Bye Week Recharge

0:46 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast, along with my partner Brian Segal. I'm Curtis Wilson and we're back Brian on a Wednesday night. Here we are back on a Wednesday Curtis. Get some Gatorade, a little bit of food in him. Feel a little more up to speed tonight. We're getting there. I'm alive. I'm not dead. Not dead. It's 24 hours. I mean, it was, it was A brutal day yesterday. But obviously, we push through it. I push through it. Obviously, you push through it. Brian last night, talk about that in just a second, but before we get everything rolling tonight, Brian, this episode is presented by dr. Lord term Accounts at Main Street Pharmacy. If you love this podcast, the Hokies the town of Blacksburg. Make sure you are supporting Main Street. Pharmacy, when you make your way to town, Whether you need prescriptions a tube of toothpaste of just want to stop in and say, hello, let Jeremy and his team take care of you, the money, you spent at Main Street. Pharmacy goes towards the things you support. So next time, you're in Blacksburg head down to 301, South Main Street, and tell them Curtis and Brian sent you. Yes, sir.

2:02 And Brian, before we get into a lot of the stuff tonight, we're going to look at the Miami recap. We're going to do a little fun, what if game after the break. But we're going to roll it off tonight. You The opportunity, it was streamed live last night. And for those who missed it, we're going to show it again right here. Brian sat down with kokis defensive tackle, Josh, fuga and it a little one-on-one interview. So here, is that interview guys out there lister's we got a big night tonight. We've got the one and only Josh fuga coming on with us tonight. The 6230 to pound defensive tackle wearing the number 6 and hailing from Freedom, High School, in Woodbridge Virginia.

2:44 And I'm going to go ahead and bring him on right now. Josh, how you doing tonight doing good, I'm doing real good doing real good. We really appreciate you having coming on tonight with us and and speaking to the listeners we got some guys listing live here. So but we're going to have a few questions for you and again, appreciate you jumping on tonight, of course, I appreciate HIV. So I just wanted to start off with this. You've had some kind of great games your career already at Virginia Tech so far, but you seem to Don't be hitting your stride this year. Especially three great performances from you in a row. The last three weeks. Do you feel like, everything the coaches are asking of you at your position, is started to click for you?

3:28 Or is there something else contributing to that success? All I believe is, is more me buying in and embracing my role as a player on the team, knowing my strengths and my weaknesses. So I think me actually honing in on my skill sets and actually believe them. Like okay, this is what I'm good at. So I'm going to go ahead and put down display for everybody. Awesome, awesome. I love to hear that and I know I think you had talked about earlier in one other spot. I saw, were you talking about buying in and just the difference that kind of the culture that has been changed, you know, kind of since you've been there. So let's talk about that a little bit. How did you approach?

4:12 That regime change that happened at the end of last season and has there been a part of that change that has had an impact on your preparation or your On the field. The most I really embrace the change by. I knew how to change. What's going to be the severity of the change. But what I did is like I knew I wasn't going to leave or not like that. I had no intentions of leaving first and foremost. So I knew that if I want to become who I am right now, I got to work harder, so there's more weight room or more film study all that. And the change that actually happened this year. I think he's actually pretty good because one thing that this coaching staff bought into their mindset was mainly competing and everything we do on and off the field. And I believe that what that change in that mindset that they instilled in US was pretty pretty good. We really needed that as a team, it may not be showing it right now but we are really competed on and off the field because what we do off the field correlation Do on the fields. Yeah it sounds like you.

5:25 As soon as you saw that coming you kind of double down on your approach and I do your preparation and stuff like that. Yes, sir. Awesome awesome. And, you know, speaking of that you kind of you've been a rotational or starting player for the Hokies for three years. Now, what's been the biggest difference for you? From a schematic perspective? In coach Brian? Coach Marv system compared to your first two seasons in Justin Hamilton's defense. I think the schematically fogging is allowing allowing the, the front for didn't actually eat more like they're good. They're going to put us in position to make plays, okay?

6:07 So I say they're going to do their best to make sure that we're doing that. We are here to for this specific play and it's up to us to actually execute that play and make the plays when it comes to us you know. You got to stay in the framework and not do too much and I believe that we're doing that and I believe that's the whole the change of everything from the other staff to this stuff. Okay. So a little bit more Controlled Chaos. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I like that. I like that. And kind of speaking of that I know we talked a little bit off are before you jumped on here. I know we're still early in the bye week but what has been the emphasis from coach Pride this week so far as it. Been more NC State prep type stuff. Since you've got the Thursday night or early coming next week, or is it been more about the scheme in the technique and trying to polish some things from the first half of the season?

7:03 I believe like his message, from what I've what I've gotten is what can you do individually? To better this team as an old, like I said, in other interviews is that even though what we're going through, may not be all rainbows and sunshine this week, could have been a better time for us to have a Bible. Gives us opportunity to really reflect on what's going on as a team as a program and also as individually as a player. So I think it's a perfect time for about So we can really actually take strives and for the next half of the season.

7:46 Yeah. It's it does seem like it's coming at a good time. I think, you know, you guys have seen had some good games, had some areas where you feel like you could, you know, have improved trying to put the whole picture together. I know price talked a lot about complementary football, kind of everybody. Rowing in the same direction at the same time, right? And I, you know, as you said I think it's a good time for a bye week. You can start maybe putting some of those pieces together, for sure. Yeah, let me ask this. So you came in Virginia Tech already kind of One level size at 61 300. What? Components of the strength and conditioning program have helped the most in your progression on the field since you've been in Blacksburg I'll say the the conditioner. Yeah so when I first came here 2019 I'll never forget I graduated high school, June 9th of that year and then June 10 was already like Like my report day? No, I actually graduated June, June 1st and my report day was June 10 so quick turn around.

8:54 Turn around, well, coming in. I remember five o'clock in the morning, we had to put our cleats on and get on the Baseline that we had to run. This thing called 300-yard, Shadows, that steady back, 50 back and 50 back for the whole week straight. I didn't make not one of my times so I'm almost who it is. Then after, you know, gassed out. It's hard to make my times and it's embarrassing. Like to be honest embarrassing like you got the class that came in with you like looking at you like you're like he's not ready and I kid you not after that. Very first week God did the whole shuttles till that point I never miss a time I'm either one of the top guys finishing and all that. So it's really me embracing that. Okay, this is what it is to take to play at this level. I got that be able to Be playing 50 plays or whatever it is. I got to be strong.

9:50 So it's just me buying in and the conditioning and all the strength that that, that, that they implemented. Yeah, now I can definitely commiserate with that a little bit. I played III back in the day and I remember getting there. And, you know, the first thing they're doing is the conditioning test. And I was like, oh, okay, this is this different level of conditioning, than what we were doing, you know, back in high school and the first, first week was rough. I definitely missed about two or three the times that first week. You know what? You got to get your feet under your little bit. You're like, alright Ike, if you push through a little More you start just getting under the time and then you can start building off that for sure.

10:32 Yeah, yeah. All right, so let me ask this because little bit back on the on the strength and conditioning stuff. Since you've been in Blacksburg anytime we see those offseason workout videos. I tell my buddy Curtis does the show with me? And I've said it on here before you've got the best Squad face on the team by far. It's not even close man. But let me ask the question from this perspective does make him Squat Friday, almost like these big weekly event helped the team push through leg day each week because I know that's always like the the toughest day to get through.

11:14 Yeah, that doesn't know about it is its opposite day to get through. But I think actually actually benefits us because we're all were all there once a week and we're all there, watch it, one guy at a time so push the weight push his Max. And that just that bills that Team chemistry that team camaraderie that look I got your back. If you do this for one time, you know. And and it gives that person that confidence whoever's under that squat bar below. Okay, everybody watching me. I'm not gonna miss low but I know that they got me and I'm gonna do my best to get this one rep. So if it helps build that team, camaraderie in that team chemistry for real, I will throw this on here boy, Vic, Virginia, Tech Les.

12:04 He said, tell my guy figure, he's got got a fan and Dwight Vic, and freedom is serious this year. Just a, yes, sir, I know y'all. So, let's ask this, you've been playing under JC price. Now, for two seasons, we're seeing his impact a lot more on the line this year. Not just from, you know, the director of the wreck stuff with the coaching, but a lot of the culture type stuff. Lunch pail has bagged all collar. What does it mean to you to play for a coach to kind of help build the foundation and the culture?

