Tech depth chart out, lineup notes
Greetings-
Some quick notes from coach Paul Johnson’s Monday news conference in advance of Georgia Tech’s season opener Thursday against Western Carolina.
1. Johnson said A-back Roddy Jones is doubtful (undisclosed injury). Jones has appeared and started in all but one game in his Georgia Tech career. Johnson said he was “dinged up.” Embry Peeples would start in Jones’ place. Backup A-back Marcus Wright is also on the injured list.
2. B-back David Sims will start. The depth chart lists Preston Lyons and Charles Perkins as No. 2. After saying last week that Perkins was not working hard enough in practice, he and Johnson met. “I think we’re on the same page,” Johnson said.
3. True freshman guard Trey Braun will not start, after all. Coaches considered different combinations, but decided to keep Will Jackson at guard and make Braun the No. 3 guard. Either Catlin Alford or Ray Beno will start at left tackle in place of Phil Smith, who is suspended for two games. Braun will play, as will fellow true freshman Shaq Mason. Coaches had tried Jackson at left tackle with Braun at left guard. The Beno/Alford decision likely won’t be made until Tuesday. Johnson said the team will use several different combinations Thursday.
4. Wide receiver Tyler Melton will start. True freshman Jeff Greene will be the No. 3 and will play. Johnson indicated Melton’s senior standing was a factor in the decision.
5. Johnson said of the 64 players going to the team hotel Wednesday night, about 20 are either true or redshirt freshmen.
6. True freshman Zach Laskey will return punts. Johnson said he caught the ball naturally, which was the first priority, and has shown some ability as a returner. He’ll also play on other special teams units.
7. Justin Moore has won the placekicking and kickoff jobs over David Scully. Sean Poole will punt, with Chandler Anderson backing him up.
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
QB Tevin Washington Synjyn Days
BB David Sims Preston Lyons or Charles Perkins
AB Orwin Smith Robert Godhigh
AB Embry Peeples Tony Zenon
WR Tyler Melton Jeff Greene
WR Stephen Hill Daniel McKayhan
LT Catlin Alford or Ray Beno
LG Will Jackson Shaquille Mason
C Jay Finch Nick McRae
RG Omoregie Uzzi Trey Braun
RT Tyler Kidney Errin Joe
DEFENSE
DE Jason Peters Emmanuel Dieke
DT Logan Walls T.J. Barnes
DE Izaan Cross Euclid Cummings
OLB Jeremiah Attaochu Malcolm Munroe
ILB Julian Burnett Quayshawn Nealy
ILB Daniel Drummond B.J. Machen
OLB Steven Sylvester Brandon Watts
LCB Rod Sweeting Jamal Golden
LS Isaiah Johnson Lance Richardson
RS Rashaad Reid Jemea Thomas
RCB Louis Young Michael Peterson
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Justin Moore David Scully
KO Justin Moore
P Sean Poole Chandler Anderson
LS Tyler Morgan Sean Tobin
H Chandler Anderson
KR Orwin Smith Stephen Hill
PR Zach Laskey Tony Zenon
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187 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:42 pm
Ramblin Man, headley is obviously obsessed with Tech. He didn’t even go to UGA himself, and he indicated this morning, that he is not even originally (perhaps not even currently) from the state of Georgia. So what else can it be called but an obsession on his part.
headley lamar
August 29th, 2011
2:43 pm
But there’s no way his ever having been at Tech has anything to do with it
Isn’t that convenient.
Wanna bet if he was a former UGA player that his being at UGA would have EVERYTHING to do with it.
LOL
Another win for Headley.
Headley 9 Tech 0
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:44 pm
Naters, NO Tech player accepted ANY illegal benefits. Both the ACC AND the NCAA cleared him to play prior to the game, but somebody at the NCAA didn’t like it because DRAD had told CPJ what was going on prior to that exoneration. The NCAA wanted Tech to bench him and then unbench him without anybody ever telling the coach or the player what was happening. Read the FACTS, bubba, and quit making crap up.
Delbert D.
August 29th, 2011
2:44 pm
We need to stop commenting on Reuben Houston until the U.S. Marshals find him. He may be trying to disguise himself as a 5-star high schooler in Texas.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
2:45 pm
Was anybody else suprised to Machen listed as the #2 behind Drummond? I just happened to look at the roster the other day and noticed I had not heard anything about him all Summer and was wondering about his progress.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:46 pm
headley, the fact that THUGa won last year doesn’t say a thing about Grantham’s defense. You know damn well the game was lost on unforced turnovers (i.e., stupid mistakes) and an ineffective Tech defense, although Tech’s defense didn’t perform as bad as Tech’s offense or THUGa’s defense.
