Orwin Smith on Vad Lee, Tech’s improved attitude
Greetings
Rod Mackenzie of scout.com and I spoke with Georgia Tech A-back Orwin Smith Tuesday morning at the Edge Athletic Center. Smith shared strong insights and opinions on the team’s offseason work, including what I imagine many of you are dying for, news about incoming freshman quarterback Vad Lee. I’ll share some here and more Wednesday.
1. The attitude is much better. It’s been written about before that the Jackets were complacent last year, but Smith testified further.
“Last year, I think the attitude wasn’t great at all,” he said. “Everyone seemed to be about themselves. It takes a team to win.”
The twice-weekly 7-on-7 passing drills that the team is doing are an example.
“Last year, that summer was just so empty,” he said. “We didn’t do anything.”
Players have been getting together more away from football activities, like going out to eat or watching the NBA finals together. Smith said quarterback Tevin Washington and safety Rashaad Reid have organized a lot of it.
“I’ve seen attitudes change even from some of the guys that I thought their attitudes were terrible,” Smith said. “We need our leaders to have great attitudes in order for the followers to have great attitudes.”
2. The team had a 7-on-7 session Monday night with Georgia State players. It was the first time incoming freshmen had a chance to participate. The players decided to give Lee a shot for, it sounds like, one series, and he led the team to a touchdown in about four plays.
“He looked real good,” Smith said. “I don’t want to talk too much about him, make it seem like he’s more than what he is, but he surprised me, impressed me a lot. Hey, I want to see what he can do when it comes to the option. He can throw.”
More from Smith: “You can tell he’s been studying the playbook. He wasn’t asking too many questions. The questions he was asking, you can tell he knows what he’s talking about.”
For what it’s worth, Lee said just before he left home last week that he’d been studying whatever he could about the offense, but didn’t have a playbook.
More Wednesday about Chris Jackson, Smith’s assessment of the A-backs and the workout contraption that he’s been using to increase his explosiveness.
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96 comments Add your comment
just asking
June 28th, 2011
6:46 pm
why do some of you want to see Vad Lee redshirted? The way it works now if Vad is that good, he is just going to turn pro after his junior year anyway. I am still not singing Tevin’s praises and cannot see how he is the best GT has to start either
Old Blind Dawg
June 28th, 2011
6:47 pm
Why are the techies running 7 on 7 drills (typically a passing drill) when they won’t be passing 7 times a game?
I bet Lee transfers before he graduates.
Old Blind Dawg
June 28th, 2011
6:52 pm
Hey “The Truth” pass that pipe around – ACC Champs – too funny.
Jacket Man
June 28th, 2011
6:53 pm
Just a couple of points;
First, if the players take it upon themselves to run programs such as these, with no coaching involved, even if they interact with GA State, there is no NCAA infraction.
Also, Vad Lee was the North Carolina Player of the Year (by the way, another incoming Tech recruit, Jamaal Golden, was the Alabama Player of the Year) and I can tell you that he has come into campus with the playbook under his arm, in great shape, and ready to play.
The New Regime
June 28th, 2011
7:25 pm
Ron Paul 2012
The New Regime
June 28th, 2011
7:25 pm
infowars.com
Really
June 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
A Qb recruited and developed by PJ will never play the position in the NFL unless they run some type of wildcat formation.If Vad had NFL aspirations he made a huge mistake coming to Tech to play for these coaches.
GDBurdell
June 28th, 2011
7:45 pm
Kidding me?? Tek gonna get beat down worse than last year!
TechFan04
June 28th, 2011
8:11 pm
Really, i’m sure Vad heard that from every school that was trying to steal him from Tech. He wants to be a Jacket and we are excited to have him.
Really
June 28th, 2011
8:57 pm
Never said he didn’t want to be a jacket, hope he gets his degree. Only 1 from the SEC (South Carolina) offered him. Techs a fine school, but as a QB he picked the wrong coaching staff , perhaps he doesn’t aspire to be an NFL qb. Not everyone is cut out to play beyond college.
Child Please
June 28th, 2011
9:12 pm
Complacent at Georgia Tech? LOL
Buzz Me
June 28th, 2011
9:25 pm
VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD…the next star at the flats!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really needs help ...
June 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
You’re correct Really…really. Some just aren’t destined for football after college. Kinda reminds me of some of your boys:
David Greene, DJ Shockley, Joe Cox, Eric Zeire, Greg Talley, THE GREAT Buck Belue, and many others.
But you get my point, right?
super fan
June 28th, 2011
10:06 pm
7 0n 7 vs Ga State. Kelton Hill was absent. Little was in total control of the Panthers. Washington trying to do the same for Tech but struggling. Enthusiasm great for both teams. Much more participation for Tech than last summer. Attitudes and work ethic definitely improved.
