On Thursday night, Virginia Tech football head coach Brent Pry joined Zach Mackey and Mike Burnop on Tech Talk Live at McClain’s at First & Main. They discussed improvements in practice, the state of the ACC, the roster and other topics ahead of Pitt.
This season, Tech Talk Live will air on Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET across the Virginia Tech Sports Network.
Brent Pry
How was practice this week?
It’s been good, the guys bounced back nice, we had them going Sunday. We flipped the switch, made the corrections and got going on Pitt. It was a really good Tuesday and Wednesday, and then today [Thursday]. Today’s a metal day. They’re out there. It’s more of a walkthrough pace, and there’s no gear on. They were really locked in [and had a] good focus today.
Monday is the players’ off-day but 80 still came into the facility:
Yeah, that’s voluntary. They can come in and watch film, they can come in and get a re-gen, get some stretch in, and roll things out, get a light workout and getting hot tubs and cold tubs. We had 80 guys come in on Monday, which is certainly a good sign.
How much of a problem will Drake Maye be for other ACC teams?
I’m going to tell you — he’s one of the best I’ve seen at that age, a redshirt freshman. He’s poised, he runs, he throws, has a strong arm. He’s tough. We saw that. We’ll have to have a better plan for him moving forward.
How will you have more explosive plays on offense at Pitt:
You have to identify the plays that can turn into explosives. Why isn’t this running explosive and why isn’t this pass explosive? We had couple drop balls that were going to be explosive pass plays, right in the clutch. When we can’t do that, and then we had a missed block on two different run plays that would have led to explosive runs, runs 12 yards or more. There’s a couple of those on there like that. We have to make sure we do the right things and give us a chance to have the explosive play.
Do explosive plays tend to build on each other?
In general, you can get a defense on their heels. When you do that, they start second guessing and they’re not firing downhill. That’s a pretty good place to be offensively. We have to get more of that, get the momentum and get defenses on their heels a little bit, make them guess and get them off balance.
How do you guys have to work together on both sides of the ball, complementary football?
We’re the type of team right now, we’re good enough [to not play complementary football]. If we just can generate some positive stuff on offense, we don’t have to knock the doors out and score 60, but if we can get some good stops and merit a few takeaways on defense, minimize points, that’s good. Our field goal operation has been great, knock on wood. We’re punting and we’re kicking the ball out of the engine, but we’re not making any plays on teams. We’re not blocking any punts, we’re not creating any turnovers, we’re not returning any big kickoffs or punts. We just have to do a little bit more in each phase and collectively, that’s enough in the fourth quarter against anybody we play, we have a ball game.
On defensive linemen getting to the quarterback:
We have to generate a better pass rush and make them feel us, especially when you’re playing a kid like Maye, you have to use up those rush lanes. You can’t give him the opportunity. You have to close things and make him feel you, but we didn’t do that well enough. We weren’t on edge well enough. Coach [J.C.] Price and I talked this week and Korey Rush, our grad assistant with the d-line, those guys really worked at it and had a good plan, got a few new drills, and let’s make sure we’re doing what we can to maximize our four-man rush.
It seems like there has been trouble getting going and scoring points, especially in the second half:
There’s a thing about building some confidence, right? You have some success, you build confidence. It comes from running the ball. It comes from connecting on a deep ball like we had to Kaleb [Smith], hitting that explosive run. We just have to be able to create more positive plays, to create momentum.
On the players sticking together and not being discouraged:
The morale and the culture have been really good. I’m proud of the guys right now. It’s tough. Nobody comes to Tech to be sitting at 2-3. I said, ‘Just understand this, guys,’ and they believe it. It’s true. We could be sitting at 5-0. We’re that kind of team, if we do more things right, we can be a 5-0 team right now. What’s to say if we don’t correct these things, we can’t go 5-0 in the next five? So don’t worry about that, just keep working to get better, trust in the process, believe in the fundamentals. It’s coming. We’re closer than you think.
Coach Beamer always said there were a couple plays here and there that can take you out of a game. What have you seen in that area?
We showed those plays to the team, we showed a handful where we could be better, we showed a handful of plays of what we did well. It’s 8-to-10 plays that can change the game. You don’t know which ones they are. It’s about details, it’s about communication, it’s about our mentality. It’s about making sure that we’re accountable to one another in the structure. All of those things are coming and that’s the message. The guys have been really good about sticking to the process. They’re buying in, we’re improving. Now what needs to happen is you need to go play well and win a football game. Then all sudden you get a little momentum and things get going. We have to play well to do that, we can’t go play like we have and stub our toe in so many areas, you’re not going to win the football game against a decent football team.
