Virginia Tech Practice Report: Cornell Brown, D-Linemen and LBs Speak

Rain pushed Thursday's practice into the Beamer Barn, so the media was once again unable to catch a glimpse of the Hokies in action. But as the players filed out and headed towards the locker room, I did notice that DT Corey Marshall was wearing a white jersey, a positive sign given that Marshall has spent some time in blue this August.

Cornell Brown and Torrian Gray both spoke to the media after practice and both seemed excited about their respective position groups heading into the season. Kevin already tackled the secondary, so my observations will be focused on the defensive line and linebacking corps.

While Ronny Vandyke is firmly entrenched as the Hokies starting whip, Coach Brown likes the depth they've been able to build at the position after adding both Anthony Shegog and Raymon Minor to the ranks. For his part, Vandyke, entering his 5th and final year in Blacksburg, seemed genuinely excited to have the opportunity to mentor some of his younger teammates.

Some other notes and observations:

• Vinny Mihota is a large person. He's sitting at about 270 pounds right now and wants to get down to 260 or 265.
• Mihota prefers playing defensive end over defensive tackle and thinks his move to the outside will be permanent.
• Mihota broke his thumb during his freshman year of high school and played with a cast for the rest of the season. When asked about the difference, he deadpanned "it gives me a better club."
• The Dahman McKinnon weight question was finally put to bed - he's at about 220 now and doesn't know where the 275 figure came from.
• Coach Brown says he isn't working with the Hokies defensive ends any more than he normally does.
• Raymor Minor expects to get playing time at whip this season and will also contribute on special teams.

Player/Coaches Quotes

Cornell Brown

ON DEPTH AT THE WHIP SPOT:

"We've got some young guys, got some guys that we think potentially can be a factor at the position. So that's the good thing. We have created some depth there, so that's the exciting part about it. So you look forward to seeing these guys that you've moved there.

ON NICKEL VS. WHIP PLAYING TIME:

"The offense dictates pretty much how our whip plays. It's more of an offense, 11 personnel deal, pass oriented type of game now. A lot of time is spent having guys that can cover on the field.

ON RAYMON MINOR LEARNING A NEW POSITION:

"We got some crossover being that the backer position and the whip position have some similarities, but overall he's just learning the overall nuances of the position. It's going to take him a little bit, just to get it all down, but hopefully we can put him in a position where he can just use his athletic ability.

Ronny Vandyke

ON BEING A LEADER:

"I'm really just trying to focus on being consistent and really being a leader for my teammates. Adversity is going to hit us, it's inevitable, and I really want to be there for my teammates — emotionally, spiritually, physically.

ON HIS MINDSET ENTERING HIS FINAL SEASON:

"This is my last season so I have this mindset of there's nothing to lose. Why not run that extra mile, do that extra set in the weight room, go watch some more film, just trying to be best I can be for this season to help my team win.

Dahman McKinnon

ON RETURNING TO THE PROGRAM:

"It was an attitude issue that I had, I guess, and I had to straighten myself out on a personal level first. That's all that was."

Vinny Mihota

ON HIS SIZE AT DEFENSIVE END:

"It just brings a lot of power and stability off the edge. I feel like I can be a lot more effective against run and passing downs, but especially the run in short yardage and goal-line situations."

ON HIS ABILITY TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND IN SPACE:

"I feel like my first ten yards are just as fast as anybody on this defense."

ON DIFFERENCE OF RUSHING THE PASSER FROM THE OUTSIDE:

"Rushing from a 3 (technique) is a lot like rushing from a 5 (technique) at end, so it wasn't too terribly different. It's a lot of little things here and there that Dadi (Nicolas), Ken (Ekanem), and (Charley) Wiles really coached me up."

RAYMON MINOR

ON HIS MENTALITY REGARDING PLAYING TIME AT WHIP:

"Go out there and try to make them play the whip more than last year or the years before that. I'm just going to go out there and do my best. If me and Ronny (Vandyke) and (Anthony) Shegog all get better at the position and just show coach we can do it, I think he'll play the whip more.

ON WHERE HE NEEDS TO IMPROVE:

"I was playing backer when I got here and that was more playing in the box. Now it's outside so I have to work on my covering more and stuff like that. Just learning the stuff the whip does in coverage."