Virginia Tech football thoughts…

Virginia Tech football is in the crickets chirping, tumbleweeds blowing, or doldrums riddled holding pattern otherwise known in WWI terms as the Sitzkrieg or phoney war right about now. The is the time of year where no news is good news and most any real news tends to be off-field at best, academic, quarrelsome or even worse than at that.

...wont' be long...
…wont’ be long…

There are now only sum 48 odd shopping days until your very own weekend Liberty pass is granted in gridiron terms. However, methinks that I’ve got at least one more real article left in my old-school 424 Shanks Hall 1987 compressed particle clipboard. So let us hop to it and do something about these high humidity dog days of summer with some real live Tech talk. As there are things that have emerged from spring ball that look like they could help make an efficacious difference late in the 4th quarter in a tight and hotly contest scrum of a football contest this fall.

#FittestVTfootballTeamEver?!?

Going to hit this more down below; and this Fighting Gobbler incarnation is probably not on the Coach Claiborne level and that team was not on the “Operation Bootstrap” Coach Mosey 38 teeth knocked out his first spring practice level. Nonetheless, it is pretty damn fit; and it just might be the fittest Virginia Tech football team going back to at least the Bill Dooley’s 3-a-days training camp regimentation era. This is getting close to 30 odd years or so according to my cardio and pulmonary maths.

Also wanna point out the array of rushing moves that likely Qb1 Jerod Evans already deploys from coach-Fu’s spread offensive set. In addition to a good -though not quite pure rocketing afterburner- top speed, we have seen the following outta #4 thus far in the opening stages of his Hokie career.  Some pretty dang quick change of direction cuts downfield in the flow of traffic in the heat of high velocity battle. Some shoulder dips, shoulder fakes, swivel hips, even a couple of quite acceptable jump-cuts and at the end of spring-ball we even saw the old-school mid 1970’s signature Chuck Foreman Minnesota Vikings Rb’s spin-move à la Earl “the pearl” Monroe in cleats! And I must be quick to point out; that we have seen all of that, from a Qb who looked a little soft overall way back in early March; then much more taut and shapely to end the spring. And we also saw that from a Qb with a formerly fractured non-throwing wrist and on a likewise formerly blown-out left-knee. Not half bad for a kid who should be kept in a full patella sleeve and wrist-wrap and who appears to be heightened Bryan Randall heading downfield only with a little more juice if you ask me.

"Boom" Out of here!
Boom” Out of here!

I know my boy Parker may struggle with a true speed-rushing De off the edge; although so did everybody else who attempted to face down a freak like Corey Moore, or even a more recent semi fast Dadi Nicholas. That being said, someone did enjoy seeing Osterloh playing with a bit of temper to his game as applied sports psychology mean streaks go. As mark my words here gent’s, Parker is going to straight up steal some loafing or not paying attention peeps downfield this season! And for those of you with a 20-20 Eye in the Sky for seeing sneaky hits; keep your eyes’ on big ole #67 chugging downfield. #67 is gonna do some real live unsuspecting blindside damage!

Who would you say was the most improved Qb this past spring ball? Lawson had about two -some might say three- days of showing signs showing flashes, encouraging type practices. Someone has already documented how Evans started a bit less than swift, got into noticeably better physical condition; and closed pretty dang well for a would be Qb1. Motley had less ups-n-downs; he had more of an even spring; or some might have me say he had the most consistent spring of the three real guys believed to be really competing for the much coveted Qb1 trophy slot. Nevertheless, as crazy as this may read to some of you, the most improved Qb last spring you ask? Well that’s #11, and likely Qb4, Jack Click; he of long fabled prep’ school Fork Union Military Academy Hokie pipeline fame. Jack may not be a starter (ever) during his orange and maroon career at Virginia Tech. Although when you see him out on our D-1, B.c.s., power-conference field, winging the rock around… you can see what I mean when I tell you that I see a lowercase D-1aa starting pivot. Jack is a 6’3” 213 lb. rising r-freshmen from Deep Run H.S. of Glen Allen Va. fame. And I like what Jack is all about. He is one of those kids who just simply: “gets it.” Jack carries himself like an alpha-Qb even if he is only our delta or Qb4 for the time being. Has a very well comported and very well composed swag’ to his game; confident -not cocky or edgy- in a word. Jack has hung a whopping 23 lb.s of right-mass since he arrived at Virginia Tech. And he is not just some play-signaling, clipboard holding, prototypical drone or worker bee of a caddying Qb. He’s got some shift to his white-bread game, more than some of you would expect. A 4.65 40 yard dash, squatting ~140 lbs. more than you weigh as a skill position guy is never a bad thing; a 4.25 second shuttle and a can probably dunk a basketball vertical of a nifty 32”. All of which conspire to say that #11 may have a bit more than most think. I’m not saying Jack has an Elway 155mm caliber howitzer strapped to his right shoulder, although I am saying that Jack has enough throw-game strength. Just ask his all-district honors in high school as a flamethrower pitcher. Jack throws a very good looking nose down, just forward of 12 o’clock release-point darty good ball. He throws a pretty dang accurate ball and he does not many mistakes, either. No wonder he made the all-A.c.c. Academic honor roll as a rookie! Although here is the telling part; the whispers say that coach-Fu let Jack accrue way more reps with the 3’s, the 2’s and even some repetitions with the 1’s. You do NOT earn that luxury as a heretofore nondescript Qb4 for no reason at all. I’m not saying that Jack is all that and a starting Qb snap; I am saying the Staff kept their eyes on their likely Qb4 for way longer than expected; and I will say that someone was pretty dang surprised and impressed by what they saw out of Jack Click this past spring. As Jack is at least one of our better scout-team proverbial: “good-look” simulating Qb’s in a long while. I will further say that someone is willing to put their name beside the most improved Qb label for #11 during the months of March and April.

