A look at Georgia Tech’s defensive line
Continuing our positional analysis of Georgia Tech’s football team:
THE DEFENSIVE LINE
- Returning starters: Ben Anderson, T.J. Barnes, Izaan Cross, Robert Hall, Jason Peters, Logan Walls.
- Others to watch: Emmanuel Dieke, Euclid Cummings, J.C. Lanier.
- Key losses: Derrick Morgan, who is now with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
- Key fact: Morgan had 12.5 sacks last season.
- Key fact II: The rest of the defensive line produced seven sacks last season.
- Key question: What effect will the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 have on the defensive line’s production?
- Key question 2: Who will replace Morgan’s production? Dieke and Cross are the young guns at one defensive end spot. It would be a lot to ask them to match Morgan’s body of work.
- Key question 3: Who will win the crucial nose guard job? Barnes is figuring out how to turn his 330-plus pounds into leverage. Anderson has experience but is recovering from his knee injury. Lanier has potential but is still working his way back into football condition after sustaining a shoulder injury last year. Walls is slightly undersized, but his quickness may win the day.
- Outlook: A fairly big question mark, arguably the biggest on the team. However, Peters looked very good in the spring at one defensive end spot. The more Walls plays, the better he looks. Barnes and Lanier have immense potential.
- Your turn: What say you about the defensive line?
For a look at the offensive line, go here
For a look at the running backs, go here
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141 comments Add your comment
Hall
June 22nd, 2010
12:43 pm
Destin how are the beaches down there? Many tar balls?
I think we will have a much improved defense over last year. Both ga and gt will with better coaches and a new system. I worry about the offense more than the defense. I don’t want to be too one dimensional.
DoDog
June 22nd, 2010
12:47 pm
This blog is for opinions, preferably about the GT D-line. You know what opinions are worth. Guys, don’t sweat what those morons with ‘dawg’ in their lines are saying. They aren’t UGa grads or students. I’m sorry that they’re unemployed, but that’s why they have so much time to wait and be “First!” and say what amounts to “Y’all suck” every day. Just pity them, and hope UGa is undefeated and #1 when we play ‘em.
Paddy
June 22nd, 2010
12:47 pm
dawgfan……no,AG is not using a walker. He still helps out delivering Meals-On-Wheels to all his friends and coaching buddies from back- in -the- day. Looks to be in fine shape to me! Have heard he is having trouble spelling 3-4. Shame!
JW
June 22nd, 2010
12:49 pm
dawgfan & superDawg
You clowns are full of excuses. Nevertheless, facts are facts. You can’t talk about GT getting have no respect when we’ve got more NC and a more recent NC than you.
….Since you all want to toss out numbers/records, how about this record….
3-17 since 1990
I’d say whoever is on the ‘business end’of that stick has been owned.
What’s worse is that this is a record against your main division rival (aka Florida, aka UGA’s daddy, aka Athens = Hiroshima Florida = Little Boy), therefore your irrelevance is deliberate HAHAHAHAHA!!
Dan
June 22nd, 2010
12:49 pm
Our LB’s will make up for a lot of the production that Morgan provided. I expect Groh will be dialing up a lot of blitzes, which makes us vulnerable to a big play, but last year we were vulnerable to a big play and we weren’t even blitzing all the time.
Ultimately, the Tech and UGA defensive changes will yield very similar results – more big plays and turnovers from the defense but more big plays given up. That’s the cost of blitzing a lot.
And all the talk about how Al Groh is a moron is foolish. UVA always had strong defense but they had pitiful offenses toward the end of his tenure there. That meant the defense was on the field all the time and eventually they would break. All he has to do at Tech is force a turnover or two a game and get a couple of stops. Our offense will hog the ball and score a lot of points. If the defense holds up its end of the bargain, we’re gonna win a lot of ballgames.
Vick=Dog killing thug
June 22nd, 2010
1:07 pm
I have to admit I’m bored with making fun of GT.
Just throwing that out there…
Please help
June 22nd, 2010
1:18 pm
Can anyone on this blog forward me a link or two of some good sites to get graphing calculators and perhaps some really neat mechanical pencils? I need them cheap!
Also, my pocket protector is getting a little old and I need to upgrade that too.
Help is here
June 22nd, 2010
1:21 pm
I think they got some on craigs list!
I saw a hog slopper, hay mower, and a manure shovel too! (manure shovel is used though)
Vigo the Destructor
June 22nd, 2010
1:25 pm
That’s my World of Warcraft name, do you guys like that one?
Hey, "outside the sate of Georgia"
June 22nd, 2010
1:32 pm
refute this if you can:
Over the last 10 years UGA is # 5 or #6 in winning football games with LSU and Florida and the real USC and Tx and Ohio State. Alabama was not in the top 5 or 6 and they are the current NCs. You do not know of what you write, I suspect because you are either ill educated or uneducated.
They did not name ONE ACC school and certainly not tech.
Get your facts correct ……….and try to get in some low level JC and eventually get an education.
Help is here
June 22nd, 2010
1:35 pm
Hey, “outside the sate of Georgia”
You’re 3-17 vs your division rival since 1990. Nuff said. You’re irrelevant.
