Tech’s Days working on passing form
Georgia Tech quarterback Synjyn Days is open to playing another position, but should make a strong push at quarterback when the Yellow Jackets’ fall camp opens at the beginning of August.
Days has been working with a private quarterback coach and feels he’s making progress as a passer.
“I feel like I’m getting a lot better with my throwing,” Days said.
Days, battling with Vad Lee behind starter Tevin Washington, has been training with Ron Veal, a former Arizona quarterback who has tutored Georgia’s Hutson Mason, among others. Days and Veal meet every weekend for about an hour and 15 minutes. (During the summer, college coaches are not allowed to supervise players.) Veal has been working with Days on his footwork, his drops and throwing on the run.
“His accuracy has gone up a lot,” Veal said.
Veal said that he’s throwing better on the run.
“He throws a fairly good deep ball,” Veal said. “His intermediate ball, he’s still working on.”
Days’ arm strength has never been an issue, but touch and accuracy have been challenges. Improved footwork, both in the pocket and out of it, should aid him.
Veal said they are trying to “eliminate the false steps, make sure his foot placement is in the right place of his delivery.”
Days, 6-foot-1, has also been trying to stand up taller in the pocket to maximize his height. He said he has a tendency to get lower in anticipation of the pass rush. Over the summer, he has been focusing on following through. He said he knows his mechanics to the point that he doesn’t even need Veal to point out when he’s made a mistake.
“He works hard at what he’s doing,” Veal said. “That’s a good thing you don’t have to worry about.”
Days has typically thrown to wide receiver Darren Waller or his brother, linebacker Jabari Hunt-Days.
Said Days of his little brother, “He has phenomenal hands.”
Days will have a tough time dislodging Washington out of the starting job. The rising senior has a considerable lead on Days and Lee, who at the end of the spring were both seen as situational players. But the work done by Days, who has trained with Veal since late in his high school career at Hillgrove High in Cobb County, speaks to coach Paul Johnson’s post-spring commentary that both need to tighten up their weaknesses over the summer and in fall camp.
“The goal is to make them not situational players and to be able to do the whole thing,” Johnson said after the spring game.
While Days has largely worked at quarterback in the team’s 7-on-7 sessions this summer, he’s also snuck in some reps at A-back and B-back. Days said that Johnson told him he may move him around, noting he had done that in the past with his quarterbacks at Navy and Georgia Southern.
“I feel like it’s going to be fun if I’m at another position,” said Days, a team-first type who played all over the field on defense in high school.
Should he switch, Days’ speed and powerful running style would seem to recommend him well to the A-back spot, and it’s understandable why coaches would want to get him on the field if he isn’t playing quarterback. That, it seems, will be sorted out in August.
“I’m just trying to keep my head on straight and walk with God,” Days said. “Everything will work out in the end.”
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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89 comments Add your comment
Jacket Man
July 11th, 2012
11:18 am
While Snoddy is extremely fast, he has had some issues grasping the offense so far because last season he was the primary RB running the Scout team and had limited touches this past Spring. I suspect once he gets some reps this summer and has a chance to work more in the TO/Spread Option offense, he’ll get time on the field. Right now, the starting A-Backs should be Smith, who looks awesome after his surgery, and Godhigh, whose the best blocking A-Back. The next rotation will be interesting because, Deon Hill, Tony Zenon, and BJ Bostic have all shown flashes that they’ll be successful this Fall. I think there will be quite a few passes to the A-Backs, which I think is when guys like Zenon will be in.
If/when Synjyn gets moved to the A-Back position, my guess is that he may rotate with Smith so we’d continue to have the larger, home run threats, on the field at all times, although Deon could fill that role.
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
11:32 am
If Robert Griffin III needed a private quarterback coach to get ready for the NFL draft, then Art Briles must be some sort of kung fu panda failure as a coach. Clearly, Art Briles shows poor judgement in having his Co-Offensive Coordinator, Phillip Montgomery, coaching both quarterbacks and running backs. With his time divided between quarterbacks and running backs, it is little wonder Coach Montgomery couldn’t get RGIII ready for the draft. How much money did Art Briles cost RGIII by not preparing him for the draft since he dropped from the #1 pick to the #2 pick?
Bout Time
July 11th, 2012
1:26 pm
Bout time CPJ discovered the forward pass. Maybe Days can convince him. The half back pass doesn’t even have to work. If they run it and the D-backs are cheating toward the O-line, the opposing coaches will just about stroke out when they see that pass go up…which will make the option work even better on subsequent plays.
