Preseason Practice

[hokiegrad]

Playing Whip at VT may not prepare you to play Whip in the NFL (because no team really has that position) but it does prepare you to be a good football player. It's a position that emphasizes instincts, sound tackling, and blitzing. A good VT whip should be able to play 4-3 OLB or safety. That's what we've got to tell guys when we recruit them because obviously other teams are telling recruits otherwise. Losing Stephone Anthony still hurts.

Agree that losing Anthony hurt, especially losing him to Clemson. But what does that have to do with our whip position? Maybe I'm wrong, but wasn't Anthony more of an ILB recruit? I believe he's supposed to be Clemson's starting MLB this year.

 

[robV703]

Agree that losing Anthony hurt, especially losing him to Clemson. But what does that have to do with our whip position? Maybe I'm wrong, but wasn't Anthony more of an ILB recruit? I believe he's supposed to be Clemson's starting MLB this year.

I think we were recruiting him as a whip. He probably could have played, and excelled at, any LB position though.

 

[VTfoozball]

Everybody can believe what they want, I'm just going by results. They say that top notch LBs don't like us. VT doesn't seem to have a good rep attached to it with its scheme, the NFL, etc as far as LBs are concerned

 

[hokiegrad]

Everybody can believe what they want, I'm just going by results. They say that top notch LBs don't like us. VT doesn't seem to have a good rep attached to it with its scheme, the NFL, etc as far as LBs are concerned

Deon Clarke and Trey Edmunds were both 4 stars. We definitely lost a few that hurt, but I'm sure there are lots of reasons for that. One of which may have been concern about scheme in some cases, sure. But it certainly hasn't been the only factor if it has been a factor. Let's say you're right, though... what do you suggest? Changing our whole defensive philosophy? Have you considered the downsides of that? Don't try to fix what ain't broke.

 

[VTfoozball]

No I'm saying leave Edmunds at LB

 

[robV703]

Everybody can believe what they want, I'm just going by results. They say that top notch LBs don't like us. VT doesn't seem to have a good rep attached to it with its scheme, the NFL, etc as far as LBs are concerned

It's a catch 22. If we recruited better linebackers they would be playing in the NFL and it wouldn't be so easy for recruiters to pick on our scheme. Our future at LB is brighter than it's been since Hall Adibi and it will show in wins, future NFL players, and future recruiting.

 

[hokiegrad]

No I'm saying leave Edmunds at LB

I know... ???

Whether he stays at LB or not, he came in as a LB recruit, i.e. he was not scared away by our scheme.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Adibi and Hall were both 4 star linebackers

Bruce Taylor and Qullie Odom were also four star guys, slotted at linebacker.

Deveon Simmons was a 4 star

Tariq Edwards, Chase Williams, Telvion Clark and Brian Laiti were all high three star guys.

We struck out in 2011, but outside of the year we had Warren and Sturdivant at Mike and Backer, I don't remember feeling we had less than top talent at that position.

Star rankings aren't everything. I will take Jack Tyler over Telvion Clark 1000 times out of 1000.

 

[robV703]

Adibi and Hall were both 4 star linebackers

Bruce Taylor and Qullie Odom were also four star guys, slotted at linebacker.

Deveon Simmons was a 4 star

Tariq Edwards, Chase Williams, Telvion Clark and Brian Laiti were all high three star guys.

We struck out in 2011, but outside of the year we had Warren and Sturdivant at Mike and Backer, I don't remember feeling we had less than top talent at that position.

Do you think Adibi and Hall haven't had significant NFL careers because of our LB scheme? Edwards, Williams, Clark, and Laiti were considered to be solid recruits, but none of them were on Bruce's level. I think Edwards and Williams could be very good college players but I don't think they have the size and athleticism to play in the NFL. Bruce does, and Clarke and Edwards will.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Do you think Adibi and Hall haven't had significant NFL careers because of our LB scheme? Edwards, Williams, Clark, and Laiti were considered to be solid recruits, but none of them were on Bruce's level. I think Edwards and Williams could be very good college players but I don't think they have the size and athleticism to play in the NFL. Bruce does, and Clarke and Edwards will.

Well, Adibi was doing fine until an HGH head took his spot and played out of his mind. After that he had trouble getting into a scheme that benefitted him. I think he would make a great 3-4 inside backer. Vince Hall never had the speed to play at the next level after the torn up knee before the Orange Bowl.

Odom has been the most highly touted LB recruit we had up until last year and he just never panned out. Simmons never made it Tech and Bruce started at DE.

