Breaking down Tech o-line
Greetings
A few spring practice notes, from an interview with offensive line coach Mike Sewak:
1. I’ve noted this before, but injuries have been a negative/positive this spring. Having Omoregie Uzzi and Will Jackson out has given players like Nick McRae and J.C. Lanier more reps than they would have gotten otherwise, but it has also forced coach Mike Sewak to shuffle players more than he probably would like.
Injuries to Lanier and Shaquille Mason in Saturday’s scrimmage left the line with seven of the 12 scholarship offensive linemen in the scrimmage.
2. Tackle Morgan Bailey, until an injury last week, was shaping up as one of the most improved players on the team. Bailey, a rising redshirt sophomore, has plus athletic ability but has had injury challenges since he arrived at Tech. He was putting things together this spring. Not sure if he’ll be able to come back this week.
“He seems to be enjoying the playing time and seems to be enjoying the camaraderie and seems to be enjoying the leadership role he’s taking in that meeting room now, because I can point to him and say, ‘That’s how it’s supposed to be done,’” Sewak said.
3. Bailey’s health could be a crucial factor this fall. Sewak wants three dependable players at that position; you’ll remember there was a three-tackle rotation last season. Tech has two returning starters in Ray Beno and Tyler Kidney, but after that are rising redshirt freshmen Bryan Chamberlain and Errin Joe, who haven’t made the progress Sewak was hoping for this spring. The loss of Phil Smith was not insignificant, obviously.
4. Guard is the most secure position as spring ends, with returning starters Uzzi and Jackson and rising sophomore Mason, who ended the season splitting snaps with Jackson and acquitting himself well. Trey Braun is coming on.
5. The project to make Catlin Alford a center continues. There were more center-quarterback exchange snafus on Saturday, although it’s hard to pin on one player or position. To a degree, it’s a function of different players at both positions rotating in and out.
McRae, you may remember, was the backup last season at center and started against Clemson in place of Jay Finch.
“I’d like to see [McRae] continue to develop there, too, but Catlin Alford is too good of an athlete not to be playing,” Sewak said.
Sewak wants a little more from Finch.
“I’ve been pleased with his effort at times,” he said. “Obviously, his off-the-field willingness to put the extra time, to understand it, I think has benefited him.”
6. The Tech defense is working on some different things, which has been a benefit to the offense when th e units have gone against each other.
“We are getting a bunch of twists and blitzes, which helps us,” Sewak said. “We are getting some even front (4-4), which helps us, too, because we see a lot of even front in the fall.”
Notably, Virginia Tech is one of the teams that typically plays an even front against Tech.
In case you missed it, a couple stories I wrote for the weekend, one on Tech’s internship program for its athletes and the notebook from Saturday’s scrimmage. Both are longer than the print version. Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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616 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:03 pm
LOL @ GT Lee. You are baaaaad!!!!!
Talk like that is probably why BLT wouldn’t want to bring his nephews around us. LOL
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:06 pm
well I wouldn’t say thing like that in front of minors, Super….please don’t confuse me with Gollum
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:07 pm
Hey, Lee…..after you had apparently left yestahday, I read what you posted about the old Rio Vista Restaurant. My friends and I used to go there all the time, along with another similar place called the Catfish King. We pigged out so bad every time we went to those places, I think we ate them out of business.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:07 pm
where is everyone? no BBQ talk today????
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:08 pm
@ Lee…..we all slip up from time to time, but I agree….I would NEVER say anything around kids that would cause any embarrassment.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:09 pm
yeah buddy, I tried to put Rio Vista out of business a time or 2 myself!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:09 pm
I guess since it’s an old blog, nobody bothered to post anything new. It’s been dead all afternoon.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:09 pm
@ Super at least not INTENTIONALLY, right?!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:11 pm
So I gather since you’re coming with ole yeller, you’re going to leave work a little early and eat dinner with us? How does Ray’s New York Pizza, next to the bookstore sound to you? ole yeller mentioned that to me, and I HAVE eaten there a few times before, and it was good.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:12 pm
@ Lee……yeah, not intentionally; like I said, we all slip up from time to time. I am a regular church-goer, so I have learned to watch what I say in public places.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:13 pm
sounds real good to me Super
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:14 pm
we’re leaving @ 4:30, hopefully we can make it in time
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:16 pm
well, one of y’all call me along the way, so we’ll know how long it might be. But 1 4 GT and I can just hang around the bookstore till y’all get there. BTTF MAY be joining us too. I hope some others as well.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:19 pm
I really don’t have any idea what time 1 4 GT and I will get there either. I’ve never come into Atlanta that time of day on a work day. Traffic might be awful, but I hope to get there and parked somewhere around 5PM
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:19 pm
well if you “hang out” at the bookstore. don’t be “stalking” any kids!!!! lol
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:21 pm
the worst traffic will be leaving town (freeway-wise) so going in won’t be a prob…however, once you hit downtown streets it will probably be a zoo at that time of day
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:22 pm
might wanna bring a poncho-chance of showers
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:24 pm
what kind of turnout they expecting?
