Alpha Dogs 2023

0:45 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast with my partner. Brian, Sigler, I am Curtis Wilson and this episode is presented by dr. Lourdes Jeremy counts at the Main Street Pharmacy in Blacksburg, if you love this podcast, the Hokies the town of Plattsburgh, make sure you are supporting Main Street, Pharmacy. Whenever you make your way to town, Whether you need prescriptions a tube of toothpaste or just want to stop to say, hello, let Jeremy, his team, take care of you, the money you spend at Main Street. Pharmacy goes towards the things you love and support. So next time, you're in Blacksburg head down to 301, South Main Street, and tell them Curtis and Brian sent you buddy. We are back after a three-week iatest. I swear did not take me three weeks to work off that hangover. You sure, I swear half.

1:40 Happy New Year. First of all, man. Yeah. Eight, you know what, you do? You go out with a bang every year, right? Yeah, that goes know, definitely, that was definitely a bank. You go out, we go out with a bang every year with that episode. It's a lot of fun, you get to unload a lot of grievances. You get to say things. Normally we not say things, we may not do but, you know, shout out. Tally and Jeremy for coming on. It was a blast, if you have Listen to that episode, please. Please do go back and listen to that because it was an entertaining, two hours if you watch to live, which a lot of people did, like, Levar joined us in here that night. It was a lot of fun, man.

2:31 Now, one brief caveat before we get going tonight. I buddy, Robbie company was going to join us, is not able to Wifey a little under the weather. Whether he's having to do some doctrinal her tonight. Yeah. Yeah we got the word about two hours ago. We were like hey you know, we're flexible. It is what it is. We got something that's coming down the pike, where Robbie's going to be able to join us at another time. We'll probably Loop in some of the afca stuff. Yeah, that we were going to chat with him about tonight when he comes on then. So looking forward to that. But we still got a nice little episode playing for you guys tonight. We always, we always do.

3:12 We always do Prime, I noticed you got a few new things. In the background there, got the got rid of that clock, messy. I got rid of the clock, got a little little VT emblem. There's so changing it up a little bit. Yeah, courtesy of the in-laws. So, shout-out in-laws for the Christmas gift, shout-out in-laws, very nice, the litho finally got hung, hey, what? The graph of Lane Stadium finally got hung, where did you shift the other stuff behind there. All right. So, well, first of all, All the Virginia Tech map of Virginia is now directly behind me. The guitar painting is now over here, over next to the guitar, the gulf is over there.

4:02 You know, my wife's already been criticizing me out the way. I put everything up and she's like, it doesn't look right. Okay, I think what's gonna happen. I'm gonna take a nap one afternoon. And she's going to come in here, rearranged everything and I'm probably won't care. Either way. But yeah. But we do have a lot of, we have some things to unload tonight. I'm kind of a big Topic at the end of the evening. We're going to be discussing is through new Alpha Dogs, for the hope you. We have a lot of guys, a lot of 5th and 6th. Year seniors leaving the program after this season, and there's quite a few holes to fill. And, you know, we're going to talk about that after the break. But Brian, let's go ahead and hit it off of the bat here, and let's talk about the Her portal because there's been some action with the Hokies over the past roughly week here, and it's not all good news.

4:52 Let's start with the bad news because, you know, I'm going to be real. It came down Thursday night, Darian. Varner had decommitted from the Hokies and committed to the Wisconsin. Badgers, I'm still kind of pissed about this one. I don't know about you. It sounds like the staff was a little heated as well based on everything that was made public on the timeline. And from the words of well, at least a quote, from, from Varner himself. And I mean, I get it, the situation, definitely, you know, you commit. And we're almost three weeks down the road silently lick. Yeah, literally about literally about to enroll. And all of a sudden, you know, some new information comes down, And the flip happens and you know you hate to see it. The only thing I'll say is that You know, we talked about this when when we were talking about Varner's, you know, he was kind of a tweener.

5:57 You didn't mess, it did that impact, kind of what we were looking at for him and did what we were looking at for him impact, whether he was still kind of had his eyes out for other opportunities. It's very true. And you mentioned the tweener that you. If you didn't say it on here, you said it to me in private that he's going to play, he's going to play the five, but he's going to Play some three, you said that, you know, he's gonna play five but you the technique, you know, end over the tackle and he's going to play some three. And the funny thing is with that, why don't want to play on the inside, he's going to, you know, Wisconsin with fickle and then less physical changes his dynamic because always been a three-man front guy, he's been at since he got the Cincinnati, he's been that forever that 335 stack and he's guaranteed to play in. In, but it's a spectively the same in, you know, you know what, I don't want to get into it because again, it more, irritates me because of the timing. If the kid was not 100% committed, especially the Signing Day stuff, where essentially they had to release him because he had signed Right, that's that's whatever. That's what we usually they do not put, if someone does not sign they do not put their name, they do not go through the ceremony with them just because at Pomp and Circumstance and to my back's out or something happens, not a good and it's nebulous with the portal because

7:28 the portal, nothing is in ink essentially, until you enroll. Yeah. So the so the rules are different. But I think how it was treated, it was treated as, you know, that that official, Type notation, obviously it ended up not being so efficient, but it's but it's but it's screwed us even more. Now, what screwed us even more? Because now we were either slowing, our search or putting are putting our search on hold for another defensive lineman because we thought we were set. Now, we're kind of having to ramp that back up a little more last minute. After, you know, some of the Pickens have already been picked through. So that's unfortunate side effect of losing Guy like Verner, who we were both, you know, I think pretty high on.

8:14 Like I said, I think I thought he was at least going to be a guy that production-wise could have came in and potentially replace a lot of what garbage was doing. And we toss that with paint with having pain back him, being able to replace a lot of what what Griffin did it would be. Almost like you really didn't have any drop-off potentially, at least from what you had last year that isn't necessarily moving us forward in the direction. We want to go, but it's at least. Just kind of stopping any sort of bleeding. We have on that defensive end position well, but now we still got a staunch it a little bit, right? Yeah, we got a staunch. Oh, we gotta find someone and likely you're having to find. You've gotta.

