Spring Game Pregame Show

0:45 Welcome to the spring game pregame show presented by the sons of Saturday. We are here live from Sharkey's, streaming online. My name is Pete. Some of you guys might know me from Twitter, some you guys might know me as the co-host of the 2D podcast, but if you don't know me, we got some special fellas up here to help me out today. What we're trying to do is bring together some of the independent voices, that cover Virginia Tech Athletics, get different perspectives and that's what this show is going to be all about. So I'm proud to introduce, Brian and JT. The boundary Corner podcast. What up, what up? We got Dan from the tales of the Terrordome podcast year and you all know my last guest, former Virginia Tech offensive lineman and founder. One of the founding members of Sons of Saturday, Billy Ray Mitchell people putting this together, his introduction was way better than mine.

1:33 We thought. Oh, well listen, last night was awesome. We are at the spring Jam, the sun's put that event on over at McLean's on First and Main. And I had a blast You guys have any Reflections on the night. How was it Go Dan man? That that shit was like a blur but it was a great time. Billy Pat, everybody was sons of Saturday put on a hell of an event. You know. Damn Marshall did his thing. David Wilson was there The Who's Who of hokey Twitter was in the building. So it was a good time man. I had a good time, there's a lot of Southside Virginia connections there with the Edmonds, there had David Wilson there. So being a Halifax native that was big for me, getting to hang out with those guys and again, appreciate Billy and Pat for putting that on as pretty, pretty fun. Hell yeah, it was I knew was going to be a good day. When I walked in a shark.

2:25 He's at 4:00 p.m. yesterday and saw Kam Chancellor sitting. At the bar, I was like, okay, this is this is the all the former players were out. It was, it was awesome. So again The sons are doing work, we talked about on our podcast couple weeks ago, how they put some players on their platform and stuff. And I'm, I'm not trying to Hype Billy up too much, but your this weekend, you guys are doing your thing, man. It's been awesome. Yeah, I think the athletic department has done such a good job of encouraging, folks, to come back for the, for those to come golf event, buddy. Bryce chocolate. Does a phenomenal job at that and really just want to make sure that everybody gets to meet everybody because a lot of these players. You think they know each other? It was Michael Brewers first time back to school since Priya covid and he came back and he was able to meet hangout Sean Glennon, again, for the first time since he was at school year. So not just the opportunity to come back. But the opportunity for folks that played in the 2000s, 2010's 2020s back in the 90s to all get to meet each other. And create, those relationships is really important and to me the spring weekend is a little bit. Underrated, is it the best weekend in Blacksburg? If you don't go to school here, because you get to see everybody who cares about go to the spring game without having to deal with 60,000 70,000.

3:34 Being here and you can't get into a bar, you can't go anywhere. So whether it's been great, everybody's back in town, anyone, great. I appreciate everybody that showed out and everybody who made it possible. So we finally got the spring game format yesterday and in years past, sometimes it's been more of almost drills than a real game, but Pride told us that we're going to have even teams today for the game. Last year, they split up the teams and one of the team's wasn't very good. So hopefully it's a little bit better this year. One of the things we'll sorry. What, what do you guys think about today's game? Are you like, do you expect to see something fun? Are you just going to try? Just need to, I just need to see somebody do. Something exciting.

4:16 I mean this is spring game. You got people playing a lot of different positions moving around all spring. I just need to see somebody. Like, I don't know, knock, somebody's helmet off, run for a 50-yard touchdown, do something. I don't need to see somebody a certain number throw five Peaks or if he does throw five picks, we can kill the quarterback controversy. Yeah well that's that's a good thing. You brought that up because I want to transition into some of the position battles were. In N, some of the positions especially on defense kind of seemed clear cut, but offensively and other places on the field. It's not so clear. So what what, in particular position battles Brian?

4:56 Are you looking at today? So me, I'm looking at who's going to fill in in that Right Guard spot. You know, we've seen word of Jesse handsome working in there, we've seen a couple other guys working in there. I'm looking at that spot and obviously quarterback is top of the list, trying to see how that's going to play out. I think we all know it's going to carry over into the fall but I feel like this is kind of the kind of the first time that we're going to see them out there. This is this is where the competition really starts. Yeah, I want to ask you guys about drones and Wells. That's obviously the thing that most people are buzzword of the last three weeks or four weeks. Yeah. Yeah. Next, let's Wells can be triggering, right? Some people.

5:39 They never want to see him. Throw another Pastor Virginia Tech. I got PTSD, I'm not in that camp. I That he struggled mightily, I don't think the coaches did him any favors. I don't think the talented him. Any favors when we start this season, though? Dan who do you think is going to be q b? 1 week 1. I know it's a little hard to project but I need you to give me some kind of thought process on it. I mean honestly I think it'll be drones because I don't think Ali Jennings came here to play with Grant Wheels to be honest. I don't think that's what sold among Tech, but I went to Marshall, I had a little soft spot for Grant but after last year, I just don't think Don't know man. I think I saw enough. I'm like and I mean I've we got better Playmakers this year that I get separation but I still like I think it's kind drones is the guy needs to be the guy.

6:25 That's what I need to see. That's what I'm hoping to see today, you know, like at least some competitiveness at the quarterback position because last spring game it was kind of clear that that Jason Brown. No offense. Great dude. Wasn't going to cut it. You know, he wasn't going to push Grant Wells. So yeah, and with Wells like he could be better this year, he could develop in the offseason and and maybe the bow and switch will help him and the new offensive line will help him and the wide receivers as you mentioned. But up when we get into fall Camp I'm thinking it's gonna be drones. It's going to make that push. Like it's not happening right now because Wells has played a lot more football than Chiron, drones. But you're right, we have these wide receivers and we have basically two guys that came in jail.

