Nick Claytor previews spring practice
Nick Claytor shakes hands with Jacksonville State players.
Nick Claytor with a special guest blog ahead of today’s spring-opener:
Loading ...There are many plot lines for the upcoming spring. Excitement surrounds installation of the 3-4 defense along with new wrinkles in the offense. The race for the number 2 QB position is wide open between Tevin Washington, David Sims, and Jordan Luallen. Position battles abound on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. One of the most important factors going into spring is the establishment of leadership. The 2010 team needs an identity and spring ball is where it begins.
There is a lot of work to do before the Spring Game on April 24. What we do now will determine how successful we are on the run for another ACC Title and bowl win. As Coach Johnson says, “Last year is over, you haven’t done anything yet!”
—
Here are my 5 storylines for spring: http://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/georgia-tech-spring-football-410465.html
—
Mike Mayock says Falcons will take Bay-Bay: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2010/03/29/mike-mayock-georgia-tech-wr-thomas-headed-to-falcons/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_falcons_blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
84 comments Add your comment
come on
March 29th, 2010
9:17 am
yea
Stinger
March 29th, 2010
9:28 am
National Championship BABY !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Techman78
March 29th, 2010
9:30 am
Im interested to see who steps up as Nesbits backup. When the jackets were recruiting Lewallen I read a lot of good stuff about him and watched some videos and he was pretty impressive. Sims was also impressive but he didnt looked more like an A back type player. Either way I think they will both do a good job. I havent seen or heard much about Washington but im interested to see what hes got. I think Stephen Hill has all the tools to be the next BayBay or Calvin. He had some real flashes last season. Everyone seems to think we will not be as good this season with the losses of our big guns but I think that we will be as good if not better. The team will have a better grasp of the overall system, Nesbit will be in his 3rd season running the offense, and Allen will do a great job taking over where Dwyer left off. Lets not forget the new brain running our D. I think this is going to be another happy fall for Tech fans. Go Jackets! THWG
Smash
March 29th, 2010
9:32 am
People always fail to mention how good of a blocker Thomas is. He is absolutely devastating when he’s cracking back on a safety. The Falcons run the ball enough to take Thomas at 19.
Tech75
March 29th, 2010
9:55 am
I’m looking forward to what some of the second-year players look like and how they perform – the ones that CPJ recruited…
Would love to bury that last worry… “yeah, but can he recruit enough talent to compete with the big boys?”
Tech fan
March 29th, 2010
9:56 am
I agree Smash. Thomas will be the biggest loss, no doubt about it. Go look at every big run we busted on the outside the last couple of years. It was always Thomas knocking someone down, sometimes multiple players on one play. We don’t have a player like that at wideout right now who is that physical. Everyone is high on Hill right now, but he has a lot of work to do. He only had 6 catches last year for a reason. He has speed but he isn’t going to scare any safeties when he’s cracking down.
5 Questions of GT Football
March 29th, 2010
10:01 am
5 Questions that need to be answered during spring football:
1. Will Coach Johnson be able to coach?
2. Will GT defense contain UGA rushing attack to under 300 yards?
3. Will GT be able to stay within 3 touchdowns against UGA?
4. Will GT be able to stay out of last place in the ACC?
5. Will GT fans take advantage of the 4 free hot dogs and cokes campaign during the pathetic home schedule?
UGA 30 – GT 24!
WE RUN THIS STATE!!
LOSERS!!!
Alabama Jack
March 29th, 2010
10:17 am
dumb delusional dawgs are irrelevant
We_Run_This_Country
March 29th, 2010
10:20 am
Dear UGA fan,
You have made your one post…you may now go back to being irrelevant.
Techman78
March 29th, 2010
10:34 am
I do agree that Hill has some work to do and there was a reason that he only had 6 catches last season. With that being said, I think the reason Hill only had 6 catches last season was because Nesbit obviously had more of a comfortable connection with Bay Bay and we dont exactly sling the ball around 40 times a game so its hard for any one to have a lot of catches if your not the primary reciever. Even before CPJ came to Tech when we ran a more “pro style” offense our secondary recievers were not very productive then. If Hill can bulk up some and work on his blocking skills some I really think that he can put up some eye popping numbers. If we are able to run the ball like we have the past 2 seasons im very sure that we will be able to hit the big pass plays again. Its great to be a Tech football fan…wish I could say that about Tech basketball! Go Jackets! Lets get another ACC title.
devildawg
March 29th, 2010
10:34 am
Your jet pilots almost ran their jets into your stadium and now they are running a desk job. And if you guys really do run this country, you are doing a terrible job.