8:54 It's now going to have to be sped up to a point. What do we now? We are. Yeah, 110 days until it's over because it started the 6:30 we get 10 days, 10 days transfer Portal, 1 is closed. And you're trying to find my Assumption was born was the older guy, a couple years of Eligibility left and probably looking for a younger guys. Well you're still having to do that search and you know it is what it is. All right, one more piece. If folks didn't see it, I don't think this comes as a shot, maybe it's a shock of what he did but not him leaving, offensive interior, offensive, linemen game, Millet Eck leaves the program and for the Instagram page was he was signing With a I guess a semi-pro team in Germany. I mean yeah it's good for him.

9:49 Yeah I'm good for him. He's up he's still able to play football getting some scratch from it. You know, had really made his way up the depth chart kind of would float and double deep one step back depending on, you know, every time we got a new crop or recruits in he'd start. So at the we're kind of too deep and then be 3D by the end of the year kind of did that a couple of years back to back. And then we kind of I think he kind of saw the writing on the wall. I'm not going to play any meaningful snaps here. Let's go. Do what I want to do. Get some time. Get some get some Going forward and go back home.

10:30 Yeah. Besides go back home and get some coin for it and you know, best of luck to him and whatever he does. But you know that again that helps that keeps getting that number towards you know what it needs to be to get the full class in plus the additional portal commits and there were two this week not one but two it was kind of being said left and right that we were going to be Getting to didn't know what to. I don't think I ever heard of name being mentioned from anybody. And if I missed it, I missed it. But the first one Brian. Let's talk about this in on three transfer portal rankings.

11:15 He is the 24 ranked wide receiver. He is from Middle Tennessee. Someone, we played back in 2021 and you know, five foot eight, hundred seventy five pound. Jalen Lane, coolest. Part about Jalen is the way on three ranked in, he was a guy who was just barely a 3-star coming out. And now he's borderline for start in the transfer portal with on three. And, you know, you looked at some of his tape. What are you seeing from him? Where's he going to play, you know, where can he play? Where do you think you're going to play? I think it what we're trying to do and just based on his skill set his frame he's going to slot in at the slot. I think he's definitely going to pair well with Felton with Jennings in the slot for this team. Especially as we're moving towards a little bit more of that Moorhead RPO going into this season with drones pulling the trigger.

12:17 I'm really excited about this group of wideouts because we went into the office. These I'm like alright so with Caleb in the portal we're looking at Lofton with 22 receptions as are our big returning wideout this year and now we've completely flipped that room over and it's going to be big. And I think the question that it also brings is that with these three guys coming in. Are we about to see some wide receiver attrition? Is that going to happen at the back end of window? One? Or we going to wait and see how they play through the Spring and the ones that are ready to jump will do. So in that second window, what are your thoughts man? Well, my thoughts on that is I think there has to be louder attrition now and in this is more for those guys than it is for the team.

13:07 If you want to sit there and try to go through spring, I mean it easily could be guaranteed that you're not given a scholarship after Springs done. You know, and you're going to have the the Lesser time in the portal, but let's look at that room real quick. You know, God, I feel like this room is getting worse than the wide receiver room, 14, total wideouts 14. It's a we debated this earlier. So he's referring, like, comparing you to the running back room under flinte. There's like nine. The, I one point he was 11. Okay. Okay wait, so that's not as bad I guess.

13:51 So at one point, he was eleven, now we got 14, wideouts, incoming, incoming, incoming freshmen, with the for you guys. Yeah, so I sit here and say, all right, I think me and you agreed earlier, it's somewhere between two or four lie. Who do you think the two or four, or who do? I mean, you sit here tonight, if you say these, two guys are going probably just because I'd say there's potential for Lofton if he's ready to be, take another step for maybe a different type of squad. I'd say there's potential for Jalen Jones, potentially Christian Moss those those three guys played a A big role somewhat of a big role at various parts of the season for us last year.

14:45 Jones a little bit less. So it was more like a spot but Lofton and Moss, obviously Moss early in the year and then then Loft and kind of up and down as the year went along, are they looking to to move on because we've got a fresh batch of wideouts coming into of which have multiple years of Eligibility remaining, it's true. I don't know, I don't know, it depends on it. They're if they're settled in their role if they want to fight to get some more snaps out there, in the games, against these guys who seem to be the until we see other tape, the starting starting three slot x, and x and z.

15:28 Yeah. So I mean I think we got those three are the guys unless somebody that was on the roster, take some big steps from last year. So do they take the spring? NG to see if they make those steps and can push those guys or do. They go ahead and try to find their future home. Now while there are more slots open and that's why Eileen say they need to go and get in there. And if you ask me, I think if I think the only two guys who I would want to stay in should stay or probably Lofton and Gosnell and I say that because we've already seen with Boeing and fontelle, is they will rotate. It's not like these with Felton Jennings.

16:09 And now Lane coming in it's not like they're going to be coming in and they're going to get all the snaps. We saw him last year being willing to rotate people in but where I get more concerned is, this is, this is just me thinking right now. I think guys like Jalen Jones dalen, right? Bradshaw I think Christian Moss less because we kept seeing Christian Moss, we kept seeing, we heard his name, mentioned a lot more than the other guys. I mean, I think it's one of those things you pick up and find a home, because if you sit here and at the end of spring, guys, like Aiden, green chance, Fitzgerald, and Baylor come in and absolutely fall. You're going to have about a 15 day window where she is now. If you put yourself in the portal with the roughly 10 days left, you're guaranteed your scholarship for the spring and you can start marketing yourselves and figure out where you're going to be going next.

17:11 Whether it is G5. F CS D to giucose in places like that. So I'll say, two things against that. So number one, Bradshaw number one on Bradshaw, I think Bradshaw's are starting slot receiver in 2025. Okay, so I don't think he is a guy that is going to transfer because I think whether Lofton stays are not, we've we've seen what Lofton can do. And I'm not sure if it, like I said, unless we see some significant Improvement and fluidity within the system in this spring, I think he's getting leapfrogged by a guy like Bradshaw in depth chart by the end of next year.

17:57 Well, I mean, but see, I was more, I'm looking at 2023 and if you tell me, can you depend on Bradshaw or any of those guys for 2023 Lofton, didn't blow it up but at least you know, Lofton can play at the Level and you do need some depth and that's what's got to be figured out in the spring. And we're going to be getting into that, in these upcoming months, which is going to be a lot of fun. Let's flip to the other commits, Brian, another really good player, and that's going to be Derek canteen out of Georgia. Southern another guy that if you take a look at, you know, when you know, he came out underrated guy, you know, basically, mid-70s, you know, so 2 Star, and now getting ready to, he is one of the top 50 Corners in the portal and he commits, you know, five-foot-ten 175 pounds and You know, you look at his stat line that I didn't get to talk about Jane Lane stat lines, which you want to go. See some go look at the Miami staff line, he torched them a few times but his his true freshman year back in covid year six pics.

