Spring Game: mixed squads, o4.21.2012
TV coverage: ESPN3, 4pm
Vegas odds: OFF
What to watch and what to see as Virginia Tech spring practice 2012 (officially) opens for public ratification this Saturday morning at 10:45am…
To put it mildly, there is a whole damn lot to see here folks, and as for my three orange and maroon cents; this 2012 Virginia Tech football team has the most spring practice question marks on paper this side of 2003.
Such is not to suggest that there is no talent in Blacksburg Virginia.
The top-22 starting ballers look handsome enough, well at least in most spots they do.
Such is however to plainly state that 2011 graduation and training room attrition have left several layers of the 2012 Virginia Tech football team rather thin on depth and on the ‘rong side or near-side of the Learning and Experience curves alike. Such will likely be felt as we head into this spring, this upcoming August camp and quite possibly all the way into the early season 2012 football campaign itself. As this 2012 football team will need time, reps and health (on which it is already short) in order to gel and eventually mesh into a cohesive fighting-unit and therefore return to the 2012 A.c.c. championship game.
That means mistakes and misQ’s and that forecasts as sloppy looking spring as the long-range sporting orange and maroon New River Valley gridiron weather goes…
Secondary market:
Who is going to call out the coverage’s this spring? Who is your secondary Qb? Do you really want a Cb (who is partially blind to the far-side of the field; via the normal hip or helmet turn) signaling all rotations and disguises? Do you really want a rook’ (rookie) at Fs or Rover setting the table for everyone else? Exum sure looks alike a force of a Boundary-Cb as a run stopper goes just begging to happen. Fuller is the Magic Johnson of the secondary as he can play all four spots fluently enough. However, the hidden precept behind all of this is Exum himself and such precepts are threefold. Exum is quite precious as a natural man-to-man coverage guy goes, at least in Safety terms where you tend to have a greater cushion. Ditto in Nickle duty where you are covered by a Safety (inside) and by a Cb (outside) and most likely can receive (pardon the pun) some help in coverage downfield if need be. Some naysayers will wonder out-lout how that will work in isolation out on the proverbial island in press-coverage. That is not an unfair wonderment mind you; although the early returns are most encouraging indeed. As Exum has the best handwork I’ve seen outta a Cb this side of Michale Hanes of Oaktown Raider fame on a Virginia Tech practice field. Exum has that subtle knack for making contact (with his hands), and utilizing that subtlety well-placed nudge that just throws any Wide Receiver outta sync if not off balance out-right. All the while getting away with such as such is strictly illegal in pure black and white rulebook terms.
Secondly this move was a self-preservation move. As I’ve seen Exum stick his nose up in there a whole lot as run support goes; as dood is not contact shy, not at all; perhaps even to a fault. Accordingly, I’ve seen Exum come up the worse for wear in unpublished campus work terms far too often for my liking. There is a subtle whiff of sporting conservation to all of this or a heretofore unpublished or tacit attempt to save the always hard-nosed Exum from himself. You don’t read that one very often –do you? Finally, I’ve heard from numerous sources that Exum is just not the guy you want calling out the coverage’s and rotations as he needs to be focused on the tactical play at hand and not focused upon the strategic or broad brush chessboard elements of the secondary on the balance. The kicker here is who is the hind-4 Quarterback on defense? Is it the eventual Rover or the eventual Free-Safety? And can you stand to have a debut year rook’ back there making all of your defensive reads, rotations, adjustments and sets? Someone outta #21 Norman (who has the size) or #13 Aromire (who has the athleticism) or #2 Cole (who has the nose for the ball) has to step forward and seize the day with #8 Bonner and #34 Jarrett already splitting time back at Cb. Recall that Bonner struggled in pass coverage towards the end of his 2011 work, and that Jarrett although more advanced in pure man-to-man coverage terms was not quite the run fighter that Bonner was. Bonner strikes me as more of a Rover as that brings his natural run-support instincts even further into play the closer he moves towards the line-of-scrimmage. That said, this is one light in the pants set of secondary ballers as only one of ‘em not named Exum really plays anywhere north of 200 lbs. (only seven north in the case of Norman); and another key back-up (#30 Manning) is a mere featherweight at 155 lbs.! (readers note; one-hundred fifty-five, that’s not a typo men)
Second Layer (Lb’s):
