Johnson on Lee, Days, freshmen
More from Paul Johnson at ACC Media Days in Greensboro, N.C., starting with everyone’s favorite topic. (No, not uniforms)
1. Quarterback Vad Lee has been pushing Tevin Washington. Johnson said he’s become more comfortable, trying to turn weaknesses into strengths.
“On this level, you don’t get to just do what you like to do and what’s fun,” he said. “You have to embrace the whole thing. He’s done that and worked hard.”
Lee has been in the football offices watching video and continuing his education.
Said Johnson, “I could see Vad playing some this year, definitely.”
2. Johnson said the starting A-back opposite Orwin Smith could be “one of two or three guys.” I’m not sure if he literally meant two or three, but Deon Hill and Robbie Godhigh would be two. Tony Zenon and B.J. Bostic are the other most likely candidates.
“It’ll be a group, anyway, a committee,” he said. “That’s the way we’ve always played. Orwin will probably be highlighted a little more than we have in the past and the other guy will be more of a role guy.”
Johnson said the rotation could conceivably be as many as six players deep, though, with this group, it’d be hard to imagine the snaps being split equally.
“It just depends who you’ve got and what they bring to the table,” he said.
On Bostic: “He’s learning where to go and what to do. He can get in the mix, as well. He could have a role himself.”
Of note: Should Hill win the job, Tech’s starting A-backs would both be from Central High in Phenix City. Props to the Red Devils.
3. Speaking of A-backs, Johnson spoke at length about quarterback Synjyn Days and his possible move to A-back.
“I’d like to get him on the field if he can handle it,” Johnson said. “He’s still going to play some quarterback. We’ll go into fall camp, see where he is there. If he doesn’t beat Tevin out in the first two weeks of fall camp, I don’t want him standing over there in a baseball camp. He and Vad are very close, too, to each other. He’s a good athlete. We want to get him on the field if he can take care of the ball, learn where to go and do all those things. There’s still an ‘if’ there.”
4. Chances are against a true freshman lineman playing, but Johnson said of defensive end Francis Kallon, “It would be great if he could help us rushing the passer or doing some things or Pat Gamble or (Roderick) Chungong or Adam Gotsis or one of those guys. Adam’s the one guy who physically is going to be a little more developed than the other guys because he’s older (he turns 20 in September), but now the speed of the game is going to be far different than his Australian club team.”
On if he could foresee a non-quarterbacking role for freshman Justin Thomas: “Probably not.”
Johnson said he’ll play a true freshman on special teams if he’s heavily involved. If he’s on both kickoff and punt units, for example, “you probably play him because he’s probably going to play 20 snaps a game. If they’re just on one of those teams, you’re probably not going to play him unless they figure in the depth (chart) on offense or defense.”
He said he could see a wide receiver or two or defensive back playing and possibly a linebacker. It would be more difficult for a lineman.
Last year, 10 of the 22 freshmen played – three defensive backs (Corey Dennis, Jamal Golden and Zach Laskey, although Laskey has returned to B-back), three linebackers (Nick Menocal, Tremayne McNair and Kyle Travis), two wide receivers (Jeff Greene and Darren Waller), guard Shaquille Mason and long snapper Sean Tobin.
Two years ago, six of the 17-member class played as true freshmen – defensive backs Fred Holton, Isaiah Johnson and Louis Young, linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, kicker Justin Moore and A-back B.J. Bostic.
5. Interesting answers about Miami coach Al Golden and the school’s NCAA investigation.
“It’s hard enough for me to do what I’m doing,” he said. “I hadn’t thought about it. I’m sure Al will handle it, do a good job with it.”
There was a follow-up about giving advice.
“I don’t offer advice to Al,” he said. “I don’t offer advice to any of these guys.”
The quotable Paul Johnson
On Washington: It’s “pretty clear to me he’s the leader on the team. I can see that.”
On if rules changes about blocking will impact Tech’s offense: “No. They keep trying, but they haven’t got it yet.”
As Johnson’s interview session wound down, North Carolina coach Larry Fedora had a large crowd at his table: “I’m going to go over there and listen to Larry. He’s having a revival.”
On linebacker Brandon Watts: “Brandon can fly. … When you put on the football pads, he’s one of the fastest kids on the team. He runs guys down like they’re backing up.”
Other Media Days stories
- Story from Tuesday’s paper on Johnson’s comments.
- Jeremiah Attaohcu and Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas have put last year’s game in the past.
- Washington’s comments in Greensboro.
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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243 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:19 pm
Nite 48!
