Sims has inside track on B-back job
Greetings-
I’m posting notes from Tuesday practice. I will have fresh stuff up in the afternoon. Been kind of a nutty week.
Georgia Tech’s season-opening lineup is shaping up. Perhaps the most notable insight that coach Paul Johnson provided Tuesday is that B-back David Sims holds the edge to start less than five months after taking his first snap at that position.
“He worked his tail off,” Johnson said. “He earned it.”
Tech opens the season Sept. 1 against Western Carolina at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Sims played quarterback for his first two seasons but switched to B-back before spring practice, believing it would get him on the field quicker. Sims worked hard over the summer and rose from fourth on the depth chart behind Preston Lyons, Charles Perkins and Richard Watson to the top spot, for now.
“He just runs hard,” Johnson said.
The order, though, is subject to change and the backs have been getting rotated in practice between the starting unit and backups.
“I think the competition’s going to be tight all throughout the season,” Lyons said.
After Sims, Johnson said he wasn’t sure how Perkins and Lyons compare, and said game situations would dictate their use. Johnson offered a stern assessment of Perkins.
“His idea of working hard and mine aren’t the same,” Johnson said.
More lineup news
While no surprise, Johnson said that Tevin Washington will be the starting quarterback. He came into the spring and the preseason as the starter and has maintained his status over backup Synjyn Days.
“I would suspect that at least two of them will play, maybe more,” Johnson said.
More would be true freshman Vad Lee, who has earned praise from Johnson for his ability to absorb the offense.
Wide receiver Tyler Melton, who came back Monday from a strained calf injury, is trying to fend off true freshman Jeff Greene for his starting spot.
Coaches are leaning toward starting guard Will Jackson at left tackle in place of Phil Smith, who has been suspended two games for violating team rules. Jackson, a freshman All-American last season at guard, is a bright player who should be able to make the adjustment. True freshman Trey Braun would start in Jackson’s spot. Another possibility is to start either Ray Beno or Catlin Alford in Smith’s place and keep Jackson at guard.
“For the time being, we’re trying to get our best five on the field,” Johnson said.
The lineup would elevate one of two true freshman linemen, Errin Joe or Shaq Mason, into the No. 3 guard spot.
Practice report
Johnson liked the intensity of Tuesday’s practice better than Monday’s, though he said it still wasn’t where he’d like it to be. The offense and defense practiced against scout teams at the start of practice.
“It’s been about the same [as preseason practices)]” Lyons said. “The only difference is we’re not here all day, but practice itself is still pretty intense.”
Lyons has been wearing a knee brace after injuring his knee in Saturday’s scrimmage, but he doesn’t want to deal with it for long.
“Hopefully not, because I don’t like it at all,” he said.
Etc.
The kicking jobs have not been determined. Justin Moore is competing with David Scully for the placekicking position. Moore, Scully and Chandler Anderson are competing to take kickoffs. … A new team auditorium is almost complete. “I’ve tried to poke my head in, but they keep it covered up with a tarp,” Lyons said.
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114 comments Add your comment
100% Question
August 24th, 2011
11:26 am
Answer: When your body is telling you that it can’t give any more, your mind and heart overcome and push just a little harder.
NYC Jacket
August 24th, 2011
11:43 am
Come on Perkins. You’re in college now. Time to step up the effort level.
T3
August 24th, 2011
11:43 am
WnE:
Just STHU.
Youre so F-O-S, and clearly dont know what the Hell youre talking about.
Besides, why do you even freakin care ????