19:17 That's insane. Yep. Coming out as a freshman in obviously want some Honors that year, but what's the tape talking about canteen? And, you know, little bit of regression, you know, 2021 injured. Little bit of regression this year but still playing at a good level down at Georgia Southern, but what's the tape telling you? Yeah. So look at, let's talk about a couple things. So when we talk about the tape, I see him as a very prototypical nickel Corner that has Flexibility to play outside. Okay. So I think that would be the type of role that he would have for us this year. When we look at the production, Greg Robb, see, great numbers in 2020. When you look at kind of the various metrics that are out there, not as many pics last year, little bit better when he was called on to rush.

20:10 The passer got more opportunities to do that as well. The only thing that would concern me is that his tackle Lling, got significantly worse in 2022 compared to 2020 when he really kind of was killing it. Whether that I think the big thing is as to his success for us is going to be whether that kind of regresses, at least to the mean, for us this year, if it does. And I think we're okay. I mean it wasn't egregious fall off, but it was certainly something to that kind of turns your eye, and if he can clean any of that up at all, even if he doesn't get back to the levels, he was at in 2020. I I think we'll be fine. All right.

20:52 Do you feel comfortable with the three-man rotation? And when I say three-man rotation, do you feel comfortable with Dorian? Strong coming off the field and it being only him and mental Yeah, I think so. You look at the combination of those three, kind of being the three primary corners and then you'll probably work in cam Johnson and one or two other guys in a, in some sort of occasional rotation rate, but the big three are going to be strong delaying, and then canteen in my mind, based on what we're doing so far. Unless, let somebody takes a big step in jumps one of those guys, this offseason, which I don't foresee happening, but we'll see. I feel pretty color. I feel more comfortable with those three going into the season.

21:37 Then I felt last year with the three we had, and we had a veteran group last year. We had guys that have played a lot of snaps but we just didn't have what, what I would have perceived at the time as being a true Alpha, starting the season. Yeah. And I think we're starting to see see those guys kind of emerge in that room a little bit. So I think there's going to be something to talk about there. Yeah. And as far as it goes with just a stat line, From canteen. I mean the guy still had 2:12 flexions as a corner. So so he may not gotten the ball as many times he still had a quite a few pass deflections. So we'll see. Again, I think that room is now pretty solid.

22:19 What we again? You said it. There may no be no one from the current roster that can take that big step. But I just think we want to see good gains from guys like cam Johnson to be able to supplement the Three starters in that case. All right, let's take our mind off football unfortunately for a few minutes guys, cover your eyes guys, let's talk a little bit about who's Brian, you know, Hokies currently on a four-game losing streak that goes back to the bcam that unfortunately kicked off the state of the program addresses are Jeremy decided to black out because of that game. Yeah, exactly.

23:01 That's the only reason, nothing. Else. But you know, we're talking pressure, we're talking about losses now to Wake Forest by two points to Clemson by three points and the loss. The Comeback comes up short, versions NC State by four points and this team, which was rolling going into December, is now absolutely reeling and tough trip tomorrow night to the Carrier Dome. But you know, No, just those games I mean I didn't get to see any of the State game. I was I was out with my wonderful wife, enjoying this Unbelievable Burger at Red Sox here in Richmond. That was really damn good when he went and as we leave, I look at the phone and you and Robbie and Jason and blow me up about a game like with the but yeah that one wasn't it wasn't pretty to watch it really wasn't.

24:01 It wasn't pretty to watch. And we've I mean, we've kind of seen that I think, you know, we're struggling to put consistent offense out there which is not something I thought we'd be talking about. We knew that the defense is probably going to take a hit this year. We thought that the offense was going to be good enough to compensate, but we're a team right now that needs three-point shooting to win and we're not hitting threes at the clip we need to You know, when we look at the percentage were shooting threes, it's just it's much poorer than last year. On a team that in theory should be hitting more because there are more Shooters on the floor. There are significantly better Shooters on the floor. I mean, you know, we're under 35% now from three and if you and if I, if let's go back, what I say about five weeks ago, Like we can't live like that we were going to lose games because of that.

25:05 And here in beholds, you know, we're losing games and we showed earlier in the year that we could grind out wins even when we weren't hitting, but you take a guy that plays defense, like Couture off the floor. Yep. And that's the difference between grinding out, a narrow win, and the losing streak. There were all right now. And again. So you know, you look at it and say, okay, well, some of this is fixable some of this is fix you, you Couture back, you get rice back who is a has a hair-trigger at the three-point line. We'll see if he can be a boost to this team but I think the big thing that getting Couture and getting rice back that's going to do, it's going to give you some more lineup flexibility to where if one or two guys are cold. There's there's a little more flexibility to rotate guys. In that can maybe kind of give the team a spark when the offense just quite isn't quite clicking. Like, it needs to because right now with Without rice and without Couture, there's really no one to kind of bring in from an offensive standpoint already.

26:06 That start mean no disrespect to you know, kid or Collins but the offensive standpoint they're good bodies on defense catchy few points you out there that are potiki I've done that all year but you know let's talk about Rodney and one of his better games you know this last outing but it was still you know, not until it's not going to be easy. You're not gonna get that from him. Every night exactly. I mean again we've been talking about them coming off the bench and what it's been even given about 1415. Somebody will get close to 10 the others or you know, drop in a couple points here there. But let's go back to Rodney rice real quick because Monday press conference. Might young says he has been given the okay to play Wednesday, which we found out, you know, in the press conference after the loss.

26:56 Right? Yep. You're not being cleared, which I Think, you know, I understand why you don't say that leading up because you know why let teams prepare for your different way if you're not doing that. But and he had to know that this announcement that he is cleared was coming soon when he divulge the information that he hasn't been cleared. Yeah so he had to know that he was maybe at most one game away from getting that clearance. And I get, you know, Mike young Mind Games. I get that. But you know, at the same time I think from a fan perspective, it was kind of frustrating to watch a guy, warm-up dress and then sit warm up dressed like rinse and repeat for for you know what?

