Opponent Preview

0:45 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast. I am Curtis Wilson, I'm Brian sigla and buddy. We have a big guest on with us tonight. Owner creator of pick six, previews bread ciancia is with us tonight. Brett, how you doing? Hey, Brian, Curtis, thanks for having me on again. We had a great preview chat last time last summer and I love the intro there. I was ready for Enter Sandman to start pumping through the speaker's here, but if not To get back, talking, Virginia Tech with you guys. And I'm very passionate fan base. So going through a big coaching transition, I had a chance to talk with Brent pry, and we'll get into that in the Virginia Tech portion of the show, but excited to be back, also.

1:28 Yeah, man. If we, if we did saying, man, we might be getting a like a season two sisters from Metallica so we didn't go that. That's our buddy. Jason who lives down in Roanoke, right? Near Virginia Tech does all our music Force, but you know, it's awesome that you got two here are taught to talk to Ha and let's go ahead and kick it off, man. You know print prai has had a ton of success as a defensive coordinator. Both advancer built at Penn State and when you're dealing with the team, with a brand new head coach, how do you take into account a first-time CAD coach that has done as much as he did? You know, multiple top-10 defense has every stop. He's been at the defense first year improved significantly. How do you look at that when you're doing this sort of preview?

2:13 Yeah, well, coaching changes are I Most Fascinating part of the offseason. And in fact, this is one of the biggest coaching carousels ever and it's my 11th year. Doing picks previews by far, the most coaching transition we saw this all season and yeah, Brent /. I had a chance to speak with him like you said really likable guy on the phone you know talked about the importance of getting back to recruiting in-state seeing how that slipped off last couple of years and the last staff, but bringing back that Virginia core of the roster. But then also, to answer your question, what's important about a new coach A new coaching hire his hires his coordinator hires are crucial and looking at offense. It's almost like he got a two-for-one deal. Bring it in Bowen there and then also Joe Rudolph. The, the offensive line coach from Wisconsin. That's a great double double whammy there. So love the The Hires on offense and he has a proven track record on defense himself.

3:07 Leading consecutive top-10 defense has at Penn State, they've been pretty much a staple and defensively last five years under him. So I think you're going to see more of that aggressive attacking style of play, come to Virginia Tech. He'll figure out that side of the ball will be with Chris Marva, foreign player of his and then hand the keys over the offense. These experienced guys, and one yeah, bones little bit younger, but Rudolph nose, you know, offensive line, play more than anybody. So I like The Hires, he's made. Yeah, and Bowens obviously, you know, had some quasi play-calling responsibilities under a couple other big names there as well, so you got to feel Pretty confident about that. Let's let's take a look at that offense though. While we're talking about Tyler Boeing kind of a similar question to the pry one we've got a portal transfer quarterback in.

3:59 Grant Wells coming in with experience, pretty good amount of experience but that experience came with the, with a different team and in a weaker conference, how do you really way that when you're looking at, you know, that versus what The team did last season with a completely different quarterback. That's no longer with us in the completely different offense. Yeah. So it's going to be a definitely a quarterback battle. Their Grant Wells and Jason Brown, both guys had FCS 09. SCSI non-power 5 experience with Wells from our show and Jason Brown FCS All-American. Back in nineteen, LED South Carolina to to Big upsets though, against SEC foes last year. So awesome game experience.

4:42 But I think the bigger theme for the offense really is just an overall transition here. You look at all the Personnel gone. You're talking about quarterback on lead, running back on the top. Two receivers the Tight end, and three NFL lineman to. And that's, that's my one of my biggest concerns there. I know that Rudolph is an excellent offensive line coach. I think it might take more than one fall Camp. They really get that together, but yeah, answer your question, their quarterback, that's wide open. But this is the quarterback conference guys. This year, I cover all five power, five leagues. And this quarterback, the acc's quarterbacks are loaded. It was really hard to whittle it down to just two guys for the All Conference Team let alone I could make the argument for seven guys. So when You're compared against this conference this year. It's a tough spot.

5:28 Absolutely. And you know, the good thing about it, like you said, at least, yes, we did lose Braxton Burmeister, he transferred out to San Diego State, but having Wells and having Brown both with a lot of experience, at one of the most crucial positions is definitely key. And let's talk about the offensive side of the ball on that. You go through this data, you look what area of the offense needs to improve for the Hokies to go from that six and six six and seven middle of the road type team to a more productive offense. I think the key stat here would be the pass protection.

6:09 The sacks per attempt number I have in their sack rate, they greeted outside the top 100 last year 107th and and that was with like I said three NFL errs and there was a talented line individually. They were great in one push but pass protection. You lose Brock Hoffman Smith tenuta I mean, they're all gone in the pros. So, you're rebuilding that offensive line already from a low starting point pass protection. So, that's where I started at. Surprisingly. I kind of shocking when I saw it, but they were top 20 in my explosive passing metric hitting on some home runs there. But again, losing your top, two receivers hurts, Virginia Tech has really been hit by the transfer. Portal is specifically, the receiver room.

6:50 It seems like the last couple of years. I've been covering this, so yeah, but overall, I'd saved sack rate is the number one target. Let me look at her follow-up question. Real split on the explosive plays because looking at the data, explosive plays was great, right? But every other past metric was just atrocious when you're doing these and you some see something like that, like like do you have to do double takes where it's like this team's explosive, passes, top 20 and then you start looking in like how are they over under 100 everywhere else like how does that go into? You're kind of calculations about where your ranking a team.

7:30 Yeah, I try and look at everything and, you know, it's a pretty extensive process when I'm previewing teams. I'm watching spring games, I read through all the game reports from last season, talking to coaches coordinators, beat writers, you know, listening in the local shows. So I try and look at everything. Yeah. There are some weird ones that come up like that. I mean, maybe that was just a home run offense, you know, strikeout or a home run, maybe a hit on a good chunk of long, yardage plays, but the per play, And the efficiency were down. So of all the metrics their explosive passing. And I think the more important one is that QB rating, that's kind of all encompassing. It takes everything into account and Virginia Tech was 82nd there. So yeah, it's a lot of data to Crunch through.

8:15 Yeah, they're definitely tells a story. Do you look at things like offensive Drive, efficiency? Or any of those kind of advanced metrics, not so much to drive efficiency. I like the per play stuff and I also like my offense and defense, percentiles it takes a little bit further, it grades it against the opponent's strengths and what they've been averaging and factors in a couple of my other metrics there. So I don't really do the drive numbers that you see elsewhere. You know I kind of just geared towards what makes sense to me and what is work. My formulas and yeah, I like the / placed off and when you look at it there at the bottom of the Virginia Tech offense page if fell off a cliff last year offensively. So hoping to turn that around for you guys Hunters are and I love what you say that you look at the comparisons of the team they're playing again. So if they're playing against a bad defense and they blow up all offensively, I'm sure you're like well they should have if they're playing a bad defense and struggle offensive ly you're like okay there's some problems there, let me ask this we talked about The offense.

9:15 Let's talk about the defense. The defense. Looking at your magazine, lot of yellow, which not terrible, but not great. What do they have to improve on this year? To have a successful season under Brent Pride from talking with Coach cry knowing his past record. What do you think they will improve? Yeah well you talk about the staff box there. It's a lot of yellow. There is one green line that's key for this next year and that's returning production. Virginia Tech, top 25 and returning production on defense. And that's usually a clear indicator year every year a pointer towards Improvement. So he has a lot of experienced players coming back. The linebacker Duo decks how I feel and Alan Tisdale really strong You out there a couple all-conference contenders in the in the secondary. So, to answer your question of what the weakness or the point of emphasis should be, is that run defense and the defensive line, you know, that's, they were outside. They were below average in all my rushing defense metrics last year.

