(Virginia Tech’s Surgeon General’s note: if you are a P.A.T.T. or if you may be preggers with a P.A.T.T. this article may be hazardous to your health)
Today’s word is: window (as in of opportunity thereof…)
win·dow
noun, often attributive ˈwin-(ˌ)dō
Definition of WINDOW
- a: an opening especially in the wall of a building for admission of light and air that is usually closed by casements or sashes containing transparent material (as glass) and capable of being opened and shut
b: windowpane
c: a space behind a window of a retail store containing displayed merchandise
d: an opening in a partition or wall through which business is conducted <a bank teller’s window> - a means of entrance or access; especially : a means of obtaining information <a window on history>
- 2013: As in Virginia Tech has about one more year of solid opportunity because of two things
a. The 2014 football schedule and beyond, Whiskey (Wisconsin) “the” Ohio State and the return of Clemson and Florida State says so
b. As does our diminished talent level that is nearly pandemic or team-wide behind our contemporary 2013 1’s (or starters) on defense and parts of the 2013 offense on the balance.
As in, “The Future is Now” as legendary Coach George Allen once wrote. You’d better enjoy today once we get past Alabama men. The 2013 defense is gonna be that damn epic, if/when the Top-11 remain healthy and that gives the 2013 offense its much needed margin of error to be just good enough.
After that???
There is a noticeable drop-off in team-wide talent all less the second and third team defensive lines; who actually enjoy a handful of quality players apiece. A recent dip in Commonwealth recruiting and no less than 17 departures from the program in the last 20 months says so. What was once deep is now thin, and what was once thin is now transparent.
As in it is now apparent that barring a resurgence in Commonwealth recruiting, or barring catching some MV1 or C.Moore lengthening in the program changing bottle … it is now apparent that Virginia Tech has peaked.
State of the Program:
Normally I leave this kinda business up to my boss Chris Coleman, however, today, I just gotta get some observations, analysis and scoops off my 46R chest…so let’s put the rubber to the road folks…
Has VT peaked???
Apex=2010 or there about’s.
(or was it earlier, maybe, perhaps?)
After that you ask???
Listen, things just look down to me folks. I love VT as much as any of you. I’ve been going there since 1969 for God’s sake. Though I really don’t know how else to put it. And yah; I am genuinely sorry that this is not what most of you wanna read – as it sure as hell is not what I wanna type. Savvy? So take a deep breath and try not to seize up too much in the mean time; or in the next paragraph. Take thy pick.
As I said, things look down to me. Things not named Coach Wiles boy’s who are dangerously close to going 3-deep. Everything else is reduced, if not flat-out down when we view things through the comparative second and third-string prism. That is when we compare the 2013 second and third stringer’s to their previous second and third string counterparts over the last decade or so. Or just who will be left on campus and therefore have to start in 2014 and two-three years beyond.
Now, put your hands on the TSL.com Bible; for those of you who have attended both scrimmages during Spring Practice 2013…
Loading ...Pre-scrimmage Odds and Ends:
LT3 in scrimmage no.2>>>LT3 in scrimmage no.1>>>LT3 warming up!
A quack attack folks; as Logan Thomas #3, was throwing about 3-4 very wobbly or ducking balls outta 10 in pre-scrimmage warm-ups on Saturday morning down in a glorious New River Valley. And then of all things, LT3 manages to totally zing a Sunday quality throw or two outta ten; and you fall in love all over again.
Here’s the kicker for our incumbent Qb folks … we don’t need the 2011 version of LT3 to reemerge. We need the should have been improved 2012 version of LT3 to lead an offense that is gonna need games –of not months- plural to find its stride. And if we have any injuries upfront along the oLine we may need more than that. As last year LT3 suffered his sophomore slump a year late and now would be a wonderful year to go back to the future. This is LT3’s contract season; and Loeffler need not recruit him to stay in 2014. This tells me that we need 2011+ kinda numbers outta LT3 this year. Although quite frankly, I’d take those very 2011 numbers alone; and call the whole thing off right now. And I bet Frank would too.
Finally got an up-close look at the rookie Qb kid, one #16 who has been moonlighting at Wr this Spring or Mr. Carlis Parker of Statesville N.C. fame. Fact number one is that this kid already wears an official and non-duplicate jersey number as a true-freshman. That tells you something right there folks. Fact number two is that this is a long and lean looking kid with a really nice touch on his ball which reminds me just a scosche of one Joe Montana. Now mix in the fact that sources have said that this kid “…has a little Vick in him” and you can suddenly see why he has been issued a jersey number and is being groomed to play right away. Don’t forget that Parker was a pretty decent Safety in high school, and that he also blew-out his A.c.l. in the junior year of the same. At 184 lbs. I’d like to say that he’s a year away and deserving of a r-shirt season and a signature year of Gentryfication. However, there is something very fun to watch about this kid, and as this looks like a rather inert looking 2013 offense, whereby any and all play-makers may have to play sooner rather than later.