27:51 Almost a month now. Gets a little tedious I think I'm going crazy, let me crazy. Yeah and then you know, it mattered I think a little bit less before the Couture injury, but I think everyone was hoping for a lift when we found out Couture is going to be out for at least a handful of games and, you know, seeing a guy that, you know, was dressing and warming up and then, you know, playing was a scratchy, it was a little bit frustrating and then when the loss is start coming along with that, that I think everybody was getting a little little frustrated with the situation. So now it's nice to kind of be able to move past that element of it and we can focus on. Alright, so what could Rodney rights do for us? And we will get to find out that pretty soon. We will get to find out on again, tomorrow night at seven o'clock on the SEC network.

28:46 So, it's actually on the ACC Network. Actually on the ACC network, not are restless for, Actually go Frank on that just because it's so annoying. All right, let's flip real quick. Just talk about the ladies real quick which they're going through some ups and downs after that. Notre Dame game, you know, they get upset at Clemson. They beat ranked UNC handle. UVA without kitley UVA. Who'd only had one loss up to that point, then they get Kelly back and they go down and lose to Miami. And you know, Louisville coming up Thursday, they're still ranked probably still safely in the tournament. The yeah, they've been playing but God what is it about January and Hokies basketball, where it's just like it's a way or it's a freaking roller coaster of Yeah, I mean and you know these are these are the Clemson, especially was a game that they should have taken care of. Let me, let me put this thanks Clark. Oh no, why is it say ACC Network on the Hokies Sports Page? Could they put, could they make that change? Just so I can be, I think I think it's all the blackout rules and stuff like technically if you're certain places they carry on the ACC network but well no, no, no. It says it right here.

30:05 It's in Make it a smaller smaller print, appreciate it, Clark for that. But, you know, can the ladies get back on track of what they were doing earlier this season over the next few weeks? You know, they Louisville, and then you're looking at Pitt, you're looking at Wake Forest, dude, Virginia. Again, it's not like until they get to Wake Forest, excuse me until you to stay. It's not like they're going through a gauntlet of big teams. Yeah, and it's going to be interesting to see how they kind of move forward here. I think that just talent-wise they're going to circle the wagons here. Should But it's been a frustrating start to January so far ten days in well, frustrated.

30:53 And more is, you know, we look at wrestling which was, you know, get some coverage again. I thought that would be on the SEC network on Friday night versus Cornell. It's essentially a top-10 wrestling match up with, you know, two programs at send players to, you know, the Nationals instead that's a thirty four Thirty and this is on ACC extra us where whoever does the programming for a like, hire me, give me seven figures. I can get you figured out real quick because they're a bunch of idiots. Yeah, I'm, I'll do it for six. You'll do it for 600 country. I love your country. I just hired me as a consultant but, you know, they go out west and have a couple good matches at Stanford, who has a couple good couple good guys looking but they beat them. They handle another smaller school out there, then they come back for the Cornell and and I know there's some younger guys on it.

31:53 I couldn't tell you everything about rustling, I'd shout out my fraternity Brother. David Fuqua, who pays probably more attention to it and could tell more, maybe. We'll have him on one day but it was a rough loss, but they backed it up. Couple days later by wiping the floor with American and Mason and I just don't know enough about wrestling. Honestly. I know someone's that was a jjz. Who was it? That said, they were at the match and one of the matches. It seemed our guy was wiping the floor with the other guy won like, three two. Yeah, I think that those JJ. Okay. I wasn't able to watch so unfortunate. I don't have a lot of insight on to kind of what was going down. I saw Sam with the big that had a big one W there so that was that was great for him, but definitely uneven for, you know, From top to bottom.

32:47 So hopefully I mean that we can see them move on from that they've already done a good job with that so far. So I think they'll keep the train to move in here. I mean still ranked still going to send some guys to Nationals. You got to at the end of the month which will be on the SEC network and that's NC State pit two of the other powers in wrestling. Again, that will be on acc Network. I don't know how that one did, but this one didn't. But you know what do I know? All right, just a couple more notes before we hit the The break here. Brian. I don't know if you read this or you know about the man, but Charlie breaker was announced that he is going to be succeeding. Mark Emirate as the NCAA president thoughts? No.

33:37 Because it's the NCAA and we'll see if a leadership change, knock some sense into that organization, but I do See it happening. This is still an organization that is nothing but a reactionary money machine and has zero interest in actually governing the sport of football, specifically, they're pretty awful across the board, but in terms of the the moneymakers for them, they are awful at governing. The sport and I foresee a time when they're going to be made obsolete. Eat. All right. Well, I think the move for Baker's just Baker is a good politician and it is a good policy maker.

34:23 I mean, I say he's a good politician. He's a republican that wanted in Massachusetts, the governorship not once but twice, which is pretty damn impressive in my opinion. But the question is, has there been so much damage done by Emirates regime? Even if you take a strong person to come in there and maybe straighten things out, like they're not going to be able to do it. Because they're so far behind, I would hope not. I would hope there is a chance and someone new comes in and can straighten it out. But I much like you, I'm holding my breath until I actually see something done. You know, just you just can't foresee it. I need to see a full flip of a lot of things before I get any anywhere on board with what they're trying to do. All right?

35:13 There's Prime statement. All right. One last piece Prine. Let's see your feelings on this. There has been a committee out there. The NCAA transformation committee, that is recommending that March Madness, expand, the 90 teams Boo. No, God. Who might mean? It's just like are you bleeping kidding me? Like 64 was perfect. And then you put 6868, says, they say it's fine. I've got, I've got no big qualms with it. I think we've seen a couple kind of come out of that those early, early rounds, and make a little noise. So, I mean, there's, there's some legitimacy legitimacy, put behind it at this point, but you can thirty two more teams on. Yeah, that's the thing.

36:07 It's like, if you said, ok, well, we go from 68 to 72, I'll have a discussion about But I mean adding 30. No, no. Well, this is the logistical point, right? Like, when are you gonna do this, like a you to literally going to like announce teams? Hey, you're in the play in tournament. You're going to go here on Monday and then you're going to play a game every day this week. I think it's done. I think the tournament is what it is, but clearly you can tell us an organization trying to make more money while ruining one. The more perfect products out there. So if it goes to 90, it's just, it's like, you gotta stop it somewhere.

