Much of Monday night's Hokie Hotline centered on coaches Beamer and Foster discussing personnel -- who's on the two-deep, redshirt decisions, a transfer announcement, who won the special teams jobs, and some mention of injuries.

Three true freshman will play on defense: DE Jim Davis, DT Kevin Lewis and CB Eric Green. Top recruit WR Richard Johnson will redshirt. Beamer said it was announced today that WR Andrae Harrison will transfer.

Pulaski County walk-on Bobby Peaslee has edged out true freshman Vinnie Burns for the punting job. Carter Warley will handle field goals and extra points and a decision is pending as to whether Warley or Mollerup will kickoff.

The coaches said they were pleased with the fall camp. The early game week means that VT lost five practices because of the way the practice days are counted, but Beamer said he was pretty satisfied with what they've gotten accomplished. There typically is more work on goal line offense and defense, he said, but that was an emphasis in spring practice.

Foster said his philosophy is to spend the opening weeks putting in all of the defensive packages to be prepared for what they will see throughout the season, and then concentrate on the first opponent in the final week of pre-season.

Foster gave this rundown of the defense, by position:

He agreed with Bill Roth that Ben Taylor, Nick Sorensen and Jake Houseright give the Hokies the biggest, fastest trio they've had in starting linebackers. There still is inexperience to be dealt with, Foster said, but VT helped itself overall with the moves of Taylor inside from whip, and Sorensen to whip from safety.

Taylor playing inside will give VT aggressive capabilities with the blitz. By comparison, Jamel Smith last year had 4.8-4.9 speed, Foster said, and Taylor has 4.4-4.5. Beamer said he likes Taylor matching up against the tight end in certain situations.

Sorensen offers good coverage ability against spread offenses. Houseright has had a great camp and is the healthiest he has ever been.

Up front, Foster said that DT David Pugh is playing AS WELL AS ANY DEFENSIVE TACKLE VT HAS EVER HAD. He's joined there by starter Chad Beasley.

Lamar Cobb played maybe 40 snaps last year and, while he showed flashes and played well in JV games, he also played like a freshman, Foster said. But he had a great spring and has really stepped up at stud defensive end in the past 4-5 practices. Foster said "he has been a disruption" in the past two scrimmages.

Nathaniel Adibi at the other DE has all the tools but is inexperienced as a redshirt freshman. Foster said he was a tailback in high school who's still learning how to play out of a stance with one hand on the ground.

The corners, Larry Austin and Ronyell Whitaker, have worked hard and can really run. Austin runs better than Ike Charlton did at that position, although Ike was a more physical player. Foster said Whitaker is faster and more physical than Anthony Midget, and really understands the position.

Willie Pile had a great spring, summer and fall. Is physical, has good speed, and sees the field well. Foster called rover Cory Bird "one of the bell cows of this team. I trust him in all he does." He mentioned Bird, Sorensen and fifth-year Phillip Summers (all seniors) as the leaders on defense.

Jim Davis (6-4, 240) won a job as backup at DE. He has picked up schemes and played well. Foster likes the fact that Davis gained a year of maturity at Fork Union Military Academy. Cols Colas, the other backup and a redshirt freshman, "just needs to play at the 4.4 speed he runs."

Kevin Lewis is among the top five at DL. Although hampered with a tender foot, he will play vs. GT. Also in the DL rotation are newcomer Channing Reed (JUCO) whom Foster said has been impressive and a "space eater with good technique" at 295 pounds, and Dan Wilkinson (speed, quickness, technique).

"I feel good about the first (defensive) group. We just need experience," Foster repeated. On the other hand, he's told the defense that "we're green, we can grow."

The broadcast was interrupted by three gaps with no audio, and one of them came at the point where Foster was talking about Georgia Tech. All that was heard was that "we'll see it all" in a season's worth of offensive schemes from GT.

Bill Roth noted that 20 of the present top 22 players on defense will return next year. Later he mentioned that Coach Beamer has said this team is like the Chicago White Sox. Something to the effect of: people don't know us yet, but VT is a good team.

Beamer said the defense has a chance to be good, and that much of it will be come down to how much confidence and maturity it plays with. Such as in what he described as the hostile environment of game three at East Carolina -- do you freeze up or play with confidence.

Beamer said that "Peaslee at the very moment" has won the nod as punter over Burns, although he indicated that the competition will continue and both could still see action. He described Burns as more consistent and "very close to being a very good kicker," but expressed concern over the occasions that he kicks a line drive that gets run back. Peaslee gets good height on the ball for coverage and that seems to have won Beamer over.

