Know the Enemy: North Carolina

0:46 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast. I'm Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian seagull, buddy. We're back on a Tuesday. How you feeling tonight, man? I'm feeling good, man. It is Tuesday night. We got another hate week. Ahead of us with the hate week of North Carolina. How you feeling? Hi, Brian. I'm feeling good man, we got it. We got a big guest on the kind of opened things up. So I'm really excited about that. Well, without further Further Ado let's bring him on the starting Sam linebacker for your and our Virginia Tech Hokies. He is from General Bo High School in Duval County, Jacksonville Florida. Boundary Corner fans.

1:28 We introduce to you key. On to Jenkins. Yeah, we're doing good tonight, man. How are you doing tonight? I'm doing good. I'm doing good blessed to be here. Child on the podcast, man. Man, we really appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your hectic, schedule this week. Obviously, little hate week. It's Carolina week. You guys are traveling Chapel Hill. We really appreciate you taking time. Obviously, we know between school, practicing, all that you are a busy guy. Starting Sam linebacker for the school. We thank you for taking your time to talk with us a little bit tonight. Yeah. Yeah we're going to lead off with this, you know, the big thing coming into the seasons.

2:14 The big, the big position switch for you, right? Moving from safety down to Sam linebacker. So your four games into the position that you did really think you be playing kind of especially at the end of last season coming at the start of this season. You know, but we've seen some really good on feel results. So far. How do you feel the adjustment to play in? Sam is gone for you at this point in the season, I think it was a great opportunity for me. I think it was probably one of the best things I probably happen for me to get on the field and be able to make plays and just build my resume with my name. The change was different, it was very unexpected but I try to make an opportunity and just take it head-on. Absolutely and obviously you know we were chit-chatting right before Chianti jumped on here and we were talking about that hit it BC. Well, you caught that guy about seven yards behind the line of scrimmage.

3:05 Him, Dom Brown was in the crowd that night and I love what you said. You said, when you made that hit and you heard the crowd about how electric it was, man, how like they're very, let you. But what are those feelings? Like when you're in front of main stadium and you make a big play, you know, how does that feel? Does that does that take your address? To a level unseen. Yeah, Jenna to be pumping. You want to tear it down? You make a big play in a bad field. Tackle for loss. I mean the crowd going crazy, players, going crazy, everybody going crazy. It just unreal moment. A very unreal moment for me. I saw that I love that.

3:45 It's all being in the crowd. I mean, you just you heard the like it was. Yeah, we saw it coming to. We saw it coming. It was dead to rights before you even got there. So with the adjustments you know is it has it been a lot like or is it still that style of play? You brought, you know, coming in as a safety? Is it still a lot of things you can key on from plane safety? With with other side, I tend to take a lot of my attributes from safety as in covering him covering wise and just speed and just being more athletic than more Lyman, that I'd be have to go against. But the more challenging part of be, just when I'm actually in a box are just this seeing lime and Senior Keys, a little fast, I'm closer to the ball.

4:32 So things happen a little faster but I definitely think the transition from safety down till I'm back. Give me a most Advantage, most advantage of a lot of teams, a lot of players because I have a Very match speed. When I'm either come across the edge or even covering tight ends, it seem more natural to me. Yeah, it's a new close to the ball. I mean I can definitely see you making plays in the backfield a lot more tackles for loss. So that I mean that's that's a big asset for the team for sure abso-freakin'-lutely. And so far this year, I mean we've talked about a couple tight ends and I know against BC, I mean, they're guy had a big week 1 against Rutgers. We didn't hear his name called too much and I know, you know, you were part of that which is awesome to hear. Let me go with this.

5:16 Let's talk about last Thursday night, just a little bit, you know, rough lost to us. Virginia after that game, what was coach prize matches to the team, emotional loss? You know at home rivalry game you know what was his message to you guys in the locker room after that game? I mean, the biggest, the biggest part I got his message with just sticking together playing together. Being one sale, just all believe in and fighting all the way to the end. Just having a will to win coach browser. Very competitive coach. He, he won't all his people to be competitive, so just just to compete all the way to the end. Follow it to the end, and just be more disciplined. I think that was probably one of the biggest things to being disciplined.

6:00 Has the has the focus on the competitiveness, you know. It does that have anything to do with some of the penalties that we've come up with, is it just like pressing or is it just playing kind of outside of the framework, trying to trying to compete that every rep or is just a combination of a lot of different things? I think it just competitiveness in the motion competitiveness, and emotion, take over and big gains. And sometimes people rely more on these skills and technique, but coach by always close your eyes. A bit fundamental guy. He preached the technique just doing the fundamentals and just playing within the framework. And I think, once we get that down and once we all become together and show how poisonous is and how it changed the game will be a very more productive.

6:50 I like that. Yeah, and speaking of those penalties you know been hit hard by both of those in both of the losses at this point in the season. Has that been a point of emphasis during those Sunday correction practices that you guys have been having and how those practices helped in preparing for the next week's opponent. It Dyna correction print, a correction practice on Sunday as being a very, very emphasized on penalties. And how much if we just take the pennies away and make them earn everything, how much the results of change? So coach, probably definitely preaches, making them learn and not giving it to. So, we doing that. I think that cat is all came up with a plan to help everybody. Just notice how important a pill and he's a high point, a change, the game's definitely a bit Time moments later on 4th are late Downs on fourth down that they can change. It and I tell you what it is, it is showing with this defense. When you guys are forcing teams to drive the fields, they make mistakes, you know, we saw the fumble against West Virginia, we've seen the pics, we've seen the big tackles for loss. We've seen them in bad down and distances. So I love that emphasis and I love that I can hear it in your voice like you know, like we clean this up. Yeah.

8:04 There's not a lot of teams that are going to consistently move the ball on us. They're going to make mistakes. They're gonna take big. Glosses. And it's awesome to hear that. And it's awesome to hear that. It sounds like there's things in place that, you know, that you guys are working towards to clean it up. Yes, let's flip over. Let's talk about some of your coaches here. So, your coach is your coach position coaches Coach Quin. One of the new coaches here, but obviously, that's a position. We know it's working some with the defensive backs and Coach Priscilla. We know it's working with Coach Marv with the mic in the way. What is that Dynamic like between, you know, those three coaches since you probably get to see them more on a daily basis than other groups. I think just being coached by all three of them. Just give me a vintage advantage in the learning process because I'm getting insane coaching with Coach Quin. Coach Quin is a very detailed coach with detail. And there goes, mark this energetic and just playing playing behind the line of scrimmage and being a force and being the hammer.

9:10 Then you got Coach P with just how he coaches his easy to understand. So I me, I'll watch film with the safety's, a large, and I watch film with the line because I like getting feedback from everyone just improve my game. So I definitely go to all three coaches for help with anything that I need and they all give it to me. I absolutely loved it. That Chris Mark talks about bringing the hammer down. And I mean, coach Prelude, I mean, you know, he is one of the EOS one of The Originals back when we, we told you, we told you we'd like, 95 was like our first year coach Prelude on those teams. And then, you know, a guy, how is he looked at? Because you guys are of the age coach Prelude, when you were younger was still in the league, he's got that ring with the st.

9:57 We're like. Is he one of those guys when he speaks is it kind of, like, do does everybody's head turned in the room because of who he is, you know, as an originator of DB you and then all that time league and now he's back coaching at his alma mater. Coach the Coach P. Got one of the voices when he when he told everybody just listens, it will just listens and he witnessed his parents had a lead. He know what it takes to be great. He played here, he played on championship teams, he played on very good teams so he know what it takes to be great and to get the v t, as a hold of e.t. Defense to where they need to be to win games. So, we take all our details and all the information they give us, we take it in and put it on the field, man.

10:40 That is that is awesome. I mean, it's awesome because you just feel that Which coach for a loop. Let's talk a little bit about Coach point because, you know, obviously he is your specific position coach, is he is genuine behind the scenes. Is it seen publicly? I mean we always see him out there, you know, breaking bread hokey style, the man is finding, you know, the diner's, he is the Diners Drive-Ins and Dives king of Virginia Tech Twitter because he's asked any he's being genuine. He's asked us fans like, you know, I'm in Richmond today. What's a good spot? What's a good? Local spot. I can try. Is he like that behind the scenes and, you know, yeah, I think coach clear, probably one of the coaches who he, who, he, who he is every day, he the same guy every day.

11:24 I mean and then we'll definitely with the. He inspires. I'm a type of person. I don't eat. I don't eat out a lot. I don't try different. He always try to introduce me to new things to eat or hanging out, just to get me to be just more like, just those floor, more be more social. So, yeah, he wanted a, if I come in, if I come to practice with a down, I had, A bad as him, you know, how to uplift. You always did smiling it, you have a joke for you too. So it's good. How coach going around that fly high energy and positive energy. That's awesome. Yeah, it's good to have guys that you know, that, you know, if things are going are too high, too low. They're always going to be the same thing to you. They going, they're going to do with give you what you need to get you, right. Whether that's bring you down a little bit of lift you up a little bit, so it's always good to have that type of presence on the team for sure.

