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
AMG
May 13th, 2011
3:18 pm
A quick word on Miami – they have kicked 8 incoming players off the team before they even started and another 4 after spring practice. The team is not doing well and they have 5 more players that may be dismissed for academics. Count anyone and everyone with a W against Maimi this year, that coaching staff is a real mess.
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
3:18 pm
Hilarious, Stinger 2. It probably took you all day think about that.
I would argue that UGA having six players drafted and still going 6-7 proves players aren’t the problem there. I don’t know what the issue is but if I had to guess it’s not much more than a lack of imagination on offense and lack of discipline on defense (which will probably be corrected this year).
AMG
May 13th, 2011
3:21 pm
Also, CPJ promised Vad lee a shot to compete for the starting QB job, he will get just that. Debate all you want on weather or not he wins the job, but he will compete for the job this year.
J.P.
May 13th, 2011
3:27 pm
AMG: Funny thing with Miami. I’ll bet Nick M. is glad he signed with us!
DawginLex
May 13th, 2011
3:44 pm
If UGA and GT improve on defense, both can win their respective divisions. you are dead wrong about UGA’s defense in year 2 under Grantham. It will be better. A lot better. GT defense will be better too.
What’s funny about that T3?
George Stein
May 13th, 2011
3:47 pm
Agreed, DawginLex. We can always count on you to be reasonable and insightful.
Question. I was going back and forth about y’all with GTBob and he asked what the issue with UGA has been the past couple years. My response is above. I’d be intersted in your answer – or any reasonable UGA fan, for that matter.
b's
May 13th, 2011
4:18 pm
3 # 8 and 1 #9 recruiting class in ACC starting to rear its ugly head.
T3
May 13th, 2011
4:24 pm
Lex:
How many returnng starters on Offense & Defense will UGA have for 2011
fan of shorter passes
May 13th, 2011
4:59 pm
CPJ has been successful (not last year) even though he evidently does not like short passes…his claim is that, even incomplete, the bomb will tend to keep the D a little honest. My thought, (non coach here but always believe there is a better method) a completed shorter pass would tend to make the D even more honest…and possibly move the chain at the same time. Again, just my opine. (even 1eyedjack knows that leading the country in rushing is no recipe for success).
gtfanfrom1951
May 13th, 2011
5:01 pm
Looking at the teams we play next year I would say we could win 9 or 10 games. No more 6-6 I don’t think CPJ would go for that. He like to win to much!
ToeMeetsLeather
May 13th, 2011
5:12 pm
Agree “Shorter Passes”, I was just about to post the same thought. I can’t remember a defense stopping our short passes. The few times that we have attempted the short pass it has either gone for a nice gain, been dropped or was thrown poorly. Very rarely is it stopped by a nice defensive play. Just something else for he opposing defensive coordinator to worry about. I was encouraged to see more short routes at the T-Day game.
Way to early to make predictions on the season with our quarterback position still up in the air.
WnE
May 13th, 2011
5:21 pm
That 2-deep is down right scary for a BCS-level team.
That’s what you get when you have 3.5 or 4 yrs. of CPJ recruiting.
That depth chart looks like a Dook/Wake/UVa. type of team and not a GT-team of the last 12-15 years.
I have never seen a GT team that had as little talent as the one above in last 12 – 15 year.
Thanks for NOTHING Coach Kung Fu Panda!
Vulture
May 13th, 2011
5:31 pm
Dook? Must be a GA fan.
GTBob
May 13th, 2011
5:42 pm
I have never seen a GT team that had as little talent as the one above in last 12 – 15 year.
The only recruiting class since 2002 ranked ahead of any of CPJ’s recruiting classes was Gailey’s 2007 class. Are you sure you haven’t been looking at talent for some other team?
gt4ever
May 13th, 2011
5:45 pm
We have one of the easiest schedules I have seen in many years….. And we still finish NO better than 6 and 6….. It’s pretty pathetic…
gtfanfrom1951
May 13th, 2011
5:45 pm
The first “they” said we go 3-9 the first year of CPJ now 6-6.
