If things do not turn around offensively, does Whit Babcock sit down with Brent Pry at the end of the season during the evaluation period and make suggestions for coaching changes? Are the assistants on one-year contracts? Well, it was a great run for this coaching staff, which is already getting run out of town before its first season is even complete. Made it a lot longer than I expected, to be honest.
Babcock has never been a meddler. He hires coaches and lets them cook β for better or worse. And to answer your question about contract lengths, all the assistants signed two-year deals to begin with other than Tyler Bowen, Joe Rudolph, Chris Marve and Stu Holt, who signed three-year deals. That seems pretty soon to be shifting course on the plan Pry set out from the start.
Without a foot on each side, what is the bigger issue with this makeup of VT β talent level or coaching? Which one is the quicker fix? Dax Hollifield and Chamarri Conner are fine college players, but will they be drafted? Is there anyone on the offense that you see even making an NFL practice squad next year? The good news is that talent level is probably a quicker fix, too. The transfer portal exists, bringing a free-agent element to college football rebuilds.
But a talented roster usually makes coaches look better than vice versa. Did Mike Tomlin forget how to coach in Year 16 with the Steelers or is he facing a roster pinch for the first time with Ben Roethlisberger retired and T. Watt injured? But bad teams can be interesting too, especially if things are a dumpster fire or trending in a direction of a coaching change like last year. Which is β¦ [gestures frantically in the direction of the Hokies].
So yes, as a beat writer, some unexpected results or contributions from surprise places down the stretch would be welcome. Dude is killing everyone with his play while being a model of humility and team leadership.
