A look at Georgia Tech’s running backs
I felt bad leaving you without a blog for two weeks, so I cobbled this together, using colleague Tim Tucker’s capsule on the Georgia blog. A few more will be coming.
THE RUNNING BACKS
- Returning starters: Anthony Allen, Embry Peeples, Roddy Jones.
- Others to watch: So many to choose from here: Many new A-backs will see time this season including Orwin Smith (will see more time here than he did last year), Robby Godhigh and B.J. Bostic notably, along with returning vets such as Marcus Wright. At B-back, Lucas Cox was a bowling ball during the spring practice, and Richard Watson looked tough to bring down as well.
- Key losses: The big one was B-back Jonathan Dwyer, who rushed for 1,395 yards last season and is now with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Key fact: The Jackets averaged 5.2 yards per attempt rushing last season. As coach Paul Johnson says, if he wants 5 yards he’ll just run the ball.
- Key fact II: The Jackets had 36 runs of least 20 yards last season.
- Key question: Will Allen be able to fill Dwyer’s role as a between-the-tackles runner? He’s as big as Dwyer, and his speed is such that he should be able to get extra yards when he gets into the secondary.
- Key question 2: With Allen now at B-back, who will be the home-run threat coming off the edge on option and/or pitch plays? Jones had three 20+ runs last season and Marcus Wright had one.
- Key question 3: Will the A-backs block better than they did last season? Johnson recently said the team left a lot of yards on the ground and said the A-backs need to hold their blocks better on the perimeter.
- Outlook: Should be fine. Johnson has said he’ll be surprised if Allen doesn’t get 1,000 yards this season.
- Your turn: What say you about the running backs?
For a look at the offensive line, go here
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300 comments Add your comment
RDR
June 18th, 2010
12:58 pm
Can’t wait to see the litle git’s receive their annual beatdown in Athens this year.
What's with all this woofing...
June 18th, 2010
12:59 pm
…on the Tech blog. You know the doggies are nervous when they leap at any chance to try to convince themselves they have a good squad for next year.
Turning to what the post is about though, I think one key loss not mentioned that may impact the running game is D. Thomas. He was an absolute monster run blocking, and although S. Hill looks like he will be a helluva receiver his value as a blocker is less clear at the moment.
With that said, I think the running game will be just fine. I think Coach Johnson’s point about A-back blocking is key. It seems to me that this is the type of skill that ought to naturally improve as players get more time in the system. Accordingly, if this kind of execution sharpens up this year it seems like it won’t matter too much that we don’t have someone quite like AA playing A-back this year.
Go Jackets!
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
1:09 pm
Every Tech fan should re-watch this and come to reality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-zZ_qIJ3aQ
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
1:12 pm
And tech has a good squad for this year
BLAH HAHA HAHAHA HAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Now I see why Tech is the joke by the Coke
This is the same squad minus a half decent running back that lost to IOWA and a middle of the road SEC school
BLAH AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Buzzsaw
June 18th, 2010
1:12 pm
Just googled “UGA Player Arrested”. Got 22 pages of hits. One headline read “Another UGA Player Arrested”. Pretty funny stuff. I almost got arrested in Athens for wiping my butt with a stuffed UGA. When I run out of toilet paper, any UGA memorabilia will suffice.
The fact is Tech will have another ACC leading rusher, we will beat UGA(they don’t have an off week before the game) and Mark Richt’s job will be in peril because he didn’t win a National Championship (let alone an SEC Championship). Richt’s a solid Coach with great moral fiber. He deserves better. Maybe CPJ will hire him when UGA cuts him loose. CPJ, Al Groh and Mark Richt; waht athlete wouldn’t want to play for that combination.
collegeballfan
June 18th, 2010
1:13 pm
Does not matter who the running backs are. What matters is the offensive line.
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
1:28 pm
Buzzsaw
You might want to do a little better googling
We have a week off to prepare for that crap middle school option veer so get ready to hang another fat lip
Stinger
June 18th, 2010
1:38 pm
We have at least 8 running backs better than any on UGA team.
