Updated: Tech’s Vad Lee pushes forward
Greetings-
Updated notes from second practice.
1. He didn’t have much of a scrimmage on Saturday. He began Georgia Tech’s fall camp as the co-No. 2 quarterback with Synjyn Days and is now No. 3. Vad Lee is undeterred.
“As always, you have some great days, you have some tough days,” Lee said Monday following the team’s second practice of the day. “You’ve just got to keep fighting through it.”
Three weeks remain until the Yellow Jackets open against Virginia Tech Sept. 3 in Blacksburg, Va. Coach Paul Johnson noted that the depth chart is constantly changing and that “I wouldn’t read too much into it until you get to about game week.” If his number is called against the Hokies, Lee said he’ll be ready to play.
“I think I got a lot of good things done in the spring,” he said. “I’m just building off that and working this camp and just trying to get ready for Virginia Tech.”
Johnson said that Saturday, “it was just in general, he just didn’t have a good day.”
Lee, whose promise as a passer has made him popular among Tech fans, has had challenges mastering the option. Lee said he feels pretty comfortable with it, but allowed that it’s not second nature.
“Everything happens so fast,” he said. “You’ve got to be focused in on every play.”
The competition between Days and Lee to be No. 2 behind Tevin Washington will continue.
“He’s going to be fine,” Johnson said of Lee. “I’m not worried about him.”
2. One of the most notable changes in the updated depth chart was B-back Zach Laskey moving ahead of Charles Perkins to second string behind starter David Sims. After Laskey’s strong performance in the Saturday scrimmage, Johnson had hinted at the move on Saturday.
“He’s had a really good camp,” Johnson said. “He breaks a lot of tackles. He’s done some good things in the hole, shown some good feel.”
Perkins missed Monday’s two practices with an injury suffered Saturday. With Sims also out, Laskey split first-team snaps with walk-on Matt Connors, while Marcus Allen and Broderick Snoddy worked with the second team. Snoddy, who has also worked at A-back, has been taking snaps at B-back in recent days.
Coaches “just want me to keep my pad level down, make sure I hit the holes hard,” Laskey said. “I’ve kind of just been working on that.”
3. The team practiced in full pads Monday morning and came back in shoulder pads in the afternoon, the Jackets’ second double session of fall camp. When rain began to fall in the afternoon, Johnson moved practice into the indoor facility. Johnson deemed the morning practice “O.K.” and the afternoon session “good.”
The play of the day was turned in by wide receiver Jeremy Moore, who made a one-handed diving catch in the corner of the end zone on a throw from Washington from about 40 yards out.
Among players who were held out: Offensive tackles Ray Beno and Morgan Bailey, wide receiver Jeff Greene, cornerback Rod Sweeting and B-backs Sims and Perkins. Johnson said Sims, who had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his shin over the summer, re-aggravated the injury in practice.
“We’ve got some guys that are bumped and banged, but I don’t think we’ve got anybody that’s questionably out for a long period of time,” Johnson said. “It might be a week or two, but I’m talking about blowing somebody out for the season.”
4. Former Tech All-American safety Ken Swilling, a member of the 1990 national championship team, was named Monday to the ACC Legends class of 2012. Swilling and 11 other greats will be honored at the ACC championship game Dec. 1 in Charlotte.
5. With Greene out for Monday’s morning practice, freshman wide receiver Anthony Autry was part of a rotation working with the first string with Chris Jackson, Jeremy Moore and Darren Waller.
“He’s looking good,” Waller said. “He’s real fast out of his routes. He’ll get after it, too.”
Johnson said he wouldn’t read much into depth-chart assignments until game week. He did offer praise of Waller.
“He’s progressing,” Johnson said. “I’ve been pleased with him in camp.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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150 comments Add your comment
Spyro
August 14th, 2012
5:16 am
Of course WnE predicted that Perkins “would be a bust.” Is there a recruit we get that won’t be a bust to him?