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:26 pm
LOL @ stalking kids at the bookstore
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:27 pm
another Gollum reference
just the truth
April 17th, 2012
5:29 pm
Without going back and reading every comment (so it may of been posted) Braun broke his leg Saturday.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:30 pm
Hey Super, next time you’re at the grocery store, check out the new brand of Lay’s potato chips: Classic BLT…….I kid you not….
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:32 pm
damn, what did I say that wouldn’t get past the filters? hmmmm. Let me try again
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:33 pm
cool, Lee. I’ll have to look for those tomorrow when I go
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:34 pm
let me try my post again that didn’t go through. I am not sure which will be worse, the streets of Atlanta or the connector through town to 10th Street. I will have to gauge it on the incoming traffic on I-20
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:35 pm
that would really suck if that’s correct about Trey Braun
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:35 pm
ok, that was part of it. Have they changed the weather report again? Sunday, the Augusta stations were predicting 20% chance of rain on Friday. Monday, they said 0% chance. What’s the latest forecast?
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:36 pm
haven’t heard anything about Braun breaking his leg
BLT
April 17th, 2012
5:37 pm
It’s looking like a family thing Friday night.
My nephews are not kids and probably use worse language than me. One is big enough to be a linebacker. No they don’t play football anymore. One was considered a “headhunter” in high school.
He was smaller then but still could knock the ball carriers helmet off when the coach told him to. I’ll be attending each home game with one them.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:38 pm
@ Lee, as far as the expected crowd, I haven’t heard anything. Spring games are notoriously boring, so I don’t expect too big a crowd. Hopefully the novelty of a Friday night game, and the accompanying festivities will draw in some extras. My main reason for wanting to come is to see Vad Lee in action, and I would think others might feel the same way.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:38 pm
well in that case at least call Super when you get there and look us up, BLT
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:40 pm
@ BLT, it would still be nice to at least meet you. I have no idea where those of us meeting up will be sitting, but if you would like to try to meet us at some point, I can give you my phone number if you would like it. Of course, I only do that via email. That’s how Lee and ole yeller and BTTF are going to find me and 1 4 GT, because none of us have any idea what the others even look like.
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:40 pm
30 % chance showers Fri nite
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:41 pm
I imagine ain’t none of us very pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:42 pm
BLT, if you would like my number, email me at my temporary email address — supersizeorder@yahoo.com. It’s only temporary, because I use it to initially get in touch with other bloggers before sharing my REAL email address.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:43 pm
well 30% is better than 50%. I will come as prepared as possible. I wonder if they will allow umbrellas in the stadium for this game; I know they don’t for real games.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:44 pm
I have met 1 4 GT, and he’s definitely not pretty. I won’t offer any assessment of my looks……LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:45 pm
and 1 4 GT, if you log in later and read that, I was just kidding around
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
5:46 pm
ok, it’s time for me to throw together some dinner here. TTYL
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:46 pm
Super, I thought your phone number was 1-800-pan-ties
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
5:48 pm
filters ate original post; tried to use 1-800-uga-su** where ** = xx
FL Jacket
April 17th, 2012
6:45 pm
Super…just sent you an email too
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
7:31 pm
baseball team up 5-2 top 6th (Ga St)
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
7:33 pm
@ FLJ…..got it and responded from my REAL address. So look for a new message, and not a reply.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
7:34 pm
@ GT Lee, I don’t guess GSUstud will like that. LOL
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
7:38 pm
he’s busy having a 3 way with Gollum and dwagfan. as I recall….doubt he’ll notice a baseball score
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
7:40 pm
LMAO
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
7:41 pm
So he really gets into triple plays, huh? lol
GT Lee
April 17th, 2012
7:42 pm
don’t forget the obvious bat and balls joke
Supersize that order, mutt
April 17th, 2012
7:43 pm
BTW, Lee, the Augusta weatherman is still saying no rain on Friday. I guess that means IN Augusta, but hopefully there won’t be any in Atlanta either.