Speaking of warming-up Qb’s, Mark Leal sure fields a fine looking nose down dart of a pass. Omar Jacobs did this kid some real favors coming up down in high school as the textbook coaching acumen shows and it is showy indeed. As crazy as this may read, Leal throws the best looking ball on the team right now. It bores or tunnels right through the air and it really gets there with more than its fair share of zip as well. Leal looked very good right up until a suspect decision of an INT. That appeared to rob him of some self-trust or what others would call confidence in pedestrian terms. Leal needs to learn how to shake that off and never get too high, nor too low. Though you do not make the TD throw that he made via mistake either. As there are very few Qb’s in the A.c.c. who can make that kinda reverse roll-out lob-pass of a down-n-out pattern backside throw. Although I do not know if Leal is great; I am sure that he is 2014 good enough as this kid is well beyond the threshold of game-manager. As he somehow someway just has a knack for manufacturing plays.
Really starting to like what I’m seeing outta Tariq Edwards; the leader. This dog has some measure of raw “growl” to his game and he had plenty of game itself; if his stressed-out 2011 leg will only hold up. When Tariq pulls this teams chain they bark and this dude has plenty of bite.
Asante however has a little silly in him; and that’s not intended as a jab at #19. Every lockeroom needs a jokester or class-clown to help keep things nice and loose when the season begins to tighten up. Asante has a very precocious sense of humor and a likeable swag’ to his personality and his game alike; I for one find that to be rather refreshing if properly contained.
Oklahoma (or Chute) Drill:
This is 3 on 3 upfront, with a quasi Safety and Tb (less the Qb) behind all of that on each respective side.
- #17 K.Fuller cowboy’ed up so hard that I wanted to nominate him to go dig up and then fight Loren Green of Ponderosa fame, off the 1970’s Bonanza TV western series classic. Goodness this kid can tackle and he is not contact-shy either; not in the least. Just ask #14 Trey Edmunds who outweighs K.Full by 26 lbs. and who repeatedly got his ass stuck good and hard for his right-sized troubles. Can’t say I would have bet on one-seven here, and I would be a o-3 poorer man for it as well. As Kyle smoked Trey good and hard all three times.
- #20 M.Holmes is finally starting to at least potentially look the D-1 part. Two-o has found about 7-8 lbs. of right mass and he found it right where he needed it. As in all upstairs or in his northern hemisphere as his 2012 guns (arms) looked positively junior high’ish at best last year. No longer; as M.Holmes is running with something of a physical presence this spring and he brought his swivel hips along for the ride. As I really enjoy his Emmit Smith ‘esuqe dip move downfield. That praise rightfully bestowed, Holmes really over-matched #2 Donovan Riley here in this one, and this was basically the only one that the offense won all day mind you, if you are keeping score at home.
- Also, I wanna throw out that #37 R.V.D. Ronny Vandyke sure is a physical guy right at the point of attack. If his mind ever catch up to his feet, this kid has all the minerals as this kid is a one man G.N.C. store just looking for a corporal punishment go ahead to re-militarize his very own 37th parallel.
- #15=pain. (see: above pic)
#15=Joel Caleb. Joel had several head turning, or should I say head-knocking hits on the day. Just ask #49 OLb Josh Trimble who had no business doing anything other than winning vs. Joel who was giving away seven pounds in this one and Joel still freakin’ won! Joel Caleb is a man’s man folks, he is something of a Kam Chancellor in cleats at Flanker. This kid is heavy-duty upstairs; or a living lantern-battery of high-power workhorse voltage in the northern hemisphere. And he’s one other thing, he is legitimate street tough kid with some real live Vince Hall demeanor infused into plenty of thick-set right-mass above the waist.
(EDITOR’s note: m-u-c-h more in a few days)
“LETS GO!“
“HOKIES!“
bourbonstreet**
Depressing Monday morning read: re future talent. 87% of the voters saying the talent is ‘even or down.’ Yikes. Maybe the new coaches will do more with less this season and generate some good recruiting momentum going forward?
I view even or down as fair. I can listen to either one.
I this is now a 2-3 season of fairness until the new Staffing changes take full effect. Or until recruiting moves back upward. Though London and co. will have some say in that as well.
i.e. right now is the worst possible time for them to upset us/VT.
b.street
Hmmmm it’s a good thing you were not at the battle of the bulge in 1944. Instead of saying Nuts to the Germans you would be shouting surrender surrender. There is no frigging way you can watch a scrimmage, the stats etc and then predict the doom and gloom that you are predicting. No frigging way. You remind me of the global warming crowd. The spring temperatures are unseasonally high … it’s global warming, the spring temperatiures are unseasonally low … it’s global warming.
BTW recall December 2010 when Al Gore remarked at a conference that global warming/climate change is real, just look at Washington DC there has not been a significant snow storm in over 10 years. 4 days later i am trying to get back to Washington DC after Fall graduation ceremonies in Blacksburg. I and my wife spent the night in a car on I-81 while 22 inches of snow fell. The only good luck we got stuck in traffic less than 200 feet from the rest stop, the one just before Roanoke. Anyway, it took 26 hours to make it from Blacksburg to Reston that day.