How has Dae’Quan Wright evolved as a player?
We’ve been excited about him. He’s had to learn the offense, learn the position. They had a third down package for him Saturday and he went out, executed, he caught the ball. Sometimes when those freshmen go out there, you want to see, is the game too big for him? Do the lights get to him and they look different than they do in practice? But he really handled it well. He’s earned more playing time. We’re excited about Dae’Quan.
You also threw a couple of freshmen corners out there as well:
Yeah, those guys Mansoor [Delane] and Cam Johnson, this week you’ll see Devin [Alves]. All three of those true freshmen, all talented guys, all got strengths, weaknesses right now, but I’m excited about the opportunity they’re getting.
What was your takeaway with the secondary in last week’s game?
For the matchup, I think we played pretty well. We had to do a better job on the quarterback and the scrambles and their wideouts made a couple of plays, which they’re going to, but for the most part, the guys that were out there executed coverage. They have to make a few more plays. The disappointing thing was the third down and longs. We had a bunch of third down and longs and didn’t convert on any of them. We didn’t get off the field, we were o-fer in that situation. Some of that was Drake [Maye] scrambling and keeping the play alive, either throwing or running for the first, but we were putting the group in positions. I thought the secondary did a pretty good job against such a veteran group that had a bunch of explosive players.
The crazy stat at halftime was they were one-for-six on third downs but three-for-three on fourth downs:
It’s like I told the team, there were two fourth downs where it was a lack of communication, and then we had a nice play by them. You go one-for-two, those are momentum changers. I think it was 3-0 us or 7-0 or whatever it was and they had fourth down and three and they go for it on that first drive when they get down close and we bust, lack of communication. They shifted and we didn’t get a dropper right where the ball was thrown.
It’s a matter of communication, which is one of our fundamentals and if you make that play, all of a sudden momentum is on our side and we have a chance to go do something. You get them to fourth down and the quarterback’s about to get hit, he just chucks it up. Chamarri [Conner], he’s really in good position, it’s underthrown and the wideout makes the play. Those balls can go either way.
Coach Mack Brown was aggressive out of the gate, wasn’t he?
I think they wanted to capture the momentum and get going. They were able to do that. Like I said, you go for it on fourth down, we had opportunities to get off the field there and do a nice job, we just didn’t get it.
Was it encouraging to see Will Johnson get some playing time at linebacker?
It was good to see Will out there. He’s one of our harder workers. He’s a tough guy, smart, he’s got a bright future if he keeps trying and stays healthy.
The Will linebacker spot is still a work in progress, most of those guys have never played it before. How has that transition been?
It’s still a revolving door right there. It’s kind of Will by committee, between Keli [Lawson], [Jaden] Keller, and [Jayden] McDonald, all three of them do some things well, but nobody has done well enough to capture the position and own it. We have a good competition going there. We do have depth because we’re rolling those guys. I’m anxious to see them. I do feel like they’re improving each week. They did a nice job this week in practice so I’m anxious to see what they do Saturday.
Run game improvements defensively:
We have to be better there. With as hard as we work at it, as much as we load the box, I’m excited about the challenge this weekend with Pitt. They’re committed to running the ball. We know that we have to be physical and fit, tackle well, all the things that are fundamental to good defense.
You said the other day, you go as your front goes:
I believe that both sides of the ball, your o-line establishes the line of scrimmage, your d-line establishes a line of scrimmage. We have to keep trending; we have to get better in both areas. I think have the guys that can do it. We have to have the mindset, the demeanor, the execution to go do it every snap.
How has Joe Rudolph has implemented changes in the offensive line?
The repetition of technique and footwork that Joe goes through with those guys is impressive. I’ve never been around anybody that’s done it that consistently. You have a chance to rep something over and over and over until you can’t get it wrong. That’s the process we’re going through right now. Joe’s got a great plan. He’s a great teacher, the guys are bought in, we just have to keep trending the right way and keep getting better. If we do that, get Malachi [Thomas] back in the mix, Keshawn [King] and [Jalen] Holston, together as a unit right there, [we have to] find a way to run the ball better.