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:22 pm
FLJ I don’t get that from Mr. Cathy at all.
They don’t like that he said it. They don’t like that he gives money to causes he believes in just like homosexuals do to influence votes and public policy
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:23 pm
Anyway…onto lighter conversation.
Have any of y’all been to From The Rumble Seat?
Supersize that order, mutt
July 26th, 2012
8:23 pm
Good night, 48
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:24 pm
WnE post
July 26th, 2012
6:54 pm
re:
Supersize that order, mutt
July 26th, 2012
5:28 pm
……………
GT fans always look for the exception to the rule to defend CPJ, and when guys like you do it, you usually find a bad example that makes you look like you know very little about CFB.
Gollums slipped again – sure he meant to say something like “Why do most GT Fans..” afraid his red pant**s are showing.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 26th, 2012
8:27 pm
@ FLJ……as a conservative, I can’t speak for others, but I am pissed that he is being “persecuted” for saying what he said. I don’t care whom he might have “stood up” against, it pisses me off that he is not allowed to express his thoughts…..so long as his thoughts don’t actually harm or instigate harm to others.
Dawg48
July 26th, 2012
8:28 pm
Check this linebacker out. GT is his first offer. Good looking film. It’s for 2014 ILB.
http://georgiatech.247sports.com/Article/Georgia-Tech-is-first-to-offer-2014-Top100-LB-Davonte-James-82210
Supersize that order, mutt
July 26th, 2012
8:28 pm
FLJ…..what is From the Rumble Seat?
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:28 pm
FLJ…………..Have any of y’all been to From The Rumble Seat?
never heard of it
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:29 pm
can’t believe they are filtering out “pant**s”. If they add words like felons, thugs and criminals it will be hard to dis the dawgs at all.
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:32 pm
FromTheRumbleSeat.com is the SB Nation GT fan site, and yours truly happens to be making his debut post as a contributor tomorrow!
Btw, trolls like WnE get tossed our there…
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:34 pm
And it’s free…just sign up.for an SB Nation account
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:35 pm
FLJ….tosses -up physically I hope…hehehe
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:35 pm
Super you might have missed the following stories on Days and Barnes while you were traveling – good stuff
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/062812aaa.html
http://georgiatech.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1384385
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:36 pm
Will do.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 26th, 2012
8:36 pm
ok, then what is SB Nation?
What is the link to it?
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:38 pm
So you will be listed under the Fan Posts as FL Jacket?
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:38 pm
SS, the site I mention above. The rumble seat is an homage to the rear uncovered back seat of the Wreck…
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:39 pm
TBuzz is what I go by there
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:39 pm
http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/fanposts
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:41 pm
http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2012/7/23/3178446/maybe-its-time-for-some-progressive-thinking#comments
At the bottom you can creat your account
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:41 pm
Lots of codgers over there too
George Stein
July 26th, 2012
8:42 pm
Funny. I don’t see anyone ever say we should outlaw tackling below the waist, but blocking low is somehow wrong. I’m so confused.
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:42 pm
Does anyone know what this means or can they see the post? It shows up on my view
chas_jacket Your comment is awaiting moderation.
July 26th, 2012
8:35 pm
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
8:45 pm
Only you can see it and It means you could be banned later or that just that post will not be allowed on the site……
I get one of those about everyday..LMAO
Ol'JacketFan
July 26th, 2012
8:46 pm
Sitting here watching ESPN’s Top 25 collegiate plays from 2011. Still haven’t seen O.Smith’s 90 plus against Kansas
FL Jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:46 pm
chas, just awaiting a mod to approve
Ol'JacketFan
July 26th, 2012
8:47 pm
Did just see Michigan beat ND :-
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
8:49 pm
Guess mentioning red p**ies is a felony. I just tried to post a couple of good links on stories about Days and Barnes that Super probably didn’t see while he was travelling
Supersize that order, mutt
July 26th, 2012
8:50 pm
I am having a helluva time refreshing these pages right now, so I think I am outta here for the night. I’ll be back tomorrow. I hope you all have good nights !!!
BLT
July 26th, 2012
10:00 pm
“chas_jacket Your comment is awaiting moderation”
I love it when that happens. It’s usually a dog comment I copied and pasted with my snarky response. My comment is not offensive but the dog comment is 100% offensive.
I usually tell them to moderate away or take down the post. It’s not that big of a deal.
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
10:04 pm
actually it was just a couple of harmless links to stories about Barnes and S. Days. It must of been the previous anti weenie post, referring to red paint**s that got me blacklisted. But it’s not like this is a UGA blog so what the heck is the problem?