WNE
Thanks for NOTHING Coach Kung Fu Panda! –10-2 for CPJ
gt4ever
May 13th, 2011
5:47 pm
WnE is 100 percent correct. The talent level has gone down every year we have run this silly offense…
GTBob
May 13th, 2011
6:03 pm
WnE is 100 percent correct. The talent level has gone down every year we have run this silly offense…
Really? Rivals rankings:
2002 – Unranked
2003 – 50th
2004 – Unranked
2005 – Unranked
2006 – Unranked
2007 – 18th
2008 – 49th (CG/CPJ)
2009 – 49th (CPJ)
2010 – 43rd (CPJ)
2011 – 41st (CPJ)
Yeah, I hate that slide we are on. I wish we could go back to the Chan Gailey glory days of recruiting.
gt4ever
May 13th, 2011
6:14 pm
GTBob,
If you don’t see the not so subtle dive in this teams talent, base on our recruiting…… Well, You will be the type that screams the loudest the next couple of years…. NOBODY wants to play in this offense, that is, NOBODY any good….. We have always been challenged recruiting, because of many factors. This Offense has just made it easier for other schools recruiting against GT…. You can bank this, we will be HORRIBLE in a couple of years….. We are already losing to service academys…. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten Airforce…..
b's
May 13th, 2011
6:26 pm
Amazing there has been 1 very good year and 1 very good recruiting class. There are those who forget Chan had to deal with flunkgate and probation.
Know your Football
May 13th, 2011
6:26 pm
In case you forgot,
Oklahoma barely beat Air Force 27-24 in Norman.
Air Force and Navy were both 9-4, even Army was 7-6 and won a bowl game.
Best Regards
May 13th, 2011
6:29 pm
I think gt4ever is an undercover UGA fan.
Jackets
May 13th, 2011
7:39 pm
if Tevin is a Div I QB, then Jackets are in trouble. Also disappointed David Sims isn’t on the depth chart.
Austin Jacket
May 13th, 2011
9:49 pm
gonna be a long season, folks. hope I’m wrong, but this offense starts at QB, and TW doesnt impress. the reason the D looked good in the spring — they played a pathetic offense. 6-6
Buzz 2010
May 13th, 2011
11:24 pm
NYC Dog…..UGA and Clarke county jail is home of the football mill and dream teams .. Your players can’t even make grades with high school classes at UGA… You will not win 5 games this year and will drop to GT… Any SEC team on your easy schedule need only to show up in Gator uniforms and you will fold like a cheap suit..
Jerry
May 14th, 2011
6:15 am
Regarding Vad Lee:
I’ve seen numerous posts about Vad touting his high school QB talent. Not sure if it will spill over 100% to college ball, but I will say one thing he’ll bring if he gets play time this season – ticket sales. If Radokovich is interested in filling the stands, Vad would be a good “play”.
This kid has brought more hype to Tech (both on campus and off) than I’ve seen in many, many years! The media will love him too and already does!
ToeMeetsLeather
May 14th, 2011
7:06 am
Austin, I think Days will be behind center on 9/1 after watching the T-Day game. Still very raw and as O’Leary would say “the light bulb has come on yet”, but he has big play potential. Timing on his passes were off somewhat but he did throw a nice crossing route for a TD and turned a few broken plays in to nice gains. I think he plays all year and the quarterback battle next spring heats up between he and Lee, and whoever comes out of that war will have us set at QB for three or four years barring injury.
TechFan1995
May 14th, 2011
7:26 am
I think the starting QB will ultimately go to Vad Lee. Here’s my logic. If S.Days starts this year and then next year Vad starts, essentially we are going to have 2 years straight of red-shirt Freshman under center. There’s no way CPJ wants to go through 2 years of growing pains with the QB position.
Since Days is clearly not, by any stretch an unbelievably gifted and talented QB, CPJ will probably start Vad. Logic here: might as well get the growing pains out of the way this year with Vad. Then next year, we’ll have Vad after he’s played a full year of Div. 1 football.
Stinger 2
May 14th, 2011
7:29 am
ToeMeetsLeather: Great name tag. Al Ciraldo was GT at its best.
About your comments on the QB situation: I do not disagree with your assessment but I do question the importance of any QB`s passing ability in CPJ`s TO offense. He has repeatedly said that he is not changing his basic philosophy of passing which averages less than 10 per game.
I believe the greatest challenges are to delevop a reliable kicking game and hopefully avoid turnovers. Also. better defense will help.
techengineer
May 14th, 2011
7:40 am
ManUp… : While you are right about those DLines you left out 1 in Boston College.. I think that was 09 too but GT may have beaten them. I don’t really understand the issue here.. Usually the big uglies are some of the more intelligent on the team.. Just hard to believe that GT can’t induce more dominant linemen to come their way… but it just occurred to me while writing.. It’s the scheme. .No pass blocking.. Just like with the WRs. I still love the scheme but thats the reason they are having trouble getting the cream of the crop on the OLine.