...see what I mean?
see what I mean?

As I’m quick to point out guys who need conditioning work; it is only fair to hand out another orange and maroon tin-foil gold star. As big old 6’9” 297 lb. t-sophomore year Yosuah Nijman is yet another guy who really transformed (read: improved) his overall physique this past spring. As this is one prime-time looking Ot candidate; as in even Leonardo da Vinci could not Vitruvian Man -or draw up- a Ot any better looking than this. Recall that Yosuah was a De by trade -and by build- when he arrived on campus and now he is being asked to block the very same position that he once so S.e.c. or L.C. Greenwood defended. Consider thus… a 380 lb. bench, a 555 lb. squat, a 4.86 in the 40 and a 36” vertical leap; …before… that’s, before he got into even better shape this spring! As Nijman has a prototypical T-bone cut to his game with a narrow waist, big thick arms and shoulder width, with a very strong quad/hammie core combo. Almost something of the Nebraska Dave Remington era hourglass look, out on the edge that you just do not see this side of some truly killer good Coach God given sporting D.n.a. Same as Qb J.Evans, this is yet another kid who has made major and highly visible strides under the growing renown of Strength & Conditioning coach Ben Hilgart, or Hilgirth if you will. As Yosuah is not long for being elevated to that “WOW … who’s that?” Kam Chancellor level of passing the good ole eye-test if he is not real careful. As there are about three or possibly closer to four or five handfuls of guys who have made strident pulmonary and cardiac strides under coach Hilgart since he arrived. And I do not mean the kind of kids who look suddenly 20 lbs. of right-mass O.T.C. or under the counter, illegally P.E.D. inflated. I’m typing about good clean sweat and good old fashioned, hard, freakin’ work! As last time I checked, the only place winning comes before working is still… the dictionary. 

***

One thing someone picked up on is the body-language of a focused coach-Fu. Watch those two lips roll inward and then disappear. As this is one quietly determined and outcome focused guy. No nonsense, very very determined; and it show(s) itself and demonstratively in coach-Fu’s body language. Kinda reminds me a bit of the fictitious coach Eric Taylor of the televised Friday Night Lights fame. He relates well (enough) to today’s baller with the accompanying clinical or mental pedestal look at me fb.com ethos of today’s ballers’ approach. Though he -same as Coach Taylor- can be just as hard has he has to be. Or at least, so we all hope.

Some may find this a minor thingy, however, as a ex-End or Flanker -thank you coach God- my ownself, the total emphasis of catching the football, away from your body, with the onus being placed on your fingertips; as best you can; under the new staff really stood out to me this past spring. Yes, there were a few extra juggles and even a few unwelcome bonus drops; however; this is a long-view correctional project that will (eventually) improve our always okay to good enough, although R.A.T.T. seldom great handsy catch-game, given enough time and practice. Or in other words… ask November where our catch-game really is and give September the proverbial (bad pun insert here) the proverbial pass on a few season opening drops.

???
???

