tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post8016358003263052848..comments2023-09-16T05:05:59.534-05:00Comments on TechSuperfans!: TSF Recruiting 2009 - The BreakdownAnand Trivedihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08108217732167672187noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-11056139084765641402009-02-11T20:20:00.000-05:002009-02-11T20:20:00.000-05:00I agree that Stinespring would have prevented even...I agree that Stinespring would have prevented even Jesus Christ from being successful in this offense. Jesus would have been alright under center but based on what he preached, I can't see him having anything to do with a shotgun.<BR/><BR/>In all seriousness, my view about the offensive line is that some of that may have been lack of talent on the line but a GREAT majority of it had to do with scheme. When teams know what pass play is coming and they jump the first read, the QB is almost always throwing to their second read which gives d-linemen more time to get to the QB. <BR/><BR/>It took Taylor's mobility to counteract this, but next year, when he's better at reading defenses, he becomes an even bigger threat because he can make the right adjustment or see where the open man should be and the receiver will be there (unlike the first few game in the '08 season). If the line performs at least as good in '09 as they did for the final 5 games of '08, they have a chance for real success (meaning a top 50 offense). That's all a Bud Foster defense needs.MadJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715905480046854492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-3091129818493580952009-02-11T16:58:00.000-05:002009-02-11T16:58:00.000-05:00Amen to that, MadJay. We need to right the ship o...Amen to that, MadJay. We need to right the ship offensively, <I>now</I>. It's one thing to endure total offenses rated in the middle of the pack, as we did during Stiney's first four seasons as OC, but the last three years have been unendurable.<BR/><BR/>As a contributing member of the Fire Bryan Stinespring blog, you can pretty much tell where I stand on the issue. But the fact is Stiney's not going anywhere for at least another season, and we have to do SOMETHING to salvage recruiting the QB position (unless we're to become the second ACC school to run the triple option). <BR/><BR/>Sad thing is, Stinespring's best offensive move during his tenure, the Wild Turkey, does nothing to help recruit QBs. Coach Cav can't exactly go into someone's livingroom and say to a prospective young QB, "Hey, son, come be a Hokie. We run a wildcat package about 15% of the time."<BR/><BR/>No small part of the problem, IMHO, is the abject failure of our offensive line to defend against the pass rush. It's no surprise that there is a strong correlation between our total offense ranking and our sacks allowed ranking. We've been 110th and 115th in the latter category the past two season. You can have Jesus Christ under center, but you won't do diddly on offense if you can't get him five seconds to throw the ball.<BR/><BR/>Here's hoping BDC, Beau Warren, Vinston Painter, Michael Via, and the rest of the young crop of o-lineman can outperform their predicessors.Illinois Hokiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08104468960249889367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-21244575162156416482009-02-09T21:32:00.000-05:002009-02-09T21:32:00.000-05:00Illinois Hokie,Thanks for reading the blog. Lanfor...Illinois Hokie,<BR/>Thanks for reading the blog. Lanford is his given name but he goes by J.R. I think Collins was the bigger need right now but Hosley will be the better player.<BR/><BR/>I think Renner and Newsome were both casualties of Stinespring's offense (or lack thereof) and it's what has me worried about for next year's recruiting class as well. Think about it - this poor performing offense is a target a mile wide for opposing schools to dissuade top QB talent from coming here "you can go to Tech and kiss your NFL chances goodbye or come to school X and have a shot at your dream".<BR/><BR/>I also think the casualty will be Oglesby. I certainly hope so as I view the other three RB's as the better talent with KLew Jr as an acceptable fill in if either Evans or Williams has to miss a game due to injury.MadJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715905480046854492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-3205739382655382602009-02-09T21:21:00.000-05:002009-02-09T21:21:00.000-05:00An excellent breakdown of the incoming freshman cl...An excellent breakdown of the incoming freshman class, MadJay. I got into a little debate over on FBS with EBJ of Beer Control Offense as to whether Lanford Collins (notice you call him J.R.?) or Jayron Hosley was the bigger target, but the difference is academic now.