Tuesday: More from Charlotttesville; Hokies crank up today
Mesmerizing to a first-timer like me.
As I posted on Twitter last night, I thought he did a nice job in his first interaction with the media since the transfer from Alabama. Projected a nice mix of confidence, humility and self-awareness.
You might be saying: “But A-Mac, I clicked on your Sims link, and nowhere in there does it talk about what the main challenge for Sims will be in the next month. Help!”
Here you go, from offensive coordinator Bill Lazor: “The No. 1 thing Philip has to do is learn our system, and that’s going to take time. We really pushed it, taking a brand new guy and getting these team reps the first day…That’ll be the challenge for him early on. Because every day, we’re going to put new stuff in, and it’s going to pile up. Even though he has the experience of college football and schemes that he can relate it to, in the huddle it’s got to come out in our language. That’ll be his challenge. But he has some talent, so if we can help him put that all together, then he’ll compete.”
Sims’ take on learning the system? “It’s pretty much the same system [as Alabama]. It’s different terminology. I’ve told everybody’s that’s asked me the question, football is football, whether you’re 5 or 55. Football is football. Everybody’s going to run the same things. The only difference is some people call it one thing and somebody else calls it a complete opposite thing. The hard part is dropping what you’ve learned – not dropping it; whatever you’ve leared is going to help you – but putting that aside and accepting the new things that the coaches are trying to teach you, the new terminology.”
-Don’t forget about David Watford in this whole quarterback-anointing process. He threw some gorgeous deep balls yesterday. I think he’ll wind up redshirting but if he looks like that every day and/or Sims needs more time, he’ll be an option.
-Watford said he would not move to another position. “I came here to play quarterback, and that’s what I want to do.”
-Rocco is set up two lockers down from Sims. They’ve hit it off over the summer. “I’m a competitor, but I’m also a good teammate,” Rocco said. “I’m not going to have any hard feelings. We’re going to work together. But in the end, I believe it’s my job to lose. I’m going to keep competing as hard as I can to keep my job….He’s a great friend…Whatever happens in the end happens. We trust the coaches’ decision-making, but we’re not going to let that ruin our relationship.”
-And finally, here are five questions facing the Cavs as they enter fall practice.
-The Hokies begin TODAY. Andy has a look at the five biggest questions facing Tech here.
-I made my Cook-Out drive-thru debut yesterday. Why didn’t you guys tell me how good that place is?
August 7, 2012 - 9:32 AM
Pardon me for snickering.
I guess Sims need to quit playing “Sims Party” because Alabama and Virginia are two completely different beasts. One is an African safari animal, while the other is a zoo animal. Oh sure, the zoo feed it, cleans up after it, and let it play but it is still a zoo animal.
One may ask me, “Where does Virginia Tech fall?”
I’m so glad you asked. VT is the domesticated animal. It can be petted, approachable, but when it gets gobbling mad, it is wise to leave it alone. Did I mention it was spayed as well?
VT is more like a mink masquerading as a bull. Overated year after year, loses in bowl games to any decent competition. Don’t be surprised if UVA ends up with a better record than VT, there really isn’t anything surprising about it, though.
UVA has some young talent especially on defense. One thing about those young guys is they will make some mistakes. Probably not a good combination with a tough early season schedule. I think UVA will finish with the same record as last year. Sometimes looking impressive and sometimes making some mistakes. The future is bright though.
The Cookout menu board!! It is sensory overload, but it is all good. Cheesecake milkshake is a thing of beauty. My first time there I had to take a pic and sit in the parking lot so that I could figure out what I wanted.
AM you must not read the retail and food blogs. I’ve been preaching to the masses about Cook-Out. That place is awesome. I know we are getting a Steak n Shake and they are good too but I would take a Cook-Out over them any day!
Aaron I pity you. Having to write about THEM. It would make my skin crawl. I have noticed that the only Sports Illustrated article about UVA football in quite some time was about a socially concious young man and the struggles he had to balance football and his studies and politics. I admired the young man’s commitment with no judging of his cause. I did find it interesting that fraternity brother Mike London did not stand with him. I do not know if that is a good or bad thing.
Just interesting that SI can’t write about their team but only about a young man who isn’t dressing to play every Saturday. Makes mne think that the UVA program hasn’t made the strides their fans are hoping for.
Go HOKIES !!!!!
Trevor I like your analogies. One thing about domesticated animals though, if you let them out in the wild they usually don’t come back alive. That fact makes your analogy even more perfect.
We got a Cook-Out here in the other `burg before Roanoke. Talk about crowded. If you weren`t hungry when you got there you would be by the time you got to the counter. just what I needed, more milkshakes in my food chain.
I don’t see Virginia besting Tech yet; Virginia’s offense ought to be pretty good, but their defense has too many questions. Tech’s defense is going to be a beast, and if Stinespring can find a running back – something he always seems to do – and get Thomas to better his footwork in the pocket, it will be hard for ANYONE to beat Tech.