12:49 The program that you're now part of the coast pies and he's a God that embodies our what Virginia Tech is. So this is actually like his first time like took the two years he been here. Is his first time actually gained control of them. All four guys, man, this is so like last year we had built a link, so we would all be under him and then close power coach, the ends. But this is his first time I actually get in the hole. Whole deal on as a whole. And I'm telling you, like, he what he teaches at how he coaches, it's a different style of coaching I've ever seen. He's actually passionate, he's very passionate. What he does the dog mentality dead, the front for got to have every game, no matter what it is, like, you gonna, you gotta play like this in order to be successful, and he does a very great job, trying to instill that that mindset. That Now, we got to have every game and everything that we do in life just outside of football and I'm sorry plan to close price is actually a blessing for me. That's also and we saw it.

14:00 I mean, anytime he's in front of the camera. Anytime he's on the bike. I mean, you can't, you feel it? And we saw when we, I mean me and Curtis are fans from way, back in the in the mid-90s when Coach Price was still was still a Virginia Tech as a player. So we kind of go back that far and we cut remember that mentality that he had as a player and it's awesome to hear that he's bringing that to y'all's meeting room deals position Roop and you know seeing every time he gets in front of the mic especially you know, after UVA last year. That was an emotional moment for him, man. So it's awesome that he brings that same energy to practice to meetings and stuff like that.

14:44 Yeah, every day every day. Awesome. Well, you know, we know, Great of an environment Lane stadium, is to experience a college football game. And but I'm curious from your perspective, what are some other stadiums that you played at during your time with the Hokies that have also kind of stood out for you as having that type of electric atmosphere? I'll say for me personally, was West Virginia last year. It was electrifying, you really couldn't hear nothing, as soon as you got out. It was a pretty cool environment. Moment. But I will say Lane, stadium is top, top notch, no, nothing being Stadium, wasn't filled.

15:26 So, but for me personally, I'll say West Virginia. Last year was pretty all rocking. Was it kind of the combination of the the Rivalry, the the fans just kind of little bit of everything that was contributing to that. Oh yeah, I say likes to pull it pulling up. Shut up to the stadium and sell like, you can see like you feel that the whyville And everything that this game that game meant like we're not just trying to win the game like we're trying to compete for trophies and trophy game. Yeah, like as soon as you get to the stadium, you'll feel that atmosphere That's awesome. Yeah that that's one of the stadiums that I would like to check out. I've not been there.

16:10 You know when when I was coming to games early earlier in my life, when I was a college student that was when West Virginia was known for some of that dirty stuff that people were talking about. Like, oh yeah, throw in batteries and you know, all that stuff at game. So you know some people tried to as far as visiting fans, tried to stay away from that atmosphere but you know I've heard. Late, it's a lot more more tame, but still still pretty raucous. In terms of the noise, they make in the passion that they bring to the stadium. So, let's ask this, this little more fun question for you in the deal. I room. You got a lot of different personalities, a lot of back different backgrounds. What's the big kind of off the clock, like competition or thing that you guys do, kind of as a group as a video games, is it pick up Hoops?

17:02 You know, what kind of things do? Y'all do off the clock? Off the clock, I will, I would say that it is mainly basketball, I pick up so like coach prize will have, was sometime come to his house, but just grub and just fellowship and I say, he has a basketball hoop and I'll tell you as soon as you get there, somebody got a basketball. And where are you trying to play 21 or King of the course? Something? Like weird. It doesn't matter because possibly like, there's no Duncan. But, you know, some guys will try to dunk here. How about we try to compete regardless? So I say like basketball, something like that. Okay, he's right. He's trying to protect his hoop, right? You don't want job, bringing the hotel right now. You're not.

17:46 He doesn't get that. He stays out the way where everybody else is out there playing playing with the basketball, or some guys will be playing pool or something like that. Oh nice. Okay, okay, good stuff. Man, I figured is Hoops. Usually everybody that comes in here, it's always Hoops for so, you know, 21 was are Game back in the day. So, I'm glad that that's carrying it through for some of the d-line group. Now, to, all right? So last question before I let you go tonight. Yeah, we always ask this when we have players on former players? What's the go to Food Spot for you? In Blacksburg? Go to and I don't have anything.

18:34 I would say, I'll say Jose. Okay, who's the breakfast diner? Yeah, yeah. That that little that little spot you know, the little coffee shop I like to refer to as but that and got some good food over there. Yeah they do have some good food. You're the first person I think that said Jose in a while so I think it's underrated to to a point. But I mean anybody anybody that's been there especially certain times a day They know what's up? No doubt. Well I appreciate you jumping on with me tonight. Sorry you didn't get to meet my partner in crime there. Curtis feeling under the weather but we appreciate the time and if there's anything you want to plug real quick, go ahead. Appreciate everybody tuning in and be ready for us next week. Thursday ESPN Prime sign against NC State. Go Hoagies.

19:34 There we go. And that's Josh fuga. Appreciate your time. You have a good night. Appreciate you, too. We are now back and it automatically, after that interview it makes me want to we have to invite you as fuga back next season for interview with some point time since I didn't get a chance to miss him and then discuss, how many the question? Now the question that we had them on once with Joe's Diner is not only okay what's his go to but how many because obviously you know Joe's Diner, huge breakfast all that good stuff like would it be like you know You know, three small, Joe's three. Big Joe's mean how much is job with? What's the go to order?

20:20 Let's go to water and how much it's like the new Taco Bell. It's 28 dollar challenge 2828, Taco Bell and we were like, oh my God, you're inside, you're going for a family of four, what are you doing? What are you doing? But anyway, it was great. That he came on last night. We run also view to get a chance to interview him. I'm surprised you didn't get more technical about what would be happening if you were God? He was d-tackle, haha, maybe next time, but maybe next time, maybe they're also having Josh own Josh. Again we appreciate you coming on last night if you're listening tonight. All right. Well let's flip it, Brian. Let's get into this Miami recap and you know, Hokies fall 2014 and I'm going to start right off with the offense because probably after playing their best game of the year against Pitt, excluding really much. Each the laughs has of the fourth quarter. It was literally the worst game we've seen from this offense for 3/4 now.

21:19 I mean, the first three quarters. I mean, I'm not even gonna take the first series that with the big run by Malachi to open it in the big pass by Daquan that he fumbled and games territory. But before the fourth quarter after that fumble, they crossed the Midfield one time and I didn't get to see. I didn't see any of the game except the condensed version, which I watched three times. Condensed versions are great, but they are what they are, but I'm following them, my phone at baseball. The second half, I listen to Bill, and Michael on the radio, it's awesome to hear them. Just to say that whether it's a losing effort or not. But Brian, you did get to see the games. Let's talk about the play calls and what's going on there was it play calls or even bad situation? What was the, what was the issue? It kind of felt like, you know, we had the big miscue in the first drive after a couple pump, promising plays. As you know, we saw a couple new things out the gate, you know, we had an outside Zone on that run by Malachi, you know, then we got Daquan involved early in the game and then you have the fumble and then it felt like, very, very vanilla, very reserved, in terms, of trying to attack them outside on the perimeter, which is where we've had a lot of success with the running game, and also kind of through the air with intermedia game.

22:43 We burn them with two plays like that and then we really don't kind of go back to that for a long time and when we do you know it's telegraphed. It's stuff that we kind of we're showing what's coming. So you know what we got to do is get more frequent counters, and wrinkles off of those bread-and-butter plays. So we can keep the defense guessing a little bit more because it seemed like they were key in a lot on those quick screens to the tight end. They were key in a lot on those hours things. Like that and they were able to kind of get us kind of stymied a little bit before we go to get upfield and get our shoulders square and kind of get that forward momentum in the in the offense. And that's just going to be one of those things where you got to bake be quicker and adjusting in the game, kind of mid-flow. When you see, okay, well, you know, we did, we didn't do this well.

23:37 So you get a little trigger shot with that and then all of a sudden, your bread and butter is not working and you don't adjust From that and try to find something else. That's going to get you back into that Rhythm because we really didn't find an offensive Rhythm until the fourth quarter. Well how does it know offensive play called or do that though? Because you have that first where you run to Great plays and unfortunately a fumble happens and then you get gunshot and you get triggered for an offensive coordinator. Like you can't live like that because you can't live at the bread butter doesn't work. And obviously those first two plays with something different and getting a young player involved early. So the game plan, Lan was there but it was just like completely pulled back. Like hold the horses. Whoa, we can't keep making mistakes like this, what is it? Offensive play caller.