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
1:36 pm
Star Wars and GT football!
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
1:37 pm
Mayonnaise sandwichs and intercourse with my sister!
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
1:40 pm
Surely you aren’t comparing your coeds with ours…
Gt4ever
June 22nd, 2010
1:40 pm
Exactly, the players we do not have…… The coach is still NOT recruiting well…. We are WAY too SMALL on both sides of the ball… We need to RECRUIT! When is this coach going to recruit!
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
1:43 pm
I’m comparing rubes in athens to scholars on North Ave
You win the coed debate hands down
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
1:45 pm
you said something about sleeping with sisters, i’m guessing you were opening that door…
Hey who was you favorite character on Avatar?
wesleywhatwhat
June 22nd, 2010
1:47 pm
“one tech fan not drinking the Kool aid” is so obivously a uga fan, that it makes me wonder why he/she puts in all the time to come on georgia tech fans just to hate. must not have much to do.
anyway, appreciate the article, doug.
i think jason peters is going to have a big year…
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
1:47 pm
I think we both can agree that Avatar was a great movie despite your attempt to take a ’sci-fi’ jab
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
1:51 pm
I was quite disappointed actually, they shoulda called it Dances with Aliens since it was basically a remake of Costner’s film.
We should change all GT football blogs to sci-fi movie discussions, I’m sure you guys could give way more insight than you normally do with football.
Let’s start with time travel. Now that’s a cool subject
StingerSplash
June 22nd, 2010
1:54 pm
Don’t know why Doug listed Robert Hall as a returning starter. Isn’t he suspended for the time being?
Barnes was, well, underwhelming last year. He didn’t play like somebody 6-7 and 340 pounds.
And yes, the outside linebackers will take up some of the slack for Morgan’s sack production. They’re the guys on the edge, instead of the DEs. It may take a couple of people to pick up Morgan’s slack but the 3-4 scheme may allow for that to happen.
Turkey Neck
June 22nd, 2010
1:59 pm
Hi, GT fans….ole “TN” CPJ here. Don’t fret about our defensive line this year. Al and I have had many meetings and studied the players in order to decide which to put in every position. Al is very excited and so am I. We have a new defensive scheme and will absolutely dominate the game on bith sides of the ball this year. Al has a new new Hover-Round and I have a new [athletic] bra to better cinch up my growing man boobs. I’m looking forward to competing in the ACC but am NOT looking forward to showing up for any bowl game as we tend to get smoked every year. Yeah, we’ll do pretty well in the ACC but all bets are off for any post-season game. Rambin’ Wreck!!!! Yeah!!!!!!! -Turkey Neck
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
1:59 pm
You really should work on your trash talking mate.
Who brought up sci-fi again? Me or you? I’m having trouble remembering.
Considering that you don’t want to talk about football or even sports for that matter, lets talk about starting salaries for GT and UGA alums. Or how about rankings? No?
You do realize that when you clowns call us ‘nerds’ you are admitting that we are more intelligent than you which means we’ll earn a higher salary and ultimately living a better home drive a nicer car and more than likely marry one of those Coeds you brag about up there in athens because she’ll like the feel of the Dakota leather of my 650 Beamer much better than the feel and stinch of your manure ridden F-150
lol, this is just too easy
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:00 pm
I time traveled to 1980 and found Vine Dooley fisting Herschel Walker
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:02 pm
I then attempted to time travel to the years of UGA’s other national titles, but my DeLorean’s circuits overloaded.
SILLY UGA FANS
June 22nd, 2010
2:04 pm
I will be happy with 9 wins and hope for more then look for progression into next season. This is a rebuilding year on both sides and you can’t expect to much to soon. Now if I was one of the delusional UGA fans I would say we will take the NC because we are the best preseason team ever.
Hall Dog
June 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
It doesnt matter what you do to your d line, UGA is still going to ram it down your throats just like we did last year. Dont you think its funny that UGA and South Car beat both of the teams playing in the ACC championship. No matter what you choose to belive GT is, and always will be, INFERIOR to Georgia and every other SEC team. Georgias offensive line returns all 5 starters and we have both running backs returning. I dont care what you do to your defensive line, you dont have the talent to get past our veteran o-line. 9/10- times in a decade~30-42
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:07 pm
There goes Caleb, there goes Caleb, there goes Caleb, there goes Caleb, no that was Ealey!
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:08 pm
I just figured you guys could explain some sci-fi stuff. Am i wrong to assume such?
You drive a 650 beamer my arse… You probably drive a hybrid and fix people’s email and that’s cool and all, just don’t church it up son. What ever makes you feel better about yourself.
I can talk football all day long “mate”, just figured you guys were a little more informed when it comes to things like BattleStar Galactica.
Deep down maybe I wish I were a nerd who lost my virginity at age 24 and plays a mean game of D&D.
OK maybe not but still…
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:09 pm
No other fans in the world is as proud of beating up on Chan Gailey as those of UGA.
