Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Wells could have some competition coming his way in the offseason. (Ivan Morozov)
As promised, it’s time to take a look at the Virginia Tech scholarship situation at each individual offensive position. We could potentially see movement – both in and out – at every position on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, though tight end seems a lot less volatile than the other spots.
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Its always amazing to me how Offensive coaches miss the basics. It starts up front. You teach and coach the basics until it is ingrained in the kids. Design plays to get 4-5 yds (run or pass) even if they fail. Move the chains and control the ball. Defenses tire, start missing tackles etc as you drive closer to the goaline. Scoring should not be so difficult.
MAHist87
How do we have 12 receivers and not know "...how much quality is there?" We need help, big help, at various safety/corner positions, so perhaps some of these guys can be converted? In the meantime, tight-ends are the most useful offensive players (they only have to fall forward and you gain 2.5 yards) so find a couple more of them and stick 2 or 3 on the field each play. We also need a good fullback or two--get a Sam Rogers or Shyrone Stith type and pound the hell out of it. Fullback and 2 tight-ends? Whoa Nelly! That's an exhausting afternoon for any defense.
govt86
I read and remember Chris! Didn’t you estimate a need for 2-3 portal transfers to get good odds of productive player? Why get ONE outside receiver from portal then?
catdaddy
Here is Chris' line from the WR group:
"That’s a lot of bodies, but how much quality is there?"
LOL, can we all agree that this line should apply to the ENTIRE offensive roster and virtually every offensive coach??
Love Pry's message and delivery but his decision making on the things that actually matter have produced awful results.. offensive scheme of square peg in round hole, et al.
Hokiestud
Pry was given very little with which to work. Fuente and his people ran our program into the ground with years of poor recruiting and poor player development. The bill came due this year. You can't make ice cream out of horse manure. The rebuild at VT will take several years. But I was encouraged at how we finished the season. After bottoming out against UNC and Pitt, we played decently for the last half of the season. We lost a couple of very close games that we should have won and then we beat a team that had been ranked in the Top 25 on their home field. So maybe the worst is behind us.
steves13
+1
Walkin` Willie
A nice dose of sanity and it is appreciated!
ChazB
Receivers never got separation throughout the season and the Running backs were either inquired or lacked vision/speed/size to get into the hole too often... believe these skilled positions need an upgrade and massive roster turnover... perhaps they were too young in 2022 for most, but the upper classman you know what you have or don't have and would like to see VT upgrade.
Nice recap of the options and opportunities facing VT.
Let's Go...Hokies!!!
VAHokie89
It is incorrect to say the the WRs never got separation. We saw plenty of examples on film of WRs open and the QB not pulling the trigger. Yes, we need an upgrade, But WRs were open.
HOKIEFROY
And alot of dropped passes.
hokiepro
They VERY RARELY got separation. On the odd chance they were open, @ChrisColeman said it well; QB didn’t trust why he was seeing because it hardly ever happened
Wiseguy86
Good stuff Chris. As you know, we did not place a single player in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team All-ACC. And we have a staff that does not seem to know how we can prosper as an offense. We have to be patient but it seems bleak at this point. (Nowhere to go but up?!?)
vtgriff09
Those in charge are a full season done and they don't know who or what they want to be...that sounds about right. We are lost. There is no leadership here. He flips ideas on who and what we want to be, he throws the OC under the bus on 5 separate press conferences, he waits until 9 gms in to take any accountability. He waits until the 11th gm of the yr to hand off playcalling on def to his DC (which by the way, this instantly becomes the best defensive performance of the season..for a 1st time ever playcaller taking over for a seasoned DC).
There are no amount of portal players that can save incompetence. The greatest thing ever would be I am wrong and we win 8 gms next yr. I simply don't see it with this HC and this staff. I think we are stuck with flat out terrible for a bit.
I-W-K-Y-I-T-N
+12
VAHokie89
The problem is Bowen seemed to know what he wanted to do and be. BUT it sucked. He was very 1-dimensional in his approach to running. And he stripped out potentially successful plays. I don't personally think the offense tried to do too much in the beginning. I believe it was simply vanilla, predictable, imcompetent, and failed to involve players the right way consistently
Pride_and_Joy
Lol.
Steeltown Hokie
Correct I'm tired of the empty platitudes and nifty quotes. The coach speak is nauseating.
Newt
I'm always looking to the OL. Do you think that Gunner Givens will stick at DL or is there still a chance that he may slide over to OL?
Chris Coleman
OL is a possibility at some point, I think.
cdogvt
What happened with Jaden Blue? I thought he had another year, must have missed it.
Chris Coleman
2022 was his final season as I understand it.
Hokeedokee
Just one Hokie's thoughts but I don't see a lot to be excited about on offense for next year.
We have some talent but nothing that would scare or intimidate anyone we play. We better get some GOOD skill players from
the portal at QB, RB and WR, AND some OL talent that can contribute from day 1, which given our past doesn't seem overly likely. Recruiting better get ratcheted up a LOT, just saying.
HokieACC
Couldn't agree more! 5* players won't fix what ails this offensive staff :)
Nelsonia Hokie
Heard the wording, our receivers can't get open and we looked slow on offense. Very respected offensive mind. I think those are the real targets with portal - speed esp. at WR
HokienGeorjaw
You can bring in a hot shot QB, but if you have receivers that can’t get separation; it doesn’t matter how good the QB. Also, there are check down routes that receivers run. I never saw that in our offense. Resulting in sacks and interceptions.
vtgriff09
Plenty of these receivers can get seperation. This isn't the NFL..schemes and route trees create open players. Route trees on 3rd and 5 with 4 wides all running 5 yd button hooks was a continual theme this yr.
VAHokie89
WRs got separation
atlhokie1
What type of scheme do we need to be successful? - how about a scheme that scores points? Sorry, sarcasm at the end of the day.
Good article - there will still be consternation on the boards when a few of these guys "hit the portal".
7576Hokie
#1 Is the need for a "special" QB who is smart, illusive, and versatile, that refuses to lose. That's first and foremost IMO. That's bigger than schemes or play calling. That should be easy! lol
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