Its a play on words you nerds: We Run This State! Like we ran all over your team in your back yard. Get it! A play on words. Kinda like: A Hot Tech Girl! See thats a play on words because in order for that to be true you would have to light one of those red dots on fire. See, a play on words.
GT Fan...
March 29th, 2010
10:40 am
Hey “5 questions” GA fan …… in case you haven’t noticed over the past 10-15 years, hot dogs & cokes at sporting events are not cheap.
And I’m sure in 3 or 4 more years, after Paul Johnson’s teams average 9-10 wins a season, you’ll still be spewing the same “can PJ coach,” “will GT finish out of last place,” “that high school offense won’t work” etc, etc rhetoric.
the truth
March 29th, 2010
10:41 am
Dawg fans are liberals
GT Fan...
March 29th, 2010
10:44 am
devildawg ….. PJ & Mark Richt’s teams are 1 & 1 in the “we ran all over your team in your back yard” statement. Maybe it’s GT’s turn to go up 2-1 in that category …..
Robert
March 29th, 2010
10:54 am
We run this state- That would require you to have two brain cells that occasionally work at the same time. We enjoy reading the never-ending immaturity of our beer swilling, moronic, dawg fans who continue to attempt to live vicariously through their athletes. You may want to funnel more energy into staying in shape for your local uga softball team.
GT Fan...
March 29th, 2010
10:58 am
Spring football ….
I’m interested in the QB race, O-line, new D, WR.
Concerned that Nesbitt won’t get 4 weeks of reps with NEW B-Backs, and reading pass routes.
Heard about the “potential” of RS O-linemen, but how will they perform.
Yes it’s a new D scheme, but I believe the D will be better. Groh is D coord before a Head Coach.
B/C passing is used so little in PJ’s offense I’m confident he’ll find his guys to play WR. He’s been doing it for dam*-near 30 years.
Road schedule is tough in 2010 (UNC, Wake, Clemson, VT, GA). And a tough 3-game stretch – 10/23 @ Clemson, 11/4 @ VT (Thurs), 11/13 vs Miami, but the silver lining is the extra day between each game.
Home schedule nothing to be excited about, but I’m a true GT fan, and WILL be renewing my season tix, as I believe many others will be doing.
Ted M
March 29th, 2010
11:18 am
who is going to be GT’s nose tackle?
Saint Simons
March 29th, 2010
11:18 am
(((((((((((((((UGA 30 – GT 24))))))))))))))))))))))))))))!!!
HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
((((((((((((UGA 73 – GT 66))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))!!!!!
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAAHAHA!!
ATL XMAN
March 29th, 2010
11:19 am
i wonder what new wrinkle he could add that would actually work? i thought he was supposed to add new wrinkles last year. all he did was add a 360 turn to nesbitt and run the other way..very lame and boring and the offense will be even worse this year with thomas gone. no threat of passing and no big back to help out nesbitt..get ready for a 7 win season
Techman78
March 29th, 2010
11:48 am
ATL XMan, wow what a fan, we only finished 2nd in the nation in rushing and top 5 in passing efficiency and top 15 in total offense. Thats real boring football. I suppose your a Paul Hewitt supporter too huh? Yeah your right, probably 7 wins next season…in the first 8 games. Get a freakin clue man. Times have changed at Tech in football, now if we could just get that no coaching Hewitt out of town and get REAL basketball coach.
Odw
March 29th, 2010
11:52 am
ATL XMan – He said last year that the average fan would not notice most of the wrinkles that were added. Based on the results it produced, I wouldn’t question it.
Sorry that the top scoring offense in the conference didn’t excite you. We have a 4 star WR in Hill to replace Thomas. We’re fine there. From a WR standpoint, Hill will be a better WR in the long run. Hill just isn’t as good a blocker.