36:54 You gotta stop in somewhere and you're at this, really good. Number that keeps so many people not working on Thursday and Friday. The first weekend in March stop, stop, don't do it, don't do it. All right. Y'all before guys, we get into some more top. Alex tonight, we are going to take a quick pause from our digital partners because we take a quick break. We'd like to tell you about getting your free website report from our digital partner, Grassroots, digital marketing Studio. They'll tell you how your website ranks on Google on-site, SEO and social media. No commitment to buy anything. You can get your free report by visiting. Grassroots digital studio.com forward slash free Dash website, Dash report.

37:40 Now back to the episode All right, Brian. So first note, let's hit this real quick because this was awesome. Awesome, awesome to see released. Yesterday, Corey Moore is officially a College Football Hall of Famer. It's about damn time. We had talked about this when he was on the ballot. Was it August when they kind of release the final ballot? And it was like, we went over his accolades like you cannot keep him out. What he did in 98 and 99 two-time Big East Player of the Year, Lombardi Lombardi Award winner. Nagurski also, what has been surfacing and I know Clark, put it out there. Maybe as much as you love marshawn's, I put Cory's one as far as best interviews with the Press of all. I mean, yes, 1A and 1B, and if you put them in either order, I'll sign off on it.

38:40 All-time great like big like metaphorical and literal middle finger to the media as we're going to accept rain, really accept, Randy, Randy. We're getting at The Love Ranch. I mean the man who coined the Chariot on phrasing 99 versus Clemson that game Crazy Eyes just a just a barbarian on the field literally try. And I love how he was like already in intense mode for That interview. Like he had the same eyes as he as he did when he when he when he when he talked to said, Welcome to the Terrordome baby. Same I say Mas, but it's it's great that he gets there and, you know, another hokey in the hall Hall of Fame, which is awesome. I'm Brian.

39:28 Let's flip and let's talk a little bit about the games over the last few weeks that we did not talk about. Was that not the best? Semifinals for a New Year's Eve man, having drinks, eat some good food. I mean you couldn't ask for more of those two games. Yeah I mean they gave us everything we could have wanted there were scoring. There was good. Good plays on defense. It was it was the exact balance between scoring and defense. I think it in terms of creating a good college football game, everything kind of came down to the end and bowed. I mean, that's exactly what you want. It is man, you know let's talk about the last game first. Yeah.

40:18 State Georgia game. I mean, It showed you that you know, it wasn't a lead slug Fest. Yeah, I'll say this. I think you're more of an Harrison jr. Does not get knocked out of that game. I don't think they stop them. I think that last field goal to touchdown and I think they drive it again, that's my opinion that um yeah. And I mean you had Kirby Smart with the most important time out in Georgia. Football history on the fake punt. Oh my God. And I said, I think they never I showed it. I think they gave it to him. I don't think he got, therefore, they sent that ball because that whistle went off.

41:00 Almost simultaneously. It was very close. I mean, very close. Super close. And again, that's a pretty big change, but, you know, they hang on to win. And we'll talk about what happened last night in a minute, but the first game, This is where that whole getting prepared. Can always help a team with lesser talent because TCU is lesser talented, the Michigan up and down the roster. But you saw they had that perfect game plan especially defensively, they had JJ's out, route pegged like in basically the defensive coordinator basically said you see that run, just go run to run through it. Because they didn't get one.

41:45 They got to on the exact same route and Michigan was too slow, to kind of pivot off of that or make or cause some counters off of that to kind of keep them on edge. They were too slow to do it and that end up, bite him in the ass. I mean, you know, they, they kind of put things together late, but not laying lot of the damage has already been done and TC. You did a good job of capitalizing on every mistake. Michigan made every mistake. Take what multiple Toronto the to pick sixes the fumble at the goal line. Michigan, finally get Carmen aback them into orders, 11 years later. They deserved it.

42:27 It would have been in New Orleans and even sweeter just, you know. But you know you mentioned is we were talking through this, you know, text changes stuff was basically TCU played the A-Plus game. They played their perfect game offensively and defensively. And even offensively with some turnovers. And as you can play the B game in, in that case, even with that Talent disparity, taking advantage, playing your games. They won. Now, let's flip the last night. That was not an. That was an A-Plus game by Georgia. Yeah. Georgia had the perfect game plan and they were Hydra and I'll tell I'll say this too. There is no one that is selling the the under hype better than Kirby.

43:18 Smart. Oh my God, because how many of those players say they thought we were going to be a 7 or 7 win team? This year, 8 Wednesday, which has no one I said that. But but, I mean, they had him, he had been but believing that they had been written off as any sort of contender for the college football playoff and it, I mean, it showed they, they played especially last night like it was the last game they never play. They did they play K plus and then TCU borderline brought an F game. There was no creativity, they didn't pivot off anything. They look, you said it earlier.

44:02 The book shell-shocked. Yeah, you know game. They look shook like right out the gate. They did look like they they almost got punched in the mouth. They knew what they had come to the table with wasn't going to work and they just kind of look lost and I thought there was going to be a little something when they got, they have the busted coverage, got them the big play, got down there, got the touchdown, I was like all right we got maybe a game here and then Georgia, right down the field. Yeah, another touchdown. And then, you know, what's it from there? Twenty Eight straight points before half 20 a straight after that after that touchdown.

44:50 And you can, you can tell they were pressing. I mean, you know, you went from from 31 to 38 because you're pressing so hard to score because, you know, you got to get something so terrible that I have to feel to feel like any sort of momentum and then you kind of it goes the other way and they get the other touchdown to close out the half. So it was just a comedy of errors, and a comedy of just really not looking like a team that knew what to do once, once their game plan was kind of in the trash. Yeah. And you know, the other pieces, this is where you talk about Talent. This is, this is the game. You saw that the Talon disparity was on display, but it was also the the time to prepare This was a normal game week. There were less is more less important, they finished playing Saturday night, they probably flew back home Sunday, probably rested Sunday started normal prep on Monday and with something like that when you have that big Italian disparity, you can't find the little niches. You can't find, you know, let's let's fake something. Let's do this, let's do this.

45:59 They went in there and like they essentially tried to stand up and fight. Georgia versus As you know, let's get tricky like, unload the bag, you can't do that, you can't do that with the talent, disparity, it sucked even more, that their best running back, you know, gets hurt in Michigan. The Michigan game at the Fiesta Bowl, he's out, but I think what we saw between views games, the USC, Tulane game and other games is it's going to be the reason 12 works. Right. Yeah, it's going to be the reason 12 works because your Elite teams are going to be waiting up here. And there could be no non-elite conference Champion team but with them having three to four weeks to prepare for whomever, right?