All three of our incumbent 2011 starting linebackers are hurting and or recovering right now. Gonna be a lotta opportunities for some of the younglings to strut their stuff every bit as much as it is critical to get Taylor, Gee.Dub (Winslow) and Edwards back up to snuff and ranging sideline-to-sideline at full-speed for the season opening made for TV Coastal clash vs. Georgia Tech; if not for the beginning of August camp outright. All three have suffered freaky and or downright dicey looking injuries this previous season. Taylor is my main concern here because the drop-off behind him at the Mike (or Middle Linebacker, MLb) spot is the steepest drop-off indeed. #57 T.Clark sure has the look and feel of an explosive Jeckyll and Hyde of a middle-linebacker just begging for a fight to break out from the word “go” in midfield terms. Dood is totally jacked-up and ready to rock. Well, at least he was, until his recent removal from the football team for consumable driven reasons. That leaves us officially one deep at Mike linebacker or so thin as to be damn near invisible. Thus said, I am higher than most on Jack Tyler at MLb despite some real or perceived limitations in pass coverage that have been kicked around good and hard of late. In fact, here is a freebie C&P from the Pay MB of a inside(r) take that I usually only publish over there: “I really like #58 Jack Tyler more and more. Dood is a pure born and bread football player. The kind, who eats, sleeps and drinks the gridiron all day long –pigskin 24/7 if you will. “Five-eight” looks good to me at 23o lbs. And I’ll tell you another thing; the more reps he gets … the better his purported coverage deficiencies will become. BOOK IT!!! Dood is a Wonderlic chart buster less a no.2 pencil just begging to happen. As his football I.Q. is heady indeed. I’m not worried about him as our starting Mike. Not one iota as most often than not, we will not be facing a Tb or Te who can exploit 58 on anything deep. That praise rightfully bestowed; should five-eight get nuked… we would be instantly down to our 4th stringer or Mr. Laiti who wears #47. Laiti is a little thin in the seat in terms of pet Mike Linebacker metrics; though he does possess better than expected coverage skills. Recall that Laiti arrived on campus at a mere 210 lbs. as a middle-linebacker goes. That’s Jack Lambert string-bean esque folks and the last time I checked only count Dracula in cleats got away with that when seated upon the crown of the field. Right now I am inclined to believe that Laiti is more parts OLb (outside linebacker) and less parts pure Mike or MLb. “Four-Seven” has the look and feel of a Will or weakside linebacker to me. Virginia Tech however does not employ a true Will which really leaves Laiti as some thing of a ‘tweener or a second-level player who is in between our ‘backer and our Whip position; or in between our ‘backer and our Mike –take thy pick. Ergo, go ahead and expect some in-spring or post-spring second-layer depth-chart reshuffling depending upon the health of Taylor, Winslow, and Edwards, plus the uprightness (or lack thereof) of Tyler at the end of the April 21st day (i.e. after the Spring Game proper).
God bless all three in their continued recoveries this April and beyond. As we are very tight in the second layer as our starters go; if and only if we recover the services of at least Taylor and Edwards in time for Georgia Tech. Tweedy can hold down Whip well enough, at least early-on in 2012 while he is still at full-strength. After that, the 2012 Linebacking depth suddenly becomes transparent indeed if Taylor and Edwards do not return.
Front-four:
Four, no make that eight, as in eight deep folks and loaded for 2012 and 2013 bear alike as the 2012 dLine (defensive line) will only depart 1, that’s o-n-e baller from the 2012 spring practice roster prior to 2013. Wait, it gets better … in point of fact, Coach Wiles will only depart o-n-e baller outta his Top-13 once the 2012 football season comes to an end (#56, r-senior, A. Hopkins, pic) in time for 2013.
Ergo, what should you watch here?
If it were me? I’d just pop some popcorn, smuggle that into Lane Stadium this weekend and just sit back and watch Coach Wiles boys kick somebody’s ass. This 2012 Virginia Tech defensive front-line goes at least 10 deep by my count right now, and that is not even counting on anybody developing in time for useful contributions during 2012 nor is that counting on any of the 2012 VHT (very highly touted) recruits (read: Ekanem at De (presuming his knee is ok), Jones at De, or the legacy Barron kid at Dt) doing much of anything right away. If any of them are good-to-go-solo Coach Wiles will enjoy an embarrassment of riches and basically be able to go 3-deep straight across should he wish to do so. Or in other words, don’t cry me a river if the 2012 Virginia Tech defensive trench-fighters make the 2012 starting oLine look questionable at times, and go ahead and prepare yourself for witnessing the defensive front-4 straight up embarrass Coach Newsome’s 2’s (second-stringers) and 3’s (third-stringers) before spring practice shuts down in a couple of week. If truth be told, this 2012 Hokie dLine is so deep, you have to wonder if there is someone(s) here that could take a few steps back and lend support or at least another fresh body to the Tech second-layer or linebackers who are perilously thin and in need of new blood as I type.