As far as RB is concerned, we’ll be fine there. Having the leading rusher in yards per carry in the nation in Allen carrying the load for us this year, I think we’ll be ok there. (He’s the same weight as Dwyer and actually a bit taller by the way)
Techman78
March 29th, 2010
12:04 pm
If the O-line comes together like they should, I believe Anthony Allen is capable of putting up better number than Dwyer. He is really explosive and made some BIG plays for us last season. This COULD be another special season. Never doubt Paul Johnson!
gt in sc
March 29th, 2010
12:37 pm
last football poll: GT-13,ugag-no where to be found; current baseball poll: GT-3,ugag- no where to be found;ncaa bb : GT- #10 seed, you guessed it,ugag not in any postseason activity. and yes, you won the last football game ,but you were NINE point underdawgs. it must suck to be a bulldog fan!
gtfanfrom1951
March 29th, 2010
12:39 pm
If a dawg makes a comments does anybody care?
Cuttysark
March 29th, 2010
12:40 pm
Looking forward to see how everything comes together this spring for the Yellow Jackets with the new defensive staff.
For more Georgia Tech football article go to http://isportsweb.com. Go Jackets!
GT Rich
March 29th, 2010
12:50 pm
Hill may have great hands & speed, but he is not nearly as strong as Demaryius. I’m most curious to see who steps up to be the #2 QB. Tevin looked better last spring than Jaybo but didn’t get much of a chance in the season. Luallen missed most of last summer with his ankle injury, so this spring is his first real chance to take triple-option reps instead of being the scout QB.
Are the practices open this year?
Rt in NC
March 29th, 2010
1:02 pm
Xman- Your assessment is a little extreme, but I would like to see a “new wrinkle” too. Nesbitt is a great run option QB. He is not a great passer. Strong arm-no accuracy. I’d like to see some screens, quick outs, etc. Make the D watch more receivers. You don’t have to pass 40 yards in the air to have a pass threat. If we can keep the secondary 7 yards deep, the option will work that much better.
Dixie Clear
March 29th, 2010
1:11 pm
u(sic)ga is a girl’s school…..
GT12
March 29th, 2010
1:43 pm
ATL XMAN
There were a lot of wrinkles added to the offense this year. Plenty of different formations and movements. Just gotta look closely.
50 Ways to Leave Your Hewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:03 pm
If Coach Johnson can lead this team to 8 wins this year he should be the Coach of the Year. I’ve predicted they would do well the last two years but with the schedule, circumstances at quarterback and the loss of four NFL prospects and other quality players it is clearly a reloading/rebuilding year. I have no qualms about the longterm success of the program under CPJ, but I am already weary of my fellow Tech fans promising another big season and championships like a la UGA fans. This is about a 7-8 win season (WITH CPJ) at best, and without CPJ it would be about a .500 year give or take a turnover/big play. We’re good, but most of the league is rising, too, and the other newer coaches have a couple of years head start in recruiting over CPJ. UNC, Miami, FSU, and VT are all either formidable or getting there, and don’t expect O’Brien at NCSU and Wake to stay down for too long.
50 Ways to Leave Your Hewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:05 pm
Spring Game in a couple of weeks. Bring your Hewitt protest signs so we can give him a proper welcome if he shows, and at least let DRad see we haven’t forgotten him, either.
50 Ways to Leave Your Hewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
Short of bringing signs, it would be great if someone would suggest another, subtler form of protest against Hewitt. I say “subtler” because it doesn’t look good from a PR standpoint for Tech, and yet we ought to let DRad and the GTAA see that we do NOT accept Hewitt’s mediocrity, nor approve of his retention. Black caps (still with Tech logos of course), for example, though I suspect there is something better.
50 Ways to Leave Your Hewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:13 pm
Hewitt and DRad are of course counting on Spring Football practice to distract disgruntled fans and take the spotlight off of the basketball program. Sending a strong anti-Hewitt pro-Tech message at open practices and the Spring game is important. One more thing, to those wealthy individuals making the 30-45 million dollar AMC renovation possible: why don’t you make your pledge contingent on Hewitt’s removal?
50 Ways to Leave Your Hewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:14 pm
I know we “have” the money for the renovation, but I doubt we “have” the money in DRad’s pocket yet. Don’t waste it.