Hayseed Dixie
June 28th, 2011
10:21 pm
Ken, keep the coverage coming. I love the stuff I’ve been reading lately.
Coach Jay
June 28th, 2011
10:23 pm
I have to correct a few things. Mainly the comments about passing the football. From what I have seen at Bobby Dodd, and from watching the games I couldn’t make, everytime Tech has struggled, there have been blocking breakdowns, but not just from the OLine. When we run the triple, much of the success is dependent on perimeter blocking by the play side Aback. We missed a heckuva lot of blocks on the perimeter this year, leaving the carrier on an island. I do think that the success two years ago was a problem, but so was Nesbitt going down. As I remember, Tech wasn’t too far from respectability until he went down. But still, the OL, in the veer and the loop scheme, and even some of the traps caused issues, but I mainly saw the perimeter blocking breakdowns as the big issue. If the Abacks get back on it, the rush attack will be fine, and we can pass when we want to, off of play action, just like to the offense is designed to do. Don’t panic, CPJ is still a great coach, and we still have plenty of talent.
TechFan04
June 28th, 2011
10:45 pm
Really, according to scout.com Vad also had an offer from Auburn. What are the chances of them putting a QB in the NFL though? He could have went to either of the teams that played for the SEC championship last year, or UNC, or NC St and he chose Tech instead. Like I said, he likes Tech, and we got a good one.
Ramblin Man
June 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
I hope GT can land some depth on the d-line and o-line for this recruiting class along with a good DB or two, and I would love to see this RB come to the flats. He looked great at the June camp and runs hard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQRqhu9hes
Ramblin Man
June 28th, 2011
10:50 pm
As long as the pieces come together Vad will be fine. Even if he goes 10-15 per game with 150 passing and 70 on the ground pro scouts will notice. Does that make him a round 1-3 pick probably not, but could still land him in the pros. This discussion is way to soon and no real talk can be had for 2-3 years. Takes a team not one guy.
Teddy Roosevelt
June 28th, 2011
11:01 pm
In the end, all that really matters for a qb is his combine performance, and if he can win on the field. If our quarterbacks win, someone will notice.
Rodney Dangerfield
June 28th, 2011
11:14 pm
I remember when George Godsey took over for Joe Hamilton. I thought Tech was in for a long season. Boy was I wrong. I remember watching him run a TD against GA in the rain wearing two leg braces.
Coach Jay
June 28th, 2011
11:27 pm
Another point about the NFL. Quick pop quizzes: Where did Jerry Rice play college ball?; Where did Walter Payton play college ball?; Name a UGA starting QB starting in the pros right now.; Name a FSU starting QB playing in the pros right now.; A challenger, how many of the past twenty Natl. Title winning QBs are playing in the pros?; Where was Tom Brady drafted?; Where did Jake Delhomme play college ball?; point is, the NFL is a strange beast. Don’t judge a college team’s players by that. It is too hard to call. If a player has the right ‘build,’ and the right intangibles, they can make it in the pros. Look also at how high Cam Newton was drafted, in comparison to Tebow, two QBs with similar skill sets. The NFL is all about hype, until it comes to brass tacks, then they are about individual players. That said, if a player has what it takes, they will make it in the NFL, if they don’t, they won’t. It actually has very little to do with college choice.
Really
June 28th, 2011
11:33 pm
Name a qb or skill player recruited and developed by PJ thats had his chances of playing in the NFL enhanced. Funny you mention 3 qbs that were drafted and played in then NFL , Shockley, Greene, Zeire. Obviously he likes Tech, hope he’s happy but in choosing PJ shows he must not have high aspirations to play in the NFL . Nesbitt mechanics developed very nicely under pj’s tutelage didn’t they? If he’d chosen Auburn, NC, SC or NC State his odds for playing in the NFL would be much higher than playing for PJ. Besides having better receivers etc, around him he would have coaches that have developed elite talent and systems that are better suited for a football career .
Coach Jay
June 28th, 2011
11:34 pm
Final note, to the poster who referred to the Tech QB as a glorified RB. Let me take you through a triple option play, after the huddle has broken. First, the QB is counting the defense, looking for numbers advantage, or space advantage (running to the widest side of the field). This all as he starts the snap cadence. As the ball is snapped, and he opens up to mesh with the BB, he is reading a specific defender, whose track to the ball tells him whether to give to the BB, or pull, and run the option. If he pulls, and runs the option, he is now keying another defender, reading his movements to tell him whether to keep the ball and turn it up the field, or pitch. All of this happens in a matter of seconds, and relies on all of the other players reading, and blocking as they should. I won’t question it, because I know how much that is to process in a short period of time. Truth, however, is, that when the team executes, the offense is hard to stop. Also, research the basis of the offense, the run and shoot, started by Coach Tiger Ellison. Maybe it will give you a better foundation on which to view what Tech is doing.
