Fall Camp Position Battles

0:23 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast. My name is Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler. What's up buddy? How you Doing Wednesday night, Wednesday night, folks pressing record to go through a ton of stuff tonight man. Me and Brian.

1:03 We set on the production meeting for two and a half hours a day, getting all this stuff together, it was fun, it took some time, but email, we was a lot of stuff to kind of arrange and digest. So we can make sure that we were getting everything to you guys that we think you need. So yep. And guys out there we are pressing record on Wednesday night, we're going to be doing some streams on Wednesday night to and during the weekday Wednesday, nights are going to be nice to her present record. We're going to start dropping on Thursdays now so as the season gets on, you've got a couple days to press play, on any of our formats to Give a listen to the game. So in a way Bridle is you can say this is the beginning of our fall Camp, you just stay nice.

1:51 We're we're kind of breaking ourselves in as we Start for the season. As you guys know, we're going to be going live after on after every game in the season. Those episodes will probably drop on Monday in full. Give you a couple days to digest. Those we're going to be back in the booth again on Wednesday. Drop it on Thursday, give you a couple days to digest those before, it's game time. So it should be a pretty good format for you guys. Give you something to have twice a week, but enough time to kind of Digest. And not, not overwhelm you with content here. Exactly. This is also a move to save me and brine sleeping hours because Tina Brown were talking the other week in her, like a great doing on Thursday, the issue doing on Thursday is normally, there's some type of football game on which after we finish recording, we're looking at it, we're watching we're talking back and forth.

2:48 The next thing you know, we've down four to six beers and then the next thing you know, it's 30 and we have to be at work and we both have to be up early to get our kids ready, see Curtis said 12:30, but he's really mean in 130 and true really. You know, by the time there's been, there's been several nights where I'm like, okay, well I've stayed up this long. I might as well go ahead and do everything I want to do to this this recording so it can get out first thing instead of waiting till the morning. So exactly. So this was a move that is for the listener to You guys multiple days to download the content? Take a listen, but it's also for our bodies.

3:29 Because as we were joking, Brian, if you ever do anything on Thursday night and it doesn't matter whether you were in college or now, as we are in our 30s, with kids and real jobs, Friday's will the carrot, you feel like, it's okay. I can go on three hours of sleep, tomorrow's Friday the weekend after that. Yeah, I can make it eight hours. I can I can you know punch in punch out and then if I need to get some extra sleep, I got that opportunity. If I need to do a little power nap before I head out on a Friday night, I can do that. That mean that's it's that's what it's all about. Whether you're 20 or 40, you can always make that excuse to get a little foul on Thursday night because Friday, is always going to be a short one for you, or at least it feels that way. Exactly.

4:19 And when you legitimately do that every weekend in the fall, Plus obviously Saturday nights, where up late. Anyway, recording watching the late games and then would you like me sometimes if you all remember from last season sitting on a deck freezing my ass off. Exactly. And Gatlinburg recording the the postgame podcast. Exactly. Hilarious. Right. Well tonight guys, what we're going to be looking at is we are going to be looking at Camp battles for the season. Obviously we had press conferences last week, you know, media got access shout out some of the info, you know, credit Andy, bitter - Zola Mike Barber amongst other, guys are going to be getting into that before we jump onto that, we have had a few commitments since we last met with you guys.

5:11 So let's start and take a look at those guys and and one other big subject that broke just the other day. Let's start with DeAndre Martin out of Life. Christian Academy here in the r-va DeAndre originally from Durham series ranked with the North Carolina recruits. He is ranked 21 to a top 25 players from down there, three star rated as an 87 by 24/7 and he is a hoss 63 and a half about 290 pounds and man, look in here a solid offer list. You're looking at Florida, State, Tennessee, South Carolina, and UVA, all offered as well.

5:52 So that interest from multiple Schools for I, what did you see from this tape? This is a big kid and I think, you know, we talked about getting some of these new pipelines. This is definitely one that we need to get in with life like Christian Academy but I like the way Martin plays, he's got good size, kind of a good first step for a guy that big especially at the high school level. So I like what he's bringing to the table. You know, I think an 87 is probably about right? In terms of, we're waiting for him. I would put him kind of as that high three-star range. So I think to 47s, probably right on the money, there could be 86 to 88 was kind of the range.

6:40 I was expecting so 87, came right in the middle there. And, you know, we're looking, I don't know if he's going to get enough ratings from the other venues to really to pull that composite rating out there. But 87 solid. I like the kid, I'm excited to get him in and I love that. We're still, you know, focusing on these these big kids coming out of the high school ranks and not some of the undersized guys that we've been looking at before, you know, pushing 64 pushing 295. That's exactly what you want. From an interior defensive lineman, absolutely primary recruiters were Ron Smith and JC price and essentially beat out South Carolina and Shane This one.

7:24 So, again, solid offer list solid size at a Uprising sort of Prep School here in the r-va Life Christian Academy. They've got quite a few, guys. It's like they're building some down there, so definitely a good way to start the pipeline there. Now Brian, just a few short hours ago, we got another commitment. Yes, we did Mansoor delay. Yeah. Mansur Delaney. Yeah. That was a. That was a, that was a pretty big one too. You know, I know you got the probably you got the measurables there, you can go ahead and read those off for it. I mean Corner 61 180 pounds. So solid cornerback size their number 15 player in Maryland, rating in 86.

8:06 But we know about lower star rank kids coming out of Maryland, especially cornerback position and pretty solid awkward list. You know, with, you know, obviously us BC Louisville again. Another UVA offer we had Last battle with Maryland there which is good wind, you know, Michael I feel he's been recruiting very well done at Maryland. The last couple years and he is a hell of a recruiting head coach. So what do you see in four men? Sore after he delayed us an hour? Wow word is he didn't delay is the guy doing his editing, the latest he was, he was waiting on it at it, waiting on it that it's so ended up being about what about an hour and 15 minutes later than anticipated drop somewhere around. Around 6:15 6:20?

8:55 Yeah, he was he was aiming for a 5:00 announcement. Originally so you know, I'll say this before I get into what I see on tape, Winning the battles against the South Carolina's and the Maryland's you always say, it's what we've got to do. Consistently. Yes we do. We're going to lose a few here and there to the Blue Bloods. We can't lose commits that we sit well with two programs that we are level with or above in terms of overall talent and Prestige. So getting these wins, regardless of what you think about the individual player is Look good thing. So I say that to say this, looking at Delaney's tape, I like the way he plays from a physical standpoint does a really good job redirecting receivers getting them off their path.

9:52 Probably is going to need to work on kind of turning hips and making sure that if he's not able to get any sort of, you know, physical element at the snap of the football that he's in the right position. Throughout the entirety of the route. But overall, I think he's a guy that can potentially contribute to us in the future. So I like this pick up, you know, it's not, it's not necessarily moving the needle for us, but at the same time, it's a solid pick up in the type of pickup, we need to consistently go out there and win. Absolutely, it's also a region of the country, we need to continue to grow the relationships with and if we need to get these type players, you go back 25 years ago when you take a look, Get that 95 team and I know that's a long time ago folks but there were a lot of Maryland kids, the fuller's-earth in Maryland, we always had a decent pipeline up there. Really big when Billy Hite was there with the math of feel like Billy can walk in there, just about get any player in but it's having that whole piece because we always talk about what? What's what's of recruiting blueprint, right? You can't get 20 guys from Virginia and sit on that. It's getting as Brian always wants three or four in the top. 10 6 to 8 in the top 20 in Virginia. And then pick one or two, all primarily two or three off from North Carolina.

11:16 South Carolina, Georgia Florida. And now the end of the day in Texas, pick one or two off of there and occasionally from somewhere else in that region. That's how you build a program like Virginia Tech. You want 45 percent or so from Virginia. And you want at least four of those guys to be top 15 players. Yep. That's what you want. Crap, preferably two of them to be top ten and then you kind of go from there. I mean we could fill the the team Ginny kids every year. But at this point, the way other schools are recruiting. We do well, but we would, we still wouldn't get to where we need to be. So we still need to cast that net especially to those areas that we sit well with historically like Marilyn, like Duval like some of the areas in Georgia that we've kind of started to carve out a path in like the, the Triad, I mean, we've done really well in the Triad. Of late.

12:16 So that's where we. I mean if you're if you're talking outside of Virginia, that's where we need to focus. Like Texas is great. We get a couple guys from there every cycle, that's fine. But you still got to cultivate those traditional pipelines that you have established since, you know, the early 90s. Absolutely, in taking a look here, mean, we have a class of twenty one so far and a tour from Virginia. So they're right in that range that you come over on about 45% from the state. And then again, I'm just looking here and got not talk about the Triad Xavier Simmons. You got a couple guys from Texas. You got some Pennsylvania, guys. You got some Georgia, guys, you guys from South Carolina, guys. So this is the blueprint that should have never stopped, but it did, but will digress on that one time.