12:13 Let's let's pivot a little a bit to what we're going to look at this week with, with UNC. Obviously, the big big talk right now is everything happening on with the weather. We're looking at potential hurricane game part two with, with UNC down in Chapel Hill has as coach Pride coach Mark Coach Quin Coach P low have they talked about potential weather conditions on Saturday and how that can potentially affect the preparation for y'all. That's we, as of I haven't haven't talked about it a lot a lot, but I know that it's being brought up. We have like different, like different. I want to see things that will go to if it become a hurricane game with different strategy with different scheme. Different things that we bet that we've seen from in the past would have passed them to think they like to go to it. Just how comfortable they'll be what this weather condition but coach prize one of them guys.

13:08 You did. He. This is this is like what he'd like he want us to be in the trenches. He want us to be the worst. The worst, they can be just to go ahead and perform, so I'm pretty sure he excited. If it was a hurricane, I played in one of those type of games before and it's intense, but you gotta win in the trenches. And that's the big thing that if you're not winning in the trenches, it's going to be a long, long day. Well, I'm sitting here thinking, right now, the way key, I'm just describing coach Frey, like, coach prize, probably at The Weather Channel tonight. Yeah. Yeah, 3:30. It's going to be pouring down rain and 15 mile an hour. Winds. Yes, one inch of rain between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. bring it on. Thanks coach frightened that Flint to hear, man. Let me guess this about about you and see is there, is there a specific component of their offense? That has kind of been an emphasis for you in the preparation so far this week?

14:12 Biz mainly stopping the Run game stopped on the ranking. They got a nice quarterback, nice town in the quarterback so just making him uncomfortable, trying to get some as much as you can but just as of right now, just stopping the ranking. Yeah. And that's going to be key with that weather for sure. Absolutely. Alright. Before we before we let you out of here, get you some rest. You've kind of already said it you not a big going out to eat guy but obviously you've been in Blacksburg since 2020. You know, this is now your third year. There what is sort of your food spot to go to in Blacksburg? I me as a recently. I've been trying to the space right there by Waffle House.

14:54 It's called black so black, okay. Okay, yeah, black wings are so big. How sweet chili. I think, since we typically know, my favorite thing, double back in the same day, a man after my own heart, we got a local spot that does some sweet chili Wings, pretty good here. So, we were right on the same. Wavelength are like Sophia for those who are watching in the Blacksburg area. Y'all need to go buy black salt, tell them Kiante Jenkins should be getting a sponsor. And then I'll deal to talk about the sweet chili Wings, babe. I got some good wings. I like awesome Wilkie on te, you know, we really again, we really, really appreciate you taking out a few minutes of your day to talk with us to talk with Hokie Nation, you know, best of luck on Saturday.

15:43 We will be watching you because I think we're probably me and Brian we're talking we're pretty determined that it's probably going to be rainy so we're not going to get much done. So we're going to be sitting in Iron man, caves screaming Arlo Lungs out and hoping we got nothing but the college football all day with the Hokies very 3:30. Ryofu. If it will fit an energy, man will feel the energy from Chapel Hill, good. You you continue to do what you do, man. You know, Play Hard Play Smart in continue to be that sort of, you know, like talking with us tonight, man. You know, it again is appreciated and we can see that not only does playing football for this school mean a lot to you, but this school in general means a lot to you.

16:28 And, you know, we Really appreciate that man and you take care of yourself and hopefully next time we're in Blacksburg will look you up. Thank you, thank you for having me. I'm very blessed to be on the park. It's nice to have. You got there? All right buddy. Well there we go. There's the first part of our episode. We got to talk with Keyon to Jenkins again. We really appreciate him for coming on. We really appreciate Travis Wells for giving us the opportunity. Travis thank you, man. You don't know, you know, with two guys that just started a fun podcast in February at 2020.

17:10 I don't think. I think Wildest Dreams Braun, you know. We've got an interview to White and Darrell and now, you know, interviewing something like when like kyanka, who clearly on this team this year is making an impact. It's Sam big-time rising star on the team for sure big-time Rising Star. Absolutely. So we'll go ahead and shut that and we're going to move on. And we've got to recap it unfortunately, you know, Kiante just talked about it. There about Coach prize, message about being disciplined about sticking together throughout it. But we do need to take a look back at Virginia and you know, talk about a few things. Obviously, everybody watch Thursday night hook.

17:50 He's go down 3310 to The Mountaineers in the Black Diamond trophy game Hokies go to 2 and 2. And you know what we've been doing normally is we've been kind of looking offense defense but now we're four games in, right? Brian and you were having a conversation on Friday You know. What can be fixed, what can't be fixed? What's going well, and what's kind of still that TBD Dairy. So that's how we're going to kind of dress it tonight. And, and I love that Keon. So, kind of already talked about it as we led, the episode talked about being disciplined, talked about them working on the penalties, because that is probably one of the biggest things that we've already seen it fixed once.

18:30 But now, can they get back in one more time and get it corrected and keep it correct. What do you think Ron? Yeah, I think it's the consistency with it and I like that. I know he alluded to it with the, with the question. There we saw it come down with the, with the interview with prior today. Captains have instituted, you know, some some sort of Correction punishment should penalties like this continue. I think that, you know, having that incentive, I think that's a good incentive to have for the team. It makes them accountable for, for what they do on the field. And, you know, again, it's a correctable thing. We've Got we got a lot of penalties that lengthened drives into drives, you know, another 15 for 132 total you like to cut both of those numbers at least in half.

19:25 Yes, at least in half at least in half. So you know if we were in that six to seven for 460 65, you know, I wouldn't have as much to complain about. But you know, when you get kind of in that 10 to 15 range. That's when it's like, all right, some of these are are ones that we shouldn't be committing and it hurts even more when you have ones that are, you know, those, those Drive killers in those Drive extenders. Those are the ones that take points off the board, put points on the board for the other team. Absolutely I want to give a shout out here. David Cunningham put a really good tweet at the end of that game, talking about penalties. And you know the pi pass is. I think the aggressiveness of the defense we're just going to see more and I read We'll do it.

20:10 Put up one of the posters on TS L said, you know, we're already at the number of pi penalties of where we were last year. But the god honest truth is our, our pest defense is a hell of a lot better than it was last year already. So are you okay, you know, can you live with extra penalties? If overall the defense is better? I think we absolutely can, but it's the other shit that kind of drives us crazy. Indefinitely rise. Brian crazy, two false starts and illegal substitution in the legal snap and offside. There will be a delay of game penalty. Those are the ones that just their nicking you. Well, that's up here. Yeah, it's up here. Yeah, there you go. It's one thing to be in the moment and make a mistake.

20:51 It's another thing to make a mental error and especially when you making those mental errors in your own stadium, you know, it's not you're not affected by the crowd noise. You're not affected by, you know, these ancillary factors of the game, you're affected by your mental state. You got to make sure that you're playing smart and I think we need to see a little bit more of that. And I think the accountability is going to help on that front because now you're just your teammate. Accountability is important. But teammate. Accountability that has, you know, something behind it. I think you know is only going to reinforce that but it's also good to know that coach pry not stuck in his ways right because clearly they have there had been things done.

21:42 Prior to attempt to fix the penalties and he's not going back to the well, one more time. He's immediately saying, okay, we need to make a change for it because, you know, it's, it's linked, it's reared, its head again. So clearly what he said were two data points is enough. Yeah I don't I don't need any more data points to say that we need to address this differently so you got to respect him. Not just sitting back and saying, we do what we do. You know if things become a Bigger problem than he he sees, or than they should be. Then they are addressed, you know, whether whether this turns out in helps on the field, but at least, you know, you're not just saying our, we're going to do what we do. This is what we do.

22:26 Yeah, keep it moving, keep it moving. Now, we are going to kind of go a little bit towards the game itself, those rest for fucking horrible. And if you only want to get Brian hot asking about hands to the face, the one that they got Pollard on Brian's texted me. Fucking bullshit. They've done it to us at least four times. If you're going to call it, throw it both ways because it's clearly there in front of you for them. That was my probably I'll be look at the replay. It's obvious foul on Pollard. I mean, it is what it is. But, yeah, I mean between that, and Milam holding, every time they went to the perimeter, like, every time, like blatant holding, every time they ran ran the ball to the perimeter. Like, You know, flags are flags, mistakes are mistakes, but call it both ways, call it both ways, and then don't call bullshit. Because that personal foul roughing the QB on Dax, it was bullshit Daniel's in his motion to throw Dax did nothing but shove he didn't drive him to the ground, he didn't follow with him.

23:34 It was simply, he was doing exactly what you're taught to do drive. He didn't do anything illegal. He didn't do anything dangerous. But it seemed like on fourth down. That was the time that there's a flag. It wasn't in even though I think at that point in time was a six-point game, they would go score the touchdown and turn it to 13. It was a momentum swinging flag. Do I think we could have drove the film potentially taking the lead? Probably not offense. Did not look good on Thursday night, especially in the second half, especially in the second half. I mean, at least the first half, we had some moves. We had some chances the second half just look Dreadful. The second half. We had scoring opportunity. I'm sorry. The first half, we had scored opportunities. We put 10 on the board in the second half.

24:17 Yeah yeah. So you know I just don't like that like because you're essentially taking every opportunity the defense has a way because that being a penalty basically makes every quarterback just say well I'm going to throw it because if he's going to throw the flag whether I complete the pass or not we're going to get a first down so yeah. All right, let's go to something else and it's actually I love to have any countdown because some of the points were talking about it sounds like Daria. Dressing and it's talking about the pressing of the players and one of our good buddies, JJ Singleton chat with them all the time, put a little something out there. Brian, you sort of echo to in it. Basically, when he says, when he says price saying, the that the players start pressing, he's basically saying the players are realizing that individually. They're outmatched.

