The First Bank & Trust Friday Q&A: Addition By Subtraction, Scheme, And More

19 Comments

1. 

   HokiesCrowd March 23, 2025 at 11:31 AM

   Wait has it been announced the spring game won’t be televised? That’s stupid, reducing interest in your program to have to rely on “fog of war” to win one single game at the beginning of the year that we almost certainly won’t win anyway. Sounds desperate
2. 

   MDHokie79 March 22, 2025 at 9:10 AM

   Chris, here's one for you: When you really think about it. it would seem unlikely that a coach on the hot seat like CBP could bring in quality coaches to replace the ones that left, especially since VT typically doesn't/can't pay top dollar. Plus, with the ACC being relegated to almost a mid-major in football after SEC/BiG domination/expansion. So how did he do it? Used car salesman tactics? Previous relationships with these coaches and Pry's likeability/positivity? Guys hungry for a new challenge? Seems like only a small school coach looking to move up would be interested. Thoughts?
3. 

   JAG88Hokie March 22, 2025 at 8:32 AM

   I can't help but think the combination of being used to losing and still getting paid were big factors last year. Not only does NIL allow the upper echelon teams to separate themselves, it acts as poison for the rest.
4. 

   George Baylor March 22, 2025 at 7:50 AM

   CC, liked your comment of Pry winning the off-season, but not this year, His PR & fan interaction have been very good, but on-field results, where he is paid to WIN=Poor. Surely Pry understands that 6-6, as you "predict" will not be a Satisfactory result this fall. Does Pry understand that? This super secret Spring does not generate wins, execution and adjustment do come Sept-Nov.
5. 

   CaryHokie March 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM

   I’m working on my second million. I gave up on my first!
6. 

   tallahasseehokie March 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM

   Chris, if ur Hess on record is right or even 7 wins VT will buy Pry’s contract out and all of the coaches are gone. If this doesn’t happen VT may as well drop ? and most other sports and rejoin the BIG EAST - piling all resources into men’s and women’s basketball.
7. 

   TechHokie13 March 21, 2025 at 7:43 PM

   If I picked up a copy of "How to Make a Million Dollars Overnight" by Chris Coleman, and the first chapter didn't go off on a tangent about America's radio intelligence leading up to the battle of Midway, I'd be immensely disappointed.
8. 

   HokieDelNorte March 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM

   Did Pry fire his offensive coordinator? Defense yes. But O?
   1. 

      HokieDelNorte March 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM

      Fixed
9. 

   TomTurkey March 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM

   In his intro presser, Pry said he wanted a team that "hated to lose." Then they went 3-9 with the pitiful remnants he watched Maryland run off of the field in the bowl game. Seems they've never instilled that attitude fully yet. Don't quit, but just not quite angry enough to win. But talent counts and coaching can stifle if inept. We'll see either way.
10. 

    kpileski March 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM

    Thanks, Chris. I was at that game in Columbus in 2014 and still is one of my all time favorite games attended. Were you or anyone else at TSL in Columbus for that game in 2014?
    1. 

       Chris Coleman March 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM

       I didn't go, but I think Will did.
11. 

    133188Hokie March 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM

    You write that Pry "fired his OC" in addition to the other firings. I can only assume that is exactly what you meant to write. Is that what you believe happened? Or, is that what you know happened? What more can you share about it?
    1. 

       jasontp March 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM

       I noticed this too, and have the same question.
    2. 

       moneal March 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM

       I assumed that was a typo and he meant defensive
       1. 

          Chris Coleman March 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM

          Yep, fixed.
12. 

    Tim Lewis March 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM

    Good luck on that first million.
13. 

    GO_HOKIES_GO March 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM

    I asked Bud Foster about the 3-4 versus 4-3 as the base defense at a meet and greet a few years ago and he laughed and said it didn’t really matter anymore because the formations are so dependent on opponent and situation. I suspect that it is even less important these days. The problem with VT’s defense in recent years is not so much scheme as it is talent and execution - if those improve next season we will see better results on the field regardless of base defense.
    1. 

       delmarva hokie March 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM

       If I recall, the basic theme of the Bud Foster scheme was to play multiple formations but with the same personnel to not tip off opposing offenses to which formation based on personnel. The whip and rover positions could be either a LB or a DB and players playing those hybrid positions had to be adept at both covering the run and the pass. Anyway, as I understood it, you could run a conventional 4-3 front, an 8-man front, and a nickel package with the same personnel. Going back farther, it's my understanding that the wide-tackle six in the early Beamer days which Jerry Claiborne ran was roughly the equivalent of a 4-3 with outside linebackers that eventually became the whip and rover when tweaked to cover more modern pass offenses. Also I remember the Bill Dooley 5-2 as similar to a 3-4 with the ends being a rush end that would be an edge rusher and a drop end that would be more like an outside linebacker who would often drop back in coverage. I remember Bruce Smith being the equivalent of a 3-4 DE (his NFL position) but listed as a DT due to lining up next to the nose guard. I suspect that the Siefkis defense will involve multiple fronts and multiple personnel changes, perhaps the outside linebacker will be replaced by a nickel an/or an edge being replaced by a safety in obvious passing situations which would be the polar opposite of Bud Foster's approach.