I think the Hoos are on the rise, but they’re not there yet. A year, maybe two…but not yet.
Or, in most cases, they go feral, OG, at which point they can become even more dangerous as a potential invasive species.
OG, thanks, I have my moments.
Anybody catch the NFL’s HOF game on Sunday? The Saints went marching on, around, over, and under the Cardinals. Kolb, in my opinion, is a b-u-s-t.
Speaking of the NFL, the Jets are typically the Jets. There was a brawl. Fans witnessed it, albeit it too close for Rex “Loudmouth” Ryan, and reporters escaped the WWE-styled pile up. Even Tim Tebow was reportedly in the pile playing the peacemaker, which makes me wonder if he was holding up his fingers in the sign of a cross, and pleading, “My brothers! Please, we are all on the same side!” (I’m flashbacking to the The Replacement where this running back holds up the Bible and used a similar line).
You know it is football season when…
…Enter Sandman is playing in your head on an endless loop.
AJ Almendinger has an interview with Marty Smith in an attempt to ‘explain’ his failed drug test. Turns out he tested positive for Aderall, which he has no prescription for (ADHD drug).
Supposedly, ‘a friend’ gave him a pill the night before his race, and he was tested after the race. Supposedly the first time he took it, and he took it without thought.
Len Bias only did coke once, right?
Come on, Marty, you’re believing this? I don’t think AJ is an addict, but I really think he’s probably decided to take that because he thinks he helps in some way. FTR, I’m a NASCAR conspiracy theorist, too, so I am as far from an apologist as it gets.
I do wish NASCAR would nut up and specify the illicit drug in these tests, instead of leaving the drivers twisting in the wind like chattel. But then, that’s always been NASCAR’s attitude towards drivers, or essentially anyone whose celebrity gets too large.
I see the off and on relationship Dodge has with NASCAR is off again as the are pulling out of the sport next year. Again.
shaun that is big news. Thanks for sharing.
Sims needs to learn the system? Let’s see, 1) Take the snap 2) Drop back (5 or 7 step) 3) Get sacked … where’s the problem?
Or for Sims to get the grasp of the offense, maybe he needs to first master the basic of using square, X, and O.
Here is the AJ Allmendinger interview with Marty Smith. Credit to Marty, he doesn’t cut him any slack, but lets the answer speak for themselves. Earlier twitter comments by Marty indicated something else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm3yKAEJlGc&feature=youtu.be
Now everyone can return to preseason football and minor league baseball discussions…
good job marty smith. giles county single wing man made it to espn. what are the odds of that? anyway- crooked is right again. he took the adi because he wanted to be sharp and it gave him an edge. plain and simple. now he has to pay the price. took the chance. big time sports happens all the time. hope he managed his money well- cause the well just ran dry.
Tech beat us 38-0 in Charlottesville. London went for it on 4th and 2 while in field goal range early in the game, Tech snuffed it, and then went on to a beat down, singing “I think they liked it” all the way through to the end. Logan Thomas and his receivers did what they wanted. The running backs did what they wanted. Special Teams did as well, the defense focused on the shut out, which they got, in our house on major TV. So it’s time for some ethics: when you get beat 38-0, it’s embarrassing to do anything but be humble, shut up, and acknowledge you got crushed. The Hoos have to stop trying to win the game with conversation, and focus on winning the game on the field. That is going to take a long time, if what I saw from the stands last year was accurate. Our team is not tested, we’re not accomplished, we don’t have history and we don’t have players that would justify undue optimism. Rather, we have the right to believe we can get six wins and qualify for a bowl. That’s where we are. Is VPI a likely or even probable one of those six wins? Of course not. And everybody knows that. So the goals and expectations this year are to get the six, have a real chance at getting as many as nine through quality performances, and try to be in the game with VPI for a few minutes past the player intros. Any combination of that will be pretty good, assuming of course we have no dramas on/off the field like the recent CONFLAGRATION in the President’s office this summer. Chill out Hoos, and get focused. We won’t be any where near Tech’s level until we’ve got traction for at least five years. We’ve had one good year. Focus.
Aaron – just wondered what you really think about VT’s chances to beat Georgia Tech. I don’t think they will, in fact, I think the Hokies are going to be fortunate to win 7 games, given the loss of their great receiving core from last year. Just can’t see this optimism that the media is embracing for the Hokies.
I figure that Allmendinger will show up in two years in a Craftsman or Nationwide ride, but never get a shot at the top series again, except for a park & ride deal. He probably will be lucky to make 30% of his previous income, best case scenario. Everyone knows what happened to Jeremy Mayfield. For AJ to (allegedly) take a ‘energy supplement’ from a third party acquaintance is pretty stupid.
“…I think the Hokies are going to be fortunate to win 7 games…”
Fortunate to win 7? Anything is possible I guess. Under your assumption there, that means at a minimum, 5 teams will beat VT. Which 5 (or more) teams do you think are going to beat VT?
That’s a good post, Theo’85.