Bohannon on Sims, Lee, part II
Greetings
I said I’d post the rest of the Brian Bohannon Q&A Wednesday and I never did, for which I apologize. It ended up being a little busier than expected. Hopefully you saw some of the stuff that went in the paper online, including coach Paul Johnson’s latest public appraisal of Vad Lee and a story on B-back David Sims. Also, this is not football-related, but former Tech tennis player Irina Falconi won the biggest match of her career Wednesday at the U.S. Open. Monday, she became the first women’s player from Tech to ever win a singles match in a grand slam tournament.
Anyway, onto the Q&A, a continuation from Tuesday.
Q: Is David working harder than he has in the past?
A: I don’t know if he’s working harder. I just think he saw a window of opportunity and he’s really jumped on it. David’s one of the smartest football players in that (meeting) room. If you were to ask any of those guys in that room to ask who would know the answer to a question that any of the coaches put up, he would be one of the guys that everyone would point to. He’s a pretty smart football player.
Two cents: Not sure I have anything to add. But it’s an interesting observation.
Q: Do you mean on the whole team?
A: I mean the quarterbacks and B-backs are always together, so they hear all that, but David knows what’s going on. He’s a smart football player. Obviously, being a quarterback has helped him a little bit with that. But yeah, he’s done a good job. We’ll see.
Two cents: This goes back to the first question, I guess, but the image of someone going into the quarterbacks and B-backs meeting room, looking at a question on a white board and asking, “O.K., who knows the answer to this?” and then everyone looking at Sims is kind of amusing.
Q: Were you aware that he had considered transferring?
A: I’m sure that goes through a lot of their minds. He’s had some growing pains here that hopefully, when he looks back on this, it made him a better person. These young men are the life of their town and their school and all of the sudden they come to college and all of the sudden they’re just another guy in the mix. It’s a tough adjustment.
I give him credit to this point. He’s followed through. It’s easy to bail. Sometimes the hard thing to do is fight it and he’s fought it, and hopefully it’s going to pay off for him.
Two cents: I have to think that for a lot of the “elite” prospects that fail to pan out, a lot of times it’s probably not a matter of not being good enough but more situations like this one that keep them from reaching their potential. It’s cliché, but a player’s inner drive is so crucial to how he turns out. There are only a handful of players at the college level, and even fewer in the NFL, who are clearly better athletes than the rest.
Q: How has Vad Lee been doing?
A: He’s done O.K. He hit a little bit of a wall just being a freshman and all the information overload. So he’s just got to stay to there, keep competing, keep working, because every day he’s going to learn something. Every day he’s going to get better. He had a lot of success early and then it kind of plateaued for him a little bit, which is fairly common, but I’m still pleased with the improvement he made. I just want to see it continue. I don’t want him to back off. He’s got to keep working.
Two cents: Comments like this, and what Johnson said Wednesday, lead me to believe Lee won’t play Thursday. I think to not redshirt, he’ll have to have another development spurt in practice and probably also Tevin Washington and Synjyn Days would have to struggle. I’d think that Johnson would play if the team needs him. If Washington is doing the job, the need for Lee decreases.
Q: Has a yes-or-no decision been made on him?
A: No. That’s Coach Johnson’s call. That decision can’t be made and won’t be made for awhile. We’ve got three quarterbacks.
Two cents: In a way, Lee is about to go through what Sims went through and most every other FBS player does. He’s going to have to fight his way up the depth chart and keep grinding even though it’s possible that significant playing time may be two years away.
Thanks for reading, and please comment respectfully and responsibly. Please follow on Facebook and Twitter.
By Ken Sugiura, AJC
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81 comments Add your comment
michael
September 1st, 2011
6:07 am
first……………is lee the real deal
Old White and Gold
September 1st, 2011
6:09 am
I was at the last scrimmage and overall I saw more production from Synjyn and Vad then with TW. Also, has Coach Johnson considered playing Synjyn and Tevin. Because in my opinion Synjyn is way better then TW when he holds on to the football.
michael
September 1st, 2011
6:11 am
seriously? what’s my defense doing. i live on an island and am out of touch.
Jim Bob Taylor
September 1st, 2011
6:35 am
It sounds like Vad is not as far along as some had hoped….not surprising to realistic fans who understand that there is no substitute for experience and that the key to learning the TO is repetition. Consider also that Vad came from a true spread offense and worked out of the shotgun.