FullMetalJacket
March 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
Good job, Nick. This will be an exciting season, I believe, but not necessarily as successful record-wise as last year. Fans need to be braced for some disappointment by just being outmanned at times. No doubt we should be able to run the ball, but the fluidity of the offense depends so largely on Nesbitt’s health and on the O-Line working together. Defense is going to be a work in progress and dependent on some transcendent nose-guard play by someone. Coach Johnson will do a great job but he doesn’t have nearly as much to work with as the last two years.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
Really, dog.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:57 pm
Way one: Fire Hewitt’s rear for sending Javaris “Quickdraw’ Crittenton into the world and the NBA with “Georgia Tech” on his resume even tho’ it only say ‘underclassman’.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
We may only go fitty-fitty in the ACC next year with a tough schedule, but if we beat down the dawgs in Sanford & Son Stadium next year I’ll be happy.
Spike
March 29th, 2010
3:00 pm
We all know what dogs eat eh.
atl xmen
March 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
im telling you guys there is nothing more to add to this lame, and boring offense. the only thing pj can add to this offense is more smoke and mirrors to try and hide the fact that he is not running up the middle. hill is more suited for a pro style offense and thus he will not be as productive as bey bey..not as strong. allen is no where near the runner dwyer is..he might be close to the same weight buts that it. he is also more suited for a pro style offense. being so close to the line is only hurting him because he will not have time to get his legs moving like he did when he was the pitch man. he is another player that pj didnt recruit and is stuck in an offense tha twill hold him back. he wont last 5 games without getting hurt aswell. the O-line is too small and weak aswell. the only reason this offense was ranked as high as it was is because of gaily’s players and when all of them are gone after this year..tech will be in real trouble. winning the acc is nothing these days when most off the acc loses to out of conference teams. the acc is just not respected right now and wont be for a while. tech had a good two years and thats it..look for 7-wins and another loss to uga as they have more talent and a better coach who actually played football. johnson is great for a program like GSU or Navy..but i dont think he will win much longer at tech when his players start coming in..tech plays way better teams than Navy and GSU. no way does tech beat UGA unless UGA just gives them ball on the UGA 15 all game…
Dan
March 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
The Truth: awesome post.
mwh6767
March 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
5 Questions for Ugag spring practice:
1. Can Richt keep our qb’s sober?
2. Did all car keys, moped keys, truck keys etc get taken up before the start of practice?
3. Make sure everyone understands that any player that gets in trouble will be put on North campus trash detail during the season.
4. Can Grantham coach our defense better than he coached the Browns defense?
5. Can our offensive line walk to the practice field without getting hurt this season?
mwh6767
March 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
hey atl axemen, check your facts buttsniffer. Allen WAS brought here by Paul Johnson. Its a SI mag from last year. Allen was making visits to different places when he decided to transfer from Louisville. He can to visit tech PJs first summer. Sat down with him and decided tech was the place. He will have at least 1200 yrds and 10 TDs Bank on it.
Gatorman
March 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
Excuse me while I look for them dawgs, you see the stink they give off when they see a Gator is what we used to single them out. Also when we get close they pee in their pants, another way to find them. Have a good season my little bee buddies.
dawgfan
March 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
11 sizzling questions for Georgia Tech spring practice:
1. Who the hell cares?
2. What are our goals this year or should we wait until the end of the season to define them like the loser candy azzes that we are?
3. What will be our excuse when we lose to Georgia for the 9th time in 10 years and how can we distract everyone from this humiliating record?
4. What will be our excuse when we lose our bowl game and lose it badly to a so so team from another conference?
5. Can we make Jack State, Gardner Webb, Vandy, and Miss St permanent OOC opponents?
6. Are we allowed to throw things on the field again this year if things don’t go our way or will Anthony Allen write another pathetic letter begging us not to?
7. Will we ever be able to crack 200 yards rushing against a defense with a pulse?
8. Why can’t we just play Duke, Wake Forest, and Virginia and call it a day after that?
10. Where is my mommy when big fat meanie Georgia fans are talking trash?
11. Seriously though, who the hell cares?
mwh6767
March 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
5 questions for the UGAG football season.
