Virginia Tech Football: Week 4 Spring Practice Stock Report

The theme of last week's scrimmage was offense for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Predictably, things trended back in favor of the defense in Tech's final scrimmage before the spring game this Saturday in Blacksburg.

However, it wasn't as if VT's offense struggled. Quarterback Michael Brewer did throw three touchdown passes in the scrimmage, per Tech's official website. For the day, the offense managed 278 total yards, although the first-team defense allowed just one score. 

Even better news for defensive coordinator Bud Foster, the Hokies allowed the offense just 53 yards on the ground and finished with 13 sacks.

It's important to note that the defense cannot hit the quarterback in scrimmages, but it was a positive development nonetheless. Foster has struggled to find depth at defensive end this spring with Ken Ekanem out, so getting in the backfield on so many occasions has to make Foster happy. 

Head coach Frank Beamer certainly felt last week's defensive performance had Foster and his troops fired up, per Andy Bitter of The Roanoke Times:

“I think they got their pride hurt a little bit last week,” head coach Frank Beamer said. “I think probably coach Foster visited with them about that and I think they played with a better effort and their technique was better for the most part.”

While things were a bit more even in the final scrimmage, offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler has to be pleased with his side of the ball. When was the last time a Virginia Tech offense looked this good in spring practice?

Yep, it's been awhile.

Secondary Still a Question Mark

The best thing about spring practice is you don't have to have your best players out there in practice everyday. It presents a great opportunity for coaches to work younger players into the lineup. Coaches can move guys around to see where certain players fit the best. Foster and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray have been doing it for years. 

Foster and Gray's latest project is junior cornerback Chuck Clark. Originally, coaches wanted to see Clark at safety this spring. But, with projected starters Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson out all spring, Clark has primarily played cornerback.

Clark has delivered, but some of his younger teammates have had their fair share of struggles.  

Specifically, freshmen Terrell Edmunds, Shawn Payne and Mook Reynolds have taken their turns getting beat. The younger players aren't getting beat because they lack the physical talent but because they are either out of position or biting too easily on double moves. Fortunately for Foster, this is the best time of the year for the young guys to get their feet wet. 

Clark has taken more of a leadership role this spring with Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner no longer on campus. On Saturday, Clark prodded some of his younger teammates to step up, per Bitter.

"Somebody in the group has got to pep us up, get us ready," Clark said. "I used to be the one on the outside of the circle, rocking around with everybody else, but now that the older guys from last year are gone, it’s my turn now."

Clark's ascension into more of a leadership role is great news for Hokie fans. Fuller and Facyson—hopefully—will be ready this fall. Clark gives the secondary more flexibility, as he can play either cornerback spot or—perhaps his most natural position—free safety.

Vinny Mihota Is Now a Defensive End—Sort Of

Virginia Tech's depth chart, released at the beginning of spring practice, listed redshirt freshman Vinny Mihota as the backup at nose tackle. 

Now, the 6'5", 270-pound Mihota may not be playing nose tackle at all in 2015. In fact, Mihota may crack the two-deep at defensive end this fall. 

Credit: 247Sports

Mihota, who originally came to Tech as a defensive end in 2014, moved to defensive tackle last year and redshirted. His move to defensive tackle was due in large part to his size. VT generally likes smaller, quicker defensive ends, and Mihota—a good athlete himself—was much bigger than the traditional Hokie defensive end. So, coaches moved Mihota inside to tackle to take advantage of his athleticism.

Now, with depth a major concern at end, Mihota is getting a shot to get on the field at his original position.

Defensive line coach Charley Wiles doesn't see this is a permanent move for Mihota but more of a way to get his best eight players on the field, per Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

"

We're not moving Vinny. We're looking to get our eight best football players on the field. That's what we're going to do. Vinny, we got him in the right spot. Can he be as productive as a defensive end? We'll see, I know he's one of our eight best football players. 

"

This likely isn't a permanent move, and Wiles is right: Mihota is definitely one of VT's top eight defensive linemen. However, it's the lack of depth that is precipitating this move whether coaches admit it or not. 

Mihota seems to agree with Wiles on the switch.

"That's kind of the reason for the move, to get me in the top eight," Mihota said, per Barber. "I feel like that's kind of the idea, I can play both."

Expect Mihota's future in Blacksburg to be at defensive tackle. But whatever he can do to increase his versatility and help the Hokies win, it's a good move for everyone. 

Offensive Line Setting the Tone

Tech's offense has been a major surprise this spring. But all everyone wants to talk about is Michael Brewer, Brenden Motley, Bucky Hodges or Isaiah Ford. 

It's actually the offensive line that has improved the most.

Stacy Searels is entering his second season in charge of the Hokies offensive line. He has a year under his belt to see who can play and who can't. One of Searels' best moves last year was inserting former defensive lineman Wyatt Teller into the starting lineup at guard.

The rest is history.

Teller took to his new position better than expected and looks the part of a future All-American entering his sophomore season. A good athlete, Teller is still learning the proper pass-blocking techniques. However, he has already proved to be a dominant run-blocker.

Eric Gallo has stepped in at center and given that position some stability.

Junior Augie Conte, the starter at right guard, feels like he and fellow classmate Jonathan McLaughlin—the starting left tackle—have given this group a new attitude being the two elder statesmen of the unit, according to David Teel of the Daily Press:

"

Jon and I, we've kind of had it with the whole mentality of the last couple years. The offensive line, I think the whole mentality was just to get by. Jon and I kind of made a decision during the offseason to pretty much say we're not going to just get by. We're going to dominate. I think all the guys have really bought into that. I definitely think we're making the steps to go in that direction. We need to make a couple more, but I think we're on our way. I think the offensive line has definitely been a weak point the last couple years.

"

If Conte is right and this group can become dominant in 2015, the Hokies stand a really good chance of returning to the ACC Championship Game once again. 

The annual spring game takes place in Lane Stadium this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. That will wrap up spring practice for the Hokies. Admission is free.