You ended up not having to deal with much rain at UNC:
That was nice. We were prepared for something else, and we had to navigate it on the way over there. We had six buses and there were 40 mile per hour gusts and it rained the whole way. Bus drivers did a great job.
On Georgia Tech beating Pitt:
Anybody can beat anybody on any given day you know, you play your A-game, and the other team doesn’t, they don’t play well. Three takeaways for Georgia Tech, none for Pitt. Three takeaways in a game with that final score, that’s going to be the difference.
What is it about teams winning after firing their coach?
I don’t know if it brings them together as much as they get a spark. They get motivated. Everybody’s got a chip on their shoulder and they have something to prove, and the interim guy gets some of the rah rah. It’s good. I’ve seen it a bunch of times over my career.
Tell us the story of the fourth string linebacker at Penn St. who became a starter:
Jason Cabinda, he plays for the Detroit Lions now. He was a linebacker, true freshman from New Jersey, fourth string in preseason camp. When we did our walkthroughs before practice and during practice, you only went to first two groups. So here he was as the fourth teamer, and every walkthrough, he put himself back behind the guys that were watching. He went through the walkthrough, just like the starter did. Then he would do it again when the second team went, he gets his stance, he’d do the footwork, he’d make the calls. Lo and behold, we have a bunch of injuries. Week four, he’s got to start, or at least play a lot. He played so well, he earned a starting nod the next week and he started like 35 straight games for me and is in his fifth year in the NFL.
That’s what’s so exciting with young guys on the roster, you never know what you’re going to get:
It’s exciting. Especially when you see guys preparing, you tell them that they have to prepare like they’re a starter. If you’re the backup, you’re one play away from being a starter. If you’re third team, you’re one injury away, one play away from being the backup, being in the mix, being in a rotation, they have to believe it. A lot of these guys had come out of high school, they were rock stars and all this stuff, they were the best player on their team. They come here and they’re third or fourth on the depth chart. They just have to keep believing and keep working. That’s our job as coaches, keeping invested, keep them investing and believing and working. And when the opportunity comes, they have to be ready.
How do you decide who gets redshirted?
That’s everybody. That’s the staff, that’s the player. If it’s a crucial decision, it’s the family also. I think it’s awesome. For the majority of our freshmen, not all of them, the majority of them, we’re going to try and get them four games in some way shape, or form just to get some experience. We’ve talked about that and we’re kind of getting at that point now where, maybe you’re going to play this guy, four games, then redshirting and play the next guy four games so you can still redshirt guys but get them that four game experience.
Bryce Duke was your short yardage guy against UNC:
Bryce is super mature. He’s a hard worker. He didn’t say anything. He just grinds it out. He’s smart, he’s one of those guys. He had a ton of production as a high school player. What’s allowing him to play is when you come in as a freshman, you have to handle it socially, which is big as a freshman in college, academically, emotionally, you have to handle all of it to feel like we can play you. It’s not just enough to be talented. Bryce is the total package and he’s done a nice job. The coaches felt good about playing him. He has a role on special teams, he has a role on offense.
Do you like the decision to allow players to play four games and still redshirt?
I think it’s a good rule. In fact, as head coaches in the ACC, we’ve talked, we’d like to see it be four games plus the bowl game. Right now, the way players opt out for those bowl games, rather than play guys that really aren’t ready, you’d love to have the opportunity to go ahead and play those freshmen. Practice some of those 15 bowl practices and play them in a bowl game. If this opt out stuff keeps trending like that, it’d be great to have that fifth game.
What’s your take on players opting out of bowl games?
You hope the guys want to play, but in the end, it comes down to a business decision. It’s not just them, it’s their family, it’s their agent. They’re saying, “Listen, is it really worth an injury to go play in this bowl game?” I know they’d like to. I know they want to, but the agent or somebody in his ear saying, “Hold on now, you’re projected to be a fourth or fifth round guy, you go out here and get hurt…”
You try to educate them to make an informative decision, the best decision for them. You want them to also to think about their team and their teammates, and whatever happens, this college experience, you’ll never get it back. They have a chance to go play one more game with their teammates and that’s pretty special. I think the other piece of it, you’re going to start seeing NIL contracts that are inclusive of bowl games, where these guys stand a chance to make additional money If they play in the bowl game and lose money if they don’t.
Was it a surprise for Pitt to lose to Georgia Tech?