1. Is Willie Martinez still covered under the Obama health care as Mark Richts “life partner”???
2. Did one of the grad asst. put new bulbs in Richts tanning bed? (heard he gets PISSED if its not done!)
3. Has someone prepared a state to try to explain how tough SC STATE and IDAHO STATE are???
4. Have the all pink uniforms for the florida game been picked up yet?
5. Will anyone stop Roddy Jones at the Athens City landfill this year?
Honest Frank Discussion
March 29th, 2010
5:16 pm
Best block I ever saw Thomas make was first game of this season against Jacksonville. Looked like he picked the poor CB up off his feet and threw him 10 feet into the air.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
dawgfan: We know that as a fan you blow (that’s what fans do, blow) and we know you blow dogs, but what we don’t know is why you are here on a Tech blog site? Granted, there is little of interest in Athens these days as another spring practice comes and goes and you still don’t have a sober qb. But just as Gatorman was saying earlier, we can always smell you dogs coming and it isn’t pleasant.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
5:41 pm
Anthony Allen and Roddy Jones will do fine running the ball next year and Nesbitt will be a tank again as long as he stays healthy. Hopefully there will be some opportunities early in the season for the backup QB to get some game time to spell Nesbitt and to replace him when he leaves. The big questions are on the O-line and D-line, both of which are going to be green and relatively smaller than most of the competition.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
5:45 pm
UNC, Miami, FSU, Clemson, UGA, and Virginia Tech will all be threats to dominate the line of scrimmage next year on both sides of the ball. We’ll be lucky, even with CPJ’s & Groh’s leadership and strategizing, to win 2 of those games….if we win 3 of them then CPJ will deserve a medal.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
5:47 pm
Get real, fellow Tech fans, next year 7 wins will be a good season, 8 would be fantastic. Winning 7 games next season will represent a tremendous coaching job and lots of guys playing above their heads.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
5:50 pm
I’m a die-hard Tech fan, but boasting now makes us sound like UGA fans and will do nothing to motivate our players to work or strive harder to achieve their offseason goals. We’ve got a tough row to hoe, so let’s stop talking and start digging. Also, it’s about time someone starts a “Fire Hewitt Campaign” so that fans can make a collective statement in addition to the emails and letters everyone is hopefully sending after last week’s fiasco.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
IN another one-to-two years CPJ should have us much stronger overall. This is only his THIRD year, despite his inaugural successes.
wiley
March 29th, 2010
6:04 pm
I think PJ will have continued success this season despite the losses. His system will work for the new players…we might not be as good offensively but with proper execution its seems hard to beat…..even if our defense couldn’t get a stop. He has won everywhere. I think Tech will win 9 or 10. Of course fans are always more optimistic.
dawgfan
March 29th, 2010
6:16 pm
Mwh6767, here are your answers:
1. Martinez isn’t covered under any UGA plan. He was fired only days after handing Tech its azz on national television. That should tell you a little bit about where your pizz ant football program fits in the grand scheme of things. “Beat Georgia Tech? Congratulations. You’re fired.”
2. Richt tans himself with the shine from all of the Governors Cups that he has won, not a tanning bed.
3. No. We play in the SEC. We don’t have to make apologozies for weak OOC opponents. Its not like the ACC where you play 8-4 teams for a championship.
4. They are fusia, not pink.
5. If we do you’ll just act like it never happened, just like you’re doing right now with the 2009 loss and all the other losses before that.
mwh6767
March 29th, 2010
7:04 pm
oh no dawgfan. I was on here the day after the ugag-tech game, and i tipped my cap to uga football team. they play a great game that day and exploited techs weakness to the max. I said then as i do now to the victors go the spoils. Post as much as u like about that game(30-24, etc. etc, etc.) What gets me is the way UGA fans continue to talk trash in general. Or more to the point how UGA fans continue to talk trash and then get mad when you get it shoved back in your face. The fact is uga and tech are very similar in program strength at the moment. The last two games have shown that. 2008 was one of your better teams and tech won in athens and likewise last season. Its is the uga fans who want to acknowledge that the facts are this:
1: Chan Gailey is gone.
2: Under current coaches this is a 1-1 series
3: For the first time these two programs are on equal footing.