7:11 Lane and Ali Jennings. Those are the two big names, but beyond that, for Grant or drones, who's going to be that 345 receiver, because he needs more than just that the two I believe that those two guys will be out there despite and abettors depth chart I think Lane and Jennings will be out there. Tally was good, you know, he put that jump shot out and y'all freaking lost your minds in the spring, in the middle of spring, when Andy better, put it out. But I mean I'm glad that he put it out because it gives you just a different look to show you that you have. You have so many wide receivers that are pushing for playing time. So, you know, Holloway Gosnell, I'd like to see all of those Moss as well as the transfers that come in. Like, I think there's a spot for everybody to get sunburned. I mean, last year, we had throw it up and hope Caleb Smith gets it.

8:00 You know? I mean, I was our office last year. I've been encouraged by the stuff. I'm hearing about God's Nell and Moss, but last year, we heard a lot about Dwayne Lofton and now, Not didn't work out, right? Like we he didn't do a whole lot. I mean there was a few touchdowns here and there a couple dropped passes that were important here and there. So it's hard to believe right now with moss and the Gosnell hype Holloway. We saw him do some stuff last year so that that encourages me. So if Brian you got to pick a number three receiver who's it going to be Jimmy felt felt you think it's going to be felt? I haven't heard much about Felton this spring. You know, looking at him his body type.

8:40 I feel like he kind of does a little bit of what Caleb Smith does did for us last year. Bigger body tight, I think he's gonna be a red zone threat, and I feel like he's gonna be a good complement to what I like Jennings brings on the other side there and then went laying can do in the slot. Yeah, that's my big thing is that I feel like it's a good compliment for that three receiver set. Well, we got a bunch of big guys up here. So, I kind of wanted to talk about offensive line. And you mentioned, Jesse Hansen moving over and block. None of us can a lot of meat, a lot of meetings. I was with Pete saying but we got. I mean Billy played offensive line. Brian. You played a little offensive line. And so like your perspective like last year, the offensive line was so bad, it was one of the reasons, great, well struggled so much.

9:22 So what do you think went wrong? And do you think this new 10 line coach hire will actually help out this year, and Billy, I'll turn to you first. Yeah, I think a couple of things happen, I think going into the year, we knew that that unit wasn't going to be fantastic. It was going to be Desta. And I like, coach Rudolph came in with a lot of hype. And my personal opinion on Coach Rudolph. Is he had he was here for a year. He did a tremendous job at his previous school, which he was at for 10 or 15 years. So, to go ahead and watch this one year where we openly were saying that everybody involved in the program, whether it was coaches players, everybody else. Everything was changing, people are learning on the Fly and You're Expecting to see a dramatic improvement over a short period of time. It's not going to work that way.

10:05 So it's not as much about who is Is it going to be that we're able to roll out there? I would say that guard spot is probably my biggest concern. I know going into it it was the center spot but can the unit play together. Well and is the offensive coaching staff all going to be on the same page because it seems like Bowen and Coach Rudolph had a little bit of skin that schematic all differences and we're just going to have to see what happens. And that's why I really think Grant Wells has been kind of the Target that we've placed on, okay. Our offense was our offense struggled last year, Well struggled, but so did absolutely everybody on the field and with the roster thing and everything else, it's very easy to see Ali Jennings. Some of these transfers play at their previous school and expect 0, that is the production that we are going to get a Virginia Tech.

10:52 And it's also easy to go back and watch Virginia Tech games last year and say, oh well, this guy sucks. So this guy's good at this guy's bag. I don't know what it's gonna look like. The spring game is gonna give you a little bit of any get, get them to get out there and play. They're going to run about 6 to 10 different plays. So you're not gonna get a real good look. At the scheme. But based upon who plays in that first quarter and about met hit, Midway through the second quarter. Those the guys that are probably we're looking to give an opportunity to and then second half, you get a chance to see all the young guys, and who might be a bright star in a couple of years. Well, on offensive line, like you mentioned about Joe Rudolph and it didn't go. Well, last year, it was more than not good. It was, it was one of the worst offensive lines. We probably have seen performance-wise. Now, the guys themselves might actually be better.

11:35 I know Parker Clements was dealing with an injury. The scheme changed In and week out at least it seemed that way to me, they, but with crook coming in he seems to be running this Zone scheme. That might be a little easier for these guys to absorb. Can you speak on that a little bit run? Yeah, just so looking at the, the skiing the crook does. I mean, he ran a lot of the when he's at Cincinnati that split Zone, RPO, very Zone, heavy oriented scheme, I mean, and when you think about Zone, there's a lot less thinking that that's involved in. You're blocking scheme. So when we look at last year, there was a lot more Gap. Rudolph was bringing a lot more Gap. A lot more power run, and I think this transition is going to be helpful to get that offensive line back to the way they were because we were running out, heavy Zone scheme before and some of these guys that struggled mightily last year had pretty good Seasons before that maybe Parker in a limited run back in 2021 looked.

12:36 Okay. Fell off the map. Last year, whether that was injury related or scheme related, but I think these guys have the capability to step up, it's just going to be. Can enough of them do it? Can we get a 5 unit out there that plays the way you want them to? And do we have enough depth in case, we get an injury or two down the road. I've been encouraged just by what I'm hearing with the relationship between Crook and the players. It seems like those guys respect each other. They have taken to his coaching at least the early returns Dan. Have you been hearing that about like, Him coming in and crook like hitting the ground running. Yeah. May, you see the pictures online, right? Of him at his former places in like he's in the hoodie, with the sleeves rolled up and the shorts and it's snowing.

