Tech two-deep released
Greetings-
Sorry for the absence for a couple days. A couple of assignments took me away from filing stuff.
Anyway, the two-deep depth chart was released Thursday. A few observations below.
OFFENSE
QB Tevin Washington Synjyn Days
BB Preston Lyons Charles Perkins
AB Orwin Smith Embry Peeples
AB Roddy Jones B.J. Bostic
WR Tyler Melton Jon Lockhart or Jeremy Moore
WR Stephen Hill Daniel McKayhan
LT Phil Smith Catlin Alford
LG Will Jackson J.C. Lanier
C Jay Finch Nick McRae
RG Omoregie Uzzi Trey Braun
RT Tyler Kidney Ray Beno
DEFENSE
DE Jason Peters Anthony Williams or Euclid Cummings
DT Logan Walls T.J. Barnes
DE Izaan Cross Emmanuel Dieke or Christopher Crenshaw
OLB Jermiah Attaochu Malcolm Munroe
ILB Julian Burnett Quayshawn Nealy
ILB Daniel Drummond Albert Rocker
OLB Steven Sylvester Brandon Watts
CB Rod Sweeing Ryan Ayers
S Rashaad Reid Lance Richardson
S Isaiah Johnson Fred Holton
CB Louis Young Michael Peterson
SPECIALISTS
K Justin Moore David Scully
P Sean Poole Chandler Anderson
LS Tyler Morgan
A few thoughts
1. I suppose very rarely is a position ever “sewn up” in the world of Paul Johnson, but most of the positions have, at the least, strong leaders for starting jobs. I’d say the most competitive position battles will be at B-back, both offensive tackle spots, punter and kicker.
2. You’ll notice none of the incoming freshmen are included. Johnson said about a week ago that 10 or 11 could play this fall. The incoming wide receivers will probably make the strongest push.
3. One of those freshmen who’ll play almost certainly is backup right guard Trey Braun. He was the only freshman to enroll in January and is behind Omoregie Uzzi.
4. Notable player not on the two-deep: A-back Tony Zenon, who made a strong push in spring practice and caught Johnson’s attention.
5. Deepest group: Defensive line, with three returning starters and a lot of experience among the backups. A-back would be a close second.
6. Thinnest group: Offensive line. The right tackle candidates, Tyler Kidney and Ray Beno, have played in a combined nine games. Three of the No. 2 linemen have never played in a game either on the line (J.C. Lanier) or at all (Braun and Catlin Alford). Beno has played in three games.
7. Three starting seniors on offense, four on defense. Five seniors on the defensive 22, four on offense (none on the offensive line).
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192 comments Add your comment
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
12:42 pm
Serious as a heart attack, Buzz. The problem with people like you is that you view things independent of one another when, in a football game, many things are related.
GStateBen
May 13th, 2011
12:44 pm
@George Stein Front 7. Front 7. Not a math major but you’re not counting correctly. My point is that many are expecting a big step forward in defensive pressure and improvement out of that unit. Extremely difficult to do without significant size.
GStateBen
May 13th, 2011
12:46 pm
@ Man Up GT wins 9 games in 2011, I’ll buy you lunch anywhere in Atlanta. Not going to happen. Period.
Let’s work backwards, out of North Carolina, Maryland, at Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia you expect to go 3-3 or better? No way. Sorry.
Delbert D.
May 13th, 2011
12:49 pm
Ummm…T.J. Barnes is 6-7, 333 lbs at NT.
GStateBen
May 13th, 2011
12:50 pm
@George Stein Denial is not a River in Egypt. You went 1-2 in 2010 vs. UNC, Clemson and Georgia. Remember how the Miami game went? I do.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
12:55 pm
Ok, Ben, but if you averaged the weight of any NFL team’s front seven, you won’t end up at 300 lbs. I may not be an expert, but teams don’t make a habit of running out 300 lb linebackers. The proper question would be the delta between those teams (to say nothing of the fact that weight, while important, is not determinative) and Tech while being mindful that we run a 3-4 while Miami and UNC run a 4-3.
And, yes, I think we can – and should – win at least three of those games.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
12:57 pm
I do remember, Ben. And they mean nothing now.
Born2Buzz
May 13th, 2011
12:58 pm
How bad can our O-Line be with a 2 deep rotation of Kidney-Beno? Do we have a Garbanzo on the roster?