4: Uga fans are a lot more worried about the direction of their program than tech fans are.
Why are you here, daugfan?
March 29th, 2010
7:18 pm
You cannot make a Tech fan angry in the spring.
Concerned Old Techie
March 29th, 2010
7:48 pm
50 ways is correct. We could very well struggle to win 7 next year. My concern – several ACC teams are getting better players than we are. That does not bode well for the Jackets. Miami and FSU are loading up and will soon take their place atop the ACC. Throw in Carolina VT and we could easily be the 4th or 5th best team in the ACC.
mwh6767
March 29th, 2010
8:08 pm
Concerned, FSU, Miami and UGA have consistently brought in talent yr after yr. That doesnt always translate to wins. What tech has going for it is, it has a system in place, one person in charge of it who runs it very well and brings in the right people to run it. 7 wins is not out of the question but I think that 8-4 or 9-3 is more like it. I believe Groh can get our guys on the 3-4 learning curve quickly because he is used to dealing with college kids. I think we may have a lull this year on offense with the lose of the guys on the o-line. Not worried about the running backs we have depth. Losing Bay-Bay hurts in the fact that one more yr. took the pressure off of s. hill. I think VT and Miami will be strong. Clemson is in the some area as tech so a win there is not unthinkable. UGA at the end of the year will be tough but like clemson is winnable. UNC is tough on the defense but is awful on offense. My take, if tech stays healthy 9-3.
rainman
March 29th, 2010
8:19 pm
Tech should actually be as good or better than last year provided Groh can draw from a pretty strong talent base to assemble a cohesive front seven.
The worst news on offense, so far, is the loss of Drummond. I think he would have been valueable as a back-up at B back.
I can only hope…that each year the passing game, while not predominant, will at least become more sophisticated.
Gary
March 29th, 2010
8:22 pm
Regarding the UGA v GT game last year, the pups were one dropped pass from getting beat for the second year in a row. If Thomas had only caught that ball on the sideline, we would have scored the winning TD with time running out. Just like we did against Clemson in the ACC CG. That is the game plan…score with time running out to prevent the other team from having time to score.
Who are they kidding? Everyone ran all over GT last year. That is why GT hired a new Defensive Coordinator. That is why the DC was fired after winning the ACC Championship. We had to score on every play, and dominate time of possession in order to win most of the games.
Concerned Old Techie
March 29th, 2010
8:45 pm
Gary coulda woulda shoulda doesn’t get it in my book. The farmers from Athens have owned us for the better part of 10 years. Fact is they have better players and with the coaching changes they made I expect that talent to finally produce.
Looking deep into the ACC and factoring in the players we lost – I dunno 7 wins stills seem more likely than 9. Some delusional guy in the beginning of this thread actually predicted a N.C. – the moon is made of blue cheese too.
I’m still not completely sold on our offensive approach. Teams that have a few extra days to prepare for us seem to shut us down. Without a real passing game we are very predictable. Maybe Josh can work on his accuracy over the summer – it is abysmal at best. Our passing numbers are very misleading as Thomas made Nesbit look good and most teams gave us the pass to stop the run.
BOBDN
March 29th, 2010
8:59 pm
DID GT EVER REIMBURSE MRS CLAYTOR FOR SIGNING DAY PARTY
messin with sasquatch
March 29th, 2010
9:12 pm
love the gators – always keepin the doggs on a short leash – same as UK and UT. sec irrelevance must hurt, doggs.
GT Fan
March 29th, 2010
11:05 pm
Love Coach Johnson but Fire Paul Hewitt. Drads wake up!
