ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 6, 1996 TAG: 9604090008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
Today, let's tackle a weighty subject.
Virginia Tech won the Sugar Bowl three months ago, and it looks like the Hokies' offensive line has swallowed it since then.
J.B. Grimes is the Hokies' offensive line coach. He was a 5-foot-8, 215-pound lineman during his playing days at Henderson (Ark.) State. He's coached in the Southeastern, Big Eight, Southwest and Big East conferences and ``this is the biggest offensive line I've ever had.''
He isn't coaching this spring with only a whistle. He's using a calculator. The Big Ten isn't just a conference. It's Tech's two-deep front.
Sure, some of the Tech titans will trim down a bit before September, but it won't be only for the spring game two weeks from today that the Hokies' front will average more than 300 pounds. Right now, the expected five starters for Frank Beamer's club weigh a combined 1,568 pounds, or on Grimes' calculator, 313.6 per man.
Tech might not have to worry about quarterback Jim Druckenmiller getting sacked. Opposing defenses may not be able to see him. Beamer and Grimes don't consider their line a huge problem. It's not only the Hokies' biggest line; it's also potentially the best, thanks primarily to the developmental program run by strength coach Mike Gentry.
``Mike has the best program I've ever seen,'' Grimes said. ``He does a superb job with big people. We're a little bit heavy, but these guys aren't fat. They just left the phase where you build muscle mass, and haven't quite gotten to the aerobic stage.''
It seems that annually, Tech's recruiting classes end up graded no higher than the middle of the Big East. Somehow, with an unprecedented three straight bowl bids, it's obvious the Hokies have had good teams. Some of it is coaching. Some of it is players making themselves stronger.
Tech has been near the top of the Big East since the league began playing round-robin schedules. Tech recruits speed over other skills, then ``coaches'' strength. An example is redshirt senior Jay Hagood, the Hokies' starting left tackle. He was recruited as a tight end, at 260 pounds. Now, he carries 309 pounds on his 6-foot-41/2 frame, but he's kept much of his quickness.
``This might be our most athletic offensive line, as well as the biggest,'' Beamer said. ``We don't often recruit offensive linemen, unless they're centers [for their snapping skills], because if they can't play there, there's no other place for them. Most of our offensive linemen were defensive linemen or tight ends.
``We look for guys who can move, then we add size. The bigger we are, the better we are. It's mostly about the length of your arms, and how you work your feet. We're not into guys just wallowing around.''
Grimes said that if an offensive lineman has a body-fat content in the 18 percent range, ``that's what you want.'' Hagood is right there. His vertical jump is 28 inches. He runs 40 yards in 5.18 seconds. He isn't the face that lunched a thousand shrimps, but he does admit to ``going back three or four times'' to the chow line at dinner.
The Tech campus has one more Washington Monument than the nation's capital. Brothers Todd and T.J. Washington are 324 and 338 pounds and the Hokies' starting left guard and right tackle, respectively. Grimes said T.J. needs to drop about 20 pounds. His ``little'' brother jumped 28 inches and ran the 40 in 5.1 and also squat-lifted 655 pounds.
Tech's defense has noticed a difference up front, too. At a recent scrimmage, the offensive linemen approached the ball. ``One of the defensive guys said, `Gosh, you're all so big over there,''' Hagood recalled. ``The advantage to having more weight, but not too much is that you wear other people down. All of that weight pushing on you, you eventually get really tired.''
It isn't that Tech is just asking its offensive front to zone block and play a north-south game. The Hokies' line is known for its attacking style and zoning off on the back side. ``You want speed coming off the ball, then strength,'' Hagood said.
Right guard Gennaro DiNapoli is the only Tech starter not at 300. He's ``only'' 293, but then two years ago on the preseason roster, DiNapoli weighed 250. Then, there's backup tackle Derek Smith. He's 286, ``just a little guy,'' said Tech media relations boss Jack Williams.
Unquestionably in at least one way, 1996 will be a big season for Tech.
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. 1. Tech line coach J.B. Grimes isby CNBdwarfed by three members of the Hokies' offensive line. color. 2.
Tech line coach J.B. Grimes makes a point while grasping redshirt
sophomore Derek Smith.