13:04 All right, other big news this week, that broke and I'm sure everybody's heard it by now, with Babcock gets an extension. The 2029. That is a long time away. Yep. Get the math behind our sons will be driving when which contract is up, this is accurate. Yeah, so as far as what are you thoughts? I mean, what do you think with which so far in his first seven years at Virginia Tech? So I think there's there's kind of two angles to approach this, and the first is going to be, I'll separate it by how he's done, in terms of hiring and managing talent for the athletic department. And then I'll bring you down in terms of overall athletic Mission.

13:58 So on that first piece outside of football, he's done as good as probably, any AD in the country, in terms of getting coaches in With Talent getting Olympic sports and non-revenue sports competitive across the board. He's a damn good job at that. and, Say what you will about Fuente. But that wasn't necessarily a bad hire. When it happened, it wasn't the preferred higher, but it wasn't a bad hire. It hasn't worked out but hindsight's 20/20, so I'm not going to say that. It was a whiff.

14:44 I'm going to say that. He probably had some options that may have been a better fit that he passed on. But there wasn't any red flags that said for went to a would have been a bad hire when that higher was made. So it is what it is at this point from that perspective. Now, from a athletic department Mission standpoint, I think that's where this comes into the most play, especially with Reach For Excellence launching. And Regardless of what happens with went away, whether he's gone after a season or two, or whether he rides out the remainder of his contract, I think overall. They've said you've done well enough, where we're going to let you hire another football coach.

15:32 Yeah, you're going to get one more. One more shot at this. While you're you're here based on your overall track record we trust you to potentially do better this time in terms of finding a fit and I Coming over all. Now, you'll say Fuente is a bad fit, just I think Flint with necessarily the way he came in, but I think Fuente is a bad fit in terms of the type of coach that fans wanted or expected coming off of beamer, I think he did a good job of respecting. Some of the traditions and things about Virginia Tech coming in, but he didn't kind of get the nuances of what the fan base is expected from a coach.

16:18 That's 100% true. You go from prank, who is just at that point in time and even up through that point in time was lovable, Grandpa figure. Even if you go back, when we were younger, if he was here, people that met him, he was a very approachable person where people pay is not and could that change of one day, maybe maybe not. If if you get 12 wins a year, yeah it would change real quick cuz everybody love you regardless of what happened. But if one day here at the time was a home, run. You look like two or three guys out there and he was one of you had to get in. We got one of them. Now, what's happened, subsequently? Is not good, especially the last three seasons, not the first two, because people jump on, and say, well, he extend them.

17:03 And after we were 19 and eight, we were 19 and eight. And we were on the doorstep of beating Clemson in the ACC title game like on the doorstep. If that happens in 16, The Narrative changes but he had a lock him down because you knew bigger programs were going to come sniffing now over all the athletic department. I mean everything's competing Everything dip, everything's competing at the NCAA level. You know you had softball. Make it to Super Regionals. You had so many guys in wrestling. Make it track and field outstanding when the ACC again baseball had a, heck of a run until the bullpen. Just forgot how to play baseball.

17:47 But so many things are doing well. Soccer is ranked again, soccer has been to a final four, I believe. Think since what's been here? Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong about that, but they've had success. If he's been given the opportunity because he's built everything right where wit make this mistake and this is where we're going with for Wente is, and you've said it numerous times to me. And I'm sure you've set it to other folks. He came in and he cleaned up the other stuff first instead of paying attention to football first. Now once he realized that what was going on in football, You got to do something with, he has got on that fast.

18:27 The facilities upgrade the dining hall upgrade. The student dorms it went, it was like 17 happen and then 18 happened. And then kind of realized like, okay, we're behind and things would hammer down, and he's gotten caught back up. And, you know, do we sit here and say, if he starts spending that money in 14 on the football program, when he first comes in, Are we where we are? We don't know. We can speculate and say no we'd have better facilities easier cells. We wouldn't have the run-in with Baylor and all that stuff whatever. But overall, he's put everything else on good footing and now he is focused on the football program and that's what's got to be done.

19:11 Absolutely. And, you know, we can look and pick apart things and and everything else. But I mean, looking back at 2014. At that point, did we look at what was happening as a trend or as a blip blip? So but then you had 14 yet, fifteen different gone and then you had with maybe thinking new head coach might be enough to right the ship long enough to for me to get these other pieces in place and it will not see a drop off. He was good for two years, it wasn't good for the four or five he needed.

19:52 Start getting these things in place. So not not saying that, that was the mindset, but, but trying to think about it from a strategic plan standpoint, that might have been kind of the angle. He was going at and just things didn't quite hang on long enough. In both the the pre Foo era and the the sense Foo era to really make it look like, you know, the design that he had in his head at the time. But it's the it's like the early through there and then 18 was the Midfield area and we're part of the lake through era. And the question is this season, obviously what saves his job and I know we're going to probably argue that all season with people Brian but what saves his job? I know I've got a number of my head, you've got a number in your head will be revealing that in a few weeks and so who knows that's going to be the interesting thing because Is in. For some people, it might be a moving Target depending on what the wins and the losses look like. And for some people, it might be, if you don't hit this Benchmark or that Benchmark, I think you should be gone. So it's going to be different for different people. And, you know, that's Wednesday forward to having some of you guys discussed this with us.

21:15 It has we, you know, shake down some of these wins and losses this season because I'm sure that A point that topics going to come up whether it's every week for good or ill every week is going to come up every week. All right, now guys, before we get into looking at what's going on with Camp depth and all that we are going to go take a quick pause for a message from our digital partners. All right, Brian. Let's start it out here. Let's start on the defensive side of the ball. Let's take a look at the defensive ends first, and I don't think this was going to shock anybody, you know, curl, the reports were seeing out there Mari bar. No, Taiwan Garbutt up in the first group, you know, obviously J, Hamm during the presser mentioned last week. Barn is just scratching the surface of his ability and he thinks that he's going to put pressure on offenses that have to adjust to him which is going to make a thing. Easier for Garba in the rest of defensive line and probably the rest of the whole defense and I agree completely with him on that.

22:20 Yeah, I think that was a good assessment. I mean the type of just the physicality and the speed and athleticism and he brings they're going to be shading protection, his way chipping with tight ends. That's going to potentially take an extra guy. Out of a route is least in the early part so that that tight end now because Has more or less a check down type option and not somebody, you know, running a seam or or any other kind of complex route in the middle of the defense for us. So there's a bunch of things that that can happen from that aside from just the trickle-down of you know, guy like Jordan Williams not getting a double team, Garbutt having 10 one on one on the other side. Like there's just so many things that that opens up and take some pressure off those other guys.

23:09 So, having Bardot be able to, you know, take another step is going to be important this year because, you know, we talked about how how much of a step he took from Week 1 to the final week of the Season. Not really having a, you know, a true fall Camp to prepare and not really having the ability to practice each week on the position like he wanted to. So and he even mentioned himself, I mean this has been Kind of the first off season in a long time for him, where he's been 100% healthy going into the start of a season. So I think that's going to play a big factor for him as well. And you know, he's obviously with with some of the things last year, he's dealing with some of the expectations that have been put put on him. We're talking about that right now. Me and what we're discussing right now. We're putting some expectations on him, but he talked about keeping that kind of a head down mentality and just kind of, you know, tunnel vision.

24:08 Making sure that he's focusing on the right things as he heads into the season. So that's going to be big and hoping to see some big things from him this year. No doubt all no doubt. And in hearing those words out of his mouth during his presser, you know, last week was really good to hear especially about the offseason because you know we mentioned we mentioned you know him being healthy for the first time. Well this is really his first full offseason a An in-depth name, you know, he didn't get spring last year. We know how jacked up camp was, so he's getting full spring, he's getting full fall.

24:49 He's got, Billy's got JC really tenured guys to teach him, which is great because you've seen those guys in their work and what they produced on the field, which is awesome. The blonde, he'll Adams, Jalen grip and running with the twos. Obviously the defense, Event position was really hurt by the Alec Bryant Justin Beatles and you know, wound transfers. I think Jalen Griffin might have something, a little shocked to see Eli Adams up there. But again, that's what we're running with right now and you got some of the freshmen. I have a feeling I'm going to be sneaking and sniffing around trying to crack at too deep along with Alfred Binet, Yeah, look to see. Probably a couple guys in there in the freshman class either propping pop into deeper rotating in there with a three deep.

25:44 The big question is, does Belmar get his conditioning back and is he healthy enough with the issues? He's been dealing with thing from the end of last season, to be able to be pretty, you know, a big rotational factor for us this year, if he is then, And you know that's going to help us because that means the guy like Eli Adams is probably sliding into the kind of the three deep and not the 2D. Yeah and you get a little cold Nelson, who just looks like a 25 year old man. Right now I'm not an 18 year old kid as a freshman in college. What can they do again?

