Bryan Stinespring Q&A, Part I: Missed Sugar Bowl chances, overhauling the o-line and tight ends aplenty

I sat down with Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring earlier this week to talk about a variety of subjects. Like the Bud Foster Q&A from Tuesday and Wednesday (which you can read here and here), I'll split this one into two parts. Here's Part I:

Follow me on Twitter.

Is the Sugar Bowl loss one that sticks with you?

"It’s been in the pit of my stomach since the final horn went off. We had gotten back and it was right back in here the next morning. We were just going through the tape two or three times."

What part sticks with you the most?

"We had a chance to win the game. We should have won the game. We didn’t win the game. We prepared exceptionally well for that game. We put a lot into that game. We had numerous opportunities to come out on the good end of it and we didn’t. And those are the ones that stick with you. Sometimes at the end of the day you look at it and you just weren’t good enough that day or the other team was just really good that day or those things. You understand games of such importance, the opportunity to win a Sugar Bowl, the opportunity to win 12 games, with all the things that we contended with throughout the season on both sides of the ball, it was an opportunity for us to win a Sugar Bowl. And I really hurt for those kids. For Danny Coale, for Jarrett Boykin, for Greg Nosal, for Jaymes Brooks, for Blake DeChristopher, for Chris Drager, for Josh Oglesby. I hurt. I don’t feel bad. I hurt."

It seemed like you moved very well between the 20’s but bogged down in the red zone. Was there a reason for that?

"We had first-and-10 on the 6 or whatever it was and you lose 20 yards. We miss a fourth-and-1. We’re going to have a third-and-2 and we have a penalty and it knocks us down at the end of the game. We could probably win it at the end of the game, because we’re going to have at least four shots from their 4 to get it in with enough time. So there’s really just missed opportunities that we need to do a better job. We just need to be better."

Did Danny Coale catch that ball?

"I just go by the way that it’s been described since Day 1. If they called the ball complete, I think it’s got to be overriding evidence to the contrary. And to me that’s hard. I saw a young man that in his career has made big plays and I thought the script was written right for that young man to make one more big-time play and I thought he made that play."

Is replacing the offensive line the biggest focus of the spring?

"I think that’s our starting point. We have about four primary areas where we’ve got to focus our endeavors on. But the focal point obviously has got to be up front when you lose the number of snaps and the group of seniors who have played a lot of snaps and have really played well for us. I mean, that has to be our focal point. And that’s a big concern for us. Somebody asked what I anticipate in the spring and I kind of compare it to kind of like when you get on an airplane. You know this spring is going to be like getting on an airplane. And every now and then that flight attendant is going to come on the loud speaker and say, ‘The captain has put on the seat belt [sign]. There’s going to be a little turbulence. So stay in your seats.’

"So I think there’s going to be a little turbulence out there for us through some things. But that’s part of spring. We take a lot of pride through the spring that we’ll get better and as the season goes on, that’s going to have to be our mantra this spring. We’re going to have to fill some spots and get better as the season goes on. At the end of spring we have to be better than at the start. That’s going to be the goal. It’s going to be baby steps and it’s going to be some trying times, for sure. But I know that we’re more than up to the task."

With the cohesion that the line had formed, is that a hard group to replace wholesale?

"Yeah, sometimes I go back and there were times I think, 2007 we probably started off the season unsettled at that position, and I think we were something like 340 yards a game for the first six [games] and ended up being like 400 yards a game, and it had a lot to do with that group growing cohesion as the season went on. But because of that I think there’s a sense of urgency in all of us. We have to expedite the process. You don’t want to be going into a season still shuffling.

"We had an injury to [David] Wang that made us kind of have to reshuffle the whole deal too at that time. So you’ve got to get that spot settled, get people working at spots that they’re comfortable with the people beside them. And it’s an individual spot, but that spot requires a group effort more than any on the field. They have to play well individually. There’s got to be individual ability, but there’s got to be an ability within the group to work together on the same page in what they’re trying to get accomplished. It’s critical."

Who are you looking at at the tackle spots?

"We feel really good about Nick Becton [pictured] being able to come back and be that anchor at that left tackle spot. We’re expecting big things from Nick and we know that he’s capable, more than capable. He’s proven that. Now it’s his time to really exert himself as the guy that we can count on day-in and day-out that’s going to get the job done and then some. We start it all right there.