Pride-n-Joy (VT special-teams):
Branthover is an all-A.c.c. leg before he leaves Virginia Tech. You my BOOK IT on that one as well –the only question is at which spot or spots (plural)? Right now, to me, I’d prefer that Branthover concentrate on punting as opposed to splitting time and attempting to cover for Cody Journell who has yet to have his 2012 roster spot finalized at the time of this writing. Should Journell return Frank will enjoy the services of no less than two all-A.c.c. quality legs as his 2012 kickers go’ even if one or both are actually a year removed or 2013 away from realizing such in terms of on-field objective production. The wildcards here would be Gouldling who was better in kicking to close the 2011 season at practice than he’s ever been before –although he is now listed just ahead of Branthover at Punter. The other wildcard is the fact that Branthover is now listed at #1 at place-kicker even though he has the biggest punting leg seen on campus since the days of V.Burns; go fig’ on that? No mix in a X-factor of a back-up or 2011 third-stringer (Mr. Stump) taking over at both long-snapper and deep-snapper alike and who knows what will happen this spring? Therefore, “don’t worry, be Hokie”if the 2012 spring practice kicking game seems a little off to you. I’m already expecting such and you should too. Ditto my lowest return-game expectations in a long long time as I just do not see a mover and a shaker -much less a bona fide play-maker- outta what appears to be a very modest or highly vanilla looking cadre of would be punt-returns and kick-off returns alike.
Although I’m not real solid on either of our return games ranking above the special teams national Mendoza Line or a middle of the road 6oth best right now, do be clear, they won’t be awful and kicking and punting will eventually sort itself out one way or another. Don’t forget that C.Journell (pic) did not miss a single kick after the Marshall game on September the 24th once he learned to take something off of his bionic torqued up kicks as he closed the year with on a 100% perfect or 10 for 10 run. That does not suck and if the right deal is struck the 2012 Virginia Tech kicking game will have a major leg-up on 2011 no matter how unsettled it appears to be at this time. Therefore, give our special teams coach some time and let Journell likely make his way back to the active football roster before you pass judgment on such and give all of this Pride and Joy business a second look come August camp before assigning too much value to the spring practice final kicking results in 20 odd days.
Loading ...(EDITORs note: be back with the offensive side later on)
“LETS GO!”
“HOKIES!”
bourbonstreet**
B’Street
No offense, but your articles are great if you want to take the time to try to figure out what you’re saying…
I read all of your input, and I really appreciate what you have to say, but I am tired when I get finished….Sorry if this ticks you off, just trying to give you some honest feedback.
I bet I am not the only one who would enjoy your articles/posts much more if you’d just make it easier to read.
Thanks for listening
Always willing to lend an ear———–>b’steet
Totally agree, hokeedokee. I need a nap.
agree completely. KISS
B-
Keep the faith, brother. I look forward to your scribblin more than any other regular tech writer. There are plenty of other sources of news, some great some good some downright boring, but only 1 VT specific dialect.
Figurin out what the heck you are talking about is half the fun.
Keep rockin,
j
I am tired of every televised VT game or southern sports radio show when talking about VT and Frank Beamer calling Virginia Tech the “special teams giant” or Beamer the “special teams guru”. Beamer was and VT was the upper echelon and then in the top rankings of special teams for the 90s and early 2000s. However I feel since around the time of our entrance into ACC it has changed (minus the one clemson game VT’s last trip to death valley courtesy of Eddie and Macho). The coaches say it is because other teams prepare for VT so Beamer figuring out a way for blocking punts and kicks to work is down. If that is the case than it should definitely work the other way for VT as well and to have Beamer’s lauded units have field goals and punts blocked and muffed in big games (Alabama, ECU, Boisie State) is inexcusable. Furthermore relying on your reputation to land you walkon kickers year after year which as last year the result was spent with half the season being a liability on punting is a joke. VT and Beamer shouldn’t be considered special anymore in this department. I really hope we see a return emphasis on special teams in both return game and protecting our kickers. VT is living on the reputation of past VT teams. Teams have figured Beamer’s philosophy out, to be the best in the game you should be able to make changes to all aspects of your special teams and at least still be reckoned with and especially not to have special teams cost you in big games (Michigan most recently). Blocking a punt or field goal against a AA opponent and blocking one field goal a year isn’t special anymore, everyone does it.
We are guarding the barn after the horses have all run away?
Could be Rock.
That Special Team’s clinic about 8 odd years ago did Frank no favors.
I still do not get why he gave all of that away?!?
I get the need for a ego massage from time-to-time, nobody reading these words hates getting credit, awards, or attention. Such is fallen human nature.
Though everyone got plum after Frank after that.