Remember about three write-ups ago; when someone articlelized seeing the same grips across the cadre of our passing quintet? “Well not so fast my friends…” looks like someone put the cart before the horse, yet again, and now has egg on his face or a main entrée of crow that is served rare, yet warm. As this is a most unusual pigskin grip; and I can not say I’ve ever seen this one, before. With the right ring-finger and the right middle-finger pinched together. Almost like a street version of the “Dub-a-u” or the letter W, or Mister Spock’s Vulcan nerve-pinch applied in reverse to some helpless football. Not real sure why a Qb would want to utilize this grip; so do any of you have any ideas why Motley would be using this grip here? TIA. (READERs note: I tried this grip, outside, slinging the rock around my ownself –and I had no grip at all. A very slippy football to put it in “bear” Grylls terms using this “W” looking toggle; and I’ve got size 12 hands)

Said this already, though boy did Eric Gallo improve his fitness and his shape as spring ball went. I wonder what the Vegas O/U on his weight cut would be; 22.5 lbs., maybe a scosche more? As this does not look like the same butterball bakery kid who opened camp with a keg-standing socially fraternal gut; not at all. So let there be no doubt, you’d better get you arse in shape if you wanna ball all out for coach-Fu; and there are whispers in and around Virginia Tech that that heavy duty, old-school Lantern sized battery level of cardio and pulmonary voltage; may have short-circuited the attraction of a recruit or three. C’est la guerre | as such is power conference gridiron war. As this is a mucho tighter looking team in the abdominal core area overall since this new regime set up shop. Love to see an overall B.M.I. (body mass index) for this team by the time it clears August camp and compare it to the four most recent non 10 win football teams B.M.I. head-to-head!!!

Don’t think I’ve covered Ricky Walker and his placement at back-up Dt much; if any at all so far. So here goes… Ricky is a 6’2” 288 lb. rising r-sophomore Ricky is two things to me, he is Jon Graves strong-backed and he moves well enough to cover kicks as a home position Dt; and you do not see that very often at this level. Ricky boosts a nifty 385 lb. bench; though it is that aforementioned strong back that gives him a slightly undersized chance. Guys who are strong in the latissimus dorsi (main back muscle) play lower for longer and they play lower better than most. I’m not saying that I find Walker to be a starter; or dominate; at least not just yet. I am saying I currently see him as a serviceable back-up who is probably a downright solid guy come 2018.

...clean cut 1o1...
…The Next Episode

Curious -and welcome- to see r-sophomore Rover -and the only Rover on the team at the moment- Terrell Edmunds taking over some of the vocal leadership duties in the secondary. He and his predator style haircut certainly do stand out. He can return a punt in a pinch and he already seems to have that kick-snuffing special teams’ game changing sense of timing to his style of play. However, his staggering 380 lb. bench as a true Rover (or Ss to anyone else) is staggering indeed! That’s basically code for a nearly unheard of 189% more than he (2o1 lbs.) weighs as iron moved in the bench-press lift goes. Or 179 lbs. benched in excess of where he currently tips the Toledo scale’s if you are keeping score at home. Now mix in a very high flying 38.5” vertical leap and you can see why the Clarke at Fs, Facyson and the newly reinstated Alexander at Cb’s and Edmunds at Rover is a pretty damn good looking hind-4 physical and athletic mix alike. Those four stay basically healthy all season long and do not die of shock if this is a Top-3 all-A.c.c. secondary and a potential alpha layer for coach-Fu in 2016 overall team terms. All they need is a bit more experience and time to gel; as they will only get better and better as the ’16 campaign wears on.

Andrew Motuapuaka looks a different man, or at least a younger man with his signature Polynesian dreadlocks now sheered free from his head. Almost giving him a sneaking shot at showing up as the famed rapper Dr. Dre’ on October 31st at a nocturnal party near you.  (See: above pic)

May St.Joshua bless and intercede down in Baton Rouge…

Buy or Sell: ... the vibe that coach-Fu's physical fitness program may be chasing away a few recruits?

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Virginia Tech=fit, fitter, fittest, than it has been in years, quite plural!

LETS GO!

Hokies!

bourbonstreet**

V.A.D.A. approved!

Christ Star peace on Earth

30 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Great read, B’Street. Especially eye-opening your comment about the cardio requirements of the new coaching regime possibly turning off some recruits.

    My sense on the VT fan base pulse is that they are feeling rock-bottom as it stands with current VT recruiting in the Rivals era. I was interested in your take on this, and any thoughts you have on how the coaching staff views the same (granted they’ve barely unpacked in Blacksburg). I would imagine it’s been brought up a time or two to them while on the road at Hokie Club events, specially the struggles to keep top in-state guys home.

    I enjoy your work, keep it up!

