Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 16, 1992 TAG: 9203160012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Intentionally or not, coach Frank Beamer's dismissal of two assistants - who also happened to be former Tech teammates of Beamer - has a red light flashing in Blacksburg as spring practice begins today.
"The rest of us, we've been kind of put on notice," Hokies defensive coordinator Mike Clark said recently. "If not verbally, we've seen [that you] get the job done or there's going to be a bottom line. We're working harder now than we've ever worked. Anytime you've had a bad year, you need to do something."
Some Hokies fans may sense Beamer's program peaked when it beat Virginia two years ago. Tech's talent and its hard schedule were well-noted last year; the schedule won as Tech went 5-6, missing a bowl game for the fifth straight year, the longest postseason drought since 1969-79.
So things are changing in Blacksburg. Beamer says not radically, but it's clear the staff feels an urgency. In Clark's words, Tech is changing "the way we do business." For example:
Player evaluation. Among other things, Clark said, the defensive staff will produce a statistical analysis of each player, including a ratio of how many big plays allowed versus how many made.
"We've never been big from a defensive standpoint into statistics," Clark said. "We've never gotten this specific with personnel. If we've got to confront some kids, we'll confront them and let them see the figures."
Clark acknowledged the Hokies' defensive slip from their nationally ranked unit in 1989 and said last year's defense was "very average."
"What did go wrong?" he said. "If it happens next year, we're going to know going in. If we have to address some people problems, we're going to have the numbers to back it up."
Micromanagement. The Hokies' turnover ratio last year was minus-6. Two years ago it was plus-6. Each of last year's turnovers has been scrutinized.
"Who was involved, what happened, how did it occur, is the same guy involved?" Beamer said. "We had one back who fumbled three times going to his left, none going to his right. There'll be a heavy emphasis this spring [on him] going to his left."
Discipline. Beamer preaches aggressiveness, but Tech was penalized 80 times for 705 yards last year, the most penalties (but not the most penalty yards) of any of Beamer's Tech teams. Several of those flags were after-the-whistle fouls.
"The practice itself, the scrimmages and so forth will be more disciplined," Beamer said. "We might have a little altercation after a play. We want them to be aggressive, but we're going to be a team that plays between the whistles."
Recruiting. Beamer's administrative assistant, John Ballein, is conducting a study of Virginia's Division I signees since 1987. The objective is to figure out where the prospects come from so the recruiting areas of Beamer's assistants can be tailored so each gets an area with an equal amount of Division I prospects. That way, Beamer said, nobody is under- or over-loaded.
One thing that hasn't changed in this off-season is Tech's consultation with other coaching staffs. Offensive coordinator Steve Marshall said the Hokies have been talking with coaches from Clemson, among others, as well as welcoming former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen on campus for a visit.
The common thread: Find out how Clemson used DeChane Cameron and how Georgia Tech used Shawn Jones - two quarterbacks the Hokies think Maurice DeShazo resembles.
"We've got some wrinkles I think we're going to utilize that we just weren't ready to use at the end of last year," Marshall said, alluding to DeShazo's limited playing time and limited effectiveness. "I think Maurice will be a completely different quarterback than what you saw last year."
The 1992 Hokies are less experienced and probably less talented than the 1991 edition, but whether Tech is a different team than last year - more efficient offensively, stronger defensively, more disciplined - may be determined in part this spring.
Beamer was asked if he sensed a complacency that led to his staff changes. He said no, but when he fired Duke Strager and Larry Creekmore, he cited the need for a "fresh approach with new chemistry."
"In every program in the country, things need to happen," Beamer said. "I expect things to get done promptly, and I expect as the head of the program I'm the one who needs to get it done, to make sure it gets done."
by CNB