Warley bounced back from a lower back problem and kicked well in the last three sessions to edge out Jon Mollerup for the placekicking duties. Beamer said he's not sure yet who will do kickoffs. Warley has the stronger leg and more height, but Mollerup kicked 3 and 7 yards keep into the end zone in the scrimmage. (Maybe it all hinges on Warley's condition??).

Peaslee is the holder for placements, backed up by Shawn Witten. Walk-on Ken Keister from Radford won the snapper job and made all the snaps in the last scrimmage.

Return men are Andre Davis backed by Whitaker on punts; Kendrick backed by Suggs on kickoffs.

Roth asked Beamer for a rundown on the receivers. He said that Wilford is developing well, said something to the effect that Andre Davis can be counted on and then said that Emmett Johnson is the guy who could come on and make a difference for this team. Terrell Parham had his best scrimmage Saturday and Shawn Witten may actually be back for the Georgia Tech game. Beamer credited Witten with spending hours in the training room to bounce back so fast from having two pins inserted in his broken finger. He said walk-on Mike Donahue has made some nice catches in practice, although he missed one he should have caught in the scrimmage.

Richard Johnson made a great play in the scrimmage where he turned what looked like a 10-yard loss into a 15-yard gain. Beamer said he has a bright future -- athletic ability and speed, although at this point they believe it's in Johnson's best interests to redshirt. Something about "his mind ties up his feet" at this point and he just needs to develop.

Then Beamer mentioned the news about Harrison's plan to transfer, in response to a question from Roth who was just casually asking about Harrison's progress. Beamer said it was "decided today" and that he hopes it works out for him. He did not elaborate.

Beamer took a question about how Michael Vick is handling all the publicity. The coach said it hasn't affected him. "He hasn't changed a bit," although the people around him have (through turnover, etc.). He said they've talked to MV about the need to "keep things small," -- "play the game and other things will take care of themselves."

The coach said VT "has to be sure there's some sanity" to MV's life and they try to manage the number of media and access requests during the week.

Roth said that Sharon McCloskey in the Hokie Club office has the chore of handling the many fan requests. She has an office full of MV jerseys that fans have bought and sent in to have MV autograph!

Jim Weaver used a brief recorded segment with Roth to explain his decision to reinstate Derrius Monroe to be able to practice. Weaver said he followed terms of the policy to the letter after consulting with university counsel, President Steger, the prosecutor and Monroe and an academic advisor.

He said the CAP requires suspension in the case of a felony charge until it is "dropped, dismissed or otherwise resolved. This came under 'otherwise resolved.'"

Weaver said it is best that Monroe be allowed to complete his degree, which he is only 31 hours away from as a fourth year student who originally was admitted as a partial-qualifier. (If he meets degree requirements within the four years, he will earn eligibility to play next year.)

Monroe will meet weekly with Weaver and an academic advisor and must show progress while also strictly meeting terms of his probation and VT's "zero tolerance policy," Weaver said.

Weaver said he doesn't care if Monroe plays again, that it is best to allow him to get his degree. The AD said Monroe will miss a "substantial amount of competition" before he would be allowed to play anyway.

ESPN's College GameDay airs live from Worsham Field at 7 p.m. Sunday prior to the 8 p.m. game broadcast on ESPN2. (The new Jumbotron scoreboard will be operational.) Said Beamer: "When GameDay comes back for three in eight games, you know there's excitement."

Coach Beamer will join an ESPN online college football chat at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Detroit coach Bobby Ross called Beamer Sunday to inquire about Jim Druckenmiller. The Lions were considering Druck, among others, as a backup after their number two QB went down.

Beamer talked about his friendship with GT coach George O'Leary and offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen. O'Leary has a lake house about 300 yards from Beamer's in Georgia and the two played golf 3-4 times this summer. Frank said he spent July 4th watching fireworks at O'Leary's house.

As for son Shane Beamer's presence as a graduate assistant coach at GT, Frank quipped that "Shane and I aren't talking this week." Roth wondered about Shane joining the VT staff some day -- "Be the next Bowdens," he said. Beamer said we'll see how it works out -- that coaching is a business.

Wayne Ward began practicing late this fall in order to finish up some academic matters but is back to number three at tailback and will probably be on three special teams.

Fewer than 2,000 tickets remain for Sunday's game, after returning VT students made a run on tickets Monday.

This is Day 317 of Virginia Tech's possession of the Commonwealth Cup. (Didn't think I'd lose count, did you?)

-- GalaxHokie

Hokie Hotline Note Archives