10:13 And, you know, you got to fortify that Center the defense. So, like I said, linebackers look, strong and experienced same with the defensive backs, there's some upside their defensive line looks like the question mark. Yeah, I think that that's what we're concerned about as well, when we're looking at this defense and not just from Top in talent and ability there, but also looking kind of down the depth chart and not seeing a whole lot of experienced talent in that group. So, defensive line, definitely a concern for us, especially as you said on that, that run stopping portion because there's only so much with an attacking style defense that that you can do against the run.

10:55 It's obvious obviously going to put the quarter Back is going to get rid of the ball, a lot quicker if you bring a lot of pressure. But there's only so much you can do on the Run game from a scheme standpoint. So, you know, we'll see what Brent Pride dials up for that. Let's go ahead and turn it over to some of the opponents that the Hokies face. And we'll start with the with the first big opponent of the, of the season for the Hokies, the Boston College Eagles. Let's start it here, though. Let's say we got your Kovac. He's returning. If he can return to form this season, can they be better than they were predicted to be last season before he lost so much time. Well, tricky question there because you got to look back to where they were projected last year and they were actually projected, second or third in the Atlantic division was sounds hard to believe looking back on it. But optimism was running very high for Boston College this time last year.

11:55 Year it was supposed to be the best offensive line that they've ever had the best receiver core they've ever had in field. Reykjavik was ready to take that next step towards all-conference and really none of it clicked. Of course, he went down to injury three games in and the offense fell off a cliff right away. You know, when he was not in the lineup, they were second worse in America, or I should say, in power 5, so it's huge getting him back. But the problem now is that great offensive line, they were supposed to have, they're all in the pros. Now it's an Fire rebuild up front. The lone starter coming back, Christian mahogany. He could have pushed for for all-conference. He got injured in Spring ball, so he's out. So yeah, a complete rebuild on the offensive line and when you look back on some of them, you know, some of their games, and their scores, and their, their grades that I have in there, my game, greater, they Place, pretty poorly last year.

12:44 So I have them down all the way in sixth place in the Atlantic. Yeah. Last year was it was a big talk of BC, potentially being that team, that could challenge Clemson with Phil and like you said, that offensive line. It's a rebuilding and it feels like BC every few years, they do rebuild the offensive line but they're they're you know, they're the reduction of returning is not as much in on the defensive side of the ball. They were turning a little bit more there. You know second year under half of who is a defensive guy, but is the defensive line, their biggest question mark. And in the 2022 on that side of the ball. Yeah, it's probably a similar answer to what I just gave for Virginia Tech, you know, the experience and the star power on Boston College.

13:27 Defense comes in the secondary and the linebacker room and especially that secondary. They were it's hard to believe that they were number three in the country and passing yards per game. Allowed pass defense was strong and the headliner, there is, who is that? It's Jaden would be. Who was a former Florida State Blue Chip recruit that haffley flipped brought him up to Boston College. And he's been excellent out there, so strong. Secondary improving linebacker core defensive lines, probably the weakness and then that they're rushing stats, show it. So Yeah, that's what we had identified as well. Just looking at your work and looking looking around. It looks like they're going to be pretty thin on that defensive line in terms of returning production and just strength. Overall, let's turn it over to UVA. UVA, you know, they got a great wide receiver room, great quarterback.

14:19 Looks like they're going to have a improved running back room heading into 2022, but will this team be able to overcome the mass Exodus that they Had on that offensive line. Yeah, that's that's a problem for them. And in a transition year to lose the entire front four, linemen transferring out. And then a couple of them were all-acc honors. So there's some big shoes to fill their and yeah, and you wonder if that's going to hamper the progress of Brandon Armstrong, he was a do-it-all machine last year. Put up incredible stats, the offense was humming but really the problems were in the defense and I don't see an overnight fix their they have some Fewest returning production in America. It's a coaching transition year and while I do like the higher radzinsky definite transition, it has transition your written all over it.

15:08 So they're going to need to outscore teams. They certainly can with Armstrong but he's going to need protection. That receiver core is one of the best in the conference though and all that Firepower is back again, don't forget, they got, they get back, Lavell Davis, who was a great freshman there two years ago, it was out last year, and in return to the lineup. So a lot of Firepower on offense. Yeah, their biggest question, there is definitely that old line and we saw at the end of last year, it was, it had a couple good players, but overall they were beat up and you know you could break through and not give Armstrong the time to make those passes and to me if that doesn't improve mean, they look like again maybe a 5 to 7 win team with all that offensive power off by Firepower it, you know you just mentioned there, you know, Tony Elliot hired John rosinski as a defensive coordinator lot of Access that Air Force you know with the military school there but their secondary has been absolutely horrible the last few years which is shocking on the Bronco, Mendenhall being a defensive Guy having a track record so can rosinski get their pass rush enough to really cover up that week secondary?

16:18 Or is it going to be another long year for them on the defensive side of the ball? Yeah. Well first off I like to hire like a hit on and and obviously Coach Elliot did too. He said they crossed paths in the coaching clinic and, you know, he was, he found it appealing, that radzinsky had success recruiting within some stuff confines. I mean, I know it's a loose comparison but the military credentials to get into the air force compared to the high academics of UVA. He made that comparison. So take that with a grain of salt but it looks like a good fit, you know, Virginia experimented with three man base last year and really backfired and that's really been rosinski bread and butters is 34 base. So, We'll see if he has a better chance at rebuilding.

17:00 It last year was a disaster and and you lose a lot of star players. So yeah, I don't see any overnight fix longer-term, looks okay, but that's kind of why I have Virginia outside the top three. I had them tied. Actually with Virginia Tech forth in the coastal behind. Miami pit and UNC. Yeah, it's going to be a big head to head. Yes. Especially after the field storming last year on opponent Turf. So That's a great for the Rivalry but we have Stadium. North Lane Stadium. North Brett. Just always remember. Yeah, that was incredible to see and that that actually wasn't the only one I saw out in the apple cup, Washington State, fans, stormed Husky Stadium, husky field, wherever the cone and you Dove and planted a flag there. So it's a new trend.

17:45 I'm seeing opposing field storming, exactly? All right. Well, let's take a look at probably a field storming that will never happen at either. Location is when Virginia Tech players. West Virginia for the Black Diamond trophy. One of the most heated rivalries in the 90s and early 2000s, came back in 2017. They now play a home and home last year in Morgantown where the Hokies came up inches short from taking out a dub. But a lots changed in up there. Neal Brown is third year in the biggest is on the offensive side of the football. He is going are a with G Peril hail recruited. The guy he was coaching out at USC JT, Daniels, gets him pick some up out of Georgia, you know. they sing some blue-chip, quarterbacks and Harold himself has seen some blue-chip, quarterbacks Is the Airaid system going to be enough of a difference to improve this offense than what they've looked like the past few years which is just been kind of men. Yeah it's been a really weak offense. They've been defense first under Neil Brown and it's kind of hard to believe given his offensive background. He used to call it as NASCAR offense of how fast they were in between snaps running to the line. None of that.