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
12:58 pm
That’s not bad, Born2Buzz.
GT Fan ...
May 13th, 2011
1:03 pm
J.P. (10:41am) and everyone else on the “Vad-Wagon” ….. after watching the youtube link I came away NOT so impressed, and I am a lifelong GT Fan. A couple things that jump out to me:
1. He’s in the shotgun every play – not even close to what he’ll be asked to do in PJ’s O.
2. In plays I could see jersey #s (25 +) …. VL threw the ball to #7 in all but THREE plays, and those three went to #4.
Maybe GT should’ve signed #7 … reminded me of D. Thomas!
And to Benny G-St boy ….. yeah, I remember the games you are talking about. And in the one game where GT didn’t either kill themselves with their own turnovers or not recovering the opponents turnovers they WON.
Turnovers is a HUGE game changer, and when a team commits them (3 killer fumbles vs. GA), or doesn’t take advantage of the opponents’ (Clemson 3rd play from scrimmage, pick 6 for Tarrant and he doesn’t make the pick. Next play is roughing the punter on 4th down, followed by a 55 yd TD run for Clemson) …. and Remember the opening kickoff vs GA, and how GT failed to take advantage of that TO? I do…..
Old Gold
May 13th, 2011
1:04 pm
Another losing season for Tech..no way to go .500!!
GStateBen
May 13th, 2011
1:07 pm
“And in the one game where GT didn’t either kill themselves with their own turnovers or not recovering the opponents turnovers they WON.”
By 6 points, with a Sr. QB over a team that had their best defensive player suspended. You don’t think those guys who were inexperienced at UNC who got playing time throughout the suspensions/injuries will be back and better in 2011? I do.
You can excuse your way to anything. Just remember what I said and don’t be disappointed the week after Thanksgiving thinking what in the world happen. Or we’ll get ‘em next year.
Expectations are a funny thing. Especially when they are completely dillusional.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
1:08 pm
GT Fan – I just think we should all be patient and lower our short term expectations of Vad.
As to the other point you made, we screwed up in those games. I just don’t think the issues that plagued us last year are likely to repeat themselves.
Born2Buzz
May 13th, 2011
1:08 pm
Hey Ben, think about this:
UNC – New QB and lost a LOT of players from last season, and still haven’t beaten CPJ.
Maryland – New Coach, who knows what they will do.
at Miami – New Coach, same as Maryland
Clemson – New QB, Dabo vs CPJ – I’ll take my chances with CPJ
VT – New QB, and they haven’t stopped the O in 3 years either
UGA – Always a toss up – Don’t go back to the Gailey years for the record comparison.
Of course we have a new QB as well so maybe that’s a wash.
But, with 5 of those games at home going 4-2 would be disappointing.
It’s all about how our D does. The O will put up the yards and hopefully find the endzone instead of dropping the ball in the red zone like we did so many times last season. If the D improves like we hope, we will find 8 or 9 wins easy.
1eyedJack
May 13th, 2011
1:10 pm
Bless your little hearts Tech fans.
You self-profess that your offensive line is questionable…not good. Not in this offense.
Was not impressed at all with Tevin Washington. Vad Lee will be more important for you than Lemay will be for UGA, THIS year.
Pray you don’t have any major injuries that cost players games.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
1:10 pm
Wouldn’t the logic you used about UNC vs Tech apply for Tech vs UGA, Ben (except that our best player was hurt, not suspended)?
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
1:10 pm
Carolina spanked us in 2008, Born2Buzz.
Delbert D.
May 13th, 2011
1:14 pm
That highlight film was of the WR, who wore both #7 and #4 at different times.
Steve
May 13th, 2011
1:21 pm
At best 6-6. A couple of games could go either way, but this is not a good team
T3
May 13th, 2011
1:22 pm
Predictions:
1. (W) Western Carolina
2. (W) Middle Tenn State
3. (W) Kansas
4. (W) North Carolina
(UNC lost 9 starters to NFL, and another 5 key 2010 starters are gone. Rebulding year for UNC)
5. (Toss-Up) NCState
(NCST loses QB Russell Wilson & All-World LB Nate Irving)
6. (W) Maryland
(Paul Johnson D-E-S-P-I-S-E-S AND O-W-N-S Randy Edsall.