GTfan2012
July 26th, 2012
10:05 pm
All I can do is shake my head regarding WnE’s comments about the DL. Anthony Williams was a 4* coming out of school and had a “lightbulb” spring by all accounts. Izaan Cross is one of the top returning DL in the ACC. Emmanuel Dieke and Euclid Cummings both had solid springs and flashed brilliance at times. I think we will have a very good DL this year that will allow Attachou, Watts, and Co. to makes plays and into the backfield. That’s the thing with the 3-4, good DL play doesn’t always show up in tackles and sacks for the DL themselves.
Dawgs
July 26th, 2012
10:09 pm
WnE, speaks the truth that most GT fans will come to grips with…Tech will 7-5 at best..
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
10:12 pm
Dawgs can talk trash all they want but weenie is a problem because he pretends to be a Tech fan. I think we are looking at another year until we really turn the corner – I see 9 & 4 myself.
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
chas_jacket
You can only use 1 link per post. If you have a few links you have to make a few posts.
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
10:16 pm
GT2012, I think the D line will be a little better than last year, if Barnes can step up. I still think we need to take a hard look at burning a redshirt on Kallon to be a designated pass rusher. we have lost too many games because we couldn’t pressure the QB.
chas_jacket
July 26th, 2012
10:17 pm
Thanks 5150 – that must have been it.
5150 UOAD
July 26th, 2012
10:17 pm
dawgs just LOVES Thomas Brown on the UGa blogs because He TELLS the TRUTH UGa fans just don’t want to hear.
1 4 GT
July 26th, 2012
11:12 pm
I don’t how gollum’s psyche can handle being bombarded with so much negativity. I really am beginning to feel sorry for him. Having such a negative outlook about something he professes love for has be very stressful. Comparing gollum to the rest of the GT fans/supporters on the blog is as different as night & day. Those of us that are true GT guys are at worst guardedly hopeful. Then you have guys like me who are so happy that the season is close, we are almost giddy & overflowing with optimism & can hardly wait for Kick Off. Do we want GT to succeed? You bet! Do we get down if they don’t? You bet! Do we express our dissatisfaction? You bet! But come the next game, we are still 100% behind the team. Why? Because that’s what real,true fans do! Try it gollum! You might make some friends! You might even amaze yourself! All this negativity has to weigh you down
1 4 GT
July 26th, 2012
11:40 pm
gollum—you say CPJ wants to play Kallon and other true frosh ahead of upperclassmen. He said, “it would be nice IF, as in gosh, we got some great kids coming, I wonder if they can earn their way onto the field. The young Mr. Kallon, per an article quoted during an interview by Ken, had 13 offers from major CFB coaches, including GT/CPJ, before putting one foot on the playing field for his 1st game. If he is truly that good, how do “YOU”, you gollum, keep him OFF the field and out of the games??? Enlighten us OH GREAT ONE!! Share your all knowing CFB knowledge with us, the lowly unwashed. We bow to your superior knowledge of CFB and your wonderous analytical BRAIN. We await your enlightenment of us, the unworthy, on bended knee with our foreheads to the ground. Please, all knowing Carnack the Magnificent, don/t keep us waiting.
OldGold1964
July 27th, 2012
7:40 am
Eliminate penalties from offensive side, coupled with agressive LBs and adequate DBs, and this team can accomplish a lot.
yeller bug
July 27th, 2012
7:52 am
Some morning commentary while we anxiously await Ken’s next great post.
I think Gollum—Win-E the Pooh poohead enjoys being the antagonist as it gets him attention something his mommy probably didn’t provide during childhood. If he agreed with everyone then no one would notice him. On rare occasion he can even be clever in how he can take a simple statement and distort it beyond reality. It is like watching a liberal think—another rare occurrence.
As for Cathy and his “Chicks”, the liberals are having a Gollum moment in distorting a perceived offense. Chill out—people have a right to express their opinion—if you want to smoke—smoke, if you want to be a homo sexual, be a hom osexual, if you want to forn-i-cate indiscriminately as promoted on most TV shows, then have at it, but don’t get whacked out because someone else doesn’t think it is optimal behavior.
As for Tech—it is time to see a solid and consistent performance this year. This is CPJ’s team. CAG should have the D noticeably better than the past 2 years. We have a focus on special teams which isn’t something that takes years to implement–if it works, then we should see results this year. We have a new conditioning coach that the players are amped about. We have the best O-line in CPJ’s tenure here. We have a senior QB with a hot RS-F right behind him and a playmaker at either QB or maybe A-back. Our biggest game is our first one and though it’s hard to win in Blacksburg, we have a grind it out Offense that can silence the crowd and be the Sandman to put them to sleep.