Golden White
September 1st, 2011
6:45 am
Go Tech ! Win tonight .
chief osceola
September 1st, 2011
7:00 am
does anubody know how tech’s recruit francis kellon is doing?
Emerson
September 1st, 2011
7:17 am
I kept looking for Georgia Tech in Newsweek’s recent list of the country’s most beautiful colleges but they were nowhere to be found? On a related note, I did see Tech in another publication’s list of the nation’s most dangerous college campuses. They said they were too scared to visit Tech to take pictures for the story so instead they just showed some still clips from “Boyz in the Hood.”
Pat
September 1st, 2011
7:20 am
If we come out with turnovers and sloppy play like last year, he will get in. Hold on to the ball tevin if you want to hold on to your starting position!
Jason
September 1st, 2011
7:28 am
Emerson,
If your worried about the Tech campus, then stay away from Athens. The football team in Athens commits more crimes than the gangbangers in downtown Atlanta.
Mitch
September 1st, 2011
7:41 am
Um ken Falconi won her second match on Wednesday.
Emerson
September 1st, 2011
7:56 am
Oh yes, driving on suspended licenses, great point. Tech has had two former players in less than a year tracked down and arrested by federal officers for pointing a gun at a woman’s head. One of the two actually committed murder.
No, between the thugs and all the would-be terrorists Tech proudly trains in bomb making (occasionally setting them off on campus) I think I will take my chances in Athens. Besides, you don’t have a weekly report of students getting mugged while walking to class there either.
Mike Lum
September 1st, 2011
8:15 am
Hey Jim Bob, realistic fans saw TW’s “experience” last year and Synjyn’s inability to hold onto the ball. If TW and SD falter (as they have in the past) we hope Vad’s promise and talent are allowed playing time to salvage the season.
Tevin’s passing has supposedly improved, but it couldn’t have gotten any worse. I’d rather Tech run on EVERY play. Last year CPJ passed too much for me. With Vad running the offense, either the run or pass will be open on every play.
I’d much rather play Lee this year than redshirt him. CPJ has a few years to recruit another QB to play in 2015. Guess that makes me an unrealistic fan.
newbie
September 1st, 2011
8:22 am
WTF are you talking about!?!?! The neighborhood in Boys in the hood is far more safe than anything at or near Tech!!!
Ron Burgundy
September 1st, 2011
8:26 am
Stay classy Emerson and keep your pansy ass suckled up next your mama’s nipple
GT Fan
September 1st, 2011
8:33 am
Ken,
I love the information you are giving us every day and applaud your efforts to keep the blog troll free, but I think it is time to ban bloggers like Emerson and newbie for a week and see if they get the message.
GT Fan
September 1st, 2011
8:37 am
For those who inquired on how Francis Kallon did in his first football game, the Central Gwinnett defensive end and GT commitment had 10 tackles, 3 for losses, 1 sack, 3 QB hurries, 1 blocked punt. We will take that or more than that every week for 4 years…
Harvey @ Docs
September 1st, 2011
8:38 am
Will y’all just ignore people like Emerson? He contributes nothing.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
8:47 am
Ken I just sent you an e-mail.
I would appreciate you reading it.
malcolm
September 1st, 2011
8:47 am
I love the sheer, unadulterated Nazism the loser Tech fans have now adopted. Obviously it is only a handful of them of on multiple names, but this pure act of cowardice and totalitarianism really tells one all they need to know about the state of mind of the fan “base” of Tech. Sad, but it definitely puts a smile on my face knowing just how miserable they are and they would be desperate enough to resort to such unAmerican tactics.
Be sure to put a muzzle on ESPN too this season boys, because they aren’t going to be telling you any lies either like you do with each other on here in your little circlejerk.
Stay classy and communist guys.
collegeballfan
September 1st, 2011
8:48 am
I do not get a vote but if I did I would redshirt Vad Lee.
As someone pointed out a few days ago, if Gailey had redshirted Nesbitt, Nesbitt would be the starter tonight.
GTVegas
September 1st, 2011
8:51 am
Emerson contributes nothing and knows far less.
As for the real subject at hand, I would not be too disappointed to see Vad Lee redshirt. I think it is in his best interest and in the best interest of the team.
As for Sims, there is no better motivation than to reward for hard work. Congrats to him and just hope he and others do not decrease their focus and hard work.
Above all, execute.
malcolm
September 1st, 2011
8:51 am
Ken, please read my e-mail as well.
ramblingbuzz
September 1st, 2011
8:53 am
I don’t get the negativity about T. Washington. While we lost most of the games he started last year, aside from the Miami game, GT was competitive.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
8:53 am
Later guys.