Edsall installing brand new Offense)
7. (W) UVA
(HC Mike London still needs 1 more year to put it all together)
8. (L) Miami
9. (L) Clemson
(Edge to Clemson. GT will be coming off brutal game with Miami)
10. (Toss Up) VT
(Bud Foster STILL hasnt figured out GT’s Offenses, and VT lost ALL of their key 2010 starters)
11. (W) Duke
(Its Duke. Enough said)
12. (W) UGA (Loss of veteran O means trouble in rushing and passing games, and
and most starters on D gone)
(Yes, GT will win this. G-U-A-R-A-N-T-E-E-D)
Summary:
(2) High probability losses (Miami & Clemson)
(2) Toss-Ups (NCST & VT)
(8) Wins
Call it 8-4.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
1:23 pm
Thanks, Steve. We still get to play the games, right?
1eyedJack
May 13th, 2011
1:29 pm
T3, love your enthusiasm. That’s all I got to say about that.
T3
May 13th, 2011
1:31 pm
I think end of year results in FSU vs Miami for ACC Title, with FSU winning.
Despite new coach at Miami, they still have majority of the talent back from 2010.
Miami has the biggest O-Line and D-Line in the ACC, .
Steve
May 13th, 2011
1:34 pm
Really T3? My thoughts…
1. W Carolina (W) – Easy win
2. Middle Tenn (W) – Closer game than the first, but a win
3. Kansas (W) – Kansas is not good. Should be an easy win
4. UNC (L) – Yes they lost talent, but they are still loaded
5. NC State (L) – Should finish 2nd in the Atlantic
6. Maryland (toss up) – For sake of argument, we’ll say win
7. UVA (W) – UVA may be the worst team in the ACC
8. Miami (L) – Talent plus coaching beats coaching
9. Clemson (L) – Clemson will outscore Tech
10. Virginia Tech (L) – Not even close
11. Duke (toss up) – Closer than people think, mark it down. Duke will be much better, especially on defense. Tech pulls out a close one
12. Georgia (L) – UGA could win the SEC East
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
May 13th, 2011
1:40 pm
I’m a Dawg fan, but a Georgia resident………and I’m worried about Tech.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
1:40 pm
We’ll take our chances, Steve.
For the record, UGA fans, I think y’all should be good.
GT Anchorage
May 13th, 2011
1:40 pm
I don’t get this feeling that Vad Lee should come in this fall and start… Do people not get the gains acquired from redshirting him? Sure we might have a bad year in 2011, but we would probably have one with or without him. We get another year to build our OL for him, so he doesn’t have to run for his life every play. Barring some type of crazy injury scenario, I would stay away from playing Vad. You have to look to the future.
If he comes in and is Cam Newton right away, then start. BUT HE ISN’T GOING TO BE, and probably never will. We have no idea how he is going to turn out…
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
1:41 pm
Watch out for Clemson, T3. Their HC is a bonehead but they have two excellent coordinators and loads of players.
Ramblin Man
May 13th, 2011
1:51 pm
How can anybody make logical predictions when we have not seen one down yet. Steve I agree UGA could win the east, but that’s not saying much for this season. My opinion is it will be USC unless UGA’s o-line gets it together.Too many teams are going through major changes leading into the season and preseason polls will be nothing but a giant guess. I will be happy if GT goes 8-4 and will wait until after the Kansas game to see if this team is ready to bring it.
Ken can you get a little information on the WRs. This has been, as you know, a big concern for GT fans. I still hold out hope for Hill to get it together and hope Moore can produce now that he is back from his injury. McKayhan scares the daylights out of me due to the dropped punts against Air Force, and I know nothing about Lockhart. Last but not least how did Chris Jackson do in the spring, or did he even workout at the WR position?
Buzz
May 13th, 2011
1:53 pm
George Stein your a BONEHEAD!!!!!
GT Armchair
May 13th, 2011
1:56 pm
We’re in big trouble if Washington is under center this year.
J.P.
May 13th, 2011
1:58 pm
To GT Fan @ 1:03pm.
Perhaps you need more film to be impressed. Watch Vad running through these defensive lines like he’s a knife cutting through butter…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkPC_C7JP5Y
T3
May 13th, 2011
2:03 pm
UGA could win the SEC East ?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
reality
May 13th, 2011
2:03 pm
Well said GT Armchair.