Perhaps your predictions/pronouncements will be more accurate than Al Gore’s, and perhaps not. Only time will tell. Oh and one more thing …
Opinions are like a$$holes, every one has one. My opinion … VaTech will play 11 to 14 games a season, everyone involved will do their best to win every game.
Ha-Ha-Ha!
That is tremendous (albeit it accidental)!
I was a Gore delegate to the D.N.C. in L.a.
I was also prolly the only pro-Coal one to tell Gore that global warming was all wet.
(too funny)
Thank you for reading.
And, +4 (one for each letter) on a Bastogne reset.
I mix a lotta WWII in myself into my work.
Including that epic crossroads one word blast; from time to time.
b.street
yes, well was watching the Science channel the other day, a program on glaciers. they were reporting on scientific research being conducted on glaciers. They said that underneath the glacier they were studying they found evidence of trees and other plants. They said this was evidence that there was no glacier there 5,000 years ago. In other words glaciers come and go. And, while man may be responsible for some melting, he is most likely not responsible for all the melting.
What has this got to do with VaTech football? nothing really … just don’t get caught in a snow storm on a Friday night on I-81. Around 2am you realize that if you have a heart attack or some other medical emergency you are out of luck.
right on…
They said “This glacier is retreating.”
We asked “For how long?”
They said “For about the last 10,000 years.
We said,”Soooooo….basically since the last ice age?”
They said, “uh-huh.”
VT will be better than fine in the future, IMO….UVA will be fine.
Harris, Hodges, Teller, Fisher and Fuller among others will “upgrade” the talent behind the 1st string come August. Four of this five could see a lot of action come fall.
Harris could heal a lotta power-rushing wounds; all by himself.
(though two on your list are not as highly regarded as they once were)
b.street
I believe LT3’s performance Saturday fell squarely in the “I toldja so” category. Dude looked sharp and, IMHO, easily squashed any ideas of a desired QB controversy. Loved what I saw out of Thomas this weekend.
Or that back was looser and he wanted to redeem himself a bit.
Methinks it was each.
Good on him.
God knows we need that 2011 LT3 like a dead man needs a coffin.
That, and Leal really went to pot after that one pick.
He can not allow himself to do that; going forward.
b.street
bourbonstreet’s analysis spot on… r u really a democrat? I don’t care really cause u make me laugh and have great perspective at any cost.
go hokies….. I have been going to VPI/VT Football games since 1979 so u and I both r old as dirt. take bourbonstreet, nip em if u drinkin
Affirmative.
A very closeted Red-State one, although a Democrat nevertheless.
Which I enjoy as I am a burr in their church of MTV “it’s all good” saddle.
(beyond my circle of friends, which is extremely Racially mixed — hence the Equality mantra that I dig blue-state wise)
b.street
In the past , I admit that I have been upset at those who objected to any criticism of Tech, even though it was obvious that our offense and coaches justified it. There should be accountability and coaches called out when performance is poor. However, I now sense that some delight in playing “expert”, and enjoy being negative when it comes to Tech.
Is it asking too much to give our new coaches a little time to make changes, teach and coach new offensive schemes.? And don’t they deserve a little time to get to better know our players and their capabilities?
I suggest that a better time to evaluate our offense will be after the Alabama game, not now! C’mon guys, I bet we will be better than we were before the new coaches arrived and started the process. And it is a process that will take time.
That’s fair.
I just wish they had their parts to evaluate in the first place.
As they have the Frank-n-Stiney heterogeneous and position shuffling mixed-bag.
b.street
I’m going to take a little more positive spin on things and ask how much of this fall-off in talent, that is apparent this year (and last), is directly related to the extreme lack of productivity from the 2010 recruiting class. Look down the list and see how many them fell to attrition (transfers, flunk-outs, etc.) or never did anything beyond being the “solid #2” who rarely saw any playing time. Those guys should’ve been at least half of the core of last year’s team (and this year’s, as well), but it’s awfully sparse.
There’s no doubt that recruiting took an overall slide from 2008 before bottoming out in 2010–looking at the number of NFL draft picks VT has had since 2007 bears this out. However, the good news is that things “magically” took a very positive uptick starting in 2011 and continuing on into the present day, with how VT is positioned so far in the 2014 class. I think the overall talent level of the team is going to be just fine by, say, 2015. We’ll also have a good idea of the team’s coaching level by then, too.
Yup. That 2010 class hurts us.
Ditto all the attrition.
Ditto the class with only 1 single solitary offensive-lineman.
How do I put this?
I see a lotta Kentucky Derby entrants.
And fewer and fewer triple-crown hopefuls –than ever before.
Tons of C+ to B- kinda kids; with a reduction in A’s.
b.street