a UNC team with better offensive weapons pretty closely considering who all was out for us due to covid. It was also an away game and a lot of the guys didn't have the experience they now do.
UNC fans are awfully confident they will be beating us by 10-28 points when looking at all of the fans score predictions on their facebook page. I get they have a good QB, their starting center apparently has some of their fans concerned. It takes more than a heisman caliber qb to win a game though. I feel like we match up well with them and have more depth at some positions. Their defense could be really good just like our offense and their offense and our defense could go either way. I feel really good about our chances and I am glad their fans are looking right past us, I hope their team is too. Hokies always seem to do good in the underdog position. Home game, sold out stadium, fired up players and coaches, experience among all the starters, things are looking up for the Hokies =)
It is feeling a lot like the hurricane game year. UNC and everyone crazy high on Mitch Trubitsky, we don't have a shot, etc.
I like this. Nothing I'd like to see more than to see Howell knocked down to the 4th round after we make him look silly and destroy his confidence.
Edit: Yes, I know Trubisky still went #2, but hindsight has shown that he *should* have gone much later.
Nester and Hudson leaving looks even worse now with Jordan not being able to break the starting lineup.
A little shocking that Stroman got the OR designation with Daley.
DE end depth...well it is what it is.
Payoute not being able to beat out Smith is concerning.
No surprise Knox is the second QB.
Shocked Lil' Hollifield is already in the two-deep.
Robinson/Turner at PR, thanks I hate it.
The coaches have done nothing but rave about Moore at RG this camp. I trust Vice there with no question now. Also, Jack Hollifield won't see meaningful snaps unless our OL gets decimated. Jordan and Hoffman would shift around if needed. Dzansi and T. Smith would also do some shuffling.
Payoute nursed a hammy through camp and the coaches said they were taking it slow so he didn't have setbacks. Corn also spoke highly of Kaleb this camp. He will see the field, don't worry.
I'm not too worried about most of these things. Vance Vice has the longest leash of any offensive position coach (Lecht and Shibest are 2A and 2B).
Kaden Moore sounds like he just straight up won that job, which I'm cool with. He's a second-year true freshman (thanks COVID for that weird statement) who beat a grad transfer that got in late after the spring. Having said that, I do think Jordan is probably the second-string RG, but he's listed as second-string C because there is less depth at that position. Jack Hollifield being in the two-deep sounds more like the coaches giving him an atta-boy for working his butt off making the transition. Outside of Hoffman and Jordan, not sure if we have other natural centers.
Kaleb Smith might not be the flashiest receiver on the team, but he proved last year that he is a good blocker. He's got strength that most of the other receivers don't and I expect him to play a lot of snaps for that alone.
DE depth is bad - no way defending that one. Hopefully Cole Nelson or Stretch can find the field against Middle Tennessee or Richmond early cause they'll be starting soon enough.
I would have liked to see one of the freshmen get a chance at punt return (either Lofton or Harvey) - but Lofton sounds like he has a big role already for his age and rumors sound like Harvey needs to put on some weight first. On the plus side, no way Tay could be worse than last year - regression to the mean would be at least average.
I forgot that we could have second year true freshmen. That makes me feel a tiny bit better about that depth chart.
Payoute is not healthy yet.
then he shouldn't play until he is healthy. Coaches need to coach someone up that is 100% healthy.
Agree. I always wonder how many 2nd string guys are actually better than their quasi injured black and blue 1st stringer in front of them. Every player thinks they will be game ready but sometimes they just aren't. And that difference is what makes the difference. So rest up and heal up.
It's not often that a second stringer is perfectly healthy and the first stringer is black and blue. It's more like the first stringer is pretty beat up, and the second stringer is just a little beat up.
Definitely at some positions. And sometimes the beat up first team guy is still more dependable.
Getting close, he will play vs UNC, I think unless there is a setback he should be close to full go by WVU
Boners. Go knock their dick in the dirt young man.
i can't remember which OL coach said it, but the gist was "When all else fails go knock someone on their ass"
I don't think I've seen anyone mention what kind of spring/summer Waller has had. Considering he was supposed to be one of the best DB's in the ACC last year before he got injured, I would have thought there would have been significantly more buzz about having him back. It just seems weird that I haven't seen his name mentioned anywhere, though I'm happy to see him listed as the starter.
Does any know how he's been looking?
Sometimes no press is good press in regards to returning starters. If he has returned to his 2019 form in practice, then there's little reason to comment on it because that just means he's operating as business as usual. If he was struggling, I would imagine we would hear about it, or maybe he'd be the one with OR on the depth chart.
Agreed, most of the time no press is a good thing. Still, it just seems a little weird that arguably the best player on defense, who missed almost all of last year, is barely mentioned by the coaches or the press. Especially considering how much we've been mentioning the names of back-ups lately.
Seeing as he's listed as the starter I'll take it is a great sign, but it would have been a little more reassuring if someone mentioned he looked like he was back to his old form and hasn't missed a step.
I think I have heard that but would agree it hasnt been talked about much
In the last Game Plan podcast, Ham said he is looking good and playing consistent ball which is perfect for him. It seems he had that spot locked up and the focus was with Strong and Chatman.
Boy I love being young for the fourth straight season.
Are we really that young? I'm seeing a lot of kids on this roster who played meaningful minutes in 2018 & 2019 on both sides of the ball.
Depends on what we call young. We don't have many seniors because of the COVID year. We have guys that are on their 3rd year here now and are Redshirt Freshman still...
We also have Dax Hollifield listed as a true junior and he's been starting games since 2018. He's played in 35 games in his career. If he plays every game this season he'll have played (at least) 47 games before he is considered a senior. Which is pretty crazy.
It is pretty wild but it is the case for every school to have guys like that now.
Yep. By the end of next year we are almost guaranteed to see someone break the record for most CFB games played by one player.
Next year Fam! Unless not then definitely 2023!
Edit: was supposed to reply to comment above