New o-line coach Jeff Grimes’ goal at Virginia Tech? Develop the ‘toughest line in the ACC’
There exists a back-and-forth in new Hokies offensive line coach Jeff Grimes‘ mind about if toughness is inherent in a lineman or acquired.
He told a story last Friday from his first job as a high school coach in Texas. There was a kid he described as “one of the softest, most mild guys, not only on the team, but in the whole school.”
But he was also one of the biggest, and, despite his lack of a football background, the only one who could adequately fill out his offensive line. Grimes convinced him to play, despite not knowing quite what he’d get.
Not only did the player end up starting, he was the best lineman on the team, an all-state pick who led the team in knockdowns.
“I think part of that is just me setting the vision,” Grimes said. “But the next part is you’ve got to have at least some guys in that room that have that mentality and want to take ownership of that [toughness]. And if you have some guys that do that — and it’s best if they’re the best players in the room — then I think that will rub off on everybody else.
“When you can get the room to the place where they demand it as much or more than I do, then we’re cooking.”
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The words are probably music to the ears of Virginia Tech fans, who saw the Hokies’ once-proud power running game grind to a halt last season. Part of that had to do with an offensive line that struggled to simply line up and mash, something Frank Beamer‘s teams have taken pride in doing over the years.
Enter Grimes, a towering, baritone-voiced, goateed coach who looks like he could still strap on the pads and play. His first message at Friday’s press conference? The Hokies are going to get back to their roots.
“What I’m worried about is developing the toughest line in the ACC,” he said. “And that’s something that is hard to measure and it’s one of those things that you can’t necessarily put a statistic with it, but I think you know it when you see it. That’s going to be my number one goal and approach.
“In order for us to do that, we’ve got to have the mindset up front, in order for us to do the things on offense, particularly running the football, we’ve got to have the approach up front that we’re going to dominate the game from the offensive line position. It’s the only way it works. It’s the only way your offense takes a physical approach.
“We’ve got to be essentially the big brothers of everybody else on the offense. I believe we’re the tip of the spear, so to speak, the first in to fight. And if we do our job with the right approach and the right mindset, then I think the other guys will follow.”
The 44-year-old Grimes has forged that mentality over the years. A lineman at UTEP in his playing days from 1987-90, he cut his teeth under the tutelage of future Boise State and Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter, his first offensive coordinator, and eventual Eagles and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, his first line coach.
Koetter brought him on as a full-time coach first at Boise State (2000) and later Arizona State (2001-03). Grimes continued his stints out west at BYU (2004-06) and for Dan Hawkins at Colorado (2007-08) before joining Gene Chizik‘s staff at Auburn in 2009, where he’d be on the national championship team a year later.
Once offensive guru Gus Malzahn left after the 2011 season, Grimes found a kindred spirit in new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler in 2012. The two clicked immediately, even though they were only there together for one year.
“I’m sure when he was a player, he was the type of quarterback [in college] who hung out with the offensive linemen,” Grimes said. “There are some guys who hang out with receivers and the running backs — not that there’s anything wrong with that — but he’s the kind of guy that was sitting over there with the offensive linemen at their apartment having pizza and just hanging out.
“I think he coaches the game kind of with an offensive lineman’s mindset. Wants to run the ball. A lot of coordinators would really prefer to throw the ball. He would prefer to run the ball more than throw it. And if we can get in a position where we can have success running the football repeatedly, he’s going to keep doing that until they stop it.”
Despite an offensive line that featured two sophomores and two freshmen by the end of the year, Auburn’s rushing numbers didn’t dip as low as the rest of the offense’s statistics last year. The Tigers ranked 78th in rushing offense (148.4 ypg), one spot ahead of Virginia Tech (145.8 ypg). They averaged 4.07 yards per carry, however, to the Hokies’ 3.74.
That year was an anomaly, though. Earlier in Grimes’ time at Auburn, the Tigers’ rushing offense ranked 13th nationally in 2009 (212.0 ypg, 5.0 avg.), 5th in 2010 (284.8 ypg, 6.12 avg.) and 32nd in 2011 (183.3 ypg, 4.42 avg.).
Building an offensive line capable of paving the way for those kind of numbers will be his mission at Virginia Tech, a task made more difficult by the departure of senior offensive tackles Nick Becton and Vinston Painter and utility lineman Michael Via. Grimes thinks it starts by forging a camaraderie.
“If you look around on a football field and what everybody else is doing, they’re kind of playing football and doing stuff that they did when they were growing up in the backyard,” he said. “When you look over at us, you go, ‘Man, those guys are grunting for a living.’ …
“So I think going through the grind together is something that builds unity within that group. … It’s got to be done, because the five of us have to play more closely together in terms of communication and trust than any other position on the field. And because you have to do that, it’s non-negotiable on my part, you have to make sure that it does happen.”