24:20 Have to do to get away from that and just say, no, clearly these two plays worked in. We if not for a fumble, we would have been on the plus 35 and they were already on their heels to plays into the game. So I'll throw a caveat out there. You know, it's a delicate balance right now because, you know we've talked about it this team in. Terms of overall Talent overall depth is not good enough to make a lot of mistakes. And then still win a game. So now you've got a mistake early on but then you let that mistake feed over into other things even though you know you're playing more conservative. But you're playing on those not to not to lose the game now and we can't pray like that.

25:11 Can't play like that. We've got to, we've got to find the line between making sure we don't make those dumb mistakes, whether it's penalties, whether it's Turnovers, but not getting so gunshot that we're not anything. All right, well maybe it's what the head man said and I know you listened to it a little later after the game and you felt like it was both sides, but printer, I called out how we're running. Personnel after me seeing it. And after what the offense did to me, it felt like, he was going right after the offense, may be calling out, Tyler bowling a little bit, maybe not. But basically talking about we cannot be vanilla as a team. So the first thing you said, not have another.

25:52 You can't even though team, you're not that good enough, but we must play the right players. The most interesting one I heard was right near the end of that snippet and he talked about, we need the best players on the field at all times. Even if that includes having two running backs on the field at the same time, when you hear that and I know, as we get over the defense, we can see what you think he meant by on that side of the ball because he did leave it open-ended where you could say, either side of the ball. But when you hear that and think offensive ly would have potentially if you think we see NC State in going forward. Yeah. I mean I think It's, you know, it's a lot of things and he mentioned, he mentioned the running back specifically, and when I'm thinking of the running backs, I'm thinking of that third down call where you had Holston out in the flat and it's a, it's a laser, it's still a catchable, ball hosting.

26:47 Can't handle it. If you have, you know, one of your other two running backs out there, you got Malachi Thomas out there. You got Keshawn King out. Is that ball handled? Does do you get a catch and run for another you know, 10 or 12 yards there to put you in scoring range right there. Versus have a pun on the next play, maybe. And, you know, I think we're a little too deep or we're still filling this out. I know, Malachi Thomas has just been back for two games at this point, but I think we kind of know what we have with the strength of Holston is and is not at this point. And unless he's staying in there to block.

27:32 It's probably not a good play for him. I mean, just just being honest, it's probably not a good play for him. All right. What about the? I think you just you got into about why? It shouldn't be vanilla and I think you've got to find the right balance, but I think who we are as a team. There's not much bread and butter you have none. You have to be unique. You have to take shots. Yeah, we gotta get creative for sure. We got to get creative with with how we're getting the guys with football. You want to have bread, buddy? You want to have those plays? You can lean on when things get a little tight, but at the same time you've got to be able to throw wrinkles because if the other teams playing tight and their key in on what you're doing you got to throw them something different and can't just hope that they're going to make a mistake and not.

28:21 Were they need to be every time. It's almost like if you can take away the vanilla look potentially doing some unique things will open up the things we've done. Well maybe not exponentially like think that certain run plays, it haven't went for seven to carry that's going for two but if you open it up just a little maybe it goes 45 because until you've got them thinking versus them read reacting. Yeah, let me give an example. So you know, we've run that quick screen to the tight end a lot. Got ya, a lot of times we run it out of regular trips, it's going to Gallo from the wing. We saw a bunch trips Bunch with with Daquan in there where Lofton and Gallo widen out and get the blocks. And that one had a lot of.

29:11 That was the one that got the the first down, in the fourth quarter. We're Daquan called it got about eight and then fought for the last two to get the first down. Those little wrinkles like that little adjustments. It doesn't have to be anything major. You can still essentially call the same game, but just give it a different look. So they can't key pre-snap on what you're trying to do. All right, well let's flip and let's talk about the next it I think disappointed everybody especially after we looked versus pit and that's the offensive line Play. I Think Clearly the worst overall game for this units. In Saudi you they allowed seven sacks. And I know that's a good.

29:56 Miami front. The Run game was probably about a yard per carry less than what we wanted to be Braun. We were 2.6 of carry, you said, if we were at 34 like 110 yards, Probably had a better chance at one yard more. That's roughly where we are at 30 carry. So you obviously got in the film room and did some breakdowns of me. What were the issues there? It was definitely the worst. The overall game for that offensive line since probably ODU just you know the pass game kind of was what it was. The communication was off, it seemed There wasn't, they did a lot with delay blitzes, that really threw off the, the communication, and kind of the switching that the offensive line needs to do to kind of keep that Shore. And you couple that with the Run game, where we weren't getting a ton of movement between the tackles especially we had to generate a lot of, are you merge with our quarterback this week probably a little bit more than I think we're comfortable with weeks week for sure.

31:05 I like Wells, running more. Um, I think that that's a positive in terms of generating, some additional offense but you don't want to get in a situation where you're having to have your quarterback be the leading rusher for your team. We've seen that song and dance before, we don't want to get back to that. Now we definitely don't want to get back to that. So if you have a one-game here there where your quarterback breaks a couple long ones and he's the leading rusher for one game. Fine. You don't want him to go week-to-week being And you know, getting all about the same number of carriers as your lead back for you know, handful more yards, that's not what you want. So the offensive line definitely needs to figure some things out whether that is switching around Personnel. It looked like, you know, we started the game a lot with a lot of Jesse Hanson, we kind of closed it with a little bit more, Braylon more there at the end. You know, you'd like to see and hopefully, at some point we get to A situation where we're comfortable getting Xavier chaplain on the field.

32:12 A lot more and Parker Clements maybe off the field a lot more. That I think that would, that would help at least we'd know we have. And we can get some Reps for a guy that we know is going to have to play a pretty big role for us come next season. Absolutely, huge role. And you mentioned Grant, Wells legs. I mean, let's talk about what we saw Saturday on that. I mean, he proved he's not a statute now, is he tie rod or any of those guys know? But by proven that you hear Pride talking post game, it can be expanded. And what I hear that expanded knowing this offense, know what you explain to me. Or read option elements more RPO elements. And and then it kind of goes back to what we talked about, right?

32:55 Personnel saying if you're using a little bit of the RPO, your lose a little bit of the read option, along with his just scrambling ability, it's going to change defensive looks it's going to probably make things easier for the line and it's going to make some passes easier for him. Yeah. I mean we've been running some of the read option at this point. We've been running some of the RPO at this point. It hasn't been as heavy emphasis, as I thought it was going to be before the season, but I think some of that is a lot of the other base stuff isn't as developed and as ready as they wanted to be. So they're not throwing as many of these wrinkles out there, but I think we've gotten to a point.

33:37 Now, where we're getting stymie to a point where we got to try something different something. In something that's already kind of in the Playbook that we can just kind of integrate a little bit deeper in the game plan. Week to week. And I think that's where the RPO in war zone comes into play. We saw a couple quarterback. We saw a counter called me. Yeah, we saw we've seen the drawers all year on Long plays which a couple times Saturday actually made up significant yardage and that's fine. And I mean he still isn't running at a point like even Saturday.

34:19 I mean he ran 16 times Which is clearly the highest number that he's ran all season and like you said, I don't want him to have to do that all the time. I would like him to be, in the 8, to 10 range, just more effective with the with those design runs or would you lose your coming off of reads or the RPO? I mean we can go back and look at the tape and kind of decide how many were designs, how many were him just scrambling? Because if you're saying in this safety wrench 16 times, but if eight were designs at Scrambles then then we're probably okay. I think what you're saying is designed room, you don't want to see them. Specifically saying this is his play verse.

35:02 Yeah I don't want to say 12 plus times a game, we're running our quarterback in the design fashion. But if you're saying it's 10 designs and then you've got in his head, you hit 12 because of this concept. These are you know, we're running double vertibird post. We're running people off. If there is a lane, don't try to get you. The third re you probably Have 5 to 10 yards of space where you do have enough legs to get us positive yardage versus taking a sack. Yeah I mean I'd like to see maybe four or five where you know it's it's Grant all the way he's not reading he it's not our po. It's not Zone it's just grants running the ball display and I like to see another probably 5 to 6 where he has the option to run.

35:55 And maybe even a few more than the, but I wouldn't go much heavier than that right now. But there's but there's things that we can do kind of off of that, that will get take a little more pressure off of him. And I'm hoping that we can do some more creative things that are running. A my no Prime Mansion you know to backfield sets. You know, you got a guy like King that we can split a guy like chance black that you can split out. Have you managed of it? Yeah, take advantage of it. Create some mismatches. Create some different looks for the defense. Think about it. Like, catch them misalign. I mean, there's so many things you can do with with those different Personnel that might catch the defense off guard there.

