Spring Practice

[HoHumHokie]

Norm Wood‏@normwood
Beamer said Augie Conte will work No. 2 LT, Adam Taraschke No. 2 RT, Nick Acree will work at OG. Gibson No. 1 RT, Shuman No. 1 LT

Mark Giannotto‏@HokiesJournal
Beamer said LB Tariq Edwards looks like he's back to full health these days.

Zach Mariner‏@ZMarinerCT
Beamer speaks highly of Demitri Knowles. Says Joel Caleb is also in the mix for time at WR. Charley Meyer, E.L. Smiling, as well.

Zach Mariner‏@ZMarinerCT
Frank Beamer says D.J. Coles, Andrew Miller will be ready for spring practice.

Andy Bitter‏@AndyBitterVT
Beamer said Josh Stanford medical redshirt decision hasn't come back from NCAA yet (presumably Deon Clarke too). Hoping it will soon.

Beamer Ball‏@Beamer_Ball
Couple position changes for spring: Jack Willenbrock to TE. Jerome Wright and
Fuller Hoepner to FB. Josh Trimble & Derek Dinardo to Whip.



I thought I heard Willenbrock was going to play center....now he's at TE?!?

 

[NickVT10]

Loeffler may need a good blocking TE for his scheme... I had heard Wang was working at Center some too

 

[hokiehi21]

Good news on Tariq. Dude's a speedy playmaking LB that we really missed at times last year.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Couple thoughts:

1. I think and have said a bunch that losing Edwars was the biggest glow to our defense last year and cost us games. His athleticism at Backer made him fantastic though somewhat unheralded. I think he will be our defensive MVP this season.

2. Conte and Taraschke being where they are doesn't surprise me too much giving what we had been hearing from the scout guys. Great news.

3. Willenbrock to TE? Mmm ok?

4. I am a huge fan of DiNardo and think he would be a great Whip.

 

[Camfantasy]

Couple thoughts:

1. I think and have said a bunch that losing Edwars was the biggest glow to our defense last year and cost us games. His athleticism at Backer made him fantastic though somewhat unheralded. I think he will be our defensive MVP this season.

2. Conte and Taraschke being where they are doesn't surprise me too much giving what we had been hearing from the scout guys. Great news.

3. Willenbrock to TE? Mmm ok?

4. I am a huge fan of DiNardo and think he would be a great Whip.

I agree with ya 46 on all accounts. Willenbrock is kind of intriguing to me at TE. Should be a beast in short yardage/goal line packages. I think we all remember his high school tape where he was actively running down field clocking people. His strengths could be really magnified out there on the edge in a running situation. Not sure of him as a pass catcher though of course....but all TEs don't have to be Randy Moss when the ball is in the air.

 

[sparko]

my thoughts on willenbrock: not sure of his measurables but he seemed borderline too small to play D1 as it was. maybe he's shown to be more athletic and plays better smaller and will serve as a good option for "blocking" TE .. the glaring thing that this tells me .. this talk about Lefty running 2 and 3 TE sets may be more than conjecture. redzone offense bitches

having 2 young'ins at tackle is exciting. i think if acree is up to snuff medically that wang does move down to center and continue to back up at LG .. dude's a weight-room monster but a little soft on the field with technique that leaves a lot to be desired.

wonder where our WRs end up this season?? and wonder if some of these young ones can be difference makers on special teams too.

 

[Camfantasy]

I'm thinking its going to be the DJ Coles and Knowles/Caleb show this year.

I will be pissed if Jarrett isn't returning punts.

 

[Hokie Swagger]

my guess is that willenbrock couldn't put on enough weight to be a d1 offensive lineman...i remember rivals listing him at 255.

shuman--wang/acree--miller--benedict--gibson

seems like what the line is as of now...

 

[hokiecheme11]

Along with Loeffler talking about 2 TEs was talk about really actively using a FB, and I think that Jerome Wright is perfect for that

 

[HoHumHokie]

my guess is that willenbrock couldn't put on enough weight to be a d1 offensive lineman...i remember rivals listing him at 255.

shuman--wang/acree--miller--benedict--gibson

seems like what the line is as of now...