25:08 And when they quit working together, what was Chianti? Talking about staying together working as a team. That's when the game playing crumbles. And, you know, the question is, we saw it in b.c. you are alive at hand. I watch every snap at the game here at the house against BC, they didn't press against BC. They just let that game come to them and to this point definitely the best both sides of the ball is played. Yeah, I mean, you thought you talked to Big about trusting your Technique leaning on your Technique instead of you know, pressing too hard to make a play if you lean on your Technique, And you're playing within the system, you're going to put yourself in a position to make a play.

25:58 You don't need to kind of play with outside that framework and yeah, you might, you might get one play where you blow something up. But if you keep doing that consistently, you're going to, you know, make a stupid penalty or be out of position because, you know, you trust your instincts too much. Instead of what the what the offense was telling me where the play is going. You know, there are a lot of things there, where, you know, little things that one or two players are doing a few plays here there, and all of a sudden, You know it's not quite going the way you want to and you couple that with with how much the defense was on the field in the second half and that's that's kind of why you saw, you know, a tight game, balloon kind of late as we're going down the stretch there.

26:43 Yeah, absolutely. And you know, we were struggling on the interior defensive line, anyway. So I think to your point when those guys were trying to press slightly getting out of position, you play the offensive line, I'm sure they were. When you saw an interior defensive lineman, get out of position, it was you looked your chops like well, now I can easily drive you off your spot and we're going to be at open lanes, up, or sometimes run themselves out of the play where I get it, I get an extra block. Now, I've got now down extra man is blocked because somebody ran themselves out of the play. Gonna be a hero. Yep. So again, I think we've seen quickly already with the penalties. Kind of like the pressing. We kind of, we saw the team press, two games. We've seen the team kind of not press for two games and the results are, you know, the proofs in the pudding. Let's flip over this because this is something, you know, pry seems like one of those guys he is very self-aware and we've talked about game management, you know, one of the big things he did.

27:42 He said, It straight out. He did not call a good two-minute situation at the end of the first half. He said in and I got from that was him making the decisions of they were playing the out of bounds ball, not using the middle of the field. Potential using timeouts, drain the clock a little bit more. I see him saying about that. Also, CM saying how he actually called defensively, so you know somebody who's already kind of, it's the old, you know, if you know yourself, you can conquer the world. It seems like he knows himself. He's already known where his errors are. Let's see. That's fixed, especially in those two minute drills and crucial where he's got to make decisions.

28:25 Not only calling the plays, but, you know, how we attack at the end of the half here. Yeah. And you know, I didn't mind being aggressive with the pass on some of those down, but as we said, as we were getting further into that drive and as we got to third down, let's get ones that are definitely completions. So even if we don't get the first down and convert it, you know the clock runs, we get more time off of it before we punt down and give Less West Virginia less time to have another drive and get some more points before half. In the same goes in the other direction because obviously there was a couple big plays there that kind of got them in the position where they could score. So, you know, I like owning it, I like saying, hey, we can still get better, you know, the staff can still get better, it's still a work-in-progress everybody still working to try to get this thing into a well-oiled machine and it's not there yet. We saw that against West Virginia. I think we have seen that in the first four games altogether where where BC is probably the best. A three-phase.

29:33 Yeah, yeah, plus coaching effort that we've seen so far, the other three games. There are a lot to, to work on and I think, recognizing that and putting things in place that can help with that or a good sign of where we're heading. But we got it, we got to start seeing some of the results to, right. Absolutely, we've got to see the results there and I will say one thing and I don't know how it didn't. Get reviewed the pump by Peter Moore. Near the end of the first half, they gave it a Touchback. I think that needed to be looked at because that ball looked like it went out about the two inch line. It wasn't challenged. I don't know how that, you know, I feel like the college, you can challenge anything every place. Look at but.

30:16 Well I mean that that was a change of possession so it should have been automatically reviewed by the booth. Yeah, but it was no, it's what I don't like some time out, TV Productions because you looked at when I looked at that play it was like I don't know if you felt like I did. I saw him like holy crap. He just I'm down at the inch line like and they were running the ball good. But when that but we had got them a couple times in the backfield and it's like is this a momentum changer where we get aggressive? Someone blows up the play, but they never showed anything. We never saw that. It wasn't that classic one that you see where it actually hits the fucking pile on. Like usually that oh that's black and white. You know, this this was something that from the angle and the production that we had it look very Very close. Like it went out, just short of the goal line, but actually will never know.

31:06 You know, we'll never know TV producers, don't show us a couple of the other things. And I think, we talked about that game management and I think he may have kind of showed his cards a little bit when we went for it on fourth. And one he says, this is a team that has to get those 14 ones. This is a team that, you know, when it's when we're when we get down inside the 30. I think if it's 4th and 1, I think we're going to we're going to be going forward a lot this weekend. I think he I think he's already come to the realization. We are struggling to move the ball and to get point. So when you get down there, why not maximize your opportunity, right? Yeah, we're struggling with consistency in the passing game and we're struggling with just putting all the pieces together in the running game where we can consistently get yards when we need them. You know, right now we're just not moving enough bodies in the with the The offensive line for that, run game to be consistent. You know, we've seen stretches where we have some big plays, some well block plays, but we haven't seen it consistently enough where you can lean on that game. But for an offense that's operating. The way our is is if we don't have an effective running game, it's hard to work.

32:21 Yeah. A third of your offense. I mean, when you're talking about rpos, when you're talking about play-action, none of that works. If you don't have a running game. That is threatening the defense 100% sort of the last thing. In this, I put it under game management because essentially it's coaching and something we've already seen coach admitted. This was not a good tackling game, I will say it was the worst of the year. It definitely ranks a hell of a lot higher than the last two years but he immediately address I mean no for real. Like yeah this was the worst tackling and we had all year and it was still not if this is a tackling game from last year would have been upper Third. But this year, it's in the bottom this year, it's in the at the very bottom so that that tells you the the progress that we made and then the progress that we still have have to make right again.

33:13 But again, it's he addressing it. And immediately I mean if we probably have key on te for five to ten more minutes, I'm, you know, again, we were we were blessed to have him on and, you know, we probably get to talk to him for 45 minutes but we're not done. We're going to ask some good questions. Let him go about his day. It probably would have got into where the tackling drills, although more intense this week because from that presser Saturday night, yeah, Saturday night, Saturday night or Thursday night, excuse me. I have a feeling that they were working a little bit harder and I'm tackling drills this week to get back to the technique. We saw games 1, through 3, Yeah, and most of it I think was pressing was dive and we had kind of early on there.

34:00 The one where you know Armani just didn't break down, did make the play result in the first down that led to a long drive where it could have been getting off the field with West Virginia. Backed up deep in their own territory. So, you know, it's the little things that kind of add up to the big things. And I think if we Clean up those, those little things. And again, lean on our technique like, like, he on, Tim was talking about like, Coach Brown talks about, we're going to see some improvement on that front. Abso-freakin'-lutely gonna give a couple shout outs here. We got Jerry won't shout out. Jerry watching us tonight. Shallot Levar shout-out, Low Country. Living got two of them on YouTube, on on Facebook. We appreciate you guys joining us tonight. All right, they was your things that are bad that we feel like can get fixed now.

34:54 I'll say this, we did do the old with what's bad. That's going to be really tough to be fixed this year and I think it kind of showed out on Thursday night in. That is the size of our interior defensive line, not necessarily the players but the simple sighs Josh bougas, the heaviest guide about 305 then. It's Kendricks and then, you know, Pollard and Pinette as good as they are, they're going to 80 to 85 their undersized defensive interior. Offensive lineman, but Brian me and you've kind of been just kind of going through the schedule and there's only a handful more teams that are going to run the power to run, power plays or as big as West Virginia are the rest of the year. So it's something we can't fix.

35:38 But it's not like we're playing a bunch of Wisconsin's for Iowa's between now and November. Yeah I think we have maybe one or two offensive lines on the schedule that can move bodies like what we saw. All West Virginia do so size becomes less of a problem. You know when we look at the things that are going to be struggle to get fixed. Obviously you can't all of a sudden put 10 15 pounds on a defensive lineman right now. I don't see the Run blocking getting significantly better within this offense. What I do see and what I think will happen is I think that we'll see scheme changes in different approaches to how we attack teams with our running game because we're going to still have to be effective somewhat in the running game in order to have success in this offense.

36:34 So if if running up the middle isn't working, if that duo in the in the power isn't working. We're going to have to attack the perimeter with some more that pin and pull that we saw have some success against Boston College and some other things that this offense can do. So Yeah, I think looking at the tape that's the thing that we would have to do first is start working attacking the perimeter, with the running game, a little bit more, and hopefully that can give us a little bit of breathing room where we don't have to move as many bodies inside The Tackle Box. Because right now that's what we're struggling with the most is getting guys out of gaps. You know the holes are too small and the ones that are there.

