Teerlinck bullish on Barno, Tenuta talks defensive staffTeerlinck bullish on Barno, Tenuta talks defensive staff
Football

Teerlinck bullish on Barno, Tenuta talks defensive staff

TEERLINCK TALKS AMARE' BARNO
Amare' Barno made the switch from linebacker to defensive end in 2020 and that move paid immediate dividends for both Tech and Barno. Barno led all Power Five players and ranked third in FBS with an ACC-high 16.0 TFL. 
 
"The sky's the limit with him," Teerlinck said. "There is no ceiling. He has all the skills and he has all the tools."  
 
An All-ACC honorable mention pick, he played in 11 games a year ago and started the season's final six contests at defensive end. He time for the team lead with 6.5 sacks and added 43 total tackles (28 solo), as well as a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and three QB hurries. 
 
"I knew the kid had a chance," Teerlinck added. "I knew he was going to make plays."  
 
TEERLINCK ON COMING TO TECH
"As much as I loved Buffalo and coaching in the NFL, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Teerlinck said. 
 
The relationship between head coach Justin Fuente, Teerlinck and other members of the staff dating back to their days together at Illinois State is well documented. The longtime NFL assistant coach elaborated on that connection on Wednesday. 
 


 
Teerlinck also indicated that the differences in coaching at the collegiate level and in the NFL aren't as divergent as they may have been a decade or more ago. 
 
"Running quarterbacks are cool in the NFL now – Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Russell Wilson – the zone read, RPO college game is slowly creeping into the NFL," Teerlinck observed. "Teams that win implement that kind of offense. The day-to-day of how I coach is the same, but who you're coaching is different. Coaching 30-year-old men who are married with families making millions versus a 17-year-old freshman who is homesick. The interaction with each player is different, but the day-to-day of technique, football 101 and how we coach D-line play still translates NFL vs. college. The way pro teams are moving forward the gap isn't as big anymore."  
 
QUOTE OF THE DAY  
"I would say we're both stubborn, hard-headed and want to go do things our way." 

  • Senior defensive analyst Jon Tenuta on any similarities in his style to Bud Foster

 
 
STAT OF THE DAY 
Over the past 25 seasons (1996-2020), no team in America owns more sacks (929.0) or interceptions (406) than Virginia Tech. 
 
BIG MEN ON CAMPUS  
Cleveland Browns All-Pro guard Wyatt Teller and his bulging biceps were spotted checking out Tech's newly renovated weight room with Coach Fuente. Teller, Panthers K Joey Slye and Patriots TE Dalton Keene have been among Tech's current NFL players who have paid visits to the Merryman Center in recent weeks. 
 


 
HOLSTON READY TO COMPETE FOR BIGGER ROLE  
After essentially having his entire 2019 season wiped out by an injury suffered in the season opener at Boston College, RB Jalen Holston patiently rehabbed and worked his way back onto the field primarily on special teams to begin the 2020 campaign. But Holston's persistent paid off in Tech's backfield and he turned in a big 14-carry, 58-yard performance in the 2020 season finale as the Hokies registered a dominant 33-15 victory against Virginia. 
 
"That's the process when you get hurt, you just have to come back and get to work," Holston said. "My teammates, my family, my support system, they all helped me a lot. That year off (2019) really helped me to watch other people and get things down mentally. My aim is to get better even when I'm not on the field and I used that to my advantage." 
 
Holston also pointed to RB Khalil Herbert for helping him improve his own work ethic and preparation. 
 


 
TENUTA ON THE DEFENSIVE STAFF 
Senior defensive analyst Jon Tenuta brings 40 years of coaching experience with him to Blacksburg. Much of that time has been spent at other ACC schools, but he begins his first season at Virginia Tech in 2021. While certainly the opportunity to spend time around his son, Tech T Luke Tenuta, was a reason behind that move, the elder Tenuta also has a front-row seat in Tech's defensive meeting room to watch defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton and his staff at work. 
 
"Justin (Hamilton) is a tremendous young man who is very intelligent," Tenuta said. "He understands football, he understands the game. Obviously he played for Bud (Foster). There are three guys in that room who played here and were captains here. J.C. Price and Jack Tyler (like Hamilton) were captains and played here for Bud. That in itself might be history, I don't know. They're all great guys and they all work well together."
 
TREMAINE EDMUNDS APPEARS ON NFL NETWORK 
Two-time Pro Bowl LB Tremaine Edmunds appeared on NFL Network's Good Morning Football on Wednesday. Despite leading Buffalo to an AFC Championship Game appearance last season, Edmunds is far from satisfied. 
 
"I feel like I still got a lot more room to grow, to be honest with you," the Danville, Virginia native told NFL Network. "I've done some really good things, but at the same time I know what I can do, I know my talents. I know just pretty much how far I can take this linebacker position, as far as where I want to see myself the next couple years. As far as letter grade, like I said, I'm tough, so I'd say probably about a B-minus. That's give or take. Just because I know what I could do and I know where I could be at."
 
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Bills have their first chance to sign Edmunds to a long-term deal this offseason. Edmunds' 2020 Pro Bowl selection means it will cost $12.716 million to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2022 season and it will cost even more to lock him up for years if Edmunds lifts his grade in 2021.