ToeMeetsLeather
May 14th, 2011
7:52 am
I certainly agree with the kicking and defense Stinger 2, but if we don’t develope more of a passing game, in my humble opinion, we will have hit a ceiling with this offense.
George Stein
May 14th, 2011
8:45 am
WnE is a lot of things, but 100% right ain’t one of them.
TechFan1995
May 14th, 2011
10:18 am
CPJ knows passing is important. So much that he has said, “We can’t win the ‘big one’ without it.”
This being said, if Synjyn and Tevin aren’t leaps ahead of Vad in Summer camp, the QB job will be earned by Vad Lee.
Vad Lee is the one that has the most potential of improving our passing game drastically from past.
GT75
May 14th, 2011
10:43 am
The offensive line is going to get manhandled by all these big DLs. That will spell disaster.
GT75
May 14th, 2011
10:49 am
No quaterback will be an effective passer in this offense running for his damn life as soon as the ball is snapped. It’s all about the offensive line and we will never have a passing game with CPJ. His whole philosophy is against that.
Sam
May 14th, 2011
10:51 am
What happens when Groh’s UVA money runs out and he bolts for the NFL bucks or retires. What can of DC can you paupers afford after that? You guys have big big problems.
Mike Marshall
May 14th, 2011
12:44 pm
I think Vad Lee has a great shot at landing the starting QB job… Side note: Just found that new CoachWatcher website and it is legit! http://www.CoachWatcher.com
Just saying
May 14th, 2011
1:05 pm
Buzz2010 , I wouldn’t be trash talking about a team that Jackets hold 1-9 record in last 10 years and have only beaten 15 times since 1957. Funny you criticize the Ga players 32 on this years roster had offers from PJ .The past 2 games tech has never held the lead. Can PJ win a bowl game?
TomAce
May 14th, 2011
1:46 pm
I don’t want ya’ll to be heart broken, but it is extremely doubtful Vad Lee starts at all this season. He may get in during passing situations or at the end of the game, but in no way will he be a full time starter.
This offense runs on the mind (and legs) of the QB. He has to be able to make quick decisions in the option, and check out of plays based on the defense. Watching Lee’s highlight tape, he did not run an offense anything like the one he will in college.
What probably will be best is if he redshirts, learns the offense in the film room, and plays scout team and gives the defense a great look at a mobile QB with a good arm everyday in practice.
threetrone
May 14th, 2011
1:48 pm
J.P., thanks for the YouTube link. I just watched some of it, and noticed that Vad was lined up in a shotgun, threw long bombs because of lining up in this formation, and the receiver always had m2m coverage, never zone. I can envisage the same at Tech similar to Calvin Johnson and Thomas receiving long bombs from cubes. Now, what is the element that will enable a continuance of Vad’s expertise in BD Staduim? Is it a shotgun, or CPJ’s egocentric formations? If CPJ does not install a shotgun for Vad, he will ruin this boy’s 4 years at Tech, and cause him to develop shotgun rust. Maybe a pro team might believe in him as a CPJ running cube, but they probably wont, just like they did with Joshua. So it all points to someone who isn’t playing along with anyone, who does not know how to or does not want to play the offensive game like everybody else, and who is rather autistic because of those reasons. Having the team wear black knee socks and thick black side pants stripes, even though the head of the Alumni Association said in the “Tech Topics” alumni newspaper that “Black is out at Tech”, is another example of autism on the part of CPJ. I, as a Tech, alum have lost interest in CPJ after his first year when he fielded the team that wore the navy jerseys and gold pants, with Tech looking like the Naval Academy instead of Tech. He could have had them in the same uniforms they wore all that year when they were blowing out every team they played. No, one more time he had to demonstrate allegiance to who got him there to the Chick-fil-A Bowl…Navy, similar to how he currently demonstrates allegiance to Erk Russell at Ga Southern, both demonstrations reflecting autism and self-egocentric loyalties and no current loyalty to his employer. Just think of how badly Georgia Tech needs a shotgun offense and to understand the concept of “Black is out”.
TomAce
May 14th, 2011
1:59 pm
Threetrone- You don’t have to line up in shotgun to throw long bombs. And in high school, a lot of defenses play man to man because it’s easier to teach than zone. As far as the black on the uniforms goes… I don’t really care one way or another.
J.P.
