A look at Georgia Tech’s linebackers
Switching from the wide receivers, we take a look at Georgia Tech’s linebackers:
THE LINEBACKERS
- Returning starters: Anthony Barnes, Julian Burnett, Brad Jefferson, Kyle Jackson, Steven Sylvester.
- Others to watch: Anthony Egbuniwe (converted from DE), Albert Rocker, Quayshawn Nealy, Jeremiah Attaochu.
- Key losses: Outside linebacker Sedric Griffin.
- Key fact: Tech’s linebackers totaled five sacks last season, including three by Sylvester.
- Key question: Will the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4, which places an emphasis on pressure from the outside linebackers, produce more sacks from this position?
- Key question 2: Who will be those outside linebackers? Barnes and Egbuniwe were the starters during spring practice. Nealy and Attaochu could push for playing time. Attaochu, specifically, was recruited specifically by new defensive coordinator Al Groh to play OLB in this system.
- Key question 3: Who will start beside Jefferson at the inside linebacker spot? Sylvester ran with the first unit for most of the spring. He played mostly outside last season and seems to have the frame for that spot, compared to the larger guys who play ILB. Burnett was a tackling machine last season, though his inexperience sometimes led to him making the wrong reads and being out of position. Jackson missed last season with a broken foot. Two seasons ago he helped pull the group together when injuries caused absences.
- Outlook: Not to be a broken record, but it’s hard to say that any group shined last season. So, this group should also improve. Groh will coach the outside linebackers, and Joe Speed will coach the ILBs.
- Your turn: What say you about the linebackers?
For a look at the wide receivers, go here
For a look at the safeties, go here
For a look at the offensive line, go here
For a look at the running backs, go here
For a look at the defensive line, 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
91 comments Add your comment
messin with.........
June 29th, 2010
11:40 am
bring out them black hats again, dogboi’s. that really was cool at the bama game………….
messin with.........
June 29th, 2010
11:40 am
and yes you do ruin this state.
SILLY UGA FANS
June 29th, 2010
11:49 am
DAWGFAN,
Maybe if you and reality stinks did not come on every GT blog spewing your hate then you could actually have a rational debate about sports. Fact is both of you are more than likely lonely little boys who feel all tough to talk smack on a blog. The fact that you spend so much time on here trying to convince yourself and others that GT does not matter is hilarious though so keep at it champion of none. Now go play with your chew toy in the corner like a good little puppy.
dawgfan
June 29th, 2010
11:57 am
I see that my work here is done. Just remember Techies, the day that you admit that UGA owns your soul is the day that you never hear from me again. You bring this on yourselves. I will never again point out to the world all the embarassing facts about Georgia Tech football if you’ll just pull your heads out of your butts and admit the obvious. We own you. Always have. Always will. The choice is yours…
hiveredtech
June 29th, 2010
12:00 pm
How does Brandon Watts not get mentioned? The coaches are moving him around to find a way to get him on the field more after a tremendous spring practice where he made plays all over the field. He is currently #2 ILB….but also can play outside.
Delbert D.
June 29th, 2010
12:01 pm
Tongo was a RS Senior. He had 2 unassisted and 4 assisted tackles last season. Buried on the depth chart?
Brock
June 29th, 2010
12:13 pm
YOU do realize the more you post here the more you reveal Tech is everything to you? Glad we make your seasons special even though we are irrelevant.
Sorry, you brought in on yourself. And I’ll be waiting for those embarrassing facts the next time you decide to post here which will be in 5,4,3,2…….
Here’s an embarrassing fact. YOU spend a lot of time on a blog that has nothing to do with your team continuously crying like an 8yr old girl.
HugoStiglitz
June 29th, 2010
12:23 pm
Even as a Tech fan I would rather you stick around dawgfan. You are pretty entertaining.
Paddy
June 29th, 2010
1:21 pm
superdawg, don’t believe linebackers do much blocking. Maybe you are thinking of roller derby?
Blue Fox
June 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
I say again, Al Groh’s hiring was as important to Tech as was Johnson’s.
Paddy
June 29th, 2010
1:24 pm
Was not Watts praised after spring practice by the coaches? But now he is not on the playing time depth chart? Did he get hurt?
hiveredtech
June 29th, 2010
1:47 pm
Paddy
Watts is running #2 at ILB on the GT football depth chart….he also could learn some OLB (Will) as he is so good the coaches want to find a way to get him on the field as a redshirt freshman.
hiveredtech
June 29th, 2010
1:48 pm
meant possibly OLB- Sam….not Will. Watts is running #2 at the ILB-Mike spot right now.
SuperSized
June 29th, 2010
2:17 pm
*
At 6′ 4″ and 255 , Anthony Egbuniwe is one BIG Linebacker.
……….Go Jackets………
Can Al Groh
June 29th, 2010
2:19 pm
bring the intensity to the Tech D that he did when he led Jericho over the Phillistines?
Do Depends Last
June 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
For 4 Quarters?
Overtime???
Greensboro, Georgia
June 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
====================
……Nesbitt for Heisman……
====================
Will the coolers have Gatorade
June 29th, 2010
2:21 pm
or Metamucil
Walker
June 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
or Hoveround on the sideline?
Paddy
June 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
hiveredtech….thanks for the update. Not a Tech fan but did see Watts play 3 times as a sr in hs. Tech is going to surprise folks this year. Their defense will keep them in games until the scoreboard starts to light up. Go Dawgs!
tongo is gone
June 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
anyone know why?
