Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 4 | March 2020

20 Inside Hokie Sports at and can do, then that helps everybody. But it’s a great opportunity for J-Webb and Nadir and Brion to get a ton of reps, a ton of coaching and a ton of work, and really for all of them, that’s the best thing that can happen to them. Nadir’s been in and out with some injuries, Brion’s been there and at nickel and hasn’t gotten a ton of coaching, and J-Webb’s been in and out. So it’s a great opportunity for them, even though I hate it’s at the expense of three guys that have played the most for us. Q: Who are some younger players whom you’re anxious to see? Guys whom fans may not know? JH: As I look at my depth chart, here are a few names—Norell Pollard, Josh Fuga, Jaylen Griffin, Derrell Bailey, Keshon Artis, J.R. Walker, Ny’Quee, and Dean Ferguson. Of those, Norell has been the most productive. We think we know what we have in Norell, but he’s young. He’s never been through spring ball. He’s played a lot of plays, but he’s never been through spring ball. The jury is still out on those guys on what exactly they are, who they are, and what they do best. I think it’s up to us to figure that out, and it’s up to them to do the best that they can do within the calls and within the structure that they’re given and give us all the information so we can make an educated decision as to, ‘Hey, here’s what this guy does best.’ Another guy, J.R. Walker, for example, you can give him anything, and he’s going to learn it. Josh Fuga, you can give him anything, and he’s going to learn it. Ny’Quee, I think he’s going to learn it. He’s not been there much for me to get a picture of that, but I know he adapted quickly in fall camp when he got moved to safety. I think it’s important that they all learn and understand not what it takes to be good at this level, but what it takes to be their very, very best at this level. To me, there is a big difference. Q: Where will J.R. Walker and Dean Ferguson play? JH: J.R. is going to be at the nickel spot, and that’s another spot where you’ll see multiple people this spring. It’s Chamarri [Conner] and J.R. right now, but that’s where Ny’Quee and Nasir may get some work, just having the ability to move those guys around … Just having that third guy that’s able to get over there. That’s a spot where Nadir Thompson has done some work. It’s one of those things where, after scrimmage one, we get together and say, ‘OK, is it too taxing to make a switch after a couple of practices and let a guy get some work at a spot?’ As for Dean, right now, Dean is a mike [linebacker], but potentially could get some work at defensive end. At mike linebacker, we’ve got players there and a lot of similar body types. So with Dean being the bigger of the group—other than Barno, he’s the biggest in the room (228 pounds)—maybe he gives us something. It’s one of those deals where, if we put him at end and it works out, we’ve found one. If we put him at end, and it doesn’t work out, then right back to where he was. That’s what spring ball is for and what it’s about. Q: Where do you hope this defense will be by the end of spring practice, assuming you guys are allowed to return to the field? JH: We’ve got to find out what our kids can do and what they do best. A lot of them, we have a good feel. I do, at least, because I’ve been here. The new coaches don’t. They’ve seen the film, but they haven’t been here with them. We’ve got to find out what our kids can do, what they can handle, and what they do best. But for me, more important than anything else, is that we learn and understand exactly what the standard of practice tempo, practice pace, practice intensity, practice precision, is. We teach them that. Our kids learn that, buy into it, and it becomes the norm that it shows up on the film to our standard as coaches for what we’re trying to get them to do. I think, along with that, is that we practice harder for each other. That needs to become the norm. In a lot of ways, Virginia Tech’s defense has done that forever … So it’s our job to cement that, demand it, reward it, to give consequences not as punishment, but as being able to draw off of plays from previous years where we didn’t do that and it cost us. That to me is the most important thing—that our guys play harder for each other than anybody. If we can do that, we give ourselves a chance. STARTING ERA A NEW Continued from page 19