13:19 That's a badass offensive line coach to me. That's like, offensive line, coach 101, right? Like one for sure. But I believe him and Taylor, Bowen come from the same tree, Moorhead tree, right? So, they already have similar views. Think, I haven't heard any complaints and if there's one thing you're going here on hooky, Twitter is some complaints. So we haven't heard anything about Rockbrook. I think we doing. All right, Pete. Yeah, that's good. You're right and let's flip over to defense real quick because there's another position that the last few years we haven't seen sacks Berg right. We have not seen a pass rush that were used to and particularly. Now I'm looking at the depth chart right here. You look at those names on the defensive end spot. It's thin. It's real thin and there's a former Marshal guy on there too and CJ McRae, how do you tally how do you think that defensive ends going to play out this year? Because behind McRae, and maybe Nelson? There's not a whole lot there.

14:08 Are you got a lot of Youth you know on defense or on that defensive line? But the main thing is we have some guys with some experience in the middle so it's more than just this guy's better than that guy. So he's going to sack the quarterback I mean you got to have some athleticism at linebacker so they have to game plan for that. You got to have some experience in size it, defensive tackle, which I feel we have. So if you can get a one-on-one you can get somebody to Like icj McCrae or pain or somebody on the end that possibly can beat that man to the edge. Or I don't know. That's bull rush a little bit. Yeah. Do some stuff so well with those three defensive tackles are vest fuga Kendricks, Pollard. I feel strong about defensive tackle but we'll some of those guys, maybe move around.

14:58 Will they stand up some linebackers? Maybe we see covanta Jenkins, coming off the edge or you got to get you got to get a little bit. I mean, Our defense is going to have to carry us even though we have more Playmakers this year. Our defense is going to have to carry a so you're going to have to get creative. That's why I'm not a coach because I'm I just like to watch and talk shit like well they got to get creative and bring people from different spots. Well that lesson that we're all we all run podcasts that are Average Joe's just being fance and talking about sports. So that's right we're doing we're talking about what our eyes see and what I see is not much of a pass rush coming off the edge so they got to get a little creative with it this year. But we also lost a linebacker last year.

15:38 Docks decks hollifield. He's gone now and we need a new mic. That's a key spot in this defense and there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut guy. That's the guy right now. Who do you think it's going to be? Who wants to Billy? Who's going to be, our starting, Mike this year? I you had a stroke. I don't have it. I don't have a starting Mike for you, but one different way to kind of think about it. Is we're really going to be getting a look as if we have a completely new defensive coordinator, this upcoming next year. So, Everybody knows cochepaille. I was calling the defense for the entire season up until the Liberty game. And one of the things that was really interesting, we talked to Dax was the team did not know that coach Mark was Connor until he started calling the plays so the schematics are going to be a little bit different and yes from the Jimmy's and Joe's perspective, the defensive end position is something that you kind of question marks about the Mike linebacker position is something that we don't know what's going on over there.

16:29 Defensive back feel pretty good about defensive back but I'm interested to see how the defense looks differently from the third and Long perspective, from a first down perspective, how much pressure rebuilding cuz I do anticipate while we're running a similar shell of a defense, the calls. And the situational things will be completely different because coach Marv is a different coach. So that's what I'm going to be watching the first couple weeks. I hear that for sure but I know, but I was trying to pin Billy down and he and he didn't want to but we got to give him Billy. We got his dad. Don't have a mic for you man. I'm sorry McDonald. I got you know like hey I mean from like a killer, but he's not a thing. It's going to be McDonald.

17:12 Think it's gonna be McDonald. I love that, man. Yeah, yeah, he falls over that man. Not. Well what also we got do from VMI that might be lit. What he legit, we don't know. I'm here yet, still here. You don't Schneider the transfer from VMI, you look like dick the same person but the middle linebacker like you following the nose Dax footsteps, potentially but Stone, Schneider. I think it's gonna To make some major noise when he gets here but he's not here. So the McDonald Brothers the you know we got one at defensive end. We got one at Mike and pry loves them both. He he actually said that, I think Jordan. What's the one on defensive and they said he might be the most athletic defensive end we have. So we'll see what happens there but the one at middle linebacker you're right.

17:56 It could be him Tisdale's. The veteran though and he has been shining lately. At first, he wasn't even out there a bunch of days. I don't know if you had a class thing or something, but Tisdale obviously being the veteran. It should probably be him, but I don't know. I think the thing about Tisdale that's kind of misremembered is a lot of people would be like, oh, he started a couple games here, did a little bit here when he started his career in 2019 played really really well goes into 2020 gets covid and a lot of you don't know this. He lost close to like 30 or 40 pounds during covid. So he had to reset his entire career. Then the next year, after that last year, he has to sit because of the suspension.

18:36 I really, really think which was bullshit. I agree. I really think that he's a guy that has just had such tremendous bad luck for the last two to three years and is going to be a major major contributor this year. But again, if you just look at his stat sheet, but oh he started a couple of times. Now, he's been through so many different things and I hope this is the year that he can come out and shine. So I'm excited. I'm excited to watch him play this year. The one thing to get excited about kind of piggyback on what Billy said is, if you talk about the guys that they're talking about Make the position. What you? And no disrespect the Dax, that's don't kick my ass. If you're around here. He wasn't as athletic as some of the guys that they're putting their. So he got put in some bad spots.

19:18 Getting beat to the edge getting put in some coverage, has some of those guys that they are putting in those spots a little bit more athletic. So it does allow us to do some different things on defense that we may have not been able to do in the past. That's a good point and before we take a quick break here, is there any final thoughts on just the position by Idols, Dan, you got something? Yeah, I think one thing is for certain that we learned about prai is that he's not afraid to switch people around, figure it out, see what works best. So I wouldn't be surprised if there's more shuffling after today, you know. Yeah, no, I know you're absolutely right. There's there is 100% going to be more shuffling that goes on after today as you guys know. Yes, I was at a certain point in a spring practice Billy Mitchell had never taken a meaningful snap. I did play in a couple of games.