KeithB
June 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
Can’t get much worse. I prefer the 3-4 to the 3-4 because it allows the defense to bring pressure from all over the place, and also allows the disguising of blitzes. I think the defense will improve despite the losses. I still think the front 3 players are the key in this D. Should be an interesting season.
KeithB
June 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
Oops…prefer the 3-4 to the 4-3.
From One Delusional Fan to Another
June 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
I grew up in Alabama and man are they delusional. I mean Bama fans were saying they were gonna win the Nat’l Championship the year they came off scholarship limits and bowl game probation. I mean come on. Then when Saban came it was they were gonna win a nat’l championship year one.
Having said that I never thought I would find another set of fans so delusional until I met UGA fans. Dear Lord! They might as well make statues of all their coaches and worship them. I mean they have an unproven group of Defensive Coaches coming in this year, and they might as well walk on water.
Tech on the other hand has a coach who has coached at the highest level and been successful. Then he took a poor UVA program and made it decent not anything great, grand, or wonderful but decent. Look at the drafts from the past few years and see where Groh’s defensive players are.
On to the linebackers. Transitioning to a new program is always tough. But hell we changed our scheme on defense so much last season they should be ready for anything, and with a coach like Groh I would expect nothing less than the team to be prepared.
RamblinMan88
June 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
My message to Tech fans:
Let UGA continue to doubt us. Let that bimbo Heather Dinich continue to doubt us. When we put on an encore of the 2008 GT-UGA game in Athens this fall, victory will be that much sweeter.
To Hell with Georgia!!!!!
Tony
June 29th, 2010
5:00 pm
brandon watts and jefferson will start inside – barnes and egbuniwe will begin the season starting outside, though Anthony Williams will challenge for a spot outside immediately – kyle jackson might take jefferson’s spot
macrotech
June 29th, 2010
5:57 pm
“I just on home from Mars and DL was late again”, would your 11:14 am post be anything like the pups victory over Tech at the end of the football season?
macrotech
June 29th, 2010
5:58 pm
Welcome back, by the way!
GT3O
June 29th, 2010
9:50 pm
Tongo left the team because he graduated in December and he got a job. Imagine that.
Good for you Tongo! Best of luck!
Delbert D.
June 29th, 2010
10:26 pm
hiveredtech – Which depth chart are you referring to?
GT Fan...
June 30th, 2010
12:10 am
According to “A 48 hrs exclusive …” from her 9:35am post, GT win lose 3 ACC coastal games and still play for the conf championship, which they will lose to FSU.
Honey, you give “great prediction” … but can you cook & clean too??
Keep’em coming sister.
SAINT SIMON
June 30th, 2010
8:26 am
UGA 30 – GT 24!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA 73 – GT 66!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!!!!!
WE RUN THIS STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!
GTech
June 30th, 2010
10:46 am
“What exactly has happened in the past…oh, I don’t know, 20 years that requires a Dawg fan to be humble in the presence of the mighty Yellow Jackets?”
I don’t know, maybe the fact that GT has won a national title in that span.
Also you Georgia fans always seem to forget what we did to you in baseball this year.
ACC’s lunchtime links | SportsTalk South
June 30th, 2010
11:43 am
[...] Tech’s linebackers will be a focus in the new 3-4 scheme, but first the staff has to determine who the starters will [...]
Answer: 11+ hours
June 30th, 2010
12:11 pm
Question: How long does it take for a UGA grad to beat a filthy frenchmen in tennis. When’s his next match?
Not Disappointed
June 30th, 2010
12:24 pm
I look forward to the season. Also, classy Destin Dawg.
Ramblin Wreck!
GatorGrad but still a Tech fan
June 30th, 2010
12:29 pm
I think the schedule this year is interesting but very difficult with respect to how our top competition is setup the week before they play us. UNC has a bye week in the beginning of the season before they play us. Miami might as well as they play Maryland the week before. This year though we play clemson (not a bye) and then get the 10 days to get ready for VaTech, but they also have ten days too after playing Duke (another bye week). I was curious to see if anyone was trying to fit us in after a bye week.
Cobbjacket
June 30th, 2010
12:52 pm
Thanks for the classy comments, Destin Dog. Wish there were more people like you who frequented these blogs. And before superdawg, dawgfanor anyof the other nut cases respond, I am speaking of the tech idiots that go on UGA blogs and do the same thing. There really is no place for this type of nonsense. Thanks again Destin Dog and we’ll see you in November.
I'm just saying.....
June 30th, 2010
12:55 pm
For the record, I’m pretty sure “Another 48 hours…” is the regular poster that goes by reality stinks. They share the same third grade feel and the same delusional mindset.
CWS Champs-SC
June 30th, 2010
2:26 pm
SEC wins yet another NC. ACC teams were never in the hunt. Tech thought that they had a baseball team with that 89-3 win over UGA ………………but it will be yet another nothing record in Tech’s archives; sort of like the fact that tech never,ever goes to the CWS.
UGA was second in the NCAA CWS just a couple of three years back and has been many times and lately. Also UGA won it in the 90s.
SEC RULES because it is Big Boy Ball.
GTALLTHEWAY
June 30th, 2010
5:04 pm
I like to think as a realist so comparing athletic budgets, student population, academics, degree options, football factory mindset it is reasonable for me to think that any GT victory over GA is an upset? I suspect this is why GT wins feel so great, among other things. I also suspect that the parity of wins and losses will trend toward more balance and that will cause a lot of pain in the dawg pound. Yes we do appreciate the CPJ edge, swaggar, arrogance, confidence, what ever you wish to call it. He is the by far the most interesting coach in the collegiate game. Love him or hate him – opposing coaches never look forward to playing GT.