36:35 Well, think about an RPO pop skirt or a pop swing pass. Where if you've got King and Malachi in the backfield and you're reading hard and just let King run to the flat, Are you immediately going to be avoiding somebody like a linebacker or safety if you're doing that? Absolutely because if they decide to stay in the boxing Grant read that you're talking about going to a flat where now if the wide outs are upfield and blocking it could be a lot of yards and what does that do the next time you immediately see the linebacker change their Direction, they don't bite in on the run and then you might have numbers inside the box but we could get deeper into that. And I'm like, yeah. Yeah. I'll tell you another thing. I like to see, we've run a lot of those quick screens to the tide in and quick screens to the running back. When we're in shotgun, I'd like to see maybe something where you either run a wheel off of that or you know you're looking you're showing that and then throwing back, throw that into the ocean to the opposite side of where you're seeing that most you right now.

37:38 They're jumping that every time they're jumping it. And we got to start burning them a little bit when they're taking those risks and jumping that you know, something that they've seen on tape a lot at this point. Absolutely. All right, well I think I'm gonna hit one more piece here. I think as we go into next year talking about we've talked a lot about Thomas and we talked to right? And we saw Lofton, make a hell of a catch on Saturday in Braylon more getting one more play time. I think the young players on the offense you've got a foundation, they're not all right. Young, they're going to be here, at least two to three more seasons, roughly mom. And with guys like Caleb Smith, even Wells coming back next year.

38:21 If they find the Parker Clements of 2021 and bring him back, significantly, help, I'm still trying to figure out what's happened to him and I think I have a feeling in the offseason. You're going to be pulling up 2021 tape and 2022 tape of him and be like, what's the difference? But how does it make you feel foundationally for the next couple Seasons? No. Knowing the guys who were showing out the most right now, are some of the youngest in that room. Yeah, a lot of the young players on offense of definitely stepped up, you know, we talked about right, and Thomas in particular, still really early into their careers, you know, Loft and I know he had the big drop, but, you know, I think he's coming along. Hopefully, we can, we can get some, some more consistency with his hands.

39:10 He met, he catches the hard ones, man. He does. The degree of difficulty, is up. He bring those in, he made that Catch this past week against Miami. He made that big where he climbed the ladder and brought it down against piss. So I mean, he makes those high high degree of difficulty catches, we just got to get him to bring in those routine. Ones with greater routine, right? I don't percent then more, I think just getting more consistent snaps maybe even getting a start here as the season goes along, I think would be good for his maturity. Me and coming along in the offense.

39:51 Absolutely. All right, let's flip over to the defense side of the ball now. Brian. Let's first of all, we welcome back to players to on Garbutt who had missed the pit game, who had a really big day with a sack and a half three. Tackles for loss five. Total tackles also Allen Tisdale back Allen, Tisdale with nine tackles second, Auntie mahina, Jalen strowman. And I think we really saw it Shore up the defense and again, address even more that That this is a good defense. Is it great note but it is a good defense that you know. Brian if I told you, you know, eight days ago on Wednesday, night on Tuesday night. Brian. We're going to leave you.

40:32 We're going to hold them to 20. Are you going to take it? I take it all day, man. If you said that we were only going to allow 20 points in that game. I said there's at least a 60% chance, we win that game. And if the offense and showed a little bit more life there in, probably been about a 60% chance, we would have won that game so you know, I'm fine with the output of spec. I'm really impressed. With the adjustments that we saw at have time because almost everything that we did at halftime took away, what they were doing, well, in the first half. And I mean, the biggest one was giving us a whole lot more of monster d'Alene.

41:21 We got a whole lot more of, we got a got a lot more cam Johnson to, but we got a whole lot of the freshmen, cornerbacks got some run in the second half and they showed out and they showed out consistently and in particular delaying went up there and was you know, High pointing balls, getting it getting some some some deflections and I mean he was like the third-year player. Yeah, look like the third-year player on Saturday at the of the condensed and highlight. So I'll say this, he looked eerily like when we got Kendall Fuller on the field as a true freshman.

42:01 Okay. Yeah. All right. Now don't get me wrong. The defense, have some errors in the first have absolutely but they if somebody said well it would have been a blowout. Should have been a blow out. My knee took the foot off the pedal. No, Miami could not run the ball. That's why I could run the whole game. I mean, dang, they couldn't run. Yeah, and I mean, you're talking about think about this, you know, Miami. They had five runs or more of nine yards or 72 yards. Longest one was 15 the rest of the game they have 35 on like 23, they were lower than us for those 23 and I mean I think having Tisdale back was big on that and I think having Corbett back was big on that.

42:51 When you looked at some of the tapes, how much better will it run fits? Especially with garbett and Tisdale bad? Definitely more consistent. There were still a couple that weren't quite what you want but we didn't we didn't they didn't have a running back that could burn us and when they had that like Pride was talking about a lot of the guys in the secondary, we're taking some better angles at helping clean that up. So you didn't see see the big gains. And I know we spoke last week when we talked about Miami, you know, they get They don't get to the second level and completely towards you. Like pit does pits very much if you get them. In the first three or five yards, they're not going to do very much.

43:31 If you let them get past five and you have put a body on them, you're in fucking trouble and Amy is not that at the running back position and we saw it and you know, we were able to keep them in. Check now pass defensible different story. I think it's showing every week how much were missing? Dorian, strong and him not coming. Back this week I'm wondering if If he's back against NC State and again, it sort of hurts the whole rotation, it's one reason Jalen Stroman had a ton of tackles, he was playing the free spot a lot. And Brianna Marie is probably the most frustrating players right now because there are times where you look at his tape and it's like he does everything perfect and it's great.

44:18 And then there's some of those plays like on some of the Miami early drives where it's just that passing the back of the end zone. Maybe he got picked or something, but it looked like. He'd almost given up on catching that whiteout. Yeah. And maybe he got picked TV angles. You got to get all 22s where you can see on the back half, but it was like, he almost gave up on that play. And if he gives up on that play it's like maybe that's why we saw in the second half of listen, you can't give up on a plate, weird things happen in football and I hope that's not the case. I just hope it was one of those weird things where he tripped or stumbled or but, you know, I'll say this. So, you know, I appreciate what?

45:07 What Briana Murray brings to the table. He's got some decent skills, but I saw enough In Miami where he doesn't need to be the first guy out in. Okay. Less unless unless there's two or three corners out of that game for injuries, he doesn't need to be the first guy. And we've talked about it before, we're comfortable with him as, as a guy were you can throw in for a series here or series there to give a guy a blow that needs a blow and as we're seeing having to lean on him for significant portions of a game, it's been a struggle.

45:52 It's been very up and down and that's against Miami, that's being kind. So, I mean it's different. It's difficult to watch is it's hard to say that about a guy. That's a, you know, a veteran, that's done. Some good things for your team and his time here. But I'm going with the two freshmen before I want to see. Breanna Murray on the field again and write something else that happened. Mr. Peeples gets ejected for targeting and you, I think you texted me because I was there, and I saw some type of mine who was Was it and you're like Missy I was like I'm man and then you texted me a little later and I'll just do the radio and you're like this isn't hurting us as much as I thought it would.

46:37 So who you know, I think the Sears back this week will clearly be the starter again, but who took over the strong safety role. When that happened, we saw strowman in there a lot when we went and nickel. We saw a lot of DJ Harvey, so there there wasn't a lot of drop off because of the the mix of those two getting in there. DJ held up. Well, he made some plays out there and then we saw strowman that was out there doing a really good job and obviously Stroman in particular has played a lot of snaps in kind of a secondary role this year and it on nickel package is so seeing him getting a more consistent role for all for all three steps, there was good, he actually showed up very well. Yeah, we keep mentioned, a lot of younger guys, names, more and more, and more and playing the best last piece, Brian. And I know you hate being, right? But you said it last week, like, if we keep them at 40%, we have a chance to win this game.

47:35 They were 47. 40 percent is roughly one less plate, one or two less plays. If you think Van Dyke Granite late to get the third down, that kept them the ball, obviously numerous times during the during the game. Where they're The scoring range they get in scoring range or if it's a stop, some of those third and Long's or second and Long's where they make it up and now it kind of hinges. It's like I know you hate being right? But does it frustrate you even more? You watch the whole game and I'm sure after the game, you're down at the beach. I'm sure. You went out to lunch dinner. Watch some games. Those did you look at your phone and see that percentage in like shit. Shit.