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
1:35 pm
Thanks High Tech. The info on Mr. Shea and the endorsements quoted is rather interesting. The article on Mr. Whitfield is very interesting. He sounds like a man driven to teach/coach. I have to wonder why some astute, high profile HC hasn’t hired him. Folks don’t know or refuse to acknowledge that QB is THE most important position in any game and, IMO & apparently Mr. Whitfield’s too, needs individual, specialized coaching. Very few colleges have a coach just for the QB’s. Working under the NCAA guidelines for time spent coaching the “team”, there is very little time for this individual, specialized coaching. Fans don’t know how few QB’s come to campus “ready” to play. Even uber talented guys like Luck, Newton & RG III need this individual, specialized coaching to truly succeed as a PRO. Even mega brains like gollum don’t understand how little time college coaches have to spend with individual coaching of players, or the fact that a very small number of college staffs have a QB coach. Rules & $$ pretty much restrict this.
WnE
July 11th, 2012
1:41 pm
re:
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
10:59 am
Meet Terry Shea, the private QB coach of Robert Griffin III.
http://www.coachshea.com/Terry_Sheas_QB_Score/Home.html
___________________
This was AFTER his eligibility was goen at Baylor and he was preparing to go to the NFL to get ready to impress NFL scouts.
Not the same thing as getting DIFFERENT COACHING during your college career on your QB mechanics, instead of going to your OC/QB coach while in college.
WnE
July 11th, 2012
1:56 pm
re:
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
1:35 pm
Thanks High Tech. The info on Mr. Shea and the endorsements quoted is rather interesting. The article on Mr. Whitfield is very interesting. He sounds like a man driven to teach/coach. I have to wonder why some astute, high profile HC hasn’t hired him. Folks don’t know or refuse to acknowledge that QB is THE most important position in any game and, IMO & apparently Mr. Whitfield’s too, needs individual, specialized coaching. Very few colleges have a coach just for the QB’s. Working under the NCAA guidelines for time spent coaching the “team”, there is very little time for this individual, specialized coaching. Fans don’t know how few QB’s come to campus “ready” to play. Even uber talented guys like Luck, Newton & RG III need this individual, specialized coaching to truly succeed as a PRO. Even mega brains like gollum don’t understand how little time college coaches have to spend with individual coaching of players, or the fact that a very small number of college staffs have a QB coach. Rules & $$ pretty much restrict this.
_____________
I’ll stipulate to what you say, but ONLY IF you will stipulate to the fact that CPJ makes the situation even more difficult by having his QB coach also coach B-backs therefore splitting his focus & time..
You guys wanna totally remove CPJ from ANY BLAME at all while ridiculing everything I write.
The specialized coaching that Newton, Luck & RG-III got was to transition to the NFL, not the same thing at learning the BASICS of throwing mechanics.
At most schools the OC is also the QB coach or when the HC is the OC/play caller then they usually have separate QB-coach.
As dumb as we all think Mike Bobo is as a play caller, he is pretty good at coaching & developing QBs.
You admit that QB is a very important position that needs better coaching at the college level, but you stopped short of placing any blame at CPJ’s feet for how GT’s QBs are coached.
You are more of a “CPJ fan” and less of a GT FB FAN!
chas_jacket
July 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Good rebuttal hightech, but it’s useless throwing out relevant facts against the troll. It’s a free country/blog but everyone needs to be aware gollum is not a GT fan/alum.
Techmate
July 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Regardless of the school a quarterback plays for, their effectiveness in throwing the ball comes down to accuracy. And without good mechanics, it’s difficult to be accurate. QBs spend their careers working on good mechanics just as professional baseball pitchers constantly work on their mechanics.
I had a chance to talk with Joe Namath once (I was working as an assistant director on a commercial he was shooting). He told me that even as he played with the LA Rams at the end of his career, he was constantly working on his mechanics. He was a pro – that’s what they do.
kots
July 11th, 2012
3:15 pm
the key is the Oline PERIOD
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
So, it’s okay when RGIII hires a coach to get ready for the NFL draft but when Stephen Hill hires a coach to get ready for the NFL draft, it shows what a lousy coach CPJ is. Am I understanding that correctly?
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:04 pm
At most schools the OC is also the QB coach or when the HC is the OC/play caller then they usually have separate QB-coach.
—————————-
Not in the example you cited, RGIII.
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:05 pm
As dumb as we all think Mike Bobo is as a play caller, he is pretty good at coaching & developing QBs.