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:10 pm
You “dawg” fans know more about nerd-stuff than football…
I hate UG
June 22nd, 2010
2:12 pm
UG suck, GT numba won!
I make this video in my dorm room at GT. Check my graphing calculator YO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzk6wJ43o5U
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:14 pm
OK now that video is hilarious…
That’s exactly what I picture you guys are like when I read these GT football blogs.
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
2:17 pm
lol, your jealously is astounding….but it doesnt change reality….and mate you don’t have to believe me, my iDrive and 360 horses will lull away any worries and lull away the UGA shirt off of your coed when she gets in
You enjoy your video games and incessant obsession with another man’s virginity….hope that works out for you.
At the end of the day….football is just that….
But in the game of life, GT is undefeat when it comes to UGA. Get used to disappointment my friend.
SILLY UGA FANS
June 22nd, 2010
2:17 pm
Cracks me up that some UGA fasn base thier whole next season on how well they play GT, even though GT sucks. Your RBs had very little production until playing our known weak defense. Your o-line did very little against good d-lines. Oh and lets not forget UGA ranked what #4 in penalties.
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:20 pm
“But in the game of life, GT is undefeat when it comes to UGA. Get used to disappointment my friend.”
OK, great point. You win, whatever that meant.
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:21 pm
Silly UGA FANS – To hear Tech fans talk, the Jackets have no weaknesses.
You mean you let a team beat you that was ranked #4 in penalties.
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:24 pm
My two favorite things in the world – In the game of life UGA is fine. Thank god for UGA graduate Billy Payne for bringing the Olympics to Atlanta and improving the facilities at Tech. Techwood drive would definitely be hell if improvements weren’t made. Now you want to talk about the game of life.
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
2:25 pm
whatever that meant
Interpretation:
My Opinions
1. Better degree no matter the discipline
2. Better Perception of degree by employers
Facts
3. GT grads earn more
4. More percentage of alums become millionaires than UGA
5. Our endowment….in every aspect of the word, is larger
lol….like I said, you guys make this too easy
POAD
June 22nd, 2010
2:26 pm
WOW what is his name? The old white guy that coached at UCLA in basketball? He was so old he used a walker all the way to NCAA Championships. How old is Penn States Coach? How old was Bear when he won his last National Championship? I have no doubt Al Groh can be great. I think UGA VII was young and couldn’t survive another game watching COX as the QB.
Turkey Neck
June 22nd, 2010
2:27 pm
ShambleOn84, why slaughter the English language? Ref: “No other fans in the world IS….”
Come on, clown….what’s with the 84 stuff? Did you really attend the North Avenue Trade School? If so, did you skip the ENG 101 class in order to spend extra time doing plumbing projects?
At least Chan Gailey could win a bowl game every now and then even if it was the Smurf Bowl out west! What bowl game has Turkey Neck won? The GT gnats are a lot like marijuana as they both tend to get smoked in bowls!! Ha!! When will the insects manage to win a bowl game (or at least score more than a field goal)? When, Shamble?? When????
POAD
June 22nd, 2010
2:28 pm
Frank J don’t forget the same REFS that you UGA fans complained about all season long were the same SEC REFS that called the UGA v. Tech game in Atlanta.
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:28 pm
POAD – Please don’t disrespect the great John Wooden. You better wish you were half the man he was.
swampjacket
June 22nd, 2010
2:29 pm
Dawgfan- Since you brought up 2008, I believe Tech beat Ugag that year, and I think they were pre-season number one?! What a joke! And speaking of rivals, Tech maybe 5-15 vs. uga since 1990, but uga is 3-17 vs. UF…..But your real rival is really Auburn who UGA is 10-9-1 against over that span. But that’s also one of those “bad” SEC teams that Tech has owned over the last few years!
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:30 pm
Oh toad, I mean poad – Now you are going to blame the referees. Run Caleb Run!
We_Run_This_Country
June 22nd, 2010
2:30 pm
GT is undefeated against UGA in 2010….I don’t see that changing for the remainder of the year.
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:30 pm
Did you just say “lol”?
I’m done with you ya pansy… Go day dream about your beamer and all the chicks you have. And while you are at isn’t it time for a firmware update on some of your servers?
POAD
June 22nd, 2010
2:31 pm
Trrkey Neck what is youor seat # in the Septic Tank of the South? How many years have you been atending games? I figure you pay more money to buy Camo than you spend on UGA tickets and donations.
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:33 pm
Pardon me for the ONE grammatical error…once the comment is submitted, there is no edit feature on ajc.com.
While we’re on the subject of grammatical/spelling errors, you misspelled my name several times…it is “Ramble,” not “Shamble.”
And no, I didn’t attend this North Avenue Trade School of which you speak. I graduated from Emory. Am I allowed to still root for Tech? Please let me know soon, as I have a lot of Tech gear to throw away if your decision requires me to do so.
“84″ is the year I was born, thank you for asking.
POAD
June 22nd, 2010
2:33 pm
No I didn’t blame the refs. I am asking if you were happy with them? UGA fans cried about the refs all year until they called the TECH game.
Trrkey Neck was that goodz spelling for you?