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
1:41 pm
Stinger
Thats the funniest thing Ive heard all day, keep em coming LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gtfanfrom1951
June 18th, 2010
1:56 pm
I know dawgs fans have to call tech name because they can not beat FLA., LSU., TENN., Kentucky, OSU but they do get beat Vandy every year.
SILLY UGA FANS
June 18th, 2010
2:03 pm
Reality Stinks is actually right for once. After playing a very tough IDAHO STATE game at home they travel to Auburn then have two weeks to prepare. They will need that time since by then Green, Ealey and the crew will be hampered with their regular injuries and it gives them more time to work up bail money thru boosters. UGA you really need to get over your RBs until they prove something. They only produced in two games and both including the win against GT were against horrible defences. What some of you morons don’t seem to understand is you will never impress or agrrivate GT fans with the running yardage in that game. We watched Spiller do it twice for christ sakes. Every college sports fan knows our D was horrible last year and to brag about scoring on them just shows how desperate UGA fans are to get somebody to recognize something their team did. Now if you would like to brag about playing better against our offense that would be something, but you can’t even say that. Instead of saying you played better you claim you stuffed it and beat GT down. Having 24 hung on you with a starting QB taken out then playing hurt and winning by just one TD does not equal a beat down. But I guess when you are one of the delusional UGA fans that think they have won the NC evry year that train of thought is hard to come by.
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
Silly UGA Fan
You make some great points, yes AJ was unable to play against Tech (Probably scored another 2 TD’s on you)
Yes your QB got hurt in the game (Guess he found out like Colt Mccoy we hit much harder in the SEC)
Yes Your offense hung 24 on a soon to be fired d-coach the sorriest D-coach in the NCAA
What you morons seem to not understand is with that being said, you the ACC chumps lost to a middle of the road SEC team then dropped the ball in your first BCS bowl appearance in 40 yrs to
IOWA of all teams
IOWA, come on this says a lot about that tough ACC conference doesnt it
Sorry but REALITY STINKS
killerJ
June 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Hey big d dawg (learn how to spell fan) lets not forget the cheating and bar brawls (under age drinking) and the 9(lets see?god I can,t count,em all cheaters) violations turned in by you know who(richt).lets see a slap on the wrist by who,s on the head of the ncaa board.one word there my friend………get f#cked.
Old Tech
June 18th, 2010
2:47 pm
The one nice thing about Reality Stinks is that he admits that U{sic}GA is a middle of the road football team.
HugoStiglitz
June 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
Im still amazed that UGA fans would rather have beaten a bad GT team then a good GT team. Do you morons realize that it actually makes your team and program look better if you beat a good team? Why in the world would you try to convince everybody that when you beat a top 10 team it doesnt even matter because they are the worst team in college football anyways? You guys are never going to be winners until you can adopt a winners attitude.
One tech fan not drinking the kool Aid
June 18th, 2010
2:53 pm
Allen will be a fine back,but our line is small, inexperienced and we have zero depth.CPJ recruiting needs drastic improvement.
GTax
June 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
This GT blog is a joke. UGA has a blog every freaking day. We get one every “2 weeks” and our bloggers feels bad for us.
Whatever.
One tech fan not drinking the kool Aid
June 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
The talent level at UGA is far superior, the dogs may slip up and be very good this year.
PAB
June 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
Wow, 6+ hours of posting on this blog Reality. You really are on sorry excuse for a human being. I’d say get a life, but it would seem that ship has sailed. I’ll check back in a few hours and see if you have produced any evidence of the great GT player arrest cover up that you allege. Loser coward!!!!!!
GTax
June 18th, 2010
2:58 pm
One Tech fan not drinking the kool-aid…
You obviously are not a Tech fan if you think the O-line does not have any depth. McRae, Claytor, Bedford, Uzzi…plus the redshirts…Should have a full rotation and then some.