26:24 What Wilfred can do? We mention just a couple weeks ago with the transfer, he played defensive end and he racked up some stats at the Preparatory Academy in Connecticut. So it's me really interested in there. Let's stay on the defensive line. Brian, let's take a look at defensive tackle. Were you shocked to see Jordan Williams and Mario Kendricks as the first team out there? Not super shocked, you know, seeing Kendricks out there instead of Pollard wasn't wasn't too shocking. They've kind of been kind of the the 2A and 2B D. Tackles for me. I think what they're probably going with is having with Jordan and Mario. You've got even though with Pollard putting on a little bit of weight the offseason those guys are more or less kind of the same same body type with William. Dropping a little weight, this offseason and and Kendricks bumping up just a hair that gives you a little bit more flexibility with, you know, slides across the defensive front, almost having an interchangeable, one and three technique.

27:31 Whereas, with your second unit there, Pollard in Josh fuka, you have more defined roles where Pollard is. Absolutely. A three technique and fuga is absolutely that one technique. So, That's probably where they're heading with with that type of alignment. So I have no problem with with Mario up there versus versus Pollard. But all those guys are going to get run, we talked about built here, link style here, he's going to rotate it. At least two sets of Guys, across that defensive line if not three. So you know, first team second team, I mean, the the difference in snap count is going to be minimal.

28:11 Yeah, absolutely. I in the other thing that we had mentioned, mean, you talking earlier day during our production meeting was, you know, you can let you can bring polity. And with Jordan, let Jordan play the one, you know, you can bring Fuji in at the one. Let Jordan played the three or bring food gonna let Mario play the three and you have some mix-and-match options where you talked about Bill rolling rotating guys. Moving guys constantly, well, you've got enough guys, even though you get two guys who are really primary, setters, You get two other guys, who can constantly move. And I mean, I think that's going to be a key a for keeping those guys fresh. But be forgiven, different looks on the beginning of the line now.

28:52 Something else that was mentioned. I think it was. Was it Pollard in mentioned it, right? We talked about Desmond, my Moody, um, Desmond down in the Tampa area. You know, the three-star commit last year comes in big 63 220 already. So, already would probably a By to play maybe not in the best shape to play coming from high school but you hear that name mentioned by one of the leaders on the defensive line. It makes your head pop up and obviously Max Philpott the wall phone. Yeah. If you probably had to give me a third group, it will probably be those two. It sounds like mammootty is coming on pretty quickly there, obviously, big body guy and you let you like that out the gate.

29:42 But the thing I look at is, you know, you talked about a little bit conditioning wise, is he going to be able to stand up to a snap count, but as a third string or even with that with a steady rotation, that tearling likes to employ that third line, is it going to get a lot of run but any run, he can get this year is to our benefit so hopefully we'll see something from him. But you kudos to Max Philpott earning a scholarship, having a big offseason in the weight room is As well, a lot of lot of kudos to him on that front as well. So good for him to kind of kind of push. Some of these other guys guys forward a little bit. I mean some of the some of the things we're seeing him flying up the depth chart in the offseason where he was more of a Norwood afterthought at the start of 2020. Well it's absolutely.

30:31 I mean, I think that's where it with the defensive tackle group, you feel good. And even with the defensive line in general, you still feel good about it because you still to me, I think the As Pollard, you can play in the big end if you need it too. If you wanted to give a different look but those groups feel good. Now, the next group, there wasn't much out there about it. I don't think it shocked, anybody look at the linebacking corps, brine is highly films is down. Is anybody shot? No nobody's, nobody's. People are mad, because thanks a lot of people hate Dax and, you know, other than for what? Just You know, playing solid football, not spectacular because he was a cop, 150 guy and you know playing out of position for three years.

31:21 I mean I get some of the the great white height tape tape, Buzz surrounding him, a great for what I mean, it's You know, so I get some of that like, you know, he was four star, you know, Bud, Foster prototype type player and output, hasn't matched expectations. But the fan base, you know, the fans that are passionate in his corner or very passionate and in his corner, and for those that point out the flaws sometimes that can frustrate them with the Credit given relative to the output, so I get that. But at the same time, I mean he's played solid, if unspectacular most of the time.

32:18 Yeah. And he's been playing out of position, pretty much since he's been on campus will see if being at his natural position for a full offseason. Some of the other things that were gaps in his game, go away a little bit. That's my hope for him if he can take any Step At All. While playing a position, that's more of a fit for his athleticism. That's that's going to be. He's gonna have a pretty good sees. I'm not saying he's going to be some sort of all-acc caliber player but I don't think we need that with some of the guys we have on defense of wine. And some of the guys we have on the back end, we just need him to be where he needs to be every play and make the tackle.

33:02 We need him to be the old school quarterback of the defense. Get everybody lined up. Make sure everybody's on their route assignment, fill the gap. Right. Get off the block when you need to find last part is going to be the part that he needs to work on. I'd like to see somebody about from Camp. So, if you're listening video, folks out there, let's see how he's doing on that now. Justin Fuente addressed allant is down, I tell you what, for us that follow it closely, a lot of folks were hyped when you know, talked about Tisdale gain and 18 pounds Tisdale up. 22 2008. He played about 218 a couple years ago and was Fast I can't see 10-pound slowing him down that much which is great. And then he just talked about, you know, the focus and the maturity and he's in a completely different place than where he has been in the past and Alan Tisdale at backer has that capability to be.

34:00 In my opinion, he could be an all-acc player now, is he going to beat remain or, you know, a DB Probably not. But be Tarik. That's a good one. So, it's not, it's not like he's down here. We're getting. We're going to get a bump up from Dax because we have more athletic guy out there. Now by all means what I like to see him become Tremaine. Yes everybody would or a DVD hell yeah. But I think it was great to hear that. Yeah. And I think, you know, I think the bigger thing, like, the weight gain is great. It was me. It to take on inside the Box blocks, because regardless of what you say, anybody says taking on blocks inside the box is different than taking on like a tight end leading out on a running play, or a crack from a wide receiver or anything like that from outside.

35:00 The box, playing inside the box, has a different Beast. You got tackles guards and tight ends coming at you, coming at you from different angles. I mean, it's It's a different Beast. So the weight gain is going to help him with getting off those blocks, standing up to those blocks, and not, not getting pushed out of the gap. Now the other part of it, the focus immaturity is going to be big for me because more frustrating than anything with Tisdale's play last year. Wasn't he was too small or he wasn't wasn't able to take on on blocks. It was sometimes you look lost. He'd have a play where he just completely blew up with the offense was trying to do in the very next play he get the wrong read and be five yards out of position. And that was kind of, that was the maddening part of his game is that, you know, he just seemed like hadn't hadn't, quite put everything together with the defense and some of that could be attributed to the install in a covid year. And some of that was just, it seems like maturity, white, might not have been quite where it where it needed to be in terms of picking up the Playbook and getting everything down pat. So seeing that the coaches are calling out specifically that the focus and maturity have definitely improved. I hope to see that on the field because I think the kid can flat-out play.

36:25 I just need to see it more consistent. Absolutely well, second teamers Dean Ferguson. I don't think that's a shock. A lot of people have heard of Dean name more and more and more hurting like he's going to be one of those guys that's going to need to step up because obviously dachshund his they'll do play a role on special teams. Now, the Shocker of this group is CJ McRae at backer CJ, fits the mold Old right? I don't think anybody's going to deny, you know, deny that. CJ's a call link your guy and I think, you know, you sit here You know, 63 220. He's kind of Tisdale, which is, there was a 19.

37:09 Obviously if he's second team, he's done something in a pretty short period of time to get there with the three other guys on the roster so that that makes you feel good about that. Dove obviously. Don't hear the name. Keyshawn artist but we know Keyshawn can play. It's again, it's one of those groups where I feel good about going into the season. It's a group that I feel good about and I actually feel better about it now than I did necessarily A probably of even just a few months ago. Yeah, especially with with knowing what I know about Tisdale. Now I had a really big question mark about backer because I wasn't sure what to get from. Tisdale wasn't sure how fast CJ McCray was going to come along.

37:52 And while there's still some question marks whether Dax is gonna translate. Now it is more natural position, you feel like he's, you know, you're not going to see necessary. Even if you don't see a boost, you probably not going to see a drop off relative to what we had last year with Rook. So I'm hoping that with with Tisdale, really, taking a step and hopefully learning to be more consistent in this play. That's going to pay some dividends with the run and not put as much. Each on the our safeties to have to make tackles in the Run game, because that was a big problem last year. Well, absolutely. Well, speaking of the guy, making tackles there is nickel with position and Shamari Connor, tomorrow Connor makes tackles and you know, Feel like J Hamm kind of gushed over and Brian.