18:57 Even they didn't come close to that, it West Virginia so far. So complete overhaul, Glee, we saw Graham Harrell turn around USC, overnight program out there that was known as tailback you for generations and he comes in and says, no, no more. Tailback we're going 5 wide, Throwing It All Over the field. Now, they put up great numbers, so he's turned around and offense before coming in here. Yeah, you bring in a former five-star. Our mats, it's rare to pull off like that and yeah, I think the JT Daniels, I'll ask some success here he was. I thought he was fine at Georgia to but, you know, it's going to be hard to Or take steps and Bennett. So he wanted to try a new power 5 opportunity. The problem I don't think will be the offense. It's this huge transition that they have on defense. Basically, the entire units gone except for Stills, in the middle who's who's a great talent himself but complete rebuild on defense.

19:47 So it looks like they're their strength kind of flipped this time around. Yeah, and flipping to the other side of the ball, they kind of look like our wide receiver room. They had a mass Exodus to the transfer portal from, from that side. And they were solid of sometimes inconsistent in 2021. They return their best defender though Dante. Stills, does this team still have enough town on that side of the ball and downstream in the to and 3D to really fill those holes that the portal created? I don't think so, to be honest, I mean, first off, you look at They brought in and this wasn't anywhere near a top-10 transfer class or anything like that. So it was all one way it was. It was out the front door, exiting the program and these guys weren't transferring down.

20:32 They weren't guys that went to the FCS level. I mean, most of these guys were plucked off by other power 5 defense, has now Darrell Porter and Method or both to Miami. Who else you got a guy going to Colorado? Jackie Matthews down the Mississippi State, and don't forget this time. Last year, their best defender on the team. Tai Chi Smith was Just Away by Georgia. So it's a talent drain on defense. No, real big transfers coming in as a class and then you look back to the recruiting profile and it's outside the top 40. So, I don't see any reason why that will be an overnight fix for them. All right, the one thing I love about you. Brett is you admit when you're wrong reading, the magazine night, open it up and you immediately said I was completely wrong UNC last year. Many people do not do that.

21:23 I respect the hell out of you because you open up one of the first few pages you admitted it. Now this year you can see has one of the worst production returns after the loss of Hal and tie Chandler. 2,000-yard running back the good. Sketcher and Josh Downs is really their only proven offensive weapon. They do have some line returning but I mean is this team going to be able to reload with the unproven depth or do they look again like last year a 6 win team? Yeah well that's a great Point talking about last year's pick and you know it's a point of Pride to have the most accurate magazine. I have the five-year title so I do like the to celebrate the wins but like you said, you got to acknowledge the losses and make no doubt about it. The UNC pick last year was the worst pick I've ever done in 10 years.

22:11 I mean, it's just did nothing came true. They were a completely different team than what we saw the year before and yeah, it was a total Miss. So, here we are in 2022. It's a program that has improved it yet and I don't see why they will it. I can't I can't take him high again until they go out and prove it themselves. And you know, Sam Howell gone at quarterback. Some offensive linemen are gone but that offensive line themselves. It was pretty weak. Last year. Pass protection. Was weak. What else we got? Got ya. So I mean they have a great recruiting profile. You're just waiting for that to click and it's just hasn't yet. So you know, it's a matter of time. You'd say, I like their change. I bring it in gene, chizik on defense, getting some aggressiveness from attacking style and defense. They were to finesse on their Bateman. So maybe that triggers a, you know, a switch here. But for now I have them third in the Atlantic or third the coastal.

23:00 I should say, sorry, and 40th, overall, Yeah, that's that's my question on defense, you know, yet she isn't coming in, obviously, Bateman that. That that defense just couldn't get going last year but you talking about that returning production? Everything is this the success for this team? Really going to depend on how much better that defense has this year. Yeah, defense is huge, but really just the overall program mindset. I mean, when you listen to Mack Brown speak, he was saying how the team was way too overconfident back in last August and last September, they are reading their own press clippings. He he says, and of all teams Virginia Tech punch them right in the mouth right away. And and that was even that wasn't even Saturday. They'll even make it to the opening day was Thursday night and that that pic was thrown out the window right away. But but no, I think that you saw it all season. They were quitting during playes quitting during games. So I think this goes deeper than just an X's and O's, they got to have a whole culture rebuild up with in that Locker. Got it?

23:59 Yeah, that makes sense. Let's go ahead and flip it from you and see to the team that won the ACC last year. The Pitt Panthers How much higher would pits returning production be if Addison did not leave and let's also add this in there. Is he the bigger loss or is their offensive coordinator? Whipple that that left. Okay, that's great question. So I think the Addison's a bigger loss in the immediate term. I mean that was a playmaker. Do it all guy Biletnikoff winner for Forex ache. So yeah. So losing him in the fashion that he left very bizarre but yeah that certainly hurts because with him coming back this this offense was looking perfect besides a quarterback and you brought him to power 5 experienced guy, Keaton slovis and looked like all five offensive lineman or back and and that this offense wasn't going to miss a step.

24:55 But now you know how big a difference a guy makes you look back. Now you can argue okay? The Heisman candidate is gone. The blind, the cough Winters gone and The Mastermind Behind The Thing, Mark Whipple's gone. So that shift more towards a transition Year, my opinion and you know, very physical team. Their strength is really the defense. I talked to opposing coaches in the Atlantic division and Coastal Division and they all mention pits physicality and you see it especially that defensive line. So that'll carry him again. I think there's still a solid top. Top 20 team, but questions on offense now. Yeah. And you kind of answer it there about the level of success for 20 or 21 how much their defense is going to have to stay especially their past defense because nor doozies known as a defensive mind.

25:40 And he is a very good defensive coach. We hate him down in Blacksburg. And there's the white Vic. Virginia, Tech Legends chiming in about they should be solid but to get back to that. Let's say nine. Ten wins. How big of a step does that pass defense have to take because if it's only mediocre, are they back to where they were at like 20 1920, 18 wins seven or eight games and just not looking as good? Well, it's a great question, I think, when you look at patent are doozies track record as a defensive coordinator and now a defensive minded head coach, his defenses are always the same. They're always attacking their always leading the league and leaving the conference. I'm sorry.

26:23 Placing the national top 10, even in tackles, for loss sacks, my - play Metric. Loves them and, and you see it. But on the other side of the coin there, by bringing, so much resources in the blitz there, Overexposed in the pass game in the secondary. So you see more long yardage? Breakdowns if they don't hit home on their sacks. So all that to say this defensive line is strong again, can't see earned All-American honors last year he's back and the linebacker group does lose a couple multi-year starters. But again such a proven track record on to the staff. Charlie Partridge one of the best coaches, they're on the defensive line and I really trust the pit rebuilds and OneNote to leave you with with pit.

27:04 Is that over the last three years, in my defensive percentile average their fourth in the nation, only behind a Laburnum. I'm a Georgia, Clemson pits right there, number four, so yeah, the secondary might have some problems. But overall is the defense, there are proven commodity Yeah absolutely. And it's every year he proves it, you know, we've gotten a couple, we've got him a couple of times and when you get if he is it's actually a fun, sideline show to watch because he gets really angry when his team's getting beaten, especially on the defensive side of the ball. All right? I'm gonna flip this because we got a few more minutes with you here. You got NC State. Clemson in my name is your three. Highest ranked ACC teams Could any of those team cracked the playoffs? In your opinion, if things break the right way? Well yeah.

27:55 I mean of course anybody can break it. Here's the here's what's got to happen. You've got to win the conference with one loss. So you got to come out of their 12 and 11 or 13 to know obviously but twelve and one pretty much cements you a ticket to the playoffs and you saw with pit last year, a surprise team out of nowhere. They would go in the coastal and they win the conference but they're sitting there with that second loss. That that Mac loss at the beginning of the Season really cost them had. They have just taken care of business against the Mac team. They be 12 + 1 and undoubtedly in the playoffs last year. So, So yeah, the question really is, can somebody go 12 in 1 in this league? And I think it's a really crowded conference now, especially the Atlantic is loaded at the top. It was really a tough exercise, trying to parse that out the top-5 over there.

