Tech Thoughts: August camp primer v.2014: (part I)

There are always some fun story lines that abound when Virginia Tech breaks camp for August Practice 2014.

Everyone is still perfect.

And even Duke is still in first place.

Oh wait; Duke finished in first place in the Coastal last year?
Though I digress…

As I wanna explain a few things, hint or whisper at a few others and then I’ma gonna take my very first BUY, SELL or HOLD approach to any potential break-out players this camp. (well, as I’ve already run outta room after Tb and Qb scoops, I will take my shot in part II)

So let’s see what’s on tap as Virginia Tech football practice opens for business this Monday down in the New River Valley.

“It’s in the maths…”
-British colloquialism-

Unless of course it’s not! And sometimes that is the case when a player is cleared to go full; n’est-ce pas? Non? Allow me to explain.

Apparently two stud Tb’s will be cleared full to begin August camp this season.

That’s the good news. As one was uncertain (Trey) and the other one was “iffy”, at best (Shai). Trey is the incumbent Tb starter and Shai has the best pure leg talent to set foot on campus since the days of my boy David Wilson (Godspeed+ on his neck).

So that’s the great news; though do read between the lines hear (pun intended) with me. I’m told that sometimes “cleared full” means just that. The given baller and said injury are 100% healed up, no restrictions, no mental-game hesitancy. Nadda. Nil. Zero. Zilch. Sometimes it also means the player is beyond the threshold of doing any further damage and sometimes it means they (the Staff) needs to clear a player full in order to really find out and/or eval’ just how healthy they truly are; (or are not).  So God Bless Trey’s leg and Shai’s knee. And if you don’t believe in that, keep your fingers, eyes and toes all crossed that they are close enough to 100% healed to help right away. Either way, it stands to reason that the first week of August Trey and the first week of August Shai will be less “full” than their season closing counterparts, coach God willing. This segues us to the kid who may have to carry the orange and maroon mail in the meantime, if Trey and Shai are actually less than “full”, or if re-injury or another injury should subsequently occur…

…namely, my wannabe boy Mars’ Williams.

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Mars is a lotta things; and in elite M.M.A. fighting shape is just not one of ’em. Someone caught some message board flack last spring when they outed his inner-tube that he calls a gut; and one has to expect that this will only be code for another mission to Berlin. Though nothing ventured, nothing, (wait for it)  …gained.

Take a look at the above Mars’ Williams high school pho-tog and you tell me? To rip the Band-Aid and yang the tooth; directly put; I’m told he was even bigger three weeks ago. And if you don’t believe me, will you at least believe Fancy Gap himself?

“We’ll see. Marshawn, his weight got up a little bit this summer so we’ve gotta get that back down”
-Frank Beamer-

Mmmmmmm-k. Someone is also hearing that Mars’ has not exactly been Summa Cum Laude VT.edu, either. However, since when? Look again at the above pic from when Mars’ “juice” Williams played at a striated looking 210 lbs. at Phoebus High School folks. Nary was the report of him being outta shape, and yes, I did look. I could not find a single picture (or video) of a scholastic gut; not one.

So what changed?
That’s the critical part folks. As this kid has a very legitimate chance to carpe de Tech.

And why am I the only one not named Frank Beamer left asking this question?

As this kid has found about 17 lbs. since high school and not all of it is good.

I am told that Virginia Tech wants to “unleash” him @Ohio State.  I’m also told he’s that damn good men, so let’s see if he is that hungry for success and goes Jerome Bettis once he gets to Columbus.

Because if he is, and if Trey and Shai are really, truly, madly, deeply, close to 100% healed up …guess who’s coming to dinner with the Top-3 cadre of Tb’s in all of D-1 football’s 127 teams? Virginia Tech is. We are first best in Tb talent in all the land!

Qb or not to Qb…

The whispers say that someone transferred in and basically took over. I don’t know a better way to put it. Though allow me to refrain from that and add a little context here for a change. Every program has mandatory-voluntary work-outs and skeletal drills during the summer.

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7×7 work whereby only one non football staff member can observe (i.e. not coach) what is happening; (just in case of injury). Though they can report what happens, they can whisper when gathered ‘rond the proverbial water-cooler at the football office. And they do…

What am I hearing? Well first up, I find it most stimulating indeed, that one Qb walked in and basically took over. That’s pro-activity folks, whereas the other two were left playing a reactive game of counterpunching catch-up. (which I’m told they responded well enough too, and they did ante up and kick in, although why were the campus Qb’s immediately chasing? It’s a fair question, is it not?)

That’s called Leadership folks. The most nebulous and simultaneously the most elusive definitional concept that I know of, though as Supreme Court Justice Stewart once said: “you know it when you see it”, and you know right away that Mr. Texas Tech has it. The whispers also hint that this is a smart Qb who has a diploma already mounted on his wall and that he has this Hokie playbook well in-hand; and more…

• Confidence, this is the coolest Qb on the team since the days of Bryan Randall and Chase Williams may have just been demoted to ladies-man #2. Gutty, gritty, fun to watch!
• Arm Strength: I’m told he can make every single throw in the book. Me? I see a good arm, albeit not a bionic or Bradshaw arm in breaking tape.
• Delivery/Mechanics: quick-release, shorter wind-up, no wasted motion, kinda like running on the inside lane at your local high school track. Not quite textbook, more than a subtle hint of a slinger here and there, not quite textbook 12 o’clock over the top delivery, though it certifiably gets the job done. Does wield a very catchable ball, nice touch when needed.
• Vision: 20-20 passer despite being 6′ not much in height. (not the tallest tree in the woods, though he does field Pt.Guard eyes)
• Throws very comfortably on the run. Can roll to either side, giving you the whole horizontal field.
• Makes lottsa moves towards the LOS (line-of-scrimmage) when scrambling, thereby forcing the run-pass matrix of any defense.
• 4.65: this kid is a faster/better rusher than anyone thinks. 250 rushing this year –there, I called my shot. Perfect Friday Night Lights Qb! All he needs is a Lyla Garrity on each arm (see: pic).
• 71%, 5:0 passing ratio already in collegiate tow!
• Senior year Texas stats:
  Passing:  256 completions and 367 attempts (69.7%) : 4,450 yards : 43 TD’s against 7 INT’s
  Rushing: 114 rushing attempts, 615 yards, 5.39 average, 23 touchdowns!
• Utopian wild and wooly Spread offensive set fit!
• Best salesmanship on the Qb Draw in a long long time.
• Winner: Beat Johnny Football both times in high school, beaten only once on his way to 4 straight Texas quad-A championships!
• Winner part II: This kid has dropped one, that’s 1 football game since 2008 folks!!!

Stick an Owens Dining Hall fork in it … this Qb completion is done.
You read it here, first folks, something is Brewing…

Virginia Tech Qb1=Brewer, Qb2=Motley, Qb3/Holder=Leal

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

bourbonstreet**