2013 Spring Practice: Day One

It's football season for the next 4 weeks y'all! These are my thoughts on the reports from Tech's first day of spring ball.

We all clamored behind our keyboards for Trey Edmunds to strap it up last season, and it sounds like he looked beastly at practice today (6-1, 215 lbs). Chris Lang caught up with Shane Beamer.

"He's extremely explosive. You all saw what he ran the 40 in. I saw it with my own eyes," Beamer said. "And to have that strength and that power, it's exciting. And it's intriguing. He's just very raw."

/Drools

It's also important to note the Beamer and Loeffler are working to find their featured back and rotation this spring, "I certainly would like to get a solidified rotation coming out of spring."

Mike Barber noted the early focus on the power running game.

In the brief glimpse the media got, it was obvious Tech is focused on returning to its power-run game. Most of the plays run during the fourth period came out of the I-formation or double-tight end sets.

Loeffler, one of three new offensive assistant coaches, made his presence felt, or better stated, heard during the workout. He is a decidedly more vocal personality than deposed play-caller Mike O'Cain.

As much as I've obsessed over the importance of the offensive line, it should be the noted if Tech wants to go big and play man-ball, the tight ends are going to have to be capable blockers. The top-3 today were Ryan Malleck, Duan Perez-Means, and Darius Redman. Other than Malleck, who was underused last season in the passing game and was an average blocker, the position is an unknown. Perez-Means is an athletic talent, and could be the shocker of the group if he can block.

Vomiting on day-one of practice, yeah we've all been there.

Shane, summing up tonight's practice: "It was intense and it was fast-paced. A couple guys from offense left their lunch out there."— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) March 28, 2013

DJ Coles and Andrew Miller practiced minimally today, and will be limited throughout spring. And neither of them should be rushed back, because Tech can't afford to be without them in the fall. Miller will anchor the offensive line, and we all saw how the interior play diminished when he was lost last season. At 100%, Coles is the team's best all-around receiver, but he hasn't played since his 13 snaps against Georgia Tech. Also, he's 22-pounds heavier than last spring (238). Hopefully he's able to kick the rust off.

Andy Bitter confirmed what Mike noted earlier in the day, sophomore wide receiver Christian Reeves plans to transfer. Seems like early attrition.

HokieSports.com posted an interview with Coach Grimes.

1. He is tall.
2. David Wang is working in at center as well as guard.
3. Grimes' ultimate goal is to get the best five guys on the field, so there may be position changes.
4. Grimes talking about physical line play, "establish(ing) his will on his opponent", and putting defenders on their ass got me quite excited.

Player reactions:

First day of practice went well. Really loving the new changes.— J.C. Coleman (@jc_coleman4) March 28, 2013

Practice has never worn me out this much!— Darius Walter Redman (@RedmanVT_33) March 28, 2013

One recruiting note, 2014 defensive end Jalyn Holmes will visit on April 6th, Tech's open scrimmage will also double as a junior day event.

Ima be @ vt the 6th— Jalyn Holmes #⃣1⃣1⃣ (@JayHolmes_) March 28, 2013

Holmes is rated a 4-star by both Rivals and 247. In January FOX Sport Next' Michael Clark reported his Top-8 as: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, UNC, USC and VirginiaTech.