28:37 I mean, Clemson's The Proven commodity The Proven Dynasty NC State looks like it's their best team in school history especially defensively and the quarterback with Evan Leary. So a lot of high upside there Wake Forest, they continue to win games. They're the defending Atlantic Champs, but then seems like Florida State in Louisville. I have Skyrocketing in the right direction. Florida, State led by the defense Louisville by their offense. If they can get some complimentary play from their other sides of the balls. That's a lot of quality teams in the ACC. So long story short, I think they're going to beat each other up at the top, you're going to have a two or three lost champ and that shouldn't be a knock on the conference. I think it's stronger than it was a year ago and is trending in the right direction. Albeit, maybe not a playoff Contender this year. Yeah, let me get one quick follow-up on that. So, You talk to the Clemson being established team if they're going to be the team that since as conference champion at the end of the year, is that all going to revolve around?

29:32 How good DJ you plays this year? Absolutely. And but he needs some help to I mean, last year the receiver core was banged up and it fell down to a lot of true freshman and redshirt freshman and they just couldn't produce. And then the offensive line, the offensive line had best staple for them. Usually finishing number one, in the country, in yards per carry, all those etn Seasons, they were always number one, So that took a step back. So nothing was really clicking at all. They were stuck in the mud and then yes, of course DJ you is is under Center and he's the triggerman but everything else around and failed soon. Clemson's going through a double coordinator change to, which is rare for such a program of coordinator continuity. And last bid on Clemson is that while the other Powerhouse programs have embraced the transfer portal and and used it to bring in all-conference caliber guys to patch up some roster.

30:19 Holes Clemson's really been anti portal. So I wonder if that starts to catch up to him. Um and so I'm not confident that they return to the playoff. We got a couple more minutes here and I'm going to ask one National question and then we're going to let you get out of here and do some promo. I'm not going to count. Utah, Utah, as your number 14, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia. The three Blue Bloods, which of those three could you see, missed the playoffs, you've looked at the data, you do see them as the three of the best teams in the country, but what, which one of them is walking on thin ice? Where if they make one mistake or have one position get hurt, it could really basically in their chances to making it to the National Championship. Yeah, that's a great question.

31:08 I think I'll take the two SEC teams just given the fact of how rare and hard it is to cram two teams from one League into the playoff bracket. So they're both on thin ice. They don't have much margin of error of those two options. I'd say Georgia is the is has a weaker link just on on their youth and I know that's a boring answer but they just set an NFL record, 15 draft picks and could get, was the murderer the most ever first round of fenders. And Most offenders in the first three rounds also. So and the thing about Georgia they do rotate their players a lot. So it might not be quote unquote returning starters but they're experienced. But still I mean, when you're trying to fit two SEC teams into a 14 bracket I'll say George is the weak link there. Makes sense plus can Stetson Bennett and underrated quarterback play like he did last year after you have two full-time starting job.

32:03 Well, Brett, we know you have another show to go to. You are a busy man. This week, tell everybody where they can find the Magazine's website. Twitter, tell us what they can get the stuff. Because guys week me and Brian already have it. You should go get it to thanks for the promo there. I appreciate it. Thanks for the purchases. The High Praise. He's and again for having me on, so years in a row always enjoy our talks. Yeah, it's pick six, previews.com and a pick six previews on Twitter on the web page there I have a couple sample, team sample pages so you can see what we're talking about here. The layout of the pages, the level of depth I go into it's a one-man show, it's it's just me. I'm covering all 66 power five teams watching spring games calling head. Coaches calling coordinators, you know, running my numbers, but then putting it into a readable form and and yeah, last thing on there.

32:54 There's some Testimonials to the College GameDay guys ACC Network guys. So yeah, go check it out, pick six previous.com and after 10 years of digital only this year finally, a hard copy option. So the magazine is available at purchase. You get when you when you buy the magazine, you also get the digital email immediately so you're not waiting. So, yeah, thanks again, guys. It's an exciting time of year, everyone's undefeated. So I love talking football and August and the season will be here before we know it. Well, thanks for coming on with this Brett. We appreciate it again. It's gonna we got to make this an annual thing, because it's always a good time to for you to come on and share your knowledge with us. Share your knowledge with our lister's, really offshore and I gotta get back down to Blacksburg. I had once been down there, 2009 for the Nebraska game randomly, but I want to get back there now that I'm of age to really enjoy, you know what I'm saying?

33:44 I was, there we go, but I looked like a great time and a beautiful campus and and obviously the passionate fans. So it's been great interacting with so many of you online and the Virginia Tech media at large. You know, you can tell you guys love your football. We appreciate that, bro. You let us know if you come down to Blacksburg, will try our best to get down there as well and we appreciate you coming on again this year. And, you know, we look forward to having you back again in 2023 and hopefully better terms for our Hokies. But man you do an awesome job of the Magazine's awesome. You take care of yourself out there and have a great woman. Okay, thanks Brian. Curtis, appreciate it.

34:24 See you in a few see you. Well that was fun man. Yeah, it was. When we got to the end, we did not think we were going to get to talk to the three other teams with a little National picture but we did it in guys before we get into talking about some things from camp and a few other breaking stories today we are going to take a quick pause for a message from our digital partner. If you take a quick break, we like to tell you about getting your free website report from our digital partner, Grassroots, digital marketing Studio. They'll tell you how your website ranks on Google on-site, SEO and social media. No commitment to buy anything. You can get your free report by visiting. Grassroots digital studio.com forward slash free Dash website, Dash report.

35:08 Now back to the episode Alrighty so Bryan we weren't going to lead with this in the second half but I mean when it breaks like this you got to talk about it. This afternoon Triumph and il-1 of the lead ones for Virginia. Tech reports 28 additional football players on top of the four that we mentioned a couple weeks ago have signed with triumphs getting an investment of up to 300 thousand dollars. So the young guys get A little cash in the pocket. Yeah, yeah, we're spread the love a little bit here. I like that. We're getting money into more players hands on the active roster.

35:53 You know whether you think this goes far enough or whatever. Yet I agree. There's other schools out there doing more, but you got to celebrate the wins when they come and this is definitely a win, no matter how you slice it, especially, you know, spreading that out over twenty, eight additional players. Shout out to Brandon Hill and Kevin Jones, a part of that Collective putting these things together for these athletes. Nothing. But good things going forward and this definitely puts us at least in the conversation. Like Brent proud, was talking about with the ni L stuff. Absolutely. And if you take a look at the name's Andy, bitter, put a good tweet out because the way he had it set up, you can definitely go on Triumph website and read it. But if you look at the games to me, The majority of these guys are proven, they proven, they can play their in the 2D in, in this, the kind of the way it should be. I mean, it's not the way it's gonna be but the way it should be, if you're a proven guys when you get roughly, if you take a look that's roughly ten thousand dollars and I'm sure it's probably some guys are getting the last. Some guys are getting a little more and obviously you got the top 4 guys are probably getting a really good penny. But there's not a name on here Brian that we don't know. Or haven't talked about it's not like it's the sixth string. I like how is he on there?

37:17 Yeah these are. These are two big guys. These are guys that are seeing the field most games if not every game. And I think that that's where we are at this point and I think that's probably good enough for now, but we definitely need to keep this this train moving and the more investment the better. And you know, I've talked about it with some people at this point, you know, when I'm, you know, making a donation to The Hokie scholarship fund, I'm going to also turn around and match that with one of the ni L collectors from now on they you go. That's the way it's got to be. You've got it.

