Spring football gives Hokie gridiron fans a small fix to tide them over until fall. Most of spring practice is spent speculating on depth chart, checking out the performance of 1st and 2nd year players, and closely watching every practice (and virtually every rep) at positions where there is intense competition for a new starter.
This means you'll hear a lot of talk from coaches, fans, and bloggers about certain players, especially key guys who are expected to fill slots left vacant by graduation (Barquell Rivers/Jake Johnson, Jaymes Brooks, Rashad Charmichael...the list goes on). In this post, I'll talk about some players less focused on here in April but that I think will either be A) critical to team success or B) unexpectantly important contributors.
1) Josh Ogelsby (RB) - Honestly if you are following spring practice updates its hard for any player to be invisible, and Ogelsby has already received some high praise from his practice and scrimmage performance. But most fans focusing at running back going into 2009 will be looking first on whether Darren Evans can again carry the load like he did in 2008, and second how the Hokies can put big-time recruit and play-maker Ryan Williams effectively into the offensive and on the field (Williams has already made his own splash in some scrimages). Come August, the Hokies will also have even more RB-candy when stud recruit David Wilson from Danville arrives.
However I see Josh Ogelsby making a significant impact at the position in 2009. I've always liked the Hokie offense when Billy Hite platoons RBs and plays 2 equally in a game until he finds the one that's hot. He's gotten away from that in recent years. When Kevin Lewis went down last year I expected Evans and Ogelsby to get more of an even number of carries than eventually played out. Fans are going to be wowed by Williams play-making, but Ogelsby will be the more complete 2nd back, more experienced in running, blocking and protecting, catching the ball out the back field, and generally a guy Hitewill be able to trust more given he's been in the system several years now. JO will make some big plays and will be a player who the Hokies won't be able to afford to keep off the field.
2) Chris Drager (TE)- Tight End is another position where there is a bit of a log jam of talent, with Greg Boone the clear starter, former starter Sam Wheeler coming back from injury, plus a very proven Andre Smith available as well. But the young sophmore Drager showed a lot of play making ability before getting hurt last year, and I think has a more natural route running and pass catching ability than the others. Of course, there aren't a lot of footballs to share amongst TEs, but don't be surprise if Drager is one of Tyrod Taylor's go to receivers (something like Jeff King was to Bryan Randall) by end of year.
3) Ed Wang and Sergio Render (OL) - The Hokie offense line will be revamped and hopefully revitalized this year with new Virginia Tech jersey numbers all over the 2 deep. Several 1st and 2nd year starters like Blake DeChristopher, Greg Nosal, Beau Warren, Jaymes Brooks, plus key back ups like Michael Via and Will Alvarez promise to make this one of the most athletic hopefully deep OLs we've had in a while. But while everyone is excited about the young pups, its Wang and Render who will anchor the line and be key to success.
Render is not practicing this spring due to shoulder surgery, partly why there's no buzz on him. But he's started almost since the day he arrived on campus, and should clearly be the best guard on the team (a 3 year starter). He needs to be a dominant guy who can muscle opposing DTs and establish the LOS.
Wang is also a multi-year starter (though he missed a bunch of games last year to injury) and is being moved from right tackle to the left tackle position for 1 reason: protect Tyrod's blind side. Enough said.
4) Cam Martin (Whip) - Martin's another multi-year starter not practicing due to injury so there's no focus on Cam right now. All the focus is on how well the other 2 LB positions left empty from graduation can be filled by Rivers and Johnson, or maybe someone else. This is important, but if Martin doesn't have an exceptional senior season and provide some leadership on the defensive side of the football, it won't matter much.
The whip position is a play-maker, Bud Foster's toy to blitz, wreak havoc, make INTs, but also plug-leaks and mask weaknesses. Its a position he uses to make adjustments, and out-think your quarterback. If Cam Martin is making a lot of plays this year, its a good thing.
Go Hokies!
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