I've seen enough of Wang at LT....time for someone else to get a shot whether it be acree or a freshman. Wang could have success at center given his shorter stature, but he had no business being on the field last year.

 

[sparko]

wonder where farris fits in?? center and LG??

 

[Hokie Swagger]

I've seen enough of Wang at LT....time for someone else to get a shot whether it be acree or a freshman. Wang could have success at center given his shorter stature, but he had no business being on the field last year.

i agree...hopefully he is a reserve this year...just get the feeling that right now he is a starter, no inside info there. i am sure farris will battle for PT as well with want and acree

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

My guess is Miller, Benedict and Ferris will end up our inside starters with Arkema as our main backup. These guys will get completely new coaching and they are the three nastiest of the bunch by a long ways, on tape. They just need coaching (Miller aside, who is already very good).

 

[hokiegrad]

I was disappointed with Miller last year. He had some serious gaffes. But hopefully Grimes can work that out.

I would expect to see Wang play much better this year, recovered from the injuries he was plagued with a season ago. Not saying he should start, but I'm not as dead set against it as a couple of the comments above.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I'm not so much against Wang. I just think the constant injuries to his feet and ankles are going to really hinder him. He carries his weight in a way that really stresses his legs and feet and that worries me. I hope I am wrong though as I really like that kid a lot.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Oh BTW, did I mention:

SPRING FOOTBALL!!!!

Permission to FREAK OUT!!!!!

 

[wildturkey]

Zach Mariner‏@ZMarinerCT
Beamer speaks highly of Demitri Knowles. Says Joel Caleb is also in the mix for time at WR. Charley Meyer, E.L. Smiling, as well.

?

Not to be a dick but my reaction to the bold was "he damn well better be". Seriously, lol. I know Beamer does a lot of coach speak and says the obvious but that was just one of those "really? Really!?" moments.

 

[HoHumHokie]

Hokie Sports has updated Heights/Weights.

http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/

D.J. Coles at 238 lbs.....seems 15 to 20 lbs to heavy to me.

 

[NickVT10]

Coleman listed at 177. Wasn't he at 190 last year?

Gayle at 253. I thought he was also bigger last year (might not be bad since he is still putting up big weight room numbers)

Manning in the 175 range is a bit better than where he was.

Willenbrock is at 245 so that makes more sense for him to be a TE

 

[hokiegrad]

Lots of weights haven't changed (including Willenbrock), so I'm not sure they're finished updating the site yet.

before -> now (with 5+ lbs. diff)
JC: 192 -> 177
Ekanem: 249 -> 242
Bonner: 198 -> 189
Coles: 226 -> 238
Holmes: 208 -> 215
Irick: 204 -> 197
Greene: 172 -> 187
Edwards: 237 -> 232
Hughes: 190 -> 201
Manning: 155 -> 174
Facyson: 173 -> 183
Branthover: 184 -> 193
Dyer: 196 -> 201
Collins: 261 -> 252
Abbott: 182 -> 189
D. Jackson: 263 -> 269
Acree: 321 -> 316
D'Antuono: 256 -> 271
St. Germain: 212 -> 225
Alford: 247 -> 239
Journell: 195 -> 181
Maddy: 288 -> 295
N. Williams: 285 -> 270
Marshall: 267 -> 260
Hopkins: 306 -> 312
Gayle: 269 -> 253
Burns: 206 -> 216
Eberly: 190 -> 216
Hoepner: 227 -> 249
Jessop: 204 -> 215
A. Jones: 182 -> 176
Keyserling: 205 -> 199
Mapp: 286 -> 296

Quick thoughts beside what others have said: Not sure I like to see Bonner losing that weight. Hopefully Collins slimming down will bring back some quickness. D'Antuono is huge compared to St. Germain! Can't see how Journell losing that much weight could be good for his distance (could that possibly all be fat?). Nigel Williams losing that much makes me wonder about his chances at the backup DT spot.

Also noticed that McKinnon is showing up on the roster again. And Willenbrock is no longer assigned a number.