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
11:37 pm
7 wins is a good year next year, with 8 very possible if we stay healthy. That said, with no proven backup to Nesbitt, one of our toughest yet most vulnerable players, things could go south real fast if he gets injured, or even worn down during the season (didn’t happen last year, at least). When Josh got winged in the UGA game it noticeably affected his play for several subsequent series. CPJ is hopefully better than his predecessor at giving the backups more playing time, though we didn ‘t see it last year. (It is hard to put less than your best in there when the D can’t make a stop.) We need to spell Josh more, we need a lot of luck, and we’ll need the defense to make tremendous improvement. Everyone knows the Option is coming, and they know how to attack a 3-4, so we’ll have to do a lot by better execution and talent. We really don’t have size and speed on the top 5 teams in the conference, nor on UGA.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
11:42 pm
I’m an optimist, I predicted 10 wins for last year, but I can see there is too much work to be done on O-line, D-line, and building depth. UNC, FSU, Miami, VT, and UGA have been getting better, and they’ve been getting deeper. Each of these teams have a coach who can keep up with CPJ, with the exception of maybe Miami (who Tech should’ve beat last year and will beat this year). NC State is coming on and due to break out with O’Brien coaching and having his players in place, and Clemson is invgorated at least and greatly improved at best. The schedule is not a good one for Tech, so 7-8 wins would be a heckuva coaching feat.
FittyWaystoFireHewitt
March 29th, 2010
11:45 pm
IF we make it to the ACC Champ Game again, it will be because everyone in the mix has several conference losses, I think. Haven’t really studied the other conference teams’ schedules, so I don’t know if anyone has a demonstrably easier road ahead.
FullMetalJacket
March 29th, 2010
11:48 pm
I agree with 50/fitty whoever that next year will be a winning year but a more challenging year. Hopefully the defense will get a few more stops because the offense will not likely be quite as prolific as last year’s model. Hoping for 8-9 but expecting about 7, without major injuries or unseen developments.
super17
March 29th, 2010
11:48 pm
I was more impressed with watching Demaryius block than I was watching him chew up yards after the catch. He and Calvin Johnson manhandled CB’s on running plays like no other receivers I’ve seen. As a previous poster said, most every long run broken on the outside was the result of a Thomas pancake. I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone other than Hill starting at WR to begin the season.
FullMetalJacket
March 29th, 2010
11:53 pm
If Coach Johnson can prove me (and others) wrong then I’ll be the first to congratulate him. I know he is capable of great things, I just think that our best years are still a year away. Two things to consider, Tech fans: First, the same sources that are/were touting Tech as a preseason Top 10 team are the ones who picked UGA as a preseason #1 just the year before last (and we know how that turned out
). Finally, on the other hand, Tech looked so bad with turnover and missteps that first Spring Game under CPJ no one could believe how well they would play in Year One. CPJ can do wonders and exceed expectations, but we can help him by having reasonable expectations.
FullMetalJacket
March 29th, 2010
11:57 pm
super, yeah, Thomas can block and that will help him in the NFL draft and in play. I saw some pretty weak blocks by several RB and WR last year so I agree we may seem some younger, newer faces get time at WR especially. I still think Hill will start out as the #1 WR but if he misses some big blocks we can be sure CPJ will yank him fast.
Conyers Yellow Jacket
March 30th, 2010
4:58 am
I have been a GT fan since 1952. I will always be a fan regardless of who coaches the football team.
However, I am concerned that everyone thinks GT is going to continue to be competitive with its
current offense. The ACC teams will have devised defenses to contain this one dimensional offense
before the 2010 season is over. The quarterbacks (whoever they are) in this scheme take a real
beating almost every time the ball is snapped. If this is such a great offense why do other
division 1 teams not use it anymore. It served some teams well in the 1970/1980 eras but ran its course.
Concerned Old Techie
March 30th, 2010
7:49 am
Well said Conyers………..
techie
March 30th, 2010
4:34 pm
How is spring practice at Tech like a regular GT game in the fall? The stands will not be full for either.
GT Fan
March 30th, 2010
8:16 pm
Fire that DA Paul Hewitt.
Stinger
March 30th, 2010
10:01 pm
Don’t worry Tech Fans, no one will stop this offense. Paul Johnson is brilliant and will have us in the top 10 again competing for a National title. Then we will have a 5-2 advantage over that team that last did something in 1980 and won’t do anything for another 20 yrs.