38:46 Yeah. I mean it was definitely he was took a good amount of time with a question related to Jamari to kind of talk about Shamari. The person kind of reserved until he opens up with you but once he does you know, sorry to get him to stop stop talking and that, you know, he's kind of stepped into more of a leadership role heading into this year. Being a third year starter kind of being one of the veterans on the a unit, And it's good to see because it means, we're going to need leaders at all levels on the defense and having a guy that, you know, everybody recognizes as a dog. Yep, taking on that leadership role. That's going to be big for that defense because they're going to follow his lead and he brings a lot of intensity when he's on the field.

39:35 In him also, noted that he seems to be getting better with kind of reading the offense, pre-snap and getting a lot better in his coverage technique, which was probably the biggest weakness of his game last year was, was how he played in coverage, that's not. And if he can clean that up to a significant point, you know, we're going to be in a much better place than we were last year. He had some games where he he looked like the best player on the field. He had a couple games we're outside, the Run game, he was struggling and if he can clean up that element a little bit that's going to be pretty big.

40:15 You kind of put him back in that. I mean I'll say this if he can if he can get a little bit better coverage, he's gonna handle that position. Similar to help mooc handled it when he was here. So yeah, it can see that and if that's been the focus and again the coverage wasn't terrible. It was again, I'll put it kind of like that it was solid but there were times he had the lapses and, you know, sometimes they're at the worst time. So again, I hear that and to hear, that's probably been his Focus because he's always a thumper, he'd always put his nose in there. He'd always try to make the tackle. We take a look death, while in a Seer people's Mike Hawkins, who younger guys?

40:57 Not shocked to see Nikes name but little shock of seeing this year, people. Because I feel like Nike we'd heard a little bit more about him at the width position. So that is the one thing about this position that scares me a little bit. Is we do not have the death and it's like you said tomorrow being a leader tomorrow being a dog. You know he has to he has to stay clean. Yes. To stay healthy and yeah, yeah, I don't know who the next great nickel whip is going. To be in this defense I'm hoping it's Nasir people's. I mean sound I mean I know Nasir people's is really kind of you kept.

41:39 You keep hearing his name mentioned as kind of a guy that is right on the edge of kind of making an impact, we heard him his name a little bit that the start of last year. So you know, maybe he's taking some steps and can can be a good Reserve but more than likely of all the positions on defense, Connors probably the one spot where he's not going to come off the field unless he's injured or being late in the game. Yeah, we got a lead more than likely. He's going to, he's going to be on the field. Pretty much every snap, every meaningful snap, at least.

42:19 So Abso-freakin'-lutely, the concern there is not so much 2021, it's kind of what's next. What's her name? Absolutely. All right, let's roll on, let's take a look at probably, again to of the stronger positions. On defense. Let's take a look at safety where hell of a story Devin Hunter running with the ones and at the boundary safety position and chianti Jenkins running with the ones that the free safety position and then Devon Taylor and Take daily backing them up, guys, with the experienced guys, with playing time. And then Jr, Walker and Jalen Stroman or third three, deep there.

43:04 There's not a whole that is about it. I mean, you know, the only thing you would you would ask for is if you had like one guy that was like all-acc caliber that was coming back. That that's really the only thing you could ask for in this group and in terms of just experience and knowing that everyone in at least in the two, deep can handle their role and everyone in the 3D has talent and ability even if they're somewhat unproven. I mean that's that's as solid as you can expect from that unit. So and I'm hoping for big things from Devon Hunter, you know, he's been back with the team I think.

43:50 I think for long enough at this point to kind of get his his football legs back under him and the fact that he's sitting at the one spot tells me that he's where he needs to be. Also the fact that tay was moved over to free says a lot. Hell tells tells me that Devin is where he needs to be absolutely and you know it's great to see jaelen strong and already in the 3D but I don't think Jalen's going to Redshirt. I think Jalen's going to be doing A ton of special teams. I think that one's going to have some packages and it's just that group it's just everybody has experience on the field.

44:30 Connor is obviously motivated out of his mind and you talked about having an old all-acc caliber guy. We lost him last year. Could he have been that all-acc caliber guy? He was so highly touted, coming out of high school, he batted waited his time to get that chance and then you know what happened is what happened you know about last year at this point in time. And again, it's just a great story. Let's hop over Brawn to another room that is again, you started going down, it's just players all over the place. Cornerback room. You know remain Waller did not was not there Friday as a cold. Mast up there.

45:16 They're taking all the precautions. They can first time really healthy starting since 19 when he was an absolute baller. Yep. and, you know, We talked about him, the injuries last year and everything that's happened. We're hearing him about being the leader him talking to guys about it. They getting it. So you've got that older voice in the room that? Yes, he was there last year, but when you're not on the field, it's tougher to bark, right? Yeah, it's tougher to bark and I think, you know, we talked about, I mean, the ideal scenario is probably what we were looking at, pre covid last year with an all-acc guy coming back. A guy that was right right below that opposite him. Even, you know, I know Walter never really got healthy last year.

46:16 That's probably the ideal. This is probably the number two. This is because you No a healthy Waller is is a baller. He also he's a friend you know Fringe all ACC player probably at his healthiest so you got him on one end you got a true freshman that played damn good. The specially kind of thrown into the fire with Dorian strong. Last year was an All-American. Give that credit because you don't ya not playing freshman All-American. Yeah. You got Armani, Chapman solid bit, little bit bigger body Corner.

46:59 If he can improve a little bit in man-to-man coverage, he's going to be damn good as well. Rhian Marie, kind of does a little bit of everything, I think he's probably a little bit better in coverage, but not as good in the Run game occasionally and You know, you got a freshman like DJ Harvey coming in, I think he's going to may not make make a an on-field impact this year, but having him is kind of that, third or fourth line quarter on one end. I think you'll see him at least take full advantage of of all the snaps you can get in the red shirt year but he might end up doing enough on special teams like a Jalen Stroman, where he's going to, he's going to have another impact for us this year. So yeah, the other piece and we always talk about you talk about taking tomorrow off the field.

47:52 Is if you ever go against a team where you need a true nickel corner of all those guys, I think that is DJ hard now we'll see because really we didn't get to see last year. What hand would do in situations where they would continuously go at a Nickelback versus a true Corner? Yes, I'd be interested to see if maybe he doesn't work his way up but still he walks in the door. They His own, he's practicing with the threes. It means he's probably getting runs with the twos he had. I think the question with, let's go back a little bit to the nickel Corner doing, you know, looking Beyond this year a little bit. I know that that's kind of off topic, but do enough other young guys at the safety position. Come along, where you can move a Jalen strowman to a nickel Corner as well.

48:41 Maybe maybe I mean and maybe on the nickel Corner Deb maybe you don't worry as much about because you do have Devin Taylor who's kind of a Swiss army knife that you probably could put there probably could not get the most out of it, but you could probably have three or four coverage sets will be like he will do this. Okay, we'll be okay. So maybe that's the view on it. But you know again, defense kind of top to bottom, you know, definitely feeling Better than where we were just a few months ago. Yeah, I think you feel with the defense that, you know, you may not get the top-end play that we've had in our best years but unlike last year there's not a lot of holes.

49:23 They're not there's not a lot of spots where you can point at and say I'm concerned here defensive end as long as we stay healthy. I feel okay about that's probably the thinnest group in terms of what we're looking like beyond the Lime. But I mean really every other group you feel pretty solid about first line and at least comfortable with with the second line. So, yeah, I think you just hit the nail on the head, this group isn't going to be 2020, or 2018 type metrics. I think you're looking at probably 20 19, 2016. I don't think they, I don't think they have the 2017 them. No.

50:09 But that's a 2016 would be. I think they're a little bit better. Then 2019. I don't, I don't think they may be quite hit 27. Got it somewhere around the 20 2016 year. Which I mean if we can get that and do something on offense, which were about to get to, we might be, okay, something on offense pom, pom something on offense. Well, the something on office this year, Bryan, is for the first time in the 10-year of this coaching staff. We do not have a camp battle, right? And Burmeister is, you know, locked in at the number one spot coach one day said during this presser, you know, it's much easier on that one person to have that going on.

50:56 And, you know, even corn said it helps expand the passing game when you just have one guy which what you get because you know as being you were talking through it. You're like well if it's only one guy, You know, you don't have to have ten plays and we'll have to get you reps on 10 plays but I got to get him and him rip something plays. It's like you're going to get these ten plagues. And these ten plays in these templates makes perfect sense, at least to me, but maybe a minute, you can install your offense at a much quicker pace. You're not having any and all coaches are going to trickle in wrinkles throughout the year because you have to do that because you have to give each defense. Something new to look.

