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On Tuesday, the Hokies went through a shorter practice because of Wednesday’s scrimmage. So like we did with the last scrimmage, instead of giving you readers our observations of practice, we decided to give you some things to ponder leading into that 4:30 p.m. scrimmage.

• The scrimmage will be between 95-100 plays. Fans will see more red-zone and goal-line situations in this scrimmage than in the one this past Saturday. The team worked on red-zone situations in Monday’s practice.

Also, there will be three series in which the first-team offense takes on the first-team defense. Those series are more toward the end of the scrimmage. The majority of the scrimmage will be the first-team units on both sides of the ball taking on the second-team units.

• Running backs coach Shane Beamer said that all of his running backs got between 12 and 16 plays in the last scrimmage and expects a similar split for Wednesday’s scrimmage. Trey Edmunds may get a few more reps, as the staff continues to evaluate, but Beamer said he had a pretty idea on what each of his backs could do.

• Offensive line coach Curt Newsome was pleased with the way his group played on Saturday and hopes that continues. He expects to play Caleb Farris at right guard some in this scrimmage in an attempt to build depth – Farris has been working as the No. 2 center – but Newsome also added that he liked how Laurence Gibson, another right guard, is practicing. Gibson continues to get better.

• Defensively, Donovan Riley and Donaldven Manning both will get plenty of reps again, as the two true freshmen are being force-fed the defense at a rapid pace. But with Davion Tookes out, the only other two corners are walk-on Carl Jackson and freshman Der’Woun Greene, who just moved to cornerback a week ago.

Desmond Frye, a freshman, also figures to get a lot of work at free safety. Boye Aromire should play more at rover with backup rover Michael Cole out, leaving Frye an opportunity.

• Expect to see more special teams work in the scrimmage, particularly the punting and punt return units. Overall, the staff was pleased with the special teams on Saturday. Shane Beamer, who helps with a bunch of special teams units, indicated that some players stood out and that the operation went smoothly as far as snaps and punters getting the ball out quickly. But he did add that they needed to punt better.

• INJURY REPORT: seven players are listed as being out for Wednesday’s scrimmage. The group includes Michael Cole (neck), D.J. Coles (knee), Tariq Edwards (leg), Mark Irick (hamstring), Chris Mangus (shoulder), T.J. Shaw (hamstring) and Davion Tookes (hamstring). James Gayle (ankle) is listed as doubtful, while both J.R. Collins (quad) and Ethan Keyserling (hip) are questionable. Both Boye Aromire (hamstring) and Demitri Knowles (neck) are probable.

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