Taking a stab at the Hokies’ 2012 depth chart: Special teams, plus assessing Tech’s strengths and weaknesses
If you missed the previous two installments, here are links to the offense and defense. Today I’ll hit the special teams and do some review.
As I mentioned before, this is a preliminary look, so it’s open for debate. I encourage all suggestions/changes/opinions in the comments section below. (Especially with the kick and punt returners today.)
Place-kicker
- Michael Branthover, 5-8, 179, So. OR
- Conor Goulding, 5-9, 174, So. OR
- Cody Journell, 5-11, 178, Jr.*****
Comment: I’ll put five asterisks after Journell, because I’m skeptical he ever kicks for Virginia Tech again after his arrest on a felony breaking and entering charge last month. If convicted of a felony, he’d be kicked off the team, but there is a chance he could be convicted of a lesser charge. Even then, I’d wonder if Frank Beamer would keep him around, considering the situation he got himself involved in. Branthover was a punter last year, but he was a standout kicker in high school, so I’d imagine the Hokies would give him a shot. Goulding was apparently in the mix prior to the Sugar Bowl. I imagine Tech will open the competition to any and all comers come August, when walk-ons can join the fray.
Punter
- Michael Branthover, 5-8, 179, So. OR
- Scott Demler, 5-11, 194, Sr.
- Ethan Keyserling, 6-2, 197, So.
Comment: Another issue position, considering wide receiver Danny Coale was the most trusted punter by the end of the season. Branthover and Demler have both kicked in games, so it’s not like the Hokies are without experience here. They’ll need to make major steps forward to gain Beamer’s trust after last year’s inconsistency.
Long snapper
- Joe St. Germain, 6-0, 213, So.
- Lukas Stamp, 5-11, 204, So.
Comment: Sort of an odd situation for Virginia Tech, which will be using a long snapper other than Collin Carroll for the first time in four years. A spring’s worth of reps should get the timing down for whoever emerges as his replacement.
Holder
- Trey Gresh, 6-1, 205, So.
- Mark Leal, 6-0, 209, So.
Comment: This part of the field goal operation remains the same.
Kick return
- Dyrell Roberts, 6-2, 196, Sr.
- Tony Gregory, 6-0, 190, Jr.
- Demitri Knowles, 6-0, 167, rFr.
Comment: Roberts and Gregory are the two who have done it before. Of course, Gregory is coming off knee surgery and Roberts a broken arm. Roberts has averaged 25.9 yards per return in his career, so I figure he’d be the top guy here. Obviously there are other candidates on the roster. I’m just not sure who will emerge at this point. Knowles came the closest to doing it last year, so I’ll slot him in there.
Punt return
- Kyshoen Jarrett, 5-10, 193, So.
- ?????
Comment: Your guess is as good as mine. Jayron Hosley was Tech’s primary returner last year and Coale filled in when Hosley hurt his hamstring. Jarrett is the only returning player who returned a punt last year. I’m not sure if that means he’ll be the frontrunner for the job next season. I’m sure it will be open auditions come spring.
That completes my look at the depth chart. Here’s a quick review of Tech’s areas of strength and what will be the biggest question marks next season:
Strengths
1. Quarterback: With Logan Thomas back, Tech has no worries here.
2. Receivers: Even though the Hokies lost their two all-time leading receivers, they have a good amount of returning talent, with Marcus Davis, Roberts and D.J. Coles all viable receiving threats.
3. Defensive line: James Gayle, J.R. Collins and Derrick Hopkins are back, as is Antoine Hopkins from injury. Luther Maddy, Corey Marshall and Tyrel Wilson got valuable experience and will have another year of weight-lifting to get bigger.
4. Linebackers: Bruce Taylor and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow return from injury to join Tariq Edwards, Jack Tyler and Alonzo Tweedy in a deep group.
5. Half the secondary: Kyle Fuller can play anywhere and Antone Exum can be a safety or rover. That should give the Hokies some flexibility back there.
Question marks
1. Running back: David Wilson got almost all the carries last year, so his replacement was never groomed. Michael Holmes seems like he has the inside track, but early enrollee J.C. Coleman will get his shot this spring.
2. Offensive line: So many unknowns for a group that has to replace four starters. Tech has some options here, it’s just unclear how all the pieces will fit.
3. Defensive tackle depth: This is nit-picky, since the two-deep is pretty well established here, but with several veteran tackles choosing not to come back, there aren’t a ton of bodies here. Injuries happen, and it never hurts to have a deep rotation.
4. The other half of the secondary: Detrick Bonner and Jarrett are talented, but very raw. The contenders for the other safety spot have very little experience. How they’ll mesh with Fuller and Exum will be huge.
5. Kicking game: The kicker and punter positions appear to be wide open. This might be the most uncertainty Tech has had in its kicking game in a while.
January 18, 2012 - 11:57 AM
The special team is going to have to get better in a hurry. They were part of the problem, first time I think, the past season. The defense and offense were actually very complimentary of one other, even if the offense playcalling was very suspect in the last game. The special team, to borrow McFarling’s quote, were a liability.
I’m curious to see if the offense staff will use a running back by committee approach, a la New Orelans’ Saints. It’s one of the interesting development to watch this spring.
Another 10 win season and another bowl game will probably be the order of the day for VT in 2012, but will there be any influential wins and any progress in moving into the highest level of college football ?
I have been following the postings from a few states away, good work during the season, and in the recent analysis of 2012 to come. The Hokies still have steps to take in recruiting, and in building stronger OL and improved play calling and game situation management on Offense.
The significant obstacle to becoming great is the acceptance of being consistently good. – Wake up HoKIES!
I expect and hope that Cody Journell will not suit up for the Hokies again. I believe in getting second chances and it would be better for that young man to transfer to another school and start over if he is not incarcerated.
I agree that Kyle Fuller can most likely play anywhere. That Fuller family is great. Vince was one of my favorite players when he was in B’burg.
Also, the idea of Tweedy moving to safety or rover is intriguing. He has good speed and appears to be a good tackler.
VT needs to bring in former hokie Jake Grove as OL coach and hire Baylor’s QB Coach/Co-OC to mentor LT and spread the field to take pressure off the OL. JMO
I think one of the problems with special teams is Coach Beamer seems to have gone away from what made “Beamerball” unique. I don’t often see what I would consider the Hokies best athletes on special teams. I remember seeing starters like Lee Suggs and Jim Davis blocking kicks. Remember seeing Vinny Fuller run back a blocked field goal against WVa to win a big game at Lane. I don’t see that many starters (except for Danny Coale) on the ST’s. Most of the big penalties on ST’s were made this year by the young inexperienced players. Maybe if they go back to putting the best athletes on ST’s we’ll see some blocks, better returns and fewer mistakes.
2012 will be the same old crap for VT unless Beamer will get off his ego wagon, fire and replace at least half of the useless coaches he has now. VT is just like our Congress, full of idiots and out only for themselves, not the team. Doesn’t anyone ever get tired of seeing Foster throwing his tandrums and looking like a demon from hell? What’s up with that, he think this will improve his players performance? I won’t even mention Beamer’s choice of OC whose duties have been delegated. WTF is he being paid for? Wake up Weaver, all this is your responsibility,of course along with Lord Beamer of Fancy Gap!