1Jacket7
August 24th, 2011
11:52 am
@110%? Reach as far as you can above your head. Way up there. Ok, now pretend there is a $100 bill just above your fingertips. Stretch to get it. Now. 100% was suppose to be you reaching as far as you can the first time. The extra 10% was you stretching and getting that $100. You always have a little more than you think you do. Sometimes your best is not good enough and you have to get better.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
12:03 pm
good answer, 1Jacket7
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
12:06 pm
Not that he deserves any kind of explanation, but to the ignorant troll, I am comfortably retired and I don’t have to work anymore. When I don’t have anything better to do, I log in here to get info on the Jackets and an occasional laugh from fools like you
juvenal
August 24th, 2011
12:12 pm
he’s right, Super, we should avoid name-calling, &, besides, maybe that’s exactly what he has for brains, in which case you may be in violation of that Americans with disabilities act…..
WnE
August 24th, 2011
12:20 pm
I guess the Recruiting Services are parroting Dennis Green in their assessment of Perkins:
“He is what we thought he was……………..and we let him off the hook”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKIcnj1MJY
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
12:29 pm
LOL @ juvenal
techfan
August 24th, 2011
12:40 pm
The August 18th blog has Paul Johnson praising Perkins for turning up the jets and how the B-Back competition is bringing out the best in him. This blog has Paul Johnson saying that basically he isn’t working hard enough. It’s not hard to see that CPJ thinks Perkins has what it takes and is trying to push him a little harder. Either that or Perkins did something to tick CPJ off recently.
juvenal
August 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
& you know what the Lord said about calling folks fools, wind up where we sing about ‘em going….geologists found a new faultline near d.c., they named it obama’s fault……
Gorilla Biscuit
August 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
Mayday! Mayday! We’re going down!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
12:44 pm
lol again, juvenal I got to remember that one
gt4ever
August 24th, 2011
12:57 pm
We have Western Carolina, Middle Tenn St, and then a pitiful Kansas team….. You can sound the alert after these three absurd games…. We should be 3 and 0, but crazier things have happened…
Go Jackets, It’s almost football time!
ToeMeetsLeather
August 24th, 2011
1:05 pm
The best news in this Blog, Jeff Greene paired up with a more mature & focused Stephen Hill. Safeties start cheating up, look out deep ball and A-Back over the middle. You can’t cover them all.
The worst news, “The kicking positions have not been determined”. That’s not good!
To the dawgnuts
August 24th, 2011
1:11 pm
desire, hard work and drive will get you through hard times better than swagger. we’ll take the drive and desire, ugag can keep the swagger…it hasn’t done a thing for you…we’ll see what the desire does for GT this year.
reebok
August 24th, 2011
1:14 pm
DawginLex, you are always classy on these blogs. sorry for your loss. Good luck against Boise State.
reebok
August 24th, 2011
1:15 pm
Sounds to me like Coach PJ was trying to get under Perkins’ skin a little.
fan of shorter passes
August 24th, 2011
1:16 pm
Glad to hear Tech actually has more than one receiver.
100%…from a purely mathematical viewpoint, impossible to give over 100%.
Most engineers believe in math.
http://gaetan.chapoteau.com/downloads/Mathematical_Viewpoint.htm
spider
August 24th, 2011
1:23 pm
be carefull going out to BYU in a couple of years GT..they are big time cheaters on the field, it amazes me how much the NCAA worries about off the field cheating then lets BYU get away with cheating on the field at end of a game that clearly changed the outcome of the game.
Gorilla Biscuit
August 24th, 2011
1:33 pm
Really big trouble on the flats. Life support!
wolfpack
August 24th, 2011
1:51 pm
wne is unemployed
its why he such a miserable cuss
gtfanfrom1951
August 24th, 2011
2:15 pm
Charles you can either prove the coach wrong or you can give up like Washie did! Its up to you but I would fight with all my being to show him how wrong he is!
gt4ever
August 24th, 2011
2:18 pm
No wolfpack, wne is a UGA fan,,,, that’s why he is so miserable….
Stinger 2
August 24th, 2011
2:36 pm
I like (everyone who responded about the comment CPJ made about Perkins) do not know the reason it was made. However, if were a player and CPJ was my head coach, such a comment would certainly get my attention. Lets hope Perkins responds in a positive way. Hopefully he has already gone to CPJ and now knows what is expected of him. Otherwise he may need to do what Jaybo Shaw did and apply at Georgia Southern.