37:57 You've got to look both ways now. And obviously those guys are going to have Investments, they're going to find people, you know, you take a look at Malachi Thomas. They found literally a it looked like a Ford dealership in his neck of the woods that wanted to sponsor him in Malachi was driving on you Ranger. I'm down the road, great for him. Also know that kid, so good. Things on that front. Hopefully we'll see more from Some of the other collectives out there but Brian. Well first of all if you see us look up, yes, this would you say earlier today Brian this is the from now for starting today from now until the week of Valentine's Day, there's not a single week that doesn't have football. Nice single week.

38:47 Football is back in Camp is open for business as of Tuesday. And it's just that time of year. I'm Nicole de sac tonight, man, we had some pizza with some neighbors. Had a couple drinks everybody shooting Breeze and me and you know, we're talking season starting, you know, hey we're going to get together on Thursday nights watching all so it's time. It's ready man. But let's talk this, let's start Brent pry. Quick interview after practice on Wednesday and Something that I thought he was very upfront about day one.

39:29 They had some issues about some non competitiveness now Brian. Is this something that in your years of your you played Collegiate football, you played High School football, is this, something that could happen on day one? Or is this kind of out of the ordinary? I've said it before, I'll say it again. If a Coach is satisfied with day one, whether it's effort, whether it's Just the product on the field. That's a red flag. That's a red flag because no team is out there winning day one because it's like I like the motto always say is sometimes happy.

40:12 Never satisfied. That's the mindset. You need to have, as a coach sometimes, happy never satisfied and if you're satisfied on day one, there's no way to go but down. So I think you know regardless of what the reality was that's a good message to send to your teen out. The gate, they one wasn't good enough, boys, get out there and do better compete more. We're not there yet. Absolutely. You love the messaging and then he comes out day to and says it was better today. They were more competitive. They were more fighting. So, you know, as much as it was a message day one, there's also the praise there to make sure they, you know, you're getting in the right direction.

40:58 And again, we all feel it with prai. He's very candid. You don't feel like he's holding anything back. And when he said this, I'm still trying to think. I'm okay where we that bad and now we're much better or are we legitimately taking, you know, the offense is making strides in the offseason? I mean, I mean that could be a million things, right? Brian. It could I don't know if he's being relative to where the defense is, I mean typically start a camp defenses are ahead of the offense so the fact that the offense was out there doing anything. Yeah. Is either indicative of, as process, some lack of efforts and some lack of competitiveness from the defense. And it could also be that, that offense has taken some strides that those that, that installation has helped that seeing some new plays that they didn't see in spring or some some, some new formations or some new routes throughout Concepts that they didn't see, in Spring, might be throwing them off a little bit.

42:04 It could be a combination of all those things. So, But it is definitely a good sign that the offense is show in life. So early in Camp, it shows that the efforts that they made at the end of spring. And in the summer workouts are paying some dividends because I know that they were talking about a lot of installation for the full offensive package was taking place. After spring practice most of the base stuff was put in and spraying and then they started building on that as we went into the summer. Absolutely. So hopefully, Again, there's just a lot of unknowns and, you know, we talked about a few minutes ago even though we did have guys get drafted on the offensive line, there are some guys coming back with experience.

42:53 Like a Johnny Jordan who did not get as much PT last year but was a 13-mile team Big Ten guy. Now something that was brought up and for me and you and other fans, you look at them and you say why can't they play? You know, somebody asked Prime and I can't remember which report was if I did. I'd give you the shout out, you'll know that. But he talked about guys physically ready like Xavier. Chaplain Lamar law and Malachi from here in the r-va in prowess. Just up front. Yeah. Baby for six weeks, they're ready. But he's like right now they've got to adjust emotionally socially academically. And you know it's it tells you that it's not just Malachi is six foot three and a half and he's 300 pounds.

43:44 That's what I see is, I'm looking at the NFL, that's the size some of those guys, but how much important is that other stuff for on for young man? Getting to college and just getting on campus in probably the last four to six weeks? I mean, yeah, it's a big adjustment and, you know, just being physically, ready usually isn't enough, you know, I don't think this is, oh, well, you know, he missed a block at practice. So all of a sudden, he's in the doghouse for four to six weeks, this is more about The maturity on and off the field, this is more about understanding and adjusting to all these new things that most of these players are experiencing for the first time and making sure that they can handle all of that and football because being a Collegiate football, player is essentially like working two jobs. And at that and that's a big thing. It's a you know you wake up at 7:00 or before every morning, you're doing everything you need to do. Usually sometimes six, if you're getting a film session in before class and that's running until, you know, 8:00 9:00 10:00 every every night.

44:55 You're pretty much going nonstop, especially in Camp, once can't breaks, you got, you got classes, obviously, picking up there. So there's a lot of adjustments that these kids. They're kind of taking on and, you know, just being physically, there doesn't necessarily mean that you're ready to play. And and that's not talking about the the social side and just learning The Playbook. There's that, you got to find your place within the team where you fit in and you got to make sure that you understand the Playbook. So when you get put in the game, you're not making that key mistake that that blows up a play. I love you. Speaking of this thing because it goes, it says a lot. And like you, like you mentioned. Those guys probably are physically.

45:35 A to play but they have to get their mentally and I love you saying, they've got to find their Circle where they fit in socially. These got to get adjusted. Even though these next few weeks are going to be, they're not going to have a social life but you got to find a way on the team to fit in socially so I love it. Alright so something I can't remember if we knew this or not, I didn't remember. But last year the big heavy practice was in the morning will bring for. I don't do things like that. Brent R, I won't sit in the afternoon and he wants us. This practice has to be hot and hard. Are you shocked not shot and I love it. Oh, I know you would we you know we talked about it before Camp is where that where the hard stuff is by the time you get to the first game.

46:22 Hell even by the time you get to that last that last scrimmage of camp It should be easy, Camp should be hard camp. Camp is meant to be hard and if you want to get players used to hard, you play him at the hottest part of the day with full pads on and, and that's what I like to see. Obviously, they're not in full pads yet. They're still out there in shells and shells, but you know, they'll get there, and I liked it, it's in the afternoon, I like the hard. I mean, I know I talked about it with with Curtis. I mean you know we when we were going through you know almost 20 years ago.

47:02 Now we had 3 to 3 and a practices three meetings a day. We go shells in the morning, full pads in the afternoon and then we'd have a helmets. Only walk through in the evening, install, in the morning, the afternoon, usually special teams emphasis in the third meeting. So it was all day and it was a lot, but that's what campus for Absolutely. Now, you've been talking about the insoles to in kind of the way. It Brent Pride talked about it is, they have a morning. It's almost like they have a morning install and afternoon install, and then they do night film reviews when you look at the way that set up. So, it's install install hard practice film review in the evening which I'm guessing they probably get there have breakfast morning install.

47:58 Lunch at the facility. Afternoon install practice dinner its facility. Then a film review. Probably individual coaching. Do you like the way that structured and and why? Yeah, I mean, it really goes back to kind of when you look at how people learn and things like that and, you know, coming for having a teacher as a as a wife, having kind of went through teacher prep, myself, you teach a concept You let the student, apply the concept and then you correct. And that's what we're seeing with how they're setting this up. You teach you teach in the morning and the early afternoon you go out there at the heavy practice of the day at 4:00 and you apply and then you Circle back in the evening after dinner and you correct. Probably looking at film because I'm assuming everything. There is getting filmed where it can already be instructed in. Then again, I'm guessing what happens next morning, so they look at the film review.