Further if you had been paying attention to recruiting, you’d know we 3 top OL recruits last year redshirting this year and we already have 3 commited for this year.
I don’t get what lack of O line you are talking about.
bjohndawg
June 18th, 2010
2:59 pm
I dont think Tech has to worry about the running back with their offense.They will always get plenty of yards running. Its the passing game that is the concern and the defense. If they can play better defense and have just a decent passing game, the season is in good shape. Play defense like last year, and the outcome is going to be not so good of a year. Good teams will just key on the run and stack the line. Coach Johnson knows he has to get better defensive plan and bought in Groh. But will that be enough to ge tthe job done?
kb
June 18th, 2010
2:59 pm
killerj get your facts straight only one of the minor infractions was related to football.
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
First things first. To all the uga fans giving tech fans crap about derrick morgan shut the crap up. Tech coaches and facuilty cannot be held responsible for Morgan and his arrest because he left school in Jan. when he declared for the draft. He was no longer a student at Tech at this time. What is CPJ supposed to do? Follow him around the rest of the his lift to make sure he doesn’t jaywalk when he is 40? Robert Hall is another story and needs to be kicked out of school if the charges are true. Two different stories, Tech is on the hook for Hall not Morgan. Uga fans should really worry about cleaning up their own house first. To reality and the other naysayers, you are very thin at QB , LB and your OL can’t stay healthy. Why am I supposed to believe you are going to be better this year??? You aren’t going to suprise anyone with Ealy this yr. Teams stack the run on you and dare you to beat them with a fresh. qb.
GTax
June 18th, 2010
3:02 pm
GT not drinking kool-aid…
UGA does not have superior talent on offense that GT does. About the same IMO. GT has a senior QB, UGA has a new starter. UGA has a better O-line, GT has better running backs. All about even, except that UGA does NOT have Nesbitt.
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:07 pm
You nailed it GTax on kool aid . CPJ has recruited heavily on linemen his first two years. Im not worried about the line. My concern is our d-line and can Stephen Hill replace the production of Bay-Bay. Kool-aid nice try but you are just another L$gghumper.
one tech fan not drinking the kool aid
June 18th, 2010
3:09 pm
Gtax look at the depth chart.
http://georgiatech.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp
top 3 backups were playing high school ball last year.
none highly rated.
kb
June 18th, 2010
3:18 pm
Gtax,
Although Nesbitt is a very good football player,a QB he’s not. He wouldn’t be on the depth chart at UGA or many other Div 1 schools as a QB.Allen would be in the running back rotation.
The UGA offense is loaded..
Wondering
June 18th, 2010
3:21 pm
I am wondering how long it will take these GT running backs to start beating up their girlfriends.
treyingeorgia
June 18th, 2010
3:25 pm
GTax, Nesbit is a glorified running back running a Wing-T offense… OMG he would’nt see the field at Georgia…which is why they recruited him as a receiver if I remember correctly… the guy can’t hit the broad side of a barn if he is leaning up against it… Tech running backs better than UGA’s– what are you smoking… spare me the day dreams and conjecture… Keep yapping Techies reality is a slap and come a couple of months you will get B^&*%d slapped and put in your rightful place…
Later
Paddy
June 18th, 2010
3:30 pm
UGA will have a great running attack this season. As hard as it is for me to say Tech will be better than great. Football is alive and well in the State of Georgia. Can’t wait till Sept.
We_Run_This_Country
June 18th, 2010
3:31 pm
kb,
Nesbitt was recruited as a pro-style QB by Gailey….and also recruited by UGA. He has a cannon of an arm….but he just doesn’t get to pass enough to keep his accuracy. One thing Nesbitt has that no UGA player has is HEART. This guy is gutsy…you never see him pull himself out of the game or take a breather on the sideline. You think Joe Cox or Fatty Matty Stafford could have ripped the ball away from that FSU player? I think not. What Joshua Nesbitt lacks in passing accuracy, he more than makes up for in natural abilities to play football. Whether it be running for a TD, passing for a TD, laying out a defender with a block, or forcing a turnover…..name one other player in college football that has the ability to do all of those things. Waiting on an answer…….