46:47 So like Kansas state will Kansas State's going to have to play a team they can destroy them. Well, if they have a month to prepare to get healed and then to open up their bag of tricks, they might pull it. I know my McDaniel, our buddy over at SI and Buddy. The most many times poke himself. Do you see a change in, who's winning the national title the next 10 years now but I think this is another short-term. Not another storm where you're going to see less, there's big coaching changes at the places that we see right now the the those that are rolling are going to keep rolling 100% 100%. But again, it's that over the time frame but also think you're going to have some Darrell has stories. And you know, occasionally Cinderella can win occasionally and I think I think we're going to see a mostly I said, I said, you know, you might have a pre Crown Champion, get knocked off in the first or second round or something like that. And then that results in, you know, a team that shouldn't be there at least being there.

47:57 Even if they don't win at all. They'll have these they'll be there again, it's hope. I keep saying that I keep saying it it's this is a sport built on hope that and if you you know for years there was no hope. Then there was a glimmer of hope then there's a little more of a glimmer of that was a big glimmer of hope for everybody out there that you know aren't your top five to seven teams. All right Brian something we talked about earlier and kind of what we're looking at this episode who are going to be the new Alpha Dogs for the Hokies. You know, we look around in there, some old Alphas out of the door. You know we look at get Silas danji, who's Joe Rudolph told us on here, back in October, he had really become the leader of that line that Caleb Smith who was leading the wide receiver room. This year who has went to Notre Dame got a guy like Taiwan Garbutt who was maybe not the most vocal leader on the defensive line.

49:01 But he definitely Was on the field, the leader because he had some of the best plays led, by example, took care of business. Yeah. Left it all out there for sure. And a couple more guys and these are obvious ones in dachshund Shamar, right? Yep. And those are guys a lot of those names that we've talked about, you know, for years. I mean, Dax is really kind of been A leader in the in his room almost since he first arrived on campus, right? And like, he's been at least one of the alphas in that room if not the guy. So it's kind of its we haven't really had at least for a linebacker respective. This big of a vacuum at the position in a long time. Mom and similar with that which Amari there, I think there hasn't really been n.

49:57 A guy in about two or three years that has kind of been on that same level. So we're going to see some interesting guys, stepping into new roles, a lot more leadership from guys that we haven't seen leadership from. And we're kind of assess that and see who we think those guys might be this year who's going to step up and kind of take on those roles as we roll into 2023. Absolutely. So let's start and let's start it. Obviously this is an offensive lineman podcast. We're going to start right there and Brian, you know? Who is the leader because it's not like anybody was standing out completely on the offensive line this year. So, you know, I'm going to I'm going to kind of pivot and let you take this. Because what are you seeing, who do you think could be the leader of this offensive line going into 2023?

50:45 I'm thinking just right off the bat in terms of guy that's that's done. It, Donnie pretty well. Pretty decent level so far Caden more. I think it's going to step into that role for the Hokies in 2023. Two-year starter now. He's done some really good things. I think took some steps from a leadership perspective, a little bit this year, you will see if in an expanded capacity if that is something that he kind of grows into heading into 2023 but I feel like he is the guy in terms of ability and production. He's got the Bona fides to step into that role, whether he can handle that from a vocal standpoint.

51:27 I'm not sure about. But I think That's something that we'll find out because I feel like he's going to be the guy to kind of take over that for the offense of line, as we had into 2023, spring practice. All right. Let me ask this, you know, we saw him on the line. He's a grinder, you know, not the most athletically, gifted guy, but there's been sort of the buzz that Jesse handsome may go to Center. I mean, I think, you know, that should happen because of how brayla more played at left guard last year but If he gets to the center position, you know, with basically, working his way, into a starting slot, starting every game this year at left guard, if you play center, could he be the person that takes the reins? Well number one, is going to depend on if that's the movie makes.

52:16 If he wins that job, I think if we don't bring anybody else in, he's going to win that job. If he moves to Center centers a little bit, less demanding from a physical standpoint which was always been probably his You straight. I don't know if he can handle some of the mental side of it, but if he picks that up, well enough, I think that, you know, a lot of times you do look to your Center is kind of being a leader. He's the guy making the calls, he's the guy kind of setting things up for the offense as a whole. You want your Center to at least be somebody when they bark you listen because that's going to have to be what happens a lot. Not, whether that guy is the true Alpha in the room or not can be, you know, debatable.

53:06 But you always want your Center to be a guy that has some some level of vocal leadership in the room. All right. Good deal. And, and the way things are heading and we got 10 days, so maybe it changes. If they go out and they find a portal lineman that has some accolades, it has some cash a from your experience. Can someone walk in off the street that had not been in that room and take a leadership role? If we're talking about by the time, fall rolls around, maybe if we're talking about between now and spring. Definitely not. Okay?

53:47 But if we want to have Guy that can be some sort of leader that he definitely needs to be on campus in the next 10 days. That's not going to be a second window thing. If you're looking for the leadership aspect, then they need to be on campus in the spring, got it. So obviously let's let's take a, you know, let's hold tight and see what happens, the next 10 days, but I'm going to go back. I think I'm with you. I think Caden wash the guy and I think he's got to take that role. It was more because as you are watching the tape last year, right? Brian.

54:27 He did. He have his mistakes? Yes. But was he probably the most consistent guy on the line in your opinion. I'd say he was the most balanced in terms of being successful in the Run game and the passing game in terms of past Pro and and run blocking. He was the most consistent weekend week out, he didn't necessarily have those Elite games but he also didn't buy them out like some of the other players did and even some of the players leadership role had a game here where they would say they would have bottomed out. So I would go with with Cade more as being kind of that steady Eddie and like I said with two years of experience starting, he's going to be kind of the Elder Statesman in terms of career snaps heading into the season as well.