49:01 Do you think it's like, are they reiterating where the errors were in those morning, installs, and then slowly building? Well, the one thing after the film review, individually with the players, when the players head back to the dorms for the night, the coaches are now getting together and they're saying, all right, who did? What welded a what do we need to emphasize? Tomorrow is their accession in installation where we need to kind of hammer a little bit more. Is there a session in practices where we need a little extra work? Like well, what do we see in practice? What do we see from the plays installed and how they were executed in practice that we need to really work on the next day. So there's some fluidity with how those sessions are run in practice and how those sessions are running that install. It is awesome to hear, man.

49:52 So again, and just hearing Brent, pry, you can just hear the emotion in the fun, he's having in his voice, you could hear in the background. You can it sounds like the players were having fun. I'm assuming they were doing ice baths and joking around. After practice, you can do your it in it and I don't felt like we've seen that. So again, at the players are having fun, you know, that they're using you. Let it all hang out when you have fun, it's just the way it goes. All right, something we're going to keep an eye on obviously over these next few weeks, either in Camp, quarterback rep, watch, who's getting, how much who's running with the ones? I think Brian right now after spring, excuse me, after Brent, prize comments, you know, in the summer, this is really Grant Wells jobs to lose. yeah, that that's my feeling as well and I don't think that there's a whole lot that he would have to do a whole lot wrong to lose it. At this point, I feel like there's not much that the others can do to pass him, it's going to be if he's out there being inconsistent with the football, whether that's turnovers, whether that's overthrows, you know, whatever it may be. It's definitely something that he would need to lose. Not something that I think he can be overtaken with a performance.

51:11 Yep, but as much, as you say that I still love them. Brent prize non-committal. Because he's leaving that carrot out there. Not only for Grant but for Jason Brown and don't get me wrong. Do I think Jason Brown could come in here and absolutely. If he plays like he did against Georgia Auburn in practice, could he get up and get right at Grant Wells? If Wells, doesn't keep the pedal to the metal? Yes. I think that could happen very easily. Like, like Brett said, he was an FCS All-American at st. Francis. He won a couple big games down at South Carolina last year, we're not dealing With the guy who's, you know, just a run-of-the-mill back up, the guy's a legitimate starter and, you know, I don't think I think Wells knows it. So I don't think Wells is going to take the foot off the gas, but I think his he knows I think Brown is trying to get that job. Yeah.

52:04 I mean Browns definitely driving and I mean, it looks like from the observations from practice, you know, Browns had some good throws been pretty consistent. There wasn't at least in the The sessions that were available to the writers in the media. Anything significantly that jumped off. That said Wells was ahead of brown, just on what was seem. Obviously, there are other things that are factoring in there, that either weren't seen during their sessions or things like that. But, you know, I think the non-committal thing is good for something like this because It's going to push, Grant the next 10 to 14 days.

52:46 Yeah, to have his best practice every day. 100%, 100% on that. And I think over the next few weeks for us as fans, you know, listen to what Brent process in those interviews, you know, come home every night, give give so much credit to the media staff that one that they interviewed at 4:00 was up by six. Yep. And so it was Tomorrow Connor, one, and David Cunningham was posting videos in real time. Andy was supposed to grab videos in real time they were. And then, and then, so listen to what the players say. This one of the coaches, say what process. But then with David Cunningham and a better lighting is Oleg Barber. All these writers try to read them, they're getting info, they're seeing things on the ground. We've had David on this show.

53:37 David's an awesome guy also got Ava back on Tuesday, we are having it. Tuesday where we're going to. We're going about alone not by himself that there was this whole screen will be covered next Tuesday. I'm gonna see how that looks like somebody impressive to see but see what they're saying see what they're observing. That's how we're going to be seeing is brown catching Wells? Israel's, going ahead. All right. So wide receiver, statuses I mean fontelle Minds is becoming a star. Yeah I mean recruiting Trail tearing up Richmond Brent Pride, giving him the massive shoutouts about how his unit has developed over the summer man.

54:22 That is awesome to hear. Yeah, I mean it seems like he's developing his players and obviously he's already out there on the recruiting Trail pulling in the most Talent of any position group coach this, this offseason. So I mean that's That's big for him. Yeah. And you know prosthetic that you know there's some talent that was untapped in this unit that that's our new show and he said it was a unit that has to have a great camp and I agreed because we're going to be them to step up and not only take over the production of our two leading receivers from last year. Yeah, but also be a more consistent Cog in the offense and not just be relying on that big play like Brett was talking about.

55:08 Out in the passing game? Yep, that's the big piece that you talked about, there is having a great Camp because I think we see it, I think we feel comfortable, Jaden blue, the Wayne Lofton Caleb Smith, they can play at a D1 level. They have to take their games up, but it's everything behind them because if you tell me, they take a good step in Fall, okay? That's good. Who are the other three guys, took that step because if they take a step up from where they are, if they're three gas can get to the level of those three guys, then you're kind of sitting here saying, okay, we have some flexibility and I know, it'll make you happy to know, alright, what sort of formations, which were going to talk about in just a few minutes, but this group must have a great can.

55:56 If they have a great Camp. It's good thing for us now. All right, Brian. This is yours, buddy. Offensive line. Combos /. Andy bitter. Let's start with first team. I don't think there is any shock there. Silas, Deane, Z going left to right, left tackle, Jesse, Hanson, left guard. Johnny, Jordan Center, Caden more and park. Laments. No shock, right? Not shocked at all. That's the line that we've anticipated really since kind of Jump Street when we started talking about this season, right? So the guys who we thought were going to be there or there, Yeah, we'll see if there's any movement on that but I don't the only thing I the only position I think there could be movement is at left guard and jewels, we'll see. We'll see what that what shakes out there but I think all the other spots are firm locks and I think Jesse's probably got that pretty safe as well.

56:54 But not, I would say it's 100%. He's similar to the brown Wells thing. He's got to keep his foot down or somebody could take it. Speaking of the somebody, it could be one of the gentlemen, from the second team. And let's start Bob shake at left tackle. Braylon more. Holy God. The guy just got flipped in the spring, too offensive line. He's already with the second team Jack hollifield Grand. That's your sixth, right? That that's who I think the six was coming into the spring when Brent /. I was talking about, he's got six. He feels good about. All right. The think I think Jack hollifield was the six. He's put on some good weight. Wait, he played pretty well during the spring game so I did what I think he was talking about then Daniel Miller Tech the German at Right Guard in.

57:47 There was a reason. Notre Dame was trying to get. Johnny Garrett to come of e. He's been on campus. He's already on the too deep it right tackle. So I mean that that itself is kind of a shock And I mean, I think the braylon's if you told me brilliant was on 13 I wouldn't be shot. Like, okay, that makes sense, but the way that kids already come in and jumped up, there was a reason, Joe Rudolph kept fighting got him in that offensive line room. Yeah, yeah, that movie was made right at the end of spring. It seems to have taken pretty well, that's Braylon more fighting for that left guard. Position is really the only thing I think is going to be Questionable because if he's as good as advertised in can, can pick up the offense and also you know, he's where he needs to be physically. Then I think that there's potential there, I think Bob shik is holding a spot right now because he has experience playing tackle.

