Tech on watch for UGA’s Charles
Greetings-
Some post-practice notes. Nothing of great substance, unfortunately, although a number of players were held out. I wouldn’t worry about it unless it continues Tuesday.
1. Monday, Georgia tight end Orson Charles was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s premier tight end.
No one on the Georgia Tech coaching staff is ready to challenge the honor.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” secondary coach Charles Kelly said. “He’s got really good size, he runs like a wide receiver, adjusts to the ball well. They can put him in position where he creates mismatches at times.”
Tech has had its share of challenges defending tight ends. Saturday, Duke tight end Cooper Helfet caught six balls for 45 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. Against Virginia Tech, Chris Drager had a 14-yard touchdown catch. Charles, 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, leads the Bulldogs with 35 catches, with five touchdowns and a 12.4 yards-per-catch average.
“He makes catches that wide receivers would like to make,” defensive coordinator Al Groh said.
Tech faced another finalist, Clemson’s Dwayne Allen, earlier this season. Hobbled by a turf-toe injury, Allen caught four passes for 32 yards.
(Tech has played a number of excellent tight ends this season, starting with Charles and Allen. Helfet, N.C. State’s George Bryan, Kansas’ Tim Biere, Maryland’s Matt Furstenburg and Virginia’s Colter Phillips all were on either the preseason or midseason Mackey Award watch list.)
2. Georgia Tech is a 6-point underdog to Georgia and has lost nine of its last 10 to the Bulldogs. After practice Monday, Tech coach Paul Johnson sarcastically played the woe-is-us card.
“They’ve got a heck of a team,” Johnson said. “Won nine in a row, SEC East champs. Hopefully we can stay with them.”
Johnson interrupted a question about his players not needing much motivation this week by saying they are “probably scared.”
And why would that be?
Said Johnson, “We haven’t beaten them in a long time.”
(Johnson said this all deadpan and was obviously being sarcastic. I don’t know what exactly to read into it, but I’d say he’s not dreading the game’s outcome like some Tech fans seem to be.)
3. Several players were held out of practice Monday, including wide receiver Stephen Hill, A-backs Orwin Smith and Roddy Jones, cornerback Louis Young and center Jay Finch. Johnson said the team is “pretty beat up” but did not seem overly concerned about their availability for Saturday. Young, for one, said he expected to play Saturday.
Johnson said B-back Preston Lyons, who missed Saturday’s game against Duke to rest injuries, should play Saturday. Johnson wasn’t sure if Charles Perkins, who played in Lyons’ place, would also get snaps.
“We’ll see how practice goes,” Johnson said.
(I wouldn’t be worried unless the same players are all held out Tuesday. I think saying players are “beat up” sounds like they just need a breather.)
4. As is always the case, Johnson also reviewed officials calls and non-calls in addition to his team’s performance. Often, he has conceded that officials made the right calls on plays he argued during the game.
Asked about calls made Saturday, Johnson replied, “I’m not getting into that one. I need to keep my cash.”
(I thought the pass-interference penalty against Jemea Thomas was pretty questionable.)
5. Tech will have classes through Wednesday, and Johnson will follow a normal practice schedule through that day. On Thanksgiving, the team will practice in the morning, have lunch together and then players will be released until Friday. … Coaches named wide receiver Tyler Melton, linebackers Brandon Watts and Jemea Thomas the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the game.
(Melton is turning it on in his last few games. He has seven catches in his three games, and I think I read one of his catches against Duke was an ESPN top 10 selection.)
Thanks for reading. Again, let’s keep things clean.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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223 comments Add your comment
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
10:50 pm
Well now. A reasonable, dispassionate, and patient approach to a coach that has done a lot of winning. What a horrible idea!
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
10:52 pm
UGA’s a good team, Diablo. Hopefully we’ll be better.