That’s for sure.
b’street
B’street
Great stuff man. You brought up a lot of good points, especially your point about our d-line being so deep that maybe someone could move to linebacker. I was thinking maybe someone like Tyrel Wilson, who I am pretty sure came in to Tech as a linebacker and who only weighs like 220 lbs. I know our defensive ends drop into coverage a fair amount but I was just wondering if you thought his skills would translate to LB. Thanks.
Bull’s-eye!
Ty, any of the smallish rookie De’s and here’s a name for yah: Dadi.
Dadi in particular reminds me of a impoverished man’s X at ‘backer just begging to happen. He is too athletic and Ty is actually too strong to just stand there and only receive token snaps at De.
Both have experience in Zone-Blitz and can do work off the line-of-scrimmage. That sure seems like a break glass in case of emergency Lb to me.
b’street
if we are so good on the defensive line, just keep blitzing and that should keep their running back and tight end or ends bottled up.QBs make a lot of bad throws when they are running for their lives.This would help our defensive backs with few deep balls thrown.
Yes Sir 133928:
That’s some of it, the edges should be locked down, and you typically attack Safeties deeper than Corners. So our epic dLine should have plenty of time to get after the opposing Qb(s) before they can take that deep shot at the rookie Safeties.
b’street
Mr. Street… I n joy ev ree wurd… keep up the Webster’s destruction!
@133951:
I wonder how much longer until Williams Hall revokes my 21 hour minor in English and says:
“bourbonstreet?!? Neeeeeeeevvvvvvvveeeeeerrrrr heard of him.”
b’street
I remember Williams Hall… used to walk briskly past it every chance I had!
@Byles:
You kind Sir are perfectly welcome.
The key is found in the next 2+ weeks.
Virginia Tech either leaves this Spring Practice well-stocked with several pleasant surprises; or with several gaping holes. Take your pick.
Now, and make no mistake on this next blast: this is a quality 2012 football team.
However, this is also a 2012 football team with an oddly artificially lowered training room floor; should oLine, Linebacker, or Secondary starters start to drop like flies.
b’street
I wonder how much of the ‘depth’ issues are related to college football in general and how much is specific to VT. I would assume (maybe even at LSU and Bama) that there are some depth issues. While it is interesting to ponder, I am not sure that VT is any different that other NCAA FB teams at this point in the year.
The one, no make that two things that I’m sure of:
85 is the magic number as scholarship limits changed everything.
Secondly, VT makes more position changes than any other major B.C.S.
player that I’ve ever seen. This likewise teaches us all two things –first, that the VT staff is nothing if not dynamic. They are nobodies proverbial stick stuck in the O&M mud. However, they are also needy. As in they routinely have 1-4 positions of need each Spring Practice and August Camp and that means that people are on the move.
Finally, which makes three things; some of this movement in the past has been code for use of the appeasement stick, which we hit people with much more often than the proverbial carrot or regulation stick.
b’street
Really, the coaches have moved players to keep them happy? Not because they feel its their best chance to get on the field/field the best team? Not sure I like the sound of that.
ap·pease verb (used with object), -peased, -peas·ing.
1.to bring to a state of peace, quiet, ease, calm, or contentment; pacify; soothe: to appease an angry king.
2.to satisfy, allay, or relieve; assuage
3.to yield or concede to the belligerent demands of (a nation, group, person, etc.) in a conciliatory effort, sometimes at the expense of justice or other principles.
Honestly, I really don’t enjoy bourbonstreet’s writing style nearly as much as Chris Coleman, RaleighHokie, or Will Stewart. If I want a clever turn of a phrase, I’ll read Joseph Heller. All I am looking for is the information and insight clearly presented and supported with facts.
A catch-44 if you will; or too much Pride and Prejudice?
(the top-2 word smything efforts of all-time in my book)
b’street
I agree with those above discussing your writing. The failed attempt at a “cutsie” writing style substantially detracts from what I think is very knowledgable information.
Just give us the facts, man.
Froghokie
If I’ve figured anything out about Bourbonstreet from reading his writing I’d bet nothing said here will change him and thankfully so.
I love your articles b’street and get multiple chuckles every time I read them. Even when it takes some thinking to get the more obscure references, I find it worth it.
You can sit on the bar stool next to mine anytime – I’m buying if you can talk like you write. I just wish you could find a way to include more references to brown liquor and rocket – surgery.
Oh and why can’t we have a picture of a cheerleader in all your articles? You certainly have a gift for finding whatever picture you need. I mean you even found an attractive one from Duke. I’m just saying…
Mo’ wimminz?
Good idea…
Like this?
Wimminz are just like good-friends and good-health; you can never have too many or too much of that…
b’street
Thank you Sir!
I needed that.
b’street