Hokies Work to Resolve Defensive Line Uncertainties During Camp

It might be easy to look at NFL prospect Luther Maddy and think that the Hokies' defensive line will be dominant once again in 2014.

And believing that Maddy's dominance last year, combined with the athleticism of new starters Corey Marshall and Dadi Nicolas, portends another stellar year from the unit isn't completely unreasonable.

But there are some concerns about Tech's defensive line that are impossible to ignore.

Marshall hasn't set foot on the football field since 2012 after taking a redshirt year last season, projected starter Ken Ekanem has played a grand total of seven snaps at DE in his career, and there's serious depth concerns at both defensive end and defensive tackle.

So it's hardly surprising that reporters had a lot of questions about the d-line at Tech's Media Day.

First and foremost, concerns centered on Nicolas and his ability to transition from playing a situational role in 2013 to the full load of starting at end this year.

"Last year, I was getting my toes wet when it comes to playing time, getting more experience defending the run, stuff like that," Nicolas said. "As for this year, I'll be playing defensive end with my hand down most of the time, and (defensive line coach Charley) Wiles has been working on my technique, the little things."

Nicolas played at a svelte 218 pounds last season, but to prepare for his new role as the starter he's bulked up to 231 pounds. Wiles has often said he thinks Nicolas could add more weight without sacrificing his electric speed, but striking that delicate balance in camp will be a challenge.

"I feel like I have the body frame to gain a couple more pounds, I actually look forward to getting to that weight," Nicolas said. "As for speed, I would hate for that to leave, but Coach (Mike) Gentry does a really good job of figuring that out, gaining weight and still moving with it."

His teammates are similarly confident that Nicolas can handle the weight gain.

"Dadi can do whatever Dadi wants," said linebacker Deon Clarke. "Dadi is an animal on the field. It doesn't matter if he puts weight on or not, he's going to be quick no matter what he does. If weighs more, he's just going to hit harder."

Weight is less of a concern for Marshall, who came into camp at 262 pounds, but he's still a different kind of player than the Hokies might be accustomed to starting at defensive tackle.

Just last season, Tech started the 311-pound Derrick Hopkins at the position, but Marshall thinks his speed will bring a new element to the line.

"As great as Skip was and as great as that size was, I think there's something to be said for that element of speed and surprise in a situation," Marshall said. "What we lack for in size we make up for in instincts and speed on the football field, so I don't think we'll substitute very much as far as level of play. I think we'll keep it right up there, attacking and dominating, honestly."

So far, Marshall has earned rave reviews from the coaching staff for his quickness on the inside.

"I think the kid is getting ready to have a heck of a year," Wiles said. "He's super athletic, 260 pounds, runs a 4.7, plays the game very violently, gives great effort. He can bring something to the table."

But for all of his progress on the turf, it's still difficult to forget his troubles off the field that nearly forced him to leave the team last year.

"I've always trusted Corey. It's not a trust issue," Wiles said. "If you spend any time with Corey at all, he's a bright guy, he's an on the ball guy, he just had his priorities screwed up a little bit. He's got all that in order and he's really been a key component in making us pretty good."

Marshall missed the first two games of the season after leaving the program in the offseason, and Wiles stressed that it's important to remember how close Marshall was to not returning to the Hokies entirely.

"I would say (he was close to leaving the team)," Wiles said. "But Coach Beamer's whole thing is 'let's get Corey squared away.' Take football out of it. Only a handful of guys are going to go on and have great NFL careers so you've got to have a chance in life. That was what everything was driven by, was for Corey to have a successful life down the road."

Now that he's moved past these issues, Wiles thinks he can build on his experiences on the field in 2011 and 2012 to be even better this year.

"If you remember, his freshman year he had a good freshman year. He kind of disappeared a little bit at the end, not as athletic on the edge," Wiles said. "And his sophomore year was solid, but we were up and down as a defense that year, because our people were up and down that year. I mean, J.R. Collins got fat, got complacent and our whole team was up and down. But now we've got those guys reeled in, got them focused. But Corey to me, and I think it's showing, is much more of playmaker inside at defensive tackle."

However, Wiles noted that the team will still line him up at end at times as a change of pace, and Marshall plans to be ready for it.

"(I've been) learning different pass rush moves. I think that's the biggest thing for any defensive line player is to have that light switch flip on," Marshall said. "And I think that light is blaring and I'm trying just to keep it going, keep building on that and stay focused and stay humble."

Even if Marshall and Nicolas can be as dangerous as the coaches say they can, the Hokies have a lot of questions farther down the depth chart on the line.

DT Woody Baron is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, and the team won't know if he'll even be able to play this season until he visits doctors later today.

"We're going to see Monday," Wiles said. "I think that's when he revisits the doctors and we see if we can get him back out there."

Without Baron, things get complicated at tackle. Nigel Williams seems to have locked down the third spot, but the fourth spot seems very much up for grabs between incoming freshmen Vinny Mihota and Ricky Walker.

"Vinny's off to a good start. He's the fourth guy if we played a game right now. Spring helped him a bunch," Wiles said. "Ricky is coming along, and that would be the competition, would it be Ricky or Vinny? Because Nigel is having a good camp, Nigel is ready to go. I trust him."

Mihota moved inside in the spring after largely playing end in high school, and Wiles thinks he's handled the transition well.

"He's thicker, but he's not fat," Wiles said. "He's moving the same way he moved in the spring, he's got good quickness. Vinny needs to continue to add strength."

While Walker didn't have the benefit of playing in the spring, Wiles has still been impressed with him in the early going.

"(He's got) football IQ, he's got a good pop, he doesn't get knocked around in there," Wiles said. "He's physical and I think he's got some playmaking ability."

It would seem one of the two freshmen is bound for a redshirt, but the challenge for the staff is sorting out Baron's health before making a decision.

"If he's in the two deep, he's going to play a bunch, and if he's not, then do we play him a redshirt? I don't know," Wiles said. "But I don't want to burn a year with him being the fifth guy."

The coaches might be able to afford to have one of the pair sit out without sacrificing too much talent due to the arrival of D-III transfer Wade Hansen.

"He can possibly be the fifth guy. He's got to get a lot better to be the fourth guy. He can add some depth," Wiles said.

The former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute player is trying to take things slowly for his part.

"That's really for Charley Wiles to decide on the depth chart, I'm just happy to be here and provide depth at the defensive tackle position," Hansen said.

Luckily, Hansen and the others will have the benefit of learning from a pair of veterans at the position.

"It's just passing them little tidbits of information. What we see and tendencies and what we observe," Marshall said. "Just being a bug in their ear and trying to get them to the next level because coaches do a great job, but at a certain point, we can relate a little bit better than they can in some areas because we're seeing it, we're doing it."

But depth isn't just an issue at tackle. Seth Dooley and Dewayne Alford are the team's primary backups at end, yet they've been on the field for 19 plays on defense between them.

Developing them during camp is a key focus for the staff, and Wiles thinks both have done well so far.

"I'm pleased with where they're at right now," Wiles said. "This is a big camp for those guys and for our football team at that position, so we have to bring them along."

Yet, for all of these problems on the line, Hokie fans can rest a little easier knowing that Maddy will be still be around to anchor the unit.

"You see it on film. He talks some, not a ton, but if you're a player, you're thrust into a leadership role, what are you going to do with?" Wiles said. "Luther puts it on film every day. You can watch it on film at night. Luther Maddy is a consistent ballplayer, plays hard, practices hard."