Defensive end Dadi Nicolas took the podium at Virginia Tech's media day today with his left hand in a cast.
#Hokies DE Dadi Nicolas has his left ring and pinky finger wrapped together inside that cast. pic.twitter.com/7FFjjyb2Zo— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) August 15, 2015
The 2014 second-team All-ACC performer, and 2015 preseason first-team All-ACC selection, did not go into specifics of the injury, but indicated it was "nothing too serious".
Nicolas calls his left hand injury "nothing too serious," but added he doesn't really want to talk about it right now. #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) August 15, 2015
Nicolas said the hand/finger injury is an indication guys have been going hard in practices. #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) August 15, 2015
Nicolas said he hurt the hand/finger three days ago. Added he's taking a lot of mental reps right now. #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) August 15, 2015
Nobody's safe when I'm hurt I get so cut throat!— Dadi L Nicolas (@YYBAQB) August 13, 2015
Nicolas doesn't plan to scrimmage today. Said how hand/finger might affect him during season isn't something he's thinking about now #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) August 15, 2015
Nicolas, and fellow starter Ken Ekanem, is as good a defensive end tandem as there is in America. However, there is significant drop off on the depth chart after the pair. Seth Dooley is the top backup, and he earned the Coaches Award for an exceptional spring practice.
"Now, we haven't scrimmaged yet, but with Seth it seems like the lightbulb is starting to come on a little bit for him, which is exciting," Wiles said in April. "He's played a lot faster, he's been a lot tougher."
However, whether or not his breakthrough this spring will translate to more production on the field this season remains to be seen. Also, he too is working through an injury.
Foster says Seth Dooley won't practice today due to dinged up shoulder. Nothing major. Still likes his summer so far. #Hokies— Alex Koma (@AlexKomaVT) August 15, 2015
6-5, 270 pound redshirt freshman Vinny Mihota moved from defensive tackle outside to end during spring ball to round out Tech's two-deep. At the time, Wiles noted Vinny's "twitch" and "quickness", but it's unclear if he has enough pop to be a productive end in Tech's scheme.
Point blank, defensive end is a position that Virginia Tech cannot afford an injury to one of its starters, especially one of Nicolas' calibur. Both Dooley's and Dadi's injuries are something to keep an eye on leading up to the Hokies matchup with the Buckeyes.
Comments
Damn, was hoping for no injuries preseason.
Impossible unless there is no practice. Obviously, DE is not a position the team can afford injuries, so hopefully the recovery time will be short. We need our Dadi!
Get well soon, Dadi
Probably just jammed a finger. No big deal and he's probably just bummed he won't be able to practice for a couple days. The guy has a competitor's spirit, he wants to play every day.
Hey, at least it's his non-pointing hand.
Here we go! All aboard the never failing, never fucking ending, injury train.
Awww!!! My first downvote. This was suppose to be comical but my cynical sense of humor doesn't agree with others at times. And to the hypersensitive one that downvoted me, I apologize wholeheartedly. Shame on me. Bless my negative heart.
And whoever just cancelled out that downvote, I appreciate it.
It very well could have been an accidental downvote that got changed into an upvote. Best practice around here is to not make a comment about receiving a downvote.
10-4! I stand corrected.
The first rule of downvotes is: You do not talk about downvotes.
Second rule: DO NOT talk about downvotes!
Hey what are you guys talking about over there
Not downvotes, I can tell you that. No Sir, not us.
Word to the wise: install the Sarcastica font on your machine.
Sarcastica is your friend. Reality is not.
Honestly, let Dadi rest. I want our passing game to get somewhat of a chance to get going! Plus you don't want to show all your cards before the big game. I mean if OSU isn't going to say who their starting QB is why do we have to show our whole defense on tape.... strategery!
I'm hoping this is just precaution because of how thin we are at DE. We all know that Dadi could get hit by a bus and still want to play.
Dadi's not getting hit by that bus. He'd do a swim move and shove it outta the way.
But what if Sam was pushing the bus???
Irresistible force vs immovable object
Here's where the gifers show my head exploding.
Shouldn't be a problem from the looks and sounds of it. Still has three weeks to get ready. It's not game week so I'm pretty sure we'll be fine. I'd rather guys are a little cautious with injuries pre-season instead of aggravating them more and getting even worse closer to the season.
To add some context, it seems as if the Hokies are using an abundance of caution in this first scrimmage. Trey Edmunds is another guy being held out today and he couldn't seem less worried about his ankle injury. Same goes for Seth Dooley, who said he'll be just taking "mental reps" today.
So this is still cause for concern, but the sky isn't falling just yet.
Alex, when you reference Trey, is it really an ankle injury or is his ankle just sore or is that just hobbit is being reported?
Thanks for all the great work TKP team!
I am really hoping this is all a ruse because this will likely be the only open scrimmage before Labor Day.
That Frank Beamer will get after ya!
Shane said he tweaked it in practice. When I asked him about it, Trey just said it was "definitely" fine, didn't seem concerned about it at all.
Unless someone else was wearing 14 in the scrimage, Trey played with the first team offense. He played the second drive (you know the one where the defense decided Buckey shouldn't even be accounted for) after JC played on the first drive.
Somebody get Dadi a girlfriend. He needs to give that hand a rest.
Awesome
BERSERKER STATUS ACTIVATED
...but....But were so close :(
I'm glad it's not that serious, but no more injuries
Also, at all levels, linemen on both sides seem to play with injured hands all the time.
Don't jump off the hype train just yet.
If this is the worst injury news we get before the season, SIGN ME UP NOW!!
If it's any consolation. Vinny made a nice play in the scrimmage today. Was playing against the 2s though.
This may be precautionary.
There are some players that can't but go all out in practice and the only way to slow them down is to put a cast on them.
I'd bet Dadi is one of those guys.
Guys just remember two years ago when AJ McCarron was in a walking boot the night before we played them due to an ingrown toenail. At this point, guys will put anything on to relieve any sign of pain.
Hey....and TKP isn't melting down!
Dadi L'homme Harrison Bergeron Nicholas
The type of cast is an ulnar gutter cast and is commonly used for a boxer's fracture. In my job we see it often if people have punched walls. Hopefully he is just working on punching the o-line.
Folks there is a simple medical and factual explanation to all of this. Dadi's pinky got scared of his Dadi and retracted into itself (not unlike what happened with Sam Rogers earlier this year).
Lol
Mental reps... They'll get after ya
I thought the team outlawed tackling Sam Rogers in practice
Actually, it's a cocoon. What's inside will come out stronger in a few weeks. Easy mistake to make, though.