37:14 Sometimes we're one or two assignments away from, you know that play working. Let's see if we can spread things out a little bit. It test them on the edges, a little more and and get some guys blocking in space instead of inside a phone booth. Absolutely into your point. You kind of mentioned to me Friday when we talk, it's really tough to change. Philosophical philosophically a run game. And so I think specially going, especially going from a Zone, a true Zone, okay, why do you spread you out and to where now you've got to move bodies out of gaps. You know you're blocking down. You're using leverage that you're using power.

37:55 It's a different skill set. Some guys have both some guys, don't Um, and some guys take longer to develop it as they practice it. So, you know it's going to be a work in progress. They might be a work in progress that never fool gets finished the season. Yep. Absolutely. Absolutely. Alright, couple other things, you know, the the quarterback talk of course is going to be on fire as soon as that game ended with some of the overthrows and Miss throws. But I think me and your kind of to the point of You know when things aren't going well, you know, regardless of the game that we're just going to live with Grant Wells in the risks, he takes and some of the stuff he does because it's it's not like that go does Jason Brown potentially give you a better chance to win.

38:47 Maybe maybe he does but then we're going back to something. Everybody's been pissed off when since 2018 there's been absolutely no consistent, the quarterback position for the Hokies. Yeah. Right. So absolutely. And what do you all talk about Jason Brown? Like if you're going to Jason Brown at best you're going to a six to eight-week fix, right? Yeah, likes it. That's all you. It's all your doing, you know, I think right now the best thing to do is to to keep rolling with Wells because number one, I think in terms of arm Talent, he gives us the best chance to win. And number two, you want to at least give him his best. A shot to show whether he's the guy for the next two years, or whether you're back at the drawing board. This offseason Vega.

39:37 Because at least if he's still in the house if he's potentially not the guy, and he doesn't grow between now and November. Or hopefully now in January that you can have the conversation with them and say, you know, it's got to be open like you did not do enough to set yourself apart for potentially other guys, we can potentially bring into this. Yeah, I mean, when we look at, you know, his play, you know, he's based on good plays. There are moments where you're like, all right, I can see this working but then there's moments where he, you know, locks onto a receiver, his primary right out. The gate doesn't really ever come off of it makes the throw even though there might be some check Downs there or a second or third read that might become an open.

40:23 You know, there's a couple, overthrows, some excusable, some not, you know, we've seen things that are really good and we've seen things that he's got to Gone in. Like I said, I think we've seen enough where You know, he's going to need to be the guy the rest of the way out but if we don't start seeing some progress here, I think that's when you're saying all right, well we know he's the solution for this year but he's not the next not the solution for next 2 years. Let's see what else we could bring in here and see if we can Elevate that position. So absolutely still a work in progress right now still work in progress. Great point. Now the other thing and this has been discussed long, this has been discussing spring, its Talent up to keep Fishing groups, there's nothing we can change about that this year, all that we can do is hope that the coaching staff makes the decisions of who put you in the best position for this year. But also who has the opportunity to get playing time this year that you can get, get the film, get them on tape to start keychain and getting ready for the next two to three seasons. Yeah, I mean that's that's part of the thing that, you know, we're going to struggle.

41:39 Yes. Is that think this week, think this week at the line that the Mike linebacker that was that depth chart that that kind of shocked me and you, but that's somebody who's going to potentially, you know, will will Johnson, right? Dip will Johnson this Dowdy number to Mike at least for UNC at least for you and see but it's in it's like whoa, wasting word Keyshawn. Where's Dean Ferguson? It's like, well, is this a week where they get will Johnson some And he's already been, redshirted he's doing some things on special teams. Is he get the run this week to say? He's a redshirt freshman, let's get tape where we can, you know, analyze diagnose what he does. Well, and what can he do? Well to actually next year or the year after?

42:20 Well, I think also in terms of matchups, this is a team and we're going to talk about it after the break here. You know what they like to do? Will Johnson, skillset probably fits a lot more than a Keyshawn artists this week. So, you know, if you're going to have a number two, we know and we've seen the twos get, you know, at least a handful of series every week. Yep. We have so far so at least every week. So if we're looking at matchups that's definitely a matchup down. Like I said, whether that carries over week to week after this, that's that's going to be the question. But I like this move in terms of this week, we see Kelly Lawson, now starting at will him in Keller. Or it will.

43:06 I mean, as an athletic group, right there with those two kids. Yeah. And and you know that linebacking room is shaping up and it's still, you know, there's still some some fiddling going on with it. But we've seen a big step forward with that group this year and I think as we kind of get more tape and Seymour would have got guys are doing against live competition against better competition. It's only going to get better because we'll have a lot more. Our understanding of what what these guys do well now and it's also know a guy like counted Jenkins has the eligibility to come back next year where he is really evolved into that same position and you know with him and Walker you've got a good Central, you've got a good one to out there to be very, very comfortable with.

43:54 All right let's go to what steady let's just say it is as much as the we're going to malign the offensive line. The way the Run blocking is happened Has Pros been damn good. I mean if the sacks are happen to the pressure happen, it's cover pressure. It's not You know, Brian you said you've been impressed with how this groups look because they were a solid group, a couple guys who played last year with the exception of one individual. Yeah, you know, there's one that the one guy that sells there's one guy that still struggling pretty bad and it makes no sense. It makes no sense Parker. But as I mean, I think overall I'm satisfied I wouldn't say I'm impressed but I'm definitely satisfied with the past, bro. Like I said, I think we could see some improvement from Parker.

44:46 He's been the weakest link both in the Run game in the pass game combined, in my opinion. If if some of that can continue to go and he can put out more tape, like he put out last year because he was a solid Solomon pass / last year. I know, I know, it's limited games. He only started a couple games saw time and a lot of games though and he had enough snaps under his belt, where Past Pro should not be the big problem that it is for him. Right now. It just doesn't make me and you talked about it the other day. It's like you didn't think about that. He would be an issue like he had solid game film. He had good progression, you know, not to not to downplay it. Was he going to be first round pick? Probably not, but the way he was progressing, you felt like he was going to be a very good for former for three more years here.

45:42 And it's just like, come unraveled, So that's in fact if you if we just get Parker back to what he did last year, it's significantly makes the offensive line better than what it is. Both path Pro and Run game. Yeah and it's weird because you know I don't know if it's carrying over. He's obviously thinking too much. Just just looking at he's thinking too much and he's not not processing and leaning on his technique quick enough in the snap. And that's carrying over into is his actual technique in terms of the actual block itself. Yeah, he's had bad technique.

46:23 He's gotten beaten inside. Oh my God, if I'm rushing the passer, I'm crossing Parker Clements face, every damn time. Every damn time, I'm crossing his face screw Creek should screw screw Edge rush I am Crossing his face and making him have to power step and keep me from getting to the quarterback inside. So all right, all right, well, let's let's let's hit on a couple more. Good things we already talked about the linebackers, The Young and the old plane. Good secondary play Man. I mean It's you can't you know, the corners are played solid, the safeties have played really good.

47:08 There's secondary Place, good at steady and you know, seeing Bree on Murray played well last week. So it seems like those groups are. They've got their footing. Yeah. I mean they've been playing well overall being there's you know, plays here there you can nitpick for sure. Yeah, you know, I've already talked about, you know, Chapman, missing the tackle on the edge there, you know, a couple technique. Here, they're some of the resulted in penalties, on that resulted in catches. But overall, the unit is playing. Well, they've held in check some of the better receivers that will see, not just, you know, in the early part of the schedule, but for the whole year.

47:50 So you know, if they can keep that play up, as we kind of get deeper into conference play, that's going to be huge but they're doing, they're doing a good job so far. Abso-freakin'-lutely. You and Artie biddies are or what they are. It's the running back room and I know a lot of that's going to hinge on and with the offensive line plays like but it's seeing what we want to see and it doesn't look like it's an outside shot this week but seeing Malachi Thomas and Keyshawn, King both be able to play significant roles and I think we have to put TVD on that room until they're both on the field because you've been talking about those perimeter runs and, you know, The one thing really good about Malachi and you've praised it over and over is to be a young to a be a back of his age.

48:39 He is only his second year in college in the way he ran. Last year, his vision is already like a senior. Yeah he's got he's got really good Vision. It's not like Khalil Herbert level Vision but very few are no but it's really good especially for the experience and he's had the offense so far, you know, a little bit more vision is going to help this offense. I mean, it's a difference between a 1 or 2 yard gain for 5-yard, gain on. A lot of these plays that were looking at, just just picking the right lane picking the right, Ali setting the block up better, you know? They're they're little things that Kent can help this offense to have a little bit more consistency. You know, I we're not going to see significant or drastic change happened.

49:25 Just because Malachi suddenly inserted into the offense, but we might see again, the small things. We're we're now no longer playing from behind the chains on second and third down, you know, if we can do that a little bit better, that makes things easier for Grant Wells. Now, they've got honor the running the past on this third. Insurance versus there's third and Long's you know play action works a lot better on second down. There's so many different things that kind of open up. If you can have an effective first down, run that gets you three to four yards and Absalom. And when we look at the wide receiver room we're seeing you know, guys take steps, right? We're that's the other one that we're kind of, it's a work in progress, but we've seen some young guys, make some plays.