J.P.
May 13th, 2011
2:03 pm
And if 2 highlight reels is not enough to convince, perhaps a third will do the trick…
http://www.athletevault.com/index.php?id=2122
Geori
May 13th, 2011
2:04 pm
DL was the worst unit on the team… how can you call them deep?
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
2:08 pm
Awesome comment, Buzz.
Am I the only person who finds the irony of a guy calling another person a bonehead but doesn’t know the difference between your and you’re hilarious?
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
2:10 pm
Depth does not equal best, Geori.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
2:11 pm
They could, T3. They aren’t a bad team and the SEC East will be pretty weak this year.
ugag is last in the sec
May 13th, 2011
2:13 pm
Two things I hate in this world, Dawgs and NYC…..So byte yourself mutt…..
GTBob
May 13th, 2011
2:27 pm
They could, T3. They aren’t a bad team and the SEC East will be pretty weak this year.
Thats true but we had the same conversation about them last year. The SEC East was terrible last year and UGA really didn’t come close to winning it. This year UGA loses their top two wide receivers, their #1 RB, their two best defensive players, their best offensive lineman, and yet they are going to contend for the east and the SEC. I just don’t see it unless Crowell is better then Adrian Peterson.
reebok
May 13th, 2011
2:28 pm
Guys, I am as excited about Vad Lee as you all are, but seriously…this true Freshman is not going to pick up the offense in one pre-season. I think you will see him redshirt. Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton will be in single coverages all year, they just need to catch the balls that hit them in the hands and in the chest…Hill in particular could not do that last year.
T3
May 13th, 2011
2:28 pm
GT’s 2010 season can be summed up simply: Penalties & Turnovers.
Penalties & Turnovers were the decisive keys that led to:
Loss to Kansas (1 critical roughing the passer and 2 False starts)
Loss to Clemson (Roughing the kicker and False starts)
Loss to Miami (2 TOs in the red zone. Miami stil wins but by much smaller margin)
Loss to VT (1 HUGE TO leading loss of Nesbitt)
Loss to UGA (3 TOs)
Loss to Air Force (4 TOs: 1 in red zone and 2 on PRs)
reebok
May 13th, 2011
2:29 pm
Yeah, Georgia could win the SEC east. In fact, if they beat S Carolina in game 2, I would bet on it.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
2:37 pm
Players aren’t the problem in Athens, GTBob. Plus, the most important player is only a sophomore and looks really, really good. Lastly, I actually admire their optimism and I don’t care that they aren’t usually correct in their assessment of their team (heck, I might be wrong, too). That they thought they would win 10 games last year has no bearing on this year’s team.
Look, I’m a Tech fan but let’s be objective about our friends to the east.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
2:38 pm
Agreed, reebok.
GT Armchair
May 13th, 2011
2:38 pm
@ Steve
That’s exactly how I have it Steve. 5 or 6 wins at best.
Also, regarding any of our loses, I would extend your statement regarding the loss to Miami:
“TALENT + (JUST AVERAGE) COACHING WILL BEAT VERY GOOD COACHING, AND IN OUR CASE VERY MEDIOCRE TALENT.”
Look for the “Johnson has got to recruit better” theme, to be a well established story line by game 8.
Stinger 2
May 13th, 2011
3:05 pm
Vad Lee`s conversation with CPJ at the T-Day game:
Hello Coach, I am real excited and cannot wait to get on the field
this fall to compete for the QB position.
CPJ: Wait a minute Vad, something I did not tell you before you signed with GT. We really do not have a QB in our TO offensive scheme. We have an extra running back who is designated to take the snap from the Center.
Vad Lee: Then that extra running back will be me and I can through the passes?
CPJ: Vad you are a freshman. By the time you get to be a senior, you can throw a pass.
GTBob
May 13th, 2011
3:08 pm
@George Stein, if players aren’t the problem then what is and how has UGA corrected it? I think im being objective when I say that after going 6-7 and losing 6 players to the NFL, one of them being the best WR in the country, that they probably aren’t going to win the SEC east. Unless you are thinking that the dream team recruits are going to come in and perform at an extremely high level from day one.
NFL 3-4 Defense
May 13th, 2011
3:12 pm
The grace period for Al Groh’s complicated learning curve is over.
The defense must improve this year or give Al the pink slip.