|
| Your guide to breaking news, recruiting updates and important offers from TechSideline.com! |
 Welcome to
TSLMail #342- Friday, August 8, 2008 |
To Remove Yourself From This Email List: See the instructions directly to the left.
To Change Your Email Address:
TSL Links
TSL Products
TSLMail Archives
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
If you wish to remove yourself from our mailing list:
Thanks, and we hope we haven't inconvenienced you. Will Stewart |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertise
on TechSideline.com! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
TechSideline.com has come a long
way since its inception in 1996. We are the #1 media source and community
covering Virginia Tech athletics, producing an average of 130,000 unique
viewers and 10.5 million page views each month. We reach a coveted
demographic (you know who you are) 24/7, 12 months out of the year. Rooting for their team
clearly represents one of the big passions in the life of our TechSideline.com
community members. This site greatly enhances this never-ending passion through
information, analysis and most importantly through communal dialog and
networking. Our advertising approach
is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way
that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the
site to continue existing and improving into the future. To learn more about
advertising on TechSideline.com, please visit our advertising info page: TechSideline.com is a
vital part of a unique collegiate sports network that reaches nearly 2
million individuals per month. Like TechSideline.com, each site in the SportsWar
network is an organically grown community and the emotional home for its
fans. To learn more about
SportsWar network sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected]
or visit our online media guide- http://www.sportswar.com. To view a list of our
sponsors, please visit our Sponsors
Page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
CampusEmporium.com, the Official E-commerce Sponsor of
TSL
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Our Featured Sponsor |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Kent Square Condominiums,
in the heart of downtown, is Blacksburg�s premier address. These luxury condos
are everything you could hope to find if you are looking for a place to own in
Blacksburg. The condos are complete and waiting for you to move into. The building is complete,
the stores and restaurants are open, the location is unbeatable. The only thing
that is missing is you. Come and experience Blacksburg, living at the town�s
premier address. Get settled in and ready to cheer on the Hokies! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tech Sports News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
NFL preseason camps are in full swing, and all teams will have played their first exhibition game by the end of this weekend. The Hokies have a total of 32 players in NFL camps. Believe it or not, Tech has more wide receivers in the NFL than any other position, except for defensive back, of course. For a program that is known for its toughness and talent in the trenches, that's somewhat surprising. We already knew that the Hokies put out great defensive backs in the NFL, but the Hokies aren't exactly known for their passing game. However, there are currently six former Hokie receivers on NFL rosters, and each one has either already made a name for himself, or he has a chance to do so this year.
Wilford has played his entire career in Jacksonville, but now moves south to play for the Miami Dolphins. He had 37 career starts as a Jaguar, with 121 career receptions. He was brought to Miami to start at one of the wide receiver positions, probably opposite Ted Ginn. He should be one of Miami's top targets this season. Andre Davis began his career in Cleveland, and he always showed potential. However, he could never shake free of the injury bug. After three years in Cleveland, he went to New England, where he caught just nine passes in 2005. He then moved on to Buffalo in 2006, where he had just two receptions.
His reward was a 4-year, $16 million contract in the offseason. Sometimes perseverance pays off. David Clowney spent last season as a member of the New York Jets. He was not on the active roster, but he was a member of the practice squad. He apparently learned a lot since last season. As training camp has progressed, Clowney has been more and more impressive. In the Jets' win over the Browns last night, Clowney had four catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He had two touchdown receptions of over 70 yards and probably earned himself a spot on the active roster with new quarterback Brett Favre. The other Virginia Tech receivers in the NFL are all rookies. They have all been mentioned in the preseason, and all reviews have been positive. Eddie Royal was a second round pick of the Denver Broncos. He was expected to provide immediate help returning kicks, and perhaps see a little bit of action as a slot receiver. He has done a lot more than that. Royal has played so well that he's forced his way into the starting lineup with Brandon Marshall.
By the way, there will be a lot of Hokies in that Denver-Houston game. By my count, we'll see John Engelberger, Eddie Royal, Andre Davis, Duane Brown, Xavier Adibi and Brandon Frye. Josh Morgan was a sixth round pick of the San Francisco 49ers. He has drawn rave reviews for his performance throughout training camp. He certainly doesn't look like a sixth round pick. The 49ers play their first preseason game tonight, and because of a couple of injuries, there is a good chance that Morgan will get the start in his first-ever NFL game. The other starting wideout will be Arnaz Battle. If Morgan plays well tonight, he could move up the depth chart even more. If nothing else, we at least know that he's got a bright future in the NFL. Finally, Justin Harper is playing for the Baltimore Ravens. He played in his first game last night, and had one reception for 18 yards. Harper has made a good first impression in training camp. However, he isn't 100% certain to make the final roster. He is in a competition with a couple of other rookie receivers. Finally, think about this.
Assuming Eddie Royal and Josh Morgan start this weekend, the Hokies will have
four rookies starting their first-ever NFL game. Brandon Flowers started for the
Chiefs last night, and Duane Brown is slated to start for the Texas as well.
What's more remarkable is that three of the players are offensive players.