50:11 We've seen some young guys, make some mistakes here there but we're at least seeing Some growth weeks a week, that's it. We saw the Christian Moss. You make some good plays against West Virginia, after having a big day against Wofford Step Up in competition a little bit, we still see his present in the offense, so that's a positive. Sign positive, take away, you know, we saw blue that had had some opportunities against West Virginia, a couple that he wasn't able to capitalize on. But there were some opportunities there, where he was getting open, where he was getting in a spot where he can make a play in the offense. So, there's some positive momentum in that group, but there's still a lot of TBD and pivoting back to the running back room real quick.

50:55 When we talk about Malachi coming back now, you've got two guys that you can count on. And I think that's when you start seeing Bryce Duke, being used in a few more packages. So that's my hope. Is that because of Bryce Duke skill set? Yeah, I think what he can do on the perimeter and will help us because that's where we need to start getting a little bit. Little bit better at attacking to take a little bit of pressure off the interior offensive line. So if Bryce do can get some more run because of guys like Thomas and King that you can lean on a little bit for the rest of the workload. That's only going to help us long-term. Abso-freakin'-lutely Brian.

51:43 So obviously a lot to unpack. Obviously a lot of things that you know we we know we can't do anything about this year, it's going to take time, it's going to take development. It's a lot of things. We know if we clean up, we can become more competitive and every game we play from now until November. So, hopefully we start seeing these things. And again, talking with you on to our last night, sounds like the coach has already put things in place, which is what you want to hear. It's, we're not trying to The same things, it's four games in certain things aren't working. Let's change it up. Alright Brian before we get into our main topic tonight of Know The Enemy North Carolina we are going to take a quick pause for a message from our digital partners.

52:24 As we take a quick break, we'd like to tell you about getting your free website report from our digital partner, Grassroots, digital marketing Studio. They'll tell you how your website ranks on Google on-site, SEO and social media. No commitment to buy anything. You can get your free report by visiting. Grassroots digital studio.com forward slash free Dash website, Dash report now back to the episode. Alright, so now let's begin Know The Enemy UNC and Brian it's an easy place to start. We started with there. Offense, man. And let's talk about the man under Center under the shotgun snaps. Drake May the quarterback, a six foot four 220-pound, redshirt freshman. So he is pretty much a baby out there.

53:06 Out of Myers, Park High School and Hunter bills North Carolina down near Charlotte 2021. He was a Five Star Quarterback, he was a top 25 player. He was a cop for quarterback. He was the top player in the state of North Carolina and I tell you what so far this Season his statistics. He's living up to it man. Already thrown for over 1,200 yards. 16 touchdowns one pick has a little wiggle in his game closely. You know, averaging just over four and a half carry so when you turn that tape on and you had some really fun games to watch this week, do it with this offense. What are you seeing out of Drake? Me and what potentially could we do? Yeah.

53:50 So what I'm seeing, I mean, he's really quick at reading with the defense is giving him and taking what's there. That's probably his biggest attribute in terms of being a young player. He's really good at identifying. What a defense is doing and taking what the offense kind of has that play there. He's a good athlete. Probably a little bit better athlete than we saw from Sam how last year at UNC, but the difference is, he's very decisive when he takes off and runs. So when he goes, he goes, he's very decisive with it. There's no, there's no questioning whether he's going to take off, he reads it. If it's not, there, he's up.

54:31 He's making a play. He's trying to get the get the first down with his legs. And he delivers them a curveball at all levels of the The defense. So you can throw a deep ball. He throws even intermediate. He throws short. Probably some of the short accuracy is probably the biggest thing he could work on, but he can make all the throws at all. The levels of the defense and you know, footwork pocket mechanics are probably the things that he could also work on the most kind of get sloppy, especially when he's feeling the rush. And he does again much like a couple other quarterbacks we talked about this year, he does take unnecessary hits when he breaks the pocket and tries to make a play. So That might be an opportunity where we get him to the ground and get him to, where he's out of his game a little bit.

55:14 Well, I hear those last two things and I feel like that is there's your key, right? There's your big key for throwing him off, is getting to him, getting him into those bad habits and taking the unnecessary hits. Because how many times do you see a guy who has some ability? They make that one bad play and get popped hard have to sit out a couple plays and then the next thing, you know, The next read-option, they're handing it off and it doesn't even matter if that ends crashed right now. I'm not taking another hit tonight. Like that didn't feel good. Yeah yeah and they operate within the within the RPO. So he is kind of put out there a lot where he'll take. It's in the pocket but he also again takes off and runs and he gives us. He'll give us some opportunities where we can give him a pop and make him a little bit hesitant.

56:05 And that's going to be the big thing is Bring him when we have the chance and getting him off his spot when he's in the pocket. Awesome. All right. So there's a little bit on Drake met the Carolina quarterback. Let's flip now to obviously, even though the guys only played two games, Josh towns is second and Carolina interceptions which is crazy because he only played the first in the gamers and Notre Dame. The 510 175 lb wide out of Suwanee, Georgia and North Gwinnett, High School for Star, when he came out in 2020 top, A nationally, top 25 wide receiver and top 15 in state of Georgia which says a lot about a player and again, only two games so far this year. But again, like I said, already second on the team in receptions already leading the team and touchdowns, what do we need to worry about with Down's?

56:55 Because I know he's a little bit smaller of a guy. I'm pretty much everything, but deep down the sideline, he works out of the slot. A lot that's primarily where he's going to be running routes, and he's great at running routes great at changing direction. Great with the ball in his hands. After the catch, he's going to be the primary offensive Target between the 20s, and he's going to be the also, the primary Red Zone Target. And he's not really used as much as a deep threat, but they will run him with some seem in some fade. But not a ton of stuff deep down the sideline, but when you get in the Red Zone, look for the fade. Look for the corner, you know, look for those plays where he can kind of use his athleticism to get open, and High Point the ball, and bring it down for a big play.

57:44 Absolutely. So again, he was out a couple games and we're not going to talk about anymore wide receivers tonight because there's I'm going to talk about a tight end next. But also keep your ears open for Kobe, Pacer Kobe face or leading the team in receptions and another one. Jay Jay Jones, Jay Jones, bigger guy, averaging, almost 20 yards of pop. So, depending on what kind of weather we're playing and you may or may not hear from those guys. But once more Antoine green, is there, is there a deep threat as well? So I mean they've got weapons all over the field but you know, when you look at the one that can hurt you everywhere, it's Josh downs.

58:24 And Josh Downs, makes everybody else's job a lot easier because of Of everything that he can do. Yep. Let's flip and let's talk about obviously Downs played, ain't Florida A&M played last week against Notre Dame but he missed that App State gaming, you Miss Georgia, State, and in those games. Brian you looking at the tape you kind of said they were going tight in heavy and one of the Titans, they targeted a ton was Morales. Come on, Ari Morales A6, 2245 tight end at a buck Lake floor. Lincoln High School, 2019, three-star. I mean already, you know in those games with, you know, with Down's out you know, he had ten reception, he's already had ten receptions for over 140 yards this year and it really looked like give credit to their offense, went with Down's going out. They sort of like look between the numbers and we're very successful doing it with their tight ends. Yeah, they definitely kind of filled in the Gap with what downsells do.

59:27 Ring with two guys Marisa. Morales Morales. Probably the the better overall Target in terms of being able to do a little bit more within the offense. They leaned on him heavily when Josh Downs was out. Good hands, but not really physically dominant. And this is a guy that's more of a kind of a joke or tight in, not necessarily A blocking asset. He will block in space pretty well. Good stock blocker but not somebody that you're going to line up. Line a ton and just try to try to move bodies in the running game. So definitely a very past focused asset for that that offense. Yeah.

1:00:08 And and the game last week against Notre Dame with Down's being back, definitely didn't see as much of them. So obviously they could be changing up things this week because obviously like, you know, Downs had a really good game against Notre Dame. So could they go back to Morales versus us? And again, it's funny. You know, we got key onto this week in a lot of talk is about that position but if he can play like he did against BC and hold down another good tight end, that helps the Hokies. All right, buddy, now to the fun part, this isn't a very good offensive line is it? No, you know, I don't know if they're as bad as we are right now in terms of all the pieces, but they're struggling pretty bad.

1:00:58 If we're talking about three worst, three or four were solvent sloppy, ACC has a lot of bad offensive line play right now. Between UVA between us between Boston College, and between a blue between this, this UNC team, so probably for the worst offensive lines in the, in the ACC right now. So unc's right there with them, they're not great at staying engaged. They turn their shoulder, their shoulders, get easily turn in the running game creating those Those penetration Lanes to really mess up that path. That rushing attack, they struggle a lot. Just like we were with the stunts in the blitz pickup and past Pro.

1:01:39 You're somewhat. Some of their deficiencies are mitigated by scheme and by what maze able to do with his talent is decision-making, ability to throw the ball and ability to make quick decisions and get the ball out. But they're not very good in the Run game or the passing game. Very very mediocre. Definitely something we could take advantage of So, why are they then how? How, why are they so successful? Because obviously, if they're not that talented, what's, you know, how can you really be covered that up by that much? I'm asking? Yeah, yeah, I mean, so, you know, we talked about this a lot when we think about, you know, a couple years back, how bad those Miami lines were but they were still able to be effective in the passing game and be effective enough in the running game. It's kind of the same situation.

