Transfer Portal: Who do we need to target this offseason?

Lil G

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
529
I think Faulkner's ideal RBs are guys that can run the ball, but also move around the formation to be receivers. I think it's a one reason why Jamal Haynes was moved to RB. This season, GT RBs accounted for close to 20% (exactly 17.86%) of the total receptions. Basically one out of every 5 passes were completed to RBs.

Chaney was not very involved with Miami's passing game this year in terms of receptions. He only caught 5 passes this year, 17 total his 3 years at Miami.
Good point. And I feel like that aspect of our scheme will help us with recruiting. RB’s love more opportunities for yards.
However for the 4th and 1 situations (some during this season I wish we went for), many on the board including myself wish we had a bruiser.
I’ve always believed that when defenses see the bruiser come in on short yardage, they are forced to crowd the box- which makes them vulnerable on the outside and anything passing game.
I love Jamal and the type of play he enables. But on certain yardage I do think scheme-wise we could benefit from a 240 pound Derrick Henry looking animal.
 

Techster

Helluva Engineer
Messages
17,855
Good point. And I feel like that aspect of our scheme will help us with recruiting. RB’s love more opportunities for yards.
However for the 4th and 1 situations (some during this season I wish we went for), many on the board including myself wish we had a bruiser.
I’ve always believed that when defenses see the bruiser come in on short yardage, they are forced to crowd the box- which makes them vulnerable on the outside and anything passing game.
I love Jamal and the type of play he enables. But on certain yardage I do think scheme-wise we could benefit from a 240 pound Derrick Henry looking animal.

One way to get "bruiser" type RB results is to use a TE/H Back in short yardage situations. The last TD Haynes King scored on, Dylan Leonard was was to King's left out of the shotgun. We ended using him as a secondary blocker to the pulling OG (Fusile), but if we needed 1-2 yards, Leonard could have easily been that guy running behind Fusile.

Of course, we could also get a 6'0 225 lb RB that can catch passes as well. Bijan Robinson or Shady McCoy type back comes to mind. Two birds, one stone...
 
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stech81

Helluva Engineer
Messages
8,726
Location
Woodstock Georgia
TE but we still need one, I didn't see them play this year but we could use one,

The 6-foot-4, 249-pound Wright is a former four-star recruit in the 2022 class from Perry High School in Perry, Georgia. In two seasons at Virginia Tech, Wright caught 47 passes for 574 yards.
 

iceeater1969

Helluva Engineer
Messages
8,961
ON TE i think Avery boyd Might be able to bulk up and fill there as well
We tailgated w the TE familis for 4 years. Under TFP they have been misreablè - all promises, different blocking schemes. This year the 2 gt recruited TE were shown to be effective blocker which imo is part of why OL progressed this year.
I am all for way more pop passes where TE like boyd and selter do a pop pass down a seam or get YAC in flat. I also respect the time itctakes young hs guys to becresdy to block. I trust Key and Buster to adapt fhe scheme to more passing if we don't have the blocking TE.
 

Golden Tornadoes

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
455
One way to get "bruiser" type RB results is to use a TE/H Back in short yardage situations. The last TD Haynes King scored on, Dylan Leonard was was to King's left out of the shotgun. We ended using him as a secondary blocker to the pulling OG (Fusile), but if we needed 1-2 yards, Leonard could have easily been that guy running behind Fusile.

Of course, we could also get a 6'0 225 lb RB that can catch passes as well. Bijan Robinson or Shady McCoy type back comes to mind. Two birds, one stone...
Techster, you got me on that one. My first impulse when I saw Shady was nah, he wasn't no 225-ish bruiser running back. I only really remember him for being an outright burner in open space. But upon further review, he's listed at 210-ish and has proven to be pretty physical when needed. Good pull!
 

GTHomer

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
898

We were after him in HS. He's a big dude...
If there is mutual interest and the current coaching staff believes he can make a contribution to the team, this would be a good pickup. Coming back home and playing in front of family and friends is always a good recruiting tactic.

I noticed that we currently have 6-7 Dlineman over 290 lbs. with all but one (likely redshirt) making contributions this past season . More big bodies competing for playing time and being a part of the rotation can provide flexibility for different defensive schemes going forward.
 

thebull35

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
212
Location
Stone Mountain

We were after him in HS. He's a big dude...
Comes from a good family that’s all about education. His mom was my principal for 4 years and now is a school improvement specialist for the state. His older sister is the APS teacher of the year. Just putting this out there before the “grades” stuff start being asked.
 

Techster

Helluva Engineer
Messages
17,855
This is interesting. In his 4th full season, WITHOUT Jamey Chadwell coaching him, he posted all time low numbers.

I remember some of our fans saying Chadwell's Coastal Carolina winning records were due in large part to McCall. Well, seeing as how Chadwell moved on to Liberty and continued his success with a new QB (who also put up big numbers), I'd say Chadwell is just a darn good coach.

 

UgaBlows

Helluva Engineer
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6,398
1701292964423.jpeg
 

mts315

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
920
Another one speaking in code....


I don't know what our NIL situation truly is or how much our guys are getting but I find it hard to believe that anyone on our D would be transferring for a big NIL payday. I could maybe see Biggers and Efford getting some solid offers and looks but I would think we could match. Everyone else on our D does not appear on paper to be an obvious upgrade for a team with big time NIL money.
 
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