USC fan
August 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
UGA < MARCUS LATTIMORE……just saying
BigTimeTechFan
August 24th, 2011
3:11 pm
Preston Lyons > Marcus Lattimore
David Sims > Marcus Lattimore
Charles Perkins > Marcus Lattimore
And I hear UGA has some freshmen RB, Think is name Iaiah GoWell that may be better then Lattimore, Must UGA fans are saying he’s even better than Herschel Walker
BigTimeTechFan
August 24th, 2011
3:12 pm
Must = Most
JM
August 24th, 2011
3:47 pm
Go Jackets! can’t wait, just 8 days until kick-off. I am glad the players are pushing each other to get better. Ball control is the key to victory.
GT9
August 24th, 2011
5:08 pm
The first time that I saw David Sims walk on to Grant Field, I thought he was a linebacker. He was a freshman and I didn’t recognize his number. Thick legs, chest, big arms … muscle on top of muscle.
Whether at quarterback or B-back, he plays hard every down. I have been a fan of his since day one.
The fact that this football player accepted the challenge of a position change, and worked so hard that he became number one at that position (for a coach who does not play favorites), bodes well for the state of the running game, not to mention the character of the individual.
Of course, all of my words are meaningless. We’ll see what happens in eight days.
GO JACKETS!!
Noles own you
August 24th, 2011
5:31 pm
I have never seen a worse program in my life. It is almost as though the bugs are cursed, but then I am remind about the football Gods’ sense of humor every time I have the misfortune of speaking with a cheat fan
Americus Jacket
August 24th, 2011
5:48 pm
Am I the only one who is not worried about any of the RB positions? And is it just me who thinks Johnson’s “tweek” of Perkins just a method to light a little fire under him? I think the healthy competition at B-back is a plus for GT, and I think there are plenty of A-backs ready to step it up if the starters don’t perform. I’d be much more nervous if I was a UGA fan when my only 2 legitimate tailbacks — one who converted from linebacker — were both sitting on the sidelines during spring practice at one time or another.
I am worried about the offensive line. Having to move our decorated freshman guard to tackle instead of using one of the back-ups is not good news IMHO. And based on the last few seasons, I am always concerned about our defense. For some reason, I think both will be fine, and I just cannot wait for the season to start.
Tech75
August 24th, 2011
6:11 pm
Just like every year under CPJ, as the QB goes, so goes the offense. I do have hopes that a few passes early will loosen up the defenses so that we’re not playing against 9-man lines.
We HAVE to get the center-QB exchange and the “mesh” clicking. I know it’s a bang-bang thing, but after a several thousand reps I would think you could get it right.
I’m not sure if it’s just my perception, but last year I thought the timing was too slow on the “mesh” – it took too long to read keys and decide whether to stick or pull the ball. Maybe the d-line defenders and LBs have figured out how to delay the QB’s recognition process as well, which probably throws off the timing of the whole play?
I am encouraged about the D. AG does not seem to blow a lot of smoke, and he’s trying to keep expectations under control, but he sounds somewhat optimistic.
Ramblin Man
August 24th, 2011
6:50 pm
After thinking about it I bet we will see a 50/50 split the first two games between Perkins and Sims. If one distances themselves then so be it, but if both are potentiol home run guys I have no problem being able to rotate and keep fresh legs on the field. ONE MORE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
230gr Full Metal Jacket
August 24th, 2011
7:05 pm
Perkins will be fine and very likely will be the starter by the time Tech hits the meat of their schedule. CPJ is just using a little motivational psychology there, otherwise he would have never made that comment to a reporter, knowing it would be published.
As to the defense, I think they may really shock some people this year (I believe UGA’s will also). Tech has lots of QUALITY depth at LB and the defensive back positions. If they can add a good MEAN noseguard/tackle to stop up the middle of the line they will be able to shut most offenses running game down. We have players with the size and temperment required, but conditioning always seems to be an issue with the big guys.