Coach Jay
June 28th, 2011
11:41 pm
@ really, how many of those you mentioned are playing in the NFL right now? I know Greene and and the Z are not, they are working the airwaves in and around Athens. Shockley, I guess, will be the next big thing in the NFL. My point is, you can complain about CPJ, but where are all of these great UGA QBs in the NFL right now. Getting there is only a part of the journey. CPJ doesn’t parade himself, or Tech as a QB school. The players know what they are coming from. And really, I figured you would name injury a minute Stafford. And anyway, how can I take you seriously when you name Auburn, NC, NC State, and SC. How many QBs from any of those schools are currently successful in the NFL? Answer, Rivers, from NC State. Silly argument.
TechFan04
June 29th, 2011
12:00 am
“Name a qb or skill player recruited and developed by PJ thats had his chances of playing in the NFL enhanced”
This is an unfair question. He coached at Navy and Georgia Southern before Tech. An FCS school and a service academy. Neither one of those are going to get very many recruits at all. Since he has been at Tech, not a single player he recruited has even had a chance to go pro. Most of his recruits haven’t even played a game yet.
GT 94
June 29th, 2011
12:07 am
Glad to hear we got some of the selfish crap under control. We underachieved last year and had the talent to win more but clearly their was some guys who were not team players and it was well documented. We just need to shore up the defense, special teams and quit turning it over 3 or 4 times a game and we will 9 or even possibly 10 games this year.
I think our running game will be as good as any of the past couple years and the key is turnovers. If we can march the ball down UGA throat with all their 4 and 5 star kids, then we should be able to do it on anybody in the ACC. Get a few stops on D, pound the ball and cut down on fumbles. We can go back to the orange bowl. We have the coach who can get us their. Let’s get after it on 2011.
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!
Coach Jay
June 29th, 2011
12:09 am
Let me clarify some things about the NFL readiness of some. My point, which I have not done well bringing across is that there are too many different levels in this area. As a high school football coach, and a huge fan of both college football and the NFL, I have just come to one main conclusion. Being a stud at one level does not translate into success at the next level. That is all.
Peace.
macrotech
June 29th, 2011
12:33 am
“Lot’s of hype, but not a lot of substance if you ask me.” is my favorite post on here, thus far….keep in mind it came from a pup fan!!! STILL laughing!!!
Kauai DAWG
June 29th, 2011
3:31 am
This is a complete SHOCK. I didn’t realize Yech still had a football team?????????? What is there 40 fans that show up and they are just the moms and dads of the players??????
Go DAWGS! Dream Season!
Really
June 29th, 2011
10:23 am
Coach Jay, Being successful in the NFL wasn’t the barometer, player development was.
I only mentioned those schools , because thy were part of the handful involved in recruiting him.
The underlying question is , if PJ was able to recruit with the potential of being able to play in the NFL , would he and his staff be capable of fostering that potential. Thus far he hasn’t.
thebull
June 29th, 2011
1:11 pm
@ Really; did you just read what TechFan04 wrote at 12:00 am? MOST OF HIS RECRUITS HAVEN’T PLAYED YET. He red-shirts just about everyone. His first recruiting class (albeit, he had a late start recruiting them due to the time he was hired) are seniors now. And another point that I need to make about his recruiting (or what many people perceive to be the lack thereof), all of those players from that “SUPER CLASS” that Gailey had did not have big contributions until their 2nd and 3rd years in the program. NONE of them came in as Freshman and were studs. Hell, Derek Morgan was REDSHIRTED ( that means that he was in the program for 3 years). So please give these young men some time in the program before you guys crucify them as being terrible recruits.
thebullsht
June 29th, 2011
2:47 pm
The recruits are terrible. There is a significant drop off in talent, especially on defense. It’s undeniable. The guys PJ recruited weren’t even good enough to unseat the departing seniors, none of which got any attention from the NFL. What does that tell you? How good can they really be? It’s easy to make the argument that you don’t need the pro-style talent on offense in PJ’s system to succeed… but that argument doesn’t carry over to the other side of the ball. You need athletes on defense to succeed… and Al Groh (who is pushing, what, 85 years old by now?) doesn’t exactly knock ‘em dead on the recruiting trails. In fact, the one thing that PJ and AG have in common is that they both undersell the importance of recruiting (which is 100% an ego thing for them, by the way). Look at the last 5 national champions… tell me those teams weren’t top 5 in recruiting each year. Come on, wake up. Do good recruits always mean you’re going to win? Nope. But do you need good recruits to win? Yep.
thebullsht
June 29th, 2011
2:50 pm
How else do you explain the drop in wins from the 2009/10 season and the 2010/11 season? Couldn’t have been all that talent leaving the program, could it…? WAKE UP!