48:20 One play. Yeah I mean and you know you pointed out the I'd say you like two or three of the Tyler Van Dyke runs if you take those away it's a different game. Your credit to him for being of the extend plays and make some good reads on some of those read options obviously some some points of those games. You're crashing hard, you're trying to make a play, he made a smart move and pulled it, and was able to run for a first down on a couple of those. And that's kind of the difference in the game. I think, you know, they were getting a couple more plays here there, and we weren't making the plays that were there, especially on offense sometimes. So that's just how it goes.

49:01 I think this team is still learning how to to win and how to make those winning plays in situations where a play can kind of go either direction. And we're just Making enough of them yet. Absolutely. So, again, we'll close that chapter. As we go into the bye week, Hokies fall. We got Brian cops. I feel like wholesome are in the same position. We appreciate your loyalty and dedication, but the young Bulls, you didn't get more snaps and I think that's probably what we're going to see. And we're seeing the head, coach mentioning more and more. Let's go into some news and notes frying, catfish last week. You ever read a tweet that looks real? And it looks like a real Source Ryan. Austin was not fired last week from Auburn.

49:43 I don't know how much longer they're going to keep him though because he lost again, but I didn't find out till, like, Saturday, and I'm like, sitting there, like, Brian, who got me again, got me again, but eventually he's gonna get fired. Um, so I'll make up that Brian. I know you were at the beach, you're doing a lot of things, but let me tell you some Saturday. That's one of those days for college. Ball that even though the Hokies lost and it sucks. But maybe, as you get older, it's easier. And we're slowly approaching 40. Maybe that's why makes it easier for us the afternoon in the nights later games, man. I mean, three unbelievable games. Yeah, I mean, it was kind of, it was fun all day, man. It was fun all day.

50:34 We had, you know, we started the day with our Hokies had some big matchups in the afternoon, had a good evening slate. Got got to like check back and forth on what Michigan. Doing during our game. So, I mean, well, that became very apparent about six minutes into the second half. They just turned on the afterburners. Yeah. And just left Penn State. Unfortunately, I was my pick was Okie State, four and a half of that day and gonna go to overtime. I make it, but give TCU credit down 14, with, like under 10 left, they come all the way back. And when the other game I was tuned into Too late night Kyle, Winningham has balls of stone because it's 4241, you're playing USC and he says screw over time.

51:25 He goes 42 and they get it and they beat USC. Yeah, that was a big. I was a big dump move. They big nut move. Now obviously though the big one we both were watching. I'm sure it made us all cry a little on the inside. I'll hook you fans can admit it, especially if you knew obviously the hinted hooker thing but then who is throwing too. But that was an unbelievable game. Start to finish, start to finish Tennessee, kind of gets out early, Alabama claws back then it's a back-and-forth show to kind of close things out and you get a missed field goal in One Direction. You get two, good plays by Hendon and In field goal range, field goal gets tipped. It's tipped and it Knuckles through the damn goal, post and clears.

52:15 The upright by about that much. Oh, that was wild and then, you know, love them, hate Tennessee, you rushed the field on that, you do tear down the goalposts. You go crazy. You tear down the goalposts. You pull up some some Checker Turf. Oh my God, the whole shebang, man. I hope one day we can do that again in Lane Stadium. By the way tomorrow? Brian. Do you know what tomorrow is? Well, we got Sports Equinox. Hey Equinox on 1020 for those who don't know what a sporty could knock. Is basically every major sport in this country including college football will be played tomorrow night baseball, playoffs NFL college football, hockey and NBA.

53:03 And it's was you should like take off from work, but we can't because we've already taken too many days off this year for other things but you know it's awesome when it happens. It really is because you can't get away from it and it's one of those where it's, yeah, I'm not watching a show tonight. I'm watching some sort of sport Curtis wants yesterday's sick day back so he can take it tomorrow Friday the Friday. Alright, another thing that came up and we saw some Hokies respond so I had to put it on here. Someone I've seen in concert, I think you saw in concert but Marty Smith takes put out there in a tweak. What is the best? Alan Some song, I'll let you lead sir. Alright, so my pick is Midnight in Montgomery. It's the the ain't go song, you know, there's there's like a plethora of Hank Go songs, but I put Midnight in Montgomery right up there with the ride by David Allan Coe, as the two upper echelon, goes to Hank, Williams songs. And then, the other one is, I don't even know your name. Jeff, Foxworthy in the This video some classic tongue-in-cheek like fruit.

54:20 Yeah justjust great quintessential 90s country song true true. Both of them and two songs that a lot of people who here Alan Jackson probably can't correlate unless you follow the country at that point in time I want to go to both weepers the best song, his all times here in the real world, my opinion. Because the opening line of that song of cowboys don't die in here. Oh don't cry. That gets here, because here in the real world, the boy don't always get the girl, breaks your heart and then someday. I mean, just like the most weepy ballad songs you ever heard, but if you listen to them, the poetic piece in, there is big and Brawn before we go to break.

55:07 Alan Jackson's got some all-time weepers though. He does though, man. Remember when Drive? I mean it's he's he's he's one of the greatest. I would say some people say contemporary he's one of the greatest country song writers of all time and all four songs we mentioned Wrote, he wrote those songs, some of the songs and we're not even mentioned, where were you, when the world stopped turning. And I, like what somebody said on that one, like he wrote that song and nobody helps tried after that fact, Brian real quick. Before we go to break here on dueling a remembrance because year ago today we lost one of our best friends and you know, You put up the story of your Facebook page about the Rumple Minze, a which, to this day, we were in college.

55:59 Yep, Brown Wilkerson there with this bunch of other buddies, Robbie Jason and we make a shit ton of shots with a variety of Liquors. One of them was Rumple Minze. Brian you mentioned on there, man? About that night and I remember that night that he was the only person of our group that somehow all night. Didn't take a Rumple Minze shot. Yeah, he knew. Which one's had the blue label, vodka, and which one's had the Rumple Minze? And he had and my God, he got none of them. And we got all of them and you were in college, you didn't spit out liquor, but just one of those moments and, you know, it's been a year I missed the test because he would be texting us or putting something Right now on here, and Brian will always miss you man.

56:49 And and and I said, I'm not in my post. I am a man of many words, anybody's ever, met me and talk to me, I can, I can talk your ear off all day, but for him and I'm thinking this me and Brian we miss you, man. We're always going to miss you. And now all for additional partners. As we take a quick break, we 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. Now back to the episode All right, Brian. So let's get into the what if so, about a month ago? I mean, Brian were kicking around. What do we do about?

57:41 Do we just go in and do a recap and kick it? That wouldn't be fun. We did that. Last year, we did that. Yeah, we did this. We got to keep you all over your toes. You can't just forgive the same shit every year, exactly. But this year is the, what if it's the, you know, wish you were here? I miss you. You. I wish I'd like to have that one back. Think of all those songs in your head of all the hockey players that left last year declaring for the draft portal. And all that who would be and we were merging it for. But Brian said that's too easy. We got to make it three. Who are the three players?

58:21 You wish you could have back on this team and then legibility remaining that either left early portal. So we start going through the list and we've got our list here, and what we're going to do is go through all the players and then we're going to go through. Are 3, because there are three do not match per se. And then we're going to talk about what we think we'd be at. Now, let's start here. Brian one guy, maybe kind of unsung guy. Pay daily. You know I'll let you give us pros and I'll give some of those kinds and we'll go why he's not back essentially on us. Yeah. I mean the pros of him coming back for his this year, he could have given us more flexibility at safety or Sam linebacker and he would have provided some additional leadership on the defense as a.

59:12 Another veteran on that back end and sort of the Cons with it is he was a solid but not as you know, spectacular player. A good player and sometimes a little bit inconsistent when it's technique and I think as we were discussing this and we're talking Tay, I think the back is just good enough. I think the back end is good enough where it is in. You know, the only thing you could say, is, could you save a red shirt? And I think we're now to the point where saving a red shirt. We're not seeing that work out because some of the guys who are playing are better. Yeah, absolutely. All right. Next on our list guy, we had on this show, It was Jordan Williams. Now the pros for Jordan I mean he was one of we thought about it long and hard maybe shouldn't be as high but we just did it in an order because his body type and his play style fits. What we're doing on the defensive side of the ball without a shadow of a doubt gives that line even more leadership.