Offensively, Tech is LOADED at every position except on the line. They have a VERY quality group of starters there, but not much depth. As long as they don’t hit a rash of injuries they should be ok. Regardless though, I must admit that the depth on the O-line is still better than we have had in the past few years. There is a definite pattern to CPJ’s recruiting and we are just now begining to see the first hints of where he is steering the program — and it’s VERY positive in my opinion. Tech has depth at most positions now that they could have only dreamed about 4 years ago. Those who want to constantly bash CPJ’s recruiting need to take a reality break! He is recruiting WAY better than Gailey did on average (and I don’t give a rat’s rear about how recruiting classes are ranked. Those rankings are just as irrelevant (and innaccurate) as pre-season polls) and is also recruiting better than O’Leary, Lewis, or possibly even Ross did. This season won’t tell the story on his recruiting, but the next 3 or 4 will, and people had better look out for what Tech will bring to the field the next few seasons. But this year will probably be a 8 or 9 win season (although there is not a single game on this years schedule that Tech can’t win). The next 3 years after that though, I fully expect double-digits in the W-column and at least 1 BCS-bowl appearance
What’s interesting is, I have almost identical expectations regarding UGA’s football program, so Novembers could be quite interesting over the next few years. And no, I don’t think CMR is going anywhere any time soon, which is fine with me. Trolls can post “9-1″ all they want, but in reality the series is at 2-1 with the current coaches and I have the utmost confidence that it will be 2-2 at the end of November, which would suddenly put a lot of spark back in the rivalry.
Enough armchair quarterbacking — Let the season begin!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
August 24th, 2011
7:27 pm
An any system, a design limit can be exceeded.
Tech Guy
August 24th, 2011
7:35 pm
With Tech’s soft schedule, it would be bad to not win 8 games
FullMetalJacket
August 24th, 2011
8:50 pm
If they play hard they will be more competitive this year than last. Go Jackets!
Macon Jacket
August 24th, 2011
9:22 pm
Sick and tired of this fluff.
We’re in BIG TROUBLE.
NO ATHLETES!!!
This year will be as abysmal as the pre-season polls.
Paul Johnson cannot recruit!!!!
FIRE CPJ NOW!!!!
Macon Jacket
August 24th, 2011
9:36 pm
FIRE CPJ!
FIRE CPJ!
FIRE Paul Johnson, now!!!
Bring back Chan! Chan! Chan!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
10:04 pm
Move to Buffalo if you want Chan.
Stumpknocker
August 24th, 2011
10:14 pm
Macon Jacket, go back to the dawgs where you belong.
BYRDDAWG
August 24th, 2011
10:39 pm
macon bacon & exactly how many ACC titles did Chan get ya?? What up Super?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
10:42 pm
Hey, BYRD. Not much going on here……and less on this blog right now. lol
BYRDDAWG
August 24th, 2011
10:46 pm
Can’t wait to get it started!!!! I’d say it’s good we both have the openers we do….We needed an opponent that caused us to focus over the summer & you guys need to sort out your QBs!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
10:48 pm
we need to sort out several other things too. I don’t like those division 2 games, but I guess this year it IS a plus for us. Certainly better for us to be playing WC than Notre Dame. But I’m ready for it. Can’t wait till next Thursday.
BYRDDAWG
August 24th, 2011
10:50 pm
I saw your basketball schedule came out too…Ticks me off that they play our game on Wed EVERY yr!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
10:52 pm
I don’t remember it being on a Wed the last time I went, but that’s been 2 years; my memory is fading fast. lol
Supersize that order, mutt
August 24th, 2011
10:52 pm
remind me where you are, BYRD
BYRDDAWG
August 24th, 2011
10:54 pm
Good luck next thurs…..Wish I could hear Al calling the game! I miss him & Munson…..Gettin old brother!