Darindawg
March 31st, 2010
9:19 am
“Concerned ole Techie”…..Yeah, for starter’s I’m a Dawg fan…but a good sport, and a genuinely nice guy…lol. I think your concerns are some of the same one’s I’ve had with other Tech friends of mine. They all seem to be worried about Tech’s showing in the bowl games more than anything. LSU and Iowa thumped you guys pretty good and like you, they all seem to think maybe the extra prep time has something to do with that. Iowa had a talented defense, so that could be forgiven I suppose, but LSU was a mediocre team at best that season. My personal opinion (and I’ll get stoned probably for saying this) is that PJ is going to have to just get some more size, strength and speed on the lines. Any coach can get a 300 pounder these days, but that’s not really good enough anymore. You got to get a 300 that is not only strong, but fast and conditioned. This stings Tech fans to say this, but all we (UGA) really done in our game was line up behind our OL and let our RBs go. Nothing fancy, I think we just overpowered your DL….just my opinion. But look at our OL…Ben Jones, Cordy Glenn (340) and Clint Boling…their average bench press is 495. They can squat the team bus and Boling ran a 4.8 according to a friend of mine who is a DT on the team. I’m not saying Tech doesn’t have talent, but I think to win over the long haul against, not just UGA, but the likes of VT and an improving FSU, I think PJ is going to have to strengthen the lines, even if he has to go to Alaska to find linemen…Morgan and the Johnson kid a few seasons ago were great players, but he needs about 2 or 3 like that in every recruiting class, and the OLmen are going to have to be big and strong right out of the gate. You can’t just get a 260 pound kid and take 2 or 3 seasons to try and beef him and strengthen him up. Florida will get a 300 pounder who can already bench press 450 and in 2 or 3 seasons he will be the Kraken off of Clash of the Titans….you see my point?
GT65
March 31st, 2010
9:49 am
Darindawg, thanks for the info. I’m sure Coach Johnson will take that under consideration. I really believe you need to worry about your be-luved dawgs. Really hope both teams have great years.
Drads get some balls and fire Paul Hewitt.
Darindawg
March 31st, 2010
10:21 am
“GT65″…Gees man, just making friendly conversation dude and throwing out some observations…feel free to critic my “be-luved” Dawgs all you want….I’ll listen.
UGAisyesterdaysnews
March 31st, 2010
10:33 am
2000-01 through 2009-10 seasons (10 seasons), Hewitt’s Conference Away record is a staggering 19-61 !!! That is a 0.2375 winning percentage. Even more terrible, is that 4 out of his last 5 years have resulted in Conference Away records of 0-8 or 1-7 !
gtforever
March 31st, 2010
10:54 am
darin dawg
100 percent correct! If we can’t recruit the big, ugly, fast guys on both sides of the ball, then we are fast becoming the Navy of the south…. respectable, but never in the mix for anything special…. Time will tell, but with the incoming recruiting classes, it’s niot looking good…. IMHO….
BigTimeTechFan
March 31st, 2010
12:03 pm
From Rivals:
Tech rising senior Correy Earls. After playing receiver for his first two active seasons in Atlanta, he made the switch to safety for the 2009 season playing sparingly. This spring he moved back to wide receiver and he is trying to end his Yellow Jacket career with a bang.
Nice
Zach
March 31st, 2010
1:45 pm
I hear some of the older Tech fans saying that our offense is ineffective, particularly if opposing teams have extra time, or that it’s boring, but at least it’s exciting every game BUT the bowl game. The predecessor’s offense was ALWAYS boring and usually ineffective. I think that Paul Johnson and his one-off offense is a perfect fit for Tech. We are not LSU, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, USC(west), or Miami. You can critique the recruiting classes that Coach Johnson has been bringing in, but if you look at the ranks of those classes and compare them to the ranks of the other classes Tech has been bringing in for the last several decades, they are comparable or better. There is this impression that people here seem to hold that Johnson’s predecessors hauled in incredible classes year in and year out, but Tech simply can’t touch some of the kids for academic reasons, and others have no interest in Tech due to the narrow set of majors Tech offers. However, Johnson is more than holding his own in the recruiting rankings, and he is getting guys that fit his system better, so I only see improvement in the long term running this offense. Football is football and it does not change drastically just because the teams you’re playing are a little better. The difference between Navy talent and GT talent is MUCH greater than the difference between Navy’s opponents talent and GT’s opponent’s talent. In other words, Navy played and succeeded against a slightly easier schedule with significantly lesser talent, so it stands to reason that with the significant improvement in talent he will continue to succeed with only a slight increase in schedule difficulty.