1:00:11 And then by maybe I made the point, he creates some winning match ups because of what we're asking him to do, there would be times where Garbutt wouldn't be getting Guard hand in his face as he goes around the end. Yep. They would have to come inside and focus on Jordan a little bit. It's another guy. You got to look down for heavily. It gives you a veteran four-man rotation. They're just, you know, there's a lot of things that would that would benefit their. Now, the kind of him coming back, I think he had kind of already maximized his draft stock, which we took into account, because we have to because that's their guy at their money. Yeah. And I think in terms of Oops, it would've been fewer steps for Wilfred permit penne to grow into the position. And if you're thinking long-term, that's probably better for us in a year like this year, where is throwing a guy like Jordan back in there?

1:01:08 Make it big difference in the win-loss column, you know, who's to say, absolutely. So, if Jordan, and obviously, we've seen having food on seeing Kendricks and Pinette and Pollard we played good. Could he be beneficial? Yeah, absolutely. All right, next one. And this was one of the tough ones. It was Jermaine Waller. I mean, I love strong to death, but Waller is a better Corner than him. Yeah. Yeah. I mean it's not light years better especially you know we haven't really seen him not banged up since 2019. Sure. But he would have been an immediate number one corner on the team.

1:01:49 You know, he'd be back in a system that better fits his skill set. We think about when he had his best year, it was 2019 when he was playing kind of more of a similar style to what we're playing now and you know, it will given us some more rotation flexibility in the secondary, whether it's, you know, nickel corner or different things like that. We have been able to get a lot more matchup based situations. We're not in any sort of Area where we're guys can take advantage of mismatches. Absolutely. And I'll sort of the cons similar to Jordan Williams. He'd already maximized his draft stock. I think where he was where he was, but for him, it was the injury history to because if you think about that, you know, he essentially retired from the lines due to an injury. What if it was something that happened in Spring ball where like the trainers are like listening if you don't quit football right now.

1:02:50 You're going to walk with a limp for the rest of your life, or, you know, you're not gonna be able to do these things. Yeah, I don't know what happened to Troy but usually when a guy retires like that, it's something where they're saying the rest of your life is going to be affected by this, and then a lot of it, what keeps going back to is? It's less snaps for Harvey and struggling and obviously both of them played very well on Saturday and kind of playing well for the season. So as much as it's a temptation to have Waller and strong and really Probably turn a top. That's a top, have a cc secondary into probably an elite third. We just neither one of us could pull the trigger on. Yeah, it was close.

1:03:33 It was close for, sure. It's closed. Now, another one that I thought Brian was going to pull the trigger on how much she loved him, all these years was Raheem Blackshear. Now, I think we see how they've used the players in this scheme. How they Malachi had six balls. As we've seen them, run some good place to Keshawn King. He definitely would have probably got his skillset maximized. It also would have meant a lot better rotation when Thomas was healthy, when shooting when Thomas was injured and obviously he's one of the he is already after he got traded or released inside North Carolina and against minors, he is showing his value in the kick return game and we saw that a few times last year when he had big run backs. So you Sort of that depth where you again, it's sort of, as a trickle effect, right?

1:04:25 And if it helps with depth all around because you don't have to rush him and Keyshawn out there together, you can rush them out one at a time and so on, and so forth. Now what's the cons on him? Right, you know, I think that one of the cons is that he loses some value with the healthy Thomas and then a Revitalize Keshawn King this year. You know, you got three mouths to feed Our who's going to get some of those carries is it going to be kind of a true, you know? Rotation is it going to still be Thomas? Kind of the lead guy and then you have black sheer and KK kind of working in there and it's going to cause some of the young players. Some reps. I wish we could get brass Duke. Some more carries this year as things goes along red shirts, already burned. So we might as well take some Advantage there. You probably wouldn't have that.

1:05:10 If you had blacks back on this team and kind of like the some of the others we already talked about he'd probably already maximized. Stock and especially, and especially for his age, as a running back. You're running back incoming backs, not going to significantly improve your dress that and get out there get on the team. Find a roster spot and get moving. Do exactly what he's done when he got the Carolina. Yep. He nail has a roster spot, probably for the rest of the year there and they'll probably bring him back next year, so making the right decisions. Now we're getting into the really tough ones that we left off. And some people are going to curse and say, how do you leave these guys off? The first one is Brock.

1:05:51 Hoffman and Brian. I'll let you get into the pros of why we could have brought them back. Yeah, I mean he would be an upgrade on the offensive line mainly because of his versatility, his skill set would also fit Rudolph skiing probably as good or better than anybody in the current line right now and he's got a nasty streak and kind of sets the tone for the off. It's so I think that would be kind of a good personality to have on this style of Team, you know. But there are some cons Curtis I'll let you roll with those. Well another big con we keep going back to it more and more and more is he maximize his draft stock?

1:06:33 You know Brock was already rocks, 23 years old in an offensive lineman it's very similar. You start getting up there in years, you know, Brian you played for years, you hit a wall, it's over. Now, you have you Freaks Like Kelsey and Trent Williams who somehow complete 15 years. They don't lose a step, but most times, it's 56 years and guys done because of the hole in the punishment that takes on the body. So we maximize Drive stop. He had to take it. And now, you know, he's made Cleveland's roster, great for him, the personal fouls and penalties is something we've tried to clean up. And a couple of those games have brought was still on the offensive line. I'm wondering if we could have been closer to 200 yards of Total Building yard, we were like to lie.

1:07:16 Penalized team in power 5. Last year. And like half of those were Brock. Hoffman. Exactly. Probably the other. Point significant upgraded Center. We do say specifically Center because of obviously y'all don't hear names being called, you're going to figure out the rest but Johnny's played well this year Johnny's clay came in and asked to do good and he's done well and it's tough to leave an offensive lineman off because of the struggles we have but I think as you get into it, you guys are going to see why. Now, this was the biggie, this was the one. We we literally last Friday On the phone for what? Probably an hour and 20 minutes and 25 were talking about this guy and it's James Mitchell.

1:08:09 Who's currently the Detroit Lions? He clearly would have been the best athlete on the field. On the offensive side of the ball. Ricardo to you, bring back the other pieces, Brian and talked about it. We're already seeing it with Daquan right and some with Nick Gallo this really would have benefited. Hits the coaching scheme of collarbone? What a significantly benefited him. He got drafted in the sixth round. He got to be grafted mostly off some good Red Zone scores and athleticism and the other thing is you just said it Ron. He could have potentially maximize his draft potential. Now, does that mean day one? I'd say no, I would say no later than early day three.

1:08:52 So probably somewhere between pick Sin 115 the upper half of the round for. So he would have maximized about 24 around which would have been a lot of money. Yeah. It's he probably goes from where he was to either late day to early day three. Now there are few cons we only got two, instead of three. Yep, the biggest one is that that's probably the deepest room in terms of ability in our roster right now. We already have two hybrid players that were working in obviously. One is a true freshman and Daquan right? The other is Connor blumrich which we haven't really seen a whole lot of sense.

1:09:36 Rights kind of come on but you know we still have guys at that position that we can line up and get some production out of. And I think the other one is that he kind of knew he'd have a spot on an NFL roster, bit this resume just based on that athleticism. Yep I mean his size his speed and hands those They're already there. You know, the only knock on him was coming off the injury. Obviously, yep. Not really being able to fully work out for a lot of these teams before the draft. And that was a point. Me in Brian made about the injury. History, is a guy who has his type of ability, teams will draft even if they're hurt.

1:10:18 And if they aren't up to full speed to begin, see, there are our the right on their full paycheck. And I are on because a, a team, like, the Lions know, there are certain teams who are very well. L ran that will go snipe those players in a heartbeat and put them on practice squad. And sometimes we leave through the practice squad, they say, well, you can go back there or we'll give you half a million dollars to be a practice white guy because we think you're going to be on the roster next year. So, I think he, he knew, he knew that he was going to land, and I think we look, he was already fully guaranteed a million bucks this year. So he's already got life-changing money, right out the gate. Yeah. All right. So let's do this. Brian, we have basically A one consensus, pick one opposite pick and then two players.