<BR/><BR/>I was very excited to find out about Cody Journell's athleticism. I knew there had to be something special about this kid for Frank to offer him, and now I see what it is. With Frank's love of the fake his running skills might be well used. Let's pray he can switch to kicking off the ground.<BR/><BR/>Also, I'm glad to see Ju Ju get some love. I'm hearing whispers that he's getting a good reputation on the team and is very dedicated, with more than a few comparisons to Bryan Randall. Still, it's a darn shame we whiffed on Renner, Boyd, and Newsome. From what I understand, Renner chose the Tarheels because he's also planning to play baseball, and UNC is simply a much better baseball school than Tech. Boyd never really considered us, so losing out on him isn't much a surprise. But Newsome looked like a sure thing after decommitting from Michigan. The story I've heard is that Penn State losing its backup factored into his decision, but I smell a rat there. Ju Ju Clayton's development notwithstanding, Newsome was practically guaranteed the backup spot. One redshirt year, backup QB Tyrod's senior year, and then the show is his to run. Losing Kevin Newsome was a casualty of Stinespring's offense. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and I had to chuckle at your remarks on David Wilson, since I feel exactly the same about getting him. Did he fail to look at the depth chart and realize Evans has three years left and Williams has four? Of course, if Evans manages to improve on his monster freshman year and Williams is as advertised, both could be gone by Wilson's redshirt sophomore year.<BR/><BR/>I fully expect Josh Oglesby to transfer to another school before the Alabama game. Maybe he could fill the hole Branden Ore will leave at West Liberty State.Illinois Hokiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08104468960249889367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-24813126704066432142009-02-09T18:03:00.000-05:002009-02-09T18:03:00.000-05:00Good point Rusty. We didn't review the recruited w...Good point Rusty. We didn't review the recruited walk-ons because at this point we don't know who's going to make the team. From what I have heard Cole appears to be more of a pro-style QB who might not be mobile enough for this offense. But I haven't seen any game film on him and who knows, maybe he can get it done. As I said, I'm a lot less worried about QB in 2009 than I am about the Hokies' ability to recruit another top shelf QB going forward.MadJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00715905480046854492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-73171965577740011412009-02-09T15:48:00.000-05:002009-02-09T15:48:00.000-05:00Well technically we did get a fairly decent QB in ...Well technically we did get a fairly decent QB in the 2009 class, as Will Cole of West Virginia is coming in as a walk-on, i'm excited to see what he's made of since he won the WV high school player of the year and he's a die hard Hokie fan, didn't think there were too many of those in WV, so i give this class an A-, only because not landing Renner, Newsome or BoydAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8898194.post-34096488090064427512009-02-08T18:15:00.000-05:002009-02-08T18:15:00.000-05:00Generally, I give this class a B +. Very good cla...Generally, I give this class a B +. Very good class but not great. You can't say this is a great class without the signing of a legit straight up QB. I also would have liked to sign at least one more OL but I think Wang will make the numbers look better there. We can afford to slide Wang over to the offensive side of the ball given the number of DTs we already have on scholly. However, there is just no excuse for whiffing on all of our options at QB this year. I am not going to debate the strategy of focussing our eggs in too few baskets, nor am I going to get into the specifics of our failures with recruits like Newsome, Renner, Boyd, or other in-state targets. Needless to say they all have uniquie stories and they each unfolded in different ways. Bottom line is, we absolutely had to have a QB in this class and we did not sign one. This urgency really stems from recruiting misses in previous classes and is not solely a 2009 problem. We are now dangerously thin at QB and this will be our main focus in 2010.<BR/><BR/>Another big miss is signing a DE that could step onto the field this season and compete for a spot in the 2 deep. We are now left to depend on the youger guys stepping up to provide depth there in 2009. Again, this urgency stems from recruiting misses in previous years. You hate to be in this kind of bind at positions as important as DE and QB, but that's where we are. Hate to be a sour puss, but dems da facts. <BR/> <BR/>Other than QB and DE, I love this class and the athletes we recruited. The future looks very bright indeed and I am greatly looking forward to following the progression of these guys! Great job coaches!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com