May 14th, 2011
2:13 pm
I hear everyone and agree that there is a major difference in offense with Vad Lee in high school versus the one CPJ runs. I have to trust CPJ will make adjustments to his offense to leverage Vad’s talents with his arm and legs. If that means running some formation plays from the pistol or shotgun, I trust CPJ will make it happen.
Truth be told, if Vad’s talents are wasted at Tech for 4 years, I will be the first to petition firing CPJ. That said, I just think CPJ is smarter than wasting Vad’s talents.
Time will tell. Until then, it’s fun to play the what if game and anticipate a winning season for the Jackets!
gt4ever
May 14th, 2011
3:32 pm
1. W Carolina (W) – Easy win, n
2. Middle Tenn (W) – Closer game than the first, but a win, not an easy win..
3. Kansas (L) – Kansas is not good. Should be an easy win. Kansas was terrible last year..
4. UNC (L) – Yes they lost talent, but they are still loaded
5. NC State (L) – Should finish 2nd in the Atlantic
6. Maryland (L) – For sake of argument, we’ll say win. No way we win, this will be a good team.
7. UVA (W) – UVA may be the worst team in the ACC, but close win…
8. Miami (L) – Talent plus coaching beats coaching
9. Clemson (L) – Clemson will outscore Tech
10. Virginia Tech (L) – Not even close
11. Duke (W) – Closer than people think, mark it down. Duke will be much better, especially on defense. Tech pulls out a close one…. aggree…
12. Georgia (L) – UGA could win the SEC East, this one could get ugly…
Know your football,
What’s your point….. OKlahoma WON the game…. Let’s face it the only variable I see is the defense. We really should expect the defense to be better, but we haven’t proven anything on the field. Hopefully this will be the year, because our offense will need the help. Gone are the days that we can outscore every one, and IMHO, the talent level has dropped off big time…(on both sides of the ball) I’m personally picking them to go 500. Hopefully, this will motivate Drad to get a real coach that runs a REAL offense….
smitty
May 14th, 2011
3:43 pm
lyons will rock if he can hold onto the ball……”just give the damn ball to preston”……go jackets…have a nice day
b's
May 14th, 2011
3:56 pm
Smitty, you’re joking, Preston is a good kid mine played with him at Marist, but he’s not a D-1 caliber running back.Big drop off from Dwyer and Allen to Lyons.
TomAce
May 14th, 2011
4:06 pm
Gt4ever, you complain about the offense so much. But did you know the last 3 years Tech has averaged 400 and 28 points per game. Compare that to Gailey (who by the way, ran lots of yall’s beloved shotgun plays), who averaged 22 points with 353 yds a game. The past 3 seasons at GT, 24 ppg /372 ygp, 34 ppg /422 ypg , 26 ppg /407 ypg. Stop complaining about the offense so much. That’s not the problem. If Tech had any kind of defense whatsoever in 09 they would have been competing for the National Championship. Last year was just an anomaly, it happens. This year I see a 8-4. No way Tech goes 0-3 vs Maryland, UNC, and NCSU. And Kansas again? Last year Tech did everything wrong in that game and still had a chance to win. No way that happens again.
TomAce
May 14th, 2011
4:09 pm
Gt4ever, how can you say the talent has dropped off when GTBob gave a great post with the past 10 recruiting years. Gailey only had one class better than Johnson’s.
gt4ever
May 14th, 2011
4:09 pm
b’s
It would seem that we have a lot of GT fans that are drinking fruit juice when it comes to the talent CPJ has recruited…. I mean, what are people thinking….. I have been called a UGA fan for thinking rational…. My whole family for at least 2 generations are GT alumnii…… People need to wake up and smell the coffee… We have not been this bad since Bill Lewis… Period!
Mr. D.
May 14th, 2011
4:12 pm
Nowhere in this story was there a reference to UGA or Miami; and your comments should not have included those either. If you can’t post a comment about GT following a GT story, go elsewhere to post.
gt4ever
May 14th, 2011
4:14 pm
TomAce,
I correlate talent with play on the field, not recruiting numbers. We have always been challenged recruiting wise, but never have we been handicapped by a miserable, silly offense. This is CPJ’s recruits that are playing/performing…. The outlook is dismal at best…. I really hope I’m wrong, but when this year comes and goes, and this team goes 500, it is because of one thing! Coaching and recruiting. Period. I will give CPJ one thing, he can coach, but it is my opinion that he cannot coach and sustain a competitive edge at this level, because he has NOT recruited well. Period. Time will tell.. If I’m wrong I will be the first to admit…..