6 Tech spring practice observations
Greetings-
Hope you were able to make the spring game Friday night. It was a strong turnout and it wouldn’t surprise me if the GTAA stays with Friday, or at least re-visits it, in years to come. Some thoughts from spring practice.
1. No change at quarterback spot
It was a much anticipated competition between Synjyn Days and Vad Lee, but it doesn’t appear that much changed in the pecking order. Both improved over the course of the spring and shrunk their flaws, but neither made an unimpeachable case to be the No. 2 behind Tevin Washington, let alone a challenger to the top spot.
“The other guys are both very talented and good at certain things,” coach Paul Johnson said. “As I said, they’ve got to get better at what their weak spots are.”
In this offense, and probably any other, limiting mistakes and turnovers is crucial, no matter what a quarterback’s big-play potential is. That is where Washington’s advantage is, developed over four years in the system, a season and a half of starts and tireless work to hone his game.
After the spring game, Johnson said that if the season started today, Washington would be the starter and saw Lee and Days as situational-type quarterbacks.
“The goal is to make them not situational players and to be able to do the whole thing,” he said.
2. Defense should be better
As with all projections, it’s hard to know for certain until the fall, but tweaks to the scheme and the development of the defensive line should make this unit better. Ends Izaan Cross, Euclid Cummings and Emmanuel Dieke look capable and nose tackle T.J. Barnes may be ready to realize his potential in his final season. Perhaps the biggest question of the summer, literally and figurative, will be how much conditioning work Barnes and backup Shawn Green put in in order to be ready for the season.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” defensive line coach Andy McCollum said. “We’ve got to have a great offseason. We’ve got to have a great summer. T.J. has done some things that we hadn’t done in the past that I’m excited about.”
(Note: You’ve probably heard all of that before. For whatever it’s worth, and I’ve written this before, Al Groh’s defense made a much bigger statistical jump Year 2 to Year 3 at Virginia than Year 1 to Year 2.)
3. The secondary is a strength
This looks like the best unit on the team. Four of the top five players back, with Fred Holton returning from injury. Further, cornerback Jamal Golden made more than his share of plays in the spring. There is the matter that the secondary spent the spring lined up against one of the least experienced units on the team, so it was easier to stand out, but the talent in this group is hard to deny.
“I think those guys are a lot hungrier this year, more physical with our receivers,” Washington said. “They come out and just compete every day, try to make plays on the ball, put the defense in a position where they feel like nobody can come out and thrown on them.”
4. Special teams still wobbly
I would guess that new special-teams coordinator Dave Walkosky will make a difference on the return teams most quickly. Where he’ll earn his money is his development of punter Sean Poole and kicker Justin Moore into consistent performers. As I think I’ve written before (and will probably write again), both have the capability but the juniors have yet to prove themselves as routinely dependable.
Poole has said the team’s goal is to lead the nation in net punting, which would be quite a leap from 54th last season. That said, he’s got the leg to do it. Doing it each punt is the trick. Walk-on Michael McDonald and signee Ryan Rodwell will give him competition.
5. Wide receivers a waiting game
It didn’t appear that any of the four returners – Jeff Greene, Chris Jackson and Jeremy Moore and Darren Waller – made heads turn this spring. Moore probably made the biggest gain, and I think Johnson likes the group, but wants a little more. I’d say that in the same way that it was tough on Stephen Hill in 2010 to feel a burden to replace Demaryius Thomas, and probably unfair, so the same holds for these four.
That said, the signees – Micheal Summers and Travin Henry and possibly Anthony Autry – will get an opportunity to play this fall.
“You’d like to see some guys make plays on some deep balls,” Johnson said, “but you’ve also got to throw ’em inbounds and give ’em a chance to make a play.”
6. A-backs bear watching
This might be the most intriguing bunch on the team. Orwin Smith is a proven commodity and it appears Robert Godhigh will be dependable and there’s a crop of younger players with playmaking ability but not much experience after that. The A-back rotation usually goes three or four deep, so one or two out of B.J. Bostic, Deon Hill and Tony Zenon will have to prove themselves consistent enough to warrant heavy snaps.
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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948 comments Add your comment
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:19 pm
40 degrees at night , not 4o
Dawg48
April 23rd, 2012
7:20 pm
5150, I hope you copied and pasted all that.
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:22 pm
he did, 48…he took lessons from Gollum
5150 UOAD
April 23rd, 2012
7:22 pm
straight from the Tech Site Coaches Bios.