Really
June 29th, 2011
5:45 pm
@thebull, The question Would PJ be able to develop talent if he could recruit it? What position have you seen marked improvement since he arrived?
Grayson Jacket
June 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
I think everybody who attended a game in bobby dodd last season knew something was up with the players. nobody seemed motivated and it showed. it’s a great feeling knowing that my guys are stepping it up and putting the blame on themselves, this season should be different. i believe that if these guys put their hearts into it they can win 9 or 10 games (hopefully over the uga).they just have to believe in themselves like they did 2 years ago.
i cant wait to see vad lee play if he is as good as everyone is saying. however i dont believe that he should start at all this year. remember reggie? went in and beat auburn his freshman year and became the starter. then what happened??? he didnt get the opportunity to watch and learn from others mistakes and get a feel for the game. he never matured as a quarterback. i say throw the kid in at the end of every game to get him some playing time, but not too much. im not so sure on tevin either, i think synjyn should start.
Bleed Blue!
June 30th, 2011
11:02 pm
We need a real GSU vs. GT matchup! All of Atlanta would show up to watch the Panthers win
Wreckmaniac
July 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
After the way Tech disgraced themselves in Kansas last year, its more impt to win that game than any.
Wreckmaniac
July 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
the bullsht: Take a pill and move to Athens.
RamblinRecluseRoad
July 2nd, 2011
8:40 am
I’m wasn’t dyin’ to hear news about Lee if I ramble reclusively from alma mater now. I gotta say I’m not surprised he scored in 4 plays…practice plays. Whether CPJ allows successive pass plays remains to be seen with his penchant for runs. Tech needs to scramble for stats about what other major colleges ever started Freshmen qbs. If they find some, they need to start Lee. Tech needs to conform to other schools badly. Case in point…using shotguns. Passing. Wearing school colors and not wearing a color of the rival school. When they wear the black stockings I think to myself “here they go again getting runs in their stockings”. I don’t have to go too far back in time to recall Calvin Johnson wearing white stockings with traditional uniforms on Gailey’s teams and scoring often. Tech needs their own identity restored this coming season and not the identity of 50% of the red and black. Whenever Tech wears black I am forced to ramble reclusively.
RamblinRecluseRoad
July 2nd, 2011
8:47 am
This comment does not have anything to do with this story, because the story I want to comment on has no comment area, but the new practice facility photos immediately conjured up ideas for the players to climb to the I-beam rafters on a rope just like I did in Gymnastics in the old gym at Tech in ‘70. Back then the players were exempt from taking physical training courses because they would have made straight A’s in the courses. The idea of having them climb a rope in the Brock facility immediately came to mind pretty quickly. The rope’s just a standard gymnastics strand rope, with a tumbling mat on the floor/field under it, and it’s probably made out of hemp.
BSCSc05
July 2nd, 2011
10:34 pm
is there any footage of this 7 on 7 matchup? i would like to see our WRs smoking their struggling defensive backs so i canat least have one little nugget and brag to my yellow jacket alumni loving wife …
gt4ever
July 3rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Interesting, the talk about attitude…. Attitude is all about the COACH!
Coach Jay
July 4th, 2011
11:44 pm
@ really, from 6/29, I think the two are one in the same. How can you talk about fostering the potential for the NFL, without looking at success in the NFL. I mean, Barry Sanders played for a crap team, still was one of the greatest RB’s ever. I think your point absolutely goes to success in the NFL. I go back to my original point. High school football success does not mean NCAA success, does not mean NFL success. So, if you are a recruit, why bother with where a coach is in that area. If you have the build, and attributes, the NFL will find you.
Let me give an example: If Champ Bailey played anywhere other than UGA, do you really think the NFL guys wouldn’t have found him?
Coach Jay
July 4th, 2011
11:47 pm
One other thing. Most every level of school, from middle school to high school, to college, runs passing camps during the summer, where you specifically want to sharpen your pass routes, against a live defense. These camps go QB, RB, WR’s vs DB’s and LB’s. They are not scrimmages in the formal sense of the word. Just live work against an unfamiliar defense to work very specific issues.
Coach Jay
July 4th, 2011
11:49 pm
Last thing. I think it is great how quickly we forget. Lets not forget just two years ago, everyone was talking about how great CPJ was, winning the division and the ACC in his second year. We had a down year, in a transition year defensively. Just be cool, and don’t panic. CPJ will get it back around. He has his entire career. Don’t fall into the trap of what have you done for me lately.