58:53 I think he's kind of the just the guy that's there is the emergency tackle to Art the season. I think Jonny Garrett's your example of a guy that they're trying to get him some reps right now because he's kind of switching positions, right? So he's easing into that that Tackle Spot. And I think that's going to be good for him. He's got these put some good weight on it seems. So I think he'll get his body ready for for the season and I think getting some extra reps is going to help that. Yeah. Now on the third teen big Xavier chaplain from down South Carolina and Brody, Meadows, it guard kind of two names, most known the other three guys are Walk-Ons.

59:40 You know, there were talking about Johnny Dixon, who literally just enrolled On the go already snapping its Center. I think, you know, you look this year, it's still a worry spot but when we know there are only two guys in the front to leaving And then you start looking at braylin and Jack and Johnny and Xavier and Brody. And knowing Joe Rudolph is recruiting an offensive line and teaching offensive line. Yep. You feel like in the short term we're probably going to be better up front just because of Joe Rudolph. But in the long term knowing some of these players knowing their sizes, you looking at their tape it's like Is it two or three?

1:00:26 Is it a next year or two years from now? Where there's not a defensive line in the country that wants to go against? You know, like an exam of your Braylon Jack Caden and Parker, like, I don't really want to play them cuz I'm no, it's gonna be nasty. I mean that's the Hope, right? And I think when I'm looking at the third team, in the sea Xavier, chaplain sitting there at left tackle that Future, our left tackle position, ladies and gentlemen. That's that's the guy. That's probably going to be starting for the next not counting, 23 3 to 4 years. So get ready for it.

1:01:08 I see it happening sooner rather than later. I think if you look at the second team if not by the end of the camp by end of you know September early October you're going to see chaplain in the 2D at that at that tackle position. I think Bob shik is there until chaplain is ready. I kind of alluded to that a little bit earlier that that's kind of what I meant. I think the chapel is going to be the guy at the left tackle position. Ian, and I'm hoping that. He's up for the challenge because we need him because we are thin at that tackle position. Absolutely. All right Ron. You saw you mentioned on me.

1:01:50 You mentioned on here and you saw Dave and Cunningham's clip what was that combo drill they were doing that you saw and I think it was Johnny Jordan I thought I saw his Johnny's number, I might be wrong but what is that something indict me we have seen that last year or is this More where it's kind of, we're moving to where we're going to do some power stuff, you would have seen it last year but it's a little bit different so you might see something like that on inside Zone. But this is more of a true combo and not just a Zone block where you're, you know, you're passing the guy off up to the next level. This is truly an actual combo at the point of attack. And so that's the drill they were working on and I really like Seeing some different concepts, a little little newer, newer concepts for for the Hokies really old Concepts. If we really think about it, creeping back into into our repertoire here, Nike check that out. David Cunningham had that as a Twitter video yesterday pretty cool to see.

1:02:58 Okay I alluded to it earlier. Brian has been telling me what he hopes to see is formation alignment. Frequency. Brian. What the hell does that mean? So I mean, y'all know I'm an offensive nerd here. I like to really dive into what an offense likes to do and looking back at what we did when we had Robbie on kind of looking at what we expect from you know play-calling perspective, you just a play repertoire all together. What type of formations were looking at what I want to see from some of these practices as we get Peaks here and there is the frequency, the formations that bow and is using and how he is deploying the Personnel within those formations because that's going to tell me.

1:03:49 Number one, Are we looking like more? What Joe Moorhead did are we looking at what more, like, what Ricky Ronnie does, which is very similar or we looking at a little bit of hybrid of some of that stuff. But also, some NFL Concepts that he may have picked up during his time in Jacksonville. But I also want to see the, the, the frequency because I want to see where these players are lining up. Whether it's, you know, blue in the slot, whether it's Lon In the slot is blue outside at all is is Lofton outside at all. Are these guys getting kind of moved throughout the receiver line there?

1:04:34 Or are they kind of locked in our? These guys are outside. These guys are slotted in. There's not much position flexibility there. You know how often are we lining up in trips? How often are we lining up in Pro? How often a relining up? And In for why'd, you know, I want to I want to see these things and kind of get an idea of what this offense is going to look like, and how that ticks, we obviously know that there's going to be heavy tight in usage. And that's not just because Tyler Bowen is the the tight end Coach in the play caller, but that's kind of indicative with the Joe Moorhead style, right? That the Titan gets a lot of involvement. There's going to be that, you know, flat two-wheel concept that we have forget who it was. Wrote an article.

1:05:21 Oh about that. That was talking, was it Brendan overnight? Even might have been, might have been French mime in French. Okay, the key player. Yeah. All right, awesome. All right, so I want to see things like that. Obviously French is. If you guys haven't checked that out of their check that out, it's a really good write-up of kind of what to expect for this offense. Neither the, he always does a good job breaking down tape. Yes, he does. Yes, he does. You mentioned the NFL he was under Darrell Bevell while with While with Jacksonville. So you kind of go back and think, where's beveled most successful years. It was over in Seattle with Marshawn with Russell. So if you see some power elements and Boots, some things like that, go back and look at some of those Seahawks games.

1:06:08 Look at those Concepts, all right? Yeah, they tall athletic tight in as well. Yes, they did. All right. That was used a lot in the Red Zone. Yes, he was. All right, so bronze. Something we had talked about a couple times was out. Okay, who's going to be the same? Is it going to be a rotation? I don't think it's going to be a rotation anymore. Not if things are holding, like he was talking about at the, at the after practice. Presser pry, loves Chianti. Jenkins loves him. He loves what he's doing on the field. He likes that the defensive back qualities that he's bringing to that position. He likes that he's picking up things very quickly and he likes the Improvement.

1:06:57 He's made as far as playing more in the Box. Yeah those linebacker traits is what he said. He's got he's learning those traits. Yeah and you know when you say that that immediately triggered Brian and me thinking, okay, that's cool. Gionta had a good season. Last year has always been A good player. Probably. Now, in a role where, you know, can he Excel the most? Very good potential. But we were discussing earlier today. Who's the backup? And I told this is my theory and I let Brian, you know, Compound on it. After I back up I think Jr.

1:07:37 Walker is the backup. I think Jr. Has more defensive back skills which to me a little bit easier because if you ask to safety to go, Rush the quarterback thing, go do it. But what I think though, is, even though he's going to be the backup, I think we're going to see more kalai Lawson than we see Jr. Walker. We're in for one reason. I think there's going to be times. We know the aggressiveness of friends, private talked about it, we know about it, we've seen it, there's going to be times. He just puts kalai on the field and says, yes, he's coming. Now then we were talking about Brian. You asked, you Brian? If that happens.

1:08:18 What are they going to do offensively? If you put kalai. Lawson on that side of the field. you're going to want to dial up, something where you get the ball out, quick, because you want to and you want to maybe get him split out in space, where if he does have any coverage responsibility, you're making him have to honor that Because I think while he does have some Elite athleticism and a very good straight line speed and obviously the wingspan is next level. I think you want to get him in space as much as possible in the coverage aspect.

1:09:00 So if you're going to have something where you know he's not just pinning his ears back. You want to try to take advantage that way but you think prize going to fit him put him on the field to do that or do you think he's on the field? Those ears are pin back and you're going to have to make checks, right? You got the moves. Yeah, I think he, but I think loss of might end up winning that backup job out, right? We'll see. Okay. I think he's got that type of ability, but if there is a weakness at this point is, it's the fact that he's not quite as Adept in the coverage aspects of that position. Probably as the other two guys that we talked about absolutely, all right, we'll look Backer.