51:39 Look at as you go along, but in terms of Day, One packages and things that are kind of the bread and butter, you can have all of your bread and butter fully installed, and your quarterback is fully comfortable with all of those because you're able to wrap them a lot more than if you're having a truly split snaps between two or three quarterbacks. So that's only going to help Braxton because the more reps, the more comfortable he gets with The offense with the receivers with the nuances of picking up and knowing where the blitz is coming from, in certain situations. So that's going to help it. I mean, how much it helps is is to be determined, but it's better better than the alternative. I will say, I like of all the positions that you kind of want, someone pushing quarterback is probably the one you don't. I mean you want somebody that's going to make sure your quarterback is feels a little bit of. I can't go out there and half asset but you don't want a quarterback, that's constantly, you know, waiting for the hook Yeah, that's never good for a quarterback. So it's the minutes out.

52:58 We finally have them in tality where a quarterback isn't isn't worried about. If I play a bad game, I'm getting yanked. Yeah. And that's the in cornelison set it, and I'm glad he said it, it's one of those things that finally, it's addressed by the coaching staff, about how mentally of that player like you said. But if the whole team and it's not just the to me it wouldn't be just the offense but the defense like okay who's only quarterback, you know, we what kind Game we play in this week, we're going to be doing the Notre Dame game from 2019 when we slow it to a snail's pace and try to run clock or is it something different? Now, some melts and you know, this is obviously physically, we can see you know Braxton has gotten bigger looks like he has gotten stronger, you know? And he mentioned it.

53:46 He's not going to be shying away from any sort of contact or anything like that, but he's going to try to be smart. I like to hear that as long as we Don't put him in those bad situation because Ryan when you saw that number and he was one, it was like, what? Twenty two point seven miles per hour? That's fast, that's that's Elite. That is League. Like the top on the NFL level was is was was green moster. Luckily I'm a Niners fan 23 at 93 miles an hour and that's Ian mean. You're talking about a quarterback who can do that and he may not have been running in pads like the kids like you guys in the NFL are but that's still past. Yeah.

54:31 What do you feel about the backups Grand? One G PB, how long we got now know. So I feel as good as I felt about the backups last year. I feel as bad about them this year. And that's I'm not trying to knock knocks Kate. Um, I'm not trying to not Connor, blumrich or Taj Bullock and Taj obviously gets a pass because he's been on campus now for like six weeks, yes or eight weeks, whatever it is, but It's just there's no sense of if Braxton goes down we're going to be all right. There is I don't I don't have that feeling. Now, there's a scenario where if Braxton goes down we can still win a couple games.

55:28 Yeah. We won't but but but I mean, we're in a worse scenario than we were in 2018 after JJ goes down. Yeah. And we're with Willis the rest of the way. We're in a worse scenario than that. At least Willis. You knew he had. Even though it was a Kansas and he had won one game, he had played a significant amount of snaps, you take the Clemson game away. Last year, Knox has played nothing, and I know Felipe's pleased, you know, he said I'm pleased with his understanding of the offense and Joseph videos. Today he was out there running, he has a little athleticism nowhere near BB's but it's got at he's got a twitch but he doesn't have the Elite Speed that will really. He's not a.

56:11 So let's, let's talk about how our offense runs, right in the running game you know, whether it's jet motion, whether that's whether it's other other window, dressing motions that we put in place you know there's inverted v r read option Hence all those things, those things don't work as well. If there's not a true threat for that quarterback to hurt the defense and out. I mean I feel like So Knox doesn't have so much of that. Connor has that but almost zero.

56:52 Elements of the passing game that I would that I feel comfortable with. And then ties is too much of a work in progress at this point because of how short of time he's been on campus and running the offense where he probably has the highest ceiling of the 30 absolute bloody up, but the lack of experience is probably the barrier, right? Well, if you talk about the live experience being there six weeks, I mean there's a hole in the floor. I mean, let me see her like no not going to college, but look, I think he does have the highest thing. I think he has that potential to be a Jerrod Evans type figure, but he's young. He just got here and you can't depend on that if for nothing else, do not ruin.

57:38 That kids mental makeup by saying, we're going to put you out there and it's like you know it's just different. So yeah don't feel great about what's behind me because great about BB. You tell me BB's healthy 12 Games this year, you know we have a Fighting Chance because of those legs and because of his athleticism and now is more knowledge of the offense. I think we'll be in most every game if Braxton Burmeister is more or less healthy, for 12 games, we will be in every game. We won't win. Them will be good, we'll hit it. Will ya, you know the question becomes What happens if we don't have them?

58:21 And what I see is that there might be depending on when that would happen. There might be three games on the back half of our schedule that are still potentially winnable. In the rest, you could pretty much say or losses, Duke Syracuse and Georgia Tech. Maybe maybe the would be, the only games. I would say. We had a Fighting Chance in the conference. If Braxton goes down, midseason isn't available for those games. Got you. All right, another place where there's Question. There's the number one guy is tight in Big Stone Gap. James Mitchell on the Mac you list, you know, big thing food, talked about how he's improved. His blocking James is already kind of a athletic freaking self but I mean he had a chance to go to the NFL, he didn't because he knew if he came back and he improve those small areas just to hair instead of getting drafted in the sixth or seventh round here.

59:18 He could be one of the first tight ends off the board. Let's talk about something else too because, you know, we heat a lot of Praise on Herbert last year and because of Herbert and because of some of the other areas that we were struggling in offensive Lee Mitchell didn't quite get a season to show show out as much as we would have wanted him to probably. We're going to see less of a true emphasis on the running game. This year, we're going to have to throw the ball, more this year to win games. And that's going to benefit James Mitchell stock, not only with us, but also in terms of the drafts. So that's going to be big in the fact that he's improved. His blocking means that he is the is, you know, truly a 3 down type player and because of his athleticism, you can be moved and lined up, pretty much anywhere across the skill positions on the line of scrimmage.

1:00:15 So that's going to be big funny. He see mentioned It doesn't have any name image and likeness Till's yet, that was kind of shocking to me because I mean, he's a walking talking. Like Virginia Tech image. You would think someone at this point would have would have put something in place, like reached out to him. I know he's not necessarily pursuing it actively himself but he feel he would have gotten a lot of a lot of calls at this point, already told you there is some rock calling like a fault line yard work or SB Cox company in Blacksburg that you just call him and say we just want to use your face and put Big Stone Gap. Then our Stone company behind you. It's so easy.

1:01:01 Any such a likeable guy to man. I mean especially y'all, if y'all didn't see it go back and look at his interview in the grit. Definition he won't work. He worked stick-to-itiveness in there. He worked in. It was doing what you said. You're going to do, even when you're not in the frame of mine, when you said it, like he worked in the whole spiel. That that we see on those those media drops from The Well, when Pete was doing the media drops, for Virginia Tech football, social media. We haven't seen them quite as frequently since the summer began their might.

1:01:42 There might be a reason for that, I'm not sure. Anyway, moving on, let's let's look at this. He talked about the versatility of and with Drake and Gallo behind him, they're not kill him but they are essentially one who wore when you pass catching version him. One's more of a run blocking version of him Gallo the room. Blocker great, the catcher, which we also feel hope they decide to put him outside sometimes.

1:02:23 Because Brian is someone that coached, when you have someone like big gap. And let's say, he's, let's say, he's only in line and he flexes you have choices to make her eye as a defensive coordinator, all right? If I leave a corner back out here and they run a Jet Sweep, if he gets his hands on and he's going to set the edge and they're going to have a lane. Well, I've told you man, we need to go, 22 Personnel, need to get where to get Mitch Mitchell and Gallo out. Are we need to get Holston and Blackshear out there in the same package? You can put Mitchell out there at the Z opposite tray at The X Gallo at the why you got Tay at the slot and then you got Blackshear. That can work everybody pretty much anywhere. So, Do it, do it Ronald's.

1:03:13 A lot of 22 and a lot of 12 Personnel this year as you're going to hear them talk about it. A lot. Speaking of wideouts, let's look at the wide receiver room. First one, nice shot, kind of a shot because we didn't hear his name in the press conference, but we're hearing out there. Praise the store at The X. No shot. No and Jones. Thomas Jefferson Richmond, Virginia. The RBA is the too deep at The X awesome here. Kid, that's big. I'm sure some of that has to do with the changa Hodge injury but him coming home that fast is is huge is because him cracking the 2D business just of circumstance. Obviously with Chang of going down there was a need there but him stepping up and being with a kind of navigate the debris there as it was that quick and be a 2d player. First time on campus that's going to be huge for him. So kudos to him obviously.

1:04:11 Trey lock down the eggs. He's locked it down the last, like, three years of this point. So yeah, that's not a big shocker. What did you think about the the Z with kind of essentially Kayla Smith and Jaden pay? You kind of being 1A and 1B we've heard, you know, the steps came Smith is taken to get better, but to hear rotating with pay you, I'm Nerd. If this is a thing that you use, Jaden back in to that Z position because I think would be the right move. Make sure he's comfortable, don't give him the full workload essentially don't overwhelm them when you have someone like Caleb who very capable plate.