Delbert D.
June 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
Paul in RDU – Yeah, Skip Holtz. I thought he might go to UT, and I blogged that when Kiffin bolted. It didn’t seem right that Derek Dooley would leave such a horrible mess at East Carolina, but guilty me, I did not think straight. Nothing surprises me about coaches named Holtz.
We_Run_This_Country
June 18th, 2010
3:36 pm
GT RB’s are far better than UGA RB’s….this isn’t even close. Bring on the Washaun Ealey experiment, the Caleb King experiment, and the mighty Richard Samuel experiment LMAO!! You’ve got to be high to think that UGA is even in the same league as Anthony Allen, Roddy Jones, Marcus Wright, Embry Peeples, AND NOW Charles Perkins. It’s amazing the stupidity of UGA fans….3 yards and a cloud of dust, right?
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:38 pm
Trey no you aren’t correct. Uga recruited Nesbitt heavily as a dual threat qb. Nesbitt went to tech UGA took Logan Grey. Who got the better end of that deal??? Nesbitt has alot of work to do in the passing game. However it isnt fair to say he couldn’t be the starter anywhere else bc you are basing his work on running the option offense. Not a great offense to develop into a pro-style passer. I will give UGA credit when it comes to Ealy, he is a star in the making but I like techs rb corp as a whole. Got a lot of guys with game time and there is speed on the edges and power at the b-back. IF Nesbitt can get to 55-60% comp. on his passes and the defense stops somebody just half the time this yr. we could be looking at another good yr.
GTax
June 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
treyingeorgia…
I never said Nesbitt would see the field at UGA. That was not my point. And your definition of a glorified RB depends on your definiton of QB. My definition of a QB is the unchalleged leader on offense who does whatever is asked of him as the signal caller passing, rushing, or otherwise.
Who cares that Nesbitt does not pass it. That’s not the offense he plays in. ESPN seems to have created this misnomer that a QB has to pass the ball to be a real QB. It’s simply not so.
A QB is the guy that say, “I can get you this first down on 4th and 1 in overtime to win this game”. A QB is the guy who makes the decision to pass, pitch, run, or simple pitch and block. A QB is the guy who risks his body for the advancement of the team. Most importantly, the QB leads by example through his play and does exaclty what the coach asks of him.
Nesbitt does all of these things. No matter whether he’s running or passing. If UGA had GT’s offense, he would be the starter over Aaron Murray.
Just as easily I can tell you that Aaron Murray would never see the field at Georgia Tech. He not our type of QB.
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Ive notice a lot of dreamers on this blog just none living in reality
Reality Stinks for a GT fan
GTax
June 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Reality stinks for the unranked UGA fan. How was is being unranked last year? I know I enjoyed GT winning a championship and being in the top 10 for a few weeks.
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Reality, talk football dude. Answer some questions about your great UGA team other than gt stinks. What are you 12??? I root for UGA cause my favorite color is red!!!
kb
June 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
Nesbitt grew up a dawg fan, but was not recruited as a qb.
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
I would much rather go into the season knowing I have a true leader under center. Tech knows that Nesbitt will give it everything he has and knows the offense inside and out. Even though Murray is talented its gonna take a while maybe the whole season to get used to the speed and demands of playing in major college football. Not a knock on Murray just the way its. Advantage Tech.
one tech fan not drinking the kool aid
June 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
question my alleigence , but o the oline is going to be a problem area.
a quote from jackets online.
Georgia Tech’s offensive line situation went from a strength depth wise heading out of the Orange Bowl to a major work in progress. One of the biggest areas of concern for the coaching staff is finding the next starting center. Sean Bedford will be a senior this season and the Jackets need to develop the next guy in line. Walk-on Zach Fraysier was the leading candidate to replace Bedford, but he was injured during practice Friday and could miss the rest of the spring clearing a path for redshirt freshman Jay Finch to get on the field.