20:03 I went into a spring practice as the one tackle. They roll everybody and want to see how everybody's going to react. So for a roster to be tweeted out before in practice, legitimately its musical chairs in every single room. What's up? Was it irresponsible of Andy to do that? They vary it very well may have been but it was good. Father, we were able to talk about, so yeah, it worked for him. All right, we're going to take a break, everyone get a beer will be back in a few minutes. I will go back, Sean, Jeremy. We are back with a couple new panelists. We got Pat Finn In one of the other founding members of Sons of Saturday. And then we got Sam of Saturday Sam, Jesse from the locks of Saturday podcast. Joining us up here as well.

20:45 Thank you guys for being up here. Thank you, Pete. We were talking a little bit about the spring game before and we're going to get back into the positions, but what I want to know from you guys and someone jump in with the answer to this, we saw a lot of bad play all over the field offense defense. What is the position group? You need to see improvement from the most either today or going? To next year to make you feel better, offensive line, offensive line, defensive line but not just the five starters. You know you need probably eight or nine guys in the offensive line. Think we saw that last year where second unit of the offensive line really struggled. Hopefully you can see a few extra guys in there to build some death. Yeah I mean offensive lines the easy answer like it was it was very poor.

21:30 I want to see those wide receivers that came in the transfer portal like really improved because if they can't get open, I've everything works in unison, right? You need the QB to throw to the wide receiver, Steve the wide receivers to get open, so we can catch it. We need to see the QB play improve, but the wide receiver play. If that improves, it's going to make everything easier on offense as well. Is there anything else you wish? Here's my thing. Pete, you know, getting beat on a play every now and then that's one thing that happens, that's football. But the priest that penalties, that killed drives or crazy. Like you can't, you can't be like You know 4th and 2 and all of a sudden, there's a false start and it's more than seven. Now you've got to punt the ball, you know, like we need to see the discipline you be there like no more priests that penalties.

22:16 Very rare. That's just mental has nothing to do with ability so that's why we need to. We need to Shore that up buddy. Yeah, absolutely. I will say that the mental side of it was big for me last year. We're looking at the offensive line they were thinking too much. It looked like they were thinking too much and when you're thinking as an offensive line it's going to be a Trouble. You're going to have bad penalties. You're going to have complete brain farts. When it comes to what your assignment is because you're overthinking the process. So I'd like to see them get a little more acclimated to this process and just get it going. Less thinking is always good in football, right? Like just get it and go right and that's what the new offensive line coach.

22:57 Ron Cook has been talking about, is it's it's maybe not as complicated. I think you spoke to that earlier and less thinking for some of these kids is a lot better. Last year, we had a breakout player in the spring game. It was really the only thing in the spring game and it was kind of fun to watch was Caleb Smith. We all remember him catching a few deep bombs. Sadly Caleb's no longer with us. He's alive, he's just on a convention but thanks for clarification. Who is who is going to be this year's Caleb Smith today? Who are we going to see? Make a long catch. Make up a bone-crushing, hit, get an interception. Like who's that going to be today? Pat you go. First, I want to see Bay Shield tootin. I think I said that correctly.

23:37 Darn tootin, darn tootin. I want to see him darn tootin all the way to the end zone today. The and the ni L is there on that one, by the way, we need that. Also guys who have, you know, wrote about him when he was in the transfer portal. This is a guy who had offers to Georgia, a bunch of other UNC. So this is a guy really wanted everyone who's talking about his film and I was like, this is not an FCS running back. This is a D1 high-level running back, so to bring him in, that's I mean, that's basically like bringing in a four-star. Our recruit right when you bring in a guy like that, when you bring in a guy like Ali Jennings, I really like tune. Jalen Lane is really interesting, he tore it up with Middle Tennessee. They run like an air raid system, but he is really fast, he's really good at that.

24:20 Slip screen tunnel screen as a wide receiver, and he's not a guy, you have to worry about, dropping the ball, missing an assignment, he's been like a three-year starter Middle Tennessee. He's a guy who can come in and make plays give technical extra boost of pace. I like Jane Lane and they've been talking a lot. Lot about how he's had an effect on the locker room. His leadership is good. They like the way he goes about his business, all the buzz things that you'll hear about a player, but I haven't necessarily heard him like wowing with with various place. So he is definitely on my list. He was top 25 in the country in yards per game. Last year, as was Ali Jennings who was actually like number three in the country in yards per game, which is absurd. I want to see both those guys go off.

25:00 You mentioned, tooting coming from FCS How easy do you think that transition for some positions? They come from have see if it's an offensive lineman I feel like that's a hard transition running back. It should be easier in my mind. You think that's true I would assume. So with running back offensive line I think the biggest difference is the size but with running back with his skill set make guys miss at the second level quick burst. Those are things that are going to translate. So, and he's a, he's a not a big back but he's a, he's A stout Runner kind of like, almost like a Lee Suggs build like he's solid and so that's something. We've been lacking. Malachi's slight Keshawn.

25:42 King was slight. I want to have a guy with some punch. Yeah, I went to open practice and nobody was taking that man down and I think the whole FCS the D1 like FBS transferred thing. I think it's depends because there's a whole lot of reasons why people end up at FCS, right? It could be great. It could be the scheme that your offense ran in high school wasn't like correct fit for you to showcase. Talent. So, you didn't get recruited. So I think it really just depends, but I tooten is going to be the man, and my opinion. Yes. Oh, is that who you think is? No. Have a Caleb Smith day though, because in the spirit of Kayla Smith, he was a guy that came in. He was here for three years. People were like, oh man, he's our wide receiver, one people doubted him and then he broke out. So I think it's going to be Dorian, strong interception, dorian's gonna be a lot going on this year because last year before he got hurt the receivers he went up against including Ali Jennings.

