Hokies o-line still a work in progress after two games, but Curt Newsome sees progress
Curt Newsome thinks of his group the way most offensive line coaches think of their players at this point of the season.
“I think we need to become more consistent,” Virginia Tech’s o-line coach said. “I don’t think we’re the only offense line in America that feels that way. But we show signs. We’re doing the right things and then we have other moments where we’re not.”
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It’s tough to gauge exactly what the Hokies have on their revamped offensive line through two games, the second of which was played on short rest and against an FCS team in Austin Peay that allowed Newsome to substitute liberally throughout.
Newsome’s opinion of the line so far? “We’ve been pretty good in protection. I’d like to see us create a little more space in the run game.”
The Hokies have allowed four sacks through two games — two in each game — but have mostly kept quarterback Logan Thomas upright.
The rushing game hasn’t been nearly as effective as last year, though. Through two games, Virginia Tech is averaging 3.88 yards per carry, down from the 4.43 last year (insert small sample size warning here).
But most troubling was the group’s inability to push a smaller Austin Peay front off the line of scrimmage with consistency last Saturday. This was most evident when Thomas was stuffed easily on a quarterback sneak on fourth down in the second quarter.
“That can be a lot of reasons,” Newsome said. “Do they put an extra hat down there? What they do too. But no, I think we will improve in that area.”
Newsome is still trying to find the right mix up front. Tackles Nick Becton and Vinston Painter and center Andre Miller, if his injured ankle is fine, have held their spots down. But there have been — and looks like there will continue to be — rotations at the guard spots.
Michael Via and Brent Benedict rotated at right guard against Austin Peay, with Via getting 37 snaps and Benedict 27. Benedict held the edge in knockdowns, 6-4, even though his grade for the game wasn’t very high.
“[He] brings a real physical presence out there,” Newsome said.
At left guard, Newsome said Matt Arkema is closing ground on starter David Wang. Wang graded out at 85 percent against Austin Peay with two knockdowns in 48 plays. Arkema, who got hit with a costly holding call that halted one drive, graded out at 82 percent in 17 plays, with two knockdowns.
Caleb Farris has progressed too. He filled in for an injured Miller at center more than planned last Saturday, grading out at 80 percent in 40 snaps. He had two bad shotgun snaps earlier in the second half that he sailed on Thomas on a wet field.
“He puts a little more juice on it than Andrew does, so we put a couple snaps on the ground, which was disappointing,” Newsome said. “But other than that, I thought Caleb played well.”
The biggest surprise might be a backup tackle, though. Redshirt sophomore Laurence Gibson, a Hargrave product once ranked as the No. 2 prep prospect by Rivals, has made big strides as Painter’s backup after moving from guard. He played 10 snaps there Saturday and had a nice block on Tony Gregory‘s touchdown run.
While his prospect for serious playing time this year might be slim, the 6-foot-6, 303-pound Gibson gives Virginia Tech a little bit of hope looking ahead to 2013, when the tackle positions will be overhauled once Painter, Becton and Via are gone.
“He has really in this camp overall been one of the most improved guys,” Newsome said. I like what he’s all about. He just keeps getting better. He’s a guy with three years to play and I think he’ll definitely play here before he leaves.”
September 13, 2012 - 2:32 PM
knockdowns should not be a featured measuring stick. An offensive lineman could have 0 knockdowns but opened holes and got push.
True, but it’s a measure of physicality, which is what every o-line coach wants. Benedict clearly has it but the technical side of things is holding him back a little.
Will see when vt starts playing some decent foes. GT was ok, but they should of, could of, would of won the game if only the db’s from GT would of played inside eye to take away the big slant play. Pitt is pitiful and will not not be any test for the NC bound hokies. #13 , what a forest!!
At least we don’t have to worry about having the Wisconsin situation. Sorry, Andy! That wasn’t a jab at you in any way, shape, or form.
What Newsome said is true; still, I would think given the talents those fellows have, they should have been using Austin Peay like those dummies they push on in practice. I think by the time the meat of the schedule hits, the offensive line will be more battle tested by then.
Any OL that is replacing four starters from the year before is likely to have some growing pains. As Newsome says, we’ve been pretty good in pass protection but we need to be more consistent in our run blocking. I think they’ll continue to improve.
And “If Truth Be Told”, if GT’s DBs played with inside leverage to take away the slant, who’s to say that VT wouldn’t have burned them with fly patterns and deep out routes instead? The reason VT ran so many slants is because that’s what the GT defense was giving them.
Truth Be Told is in error. The game was close because of a muffed punt. If we don;t muff we have them behind and they start to pass. That is a long term key to beating GT. You could argue that the last TD was aided by GT going into some sort of prevent defense but if we had lost the only thing that mattered was the muffed punt.
I still say PIT is big and slow and we are big and fast. I just do not understand why our fans have angst about this game other than the famous fam pessimism that pervades because we do drop a game we should win almost every season.
If you CIN burn them I just don;t think they can handle our weapons. I know the comment was made this am that CIN burned them outside. True. But I also saw the CIN QB tear them up inside once he got through the first hole.
Thomas should have a field day on reads. He just has to decide not to try to win the game all by himself.
Andy, there should be Primanti Brothers booths at Heinz. There are at Steeler games. Just trying to keep you from being “Footloose” all over Pittsburgh looking for a restaurant. Get Aaron one to go. He seems to appreciate a good burger.
Maybe someone will finally begin to question the wisdom of Mike Gentry’s ultra-old school approach to strength training. Our OL has been weak for several seasons now, and to confuse weight with strength might be part of the problem.