GTax
June 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
And yes, Trey, GT’s running backs are better than UGA’s. Allen is a better RB than Ealy and King and Samuel are failed experiments. Servicable at best.
GT’s sheer quantity of RB’s at our disposal and depth makes GT have better RB’s. Not saying the Ealy isn’t talented, but he’s not experienced and he really wasn’t very impressive his first year.
Impressive is VT’s Ryan Williams. Ealy didn’t even touch that kid in his first year.
GT has Allen, Jones, Wright, Smith, Peebles, Perkins, and Bostic.
UGA has Ealy, Samuel, and King.
Advantage GT in sheer numbers. UGA should never be able to out GT as long as GT is running the option.
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
GTax
Seriously Aaron Murray would never see the field at Tech
Now that makes since as to why Tech cannot win and will not ever win with that type of QB
Its a terrible shame Tech had the greatest wide receiver I have seen play college in Calvin Johnson even better than Moss
But your favorite style QB hindered his performance on the field
I was at CJ game against UGA at home, he was open all day but your “Style QB” could never get him the ball
What a shame but oh well I will enjoy GT’s stupidity style of QB as we will continue to beat you over and over again
Reality Stinks
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
kb keep drinking the red and black koolaid. Love it how anytime a recruit doesn’t end up signing with UGA , all the dog fans come up with some excuse for how he either was recruited at his natural postition, they really didn’t want him, he is stupid etc. etc. You guys are the best. lmao
RDR
June 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
Reality Stinks
June 18th, 2010
1:09 pm
Every Tech fan should re-watch this and come to reality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-zZ_qIJ3aQ
Beautiful!!
What about the other running backs that
June 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
UGA twice ( lately ) and LSU and Miami and Iowa all faced far better GT running backs that were frankly, recruited by Chan The Man Gailey. Only once did GT win ……..over UGA, who laid down that 08 day.
No matter who the GT backs are, it will not matter …………. most decent D teams now know how to defend that middle school offense. They also know that tech’s linemen roll onto the D players knees and ankles and so they avoid that borderline illegal block. If memory serves me correctly in 09, Tech in the UGA game got a good dose of knee jobs. AAAAAAAAAAAAahahahahahah
Oh yeah ………when the rumors were swirling around about the SEC expanding, notice how all you techers SUDDENLY were clamoring to beg back into the SEC??? That is proof positive that even ACC champions know that that league is small ball.
ACC Champ is like declaring that you are CHAMPS of Murphey Candler Pop Warner ball in Dunwoody. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GTax
June 18th, 2010
3:50 pm
Tech fan kool-aide…
I don’t think anyone, at least I didn’t, said the O-line wasn’t going to be as dependable as last year, but your assertion that depth and recruiting wasn’t there is where you’re wrong.
The O-line is going to have some work to do, no question. But GT and PJ have built depth there and there is no question about that.
What about the GT back from Mobile??
June 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Last Feb. tech signed some kid from the Mobile area as a running back. He is 5′5″ and around 160 lbs of manhood. Heard that he is small ……..but he IS slow. AAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHA
Go Dogs.
mwh6767
June 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Reality your posting privileges are officially revoked! Dude Calvin was at tech under gailey not CPJ! Do you even watch college football?!?!? Gailey ran a pro-style , drop back offense not the option! Gailey just decided to continue to let the worst qb in tech history reggie ball start! You need to get off the computer now little fella
GTax
June 18th, 2010
3:53 pm
Reality Stinks…
You know nothing of football if you honestly believe Aaron Murray would see the field at GT. He wouldn’t. Trust me.
Secondly, Calvin Johnson never played for Paul Johnson. That was Chan Gailey when GT had a comparable offense to UGA. That style QB was not the style QB we have under Paul Johnson. That was a totaly different coach, system, and QB.
What kind of an idiot are you?