GT Rich
August 29th, 2011
2:47 pm
Embry Peoples used to share kicks with Orwin Smith. David Simms will break 1000 yards – easily. Bostic’s injury has potential to turn into a medical red-shirt. I like all of our 2 deep LBs. Hope to see all three QBs get some snaps and let their play determine who remains the no. 1. If Synjyn falls to no. 3, given how good he is as a runner I’d like to see him play a little A-back. Imagine — Washington, Simms and Synjyn on the field at once — could make for some interesting playcalling…
Ken Sugiura
August 29th, 2011
2:47 pm
Panama – good to hear from you. he said 64 will go to the hotel, which i’m told is standard procedure. it doesn’t mean that’s who will dress or play. everyone on the roster not injured, possibly except those who are definitely being redshirted, should dress and would be available to play.
There were no questions about Lee (rather remarkably), and Johnson didn’t bring him up. He’s third on the depth chart, I’m sure, but Johnson hasn’t said anything about his plans yet.
As for Hill and kick returns, Roddy Jones, Embry Peeples and Tony Zenon were among candidates early on.
BigTimeTechFan
August 29th, 2011
2:48 pm
@Supersize
How do you like the depth chart? opening day 4 days away, think CPJ has the team ready?
Naters
August 29th, 2011
2:48 pm
Ramblin Man –
Simply admit you have the same amount of trash (if not more) as everyone else. Your players are if anything, worse than the average REAL student athlete. In other words, for once in your life be honest.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:48 pm
Ramblin Man, there were a couple of other names in there that I had not heard anything about all summer…..in fact, perhaps not at all. I guess their positions or among those that seldom get much PR, unless the person is really a beast.
Ken Sugiura
August 29th, 2011
2:50 pm
Machen is probably more like the No. 4 linebacker. If either Daniel Drummond or Julian Burnett got hurt, I’d think Quayshawn Nealy will go in. Johnson made a point of saying that just because a player is listed as No. 2 doesn’t mean he’s the guy that would go in if the player ahead of him got hurt.
Delbert D.
August 29th, 2011
2:51 pm
Ramblin Man – Was Machen injured last year? He played special teams in 2009.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:53 pm
Ken, that last statement by Johnson is definitely interesting. Number 2 doesn’t necessarily go in if number 1 is hurt. Is that a more-or-less common practice, or am I right in being surprised to hear that?
something special
August 29th, 2011
2:53 pm
Zach Laskey catching the ball “naturally” is a great improvement for punt returns.
A-back Orwin Smith and B-back David Sims should both have break out games.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:54 pm
BigTime, I have to trust the coaches on the depth chart. That’s why I only post online….LOL But I am sure he has them ready for Thursday. Now all they have to do is prove what he says to be true.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
2:54 pm
Delbert,
I could not find an injury listed. Not sure what the deal is.
Thanks for that Ken, as I said it took me by surprise.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
2:56 pm
GT Rich I agree. I seme to remember a play that they used with Roddy and he dropped back to mack a pass after being pitched the ball. Never actually threw it if memory serves correctly.
BigTimeTechFan
August 29th, 2011
2:58 pm
Gotta give praise to Sims and Drummond for putting team 1st, switching positions to help the team, then they win starting job. With all the LB’s Tech has my guess is Drummond must be pretty awesome to win the job that fast.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
2:59 pm
I can’t wait to see Simms break through for a big run. Based on the way he ran on keepers at QB early last season, I’m not sure anybody can bring him down.
Ken Sugiura
August 29th, 2011
2:59 pm
I’d say it’s pretty common. Like the guards, for instance. Shaquille Mason is listed as the backup to Will Jackson, but Braun has been acknowledged as the No. 3 guard, so if Jackson were to get hurt, Braun would get in, but i guess the format of the standard depth chart is such that you wouldn’t list Braun twice.
Machen did not play, essentially by coaches decision.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
3:00 pm
Wow I can’t spell at all. seme = seem and mack = make. I got so excited to actually talk football my fingers and brain did not know what to do.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
3:00 pm
Thanks, Ken. And, by the way, those non-interactive posts you made over the weekend were awesome.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
3:02 pm
I think Drummond is a beast and due to sitting out last year he got a lot of time to learn and mature and that probably put him ahead. Hope it shows on the field.
Anon
August 29th, 2011
3:03 pm
The difference is when someone leaves their college or university and then does something stupid or criminal. Much different than doing it under the supervision of the coaching staff and university rules. No one blamed UGA when Hines Ward was stopped for DUI. (and I like Hines Ward, great player) Anything you do while enrolled reflects on your team. Nothing you do after you leave is a product of your university.
Anon
August 29th, 2011
3:03 pm
Meanwhile, let’s play some college football…
Naters
August 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
And that is why you and your base will continue being mocked. You cannot admit to the obvious.
Delbert D.
August 29th, 2011
3:05 pm
I’d say the current Georgia Tech football team has guys with interesting achievements.