Malcolm/emerson/DawginLex is a Tech Troll/Obama boy wins.
Until Ken and Bill King get the cajones to do something about cyberstalking, baiting and taunting, no one is going to be able to discuss college football.
ramblingbuzz
September 1st, 2011
8:55 am
Malcolm won’t be so smug after Ugag starts 0-2. Talk about miserable.
malcolm
September 1st, 2011
8:56 am
Actually, I do not need blogs to feel relevant, but I understand some of you do. You have my sympathy, and for that, I am gone. I hope you all get whatever it is you need from your postings.
Enjoy!!
malcolm
September 1st, 2011
8:57 am
ramblingbuzz,
If UGA starts out 0-2 I will come back and eat crow, deal?
Both you and I both know that will not happen. Enjoy the holiday weekend
ramblingbuzz
September 1st, 2011
9:01 am
Put Sept 11 on your calendar Malc and don’t forget.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
9:07 am
malcolm does not need blogs to feel relevant yet he has changed his blog handle and personally attacked me over the past 3 days?
Talk about delusional.
He can’t post on blogs as a normal person. He has to take personal shots at me to feel relevant.
What a sad pathetic person.
spjacket
September 1st, 2011
9:13 am
Ken, really like the added “two cents” Again, you are doing a great job covering the Jackets.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
9:17 am
Hey malcolm
I noticed you conveniently neglected to respond to my offer to meet me in person at the UT game in Knoxville.
Scared?
Afraid I might make you “relevant”?
Gorilla Biscuit
September 1st, 2011
9:29 am
DawginLex, don’t go beatin’ up that nerd. It proves nothing and besides you might damage his Star Wars costume.
damngooddawg!
September 1st, 2011
9:32 am
I want to wish Tech good success this season except for our yearly get together, and freedom from injuries, etc. It’s going to be an interesting season and I’ READY!
damngooddawg!
September 1st, 2011
9:40 am
It’s a football season, gang. We’re not talkin world peace here. Lighten up and get your egos under control. In other words, get a life.
JM
September 1st, 2011
9:43 am
Congratulations Falconi on winning your 2nd US open match. Keep playing hard.
BigTimeTechFan
September 1st, 2011
9:43 am
I’m tailgating, the only one here, hurry up folks
Orange Juice and ribs does not go good together.
macrotech
September 1st, 2011
9:48 am
DawginLex, of COURSE malcolm is scared…stepping out from behind the internet?! malcolm will come up with a lame excuse…but, malcolm IS scared! Perhaps, malcolm can buddy up with emerson…emerson is scared of the Tech campus! Gotta have some cajones to attend Tech…apparently, we’re a dangerous campus!
Gorilla Biscuit, I BELIEVE DawginLex is talking to a pup fan…wait! Are you suggesting that uga has nerds, TOO?!
macrotech
September 1st, 2011
9:49 am
damngooddawg…good luck to you guys, as well! With the exception of that last game of the season!
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
9:52 am
just to clarify
no threats involved here. Just a discussion in person about UGA football outside of Neyland stadium.
I’ll also give you tips on how to be relevant
Ken Sugiura
September 1st, 2011
9:54 am
Thanks for the comments. I’ll read the e-mails. and thanks for the catch, Mitch. that’s what you get for writing at 12:30 a.m.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
9:55 am
malcolm is just po’d because one of his fake names got banned.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
9:57 am
macro, have you seen the mutts’ new uniforms? They look like comic-con costumes. So of course, they have nerds.
GTJason
September 1st, 2011
9:57 am
What a tambourine banging, tofu eating hippie. Nazism? We’re fans who support our team, kind of like you guys had to do last year when your team didn’t do as well as you hoped. Our high expectations lead to disappointment sometimes but you guys have the same deal. As you dawgs love to point out, winning the ACC is a lot easier than winning the SEC so our goals are more realistic.
Vad won’t play until an important game where we need a big play. No reason to waste the few plays he knows on the likes of Western Carolina and give other coaches scouting video on the guy. I’m predicting NC state, we’ll be down late and he’ll come in with a deep toss to Chris Jackson.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
9:58 am
just had mcdonalds for breakfast and was served by a louisville fan.