1:02:29 In here. When it's right, they can they can break some big plays in the running game when a Mario Hampton who were about to talk about here in a second, gets to the second level. He can make big plays had touched had a run of 53 yards I think against their their FCS opponent and then a couple other big runs as well so he can break some big ones and that plus what may is able to do, when how quickly They are able to get the ball out, but also what this offense does, well, is kind of put that those Force players in a bind, in terms of, whether they're, it's a run or a pass, or whether it's a give or a keep.

1:03:14 When you do that, that kind of slows things down a little bit and that helps your offensive line. Got it, got it. Any one particular player, maybe stand out for you. No one really. I mean, it's very, it's very buidling across the board. I mean, they're breaking in kind of some new players on that line. So it's still very much a work in progress. All right. Good to know. Let's talk about the guy, they have blocked for, who's had a solid season thus far, and that's a Mario, Hampton. The running back six-foot-two. 20 out of Clayton, North Carolina, Cleveland High School for star in the 2022 class. He is a true freshman playing. He was the 11th grader running. In the country and a top-five player in the state and you know so far it's sort of been really good game back to Earth really good game back to Earth.

1:04:05 So this week it's saying this should be another really good game. I hope that the pattern does not continue because he was teased a 256 averaging over 50 carry for the season. But coming off the Notre Dame game where he only got 28 yards and 32 from scrimmage with one little catch. But when you see in the good parts of him, What's it? What's the Artie? What's he showing? I mean, the big thing you show and he's got great vision between the tackles and he finishes his runs very well. So he's a guy that's always falling forward. Always fighting for extra, yardage and maximizes, kind of what this offensive line gives him. But he did disappear against appstate, did disappear against Notre, Dame, a lot of that was based on game Flow there. You know AB State you're getting in a shootout Notre Dame damn playing from behind.

1:04:55 For a significant portion of the game and especially in the second half of the new Dame game, where they completely control time of possession. So there wasn't a ton of opportunities, even when they were playing from behind to kind of get those those carries and there's touches. But he does have big play ability like I talked about, but really is struggled getting to the sex the second level against that better. I competition. So if we can do kind of what Notre Dame is done and Tap, state did for for significant. Portions of that game? Yeah, I think will be our writing and maintaining keeping the Russian game under control and making them a one-dimensional offense. Yeah, definitely.

1:05:39 That has to be the key is to make them a one-dimensional offense. Regardless, because the pass game is far as the pass game goes, they don't really use the running backs a lot. I mean, the running bags. I mean, I'm just looking here running backs. Only have 15. Seems all year, and it's just a little over a hundred yards, so not a big key factor, there's no 5A game combined. Yeah. Yeah, not much. I mean, it's 45 a game for like, twenty five, twenty twenty-five, Thirty yard average. So they're not using that as a lot of check downs. But again, maybe with a Young quarterback, getting to that read is the real issue. So you know I know we've seen this team for a couple years now Brian but let's just go high level. Well, what type of offense are we looking at? And what are they doing?

1:06:29 That we need to be looking for on Saturday afternoon 3:30. Yeah, this is a spread. Our po based offense and again I said it a little bit but you know the big key is all about putting the the force players of the defense in a bind where they can't, you know, play the run or the past, they've got to kind of think and read and and kind of sit back and wait. That's what they're trying to do, they're trying to make things difficult, put guys on Islands, they're not a great traditional rushing team, but maze numbers kind of make up for that combined with what the running backs have been able to do in some big carries and those weaker competition games but they are still you know they're still hovering just below that 200-yard a game Mark so they're getting decent yardage overall, but some of those running game aspects are disappearing.

1:07:25 For long stretches against better competition. They're much more efficient through the air than they are on the ground but they can still get bogged down when they already want to routinely hit their shots, downfield, or take advantage of good runs and good. Good plays on early downs. And, you know, they definitely are a dynamic offense, but they become very pedestrian when you get them into those third and long situations, that's good to know. We're going to visit something about those third. Situations. But you're absolutely right as far as the Russian goes Bryan against Notre Dame. Last week, I mean, you know, basically 60 yards on about 25 carry. So very pedestrian and there's one of your big keys, right? You know, stop them make you've said it make them one-dimensional offense.

1:08:15 We make them beat you passing, especially in a Range so game, it could be good things for the Hokies. Now let's go talk about the defense because the defense not the best. But let's talk about a couple key players, are that? We're seeing making some impact and let's start with Cedric gray, the linebacker six-foot-two 230 out of Charlotte, North Carolina, Audrey kill, High School, class of 2020. Again I keep saying it for Star. Top 10 player, North Carolina's top teen athlete in the country. How this team is only winning. Six games a year. Only tells you that their coaching staff is Ass. That's all I'm gonna say.

1:08:56 Is many talented players if we've been saying here and there's even more that we're not mentioning. So the worst thing is that at least the offense is getting production, like but the defense has four and five stars all every weld and are but ass. But speaking of Cedric, great said, your gray is the Undisputed leader on this defense, okay? He's weak side linebacker, he's the best player. Best box player and run. First offender that they have, he is also their primary Blitzer when they send pressure. They'll use another guy that we're about to talk about as well, but he's the guy that they like to send the most on those pressures and he's generally matched up with the running back in man coverage.

1:09:40 When they go into into the drop back, probably better in man than he is in zone, but he doesn't really have a bunch of liabilities, but he's more of a kind of a leader. Okay. He's not Elite in any key areas but he doesn't really have any deficiencies either his leadership and kind of what he brings to that front is probably his biggest attribute. Let me ask this because you say he is the guy carrying running backs out of the backfield. Does he have the kind of athleticism that can keep up with guys? Like he's Sean King, if we decide to go out and run some Flats, maybe run some Wheels, run some angle routes, where Keshawn is it close to you Keshawn, is that Poletik. I mean he did a decent job of matching Chris Tyree for a lot of the Notre Dame game you know he did get a few gains but he wasn't necessarily getting beat where Tyrese running up. The up the sideline, the only time that a running back called, a big ball in that game is when they put two out there and and threw away from Cedric Grace.

1:10:51 Oh, okay, that's that's the only big play there. Add with a running back in the passing game was when they went away from that. So got you got you? Well in Graham selfie like you said, he's the leader and he's leading this team in tackles 47. Total tackles three and a half four loss. He has a pick, he's Pat, he know, he played a little last year. He's deflected passes. So like you said, it sounds like he has a willy well-rounded game. Now, let's talk about the other linebacker. That caught your eye on the tape because I was looking at somebody else you texted me and said, let's flip Ooh, this guy power Echols all named Team, first of all, power equals Big Time, 6-foot 225. Also from Charlotte, North Carolina from chambers High School, 2021 class for Star, top 200 player, top 20 linebacker, number 13 in the state of North Carolina in power so far this year.

1:11:46 Also, well, up there getting 37 total, tackles three tackles for loss, couple sacks, what's power showing on tape. He's good at making plays against the run when he plays with anticipation trusses reads and in kind of gets up in there but he's below averaging coverage, especially in man. So this is something where we might be able to create some mismatches with guys in our game. He does a good job when blitzing, he's probably the guy that they send them Blitz is the second most in this defense meddling when it comes to block. A shedding and tackling. He'll miss some tackles here and there and can get confused and influence by motion and window dressing when he has coverage duties that big pass to the running back that I'm talking about. There was some window-dressing some motion, he got caught up in the wash and next thing you know you let a guy get behind him. Big touchdown that kind of extended that lead and kind of put it Out Of Reach for you and see where they were playing big-time catch up there in the fourth quarter. So, It has some ability.

1:12:57 That makes a lot of mistakes. That's kind of the big takeaway for him. Got it, got it. All right, let's flip. And let's take a look at a member of the secondary that if you have followed Okie football, will last few years, you were all too familiar with and that's camera on Kelly. The free safety, 61 210 out of Oscar Smith, High School. If you don't remember, he was originally committed to the Hokies long long time ago in 2018. And then he flipped to Auburn who signed with and the class of 2019 where he was a four-star, top-10 player in Virginia, top 24/7 player, but he did make it through Auburn spring. He then flip to you and see after signing with them and he is now they're at Carolina where he actually played as a freshman in 2019, you know, this year starting at the strong safety. Position 20 tackles no pics.

1:13:57 No sex. No tackles for loss. Is he doing adequate or or, or could they potentially bench him? So he's also their punt returner. So, okay. We'll put that caveat in there. He is. Not a very good tackler at all. He is food in the open field. That's something that we could. He is food. We can absolutely take advantage of his ability in the secondary if we can get the ball out and have to force him to make a play in space. He's a little bit better when he kind of come up and get a Fin early in the snap if he's late and he's kind of on the island he's cooked.

1:14:44 Okay. And he's improved his coverage, particularly man coverage so he looks a lot better in coverage than he's looked. I think the last probably two years that We looked at tape on him, but I'd say he's more dangerous on special teams and he is on defense. All right. Yeah, the Special Teams. I mean, and it's solid numbers me. He's got 500 turns for, you know, 64 yards. So almost average in 13 which is that can be a field. Flipper, catch that at the 25, get it up to the 40. That's that guy changes games, things like that. It's just the camera on Kelly. Things always funny because of the announcement was big when it happened because he played it Oscar Smith to feel like a big win and then a month later, he Flipped and and he's been doing his own thing since.