——————————–
“we” in this case being fellow Bulldog fans. Right?
Lee Reeves
July 11th, 2012
4:07 pm
I think we should probably not be worried about aback passes, and start worrying about not getting our butts whipped up front, if we block like we are supposed to we could just run it down everyones throat, then sprinkle in some effective passes and we’d be set, no gimmicks, UA and LSU don’t win off of trick plays, we don’t need that crap either.
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:14 pm
Lee…I see your point and agree the O-line is key. However, an effective pass game will open the offense up more by keeping the DB’s honest.
I like the double bit axe with the hickory handle, by the way. It looks like grandad’s.
WnE
July 11th, 2012
4:15 pm
re:
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:05 pm
As dumb as we all think Mike Bobo is as a play caller, he is pretty good at coaching & developing QBs.
——————————–
“we” in this case being fellow Bulldog fans. Right?
__________
We meaning anyone that follows CFB including opposing fans from various teams, GT being one of those teams.
You’re really reaching!
You and others will freely admit to the importance of QB instruction & development, yet you won’t say a d@mn thing about CPJ constructing his Staff so that the QB coach also splits his time coaching B-Backs and whether or not this decision by CPJ is what is responsible for GT’s QBs having such poor fundamentals & mechanics during CPJ’s era (approaching 5 seasons).
Are guys like you SCARED to ask any tough questions about anything that CPJ does that is questionable?
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Why would we be SCARED or any other emotion you want to place in all caps? What do you think about RGIII’s quarterback coach at Baylor also coaching running backs? RGIII was the example you used.
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:27 pm
As dumb as we all think Mike Bobo is as a play caller, he is pretty good at coaching & developing QBs.
——————————–
“we” in this case being fellow Bulldog fans. Right?
__________
We meaning anyone that follows CFB including opposing fans from various teams, GT being one of those teams.
————————–
Why would we, meaning Georgia Tech fans, care about Mike Bobo’s play calling except when UGA plays GT? I’d say his play calling has worked 3 out of 4 years pretty well for them.
WnE
July 11th, 2012
4:34 pm
re:
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Why would we be SCARED or any other emotion you want to place in all caps? What do you think about RGIII’s quarterback coach at Baylor also coaching running backs? RGIII was the example you used.
____________
Obviously Coach Art Briles could get away with it at Baylor since RG-III was a 4* recruit that was a legit passing threat even as a T-Fr. (59.9 completion % with 15 TDs vs. 3 ints. 142.0 CFB passer rating as a T-Fr.) with 3 months on campus.
GT can’t do the monkey-see monkey-do thing because our QBs have been pedestrian during the entire CPJ era, not one 50% passer since CPJ the offensive genius arrived.
Shouldn’t CPJ be smart enough to figure out what works at OUR SCHOOL?
Bringing up Baylor does nothing to absolve CPJ from his role in the poor play of GT’s QBs.
Baylor can get away with while GT cannot, it is that simple!
Do you think that CPJ having his QB-coach split time coaching B-Backs is hurting the development & performance of GT’s QBs?
old dog
July 11th, 2012
5:04 pm
Y’all always manage to get a good receiver or two….imagine if y’all got a QB who could hit a bull in the butt with a bass-fiddle how good you could be. Tech put the best receiver in the NFL in Detroit. Running is great; the tripple-o will confuse some folks. But at crunch time, you gotta be able to throw. I know, we ain’t brought home too many trophies lately, either but we are a little ahead at least right now. Get a QB, not an athlete who plays QB.
BLT
July 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
WnE, you used Briles as an example of the type of coach Tech should have hired (instead of CPJ). You need to keep your story straight. You originally brought up Baylor. Everyone knows you hate CPJ yet you’ve never met him. How can you hate someone you’ve never met?
I’ll give you credit for dropping the derogatory terminology you use for CPJ (the same terms used by dog fans by the way). Now you’ve switched to derogatory terminology for Tech players. “Pedestrian” and “Pony Backs” come to mind.
I’ve seen your post on the dog blogs and they are full of how great things are in Athens. The next MNC is just a breath away. Can’t you just admit you are a dog fan. It’s not that hard and you can do it. It’s CFB for crying out loud.
AND…you do not ask “tough questions”…all you do is trash Tech and their coaching.
BLT
July 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
WnE, I believe a special season is coming up this year (even with that “service academy” or “high school” offense). If you are a Tech fan you should believe the same. If you do not believe that then how do you call yourself a Tech fan?