    1. Can you specify that John?
      You want me to address our rivals rankings or our rivals for recruiting itself?
      (or were you asking something else?)

      I’ll happily answer… either way.
      Thx!

      b.street

      1. Absolutely!

        1. What is your take on the current (layman) view that VT is in the rut of all ruts right now when it comes to overall recruiting, especially in-state and…

        2. Does that “fan base” view permeate Merryman Athletic Center at all or matter to the coaches? Perhaps specifically with regards to the perception that VT just can’t get after the top 10 in-state talent as a whole?

        Thanks in advance!

        1. 1. I’ma gonna think on this and respond Monday –coach God willing.
          (as I have some competing thoughts here and that’s a very long reply)

          2. this one is the more clear-cut of 2 pretty dang neat questions.

          In short?
          They (the new Staff) are too new to know any difference; –just yet.

          That being said; they have been beaten on 2 BIG recruits; and 1 guy has decommitted. So … and frankly speaking; who does that remind all of you of?

          What I find interesting behind question number two is… do they maintain their entry methodology or approach? Are they at least semi firm they are on the right path; right now; even if the initial results are unwilling to agree?

          Or, do they toggle whatever(s); and at least semi quickly? Maybe Elvis has left the Memphis mindset building? Maybe they detect Tidewater rip-currents they were unaware of upon entry? Maybe they reconnoiter some 7-5-7 opportunities that they did not know about on the first day of VT recruiting school as well?

          I do not have any of those answers?
          Although, if these Top-10 in-state snubs or won’t even give VT a credible sniff continue… what is a coach-Fu to do??? As that sure reminds me of the past four years of someone else…

          b.street

          1. B’Street – much appreciated! I’d love to hear any further insight you have on the topic.

            Interesting to me the renewed approach on out of state recruiting for non-FL states, maybe trying to fill the void at home?

            And plus +10 on getting the Soundcloud back up and running, I enjoyed the podcasts you put out a few years back. Cheers!

          2. 1. What is your take on the current (layman) view that VT is in the rut of all ruts right now when it comes to overall recruiting, especially in-state and…

            Probably, “yes”.
            As the early returns do seem to suggest the “rut” continues.

            The 1 lifeline however is coach-Fu’s coaching (the verb); itself.
            IF we jump off of the slouch of a 85th to 100th ish ranked total offense?
            And vault forward… to say 60’s to 40th overall in total O?

            Maybe that is coach-Fu’s best selling point? “SEE, see! I told you. I can coach an O up.”

            Though how does that fix the Foster tag’ of does not producing N.f.l. defenders or at their next level Professional position(s)? How does that keep BIG name poachers like ‘bama and F.s.u. and even formerly lowly Duke outta the Tidewater?

            With London now gone at uva (and Bronco in place) the 7-5-7 does not have “their boy” to funnel their kids to. So you might expect or hope for some loosening up occurs here. Or maybe that is code for more poaching chances outside in?

            As we have substantial reputation (i.e. used against us in negative recruiting) issues and we have bigger boats with bigger budget’s trolling away n our very own backyard.

            I was not one who thought the new Staff fixed anything until we figured out how to deal with all of that extrinsic macro stuff. Everyone so sure this new Staff was all that and a recruiting snap.

            Maybe their coaching acumen gets a bit of the 2005 Top-10 in-state swag’ back? Though that’s gonna take 2-3 years to showcase itself on field and then sell itself in living-rooms.

            So yah; your gotta cast a wider net. Chris has a neat North-Eastern New Jersey idea he’s brought up. Though yes, you gotta go find more fish if your boat is not on the catch.

            Or maybe Frank peaked Virginia Tech?
            History could agree and be very kind to Frank on that…

            b.street

  2. Good show, B’street! I can now mostly understand your King’s English. I think you mean ‘taut’ rather than ‘taunt’ in talking about Evans. He’s a nice guy – wouldn’t taunt anyone.

    1. yup. Haste=waste; every time.

      Me being dumbass on the pull down menu again.

      Thank you!
      b.street

  3. Lived in 515 Shanks! Loved upper quad.
    That grip could be from two fingers taped together from jammed knuckles…

    1. Interesting.
      Yah; could be. Basketball does that a lot in point of fact.
      (I can not see the taping here; though that does make sporting sense as we’ve seen that medical move before)

      Good one.
      Thanks!
      b.street

  4. Great stuff, always a joy to read.

    Parker & Nijman, Bit of an attitude & sharp edge could help our OL. last year at times Teller & Conte were stepping up but after numerous penalties late penalties on Teller, his aggressiveness fell off quite a bit as the season closed out.