1:15:36 All right, one more player on the defense before we take a look at more defensive scheme. And let's talk about big guy Desmond Evans, six foot six to sixty five defensive end Sanford, North Carolina, Lee County High School, 20:24 star type hundred player. The number two player in North Carolina that year and a top ten weeks I'd defensive end position. And as men's issue Desmond this year, 15 total tackles no loss or sacks, which kind of interesting knowing that he's putting his hand in the dirt a little bit more brine, but what's he doing? Good that he caught, he, you know, he caught my eye but then he called you're out of stay on here for review.

1:16:24 Yeah, I mean, he's a long defensive end with really good size, I mean, that's, that's evident they were 66 to 65, you know, that's It's prototypical NFL size right there. Plays a good leverage sets, a good Edge. He's probably the best rusher they have despite not having any any shown up on the stat sheet yet. But he struggles at times to shed blocks. I mean, that's that's the big thing is that if you can get engaged with him. Well, he doesn't do a good job of pursuit. He doesn't do a great job of kind of getting away from. From his blocker and making a play after he gets fully engaged.

1:17:05 But if you get some move early he does a pretty good job there. And you know, a lot of times he's like a split second from getting home on a lot of these rushes. So we still got to make sure that we contain him that we're identifying him when he's on the field. Yep. And you you kind of said it, you know, he has no sax but he's their best pass rusher. They only have seven sacks for the year. So, So those are I'm sure I think our linebackers making making some sacks there. So it's really interesting to see that and I mean once again is it a potential in Avail Talent wasted on the defensive side at Carolina under Gene chizik defense potentially. So let's actually talk about that defense Prime because last year and the last few years, when we talked about this team, they were running to 45.

1:17:54 They hired Gene chizik to this point. It doesn't look like he's fixing things, but what does it look like when they play? Yeah, it's a lot less attacking a lot more fundamentals and kind of playing playing positions. And right now, it's a multiple front, it's a 425 base. They use a hybrid, The Players called a star which is kind of like a whipped I position. And then a hybrid another hybrid player called a jack which is like a defensive end linebacker that's where you see, Noah Taylor former UVA. Linebacker lining up for them. They don't have much success unless they kind of get you behind the sticks early, and then can bring some of those blitzes and put some pressure.

1:18:48 They Don't Really pressure on early Downs. It's very specific on Third and behind the sticks or or situational. They get gashed a lot in the Run game. They don't do a good job holding up in their in their gaps. So there is some opportunity there. Maybe we see some progress with our offensive line this week against this. This front. They are not the the huge front with Dynamic athletes that we saw with West Virginia last week, There's No Jordan Jefferson or Dante Stills on this team. So you know, there is some opportunity, there they're very Very inconsistent in their secondary, especially with communication.

1:19:35 There's coverage breakdowns all over the place. They get fooled a lot with play-action, misdirection, things like that. And you notice that I didn't mention storm, duck or Tony Grimes. You didn't enjoy this preview because they have almost disappeared in terms of their impact on this defense and that kind of started last year and it's carried over to this year and I'd say it's even worse. I mean, You know, there were guys on the sidelines against Notre Dame, you know, fighting white boards and fighting you had Tony Grimes, get pulled after a stupid penalty on a late, hit out of bounds.

1:20:16 There are just so many things that they're doing to hurt themselves right now. And we know that we've, we've experienced that on our side as well. The difference is that we're producing when we're not hurting ourselves, they are not and that's why we're We're looking at another situation of a stoppable force meeting a movable object as we head down to Chapel Hill for Saturday. Yeah, the old stoppable for first against the movable objects in a hurricane what? It's bound to go wrong there, good breakdowns on the defense and on the offense Prime and after seeing your notes and then looking through things, I feel like we got some keys out here that it's to me, it's got to happen. And I mean the first key, I look at this week is the Hokies running game.

1:21:07 You've already mentioned, how this is not a good defense in the proofs in the pudding. I mean North Carolina's giving up, over 216 yards, running per game. They're almost given up five yards. Rush, there are 120 third in the nation. And the honest truth is, if we can't get the Run game, going this game, then it's probably not going to happen this year. Maybe against UVA late in the season. Their defense is looking great either. But like this is your chance, right? This is the chance to the plays that we feel like we need. We need to find the bread and butter on the outside of the finding poles. Some of those things, maybe even some jet sweeps. I know well no one wants to hear it. Ha ha, ha.

1:21:53 Curtis said a dirty word with tell me that running the Jet Sweep. It like Keshawn King potentially couldn't break some big play. Plays this week especially how they run. Yeah I mean if you want to do it you can do it to Connor Blum like bummer because well so that's why I got to put it. I think we need to get a little more creative with how we get the ball in space, whether it's more of those quick screens, two tight ends, or we can kind of get to the edge quickly and then get up field and almost use that as a quasi running play or, you know, something more creative in the Game. Again, I'd like to see more pain and pulls in more more, more plays that attack that perimeter. And I think we will see more this week. Just because being honest, you know, even with the players for man fronts, regardless of what the guys look like for, man, fronts are a little bit easier to design runs runs against them in three main fronts.

1:22:58 So You know, I think we'll see a little bit more consistency this week, just because of that. Yeah, now now just so bronze. Mentioned the passing of Defense, that's not much better. We've already talked about it in the keys with the bad. They're giving up almost 280 yards through the air there 113th and that the defense isn't good whatsoever. It's like if, if there ever was an offense that needed to play a defense to fix things, we're walking up to that off. Into this week. Like fix the shit fix the ship. Shout-out, Glen Pereira watching us out there on YouTube tonight. Alright, let's look on the UNC offensive side because when I dug into this stat it's sort of I'm not going to say, shocked me, but so far this year, UNC hundred first downs, 51 via passing the can, when I think of that in a potential wet sloppy game, the winds not going to be howling as bad.

1:23:59 They're saying, 10 to 15 up to 25 and you've said it already a couple times tonight. Brian with how they're they're leaning on the past. And when I see a team over 50% that's how they get their first downs you take away their run game. I mean you can key in potentially maybe jump one. Yeah if we can take away their run game and they get a little hesitant throwing a deep ball and we're forcing them to have to Dink and dunk the whole game. I think that played Into our favor because that's when we've seen maybe make some of his mistakes. That's when we seen his technique, get a little, a little lacks there. So if we can do that, that that bodes. Well again, you know, they've had 51 through the air with, I think 30, 30, some running and then they've had like 10 or 12 through three penalties.

1:24:51 Yeah 151 through the air 10 on penalties 39 rushing. Yep. So I mean Almost and a lot of those rushing have been made taking off and getting the first. So it's, you know, it's not a lot of design runs for May, but it's a lot of glove scrambles where he's making those plays. So the running game is you know, very hit-or-miss. If we can contain that if we can control that make them one-dimensional, make it where they're not able to, you know, press our Force players into having to make a decision if we know. Okay, well, The keys are here. This is a pass play.

1:25:32 This is a run play that lets them play with a little more technique. A little bit more freedom there, so that's going to be key. And, you know, we talked about it last week. It's another one this week. Hokies Red Zone. D versus UNC red zone offense. Absolutely. I mean you saw on the tape and you mentioned it, they get inside the 20, they are super aggressive going for it. This team hasn't kicked a field goal inside the Red Zone, all year. Yep so take them to think about that, they've been 14 trips 13, touchdowns one, they didn't get anything. So and then I remember, I saw it and I was like, Brian.

1:26:13 What's the tape showing your like, they get down there, there they say, screw it. Yep. I think they went three or four times on Fourth down in the red zone and you know, I've only missed on one of them. So you know, they're they're going to be aggressive. They will? They want seven, they don't want to settle for three, well, when they're, when they're, what they're doing, their defense is playing, they have to play for. So yeah. Yeah. Now they've been, they've been in a lot of games where they felt like, they needed as many points as possible. And they have needed as many points as possible, and just about every game. I mean, you know, No disrespect to Florida A&M before. Am put 26 on this team.

1:26:55 Therefore an A&M is, I mean, their best an average team in the division that play in. And, you know, Broadway, we talked about you and see and you guys look at the Hokies that's inside the RedZone, believe it or not, it's been a strength, you know, only 12 possessions inside the Red Zone this year, half of a resulted in field goals Forum touchdowns to I'm stopped. So basically you're looking at three quarters of the possessions Getting down into the red zone are basically ending with three or less for the team that's playing on the Hokey. So I mean, that's a something's got to give their right either. They've got to get it to, something's got to give here and we're going to get them off the field or they're going to.

1:27:38 They're going to start putting touchdowns in there for us. So yeah. Hopefully, with the way that we're playing, if we can avoid those penalties, that give them some extra chances there. I like what we can do there. All right. Last one we looked at in Bryan already mentioned, the offensive line is kind of garbage. Unc's allow 12 sacks this year. They've allowed three in each game by each team so that no disrespect App State or do Georgia Southern team. They gave up three to them. They gave up three to Florida in them and they gave up three to Notre Dame. Which begs the question Bryant, should it be to the number? Be like 20?

1:28:21 I have Drake met was a statue. Would that be doubled if he's a statue? Would be more if he wasn't making the decisions as quickly as he is there. Be more like there's this could be significantly worse than it is but the way they play and the the scheme they have helps them avoid some sacks by default. So the fact that they still have 12 is, I think indicative of how that offensive plays going right now and it's not good. It's again one of the worst in the country at giving up those type plays. Alright. So there you key for the Hokies to hopefully get the wind. But now it's prediction time.