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:00 pm
Oh yeah that’s another thing 5150 brought up. Good point. Jenkins will almost certainly demand a double team. That’ll be two guys on one, well there’s only 5 linemen on the O-line…that’ll leave 3 to block 2 ends and 4 linebackers. Doesn’t look good. These guys are on a mission. Last season DeAngelo Tyson didn’t demand a double team. He’s only 6′2, 306…”only” lol, that’s big…but Jenkins is an animal…he’s 6′4, about 340….so he needs to be double teamed.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:02 pm
Wow im looking forward to the game. I have been a die hard uga fan my whole life and i hate tech. It truely is clean old fashion hate. It should be a great game but i think murray will be on saturday and we will have to many targets like OC, TK, Mitchell, Aaron white, Chris Conley, Michael Bennett, and Marlon Brown in the red zone. If Isaiah can stay healthy he will go off vs yalls 72 ranked rush defense. He is great when healthy. THe triple option makes me nervous. I looked it up yall have the number 2 rush offense in the country. How do we stop it?? With the number 2 rush DEFENSE in the country!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!! Looking forward to the game!
P.S. Gt fans watch out for jarvis jones. he is the favorite to when Sec defensive player of the year. And as we all know thats an accomplishment considering all of the great defenses
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:02 pm
OLB ILB ILB OLB
DE N DE
LT LG C RG RT
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:04 pm
The truth good points! Jenkins hasnt had flashy stats obviously since he is a NG but he has been a beast freeing up our young inside backers with tree, herrera, gilliard, and CR
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:04 pm
There’s 5 O-linemen…5 subtract 2 is 3…leaving 3 linemen to block 4 linebackers and 2 defensive ends. Jenkins is critical to our defense. It just doesn’t look pretty for Georgia Tech because our linebackers are going to be roaming and hunting heads.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:06 pm
Yall wont be able to run up the middle on us we are to big. And if do a decent job on our assignments we will be way too fast to get around the outside.
No inside game + tough to get outside = no tech offense and desperation passes for a high school level passer RAMBO ANYONE??? SEC LEADER IN SACKS I watch most tech games out of interest. Washington lobs in up there thats how rambo gets his picks. I say 2 ints that will be 9 on the season
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:07 pm
We usually leave a player unblocked, The Truth. You are also forgetting the backs.
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:08 pm
Well Chris has it all figured out. I hope he doesn’t tell Mark Richt!
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:09 pm
Ill leave the coaches to mark richt and todd grantham.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:10 pm
*coaching
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:10 pm
Probably a sound idea, Chris.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:11 pm
Please tell me roddy jones is a senior seems like that dude has been there for 6 years
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:12 pm
Your right George…I’ve noticed that Tech leaves one player unblocked, good technique on their part. They also cut block the hell out of a team. So Jenkins better get ready to be on the ground a lot.
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:12 pm
LMAO @ Chris…I was just thinking that…Roddy Jones has been at GT for at least 10 years. Damn!
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:13 pm
@ Chris, he was there when Tech beat us in 08! HAHAHAHA when will he graduate?
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:13 pm
WOW we are actually talking FOOTBALL.
I have been in the mudd today, but that is because there has been LIL discussion of the GAME and the Players in the game.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:14 pm
hahaha i was reading another tech article’s comments. And someone made a comment No way uga loses gt has way to much talent for uga. We are way way way way more talented. If we lose its cuz ofinjuries (isaiah crowell) or we didn’t play assignment football which is the main thing vs the triple option
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:14 pm
If I’m coach Grantham I’m making my defense do a lot of up downs to prepare to bounce right back up after being cutblocked. Because it’s going to happen. So prepare them for it.
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:15 pm
Yes, unfortunately Saturday will be Roddy’s last home game. He’s been a fantastic representative of our school.
The unblocked player is a fundamental aspect of an option offense. All they have to do against Jenkins is slow him down by half a second and the back will be past him.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:15 pm
Roddy is a Senior. It was like the Bailey’s at UGA it was like on left and another one was there. tech fans were like how the hell can HE still be in school. Truth was there were a few of them. LOL
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:16 pm
its going to be a good game for sure 5150 UOAD. and yes it is good to get inside of what other team’s knowledgable fans are thinking.