26:33 He Got like twice in his O2 you but when you're on an island you going to get got it's just part of the game. It's how you respond. But I mean Bryce for Wheaton's a flowers, he held his own against all of them and then he got hurt. So, I think this year during a strong is gonna be the anchor on the defense in the secondary. I like that prediction and I like you going with the defensive guy, you got someone today? I got a couple. I'm gonna go, I'll start offense. I'm going to piggyback on Lane. I feel like he's got the potential to break out especially with the way we're going to move more towards it. Bo system, he's going to be the guy that kind of makes that engine run from a passing perspective. So I'm looking forward to see what he can do on the defensive side. Give me Kelly Lawson breakout player of the year I'm looking for him to take a big step this year and if he does the defense is going to pop.

27:22 Yeah. And Kelly Lawson's a guy they're already talking about Marv. Talk about NFL potential. Once you start hearing that it gets you excited and let's be honest with tech the last couple years draftees. Guys like being high draft picks. That's not something. We've talked a lot about. So having a guy like Kelly Lawson who you your kind of eyeing as that next like draft prospect that's someone to watch for sure. I hope that it lives up. He's still he can put on a lot more size, like he's still like skinny for being cute. He's six foot six or something, but I like that pick Sam. You did, you give me a guy? I gave you jail layout, Jalen late nights, think the defensive backfield in general this year, Is maybe the best position group on the team running back. I really like they got to stay healthy. But yeah, the defensive backfield looks really good. I mean, people strong canteen is guy we haven't talked about coming in.

28:15 He's been really successful. Yeah, he was at Georgia State I believe. So they've been talking a lot about canteen. They've been talked about him a lot. Yeah. So I think the defensive backfield you could see a big increase in just consistency game to game. And one last thing on that running back stuff. We're talking about coming from FCS, think about guys who leave college and get drafted in the NFL and then are awesome in the pros. There's no more bigger level up than College to Pro and guys can, as rookie running backs we've seen it again. And again, they're huge contributors. They're talking about my Eagles. Wanted to take Bijan Robinson at number 10 because it could push us over the top. And so I think with running back, it's just one of those things.

28:59 I'm so looking forward to tooting this year and seeing what he can do. Do just talking big picture with the spring game, I talked about the position groups and ask you guys about those, but is there anything in particular, you need to see today to say, okay, we're going to win more than three games. Next year, is there something that you're looking for? Whether it's the way, a group plays, coaching's anything, what just anything you can think of, who wants to go first? I'll go first, let's get separation for the wide receivers. If the wide receivers can get separation, make throws easier for the quarterback. That's going to go a long way for us having success in the passing game. That's a great one. And I think I actually that's what I was talking about with Robbie and our podcast not so long ago. I need to see that separation.

29:42 We need to make it easy on these quarterbacks who no one's. Lighten it up, right? Give them, we need to give them all the help. They can get go ahead Dan. I need to see a separation and then also need to see the offensive line. Give both Grant and drones time. So we can actually see true quarterback competition because if one of them's just scrambling for their life running for like China, Save their ass and we're not going to seek shit. Well, if you remember the white team last year I believe Jason Brown was the Quarry. He could he couldn't pass it. All he had no shot. He had no chance they worship they. And so hopefully today, the teams are a little bit more even and we're going to ask Sam in our next segment to kind of give us some props for the game. But yeah we need to see protection and it's weird because you want to see a pass rush but you also want to see protection and that's the balance of the spring game but you can usually kind of tell as the game goes on like okay, that group. Well that crew didn't Pat, did you have a choice for something? You want to see today to make you feel better going into next season.

30:39 I want to see some aggressiveness from the defensive line you know. I feel like so many times we were not putting enough pressure on the quarterback and we weren't forcing enough bad decisions and obviously you know when they're going against our own offensive line it's like we want to see more protection from them too but I think we really do need to see some more explosiveness from the guys coming around the edge. You know, and aggression is something that can be shown in the spring game. You're not going to hit guys after the whistle or knock their helmets off, potentially, but like you need to see. Yeah, you want to see aggressiveness, do you want to see them running to the ball? Any final observations? Before we end this segment? This sounds kind of weird, but, like, aggressive play calling. Like, I don't want to see a bunch of 32 Dives out there. Billy says, they're only running sixth place today. I mean, they probably are and you're probably working with like two or three pages of Playbook. It's gonna be vanilla and that's Hey, but let's make it a really good vanilla.

31:34 Thank, you know, it can be really exciting. Hello. Well, Andy bitter. And Chris Coleman they were on TSL earlier this week talking about the spring game and I felt like it was getting beaten into my brain. How much this is not a game at how much it doesn't matter. And, and basically, if there any guy has like an ankle twist there just like shouldn't play that, annoys me to no end. This is an opportunity to be on a stage. See how these guys react under the lights, all that kind of stuff. And I I'm with Sam, you need to show me something. I need to see some short tackling. I need to see clean blocks. I need to see guys breaking those tackles it's this is such a good opportunity to learn how these guys perform on a stage. And I don't like it when it's taken lightly and I maybe I'm maybe I'm the minority here, but I was so tired of hearing it. I love Andy, I love Chris but don't don't dumb down a spring game.

32:23 I love the spring game. Let's see what happens. Yeah, I think will be disappointed. We see nothing, but a dive, a little quick out to the tight end and then a Depo. Like, give me something different a little Don't show the whole Playbook but give me something to get excited about absolute. Sounds kind of lame but like have fun out there. Yeah like this should be the most fun game we watch. It should be balls to the wall. Throw the ball. Deep Blitz every play. Have fun out there. Give people a show. People drove down here. Spend a lot of money come down here to support the team, put on a show for. Yeah, and we can learn anything from the women's basketball team and Kenny Brooks. And all those girls, they made it fun. Don't they just made the sport fun in a time when sometimes that's not it. Sounds corny.

