Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 21, 1990 TAG: 9004210197
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
So it seems. And it has made for a different type of spring football practice for the Hokies.
"It's the first spring I can remember in I don't know how many years that we were competitive with the defense, where we actually went out and won some battles," said Tech's Billy Hite, who is in his 16th year as an assistant head coach and running backs coach.
Last year, Tech's offense sputtered until the last six quarters, when it scored 50 points. This spring, the first-team offense - even without its top two quarterbacks and one of its best tailbacks - is expected to shine as Tech closes spring practice with the Maroon-White Game at 7 p.m. today at Lane Stadium.
Quarterbacks coach Rickey Bustle will lead the Maroon (first) team, and outside linebackers coach Bud Foster will direct the White team. Head coach Frank Beamer will watch from the press box.
Quarters will last 10 minutes, the White team will be spotted 20 points and there will be no kickoffs. The ball will be placed at the 35-yard line after scores and to start each half. Each team is allowed one trick play.
Several first-team players will miss the game, including quarterbacks Will Furrer and Rodd Wooten, tailback Jon Jeffries, and offensive linemen Todd Meade and Jimmy Bryson, all recovering from surgery. Safety Damien Russell won't play after having a large wart removed from the bottom of his foot. Defensive end Al Chamblee and inside linebacker Wooster Pack (sore shoulders), receiver Marcus Mickel (dislocated kneecap) and tight end Brad Jones (cracked ribs) will miss the game.
The defense, ranked in the top five nationally last year against the rush and in total yards allowed, has some work to do.
"We're not where we were last year," defensive coordinator Mike Clark said. "[The offense] has got some kids that make 'em miss now. [Defensively] we haven't dominated like we did a year ago at this time."
Several new faces will start for the first-team defense today, including inside linebackers Melendez "Lenny" Byrd and Rusty Pendleton, both of whom are rising sophomores who played on special teams last year. Greg Lassiter will start at one cornerback spot, and Jerome Preston, who will be a sophomore next year, will start at one defensive tackle position.
"We've got to enter fall ball next year knowing we've got to improve," Clark said. "Whereas, last year, we entered fall ball knowing we just had to keep it up. Some of the talent [have not become] good players."
Offensively, Tom Zban will be quarterback for the White team and Eros Sanchez will lead the Maroon team in the first half. The two will switch sides for the second half.
The Hokies' most earnest quest is to find capable second-line players. Last week, Beamer was impatient at the progress of some second-team players. Developing depth is such a concern that, on Wednesday, Tech held a scrimmage only for players not on the first or second units, an attempt to make sure no one had been overlooked.
Defensive backups such as inside linebacker Wooster Pack, tackle Don Davis, ends David Wimmer and Bernard Basham and outside linebackers P.J. Preston, Robert Davis and Harold Banks will be under scrutiny today. On offense, the second-team line is inexperienced, as are reserve fullback Mark Poindexter and reserve receiver DeWayne Knight.
"I really feel we can put 22 good football players on the field," Hite said. "It's a matter of finding some depth behind them. . . . You just don't have the time to do the evaluation in fall that you have in the spring.
"We do have some good young talent. We've just got to make sure they're ready to step in in the fall."
by CNB