I think it’s just too early, right? Those preseason rankings and all that stuff, I don’t pay any attention to it. As coaches, you realize there’s a lot that has to happen and you have to prove yourself week-in and week-out. Until you get into the season, you really don’t know what you’ve got. It’s a good Pitt team. Obviously, Georgia Tech’s a little bit better than people thought.
Pitt’s got a good quarterback, he can be a handful:
He’s got that it-factor. He can run a little bit. He throws a nice ball. He’s a gamer. It’s hard to pin him down. He’s been knocked around and he’s tough. He keeps playing and he has a run game that supports him, which makes every quarterback feel pretty good.
On Israel Abanikanda leading the ACC in all-purpose yards:
He is a tough runner. He’s big, he’s explosive. He’s a good back. I will say 22, the guy that steps in for him, he’s like, 5-8, 180, he is hard to get down. You watch him this season, really the last couple years, I’m familiar with the kid. He’s a good back. We have to finish on him. He’s a senior, he’s a veteran, he makes you finish the play. Whether we see two, I think six is a pretty good player. We’re not sure if he’s playing or not. He’s been banged up a little bit. 22 is definitely a healthy guy, and he had a bunch of carries the other night.
Their tight end Grant Bartholomew is impressive:
He’s a good player. He hurdled a guy on the sideline and took it all the way to the house. He’s a nice tight end for them.
What stands out to you on the Pitt defense?
We talked about the front setting the tone and for a couple of years now, they’ve done a nice job with their defensive line. They play on the other side of the line of scrimmage, they’re physical, they’re explosive, they get after the quarterback, they merit TFLs. They’re not real fancy on defense. They have a group up front that gets after it. I’m very familiar with the roster. Lot of these kids were guys we recruited to a degree at Penn State, so there’s some good football players there.
Their offensive line has experience as well:
They have a veteran group, they do a nice job, they fit things up well, and they handle glitches and schemes. They go against their defensive line every day. Iron sharpens iron, they make each other better.
Pitt is first in the ACC, 10th in the country in time of possession. How important is that going to be?
Really important. These guys can run it, but then they play action pass to extend plays and keep the series alive. That’s how they win football games. They don’t have the dynamic wide out. They have some good ones, but they don’t have the guy like they had last year and I think that’s their plan.
Do you know Frank Cignetti Jr., Pitt’s offensive coordinator?
I’ve talked to him on the phone a couple of times, ton of respect for him. He’s a good football coach. He’s a veteran football coach. You put the film on, it’s very obvious it’s his offense, it’s what he’s done in other places. This guy has been in the pros. He’s been a coordinator a bunch of years and it’s a well-coached group.
How about the overall state of ACC football?
I think it’s a little bit early to tell. I think you have to like what Wake Forest is doing. Clemson, people want to hate on them, but they’re doing a nice job. They’re taking care of business. I think Florida State’s got a good football team. It’s shaping up to pretty be a pretty good league.
You had five officials at practice yesterday. What was the feedback you got afterwards?
We’re going to ask them about every penalty that was called in practice, I want them to explain it to the team, why it was called, how to avoid it, not just why it was called. What do you do to help the official not be looking for that? It was good. We’re just trying to educate them, don’t put it in the hands of the official.
When you make it a judgment call, it’s 50/50, it has a chance to go against you. Be smart in those situations. The guys are doing a good job. A couple of those guys are ACC officials, and I’m asking them to call it like they’d call a game. We did a third down segment against the offense, they called it for real and it was good. I think we have to keep doing that.
Do you agree with the no targeting call on Stephen Gosnell at UNC?
It was certainly questionable. We turned it in, we sent it into the officials and they confirmed that there wasn’t. Stephen got hit, which kind of was to the head, he spun out of it. He really made a nice play, and then he got hit again, kind of in the head, and then that kind of cleaned him up. It’s one of those things if you’re really about protecting the players, you err on the side of calling that targeting. That’s what I think, if that’s really what the intent of the rule is, then okay. It was a judgment call. If you’re going to err on the side of protecting the kids, that one should have been called. That’s why we turned it in.
Who is wearing 25 this week?
Nasir Peoples, he’s having a nice year for us, quietly. He missed a few tackles against West Virginia he’d like to have back, but for the most part, he’s putting together a really nice year. He covers kicks for us on special teams, plays about every snap he can on defense. You talk about somebody that embodies everything that you want from No. 25, he’s doing that for us.
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My goodness…..a no comment article. I fix that!
I’m sure this football program can’t turn things around soon enough. Especially for Will.