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
Follow me on twitter @ajcgatech
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
141 comments Add your comment
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:34 pm
We run this country – You have it wrong it is we ruin this country!
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
2:35 pm
My two favorite things in the world
Jealousy is a weak emotion, you’re going to have to learn how to overcome it…come on man be stronger than that
….and besides, males shouldn’t be jealous, that s feminine trait
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:39 pm
much like using “lol” in a blog or on IM. Maybe you should follow your own advice.
To Hell With Georgia!!
June 22nd, 2010
2:39 pm
What about Anthony Egbuniwe? He can play some D-Line.
Turkey Neck
June 22nd, 2010
2:40 pm
POAD, you’re right in there with the ShambleON84 genius. Please learn how to spell, Webster. Before you get too busy with that assignment, please answer the question about why GT gets smoked in every bowl game. Why is that? I mean…gee…you have the best offensive mind in the country and that triple option (or whatever it’s called) offense just cannot be stopped….right? So what gives? Whay can’t you gnats win a bowl game, Tesla? Please explain as I am very curious.
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:45 pm
And one more thing, don’t come at me with crap about the game of life when you get headlines like this…
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/10/georgia.terror.trial/index.html
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
2:46 pm
My two favorite things in the world
come on man, please be stronger than that…its getting quite pathetic mate
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:47 pm
SPELLING ALERT!
TURKEY NECK MISSPELLED “WHY!”
OH MY GOSH, YOU ARE SO DUMB!!!!
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll answer your question:
Johnson has coached exactly TWO bowl games at Tech. He has lost both, but two years is kind of a small sample to come to the conclusion that he “can’t” win a bowl game, right? I know you are an English scholar and not a math major, but can you understand that?
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:47 pm
Holding on Poad, that is 15 yards. Poad now leads the nation in penalties.
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:48 pm
there is pretty much no comeback to my last post, just stop already.
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:50 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519897,00.html
Everybody’s got a couple of skeletons in the closet…let’s not play this game.
SILLY UGA FANS
June 22nd, 2010
2:52 pm
That bowl question is easy. We played two of the best defenses in the country and thier really good d-lines pushed around our smaller o-line. That is no mystery and most true GT fasn have been begging for a better o-line with depth. In 08 we had no depth and injuries at the end with our best o-lineman. In 09 again lack of depth and injuries leading into the last four games. Not an excuse at all, the offensive unit should have played better, but did not. Do I think GT could have done better against Iawo sure based on the way the played VT. It did not happen, but I can’t hate a coach with 20 wins and a championship in just two years. Now if this trend continues after 4 or 5 then we may have a problem. I don’t count the bowl games during Gailey’s tenure since his bowl attitude was the same as his regular season.
frank james
June 22nd, 2010
2:53 pm
Well I have got to go, Poad has been ejected for throwing a punch. He continues to lead nation in penalties and ejections!
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
2:55 pm
That’s why you don’t see me leading the charge in regards to whether UGA ranks in the game of life either.
Talk to the Nerd who drives the Beamer
Flagboy....
June 22nd, 2010
2:58 pm
Hee, Hee, Hee…. Wesley said Peters….hee,hee…. Toodles, FLAGBOY…GT class’11…
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:58 pm
I find it annoying that someone would brag about the car they drive, etc (especially since it’s probably not true), but is that nay worse than someone like you who unilaterally calls every fan of a certain school “nerds?”
Again, look in the mirror and read the garbage you post before you start cracking on someone else.
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
2:59 pm
For the grammar police, “nay” in the previous post should have read “any.”
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
3:01 pm
RambleOn84, you sir are the biggest NERD on this blog.
You have to be an uber NERD to root for Tech if you didn’t go there. Poor guy, you probably got beat up a lot at school growing up didn’t ya…
RambleOn84
June 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
In my experience, the only people I have ever heard using the term “uber” have been the biggest dorks I know.
Sounds like you’re trying to compensate for your own dorkiness.
My two favorite things in the world
June 22nd, 2010
3:08 pm
When in Rome…
My two favorite things in the world TOO
June 22nd, 2010
3:47 pm
RambleOn84
ignore two favorite things – his jealousy prevents any sort of coherent logic from him
he still doesnt realize that by calling you a nerd, he is admitting that you are more intelligent than him and you make more money….it’s pretty sad to have self-esteem than low.
wesleywhatwhat
June 22nd, 2010
4:38 pm
lots of uga d*ckheads on the georgia tech blogs today, i see.
thanks for caring guys, even if u don’t make much sense in your comments. i GUESS it’s ok to have u keep hanging around since u obviously follow georgia tech football pretty closely.
sad, yet flattering.
Delbert D.
June 22nd, 2010
5:03 pm
Izaan Cross came in at 6 ‘4″ 255 last year as a true freshman DE. According to the Spring roster update, he’s up to 287. 6′7″ DT TJ Barnes is up to 355. Tongo played LB and DE last year. He should do ok at stand-up DE when that scheme is run. Getting Logan Walls healthy is very important. Walls, Anderson and Barnes is a pretty good rotation at DT.
Best of Atlanta
June 22nd, 2010
5:46 pm
————————————–
……Nesbitt for Heisman……
————————————–
Delbert D.
June 22nd, 2010
6:02 pm
Ahmed, 2005? I couldn’t find him on the depth chart, but he would have been a Chan Gailey guy. He had a kicker named Mahmoud or something.
Delbert D.
June 22nd, 2010
6:05 pm
Now, I we want to talk sportsl terrorists, Jan Kemp gets the nod.
Delbert D.
