Observations from the Spring Game

In returning to Blacksburg for the first time since the ECU game last year, one question kept coming to mind: Why the hell do I not come back more often? I made the bookstore rounds, watched the sun go down at the pylons, visited the April 16th memorial, ran into Macho Harris walking downtown, got my picture with Bruce Smith, demolished a Kabuki dinner in Christiansburg, and got to see some sloppy, but promising, spring football.

I have tremendously high hopes for this year's defense. Not full-blown, top-5 defensive hopes (I was a student during the Hall/Adibi/Flowers/Ellis/Harris/Tapp years), but I think a top-20 finish is definitely obtainable, given the talent we have. Major concern is depth, especially next year at the safety spot. But I was happy with what I saw.

Good gap coverage, sideline-to-sideline ability for the first team, and no huge runs (I don't count LT's scamper). Kyle Fuller was given a gift with his lame-duck interception, but I was impressed with our first team defensive backs. I think that all of what we observe in the spring has to been taken with a big grain of salt (try to remember the last time VT had a bad, bad spring that didn't get the fan base rumbling about the potential for the fall), but I think we can definitely improve on last year's defensive efforts.

Offensively, I think the lack of any run game can be traced to both David Wilson and Tony Gregory's absence. Oglesby looks like he did in 2009, a churning-type back who can pick up 4 yards when you need it. I thought LT showed some nice touch on his throws and good pocket presence. His bullet in traffic to Marcus David for the first TD was pretty impressive. I won't believe that we can adequately block a JV squad until I see the starting 5 lineman in action, but...it can't get any worse, right? We have four seniors, right? RIGHT?

Some random thoughts:

- Don't expect Ju-Ju to come off the bench cold against Miami and throw a 25 yd strike. Poor guy couldn't get out of his own way on Saturday. If he ever has to come in for serious minutes, it's drinking time.

- I'm betting on the first play from scrimmage for 2011 to be a WR screen. Good for about 3 yards.

- I talked to Corey Marshall a little bit walking around Lane. Seems like a genuinely nice guy and is definitely excited about coming to Tech. With no real answer for the #4 DE spot, I wouldn't be surprised to see him contribute immediately.

- I like Randall Dunn as the receiving threat TE. He had a nice catch during the spring game and I think that you'll see Drager used more as an additional blocker. Jerome Lewis some meanness too I liked.

- I think Jayron's punt return TD was more a bad punt from Coale than Hosley's own skill, but right now I don't see anyone kicking better than Danny. I'm really hoping he wins the starting job.

- I expect a lot more of the four-wide set for the offense. I'm really hoping Dyrell can get back to 100% so we can have him in the return game.