Preston Lyons – ACC Academic Honor Roll 2009-2010
Logan Walls – grad student, 2-time Academic All ACC
Roddy Jones – grad student, 2-time Academic All-ACC
Trey Braun – Mechanical Eng. major
Emmanuel Dieke – Biomedical Engineering major
Quayshan Nealy – Computer Science major
Chandler Anderson – Biology major
Corey Alford – Mechanical Eng. major, ACC Academic Honor Roll for 2009-10
Jason Peters – member of Ga. Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Board, Academic All-State in HS
David Scully – Biochemistry major
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
3:06 pm
Has anybody seen the Western Carolina jerseys? I swear they look just like some of GTs past jerseys. Will be interesting to see how the defense does during the game to make changes on the fly dealing with this unknown pistol offense. I know the talent is less, but those kids play hard and Groh and company have nothing to go by for game prep.
juvenal
August 29th, 2011
3:13 pm
Ken, thanks for bringing the data, & for refocusing-love this time of year, everybody is undefeated, only 50% after the first weekend……average Tech frosh SAT 124 points higher than in azzins……
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
3:20 pm
juvenal, I saw that stat on SAT’s too. But did you also notice that THUGa has a higher percentage of out-of-state/international students than Tech does? So much for the mutt xenophobes accusing Tech of having nothing but international students.
juvenal
August 29th, 2011
3:37 pm
saw lots of Asians in azzins at the game last year, a drunk behind me had lots of anti-asian slurs, don’t know why they think that is socially acceptable…wonder which half of hines they really dislike more……
Paddy
August 29th, 2011
3:39 pm
Enough……….
this blog is about Tech’s depth chart. Pls find someother venue to express your opinions. All of us want to talk football. Write a letter to the ajc – letters to the editor.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
3:41 pm
juvenal, I know I shouldn’t bring this up, but I have some new fuel for countering the mutt attacks on Tech concerning Crittenton. In 2009, former University of Georgia safety Terreal Bierria was arrested in the killing of a Louisiana man in a suspected dispute over drugs. I don’t think that the fact that he attended UGA has any bearing on that at all, but if I see some jerk troll on here blaming Tech for the Crittenton case, I am definitely going to fire that back at them.
Old Gold and White in my veins
August 29th, 2011
3:51 pm
juvenal, I suspect Hines abilities get him the coveted “he’s one of the good ones” exemptions.
juvenal
August 29th, 2011
3:51 pm
right you are, Paddy, & hoist a pint of Guiness for me….trouble is, as Steele pointed out, we are the 114th bcs team in terms of experience, this team is so young it is hard to get a handle on what is going to happen..hope CPJ lets the players that can play, play…
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
3:51 pm
And the interesting thing about having this information is that I have never seen a Tech poster mention it in the past, and yet all the mutt trolls say that if something like the Crittenton case had happened to a former UGA athlete, Tech posters would be all over it. I think the fact that that never happened proves that it’s only the mutt trolls who stoop to that. I will certainly never mention it again on the offensive, but I probably won’t hesitate to mention it on the defensive.
JM
August 29th, 2011
3:52 pm
Get Well Roddy Jones!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2011
3:53 pm
hell yeah, JM. GOT to have Roddy in there ASAP
Worm
August 29th, 2011
4:20 pm
Anybody know if this game is on Directv in the carolinas?
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
4:23 pm
How long was Roddy out the last time he broke his hand? I seem to remember it being like three games, but I could be wrong. I know I know Ramblin Man wrong that is crazy, but it has happened.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
4:25 pm
Worm,
It’s on ESPN3.com only, just like next week. I believe DirectTV has a contract with ESPN3 so you should be good. If you have an xbox you can also get it on the ESPN channel.
sez
August 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
An excellent season for the bugs would be an invite back to their beloved home of the Smurf Bowl
Old Tech & Mountaineer fan in NC
August 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
Worm, you can drop by the house…a Tech fanatic and a dog fanatic watching a game together…..nah, not going to happen.
Ken Sugiura
August 29th, 2011
4:59 pm
Ramblin Man – Roddy was out one game.
1Jacket7
August 29th, 2011
5:03 pm
I am sort of surprised too about Hill returning Kick-offs because of his stride. But, I now realized that this is a way to get Hill the ball more and get him involved in that game. The more he touches the ball the better I believe he will play. Let’s hope. To all of my GT ballers. Just remember the most important rule of the game. HOLD ON TO THE BALL!!! Any gain big or small is useless without the ball. GO JACKETS.
MJC
August 29th, 2011
5:05 pm
Is Hunt-Days redshirting?
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
5:13 pm
Ken I am going to stick with three as I like to be right. I will grant you that maybe I am thinking of limited action though.
Congrats to Morgan Carter on his internship with the Supreme Court. Hopefully recruits will notice how CPJ pushes education and a future outside of football. Hint hint Mr. Tomlinson.
Jacket Man
August 29th, 2011
5:13 pm
Chamberland (Freshman Offensive Lineman) will red shirt. Kitchens (Defensive Lineman) is out due to injury but Green is looking good on the D-Line in his rotation. Snoddy will red shirt. Vad Lee will play Thursday night.
Ramblin Man
August 29th, 2011
5:17 pm
Ken – I ordered a reading comprehension course so that in the future I will not ask questions about things already pointed out in your reports.