1:29:02 Ryan and we were back here. Again, we have to make predictions every week. So I lived last week, I missed. What do you say? This week, well, I think this is going to be a sloppy messy game. I think we do a good job of turning them into a one-dimensional team, but I think they do get some points on is I think they do, score some touchdowns on us. I think we actually forced them to kick one field goal though, I've got them getting to 24 and I think we make some improvements on the offensive side this week. I think we do some good things considering the conditions on that side of the ball this week, but I don't think it's enough. I think we end up with 17.

1:29:49 So I've got UNC 24, Virginia Tech 17. All right, I'm not to are far off from you Brian you know all the stuff we're seeing offensively and defensively, we saw the defense essentially hold a teen that was averaging five hundred and twenty yards just under 100 or just above. Arch from their normal, only give up 26 points. And the funny part is they gave up 10 in the last 15 minutes against West Virginia. So I think the game is going to be competitive but I've got to lean you in see on this. I think they do punch it in a couple extra times in the red zone and our offense just can't keep up 28:20 Carolina in this case. But they're caveat right?

1:30:38 This week because of how bad. The conditions and how bad the UNC offense is. Yeah. And you know, taking into account, you know, we might clean up some of the penalties and an excuse that we had last week as well. So if you take that into account, if we can rush for 150 yards against this team, you two, if you put that on the stat sheet, if you go out there and are able to establish any type of consistent running game and being Efficient if not explosive in the passing game, I think we just need to be efficient in the passing game.

1:31:18 If we can do those things against a defense, that's going to give you those opportunities. And we, if we can take advantage of them, then we've got a chance here because I think our defense is good enough to keep them in check. Yeah. Yeah, I don't think they're going to go out there and explode for the same type of points. They've done not only this year but overall I think if we can hold them in that, you know, mid to Upper 20s range, then we have we have a shot here. Absolutely, and again with it being a wet yucky game, the balls definitely going to bounce funny and again I think we just look for improvement, right? We look for those things Jenkins has been Jenkins talked about with the The beginning of the episode about cleaning up the penalties about discipline playing together. It's things like that that are going to get further. We're losing games, we're not fighting on the sidelines, right?

1:32:18 Yep. There's they're hanging in it together. So, you know, going to be interesting to see how it goes. Alright, Brawn. So let's talk about our big screen or for the week here, I'll lead with this one, it's going to be 7:30, it's going to be in Death Valley. Top 10 matchup of ACC teams. Clemson versus NC State likely to be on the back end of a hurricane when that game kicks. I think that's what they're saying, right? It's going to be slowly. Moving away from Clemson as the game comes in NC State's a six and a half Point dog. In with this one I think NC State's going to cover that six and a half. I think it's good. This is going to be a war.

1:32:59 Like it was it? Wait. I got to watch the last quarter and a half. That was such Entertaining football game in every sense of the word way you can Clemson but I think Clemson's going to get them in the something fluky, I think it's going to be like a 31-28 game and Clemson wins and the closing minutes with you know what what? Whatever they've had stuck up there for the last decade. Yeah, my big one is going to be the big new term an Kentucky Ole Miss. Brides already planning knowing that he's not going to be able to do anything outside, any yard work.

1:33:40 Let's go ahead and circle the 12:00. Maybe maybe maybe cook a nice little heavy lunch. They're getting the main. Yeah, I'm either going to be, I'm either going to be here or down in Virginia Beach. So, okay, depending on what the how quickly the weather gets into town is going to determine whether we take a trip down there to to my in-laws, this weekend, or not. But either way Going to be football on a big screen somewhere start at noon and it's going to be Kentucky, Ole Miss Ole Miss home, favorite six and a half points. I'm taking Kentucky and the six and a half here. I think Ole Miss probably wins this one but I like Kentucky to hang in there and keep it close. Think we'll see to have another big game for Kentucky, but I think Ole Miss It's just has a little bit more Firepower, that's going to close it down in the end. Yeah but I think the Stoops defense will keep them in there but that is going to be.

1:34:42 The one thing is we know Lane can scheme the hell out of things on offense and exploit just enough times to be leaked, defense has a couple other news and notes. We didn't hit it earlier because we were running a little late. The West Virginia game, Thursday night was ESPN's, highest Thursday night game in five years, and that was the Egg Bowl back in 20. 17, 1.6 million viewers and between 9:00 and 9:30. It was a little over 2 million and it is some people are going to say, well, that's not a huge number. You're competing against the NFL which started only 40 minutes after we kick.

1:35:22 And one of those Brands being Pittsburgh being literally, one of the big National brand. So, you know, again, it was one of the three biggest brands and in the sport. Yeah. So doing That I think that again it shows you where we are still. If we play a night game we're still going to get people to turn out fans and casuals alike or a drawing. We're a drone not just for the interns. They peaked take the 9:00. Well actually, it's exactly. Yeah. The other couple big news was Jeff Collins getting fired, kind of shocked that they dry them a little bit further but I mean I thought he had the rest of this year or at least until November, but I mean we've already seen. There's testing.

1:36:15 There's the optimum September. Yeah, so you don't you don't see the September firing very often not it happens, the 80s gone there as well. So they are kind of starting from scratch there and they're in that department in terms of Adding that that brand back up. Well no now it makes sense. If you're going to fire the ad then you go in fire, the head coach. So when that ad walks in he knows job one. And actually, he can sit across the table from you in the interviews and tell you who he's going after and what he's going. After, what you can see that they need a different Vision, it wasn't just, can I bring in a guy that has that young has energy can recruit And can and can put a competent team out there.

1:37:04 That wasn't enough early. I think Collins Didn't really conform to the role as well as they thought. I think there were, there were times where they, the coaching staff hurt themselves. Just as much as the opponent did. But in the same time, I think they're looking for a completely different direction at this point because I don't, I don't think they. I think they see, they can't just go back to apologize. Onsen, you know, Academy Style. Offense and have success but they also can't just throw the flavor of the week you know offensive-minded spread system in there and just you plug and play. They had some good players that came in there initially Gibbs. Holy moly herbs.

1:37:59 Yeah, and Jeff Simmons. Yeah. But they never were able to put put the full picture together and they ER we're a pretty sizable rebuild. They are literally, the hurricane took the house into the ocean rebuild. Yeah, I've been seriously. Like, it's like, literally, you're relaying the foundation there. I mean, and Collins had a big job. I mean, going from shrimp. Allow they were recruiting on offense to what they were trying to do with the spread. I mean, you know, we're seeing it now with an opponent. We play with whatever they're trying to do the same thing right now and it's not Going well at all and you know you talk about square peg, round hole. That's, that's very much I think. What, what was happening there?

1:38:49 There wasn't a plan to ease from one system into another. It was very much. A, this is what we're doing, you know, get on board or or, or not. And I think just there wasn't enough success. And there wasn't enough trajectory that said we're moving in the right direction. Direction at this point where the product on the field was acceptable anymore. There you go. Brian. I'm looking here at CBS Sports, looks like some games are getting moved to Sunday Eastern Washington and Florida. You see, FSM, you know, change to Wake Forest, Florida state yet, South Carolina and he threw the ultimate Clausen through the ultimatum out there, though. So we'll see if he stands by it.

1:39:43 Well, I mean it is what it is. I'm South Carolina and all this is suck. South Carolina are see the south Florida and East Carolina. Originally scheduled to kick at Raymond. James Stadium, are going to go to Boca, they're going to the other side of the state to play. Oh Cam and it'll kick off at 2:00 and other me that that Tampa side is going to get, get hit pretty good. Well, I talked to my buddy, Mike at work today, you know, it's been 100 years since a took a direct hit from a hurricane. Man, that's insane. Like me. And him were just, I'm like, serious. And then you start thinking about it, it has an IT wrecks there. I mean, it's going to really wrecked South Carolina. South Carolina, state moves to Thursday night, Shane. Beamer did that strictly because he knows he has a war on his hands against Kentucky next week. Might as well get two extra days of prep. Right there we go.

1:40:40 Nothing wrong. That will see if clausen's ultimatum holds holds tight there. Well the weird part is it's the Saturday, it's going to be further up the coast. Now if you talk about it's dangerous travel and I don't my kids stay there. I get it completely. So move the game to 7:00 or move your flight up. So you're there a day early and you can prep in other facilities? Yeah, who knows? It's going to be interesting weekend. All right, since nothing else is breaking that. I see. E, we need to talk about. We are going to wrap up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast.

1:41:24 I'm Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian siglo, visit our website, boundary Corner ve t.com to listen to all of our episodes. Do not forget why you're there. Do not forget to follow us on Twitter. Facebook, Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube account. Also click your favorite podcast Source Spotify. A podcast, Jason long plays, a sin plays us out every single week, and let's see if he's going to be doing any hurricane music this weekend. He is not, but he is going to be next weekend at the food Huts. Pop-up brunch Market on October 2nd at Golden Cactus Brewing, from 10 to 2, we always.

1:42:11 Thank you guys for listening check Jason out on YouTube and Facebook as well. We thank you for listening as always let's Go up one thing. Brian. What you got? Thank you, Chianti Jenkins. Thank you. Travis Wells. We really appreciate you guys coming on tonight. And as always, Brian, let's go Hokies.