WnE
April 23rd, 2012
7:24 pm
re:
GTfan 2012
April 23rd, 2012
5:12 pm
So WnE’s story goes like this….
CPJ can’t coach… but when he does a good job getting the most out of his talent, it only looked that way because the opponet was so weak… but when we beat Clemson (3 times in the last 4 years, or UGA in 2008, or FSU in 2008 and 2009, or UNC or VT) it wasn’t really a quality win because we lost so many other games to really good teams and a few games to average teams.
___________________
GT Fans love to hang their hats on the under-performing Clemson teams & FSU at the end of the Bowden Era that was depleted of talent, and of course UNC that was wracked by NCAA suspensions, late HC-ing changes and general turmoil.
Yet you will never attempt to explain:
1-3 vs. VT
1-3 vs. UGA
1-3 vs. Miami
0-4 vs. Bowl Games
3-13 vs. the Teams that GT measures its FB Program by
As over-matched as Randy Shannon was at Miami, they played OOC games vs. teams like:
Texas A& M
Ohio St.
Oklahoma
USF
Florida
UCF
Pitt
K-State
Do you honestly think that CPJ/ DRad will ever schedule OOC games vs. the Floridas, Ohio States, and Oklahomas of the CFB world?
WHY hasn’t CPJ/DRad scheduled more aggressively for GT’s OOC schedule?
I’ll type real slow so you can understand………..14-12 in 2010 & 2011 vs the 69th toughest schedule in 2010 and the 76th toughest schedule in 2011.
CPJ has been artificially propped up by a weak ACC and horrible OOC opponents.
Chan’s last 2 years were 16-11 vs. tougher schedules!
And I hated Chan as a College HC.
I would like to see your coaches by the numbers info, to see if it takes into account strength of schedule.
5150 UOAD
April 23rd, 2012
7:24 pm
I figure WnE needs to spend time reading a PROFESSIONAL Writer since he thinks we read more than a line of 2 of the sh.t he posts.
5150 UOAD
April 23rd, 2012
7:25 pm
WnE we stopped reading your CRAP.
Man Up
Show Up
or
Shut Up
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:26 pm
“Do you honestly think that CPJ/ DRad will ever schedule OOC games vs. the Floridas, Ohio States, and Oklahomas of the CFB world?”
Takes two to tango, WnE.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:26 pm
“3-13 vs. the Teams that GT measures its FB Program by”
Cherry pick much?
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:26 pm
Gollum, why didn’t you show up Friday and say hello? bok bok bok bok bok bok bok
5150 UOAD
April 23rd, 2012
7:28 pm
WOW
WnE you are an IDIOT we covered that before
Bama & Tech move the 14-15 game to 19-20
We Get Auburn every so often and the 2 times REGGIE beat them they were TOP 10
We get Notre Dame every so often.
WnE…………STFU you stupid PuZZe.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:29 pm
He claims to have gone by himself, Lee, and I can think of nothing more appropriate.
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:30 pm
I apologize for making typos. I have had to put ear drops in an ear that’s been hurting me, and the malaise pain is affecting my conjuration. I hate to make one error. I got 3 B’s and 3 C’s at Tech in English courses. Those profs would have pointed out spelling and grammatical errors on my blue book exams. That comma I typed above after the word night should have been next to that word, not a skipped space away. I’m just not at full speed, am on the dl list right now.
WnE
April 23rd, 2012
7:31 pm
re:
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:10 pm
“You don’t want to be honest and admit that Hill looked nothing like the Hill that played for GT in 2011 after just one short month of real instruction from Terrance Mathis.”
Let’s just assume you’re right. If you can learn so much in a month, then playing in Johnson’s system doesn’t really hurt you.
____________
Even if it doesn’t “hurt you” (your words), then why do you have players like Hill that catch only 26 balls over a 12-game reg. season?
On the flip side, if Hill can learn that much in a month (your words again), then WHY couldn’t CPJ or someone on his Staff teach Hill more (after all CPJ had him for 3 -yrs.) so that Hill could produce more for GT in 2011?
Do YOU think that CPJ did a good job of getting everything out of S. Hill while he was at GT?
WnE
April 23rd, 2012
7:31 pm
re:
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:10 pm
“You don’t want to be honest and admit that Hill looked nothing like the Hill that played for GT in 2011 after just one short month of real instruction from Terrance Mathis.”