55:15 Got it. Alright so next room let's look at wide receivers and this is one we agreed on real quick because of a lot of different variables and that's Ali Jennings. Even though he is a portal guy, a he's done it right. Yep. His two years that ODU he has been putting up numbers. He puts up numbers on everybody, whether it's a G5 and that's the s or the team. He's now playing for because he lit us up last Here for over 100 yards and as we B with his quarterback having no time, and an inability to get the ball, even drive the ball downfield, most of the time. So yeah, at all, but the bigger thing as me, and Brian were going through this and going through this exercise, has its that relationship with fontelle Minds because I think from the guy that recruited him at several places, got him to ODU, you know, coach them at ODU. He knows what fontelle wants and Brian. Sometimes that can be the biggest leader, if it's the guy who is preaching, the coach's message the best and has the respect of everybody, that's an easy transition. Yeah, and Jennings is definitely that guy. It's going to be a pretty easy transition to the locker room. He's a Virginia guy.

56:39 So I think that's easily going to resonate with a lot of the guys in the locker room as well. And again he's a guy that is has the Bona fides to back up what he's when he what he's saying on the field so when he barks I think those guys are listen yeah now the thing is with this though Ali is just a one-year guy so with bringing the guys in like Lane and felt that in some of the younger bucks. Take a look at you know we're going to be kind of in the same spot again last year. But the better part about this is you kind of get to see who second-in-command watch. I mean, it's one of those weird things when you hear who Ali's living with, who's around them, a lot, when we know, we'll see it when we see David Cunningham and some of the other guys videos, during some of the practices, who is his Lieutenant.

57:37 Yep. Because whoever the lieutenant is whoever's with him a lot. That's probably going to be your dog next year. It was like, when Isaiah of Don we knew can was going to be yep. That guy, he was just Lieutenant. They were friends. You could tell they, I think they live together. Even so, you know, it's one of those things where it all made sense. And I think that's kind of what the book for going in the future. All right. Defensive line because this is where me and you had a long conversation, feel like we talked about 25 minutes on it because I said, It was kind of what the offensive line to. But with the offensive line you've got sort of two groups, right?

58:19 You get your Edge and you've got your interior lineman. And how do you decide who becomes the leader out of those? Or is it sort of subsets? And I was talking to I said there's probably going to be a little bit of both, right? Yeah. So I gave the example of, you know, if I had a guy if I play guard I need to I needed to approach a leader about technique or concept of a play or anything like that. I was going to probably talk to the guy. That was ahead of me or a guy that had been there for a while at my position whereas the overall leader of the Union might be somebody different.

59:05 I'm gonna shout at Lee Bailey hear from him to Sydney 2003 All American Center He was the guy that if he barked you listen, but if I need to know something about guard play, I was going to Chad cop. So it's kind of one of those scenarios where depending on the circumstance Your Leader might be, might look a little different depending on the circumstance. But you're no. You're going to have kind of that overarching force on that unit and when we look at that, you know, could that be one of the D tackles that? Played a lot of snaps at this point, like a Pollard of fuga Kendricks could we know poller, we know Pollard's one of the most vocal guys in that room.

59:49 Big vocal guy, big, vocal guy said, I mean, if you're looking at overarching legal leader from a vocal standpoint, you know you can see him emerge, if we're looking to d-ends. I mean if Ladarius pain hasn't played any snaps for us, but he's been on the roster now for for over a year or almost a year at this point. So is that somebody that could move, to a leadership role on the from a d and perspective, we probably lost our The biggest this year and probably the factor number two. Also. Yeah, with Griffin's eligibility expiring as well. So You know who does the DN room?

1:00:31 Look to? I mean Varner gone definitely leaves some questions. I think Varner if he too came in, could have potentially been a guy that could have stepped into some type of role like that but you know Wisconsin has them now. So we got to look to the future. I don't think anybody else that you bring in in the portal whether somebody gets into the next 10 days or they come in after spring. I don't think anybody else at this point would have the cachet to step into the locker room and be that That for this unit. So we're looking at guys on the roster right now. So I think probably your d-tackle room is going to be leading the group, the better, the best place to look for a leader for that unit. This year, all right, I mean, in that makes sense.

1:01:14 And again, we had discussed actually, before Varner decommitted it was, I think the way we had it written down here, farmer could leave the room just because he wasn't all EAC performer. He had some credentials right? Yep, I've played Well, and with him stepping out, it kind of leaves a void right there. So the question is, you know, on that end. Is it paying? Can one of the younger guys step up into your point? We've got 10 days. Is there? Someone they can bring in from the portal that just clicks and we can hope right, can hope. All right, let's go to couple more rooms, the linebacker room. I think this one is sort of that twofold. All right.

1:01:59 What we talked about with the wide receiver room because I think right now Ron without a shadow of a doubt, Alan Tisdale is going to be the leader of that unit. Now the question is, is he going to be the leader of that unit from The Mike linebacker position? I keep saying I think he is I think he's going to play, let me no one else popped, you know? No disrespect Jason Keller looked good at times but you know, he's still a couple years away unless he takes a massive step this spring, but you feel like Tisdale probably knows the defense? He's shown some growth in the last year with everything that happened with the gambling thing.

1:02:39 And then not. Why not pouting going in there. Working scout team to keep himself in shape. And then Carlos has a theory about what he was doing on Scout team. My theories. He played, Mike, my theory, is he played Michael and scouting? Why wouldn't you want the most veteran guy out there being the, the mic on the scout team defense? Yeah, I mean I think you're probably right there. I liked his Dale as far as this units leadership. I think there's a lot of young potential in this unit, but there is no one else that has the snap recount.

1:03:24 The experience, the cachet is Tisdale. So I think he kind of stepped into that role at least four 2023. Now, you made the point to about Tisdale is Tisdale's. Not had the Get up here, right at career, Tisdale has had a freaking roller coaster of a career, which you when me and you were talking, you said that might be a great thing for this. Young room is the guy who has had those who hasn't had the perfect time? He's not he's not Captain America out there, he's not a guy that's like, always been on the right track or always did the right thing or this, that, and the other. He's a guy that, you know, didn't always do the right thing, or didn't always work as hard as you need to or things like that. But now, You know, he's turned it around, he's doing the right thing, he's getting it done.

1:04:09 I think he showed so much last year, especially once he was cleared to play. I think that these ready to kind of step into that type of role for this defense abso-freakin'-lutely. Now, Brian, when you started talking about this, though you mentioned the name that you said, how? He looked those last three games and if he takes that step this year, he's going to be barking you orders for a couple years. Yeah, give me Kelly lost from here. I think he could really step into that kind of 1B leadership role that Lieutenant heading into this year took a big step after switching positions and switching sides of the bowl. Like, there was a lot of things that were in flux for him. And as the season went on he really kind of grew into that role and I think you know, he sent you seen him, he's been vocal on the field vocal on the sidelines. He plays with his heart on his sleeve. Leave a lot and I think people could rally around that. So you know that that's going to be a guy to keep your eye on if he can kind of put all the other pieces together, long term, I think we got a leader in Lawson and a leader that can absolutely fall and is a freak, so awesome.