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
5:41 pm
After 2 years of working with their Staffs, Andrew Luck & RG-III seemed to have pretty good QB mechanics, at some point GT fans/CPJ apologists will have to ask why don’t our QBs have better mechanics after 2+ years wtih CPJ’s staff?
————————————
Obviously Coach Art Briles could get away with it at Baylor since RG-III was a 4* recruit that was a legit passing threat even as a T-Fr. (59.9 completion % with 15 TDs vs. 3 ints. 142.0 CFB passer rating as a T-Fr.) with 3 months on campus.
————————————-
Wow. While not a record, it took you less than six hours to contradict yourself.
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
5:51 pm
God, but I hate having a discussion with gollum, but—- how many years has it been since Baylor, as gollum likes to say, been relevant in the Big 12 pre RG III? How many titles did Baylor win with RG III? What was their relevancy in the Big 12 with RG III? Despite his immense talent and skills, were his talents utilized to the maximum effect? Why couldn’t Coach Briles win a conference title or 2 with RG III? HUUUUHHHHHH?? Was RG III “coached up” to the MAX? 2008-4 wins-8 losses-no bowl game- 2 & 6 Big 12! 2009-4 wins-8 losses-no bowl game-1 & 7 Big 12! 2010-7 wins-5 losses-won bowl game-4 & 4 Big 12! 2011-9 wins-3 losses-won bowl game-6 & 3 Big 12! NO TITLES for uber talented QB!! Private post college career QB coach to prepare for the NFL. CPJ does the same thing as most other HC’s with his QB coach–they have split duties. Some use their OC’s as QB coach, ala Freidgen. I believe T Washington is a 5th year senior. That means he came on campus in 2008. I imagine he was primarily recruited by Gailey, but not sure. Either way, he did not see very much playing time behind Nesbitt. I hope he shows better results this year. He will start the season as #1. Let’s see if he plays good enough to hold it.
GT
July 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
Best Tech Player ever? Calvin Johnson?
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
6:04 pm
All good points, 14 GT. How relevant was Stanford pre Andrew Luck?
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
About the same, I imagine, HT.
PLAYMAKER
July 11th, 2012
6:42 pm
I love how the kid seems to be a team player and always mentions GOD in all his talks. Really CPJ should have played the kid more last year but it seems when CPJ gets down on you, HE IS DOWN ON YOU!! This kid is tough on the run, more fiery and a leader then Washington. Like a quote above CPJ may have to put all 4 QB’s together and have a GREAT QB. If anyone can CPJ can! All these kids have different strenghts and weaknesses.
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
GT—while Calvin was a veerrryyyy good player while he was at GT, calling him the best ever is kinda subjective. But he has certainly evolved into the best player in the NFL. Why else would the Lions have given him, according to the media, the richest contract in NFL history.
HighTech
July 11th, 2012
7:03 pm
I forgot to mention that Terry Shea is also Matt Stafford’s private QB coach.
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
8:19 pm
gollum seems to disappear when you refute his bs with good, hard, valid statements of undeniable truth
5150 UOAD
July 11th, 2012
8:46 pm
http://gridirondigest.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/player-interviews-georgia-tech-defensive-end-francis-kallon/
good article
superDawg
July 11th, 2012
9:21 pm
yep puffed up with no where to go is the gt way.
1 4 GT
July 11th, 2012
9:40 pm
superdwag—I in no way agree with you, but if what you said were true, then you are the pot calling the kettle black—-ya’ll are the most puffed up toads I’ve ever encountered—-nc every pre season—-dream team this, dream team that—-and then you never live up to the “experts” predictions BUBBA LOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
fan
July 11th, 2012
10:37 pm
who cares!!!
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
July 11th, 2012
10:44 pm
I seem to recall a similar article last summer about Days. Great kid and heckuva athlete. Hope he gets some cracks, if not behind center then as a runner. More than improving his passing, he should work on having stickier hands. Like others have mentioned, trick play options (half back pass) abound. But then I thought they did last year with Sims but I don’t recall a single attempt. Unfortunately, CPJ’s tendency is to try the trick play on the first play from scrimmage and not much after that.
chas_jacket
July 12th, 2012
8:47 am
Good story on TJ Barnes on rivals, it appears to be an open link.
http://georgiatech.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1384385
chas_jacket
July 12th, 2012
9:01 am
forgot to mention, great story on Kallon – link above. Imagine he will redshirt but you never know. Certainly looks like a great young man with the right priorities.
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