1:04:59 What if this trend keeps up? I think eventually for the end of Camp if they can if we continue to get the access I mean, Jane pay you, there's going to be one of the Caleb. Very capable back up but you know, the other thing about the Z is, you got other guys that can play it, we have a versatile room. You know, you've got tadion and Rahim could play the Z if needed, right? If you need it. Now, obviously we've got enough slot receiver between table a chair. Lofton. And I mean, I know you have things. You want them to do with black tear. You visualize things like you want to hear. You want him out here, I want to hear. I want to hear.

1:05:45 What do you think it's about? The the slot. Because that's where we have three guys that are really excellent at it but also three guys that can play elsewhere needed Well, I think the big thing when we talk about the slot you obviously Tavian is probably a better fit in the slot. Then he was playing Z like he was forced into duty kind of the last couple years and months, he's more natural playing from the slot position. When you look at Blackshear, when you look at day one Lofton, both of them sliding in is kind of the the to a and the to be at that position. Some of that's by this St with Blackshear being someone that you're going to Line up at truly multiple positions, not just moving in throughout the formation. But some some snaps, he's going to be a true running back in some.

1:06:36 He's going to be a true slide and some snaps. He's going to be a little bit of everything depending on, you know, what's needed from the play called, and the design that was from head. Coaches mouth. Yeah, you would be lined up all over the field. We wrote that down and I think Brian might be like, if He's not lined up all over the feeling that you and see after a few drinks. Brian might be tweeting at the coach. You said you'd be everywhere. I'm dropping the Morpheus gift show me. Say so we lined up all over the field, show me. But for real though, having Blackshear have that hybrid role, not only gives Lofton the opportunity.

1:07:24 When likes your is more in that running back stage. Each of the game, you know, Loft and being the the true spell Forte or coming in. If they if we're mixing up how our receivers are lined up and we've shown that take and play outside so there might be some times when taste slides out and you bring in in Lofton to be the true Slaughter bringing Blackshear to be the true slot. So there's going to be things that we can do with mixing up where we deploy our wide receivers. That's only going to be a good thing because we can work on matches matchups against Defenders, depending on the skill set of our wide receivers and try to create those mismatches. Absolutely. And weighing off his name is more by the Pope, the head coach and the offensive coordinator again. A lot of expectations for him.

1:08:10 This is a talented room. Super talented group, I think every day we mentioned you feel like could do something as long as they are, put in the right positions with the right game plan every week, do you do them? Wrong, is what's going to make this room? Not And I don't think you'll disagree with that. Now, let's let's jump on over to running backs. Because I don't think it's a shot. Caleb holsten's running with the ones and he said, a couple things that I think called your ear when he spoke to the media back last week. Yeah, that's the big thing was that he was watching a lot of tape and talking with Khalil Herbert and trying to impact the outside zone game in the same way that Herbert was able to in 2020. And that's going to be big for him because if he can, I don't necessarily expect some of the, the big ones. Yeah, like like her bird busted because Herbert died. Only had great patience in the outside Zone. And once he hit the hole and got to the second level, he was so good at making that one arm tackle. Miss that turned like a 15 or 20 yard, gain into a 40 to 60 yard. Touchdown, very treaty.

1:09:28 Did it against NC State and Duke. He did a handful of other times throughout the season. You know, big plays were kind of a Hallmark for him and I don't necessarily expect all of that from Holston, but if he can just work on that patients and hitting the whole, if the right time and waiting for those blocks to set up. you know, sometimes with a running back speed is great but having being able to Throttle Down and then quickly throttle up when the whole opens is just as important as having that that raw speed Truman and obviously you can tell he's very comfortable this year. Some jokes going on with Jordans Wilson, Jordan Williams him and James Mitchell and oppressor and that's something else you'd like to see the guys are loose.

1:10:20 They're throwing joke, questions. They're hanging out there watching each other's interviews and that was for numerous guys. Now, I don't know how happy you are to hear this but you know, Like she was going to get some runs with the running back one's and you know, but it's at least it was said by cornelison that they've tried to put too much on him last year and had him thinking way too much. And I think maybe that was a necessity because of depth issues. Because for me and you tell me if I'm right or wrong Brian, come coming in last year. We were hoping that we would be seeing him elsewhere.

1:11:03 Not at the running back position. We're expecting him to primarily be lobbying occasional to the occasional change of pace back, but mostly lining up as the primary or secondary slot receiver, and we didn't see much of that, until towards the end of the season, and it seemed like towards the end of the season. He got better at they, have better deploying him, but because of that, they didn't use him as traditionally in the running game. And I feel like we're probably going to get a little bit of a mix of from a receiver standpoint. What we saw at the end of last year but they're still going to deploy him most often as as kind of a number two running back which isn't as long as you're doing the other things I don't so much.

1:11:50 Mind him being a spell especially if he having known the offense a little bit more working a little bit more on on some of his vision and I don't think he has bad Vision. I think just sometimes early in the snap. He makes his first decision isn't always the best decision. And then kind of, once you've committed to a path, it's hard to kind of redirect and make the right choice there. So just a little bit more patience. Like I said, sometimes throttling down and waiting for the blocks to get where they need to be, is better than hitting the whole hard. You want to hit the hard on, like, short yardage plays and things like that.

1:12:33 But for plays that are trying to go outside You want you want the blocks to get where they're going to be because that's going to give you the best opportunity, to turn a turn it into a big play. So hopefully he learns a little something like Holston from from her word on that front but I feel okay about it. I know I've said I don't want him just to be a spell back, but if the next guy we're going to talk about can carry some of that spell back load. That gives Blackshear the opportunity to Really work from the slot while also occasionally being that you know, offensive weapon that you need. But also being that that number two, running back and that and we're talking about Keyshawn King here who is fully back with the team.

1:13:19 Seems to be the primary backup behind Blackshear and Holston and we're going to need him to play a role this year and be consistent when he gets on the field in that role it sounds like some of the things that were problematic last year that have been worked on. He's put on a little bit of weight and it sounds like he's been working harder in the film room as well to understand the offense and be able to carry some of that load. So looking forward to see Keshawn King because he's a hell of an athlete. You know, we saw that in 2019 when he got a significant amount of run that year so hopefully will, at least see kind of something similar heading into 2021, and another name Mentioned was Marco Lee and I know this is going to make a lot of people out there happy to hear that name.

1:14:12 Oh yes. All we saw him a little bit at the end of the season. Big boy runs with power freakishly strong also went a frequency, strong different, and pads. Yeah you know and with him they talked about him not having that time hair last year with Good kind of getting a his body in shape, again, kind of getting to know the Playbook which I still didn't like just because of his size, like, you can find one or two power plays. We're gonna confirm one with him and something else. Cornelison said, and in this is where you hope going back to Keyshawn. King.

1:14:53 He wants to see two guys emerge. The hope is its Jalen and Keyshawn. because the hope is if you have those two guys emerge You can have, you can have a Raheem Blackshear, be sort of that, he's the third guy will throw them in here. We're getting a few carries, but since we're going to have him all over the place. We don't have to focus on him spelling, you don't have to depend on him. For those spell carries, you can depend on him to be an offensive weapon that can be deployed from the backfield but he doesn't necessarily have to be that guy that's going to get you 12 carries a game and need to get you.

1:15:35 At least like 50 yards on those carries exactly how he's not going to have to be that guy. He doesn't need to be that way. And by all means with Braxton is the quarterback. You can't do the powers. Practice is not built like that. I know he got bigger I drown but please use more girly correctly. I feel like he's so big that on the third and to his body alone, hitting the line, could probably get you a yard and a half, and he just gets a little push. He's going to get you the first down. So, find the right role for him. You know, he looks like in pads, right? Who's that? Lee Suggs don't, I'm not making a comparison to ability. I'm saying in paths, he looks likely sucks. I'm gonna get a little bit better after we get off here and all right, so Braun, we have saved. Of course, you know, the best for last / you, taking a look at the offensive line and, you know, cornelison mentioned during his press conference, they weren't as deep as we are last year and we super-deep last year, but he's feeling better about the depth now than we did before the spring me and you talk about a we're kind of feeling the same way. Except for like one position and that's the first position. The left tackle is the to is Daryl, Bailey, who just looked over.

1:16:55 I don't think that's the true too, but he's running with the tools to get reps. I think he'll be he'll get there, perfect. But I will say this, look at looking at him and practice. While a couple of those snaps, his technique didn't look the best. He looks the part at this point. Yes, he's long. He's got kind of that more thicker, lower body, but that long length up top that you want from a left tackle. Yeah, so he's looking the part that's a good thing. Number one, number two, everything I see is fixable, that's good. So there's nothing to say I was saying, okay, well, that's not going to get any better.