1:05:24 Well, one more room to hit Brian. We're gonna look at the defensive back room. We're going to look at that together, kind of like looking at the defensive line room and I mean everything is on the table for For the overall group leader. Very, very likely to be Dorian strong. Come springtime. Yep. And I'll caveat that within that room you could potentially see if the lane comes on more. He's still very young but I think the the season that he put out last year especially how how much he came on. Once he got an opportunity, people are definitely going to look to him as one of those guys in the locker room but I think it's strong initially just because he does have Again two years under his belt as a full-time starter and he's a guy that I think can really kind of keep the unit together and kind of work through the things when they need to work through them and to get get better as the season goes along. So I'm looking at strong as being that guy out, the gate especially in the spring because I think he's just the guy that they're going to look to as the true veteran on that unit. Yep.

1:06:42 I mean Three years playing in everything. Now we mentioned it earlier tomorrow and Connor tomorrow Connor effectively like Dax probably since 2019 LED his room but the safety room and let's be for real. I think the way it's shaping up I mean you know I likeness your peoples and everything but the waves from and played last year, the name, the caveat you know big bro. Got a pick by the way. You see that? You see? But yeah yeah. Good for Greg but I think Jalen's strowman. He will definitely need the safety group this year. I think, I don't think there's a doubt in that.

1:07:22 I just you see him. You just like it's that feels kind of like the way Greg was great. Wasn't effective leader of the D-Block. So I mean do you do you see anybody else potentially trying to taking that from him or is, do you think that's his? I think it's kind of going to be strobing and people's 18. 1B and I think you might see the spring peoples have it and then Stroman kind of takes it over as we get to the fall and that and that's okay. That kind of stuff happens. I mean, but you know, you'll see it when it happens, right? Yeah. It's kind of one of those things where you kind of see leaders emerge, if your eyes are open and you're watching what's happening.

1:08:07 So, but I think you know that, that's something where if strowman doesn't Merge out of the gate in the offseason. I think you'll see him kind of take that mantle as he starts making some of those big plays in the big games, and I think people start turning to him as being kind of, the guy, kind of the juice for that room, 100% 100%. So, you know, there's some, there's some position groups we didn't mention in here obviously. And, you know, obviously the most standout is just quarterback just because you can't call a leader that yet because there is going to be a competition. The competition petitions going to start in just a couple weeks here with winter workouts. So we did mention that one drones drones well, the account, I'm not saying you know, Gallows definitely still believe the tight end room even as good as Daquan, right? Played and the running back room. You know.

1:09:12 To me, it's still Malachi because when Malachi played the offense look significantly better last year, King has had the bigger plays Malachi. Just seems to have just the, the better fit for down by down. Yeah, that makes sense. And I think and that actually helps King because when King can be a change of pace, You're going to see him break those big plays more consistently. Yeah. But again, I go back to think about when Malachi came with Miami, right? No, not mine. Miami! I always lose. Give me a moment here. This is why I keep certain pages up. But I felt like when Malachi came in, its like, the offense was, starting to take shape, until he got hurt right Malik. I had had some big plays here there that kept the offense on the field when it, otherwise should have been off the field. Exactly.

1:10:13 Exactly. And I say from you, he's the guy that kind of makes up for he made up for some of the deficiencies that this offense had last year in spots and I think that'll open up even more. Yeah. And that'll open up even more with more rp0 this year, with less of a focus on the ground and pound play action. A little more on getting that defensive line in Conflict as to whether it's run or pass. So the more we, the more we lean on that, the easier it's going to be for these running backs and Malachi to really kind of get into games and take over games in in the reason I still say Malachi Malachi paid in three games issue. He got hurt in the Gain.

1:10:58 He had almost 250 yards from scrimmage two touchdowns in basically two and a half quarters. And if we saw in the State game, when he went down the juice, went out of the offense. Yes it did. Yes, it did. Alright, we real quick just a message here. Coach come to not able to make it, a Nike will be on with us soon. Definitely, going to talk about the AFC a conference that he attended in maybe looking at some, a few other things with some schematics will be guy there. One other thing, Brian, not trying to be political on this show, but he is a hokie is a hokie. We grew up with watching him play in that safety position and Ralph's got elected the Virginia state senate tonight.

1:11:45 So a big congrats to him. You know, good for him, ever jigna Beach, 7th District 7th District down to beach. So good for him. You know, anything else breaking. Its this is not the time of year, anything to break in anybody to lose. I mean, it's not not a lot of breaking at least, hope he related because there's nothing really. Yeah, we're taking a night. We're waiting here, who are waiting, but if there is nothing left. Brian, let's wrap up this episode of The Foundry corner. God cast brought to you by Main Street. Pharmacy, in Blacksburg Virginia, I am Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler, visit our website, boundary Corner VT.com to listen to all of our episodes again in those who did not listen to the state of the program episode, go back and listen to it, you missed a banger, it went off the rails a little bit at the end, but it was a banger well again, but it, it was also really good points made.

1:12:52 We made it and I let Sally know that he was making good points a whole lot. Yeah, there is a certain segment where, you know, Braun probably forgot his own name is when you hear him agreeing with Talia a lot. Loudly right there, we've pinpointed it. We failed in the second half of the episode. He could play a drinking game just on the number of times. I said, I'm right there with you tally. If you took a shot, every time you did that, Wrecked. You'd be as drunk as I was Levar. We appreciate it, man. We appreciate all y'all hanging out with us tonight. We got quite quite a few. Yes, it was hilarious of our proofs.

1:13:34 But why are you there follow us? Twitter? Facebook, Instagram, go to our YouTube, which is continuing to grow more and more ra preciate. Dat out there. Y'all, as always, we, let our buddy. Jason long playlist in play us out. Check him out on his website. Jason In Long music.com, I'm sure he's gonna probably be having some dates somewhere in the near future, where he's going to be playing link to all of his music. On Apple Spotify, also Apple Spotify Amazon where you can find our podcast as well. Also, check out Jason's YouTube and Facebook pages. We thank you for listening. And as always, let's go. Okey