Let’s just assume you’re right. If you can learn so much in a month, then playing in Johnson’s system doesn’t really hurt you.
____________
Even if it doesn’t “hurt you” (your words), then why do you have players like Hill that catch only 26 balls over a 12-game reg. season?
On the flip side, if Hill can learn that much in a month (your words again), then WHY couldn’t CPJ or someone on his Staff teach Hill more (after all CPJ had him for 3 -yrs.) so that Hill could produce more for GT in 2011?
Do YOU think that CPJ did a good job of getting everything out of S. Hill while he was at GT?
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Wassa matter Gollum did you lose your $8 Precioussssss you bought on Ebay and were too embarrassed to show up without it? Or were you busy stalking another recruit like you did Vad Lee?
bok bok bok bok bok lying hypocrite coward bok bok bok bok
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:32 pm
My dad, another Tech alumnus, used to take me to T-night games as a kid when BD was coach.
www
April 23rd, 2012
7:34 pm
how did i know wne would respond to my post calling out uga fans posing as gt fans.
i really can’t imagine how sad wne is in real life. at least we know he will never breed and pass on his dna to another generation. no gf for wne, that’s for sure.
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:35 pm
@ George if he actually left his cave and went it was only so that he could stalk the new recruits more easily
www
April 23rd, 2012
7:35 pm
@CJGaTechalumnus your thing for uniforms and colors is puzzling. how old are u exactly?
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:36 pm
For the same reason Meyer didn’t rework Tebow’s delivery: it isn’t his job.
I think Johnson has a system that’s been highly effective. It isn’t perfect, but no one said it was. The fact that it is different than what other teams do is problem for closed-minded people like you, and if it he doesn’t bat 1.000 you jump on him. The question is whether Hill did what he was asked while he played at Tech. All indications are that he did his best, and that’s all anyone can ask of him.
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:36 pm
@www apparently no boyfriend either; seems dwagfan broke up with him
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:37 pm
You said yourself, WnE, that Hill would be the 8th best WR at UGA. What, exactly, are your expectations of him? If he was at UGA, that would be 1 catch for 20 yards.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:38 pm
He does like stalking teenage boys, Lee. We have objective proof of that.
WnE
April 23rd, 2012
7:38 pm
re:
5150 UOAD
April 23rd, 2012
7:28 pm
WOW
WnE you are an IDIOT we covered that before
Bama & Tech move the 14-15 game to 19-20
We Get Auburn every so often and the 2 times REGGIE beat them they were TOP 10
We get Notre Dame every so often.
WnE…………STFU you stupid PuZZe.
__________
Don’t bring up GT’s OOC scheduling philosophy back when Chan was the HC, GT hasn’t considered that kind of scheduling since CPJ showed up.
CPJ wants to play Ole Miss, Vandy or Miss State, he wants no part of Bama, LSU, Florida, Tenn. USCe, or Auburn.
The Bama game was supposed to be in 2012 (?), but I think Bama is playing Michigan at Jerry-world
I’m pretty sure the Bama games were supposed to be 2012 & 13, but I could be wrong.
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:40 pm
“but I could be wrong.”
Of course you are, Gollum- every time you post.
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:41 pm
Listen, anybody who has ever commented on a Georgia blog raise their hand. I sure as Hell have not, nor have I ever read a Georgia blog. I do have some old Georgia acquaintances I met in the past, and they nevetr became enemies. It’s just a fact that Georgia usually beats Tech in football. Why we still play them I have no idea. It’s like fighting a losing battle. Why don’t we play the ACC Heisman college of Clemson for our rival, and only play Georgia if we go bowling? Georgia usually has too much football prowess for us to challenge them. Tech needs to GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Ole Miss is two years removed from a top 20 finish. Is Johnson (who doesn’t schedule anyway) supposed to predict the future?
www
April 23rd, 2012
7:43 pm
@CJGaTechalumnus you’re like 90 years old, right? you’re not making much sense to me.
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:44 pm
way to go, CJ; way to be a fairweather fan
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:45 pm
“Bama, LSU, Florida, Tenn. USCe, or Auburn.”
Auburn, Alabama, and South Carolina are on the future schedule. Florida won’t leave the state for a non-conference game, we haven’t played LSU in ages in non-bowl games, and I’m pretty sure Johnson would love nothing more than drilling Tennessee (of course you’d say they were a crappy SEC team, so it wouldn’t count).