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:16 pm
Any offense requires discipline on the part of the defense. I have no idea when the idea started that only option offenses require the defense to be disciplined.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:17 pm
its like vandy they chopped blocked us all game and took some cheap shots which is football and it was successful but no doubt uga is working on that in practice a lot
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:18 pm
Roddy can be a President/ CEO of a Fortune 100 company. He is so Smart, Classy, an a Leader. me could be like an Allen Page. Play some NFL football then be a Politician or a State Supreme Court Judge.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:18 pm
something we didnt have in 08 and i believe we have this year which is the key for us
gt40pinhd
November 21st, 2011
11:18 pm
DILLIGAF, i don’t know why richt hasn’t been successful, just know he hasn’t (considering the talent uga has recruited). if the difference is assistance coaches, good on him for recognizing it and taking action.
still, i want him to fail his next game….go jackets!
after that, good luck.
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:19 pm
Chops and cuts are very different things, Chris.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:19 pm
whoops was talking about discipline on defense in that last comment
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:20 pm
Well Jenkins may not be the fastest guy on the defense but he’ll make his way into the backfield a few times and swallow up Roddy Jones or whoever totes the rock.
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:20 pm
I hope Tech doesn’t chop our D-line. Those are illegal. Those cause fights.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:20 pm
I have to say right now I am HAPPY the game will be called by SEC refs. I think they hate UGA as much as Tech fans. LOL. But really the ACC refs have allowed every team playing tech to have their fewest penalty games when playing Tech. I hope the SEC refs will change that trend.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:21 pm
i think jenkins will just shut down the fullback dive. Our speedy linebackers tree, robinson gilliard and jarvis will be in pursuit on the outside
gt40pinhd
November 21st, 2011
11:22 pm
chris, the way to beat a chop block is to back up. we like that technique….
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:23 pm
I agree Chris…our defense has much more discipline under Grantham than they had under Martinez. No more personal foul penalties…very few penalties on the defense at all. No facemasks, no pass interference, etc. Just solid tackling and coverage. That’s what makes a defense great.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:24 pm
gt40…………..right. Take a step or 2 back and let the O player get low and off balance to then push them in the ground and pursue the play. That should give Tech 2-3 yards on the dive every time.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:25 pm
cal smoking UGA 53-31mwith 10:18 left in the bball game.
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:25 pm
Gt40, we ain’t backing up hahaha…why would we do that? That’s giving up yards.
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:26 pm
I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s highly unlikely Jenkins will be making any tackles of Roddy Jones.
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:27 pm
I hope we don’t chop either. Aside from the penalty, I don’t ever want to see anyone get hurt, particularly (presumably) unpaid college kids that hopefully have a long life and perhaps NFL career ahead of them.
gt40pinhd
November 21st, 2011
11:27 pm
5150 my belief is that you can’t tackle backing up. you can grab and hold, then fall backwards. either way, plus yardage. 6-8 i’d say.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:28 pm
George WHY? From the center of the field to the outside of the tackle or better? Roddy doesn’t cut it back up to cross the middle much allowing Jenkins to grab Roddy between the tackles. LOL
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:28 pm
The truth you forgot one thing JARVIS JONES!!! He is my favorite player he never takes a play off and thats why he is leading the sec in sacks
George Stein
November 21st, 2011
11:29 pm
Yeah, that’s kind of where I was going with that, 5150.
gt40pinhd
November 21st, 2011
11:29 pm
truth, i know you won’t back up. and you’ll make some tackles at the line of scrimmage. the idea is to fool your linebackers once and a while or lull them to sleep.
Chris
November 21st, 2011
11:30 pm
i dont think jenkins will be eeffective on the wing back cuz its away from his area. Jenkins will be successful plugging up the middle for counters and the fullback dive
gt40pinhd
November 21st, 2011
11:30 pm
chris, get over the sacks! remember, you can’t sack a qb who doesn’t throw!!!
The Truth
November 21st, 2011
11:31 pm
Jenkins will grab Roddy and slam him like he did that guy from Mississippi State. We’ve had success against gimmick run offenses. Like Auburn’s and Mississippi State’s, and even Florida’s. But GT is unique in their triple-option. Roddy Jones will try to stretch it outside, but there’s Jarvis Jones, and he’ll cut it back only to see Gilliard or Jenkins right there waiting on him.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:31 pm
@George if we run the reverse TOO FAST Jenkins might be just standing there when Roddy comes back across the field but that would be the only way right. Zenon I think would blow right by Jenkins.