1:17:41 So if he's if he's doing the right things technique aside, then I mean, That could be something, I'm not necessarily saying, if to neuter goes down, I feel good. But I'm saying if if he can take the steps from this seasoning, the next season, you at least feel a little bit better about the position going into next year. And then the big question is the move for tenuta from right to left, going to going to be good enough to hold down that Blindside. I think that that's a big that's a big question to. I think we feel better about the left side than we do the right side which we're going to get to but you know there's still some question marks with that especially you know, I think regardless of how well it's a new to plays this year, you're not going to see Christian Daris all level play this year so there's going to be some regression on that front. The question is, how much is that going to be? And how much of that is mitigated by what Braxton Burmeister brings to the table?

1:18:39 From an athletic standpoint. Absolutely the question is for tenuta is his run is blocking his always good really it reads out on that the past buying a good and the hope is he brought the level up again don't expect their self-respect and aerosol type things you know you will be disappointed when we are saw went to next level in past Pro from from one year to the next every year we did. They went from the seeds will be to and They pretty much grade-wise 100% in the three years, he played. So now, I will say this and it goes to the next position of left guard.

1:19:20 He's got a absolute horse with him and lettuce Smith starting out there. So, I think that is, will probably help Luke a ton, you know, they're showing Jesse Hanson as the backup. We have talked about several times, he's one of those guys that needs to step up. If you tell me Hanson, Up to where he can be a true left guard. Fill in for lettuce, I'm going to see. She has always put yours named. I'm sorry. That's going to make us feel better and really in that interview Brian, are his presser Smith's leadership is showing through solid with the stuff earlier in the year with Vice and Brock in them.

1:20:03 But you saw even more, you know, on that presser. Yeah. I mean, It definitely seems like let's see the Smith and broke off under the de facto leaders on this line and it showed in the interviews from early last or late last week and it showed in some of the offseason stuff we've seen last year. And in this year, I think, let's see the Smith. Definitely took a step last year towards that leadership role. And it's only gotten stronger heading into 2021. He talked about carry over from, you know, the good year last year and he's like carry Isn't a thing got to stay focused on each game. No game, or season really carries over one from the other, it always has to be about preparation and execution each week each season. So that be that that's, that tells me that he's ready to lead and ready to kind of say, the right things to the other guys to make sure that they're doing the right thing day-to-day, and week-to-week to get those wins.

1:21:05 And he talked about just across the board for the line you guys coming in and getting In some extra film and workouts on weekends. So that mean that shows that, you know, that leadership from the player leaders is trickling down to the rest of the team to. So, that's good to see. Oh, absolutely. And when he mentioned that, I think he was referring to the whole team. Yeah. Being the whole team out there on weekends and days off, still working still grinding. And, you know, I think we as fans, I think that's something we want to hear, because I think a, it shows you, it means a lot to these players. And hopefully it's the understanding of what Virginia Tech football is is, is that extra hard work? Is that extra effort?

1:21:47 Is that grind? And you don't talk about grand extra effort, the guy started at Center Brock Hoffman being backed up by Johnny Jordan is that guy you know, cornelison talked about and you've already mentioned it leader big leader on the line and you can tell, by the way he carries himself, very confident kid and obviously a hard worker now. Brad did call him out and talk about, he had to get more disciplined. How many, you know, felt like it felt like it was every other game. He was doing a 15-yard penalty herding, a drive, which shows, you know, he's got the nasty streak to him but, you know, Brian. You played it.

1:22:29 Sometimes. You got to pull that back. That you're going to hurt more than help and obviously playing Center, usually one of the smarter positions. So you feel good. There, you feel? Good. You bring in an all Big. Ten guy and Johnny, Jordan To be the backup in the way. It's looking Johnny, obviously he's there will mention a few minutes. He's getting some run it right car to one of the things from Brock, some presser kind of culture here. yeah, I mean, you mentioned a couple of the big ones was You talked about corn, talking about his leadership and his confidence. And, you know, we know he's confident, we've seen the Social Media stuff, but he also said he has hard work to back up that confidence.

1:23:10 I think that's what you like to see. You know, you confidence kind of can tend towards arrogance, if you're not backing it up with doing the right things, while you're saying, the right things and talking a big game, so he definitely backs it up. He definitely needs to rein in that, those personal fouls and some of the Holdings there was A few Holdings but I think the personal fouls were bigger just because that's, you know, that's up here that's not in the course of of a play, you know. You get out of position or you, you know, you make a mistake with your hand placement. It's it's a the whistle blew but I'm still, you know, thinking I'm a badass and I'm going to finish this playoff. We play hard as hell. And then when the whistle blows you stop, that's that's that's just how it has to be.

1:23:54 You can be as dirty as you want to be, but do that shit between the whistles? That's The Steel Net. So moving on, Brock dropped a little bit of weight. This off season 1, 2 3, 10. Yeah, I think that's going to be good for him, whether he ends up Center guard, or potentially sliding out to tackle, like some coaches have talked about, and that I said, I'm comfortable with if that's the best. If we have that, gets our best five on the field. I don't think that's an ideal situation. If that happens at Tells me that we've got a big problem at right tackle. I'm not necessarily that Brock is just a versatile player. You know you do.

1:24:36 I'm saying I mean it's a sign that we're we're in a little bit of trouble if that's happens, but I'd prefer that over putting a right tackle out there that can't get the job done. So as we're talking about that a little bit, he also talked about Johnny, Jordan coming in said said he came in at start of summer. He's worked hard. He's acclimated with the unit, you know, kind of came in and said, and did the right things and they're really starting to gel a little bit there and click there. And, you know, he said, he was also excited about how much work Silas is an see got, and in the spring.

1:25:17 And it feels like that's going to help that's going to help long term, regardless of, whether he ends up winning that spot at Right Guard or not. Because having that extra work is only going to be good for this unit from a deaf perspective because that's, that's the biggest concern outside of right. Tackle is what, what, what depths going to look like, if one or two guys go down, it's very true. And we regard as the other piece that I want to say that caught my eye year for the presser was Didrik Gioia Brazilian jiu-jitsu over the year. And if you ever heard about it is one of those really disciplined martial arts. So, I feel like that's him knowing like, I've got to get better, I've got to get smarter, I've got to be able to take control and tone it down because if you remember there were a couple drives last year.

1:26:08 We're they were going to need to push it in. We have the defense on their heels, he makes a mistake. Himself recognizing that and then taking up something outside of football to help with that is huge. Now, Brian he mentioned Silas Dan Z Silas danji and Johnny Jordan are the 1A 1B at Right Guard. Backed up by the Freshman Caden. More who I know you love with the nasty streak. I feel fine about this. I do. I love to see Silas get it just because he's been here so long. Worked his ass off to get in that type of position and he's also a huge human being. And you like there would be some intimidation with against some teams. Yeah, I mean, he's a, he's a big man and in the Run game. I feel 100% confident that he can hold down the guard position.

1:27:00 The question is, is there. Enough discrepancy in in past Pro relative to what Johnny arkadin can bring to the table. That takes him out of that position and moves into into a more of a reserve role. That's going to be the big question there. But I mean he's got a nasty streak. This is a guy. Let's let's rewind a little bit that we were talking about. Was slotted into start at tackle in 2019. Yep. Sorry, 2018, 2018, and injury ahead of that. The opening game, Chris and aerosol gets that job and never lets it go.

1:27:43 And, you know, Silas has kind of been a 2d player ever since, but never, never quite getting over the hump. And hopefully, you know, this was his opportunity and he's able to take advantage of it. Beeping, let's talk about, Johnny, Jordan, a little bit more. Here, we didn't talk to him about him very much, other than Howie's acclimated with the unit here. He's going to be a significant player for us even if he's not a Frontline guy because he's one injury away from either starting at Center or guard. Yeah, because he's going to be the neck if he's not starting at Rygaard. He's gonna be the next best player at all interior line positions. Very true.

1:28:26 Very true. The important he is, he is such a such a cock right now that if he can become That Swing interior. Got it makes you feel better a because we know we can rotate guys in and out or someone get Nick, you have a capable back up in this big Frank you're talking about a guy who is been waiting his turn. How about Tyrell Smith running with the wrong ones, right? As Camp begins and up to this point, I have not seen any notification that he has not lost that job, and I hope he doesn't lose that job. Because Tyrell is someone that I've seen people mention, you know, he has some great feat for a tackle. Yep.