It’s everywhere
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
9:59 am
If Vad hasn’t played by the NC State game, he won’t be coming in just to bail us out. The only reason he will come in anytime after the MTSU game (if he hasn’t previously been used) is if one of the other 2 goes down to injury.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
10:05 am
Boy you got to love Schulz’s take on things…..and I quote (well, cut and paste) -
“Georgia and Boise State both will be wearing new uniforms, designed by a 16-year-old on a Nacho-Cheese-Dorito-and-Red-Bull high. Players will look like escapees from ‘Rollerball.’
Otherwise, it should be a good game. Georgia will be better than 6-7 this season, if for no other reason than most of the schedule looks like Wofford on steroids. But there are too many questions. The offensive line, the defense, a freshman running back, no A.J. Green.”
Wofford on steroids…..I LOVE it
chief osceola
September 1st, 2011
10:41 am
hey tech fans, I don’t have a dog in your fight with Ga fans( I’m a Seminole) but you are attempting to argue with people who get down on their hands and knees and bark like dogs. nuff said.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
10:50 am
chief, the sad thing about that is it’s actually true.
BigTimeTechFan
September 1st, 2011
10:53 am
@chief osceola
How’s FSU looking for this year?
Think they can win the ACC?
I’m thinking (guessing) is going to be GT verses Clemson in title game.
S'paw_99
September 1st, 2011
11:10 am
I would RS Lee unless he’s gonna get significant playing time this yr. and he’s not going to as the 3rd string QB. But as PJ has said even if Red-shirting he can be on the travel squad and dress every game.
Unlike most guys red-shirting I would have him take some reps in practice, in case we need him (if TW or Days go down).
I say to RS him b/c I don’t want another situation like Gailey & Josh. There’s no need to burn a yr if he’s only going to play less than 50 snaps all year.
ATL XMAN
September 1st, 2011
11:16 am
gt is filled with div 1aa talent. no way they even sniff the acc title game..
ATL XMAN
September 1st, 2011
11:27 am
might have to play lee as your qbs will be taking some major hits during the game and not one of them are as big as nesbitt. so i doubt you red shirt lee.
ATL XMAN
September 1st, 2011
11:28 am
the good thing about techs offense is that you can always have one of your running backs or corner backs play the qb position as well.
ATL XMAN
September 1st, 2011
11:29 am
should read,”not one of them is as big as nesbitt”. sorry
Norht Ave Killer Beez
September 1st, 2011
12:18 pm
HOW IS FSU LOOKING? Have you seent here recruiting classes the last few years. Maybe that maeans nothing with out coaching but they are close to being back to the old FSU In My Opinion. They are by far probably the most athletic team in the confrence. Also a Georgia boy running the QB position.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2011
12:20 pm
Shaw played as a freshman in 2008, but he had experience with Johnson’s offense in high school.
Mike Lum
September 1st, 2011
12:32 pm
If we need Lee to bail us out of a big game down the road (like NC State, as if we could win that one) then Jim Bob is right…Vad needs to take snaps in these early games to get experience. Any realistic fan knows there’s no way TW or SD can beat VT or UGA.
Tech needs to win this year, and worry about 2015 later.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
12:34 pm
TW almost beat the mutts last year. Why wouldn’t he be able to do the same or better this year?
BigTimeTechFan
September 1st, 2011
1:02 pm
TW almost beat the mutts last year. Why wouldn’t he be able to do the same or better this year?
Go back and watch the last couple of drives Tech in the UGA had, TW was not that good. Receivers wide open and he threw the ball in the ground.
HOW IS FSU LOOKING? Have you seent here recruiting classes the last few years.
Yea, but those type classes have not helped UGA much
BigTimeTechFan
September 1st, 2011
1:07 pm
START QTR POSS. YARD PLAYS YARDS RESULT
14:58 1 01:51 GT 27 4 7 Turnover on Downs
10:50 1 02:24 GT 46 6 41 Fumble
06:54 1 01:37 GT 6 3 9 Punt
02:27 1 04:35 GT 29 10 71 Rushing Touchdown
08:42 2 06:37 GT 5 14 95 Rushing Touchdown
00:50 2 00:50 GT 20 5 25 End of Half
14:56 3 04:23 GT 16 9 84 Rushing Touchdown
09:45 3 03:05 GT 9 5 14 Fumble
06:40 3 01:34 GT 39 4 21 Fumble
00:33 3 00:24 GT 21 2 -3 Fumble
00:09 3 05:41 GT 28 12 71 Rushing Touchdown
07:50 4 02:53 GT 39 7 61 Rushing Touchdown
02:53 4 01:15 GT 24 4 -6 Turnover on Downs
01:22 4 00:54 GT 20 7 34 Interception
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
1:31 pm
BigTime, unfortunately, Nesbitt did the same in the Orange Bowl when we were still in the game and had a realistic chance of pulling something out. And we remember too well what Nesbitt did at the end of the 2009 game with Georgia, although we mostly tend to remember Thomas’s drop. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not putting Nesbitt down in the least. But the bad passing is not unique to TW, and HOPEFULLY, it will improve; only time will tell. The point, however, is that, TW is at least CAPABLE of winning; we really know nothing at all about Synjyn or Vad when it comes to game-time abilities. I don’t care whom we have at QB; I just want whoever is best, and I think CPJ will find him.
