Friday Q&A With Chris Coleman: What's Different With Virginia Tech's Offensive Line?

0:00FanDuel is now available everywhere in the U.S. So you can get in on the sports action no matter where you are, including these places. Made this your most rewarding season ever with FanDuel. Agent location restrictions apply, product availability varies by market. C-FanDuel.com for eligibility, gambling problem called 1-800-Gemma. The Hokies hit the road, but we're still here in Blacksburg for the video edition of the Friday Q&A. We are recording in the tech solution studio and this video is brought to you by First Bank and Trust Company. I'm Robbie Ackeryly, to my right, lead, analyst and columnist Chris Coleman, and is always Nick Brown pressing the buttons behind the scenes. Chris week number three, first power opponent for Virginia Tech, you ready to rock? Yeah, let's do it. Alright, so first question comes from B-Brand-Zelten, who asks,

1:02Chris, is Saturday the day we finally see DQ Smith and when will we see him make an impact? Well, we actually saw him for 11 snaps this past week against Old Dominion. I think he's one of those high IQ players because he started as a true freshman for South Carolina back of the day. You're talking about a four-year starter in the SEC and a good player. So you've got to know what you're doing out there, but at the same time, you know, he hadn't taken contact since last November. Right? And then he didn't join Virginia Tech for practice until right at the end of the preseason, just a few days before the VMI game. So there's a certain ramping up period. You can't expect him to 100% have the dust kicked off this early. So I think we'll see, see like a steady increase in his snaps and probably somewhere midseason, we'll see him play in a lot. Alright, well, second question comes from Kay Peizelski, who asks, who has the most approved this week? Franklin or Loxley? I would say Loxley. I mean, you're talking about their last, oh my, their last 18 big 10 games.

2:05He's gone two and 16. You know, he's the one that's on the hot seat here, not James Franklin. I think James Franklin is successful partly because he always feels like he has something to prove. He's always driven. I think he's got a major chip on his shoulders since being let go by Penn State. And he wants to recruit a well in Maryland, of course. So I think he's going to feel like he has a lot to prove, but I think from where they are right now when their jobs, it's probably Loxley because, you know, overall, he's done a solid decent job there at Maryland, but it has trended down the last couple of years a lot. And we've seen two last year they started four in a, and then went four and eight. The year before that, they started three and one and went four and eight. So Maryland fans are probably wondering, are they actually improved this year or is it two and a start? Fools gold because it could be either one. And so I think he's got a lot to prove certainly more than Franklin at this point. Yeah, we know the history between these two coaches, obviously. How do you think the exchange is going to be when they do see each other on Saturday? It should be fine.

3:05You know, both both guys were very complimentary of the other in their press conference this, this week. I think sometimes people make too much of some of the stuff that happens right after a game because, you know, college football is an emotional sport and these are highly motivated people and, you know, emotions get high like that. And sometimes people say things before there's a cooling off period. And I think I think they'll be fine. I think Franklin really wants to beat him. I think he really wants to beat Maryland for a large number of reasons. But I think they might, I don't think they're each on each other. I don't think they see any other Christmas cards. I'll put it that way. But I don't think you, I don't think you're going to see any incidents. Yeah. Well, tech sideline is presented by First Bank and Trust Company. Manage your money with ease. First Bank and Trust Company's industry leading digital banking experience provides you with all of the essential tools to manage your full banking relationship from one convenient platform. Access digital banking through the online banking login on desktop and tablet devices or on the go through the first bank and Trust Company mobile banking app.

4:05Who you choose to bank with can make all the difference. Choose first bank and Trust Company with over 30 locations in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Last question here, Chris comes from Bilster who asks, are you seeing anything different with the offensive line coaching. We seem to have more talent, but our fundamentals seem off and we seem to have trouble handling blitzers. Do you agree? And if so, is it a technique issue or communications issue? Well, we've gotten to see about 20 minutes of practice per week since the beginning of the Brent Briarra. So it's not, I don't have a tremendous amount of ability to compare and contrast how the coaching is going. I mean, this is Matt Moore's second year in a row. I will say the one thing that's changed this year is there's an extra offensive line coach in there. So none of those three offensive line coaches and they can split those guys up into threes and get more reps during individual drills. And things like that in practice because you can have one coach leading each group. That's probably the one thing that has changed, I would say. It's up with offensive line. It's something that takes time.

5:06And I know that frustrates people, but that's just the honest truth. It's the position on the field that is most dependent on physical strength. And the longer you have in a weight room, theoretically, you know, the better you're going to be in Virginia Tech starting three guys that, well, if you still call them red shirts off more as they'd be red shirt sophomores, I guess tech lists them as juniors since they're third year players. But you're talking about a trio of guys in the starting lineup that are less than halfway through their careers. And they're adjusting to a new offense too. I think some of it is just an experience thing. Some of it's a communication thing. Some of it is maybe a little a strength thing and you know, you give it another year or two in the weight room and they'll be fine. But rebuilding an offensive line is not an overnight process. And you look around the country, not that many teams actually have a good offensive line. And in Virginia Tech fans, I feel like we got spoiled a little bit like back in 2020, 2021 with those offensive lines that were dominant and all those dudes went to the NFL.

6:09But you know, that's that's not how it is for most teams. I think it's it's it's the position that requires the most physical strength and the most cohesiveness between five different players. So when it works properly, it's beautiful when it doesn't work properly. You know, it can just be just a stick second off and it just looks ugly. So it's just one of those things you've got to be patient on and I don't think they've looked any different so far than I thought they would look coming into the season. They were always going to be I don't recall them the week link, but you know, the most inexperienced link on the offensive side of the ball. Just kind of to wait it out. Thank you, Chris. So we've got for you this morning and we thank you guys for this week's suggestions. Drop any future questions down in the comments section below. As always, be sure to check out the actual Friday Q&A article on techsideline.com Plus check out the text side line podcast as episode five, I'll five came out just a couple of days ago. Follow us on socials at tech side, London. Hey, and if you enjoyed today's video, be sure to drop a like and subscribe as it is free for our producer Nick Brown.

7:11We want to only Chris Coleman. I'm Robbie Acquirely saying so long from the tech solution studio and we'll see you next Friday.