    Totally agree about the improved look of players floating around Blacksburg.

    As the age of Santa Substitutes without padding has ended in Blacksburg.

    Believe play of 4 DTs: Baron, Williams, Settle & Walker will make Muto an all ACC player this season. Their size and speed will create some havoc

    Really enjoy your articles, wish you’d get into the podcasting arena.

    Let’s Go… Hokies!!!
    Stomp out the Flames & send the Vols back to the pits!!!!!

    1. I’ve been meaning to fire soundcloud back up and just …muse!
      No censoring; no, nuttin’.

      Maybe I will?

      b.street

      1. and as for your part that I pop-out quoted… it’s pretty damn striking; is it not?

        I mean you can not help to see it if you workout or truly watch VT football.

        b.street

  5. Most encouraging that the players are looking so slim and trim across the board. This program was forgetting the WIN mentality, meaning what’s important now is lifting and getting in shape

    (since the corporate swag had been lost).

    Confidence comes from hard work and sounds like we’re already seeing the physical evidence of said work. Great, great news which may mean we have a confident team come fall… which is good for +2 wins over the average projected finish in the book of Sam. You can mark a W at Notre Dame and against UNC if that materializes.

    1. Well put.

      Yes, it is missing.
      Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is L.
      -Lombardi-

      b.street

  6. Thanks B’street great article and true. It appears to me you are saying it is not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog (A saying that may be more true in football than any other sport especially on the line.) The fight in the dog is created by the work(mental and physical) done before hand. Loosing is not the goal but if the score board says that it sure is not the worse out come because the worst is if one quits or not there until the last whistle doing my best.

    1. Archie Griffin (author of that epic blast) and I agree.
      That is my hope.

      Maybe we (now) topple a U.n.c. late?
      (or whichever close game or games)
      Prolly be one before September ends is my best take.

      That or VT is really good or really bad and the word: “close” need not apply.

      b.street

  7. 305 Shanks in 1968 and 1969. Roomie and I watched everyone go to chow from that corner room. Kind of like people watching at “”the Walmart”.

    1. Yah; no kidding on that.
      I had 2 buddies on that tennis court corner. Over near the (then) Shultz dining hall.

      We did the same exact thing.
      People watching right before/after dinner.

      b.street

  8. B’Street – thanks for that dose of VT football news. Great read on lots of good insider type info. I like everything I read about the direction this staff is leading the program. And I believe the recruiting will come, just may take a year or two to get that amp’ed up, for various reasons. Any word on any T.E.’s, other than those names Hodges, that will contribute this year?

    1. Very quiet.

      Methinks they scheme away from that with Sam doing whatever closer to full-time and 3 wide counting Bucky and a naked Ot-G-c-G-Ot inside all of that.

      b.street

  9. Do we really want recruits who shy away from being in excellent physical condition? I think not. This is football, not butterball.

    1. I feel that.
      Still, there may be a cost to assign here…
      …just sayin’.

      b.street

    2. It’s not just about players shying away from working hard. It’s about tradeoffs. If they don’t think that’s what they need, maybe they think they ought to spend more of their time and energy scrimmaging or blocking/catching/throwing/whatever, they may not be too interested. Or if they just don’t think there’s that much of a benefit, they don’t want to be run into the ground before the season even starts, both because that sucks, and it could negatively impact them as the season goes on.

      I think most people would agree though, at least until proven otherwise, that Fu/Hilgert working them so hard to get them into shape, is a good thing that will really help us out. We definitely want guys who want to work hard, not guys who just want to be famous.

      1. True.

        You can run every single practice play 40+ yards out for pure exercise and kinda/sorta do both at the same time.

        b.street

  10. Does the strength and condition really cause one to wear down (I understand anything can be taken to extreme)? I thought the opposite it creates endurance. But middle drills or any other continual contact can be an issue.

    1. Oh sure. it could. In extreme, it does.
      : (

      See the Junction Boys movie about the kid “the Bear” coach Bryant almost killed.
      We had a kid die at Bluefield H.S. during brutal hill running in the heat in 1980 or so.
      Korey Stringer at the Minnesota Vikings. God Bless those souls who did give their all. Literally.

      Though at age 18-22 your recovery time is about as quick as it can be.
      Just avoid (some) of the brutal high temps to be safe(r). Get a great physical to begin with.

      Though the fitter you are; the more of those high temps you can take; as well.

      b.street

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