1:29:11 Nothing else. It might as well as run games, not great. You know what? I think our officers even with a lesser right tackle. You can be strong the wrong game. I'll take this Pasco this year. Now currently they're putting Clements and Shake as the backup. Kind of maybe a little shocked to see ships named not Clements. I know he was working over there but do you hope the man who's 25 can hold it down? Yeah, I do. Although I feel better about Clemens. Than I did, I think at the start of spring and the fact you got Bob shake, at least gives you a little bit more depth.

1:29:56 I feel like at this point, Clements is probably the true number two, but they're giving shik some run to number one acclimate him to to the system and, and to kind of that, that that's a position in general that needs to be pushed because there's no clear kind of leader in the clubhouse. I feel like, you know, Vamsi had some Advantage because he started the whole spring. He's a veteran, whereas Tyro Smith. This is really his first first run at being kind of the number one here so he doesn't really have it locked down while you know some of these these younger guys and a Juco transfer or making a run at that position.

1:30:40 So there's truly a competition that I think, working working Bob Shake in there as quick as possible. We'll only Push those guys harder, you know, if Ty Smith comes out juice, I'll be happy. Just because If he, if he wins that battle I think that he's kind of the the one that's easy to cheer for because you know, those other guys have have some some time in their career to get there. So This is going to be it for him. He's not I don't think he's gonna go for. What's it will be ninth year. Hey eight. I'll just the screen but I don't think he's going to go in that direction. And still do I feel great about offensive lined up? No, no.

1:31:30 I feel like I'm kind of with corn. I'm concerned about death, but I feel better than I did at the start of spring. Exactly, exactly. So on you know, Things I've never said before. I agree with Brad, Carl Nelson, Austin and listen. He's on coming. Be messaging you and being like Oh talk about Brad. Now, we cared about, you know, we just call it like we see it, you know, in our eyes and the best way we can. All right, let's roll on. Just a few other things that were kind of notated, you know, ham talked about that. The coastal has a ton of returning quarterback in. This is true. You guys Sam how back You've got the Eric King that you got Kenny picket on your 14 of whom, 15 touchdowns and and 11 interceptions. And a guys this is this has and always will be a Kenny Pickett hate podcast, but you know what do you think I'm talking about was with having that many guys come back. You get to kind of look at tape and see essentially learning the nuances, the way they like to distribute, you know, and how to affect their plan to maybe do things. They don't want to do for us.

1:32:41 There are some there is some tape on Braxton because he did play in multiple games last year, so it's both ways. But, you know, it is one of those things and, you know, you have how who lost a ton of production guy, you had his for high skies. Get drafted King coming off a knee, CL. It is not an ACL that was torn, like in September October of last year, an ACL is torn at the end of the season. And he said he's going to be ready. Week 14, Alabama, which man. Yeah you would. I hope mean I'm not saying it's not going to happen and I'm not gonna say he's not going to be fine. You know we've seen in the last few years, that ACL is more of a six-month injury.

1:33:29 Now, that it was a full year injury crew but it's getting back up to game speed. I'm watching TV every day, it's sure both and it's honestly The mental is going to be where where I questioned at the most, for a guy that uses his legs, as much as he does both in the running game of the passing game. I mean, with the way they moved the pocket and the way they use him to influence defense has with his feet, that's going to play a role. So is the mental going to be there? I don't think the physical is necessarily going to be a problem but you know, we've seen it some now with even some NFL quarterbacks Burrow in particular, you know, they talked about he's a little little trigger shy early in in Camp and I don't know if you're going to see some of that with with dear King as well, true. That other things was obviously, it feel like this is brought up by just about, you know, all the coaches were there differences in 2021.

1:34:31 I mean, it was a as close to a normal offseason as possible. They got the full workouts in and the winter. They got the full Spring ball. They've got the summer workouts working together when you're getting a normal fall camp and I mean the entire student body is at 96% for Virginia Tech. I'm assuming that the football team is up there. We will fit with them, requiring exemptions aside with them as requiring vaccinations to be on campus. It's more than likely the football team is in lockstep with those percentages. I would imagine it's probably only a very small amount if anybody which is a great thing, you know. And no thing ham talked about was just data. Just data in general and more opportunities in the one thing I think he said, Brian that you could really hear how much is we got to sit in a room together this year and talk about things and discuss this data and what we're seeing and and zooms great things.

1:35:41 Like what we do right here are great, they are but to sit in a room with someone and read body language and different tones in the voice and, you know, this is what they're focused on their in this room. Well, by is knocking at the door over there. I mean, I'm really been working hard on being Prime earlier. They just chatted a couple minutes and Brian's kind of we're talking about this and Rise looking at an email from work and I hear some say. So next thing I know is Brian's, like, I'll be there in five minutes. I'm doing something. I deal with the to. Can you imagine being a Collegiate football coach and trying to go over this game film? Hey, take the dog out.

1:36:22 What shit what'd I miss? Couldn't imagine doing that. So, you know, get that opportunity to actually sit in the room with your, with your team, with your guys, with your staff. I think the only thing it can't get worse right now and I'll say something else. I mean, this is, this is just for my observation and it is necessarily anything football-related. But for coaches in the past, if I was at home and watching film, my family knew I was definitely 100% working and not to bother me. When all you do is work from home. Home that delineation between work, Brian and coach Brian. And exactly.

1:37:15 Dad Brian is, that's a lot. It's a little blurred. And, you know, sometimes the you know, say what you will, you might get a call out and be like, hey you got it, like you said, go walk the dog, like okay I'm watching film. But again those lines get blurred when every day is, you know, sitting at home and not Not at the office. So they understand the mind wanders, man. Did you get a lot more distracted when when you got kind of those elements in not just You know, work from home. I can get as much done work from home, but it's I get it done in a lot different ways. True.

1:37:59 And I think some of that took some time to get adjusted to. I do. I'm very productive in spurts. More than I am when I'm in the office, it's more more of a spread out. It's a flood situation. The obvious, it's more of a flow. Where is when I'm home, I get a lot of work done and then I kind of all right. Now, I'm just going to have half time where I'm just working on, maybe emails and clearing those out and not not focused necessarily on. You know what, I put on my Agenda to start the day. So absolutely. And you talk about, you know, all that. And you here for Wednesday, really stressing about refocusing on, you talk about identity building the identity because he its kind of his go-to point, whether you love him or hate him, you know?

1:38:49 It's the truth if you don't have and it's what you kind of way, you just mentioned learning how to work from home. You have to build an identity of how and to work from home with all the different variables in your own house. Last year, a ton of variables and what we're learning is everyone's code experience was a little different, everyone had to deal with it and how it affected certain teams was different. And when you're talking about 8 weeks, and not having guys, Austin mentioned in last week, the guy who was the 2D big guard. Who's the 3D that Center is asked to play center. So now you've got three deep Center 3D guard. Who knows what's going on on the outside? But to his point is big piece was campus when we build our identity. We get to know each other.

1:39:34 In because it's it's what it's six off. Six on one off, five on one off for on one often 31 off and then it's mine game week and then it's game week. You're slowly integrating who we are going to be as a team this year in. That's big you know if they come out here and they stink up the joint, will it be surprising? No but at least this year you can say you didn't have any handcuffs on me, man. No handcuffs, I mean you know, excuses on that in as well but I will say this The team seems as Loose as I've ever seen them in a good way.

1:40:16 They seem like they're having fun, but they also seem like they're focused on proving the doubters wrong, and I'm hoping that's a good recipe for Success on the field. But they again they seem a little bit more. Kind of like those older teams like the camaraderie is there? I mean it definitely feels a little different this year. I don't necessarily expect significant differences in the win-loss column, you know. We'll we'll probably get to some of that in a future episode. But absolutely, I think this is going to be a lot more fun to watch.

1:41:03 Then it was at times last year, because at times last year. Khalil Herbert aside. It was a little frustrating to watch. I'm hoping this is as fun to watch as 2016 2017. Yeah, I'm hoping that's where we are. Has anything come across the wire in the last hour and 42 minutes perhaps nothing. That I think we should really talk about right now. I think, I think we're good to go buddy. All right. Well that's going to wrap up this episode of The Boundary corn podcast. I'm Curtis Wilson, I'm Brian seagull Whoa, visit our website at boundary corner, be t.com to listen to all of our episodes. And while you're there, don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe on our YouTube account.

1:41:48 More to come on that account. As we get into football season. Also, favorite podcasts or swear on all on Spotify, Amazon Apple. Anywhere you can think of where their click subscribe, write a review, tell us what you like, what you don't like. If you are looking to join the hooky club and be a part of the Reach For Excellence campaign. Please visit boundary Corner att.com forward, slash giving to get that started. As always, we've got in place in place out, Jason long from down in the NRV who had a nice showing down at the farmers market down there last And a day for almost three hours in me. Three hours. Utopia heard a guy out there playing, it was Jason, go support him when he gets a chance, when he has more shows will let you guys down there.

1:42:34 No, as always, we thank you for listening. Let's go okey