1:09:43 Again, this raised our eyes even more and kind of the way it seemed as its Alan Tisdale's job right now. But man is Jaden Keller bearing down because man he talked about he plays fast. Yeah yeah and it wasn't just him. Connor was interviewing as well and he was talking about how fast he is like he shot out of a cannon and you like that that position is going to need to have good instincts. For what they're what type of run support, they're going to be bringing and things like that. So that's going to be really important. So having a guy like that, that's that's quick that, you know, can get around, tackles can get underneath blocks, things like that. So that that's going to be important for that outside linebacker position, that will backers. So, we'll see if Keller can push for the starting role. Obviously, the story with Tisdale has that ability, is there in consistency is the issue, you know, Pride talked about, you know, Actually that being leaked to some, you know, fatigue breaking down, you know, the mental focus and things like that.

1:10:51 We'll see if a camp under pry rectifies any of that. You know, I talked about earlier Camp, should be the hardest part of the season. And and hopefully hopefully some of that stuff carries over into the season so we'll see. But yeah, I like I like what Keller's doing and we'll see if he can push push his tail and obviously if he does that's that's better for us because that means we're improved from last year, if nothing else, right? Absolutely. In the to details, you're talking about there, there's opportunities there potentially, to put them both on the field at the same time, mix and match.

1:11:33 Match with, you know, with Dax with Keyshawn. Maybe even occasionally. Hey we're going to slip one of them over to Sam. Just to the depth is going to help. Anytime you have multiple players at any position that can play will help you in the long run. Now we'll flip one more piece here before we close everything out tonight. They interview tomorrow Connor short interview You know, Jamari himself well but before he got up there, Brent Pride praised him about he saying, he probably is the best all-around player on the team. From a leadership, from a play perspective, kind of checks all the boxes and you love to hear that from a guy that he asked to move from the whip from the Sam, to go back to free safety. And when you get that sort of, praise it tells you a lot about, you know, Shamari as a person.

1:12:31 But then also tomorrow is a football player that he's adapted that well to get that sort of Praise from rent fry. Yeah, it talks about his leadership and team first mentality as well, right? So, I think that's big and, you know, I think, you know, Connor physical traits are great, you know, we've talked about in the past some of his inconsistencies in coverage and sometimes it's inconsistency in Making the the sure tackle, right? Yeah, but when he's coming downhill, when he's sure of it. He's going to lay the lumber man. Yes, he will. He's a big hitter. He's got good athleticism. So and I think he's going to be a good leader in the in that back half of the defense. And I think that's another reason that that changes made, right?

1:13:20 Because now you've got garbage kind of the de facto leader of that defensive line you got, you got decks their de facto leader of the linebacker Corps. Now you've got Connor in the secondary as that kind of Elder Statesman in the room. So you got you got good leadership across each level the defense and I think that's important to all right? Right. Well Braun is anything broken in the last hour here since we've Been talking to Brett from six, pick six previews. Now I think we're good to go man again, shout out to Brett ciancia pick six previews for joining us tonight. Great information is always, and we really appreciate the expertise and the Deep level data analytics. Being a data guy here that that he brings to the table to the sport.

1:14:20 So again, go Out, grabbed his magazine. We got the digital copy, he's got the hard copy this year, so if you prefer that the, the feel and touch of paper, turning the pages, grab that too, man, get it. Like, seriously, this is the second year. We gotta, we had him on last year. We picked it up so much info, so much detail. Sort of drawing you out there. And you know, when you see the data, you kind of say okay if we improve here and here we can be a much better football team and you start looking at the opponents. It really gets you down a rabbit hole. Yeah. All right, brother. And the visuals that had that he has the data area is really what separates his side from the the predictions themselves is really what separates his Magazine from from the others out there. Absolutely.

1:15:12 All right. Well Brian let's promo one more time. Tuesday, night 9:30 right here. The Hokie Roundtable of all round tables. Joining us next Tuesday to discuss everything hokey. We're going to have two white Vic going to have Danny notes. We're going to have Don be from Don V. Friday's David Cunningham from TSL Mike McDaniel from The Hokey hangover and the sons of Saturday and house. And I sigh, I'm sure we could probably go along with Mike, because Mike has so many titles. Also, new dad, congrats Michael.

1:15:52 No, no. And And last but not least from the West Coast from La. Grayson wimbush from the sons of Saturday will also be joining us. I got everybody right? Why? Danny Don the triple d's Jesus Christ. Damn brain is just going off. Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna pull it out it. Or you want me to get in a clinch, easy-peasy. You know, one of our first I see it. When I got one. I'm using I was waiting on you. Hey, it's been a long week. That's why I'm not working tomorrow.

1:16:34 I shall work down today, man, but y'all got to come to this. We are going to ask these guys, some great questions and these guys, I mean, there's a hokey. There's, there's so much hokey info, and so much opinion, and all of them. They're great, dudes. I can't wait for the Round Table. The back and forth, man. And we're yeah, the perspectives. I've obviously, all these guys are in the, the Hokie podcast game and once one way shape or form. Yep. But the different experiences that they bring to the table, the different perspectives that they bring to the table, I say it all the time Hokie Nation, we've got one of the best content creation podcast folks out there. And it's really The awesome that everyone agreed to jump on with us because this is something that's been rolling around in my head.

1:17:31 Yeah. Since since, the early spring, I was like, hey, you know, I really want to do a round table. I want to get everybody or as many as we can, at least one person from, you know, a lot of the major podcasts out their own are talking preview, you know, talking about what they expect from the season. We obviously got a new coach, there's just so much to kind of roll over in. And things that we can really bounce off each other. I want to I want to push back on each other a little bit. I know that you know, not everybody is of the same mind. I appreciate that. I really like when we can get together and you know, we talked about it, iron sharpens iron, I think this is something where everybody can learn a little something and I think we can provide some, some good good content for everybody out there. Yeah.

1:18:19 And usually in, in the boundary Corner podcast, is usually me, I'm talking content to Brian Brian's challenging me in this case, when he came to me, I challenged you I challenge you on a couple things I pushed back and then and then finally about July, we hit that sweet spot. That that that's how we create our content, we talked, and then we mold and then we hit The Sweet Spot. And, you know, I look so forward to it, and meeting with those guys right here. So, please join us Tuesday night. 9:30. Let's try not to go three hours. We have to work the next day so but Brian with that, wraps up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast. I'm Curtis Wilson.

1:19:07 I'm Brian Sigler. Visit our website. Boundary corner be t.com to listen to all of our episodes while you were there. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, subscribe on our YouTube account, or your favorite podcast Source, including And Spotify Amazon and apple podcast is always we. Let our buddy. Jason Long play us in. Play us out. Check his website out Jason long music.com where you can link to all of his music on Apple Spotify to his YouTube page and his Facebook page. And that man is going to be working his tail off this weekend. Going to be at Brig Big League Brewing Company. Down in Roanoke, with his old bandmate. Waylon Hatchett on Friday night, 6:30 to 9. 30 going to be it. Outer space on Saturday, excuse me. Outer space 6:00 to 9:00 on Saturday with Aaron Hunter. I think that's the wrong date.

1:20:09 Jason You look that up, real quick. I thought outer space was found and he was on Floyd Saturday. And Jason, if you're listening might need to update because I don't think you can be in two places at once. On Saturday night you can if you want to Jason's Talent. Take some skill, it takes some skill. Jason's real talented, with Dow, hold on. Okay, there it is. He will be at Floyd outer space with Erin Hunter on Friday on Saturday night on Sunday. They're going to do it at the food Hut, Mark at Golden Cactus brewing and golden. Cactus Brewing is in Roanoke.

1:20:55 So check out Jason down in the the New River Valley area and as always we thank you for listening. And as always let's go okey