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:46 pm
CJ go take your Geritol
FL Jacket
April 23rd, 2012
7:47 pm
Either CJ is a purveyor of the 1-11 mentality and hates that his neighbors fly their uGA flags high…or is posing
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:48 pm
I’m thinking poseur, FLJ
WnE
April 23rd, 2012
7:49 pm
re:
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:36 pm
For the same reason Meyer didn’t rework Tebow’s delivery: it isn’t his job.
I think Johnson has a system that’s been highly effective. It isn’t perfect, but no one said it was. The fact that it is different than what other teams do is problem for closed-minded people like you, and if it he doesn’t bat 1.000 you jump on him. The question is whether Hill did what he was asked while he played at Tech. All indications are that he did his best, and that’s all anyone can ask of him.
__________
Sounds like a bunch of double talk so you won’t have to come clean and admit that you’re upset that CPJ didn’t get more out of S.Hill!
At one time we had these guys (all on the same roster) and were NOT a passing threat:
Bay-Bay 6-3 235 lbs 4.37 forty
Kevin Cone 6-2 210lbs. 4.38 forty
S.Hill 6-4 215lbs. 4.36 forty
All of these guys will probably be in the NFL or on a Practice squad at the same time and all CPJ could do was to use them as blockers, decoys and throw LOW PERCENTAGE Jump-ball passes!
Are you satisfied with that given our Genius HC’s rep for getting more out of his talent than the guy on the other sideline?
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:50 pm
I’ll bet my typing is getting intercepted and disfigured as if it was an avatar cartoon from a photo. I did not type “nevetr”, as in “avatar” with a t, I proofread “never”. And what’s with this attempt to scroll down, and drag scroll button half way down, it stops, and springs back up to top of page? Or click on drag scroll button, does not drag at all, or click on down arrow, scroll button does not move? This page is kooky computer programming. AJC plz conjure up a better computer program.
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:51 pm
60 years old
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:52 pm
what happened, Gollum? Did dwagfan run off with Precioussssss when he left you?
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:53 pm
at least take some Silver Centrum CJ
FL Jacket
April 23rd, 2012
7:53 pm
“Sounds like a bunch of double talk so you won’t have to come clean and admit that you’re upset that CPJ didn’t get more out of S.Hill!”
“all CPJ could do was to use them as blockers, decoys and throw LOW PERCENTAGE Jump-ball passes!”
Just Wow…I guess D. Orlando Ledbetter (Falcons beat writer) was just writing that “fluff piece” about how they leave Tech as complete WRs because they can block. By the way, blocking is also how they learn to be physical and beat press coverage…but being the expert you are you knew that already right?
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:53 pm
I answered your question directly, you clown. Unlike you, I don’t do double-talk.
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:54 pm
www, there must be pageantry at Tech games, that’s what one of the Tech write ups said, and that’s the only reason why the colors are significant to me, also b/c of school spirit, which is puzzling to me why you don’t understand that
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:54 pm
“All of these guys will probably be in the NFL or on a Practice squad at the same time and all CPJ could do was to use them as blockers, decoys and throw LOW PERCENTAGE Jump-ball passes!”
Oddly enough, it’s Hill’s deep threat ability that’s going to get him drafted. But whatever.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:55 pm
Did you watch Barca-Madrid, FLJ? I’ve already got the TiVo set for tomorrow.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
7:58 pm
“Are you satisfied with that given our Genius HC’s rep for getting more out of his talent than the guy on the other sideline?”
Yes.
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
7:58 pm
GT Lee, my iron is ok, except when my doc’s lab lost my sample once and I had to get it checked again!
GT Lee
April 23rd, 2012
7:59 pm
CJ is right about 1 thing; I really do like the uniforms we had that look like what UCF is wearing
FL Jacket
April 23rd, 2012
8:00 pm
GS…I sure did. Much cleaner game than I was anticipating. One of last year’s game was an outright dive contest and display of thuggery. RM closed it in tight (like Chelsea) and took their chances on the break. Good game…lots of skill on display.
CJGaTechalumnus
April 23rd, 2012
8:03 pm
Hey GT Lee, Centrum Silver doesn’t sound too bad. I got my own multi though. All of you younger chumps will have to take it eventually if you live long enough.
George Stein
April 23rd, 2012
8:03 pm
CR7 is something else. I know Paul isn’t a fan, but sheesh, that guy can play.