1:11:05 We sort of said I could take one of the other, you'll probably can guess the last two. But let's start with the consensus problem. Let's start with the seat is Smith and what he would bring to this team for this year. Yeah, I mean the big thing is an immediate upgrade on the offensive line. I think with his versatility he could be a starting left guard or left tackle. That would move Silas back over to write that would really assure up a lot of some of the problems that we've seen on the offensive line, provide veteran leadership from a proven Talent. So we've got some leaders out there on this line, but Silas has been in and out of the lineup and up and down the depth chart his entire career. Johnny wasn't a starter last year. This will be a guy that was a three-year starter that immediately guys could respond to could lean on things of that nature.

1:11:55 He would likely adapt better to the scheme and the adjustments that were needed and can help the others with that communication and things that were needed to kind of get everybody on the same page. So that's going to lift the running game as a whole and it would help in the passing game as well with some of those protection calls and some of the communications that's needed for those switches. And you mentioned Brian, how this would everything would benefit the Run game as a whole if he came back and I think that's 100% regardless what they did with him. Regardless, if you say, hey we're going to keep Solace at. We're going to, we're going to move Silas, the left tackle, he's going to play left tackle. And we'll see the cigar well, with some of those inside Powers Grand.

1:12:36 I'm sure there are times you see it and you just think hatoful see, this will start. That whole would have opened immediately kind of what you're seeing from Braylon more and him being a Fix as a lot because he went in the fifth round he could have went a lot earlier shows. You sometimes guard slip but I think the leadership I think having him like him and Silas both being there and having that voice it just gives you so many options. Yep. And it's tough. Not to say that guy's not on the team just by himself. The team's not better when lost wise today. That's a right. So write that down, Brian and Curtis. We both wish lists M Smith and what if he was back.

1:13:20 Now, let's go into our opposites because this is where we split. I'll let you lead sir. So I mean I'm an offensive line guys. So what do you think I'm going to do? I've got Luke tenuta coming back to play. Left tackle for as you know, how we said. Let's see. This myth could play left guard or left tackle in my scenario. He's playing guard because we got Luke 2 It coming back to play left tackle. We're side in silence over to write either way and it's the trickle-down benefits. Now, you've got a solid left side, you've got Silas on the right not having to have quite as many responsibilities in terms of protecting the quarterbacks Blindside provides depth in case of injuries. Now, you got Parker coming off your bench as the sub guy instead of having to be relied on every snap and it's a Upgrade in the Run blocking and it's more consistent past Pro. As a unit.

1:14:15 I know that tenuta sometimes had, you know, little little lazy sets that he get beat on, but he was he's a lot more consistent. I think, overall, the what we've seen this year from both tackles, so he would definitely have lifted that unit as a whole and it could benefit Parker's development kind of sitting back another season, watching these guys work and kind of working in when he had the opportunity. Having to kind of be thrown to the Wolves a little bit this year and seeing how he struggled in this new system. I think getting a little bit more watch time a little bit more extra rep time instead of having to you know go out there and show it could have benefited him this year.

1:14:58 All right? And I went completely opposite opposite side of the ball and to me you got to bring him re bar. No back. I mean the guy would immediately be the most Dynamic Athlete on the field and I think with him coming back. Back as the opposite Edge rusher with garbage. You'd have a dynamic duo there, right? You'd have to orbit who's had a good season. You'd have bar know who not many left tackles to get their hands on. I think you would move that room in the defense from middle of the ACC, kind of top 40 country, probably too near the top of the ACC, probably top 20, top 15 in the country having that sort of pass rush presence. But the other big pieces.

1:15:41 If he Back it allows McRae and Nelson to develop without being asked to do too much and we are asking them a lot to do. We are we are asking them to do a lot this year. They've done well in spots, they had some struggles in spots so for me is bad as the offense has struggled. Yes, it's 117. Yes, we're struggling all over the place. What's good make? Great because I've seen the top 15 defense. Even with 100, ranked offense, when 10 games and I still think that can happen now. Brian. But other Iowa, I mean, I would say gz, but, but here's the thing, Brian and I want to make a Counterpoint to loosen it up.

1:16:25 I think bringing the seed is back, and I think if he wasn't my one, if I didn't have a little cetus to neuter, Hoffman, one of those guys. A Mac, but I think having the Cedars back it automatically, because if you feel like it, goes back schematics, right? Well, if you playing at left tackle, you still start Hanson? It Garden, can let Silas and them battle in to your point if Parker's not clicking. Because Silas, playing Left For the First Time. Yes, he's had his moments but he's also done a decent job. You know, I could see the, see this doing that. And having Hanson and still letting more. Remember that your boy more little more if placitas and Luke come back? He is not getting the Run showing what he can do solidify himself for next year.

1:17:14 That's a good point, but at the same time, we've got a couple of running backs that have shown the ability of Thomas to make good plays in the great plays and King to be explosive and hit the home run. If we give them a little bit more space to operate this running game can be pretty dynamic. So if you add in two other players to shore up the the weaker areas of the of the offensive line the trickle down to me is much more important than what bar? No can bring on the other side because I think, you know, McRae doesn't has a similar skill set.

1:18:01 Not quite as Dynamic. Not quite as you know, the combination of size and speed a bar. No, but he's got a similar skills that he's pretty pretty. Long and pretty fast. I think what we can do on the offensive side will benefit us. All right? And see I'm on the exact opposite because I think if looking at the gains we've lost, you know, you'd think you talked about Van Dyke. There are times he just we couldn't get him off a spot. I think Barney would have got him off of spot. I think bar no would have gotten even though I see Carolina still as a loss. I think bar. No would have got intrigued me off a spot. I think our know would have helped significantly with the run defense against West Virginia and Much as I want to put on the offense.

1:18:47 The defense did break late and could you imagine having that one extra Dynamic player on the field for 20 extra plays and where it takes the total, but we'll stop. There's our count printer points. Brian's taking the second offensive lineman Luke to new to. I'm taking a maribor. No at the edge. Alright. Then we got to the to where we kind of flip the coin because we could, they both would be good. Brian, I'll let you Since you want him in the coin, but I'll let you start with your guy first. Alright, so I'm we're targeting here. Wide receiver. Yes, we are. And I went Trey Turner here.

1:19:30 I think, you know, putting him on this team, he's immediately wide receiver one. I appreciate what Caleb Smith is doing, but just trays ability to run. I think a different combination of routes would have helped and just his veteran presence would have helped. At this team, it would also allow Smith to operate without as much attention trade trade with at least draw an equal. You know, respect across that line, you wouldn't quite have as many people keying on what Caleb Smith is doing. If you got Trey Turner opposite them, the leadership and Veteran presence in the wide receiver room.

1:20:11 I think that's big trade. We've definitely a leader. He was a guy that you could tell love the It was kind of, you know, a great voice in the room and it creates a, you know, he has a versatile skills that wide receiver, he never ended up becoming the, you know, the the huge presence that I think some people thought he would as a freshman, but he is a very, very solid player. Would definitely be wide receiver one on this team and he can do a lot of different things. Whether it's, you know, do stuff out of the back field, Old jet sweeps, all sorts of things. So he showed that he has the versatility to do a lot of different things. In an offense, I think having a veteran like that on the team would have been a big boost.

1:20:57 Yeah. And obviously if Brian went tray I was on the opposite side of the coin. I went Kay Robinson immediate upgrade in the slot and at the wide receiver position cable Smith has played great this year at The X. So I think having Tavon there would be a huge up Grade, he fits the scheme. Well, there are a lot of things that we are seeing done with the other receivers that you feel like, if Taylor Robinson had just hung out, maybe he's not where he is with Kentucky, with this debts. I mean his stats in Kentucky this year pretty daggone good. I mean averaging over 15 and a half, a catch almost 400 yards and six games he is well on his way to easily breaking his his yards and touchdown set when he was with the Hokies all So that special team and don't get me wrong, but we haven't fumbled. But like once this year on special teams but with him, you know, it's Dynamic, you know, if you're punching to Tavian Robinson.

1:22:00 You might have to leave one less guy into potentially, not block the pain to get down field because we know he can take them to the house. We know he can get you big field flipping returns and I think that's another really crucial element because you put the fear in special teams. And then again you mentioned what Trey I think it's the same with taste a versatile skill set, right? We saw these guys forums, we saw them do different things and that Woods makes them so important and it may be a reason we didn't bring Mitchell back his It was more than one element in the gain that can affect and to us we kind of discussed it, they were both mythical. That's why Miss. We literally had a coin toss who was going to talk about who because we look at that room Braun and what's it missing?