macrotech
September 1st, 2011
1:38 pm
Supersize…keep your cell on…I’ve misplaced your home number! Pumped about the game!!!
For the record…I see FSU as the team to beat in the ACC. Not seeing Clemson as anything more than the tough game we get from them everytime we play them. Tech vs FSU in the ACC title game would be a fun game! THAT’S when we’ll be missing Nesbitt….still love the way he took that ball back from FSU!
chief osceola
September 1st, 2011
1:54 pm
Hey Bigtime. If we can beat Oklahoma we are home free. I wouldn’t worry about clemson, Dabo has difficulty tying his shoelaces.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
1:55 pm
Got it, macro. Just texted you the home number
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
2:01 pm
chief, don’t insult Yabba Dabba Doodoo
Jeffrey
September 1st, 2011
2:02 pm
Johnson always does the right thing with personnel.
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/coach-profile/?coach=Paul+Johnson
Great track record.
The Mask
September 1st, 2011
2:47 pm
Hope Tech has a good season myself. And Tech fans, as far as all UGA trolling and smack talk to you…..don’t worry about them, just brush it off your shoulder. They only come and talk to because they can’t do the same on UF blogs.
Its like kids at a school. Tech is the average everday kid who constantly gets picked on by a bully (UGA). But when that bully (UGA) sees an even bigger bully (UF) he runs and hides while wetting his pants in the process.
We_Run_This_Country
September 1st, 2011
2:54 pm
TW had the Mutts beat, he just couldn’t make the plays at the end. He is grown up a little and should have more confidence now. I suspect we go 10-2 and beat UGA this year.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 1st, 2011
2:58 pm
@ The Mask…..thanks. That’s what we all have known all along. But it DOES get wearisome and it’s often just too much to ask to ignore them. But thanks for your positive comments…..much appreciated.
headley lamar
September 1st, 2011
3:09 pm
With DragonCon in town that makes for a real dilemma.
Tech wins 6 games maybe 7 at best and loses to Georgia.
Again.
headley lamar
September 1st, 2011
3:13 pm
http://espn.go.com/college-football/preview11/story/_/page/ncfpredictions11/experts-pick-2011-college-football-conference-winners-title-game
3 of the 4 ESPN experts picked UGA to win the East.
Tech was picked to win nothing.
headley lamar
September 1st, 2011
3:19 pm
I like to throw this stuff out there just so you know it isn’t just mean old UGA fans that think Tech wont do anything this year.
Everybody shares that opinion.
Except delusional Techies.
atl xmen
September 1st, 2011
3:27 pm
tech or tw were no where near beating uga last year. you cant play from behind. you had to let uga score just to try and pull a rabbit out of the hat. your defense couldnt make a stop all night.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2011
3:48 pm
I ain’t typing all of that again
NiquePhotog
September 1st, 2011
4:00 pm
headley,
Learn to read a table. There were 12 experts on that poll, not 4. DUMBASS.
kb
September 1st, 2011
4:09 pm
Western Carolina has better QB and receivers.
GTfan
September 1st, 2011
5:45 pm
Why is GT not on TV tonight? They carry a damn HS game but not GT…
Every damn dawg game is on…when will GT step up in class enough to get on TV every game.
kb
September 1st, 2011
5:50 pm
High school game more entertaining.
GTfan
September 1st, 2011
5:52 pm
hell u may be right………..I’ll watch the Falcons are Braves in A/C home.
Tony
September 1st, 2011
6:19 pm
GTfan The reason he won’t won’t ban them is they are georgie fans and he is a georgie homer that can’t do anything only write about it. All he wants to do is ban Tech responders,
GTfan
September 1st, 2011
6:31 pm
Thanks Tony..that sucks.