The First Bank & Trust Friday Q&A: OL Depth and Brent Pry's Role

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28 Comments

1. 

   OldRaleighHokie July 31, 2023 at 9:32 PM

   Not to be too picky, Chris, but I think the correct analogy is trying to put a square peg in a round hole, not the other way around. Although maybe you meant taking the easier way of taking the round peg and I just didn't get it?
2. 

   PenthouseAlumni July 31, 2023 at 4:03 PM

   Defense wasn’t awful last year, I just think the offense being so inept was a big issue. Defense would make a stop then be right back on the field. I’m optimistic about this season, if the offense can show they’ve made some improvements (on the field) on paper they certainly have
3. 

   ANDYISGOLD July 30, 2023 at 7:27 PM

   UGA now has a 5* LB commit plus 4* Kristopher Jones from state of VIRGINIA......Seems to me that CHRIS COLE would get a lot more playing time at VT.
4. 

   VTaimhigh July 30, 2023 at 11:07 AM

   Need an article dedicated to special teams before the season starts. Gonna be crucial IMO to getting to a decent bowl...or maybe even having a winning record. Good article. Hope Cole comes home to BBurg. Think he'd be happiest there, and we would be too.
5. 

   Hokie90_CA July 29, 2023 at 11:46 AM

   The defense was middling to weak in 2022. Definitely not good. Horrendous against UNC and a big reason Drake Maye won ACC POY Bad in the 2nd half against Pitt, GT, NCS, WVU, ODU. Meh against Duke the whole game. Good in the 2nd half against Miami and Liberty Exceptional all game against BC Out of 22 halves against FBS competition they performed ‘well’ in maybe 9 of them.
6. 

   GO_HOKIES_GO July 29, 2023 at 9:27 AM

   This is the year - in order to keep the money flowing, the recruiting momentum, the fans engaged this team needs to get to a bowl game (yes, that is quite a modest goal these days). That will show progress and hopefully reflect a more exciting product on the field in all phases. Unfortunately so much has to go well for this to happen - the new guys contributing, no injuries, improved QB play, the OC going from “vanilla” to “hot-fudge sundae with a cherry on top”, and a hundred other things that happen across the season to get to 6-6. I hope the Hokies get some breaks and win the one-score games this year.
7. 

   No_Limit_Hokie July 29, 2023 at 7:42 AM

   I like not having to... pry it out of Pry. Seems like an honest and straightforward kind of guy. I doubt he will ever answer a question with a phrase like, "ludicrous crap." (Crinkle crinkle.) Doesn't seem to be thin skinned. Still, until we see something good start to happen on the field in real time, I remain depressingly in low expectation mode.
8. 

   Hokie67 July 29, 2023 at 6:42 AM

   "They know how to play the system." Thanks for saying what is really happening!. And - it's not only with the college football rating agencies - it's an everyday happening in all genres of the media. .
9. 

   lazarus1 July 28, 2023 at 11:59 PM

   We just have to be much, much better on special teams to have a good season.
10. 

    Savagehokie July 28, 2023 at 11:34 PM

    Funny.....a 33 year old Tyler Bowen has a moderately successful 2023 offense and he's off to higher paying coaching position like a shot. Ohhh the humanity!
11. 

    vtox1 July 28, 2023 at 5:52 PM

    Last year defense was OK, good against run pretty good in redzone. Ranked 54 ppg allowed. Ranked 44 rypg. They were bad in secondary w/o Strong and before Delane. Lacked pass rush and disruptor not enough TO.
12. 

    10yearplan July 28, 2023 at 5:36 PM

    I was waiting for the “tough conversations” reference.
13. 

    TomTurkey July 28, 2023 at 4:17 PM

    Excellent. I always come away better informed and equipped to watch with clear filters. Good job ..again!
14. 

    Cheesehokie July 28, 2023 at 3:45 PM

    Offensive talent level has been fixed? That assessment strikes me as premature. The O-Line is as green as grass and there are serious question marks at QB. I will agree that talent has been added at the other offensive skill positions. As far as I’m concerned, the jury is very much out on the capabilities of the VT offense and our offensive coaches. I’m optimistic but I’ve been around enough to know that hope is not a strategy.
    1. 

       Femoyer74 July 28, 2023 at 4:48 PM

       Believe his direct quote is “ There have been major improvements”, not fixed. It’s no question that the O line is not experienced and we’re still haven’t decided who the starting QB is which means there are no Vicks or Taylors at QB.
15. 

    HtownHokie July 28, 2023 at 3:13 PM

    ' “You-know-who” is, well, you-know-who. ' @CC: and if we sign “You-know-who”, could he be the 2024 equivalent of Cornell Brown, who 'turned the corner in recruiting' for VT and CFB? thanks for the fine article. Go Hokies!
    1. 

       B(ig) H(okie) July 28, 2023 at 5:45 PM

       IF "You know who" is, in fact, Cole, then why would he (Cole) not go ahead and commit earlier in order to attract other top recruits with him to the Hokies??
       1. 

          El Paso Hokie July 28, 2023 at 8:45 PM

          I wouldn't necessarily interpret Pry's comment as being confident that Cole was coming to VT. It could be he's just waiting for you-know-who to end the suspense for all of us, Pry included.
16. 

    ANDYISGOLD July 28, 2023 at 3:08 PM

    Didn't UGA just get a 5* LB? Doesn't make sense for Cole to go there. He is or has visited Tenn this week. I see them as more of a threat with his high school classmate encouraging him in that direction
17. 

    Hokie101 July 28, 2023 at 2:33 PM

    Chris good article You mentioned 3 issues with the team last year and I disagree. The defense was bad and special teams were Bad. Neither were as bad as the offense but for goodness sakes… they were bad. I’ve never seen more inept punt and kick off returns until they finally put the freshman in the last 1-2 games. And oh yes, the snap over the punters head cost us the ODU game… not that we really deserved to win.
    1. 

       HOKIE SEAN July 28, 2023 at 8:02 PM

       Snap over the FG holder’s head
18. 

    HokieDelNorte July 28, 2023 at 2:06 PM

    I didn’t realize Pry flat-out said coaching issues on O.
19. 

    Broken Hawk July 28, 2023 at 1:55 PM

    Great informative article Chris. +1 :)
20. 

    garethembrey July 28, 2023 at 1:39 PM

    IMO, you can't help but appreciate the way Coach Pry seems to tell it like it is every time he gets the opportunity. And if he's honest enough to say the hard things in front of the cameras and microphones (where most coaches usually just give coach-speak), then you can imagine how honest he is with his staff, players, and recruits.
    1. 

       wwhokie1 July 28, 2023 at 6:27 PM

       Maybe that's why recruiting has improved
21. 

    VAHokie89 July 28, 2023 at 12:48 PM

    The counter to the "more wins in 2023" is the answer to the first question about the OL.....
22. 

    Walkin` Willie July 28, 2023 at 12:44 PM

    These Q&As are getting to be one of my favorite features - so informative.
    1. 

       7 FOX 9 VT July 28, 2023 at 12:59 PM

       Agree