"Then you’ve got to start moving out and Vinston Painter is going to have to come through and a great spring and be the guy we believe he can be. What happens is that it really gets back that it’s the four guys that we lost, coupled with the fact that Michael Via is not able to go. [edit: he had knee surgery in January and will miss the spring.] So not only do you lose those four guys, but in the spring, you’re still one man down that you know is going to be a central figure at that tackle spot somewhere. But he’s not going to be there this spring.

"So that really forces you to really say, OK, what else is going to happen here. Now it’s got to be a guy like Mark Shuman is a big come-through guy for us. I think it’s a critical spring for him, a very important spring for him and for us, how well he develops. Jake Goins. Those guys are going to have to out there, and all of a sudden they’re guys who are going from guys who got a few reps here and there, at the end of spring they might be tight end weight. They’re going to get a lot of work. And how they come through will be important."

So you envision Via as a tackle? I know he plays pretty much every position up front. Can you slot him in anywhere up there?

"Yeah, pretty much. But I think we would like to see us solidify that tackle spot right now. So that’s where we would venture to put the onus on him is at the tackle spot."

Nick Acree -- is he in that mix?

"Yeah, going down the line. Nick Acree is a guy who, again, it’s a big spring for him."

What about Georgia transfer Brett Benedict? What position will he play?

"Once we get through the winter workouts and see his movement abilities more, I think that’s something we’ll have to address. That’s a guy who has played tackle but we’re not sure if that’s his best spot. He’s one of those points within the offensive line itself, he’s one of those guys about where you want to put him in this equation."

Painter was a highly-touted recruits who hasn’t quite panned out. Can he realize that potential this year and what has held him back?

"He’s had some injuries. But then I think sometimes the transition from high school to college takes a little longer than others. There’s been a transition mode for him a little bit. And then I think sometimes if you’re not the starting guy, you start fitting into a role a little bit. I just saw him. He comes up here all the time right now. He’s telling me what he’s doing downstairs, how things  are going for him right now. I know he goes back and watches a lot of film. So from that standpoint, I think he’s very eager. I think he’s prepared himself to step out there and be the guy we need him to be. He’s got the tools. We’ve just got to put it all together. Obviously there’s got to be a tremendous emphasis on him. Obviously there’s going to be a lot of attention on every little thing that he does. He’s not going to be lacked for coaching up this spring."

What do you think of your group of tight ends?

"I like the group. I really like Ryan Malleck. We played him for a reason this season because we felt the more he could be around us every day as opposed to going down with the scout team, getting him on the field, playing when you can, playing special teams, getting acclimated to the speed of the game and getting on the field and playing, I think it was important. Going into spring, he’s further along in terms of knowing the offense. He’s further along in knowing what it’s going to take to be successful on the field. I think he’s got a lot of potential. I think he’s got a lot of ability. And he’s a guy that we’re really counting on.

"The other guy who I think has really, it’s been a long process for him, but a guy I’m really proud of and excited about it Randall Dunn. I think he brings a dimension to the tight end and with the loss of some receivers he’ll be an additional commodity for us in a lot of things. I know he’s excited for it. He’s put his time in. He had to transition himself from not playing … you know, he didn’t play football from seventh grade and up. He got into football late in his high school career. Then he starts to learn the position that he’s playing in high school, he’s playing in college and he moves positions, so it’s been a long process for him, but sometimes those opportunities, when they do arise, how well you prepare yourself for them, I think says a lot about your chances for success. And he’s prepared himself to get to a spot where I think he can really help us."

It seemed like the tight ends became more of a pass-catching threat as the season went on. Do you think with the turnover at receiver, they can be a big receiving option for you this year?

"I’m hoping so. I’m hoping in conjunction with our backs that you’ve got to have other guys, other receivers to step up. But I think you have other components within your offense that can help alleviate some losses that we’ve had. You still have Eric Martin, with a two-tight end, he’s well-versed in the offense, he brings a dimension. [George] George brings a dimension to the game. They’re guys who have played that know what you’re asking them to do. With Duan Perez-Means moving over [from defensive end], I think that gives us a longer, bigger guy at that position too. I’m anxious to see how well he performs at the spot."

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.