1:22:46 It's missing like one top-end talent and Leadership. That's what it's missing the most. You know, if you got a leader and you got a top in player, you know, you probably turn in some of these plays that were missing. In the first downs in two touchdowns. Absolutely and and you know and that's what kind of stinks going through here and look at it all the players potentially come back, we chose three. It is a few players from being a better team and that's where the other long part of our conversation on Friday. When we talk was. All right, Brian, where's our team of our three guys, come back And I sat there and told you that I think Carolina's a loss regardless, I do.

1:23:35 But I think if I were three players come back, I think I'd chalk up Carolina as a loss. I don't chalk up. A TOD you as a loss. I think that's a win. I think we would have scored a lot more points on them, and probably kept them. The less points with bar, no attacking off the edge. And then I think of one of the other games is, I think hit or the Miami game goes, the way of the Hokies with those guys, and I know we can say, well, my No. Excuse me. Yeah, Pitter Miami. All right. No not there yet. Mommy was your Junior. I think two of those, three go the Hokies way. Because if the West Virginia game, that was still a game going into the fourth, same with the pits, same with the Miami Hurricanes. I think we flip a couple of those because of having both sides of the balls present, so I think we're probably sitting five and two right now. And, yes, I have maroon colored glasses on tonight. I think we're at least four and three. I think we're at least above 500. If you put those three, As back on this team, I think you definitely went over to you, and I think he probably take down Miami for sure.

1:24:40 You, make pit, you know a big conversation late and you make, you make West Virginia, a conversation late as well. But the guys, I'm adding back on aren't helping the defense a lot. I feel like defense is what hurt us the most in those games. Hmm. So you know not be noticed Generate offense hurts but you know, the the defense still didn't, you came apart late? I think they probably still give up the same amount of points, and I'm not sure even with these additions if we can match that. But so I've got to sit for in three. I've got us winning ODU and winning against Miami with these, with these players back on the roster, all right?

1:25:27 Alright. Now the last part of our exercise we did in this didn't take as long as it Brian. What if like, six of these players come back and let's say that the guys we talked about, let's say we both get that we get because I'll agree with Brian Luke was up close to me, but let's say we get Two new de. You get bar know, you get both wide receivers, you get, let's see this. That's five, right? Yeah, that's that's the five that we discuss in. We said we throw Jermaine and there as well. And Jimmy, if you got all six of our players back, where do you think we'd be?

1:26:08 I think six in one man. I think if you bring all six of those guys back, you know you get enough boost on the defensive side where you slow down you and see a little bit more. It's that game becomes, close you, slow down West Virginia, that game becomes a w. You slow down pit in that game become the W. So you end up six and one and then, you know, you're kind of in the not the driver's seat in the conference in the coastal. But you know, you get one extra lost by U and c. And now you're now you're the team to beat, right? So absolutely. And that's why I was fun to do this because you look at these guys, in their skill sets and where they fit, and it's even more apparent.

1:26:51 As we get into the season where you're missing, then they all had their reasons for leaving and that was 100% fine. You don't fault anyone who feels like they are making the best decision for themselves, but it sort of sucks, though, as you sit here as fans as we look at this every week and we talked about Out guys saying God that has just come back, but on the other hand, the piece that me and Brian also discussed was, did we want 2016 to happen again? Does anybody want 2016 to happen again and not necessarily that year or the year after? But the subsequent years, right?

1:27:31 The subsequent years and being on the hook for a buyout as a Of the subsequent years I think right now we know whatever we get it's being built by Brent pride in his staff. Yep whatever, whatever the results are good or bad going forward after this year. You know, Brent prize got his hands on it, he's got his hands on it and if you're three comes and we're six and six, I think we're going to look at that through a different light, right? Yeah. Then we would have like we did in 2018. And if 2019 we went eight or nine games or you know, four years from now at eight or nine games, it's this, it's that constant building where if all those guys come back and I know I think for all of us, we'd love to be six of them. I'd love to be talking about wins every week. We'd love to talk wins every week. That's a hell of a lot, more fun than talking about losses. But the reality is, if we go back six years, how much Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges.

1:28:31 Cam Phillips, Tremaine Edmonds, Terrell Edmonds, all those good players offensive ly in defensively those first couple years, Jerrod Evan. Sorry gonna forgive him. How much they covered up a lot of warts. They got shown after the big contract after all. Other shit happened, I'll say, especially in 2017 and that defense, the town on that defense and how much that covered up. Some of the warts that were starting to show that year because when we look back, we're like, okay. Well we had a, we had an above-average year, but we're already starting to see the cracks in the foundation. And, you know, with the cracks in the foundation, he had 2018, there was such an exodus of talent that that you couldn't really.

1:29:28 You know, how bad is this team is? Are they bad because they're younger? They bad, because they're not coached well, And then then you get to 19. You start saying, you know. Okay, well now we're now we're starting this guy that's throwing a lot of picks and we're getting blown out by Duke and we're taking an intervention from an analyst to get the right course, starting quarterback in there. You know, there's so many things that as you getting into year three and four that you start getting some answers to that you didn't necessarily have in year 1 and 2 and at least with the way we're going. Now. When we get to year for we're going, another will either know where we won't. Well, bubble.

1:30:13 Also knowing it's already kind of being shown up front that you feel like prize already holding coaching staff accountable pretty quick because if you come to your form, they're still struggles and Tyler bonesteel. You, he fires them. Your three or four. Then you know you might say well at least he knows something's not right? And that could be with various things that he's letting people go because that's still the biggest up. Justin Fuente. Never took he never took that step when there was an issue in everybody, even Layman like me, who have to ask you a lot of questions to get more insight on the game. Can see plainly, like this is Good on that side of the bowl. So, it is what it is.

1:31:02 All right, Brian. No, the enemy this week. Yeah. We don't have an enemy. There's no game prediction, so we don't have to go out on a limb. But there are some big big games on Saturday, and I'm going out to the wet West Coast. I'm going to the AUX and Zoo. Oregon UCLA. I'm not even looking at the line on that game. I'm looking at the over under the over under 70 and a half. These teams can both score points. I don't think 70 and a half closed. I'm gonna take the over and I slept on you sell a few weekends ago at home against At home against Washington and I'm gonna sleep on them again. I think Morgan wins this game at a 3:30 on Saturday. What you got on my big screen?

1:31:51 I'm going to have Okie State Texas. Texas is a six and a half Point favorite here. Road favorite road favorite, road. Favorite over/under is 61 and a half. I'm going to take the over here. Both of these teams have been scoring some pretty pretty big numbers but not some pretty round numbers here lately, and I'm going to actually take okey state in the points here. I'm not sure if they win it outright, but that thing's gonna come down to the wire and I think Okie state is feeling a little Little bit of Need for some Revenge. I think after after what went down last week, after blowing at 14 point lead, well, Brian.

1:32:34 Has anything broken on the twittersphere? Any other news broken, did anybody lose a baseball game? I don't have the game on right now. You tell me but I don't either I didn't turn it off or I got in here. We missed the fun belt. We could have, had the fun belt in the background here? That's all on me. I was rushing to get in here tonight, but AB State blew the doors off. Off. George Estate, who Yeah, the fun belts the fun but you never know what's going to happen there. But if there's nothing that that is going to wrap up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast brought to you by Main Street. Pharmacy, in Blacksburg, go see Jeremy and his staff today, I'm Curtis Wilson, I'm Brian Sigler. Visit our website.

1:33:20 Boundary corner be t.com to listen to all of our episodes while you're there, don't forget to follow us. On Twitter. Facebook, Instagram, go subscribe to our YouTube account. You guys have been blowing that up lately. We are very appreciative of it. Again, we're going to figure out a way to get film and bronze medals show film one day, and not get arrested, or have a cease and desist order for throwing on him podcast wise, Amazon Spotify, all your favorite sources. As always, we let our buddy. Jason long playlist in play us out tonight as we wrap up. Up this episode, we've actually got one of his songs from his summer 2022. EP, I think the title is it may look bad. Which I think we as hokey fans feel that right now, check him out on his website.

1:34:13 Jason long, music.com to link to all of his music, Apple Spotify, his YouTube account, his Facebook pages. And I think he is playing somewhere live this weekend. Let's see. Yep, October 19th at the night we played there tonight, so Kayson If this was last night, we could have got it off, but he will be playing the 29th at the Grand in Village Farmers Market from 8 to 12 down in Roanoke. Him out, there is always, we thank you all for listening and let's go okey.