33:03 But that's not what happens all the time and so I, you're right, have some fun out there. I think we could see some aggressiveness though. It was an open practice. You couldn't touch the quarterback but I mean Antonio Cotman got yelled at by preferred like stop touching the quarterback. I want to see that type of dog like make them tell you to chill out. Like I want that bring that shit now and I'm with you like I think the years ago, they were talking about how someone hit Michael Vick out of balance and a spring game and I don't want to see any of that. But I do want to see. I do want to Some hits. I do want to see some intelligent recklessness fact. That was that was well, put we're going to cut it off there. Take another break, we'll be back in a couple minutes, hot mic, hot mic, hey bad about about about us. So we better.

33:48 Hey about about about about Welcome back to our third segment of the Sharky's sons of Saturday and all the fun podcasts here, we have the fun segment. We have the, Let It Fly segment, but before we let it fly, we got some new guests up during this third segment, we have Ed Williams and Williams people are hooting and hollering Fred over here. I'm pretty fired up about it. I've got I've got a little crowd. Yeah, Ed Williams from the sons of Saturday hoop spot.

34:28 He does a fantastic job. Commentating on basketball. We got Sam, Jesse from the locks of Saturday. Sam looks different than this pictures on Twitter. I hope in a good one. He's prettier. Oh thank you. Thank you. We have an unsung hero. The Mask has been removed from Spider-Man over here. Dan, AKA treadmill, horse, what's going on? Hey guys, thanks for having me if y'all ain't following this man on Twitter, please go do it. He puts out some great fucking tweaks and when he walked up to me, he did not introduce himself with Dan. He was like, Hey, I'm Trent, I'm treadmill horse.

35:10 Shout out to mr. Horse our guy. And hence, or and mrs. Horace. And then, of course, we have J. Ta Ka tally bands on this panel, the do not take shots with Jeremy. The Jamin, the Jameson is kicking in, and I'm hot. And my glasses is fogged up, so I can't see. So, I took a shot and then I said, hey, what are you drinking? Let me have something to chase this week. It was more Jameson. There we go, there we go. And then this if you didn't already know, this is Pat Finn in the captain's chair for this final segment on this Saturday. Okay so we're gonna be talking tailgating we're gonna be talking eating and drinking, we're going to be talking all that good stuff hokey Twitter.

35:56 We got five hokey Twitter, studs up here. So I will be talking about that too. So the first question is for Sam, Jesse over there. Sam locks the Saturday guy give us an over-under for the point. Total in Today is game. What do you thinking? All right, so thought a bit about this. And if you aren't aware of the format for the game today is going to be regular for 15 minute quarters running clock in the second half. So they should get a lot of time out there over under for the game crunch. The numbers looked at it. I'm going to set it at 31 and a half. What are we feeling last year? Score was like what 2117 something like that? It's low, but I mean, what are you expecting to see today?

36:36 Because probably going to get drones and wells in the first half. Half. Maybe a little bit of drones in the second half, but probably won't see wells in the second half. So what are you feeling? 31 and a half. Always take the under in the spring game, always, it's always a low-scoring game every single time, that's sharp. Yeah, the defense is definitely a head of the offense. I would say, in terms of experience, we're getting ready for the year. So, I'll hammer the under there. I love that. You just made these lines up yourself. It's phenomenal, content. Hey, sounds like a pretty unanimous on hammering, the under, in the spring game. Got a couple of the props for you. Let's hit it. It's so great. Wells, over under nine and a half completions today. He had eight last year with a couple of big plays though, over under nine and a half recurrent Wells. How many completions to the other team That does not count but we'll get to that in a sec.

37:28 My bad. Any other prop said, well, Hammer the under on everything including complete. Well, okay, Chiron, drones seven-and-a-half completions under under under. I hope we see him run a bit, the expectations are very low from this panel, all right? I'm not even gonna do passing yards, then do we get 200 passing yards in total in the game. Yes, yes. Okay. They'll be, they'll be a couple long plays. We'll go with that. All righty, turnovers one and a half over under one and a half turnovers. I think you over. Yeah you always get a couple turnovers in the spring game. I think we'll get two or three. All right what do you got? Ed okay.

38:08 Under will go under there. I hope mean I would hope that the quarterbacks are under too much pressure and as a result don't turn it over so we'll go under will go with one but not to one. Okay. I would like to see only one maybe like a nice diving interception somewhere. No fumbles all Securities job security. All right, this is a fun one. First play of the spring game rush or Yes, we'll get the juice on to rush at like - 150. If you aren't familiar with bedding prices, that means that it is favored. Rusher pass what about puns or field goal? What are the odds like plus 900 on its? This is a two-way Market but we can begin to first drive props, we can do all that. So I Pat has them punting on first down. Yeah, I've been chat with Stu hold, he's gonna punt on first down.

38:56 I think it's gonna be Rush up the middle to Basil tune. Rush by tuning on the first play. I like that. They Crush Rushford quite a rush by maokai Thomas. I'm gonna switch it up. I think we're going to see a play action pass. First play, play action pass, five yard out, route to the tight end. I think that's what we're going to see first play, which tight end, Nick gallop. Maybe maybe, maybe nagala the right hurt. Is right for you? I think rights good to go. Okay. Um but you know I do will see today. It's always tough with injuries in the spring. A lot of times, I keep that under wraps or four guys, just feeling a little off, they won't play him today. So we're not.

39:37 I don't think there's going to be a hard and fast injury report for today until right before kickoff. Definitely, and that's all, that's all I got for any other generates out there are you got that was a lot. A lot of stuff right there. I can I can get I can get you more. Can do a little side Sportsbook here. When we get off the mics, y'all better put this man on FanDuel. Thank you, Sam, fantastic props thrown around there. All right, so we're gonna move this discussion over to the twittersphere. There's been a lot of different personalities or personas here up on this panel. It begs the question. If there's something big that happens in Hokie nation which outlet and or Twitter person, are you Looking for a reaction from first. Dan will start with you.