During the time frame we switched from a 4-4 to the current 4-2-5 (call it what you want, but that is what it is) and that hurt a bit.

Our Whip is a perfect fit to a 4-3 OLB in the NFL. Grimm is the exception as he played at like 190 pounds soaking wet. Guys like VanDyke, McKinnon etc. will be perfect 4-3 OLBs moving forward. They have been the type of guy we want (210-225 lbs and tall) James Anderson is our ideal Whip, not Cody Grimm, from a target perspective. Edwards was a Whip target who got really big when he got here.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Also, I think that Edwards has a really good shot at being a 4- OLB or even a will side 3-4 ILB. He has athleticism to burn for his size.

Jack Tyler will get a shot too. He is undersized but a straight football player and you an't measure that on any scale. He may only stick on ST but he may also become Zach Thomas. Who knows.

 

[robV703]

Well, Adibi was doing fine until an HGH head took his spot and played out of his mind. After that he had trouble getting into a scheme that benefitted him. I think he would make a great 3-4 inside backer. Vince Hall never had the speed to play at the next level after the torn up knee before the Orange Bowl.

Odom has been the most highly touted LB recruit we had up until last year and he just never panned out. Simmons never made it Tech and Bruce started at DE.

During the time frame we switched from a 4-4 to the current 4-2-5 (call it what you want, but that is what it is) and that hurt a bit.

Our Whip is a perfect fit to a 4-3 OLB in the NFL. Grimm is the exception as he played at like 190 pounds soaking wet. Guys like VanDyke, McKinnon etc. will be perfect 4-3 OLBs moving forward. They have been the type of guy we want (210-225 lbs and tall) James Anderson is our ideal Whip, not Cody Grimm, from a target perspective. Edwards was a Whip target who got really big when he got here.

After watching his film, and all the other obvious similarities, I can't help but compare McKinnon to Polamalu. You could even compare what Polamalu does for the Steelers to our Whip position.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Poamalu is freed up to play like he does by the often overlooked yeoman's work that Ryan Clark does in that 3-4. He did the same playing beside Sean Taylor.

McKinnon (in his HS tape) is a better tackler than the vast majority of high school players are right now. His head position is perfect and he forklifts like they teach you too. I have no worries about him being one on one in space with a guy. I like him as our most underrated guy from last year's class.


BTW, Kwontie Moore will be a gigantic bust at LB or move to DL. I have said that since last year and stand by it. He is slow stiff and built totally wrong for LB. He should eat a lot and move to DT.

 

[robV703]

What really struck me was his blitz ability and the speed he plays at. That and the hair.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

What really struck me was his blitz ability and the speed he plays at. That and the hair.

I want to see McKinnon and Motuapuaka out there together!

 

[HoHumHokie]

Adibi and Hall were both 4 star linebackers

Bruce Taylor and Qullie Odom were also four star guys, slotted at linebacker.

Deveon Simmons was a 4 star

Tariq Edwards, Chase Williams, Telvion Clark and Brian Laiti were all high three star guys.

We struck out in 2011, but outside of the year we had Warren and Sturdivant at Mike and Backer, I don't remember feeling we had less than top talent at that position.

Star rankings aren't everything. I will take Jack Tyler over Telvion Clark 1000 times out of 1000.

James Anderson has had a pretty solid NFL career at LB.

 

[sparko]

DJ Coles cleared to play .. and some other notes

Observations from Tech's practice on Friday

 

[hokiegrad]

Mike Barber ‏@RTD_MikeBarber
Virginia Tech freshman linebacker Deon Clarke battling redshirt freshman Josh Trimble to make the two-deep, per VT. #Hokies

 

[hokiegrad]

Mike Barber ‏@RTD_MikeBarber
Virginia Tech freshman linebacker Deon Clarke battling redshirt freshman Josh Trimble to make the two-deep, per VT. #Hokies

updated depth chart on hokiesports.com shows Clarke as 2nd string and Trimble as 3rd. Other changes in the 2 deep:
* as mentioned above, Coles is cleared to play. He's listed as co-1st team with Dyrell
* Laurence Gibson moved into the two deep at RG. Farris is no longer listed at RG, only @ C where he remains 2nd string.
* Michael Cole is no longer listed as injured, and has resumed his 2nd string rover position

Irick, Tookes, and Keyserling are no longer listed as injured, but aren't listed on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd teams, either. Wondering if Tookes will show up on the next update, or if it's just too late at this point...

 

[HoHumHokie]