January 29, 2013 - 11:19 AM
I like this coach so far. I hope he is as successful as J.B. Grimes was when he was the OL coach.
I to like Jeff’s attitude. I think he will kick some butts, and turn these boys into men. It sure will be nice to see some open holes for the backs to run through.
When he said he was worried about making Tech’s line the toughest in the ACC, that sealed the deal for me about him, and of course he is also a national championship coach who coached the line that paved the way for Newton and Dyer.
I can’t wait for April 20 so I can see the upgrades in action.
What’s not to like? Hope he can recruit as well as coach. I am so looking forward to the next few years.
If they do improve the tech ground game I only worry that they will be off to another school because tech didnt pay that much to get them
I think you worry about that when it happens if you’re VT. Contracts can always be enhanced. It’s probably not the worst thing if other programs are interested in your coaches.
Hallejuah! I believe we finally are paving the way to a brighter future. A tough coach, with a phenomenal faith. Golson has backed off FSU go for him. I see a couple things we have been missing for 10 years. If they work out we can always pay them more money. It is not always about the money. Grimes and Loeffler both give the impression they want to stay in one place for longer than a couple years. If someone comes calling we will finally have some real offensive coaches in place.
A bit off subject here, but I was wondering if there was any insight as to why Loeffler didn’t interview for the Boston College OC job when Addazio went there? Having already worked for Addazio and done well, seems like he should’ve at least been in consideration. Just a thought.
Now, let’s don’t put the chart before the horses! Get excited when it is time to get excited. Yes, they seem to say the right things.
troy L, I’m not familiar with Addazio or why Loeffler did not interview at BC. I will say that there is quite a difference between the two (VT and BC) programs. Not even counting Won/Loss records, just this year’s recruiting class shows a wide gulf between the two. Rivals had VT’s #2 in conf. and BC’s last. Lane stadium is about 22,000 seats larger than the BC stadium. VT has a much larger alumni base, ergo more money. It’s just a guess that Loeffler wanted to go with higher profile program. Not trying to dis BC by any means as they’ve had VT’s number too many times…
#8 troy, I don’t know why Loeffler didn’t interview, but I do know why the only people that interview there are desperate to leave their current circumstances. Boston College is incredibly, HUGELY, cheap in every aspect of finances for their athletic programs. They’re cheap in funding athletics, they’re cheap in paying coaches, they’re cheap promoting athletics, they’re cheap in financing capital improvements for athletics.
Loeffler got a nice, not overwhelming, salary by coming to VT. Had he gone to BC under similar circumstances, he’d probably only been paid $275K annually than the $400K he’ll get in Blacksburg. Boston College has a solid aura with ESPN (hello, proximity to HQ), but they’re really a bad place to work…
What a quantum leap Grimes seems to be over his predecessor…his picture is in the dictionary under offensive line coach. I think he’ll make an immediate impact on the current kids but will be most impressive when he gets his own recruits.
Go Hokies!!!
I’m aware of the differences between the two schools, I’m a Hokie. Just wondering aloud if the new head coach even considered Loeffler. The BC job was open a lot sooner than VT’s. If not, why? Seems like they had good success in 2011 together while at Temple. Anyway, could’ve been different offensive philosophies or, like you said, maybe Loeffler had no interest.
#13, besides the previous reasons, Addazio already had his guy in mind, anyway. Keep in mind that Temple (and former Hokie) QB coach Kevin Rogers worked under him also, and did not interview for the BC OC job. Not everyone is married to their head/assistant coaches forever, and that’s not really a bad thing. It’s all part of the process.
Andy,
What about Joshua Outlaw can Virginia Tech get him? Are we trying too?
Me likey.
I’m enthused by the new attitude of the offensive coaches we’ve hired here. I think it will take a couple of years to see if this mindset translates into wins….A lot of the winning has to do with the fortunes of football….who we recruit, who remains uninjured, who remains out of some sort of trouble, that sort of thing. And play calling..the whole ball of wax has to come together…so….we’ll see. But I AM enthused.
Welcome Coaches!
Why just the toughest in the ACC? This program wants national recognition.
This team wants to figure into national championships. Then why not aim to be the toughest in all college football?
Eagle – Be a respectable troll and do your homework first. Not only does Grimes say the right things he DOES the right things. Unlike the last guy he will get the job done
Maybe he needs to require all the OL to sport goatees, may possibly scare the opposing DL to death! Woo Hoo!
Maybe he’ll bring instant credibility because of his TRACK RECORD. It must hurt some people that VT just addressed the problem of the weakest part of their team with a quality hire
Grimes is a great recruiter and coach. This will be a homerun hire just hope we can keep him for a couple of years!!! Also I like loeffler’s attitude he knows he has to show what he can do, finally beamer woke up from his 12 year coma!!!