When you watched Tech's offense last season, did you ever get the feeling that
three of the 11 players on the field would go on to start their first-ever NFL
game? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TechSideline.com
Pass - Your Ultimate Ticket to Hokie Sports!
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
For more info on TechSideline Pass, and to subscribe, click
here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TechSideline.com
Updates From the Past Week
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TSLMail is a trademark of TechSideline.com - Copyright � 2008 - All Rights Reserved |
Virginia
Tech received another commitment for their 2009 recruiting class on Friday
morning. Tyrell Edwards informed Tech's coaches of his intentions to play
college football in Blacksburg, joining his brother Tariq as the 13th
member of this recruiting class.
Raleigh
Hokie is our contributor in this week's Friday Q&A. He tackles
questions about using Tyrod Taylor in goal line situations, why Bud Foster
doesn't rotate his inside linebackers, and what type of quarterback the
coaching staff would prefer to have in the future.
Tom
O'Brien is entering his second year at NC State. He did a very good job in
his first year, coming within one game of getting the Wolfpack to a bowl
game. He did that despite having quarterbacks that threw the ball to the
other team a lot more than they did to their own receivers.
The
Virginia Tech backfield will look different without Branden Ore. Ore was a
little less than 1,000 yards away from breaking the school all-time career
rushing record, but a number of problems forced Frank Beamer to part ways
with the talented runner. The Hokies must replace starting fullback
Carlton Weatherford as well. A number of candidates are lining up,
particularly for the open tailback competition.
This
week's "Catching Up With Coleman" segment of "The Final
Word With George Hunsicker" on ESPN Radio 1430AM in Blacksburg
featured George and Chris talking about Virginia Tech's outlook in
football, key position battles, and ACC foe the Miami Hurricanes (WMA
format, 2.6 MB, 11:00).
As
he awaits the first preseason practice of what will be his senior season,
Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) defensive back/wide receiver recruit Antone
Exum continues on in the recruiting process. The 6-0, 210-pound
prospect, who has yet to narrow his list of double-digit scholarship
offers, has focused his latest travels on the Big 10 conference.
Football
practice began on Monday for Virginia Tech. Beginning this week, and
continuing throughout the preseason, we'll read article after article that
will focus on Tech's quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers,
defensive tackles, as well as the kicking game. While all of that is
important, the truth is that the Hokies may have taken the most important
step towards another successful season over the summer: by all accounts,
they made major strides in their offseason conditioning program.
The
Tar Heels appear to have good players at all positions on offense, however
the most experienced and most polished group is wide receiver. They are
led by Hakeem Nicks, arguably the best wide receiver in the ACC. He caught
74 passes for 958 yards and five touchdowns last season. Similar to Josh
Morgan in build, he has a good combination of all the skills necessary to
be a great wideout: hands, speed, moves, and route running.
Yesterday
afternoon, TSL's Chris Coleman made his debut appearance on Jerry Miller's
new program "The Jerry Miller Show" and talked Hokie football
with Miller. Chris and Jerry talked wide receivers, recruiting, Vinston
Painter and more. The Jerry Miller Show appears on The Sports Addict Radio
Network every afternoon from 1:00-3:00 pm in Blacksburg (1430 AM),
Charlottesville (840 AM), and Bluefield (1050 AM), and from 2:00-4:00 in
Martinsville (1160 AM) (WMA format, 2.8 MB, 12:05).
The
Hokies have a tremendous amount of youth and inexperience at wide
receiver. Only one player in the current three deep at wideout has played
in a college game. It's possible that as many as three true freshmen could
play at wideout this year. Things are a lot better at tight end, where the
Hokies actually have more players than they need this year.
Certainly,
former First Colonial (Virginia Beach, VA) star running back Tony
Gregory would rather be in Blacksburg right now, suiting up for the
orange and maroon and preparing for his freshman year. Gregory's Virginia
Tech career will have to take a detour first, though, and the 6-0,
192-pound prospect is headed to Fork Union on the 14th of this month.
Virginia
Tech began practice yesterday, and there were a few guys who were playing
different positions than expected. Also, we have the status of Virginia
Tech's 2008 football recruits who are not enrolled for this semester, and
information on a couple of players who have left the program.
Miami
is coming off a rough season that saw them finish 5-7 overall and 2-6 in
the ACC, finishing ahead of only Duke in the ACC standings. They lost
their last four games last season, and six of their last seven overall.
Their most humiliating defeats came at the hands of Oklahoma (51-13),
Virginia (48-0) and Virginia Tech (44-14).
Courtland
(Spotsylvania, VA) forward Josh Hairston, one of the most highly
recruited players in the 2010 recruiting class, has earned scholarship
offers from Clemson, Duke, Kansas, Memphis, Ohio State, Virginia and
Virginia Tech, among others. The 6-8, 215-pound prospect would like to
make his college choice by the beginning of his junior season, but he
admits that he is open to waiting beyond that timetable if necessary.
Maryland
returns most of their starters on offense, and could have the best
offensive line in the ACC. However, there are major question marks at
quarterback and running back, and those positions could ultimately hold
the offense back.