40:27 All right. There's, there's a bunch. I mean, since he's here, I always look at what hokey Pharmacy had to say. You had to take a little bit of a caishen from Twitter. I like his opinions on things, I looked at P. So Pete always has really good opinions, like obviously, the sun's like whatever, the Suns have to say, Billy and Pat, I listen to them. Like, if like, if it's something really big 0x, doesn't always like chime in but if it's something big, I listened to X. Yeah, I mean, I'd say those are the big ones, but yeah, I mean honestly, I'm trying to see like a lot of perspectives, like, big accounts, small accounts as want to see what everyone's saying. And just kind of get a, get a feel for what the fan base is thinking tally, you look like you're ready to jump in here and I was just listening. I was trying to listen to what everybody had to say, I guess if it comes down to it, I'm on start a space. And I'm gonna hear from user five, seven, nine three, seven, eight in the, in the twittersphere. Hi.

41:25 Oh bad. We suck and how nothing is going, right? But not if I'm if I'm if something goes on I'm probably going to look at Don V. I look at Don these tweets. I look at Pete, Pete and done via is probably the most controversial that you can go with because Pete doesn't give a damn like he knows how to stir people up. I like that treadmill, treadmill horse, I like seeing treadmill horses stuff as well. So probably my three would be Pete Dunn V and tread Gotta give some big respected Pete here, the man. Hey big big time. Pete helped get this set up here but Pete is always bringing data to the table.

42:05 Always bringing data which I absolutely love and it always stirs up some good, some good discussion. Say I'm, it looks like you're ready to jump in. Oh shoot. Well, I would say on a more serious football level Dwight Vic is is really informative and I think he does a great job of giving an informed opinion, but also like letting his fandom talk a bit. Right? So I like, That and then of course, Diablo fan account. I mean, if tech has a win, I'm refreshing Twitter for that video edit because I got our show personally to, he hasn't locked and loaded for every situation. Yeah, that was gonna be my answers. Well, I go straight for the memes. Straight for Diablo wish you could be here today. But yeah, he's my number one seed, for sure, but for you, no real content. We are as a fan base, pretty blessed to have a lot of awesome content creators. So there's never a shortage of Virginia Tech content on the timeline.

42:50 Ya gotta shout out will and Kris and all the folks over at ESL. There's always good stuff coming from over there, Billy Ray's over here and he always has some type of content going out whether it's hey we're getting too excited or hey you guys need to calm down they'd be so pissed at Billy people be so pissed at Billy for there's nothing there's nothing like when Billy puts out like a two minute monologue in the car, always in the car in in the hey you know I've already I'm on my way to this place and I just had I saw some Nonsense going on on the TL. And I had to just say something. Somebody messaged me and asked me, does Billy have a job?

43:33 I said, I don't fucking know. This is it whenever thumb goes on? He is breaking news. He's on it. And if y'all have not met Pat, he has probably the most perfect teeth I've ever seen. Just let y'all know and he's taller than I thought too. I am single ladies. He's single. I bet he's smart too. I did not pay tally for these endorsements but I do appreciate, yes. All right idea. This is a fun one, especially on a weekend, like spring game weekend. When Soma a cast of characters comes in town. You never know who you're going to run into. Who is the coolest person / player?

44:15 / Ho Chi that you have met or you might still be looking to meet during this trip in Blacksburg. So who's the coolest Is that you've gotten to chill with here this weekend so far so far. We even just maybe it wasn't this weekend, but some that you've gotten to talk to, that is just an awesome guy. So I'll start with this cam. Chancellor's at the bar at camp chairs was pretty cool to me so I don't know if he's still there, but it's pretty good. He's a pretty nice house here. New well he was here before this segment started so he was up at the bar so that's cool. Like cams really cool tie rods really cool. Brandon Flowers. Bohol met, those guys are really cool. Actually got to talk to Devon Wilson last night from the basketball team.

44:57 Devin super nice. Super nice on Twitter. Great guy. So for me, those are like big names that have talked to before, who are like, super nice guys, really cool. Yeah. Devon's the man, he's an awesome hokey. Good. Good follow on Twitter as well. I met Michael burry I should say is a really nice guy at the for those to come golf tournament. That was a really good time. Got to play with. Why? I tell her he's hysterical. That guy is awesome. But, yeah, just met some cool people at the tournament yesterday at the event last night, so hopefully meet some more people in today to. Yeah, why is awesome. He's a hoot and a half the Cleveland Browns. Yes. Cleveland Browns, Legend. Mike Wilber met him last night. Awesome guy. Great to have him back in Blacksburg at me.

45:38 Like a cult hero in Blacksburg that guy. What a warrior on the field. You see him? And where's the fish? You're like, I cannot believe that dude was taking hits in the pocket. One has Machado the Edmunds brothers, who are always around. They're always personable really nice, guys, especially for current players like, unbelievable. How kind those guys are and how excited they are to be back in town, at almost every opportunity. So it's on me, man. Let's not a gave everybody a shout-out? First of all, I want to say. Shout out to Wyatt Taylor for beating the allegations that Geoffrey start allegation. That was not why I tell her just to let y'all know was not my guy but I have not met a lot of people that I'm going to meet because I got caught up at the casino last night shooting craps with James, I don't know who James is. Bristol.

46:31 I was in Bristol, man. It wasn't even done. They just, let me in, they say, we're still building it. Come on in, spend money. But later on, I'm going to meet Dwight Brandon Hill, but from the people, I meet drifts pretty cool. Drifting is outside from the dress? Yeah, shout out the drift. I can't say I met be fish, because he's late. He just walked in Dan. He Is Alive. That's be fishy. Is alive. Everybody Jeremy again. I've been in a group chat for like four years, and this is my first time seeing people in real time, Billy is bigger than heat and I thought he was so all of your people on Twitter, you better leave him alone because if you catch all in Food Lion, he probably gonna kick your ass.