Aside from the ? at WR, we have a lot to be hopeful in 2012—watch us go undefeated and then have the world end on 12/21/12 before we get our shot at the BCS final!
chas_jacket
July 27th, 2012
8:10 am
14 GT, I wouldn’t feel sorry for gollum. His/her intent is malicious – if it wasn’t obvious enough, the discouraging texts to Vad Lee certainly proved this. I doubt any of us feel CPJ is perfect, but it’s our school and our team so we keep a positive outlook. One thing I do love about a CPJ team is they play hard and don’t quit. Think we will see that Sept 3rd – Go Tech!
gt45
July 27th, 2012
8:44 am
Folks, Just skip over Wne’s comments, as I do, and, maybe eventually, he’ll go away. I love CPJ’s quotes. There is noone better in coaching. “Running bacwards,” now that is hilarious!
WnE
July 27th, 2012
8:55 am
Test
WnE
July 27th, 2012
8:55 am
the “filters are very active early this morning.
WnE
July 27th, 2012
9:11 am
re:
GTfan2012
July 26th, 2012
10:05 pm
All I can do is shake my head regarding WnE’s comments about the DL. Anthony Williams was a 4* coming out of school and had a “lightbulb” spring by all accounts. Izaan Cross is one of the top returning DL in the ACC. Emmanuel Dieke and Euclid Cummings both had solid springs and flashed brilliance at times. I think we will have a very good DL this year that will allow Attachou, Watts, and Co. to makes plays and into the backfield. That’s the thing with the 3-4, good DL play doesn’t always show up in tackles and sacks for the DL themselves.
__________
This post above only shows the outlandish lies and pollyanna-ish behavior from the “so-called fans” that only care about “defending CPJ” and don’t really CARE about the future of GT FB.
What you wrote above doesn’t make any sense because the player you mentioned A. Williams is THIRD STRING on the post-SPRING DEPTH CHART that was released when the pre-season Media Guide was made available this past week.
If A. Williams ( I wonder do his teammates call him A.L. Williams or multi-level marketing?) had this great spring as you claim, then WHY is he still 3rd string behind guys that weren’t good enough to beat out the MEDIOCRE guys we had playing last year.
Our DL depth chart is filled with guys that couldn’t beat out the mediocre guys from last yr., yet “CPJ Fans” ( I refuse to call you guys GT Fans) like you have created these fantasies that miraculous development will occur and somehow these guys will play lights out this season.
A.L Williams is the classic tweener, not fast enough to play OLB or LB period, and not big enough to be a 3-down DL, DEs in a 3-4 that are 6-4 264lbs. are just an invitation for “good teams” to run the ball down our throats. When those types of tweeners are in their 3 year out of HS it isn’t likely that they will get any bigger or any faster either.
Sadly, they are what they are.
Izaan Cross is not one of the top returning DLs in the ACC, his play as a true-Freshman was actually BETTER than his play was last season, the longer he has stayed in GT’s Program, the more he has disappeared and the worse that he has played. I. Cross might be a returning 3-yr. “starter” but he doesn’t bring the oomph that one would expect from a returning 3-yr. starter.
Dieke and Euclid Cummings have not “flashed any brilliance” at all, they are merely all we have on our depth chart so they are forced to play this season. These are guys that couldn’t take any serious PT from D-Line under-performers last season and yet you expect miracles to occur in 2012.
If I’m an OC or HC from an opposing BCS-level team and I look at our DLine and see those DEs that we are trotting out there, then I’m going to run the ball off-tackle all game long.
For those GT Fans that aren’t delusional, our D-line is a huge weakness, which is WHY CAG is trying to change the way we play our 3-4 across the line in order to compensate for our serious lack of raw talent on that unit.
Where did you get these accounts that Williams had a “lightbulb spring” when he came out of Spring Practice #3 on the Depth Chart?
William Casey
July 27th, 2012
9:22 am
@WnE: Where did you coach football? My problem with you is not that you might be a thinly disguised dawg fan but rather that you seem to believe that you, as an outsider not attending practice, know better than the vastly experienced CPJ who does. Don’t think so.
Bama Boy
July 27th, 2012
9:40 am
I cant wait till we play the damn dawgs in 13,The reasonwe never play them cause they never get that far,This year Im pullin for Tech to sting that bulldawg ass! Go bees! THWG as they say!