June 22nd, 2010
6:06 pm
(sports) was the way that was ’sposed to read. Cracker crumbs under the keys again.
SugarHillDawg
June 22nd, 2010
6:30 pm
You Tech Nerds (redundant phrase) REALLY think alot of yourselves when you think UGA fans base our success on beating you LOSERS. We just like to get on your blogs to keep you grounded and keep reminding you that you’re still Ga Tech and still play in a joke of a conference.
harold
June 22nd, 2010
7:15 pm
WHAT A SENSATIONAL JOB JOHNSON IS DOING AT GEORGIA TECH. TECH IS GOING TO BE TOUGH THIS YEAR. THEY COULD WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LONG BEFORE GEORGIA.
mwh6767
June 22nd, 2010
7:45 pm
First things first. UGA fans answer me this, if tech sucks, is irrelevent, a joke, etc. etc. THEN WHY ARE YOU ON THE TECH BLOG??? Before you say because tech people get on yours. I read the uga blog and you may get one or two on there.You guys are first on the tech blog before anybody! Get a life people or at least talk some logically football. Heck at this point i’d settle at least for some new tech jokes. Now on to bigger things. The ol and dl are the keys to the season. You’ve got to be able to hold the point of attack. Big problem last year. Even Morgan was suspect against the run sometimes. I’m not sold on Barnes, just didn’t see him get better as the year went on last year. Anderson seemed to get better and him getting hurt early in the UGA game hurt. Cross has the size and talent and hopefully what I saw from Peters in the spring wasn’t a fluke. Lot of hopes and ifs with this bunch. If the come together a big part of what tech needs to repeat will be in place.
messin with.............
June 22nd, 2010
8:49 pm
i admire dogs because no matter how mediocre their last season was, they are always ready for the next season.
Tokyo jacket
June 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
So, here’s a question, does CAG make up for some of the productivity lost by Morgan? Does his scheme make the defense overall more effective? I must say that our last DC was about as effective as our last HC. Nice guy, didn’t get the job done, CPJ saves the day…sound familiar?
Here’s backup to my theory on CAG with a comparrison against UGA not to poke fun, but to really debate:
CAG Resume – Coached a guy named LT, you might have seen his film at OLB; super bowl ring as DC; head coach of NFL team; head coach of college team; generally beloved by players and those being recruited; pioneer of the 3-4 defense; chose GT over Dolphins and Patriots DC positions to win NC; fired for being a mediocre if not bad head coach
Grantham – d-line coach in dallas; lots of energy, young; probably a smart guy, up and comer; good coaching pedigree (Beamer, Capers, etc); fired for having the 3rd worst defense in the NFL on a team with a pro-bowl QB
Seriously, which one would you want?
messin with.............
June 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
but it’s sad they aren’t excited about their own blog. they continue to camp out here and get their attention deficit met by talking to happy tech fans who honestly believe in their (football)team. despite all your crappy posts, you are jealous because we won our own conference championship and it kills you.
Bart Hughes
June 22nd, 2010
9:43 pm
all “DAWGS” on this blog are PUSSIES
POAD
June 22nd, 2010
10:33 pm
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAhAHAHAhAhAhAHA! UGA grad Sonny Perdue and Roy Barnes. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The state is still stupid enough to vote for these JOKES. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAh UGA fans are so STUPID. WOOF WOOF WOOF vote dawg and everything is going to be alright. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. HERE DAWG! Sit dawg. Rollover Dawg. Play dead Dawg. Be stupid Dawg but think you are smart and vote for another Dawg Grad.
Hayseed Dixie
June 23rd, 2010
12:18 am
@Tokyo Jacket: “Look for Groh’s defense to give us two extra possessions this year.”
That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? And you’re right, CPJ can do a lot with two extra possessions.
An extra 5 or so minutes of pounding the opposing defense for a team that already crushes with ball control. Very exciting if Groh can pull it off.
ALL DOGS GO TO HELL
June 23rd, 2010
1:06 am
TOYKO JACKET IS THE ONLY ONE ON THIS BLOG WITH ANY KIND OF KNOWLEDGE OF GT FOOTBALL, THE REST OF YOU INBREDS ARE MORONS..BUT HERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN R E L A T E TO: JUST BECAUSE YOU DOGPOOPS MARRIED YOUR SISTERS, THE ATHLETIC DEPT. IS STILL GOING TO CHARGE YOU FOR 3 TICKETS INSTEAD OF TWO…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
Puke Colored Gold
June 23rd, 2010
8:56 am
The U is coming
The U will blow that sorry D line away
The U is back hope you enjoyed your last time in the championship game
Juijo99
June 24th, 2010
12:16 am
TJ Barnes: 332 lbs. I have seen this big man work. I see that he doesn’t have that lazy attitude about conditioning . You guys act like he was a senior out there on the field, when he was only a redshirt freshman ( where there is an extra year away from football in case some of you guys didn’t know) So many fans gave him goals not even most seniors couldn’t reach. I really see how people at Ga.Tech are!!!!
vidalia bubba
June 26th, 2010
9:38 pm
I talked with Chan Gailey, the other day, and he thinks, that Ga. Tech has a chance to be real good this year. he thinks that Nesbitt is the reason. If our defense is good, he sees us winning it again with Paul. He has the utmost respect for Johnson. Who wouldn’t? Probably the best Coach in college football. I say Go Jackets, and the hell with Georgia!
SAINT SIMON
June 30th, 2010
8:25 am
UGA 30 – GT 24!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA 73 – GT 66!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!!!!!
WE RUN THIS STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!