47:17 Leave me alone. That's a big dude man. Shout out today and as well. P everybody, man. I'm just happy to be here. So, beautiful day. Y'all look like y'all eatin. Good. I got some wings ordered. We're feeling good. We good to go man. Thales Ben's, wonderful day. My shout out goes and I'm surprised. I haven't heard it yet. David Wilson. Did anyone get to talk with him last night? But exactly, yeah, David Wilson is absolutely hysterical. Like that guy is so much fun. He was doing backflips, last night. He was performing last night, and I was like, hey David, you know, I know when you were here, you Ran up on top of Castle. He's like, you know what we need to do. I want to do it again.

48:04 And we should get like a crowd in like sell tickets, but hanging out with David Wilson was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me. So it was fired up that he was in town. All right, tailgate time we're almost there. I know you guys are trying to tailgate today best and favorite tailgate, food and drink. I'm sorry, this route. I start this. So, one of my first games that I came up here was in 2016. I came to the Miami game is on a Thursday night. Now, I'm from Alabama, I'm a big dude from Alabama, right? So I go in this tailgate, with one of my buddies that I know. And the first thing that somebody from, I don't know, pick a town in Virginia. He's like, are we eating bear?

48:49 I was like, they're like, what does it taste like? He was like, it tastes like bear. So I bear and it tasted good. I probably won't eat it any again. But that's the best the best food that I've tasted cuz it's different. Like I eat all kinds of shit from Alabama. Pig feet pigtails pick toes whatever so moonshine, I got some peach moonshine outside. That's probably going to be the best drink of the tailgate Dan. I'm gonna go a little bit like a little bit weird here but I pregame ritual is like me. And my wife, every time we're in town, we go to tots and we get a Top Chef. Rail, it has you haven't got the top shelf, real top, you gotta go.

49:35 It's $30. So it's not cheap but it's worth it it's awesome. Every time I'm here for a game go to tots top-shelf rail. You got to do it, he's Rich. Yeah I got to say we did an article on Sunday and Saturday.com last summer, I believe it was ranking the top 20 tailgate foods, and number one that people. Stood in was just fried chicken. And I think there's just something about like, little bit of grease on your hands at a tailgating Fried. Chicken is just the best tailgate food on Earth. As far as drink, it totally depends on the weather. 100% depends on the weather but a picture of what, what is this? We got, but, but Miller Lite, pitcher a Miller Lite, nice and refreshing.

50:21 Basically hydration with water. So yeah, it's healthy. So I gotta get with that. Yeah, for the early season, warm weather. James absolutely Miller Lite later in the year when it gets cold, you can mix in some bourbon stuff like that. Shout out the Jeremy as far as food. Anything off the grill, burgers, hot dogs, sausage chicken. Anything that someone made at the tailgate is always a go to if you got a grill at the tailgate, that's a that's a win. Your you won the day already. You did your job as a fan if you showed up with a grill to the tailgate, my favorite tailgating drink. I think when I think of fall in football, I think of like bourbon and whiskey. Yes. Yesterday we played in the the golf tournament and they had Jack and Coke in a can fire, it was awesome.

51:06 And I was having a sip of, I was like, I feel like I'm I feel like it's fault, that's probably my favorite drink. And then I like buffalo chicken dip, man. But foot any dips and he dips are what I'm gonna be looking for out in the Lots after this. All right. This next we got two more questions here. I feel like this was put in here specifically for the man to my left. Is Enter Sandman inappropriate music choice at the tailgate who is listening to an assignment at the tailgate. Come on man. I understand entertain innocent man is a great pregame ritual but I ain't nobody listening to that at the tailgate.

51:48 Is anybody listening to it at the tailgate innocent man? Hey y'all he lying man. You gotta put on some little baby, we can go back to the old school. I rather listen to Temptations the entertainment. I'm a problem that I listened to Enter Sandman on repeat at the tailgate. He's spending $30 on Rails. That's rich. People stuff, normal people hate doing there. I'll even tell you as a huge Metallica fan in general. I don't even listen to Sam at the tailgate. You got a week. It's got to be that one moment and then you're done with it. We don't need to play it through dress.

52:29 Of it. It's got to be that one special moment and then you're done with it. Yeah, it's very situational. I want to hear it one time that day and it better be a win after that, while we will say it is too. I think innocent man's follows me because I have, I have Sirius radio and I'll be listening to like the R&B station and innocent man will come on. I'm like, Jesus Christ, what is this coming from? So I guess I got to like the song because it's showing up everywhere. So Country music at the tailgate. All right. Back in the day we had to sneak alcohol and Lane stadium before they started serving beer. What was your method of sneaking it in? Just throw a couple airplane bottles in your pocket. That's it.

53:16 Real simple. So what what parent really wants to know was who was sticking bottles up the but somebody was doing it. Flask in the boot, it's a good move. Yeah, that's good. That's it. Yeah. The back in there and you're good to go. What about you, pal? All the above, Man, All the Above. So Pat was not sticking bottles up his butt. All right on that note that's that's about all the time we have here at Sharkey's but wanted to thank everyone for coming. Out if you are listening wanted to thank our friends at Sharkey's Blacksburg. It's we're good friends.

54:01 Go absolutely love it. Got to give a big shout out to Pete man, but I got up heat a lot of the people working. The this man, appreciate your Pete for some just Saturday, boundary Corner Tales From The Terror Dome. 2deep 2deep the reason we're here man. Signing off, go Hokies enjoy the day and we'll see you out in the parking, lots and out in the fields, and let's win ourselves a spring gate.