Insider
August 14th, 2012
6:44 am
General concensus from those in the know is that Perkins has been somewhat of a disappointment from Day 1 …. can’t break a run in a game, scrimmage or even at practice …. oh well, can’t get them all right.
WnE
August 14th, 2012
8:01 am
RE:
Hey WnE
August 14th, 2012
3:02 am
What did you say about Orwin Smith as a recuit? What was he rated out of HS? Who offered him? Thanks in advance
___________
I can tell you who did not offer Orwin out of HS……………Bama & Auburn.
I will admit that Orwin has exceeded my expectations, but that’s only because my expectations are very low for our A-Backs.
Orwin doesn’t have the size to play a “normal” RB slot in a BCS Conf. and run between the tackles 15-22 times per game.
Now that he’s a Sr. he has tried to “bulk up” to show NFL scouts that he can play at a heavier wgt. in hopes of getting drafted.
Despite putting up great Stats in our System, Orwin has hurt his chances at the next level, he would have had a better shot at getting drafted by going to a BCS school and playing in a Pro-Style (or close) Offense and being a situational RB (3rd downs, passing downs, etc.) and showing the NFL scouts that part of his game.
There is nothing that our A-Backs do that NFL scouts care about, and unless you are 6-2 220lbs. and run a sub-4.4 forty, then your A-Back film from GT won’t get you drafted.
Remember Dwyer & Allen put 3 straight 1,300 yd. seasons (2 by Dwyer & 1 by Allen) and all it got them was drafted in the 6th & 7th rounds.
I didn’t know much about Orwin as a Recruit except that at that time he was the biggest A-back that CPJ had recruited to play A-back, so I figured it was a new trend.
But then CPJ reverted back to his old self and then started to recruit more smallish guys to play A-back.
Jason
August 14th, 2012
8:12 am
Wrong Wne
Auburn DID offer Orwin you putz
http://rivals.yahoo.com/georgiatech/football/recruiting/player-Orwin-Smith-68539
GT Rich
August 14th, 2012
8:40 am
Fyi-
Lucas Cox also played A-back under CPJ and is currently the no. 2 fullback for the Atlanta Falcons. Different body type than Orwin and totally different position at FB, but the point is that the NFL finds athletes, regardless of school and position. Does anyone think Jacquiz Rogers is an every down RB? No. Orwin will be drafted in a late round — 3rd down RB, special teams, maybe slot receiver.
OldGold1964
August 14th, 2012
8:43 am
I think Charles Perkins is a fine, steady player. IMHO, he just lets the little, nagging injuries build into too much distraction. If he can put them in perspective and play through them, and get regular laying time instead of alternating snaps, he will be very productive – not a superstar, but very productive. (Of course, the injuries may be more severe than we know, which will hamper his status.)
At this time, I would vote for David Sims and Orwin Smith to be on field for 75-80% of offensive plays, and have Days, Laskey, and Perkins coing alternately coming in at both A and B back positions. Can Laskey pass-block when necessary?
GT
August 14th, 2012
8:46 am
This is one of the reasons Johnson is a great coach he is a straight talker, very much like Spurrier. Too many coaches try to win popularity contest instead of coaching and even more are just lazy journeymen filling a job description. Johnson is trying to motivate Perkins and I promise you he has a lot more football IQ than WnE or most any of the rest of us. Up at Georgia they try to baby their players praying they can get to the season with enough to play and on that note hats off to Miles for showing Richt why he is one of the top coaches in the country. Richt would have waited for the police to do his work for him
WnE's "logic" at its finest
August 14th, 2012
8:55 am
“Orwin doesn’t have the size to play a “normal” RB slot in a BCS Conf. and run between the tackles 15-22 times per game.
……
Despite putting up great Stats in our System, Orwin has hurt his chances at the next level, he would have had a better shot at getting drafted by going to a BCS school and playing in a Pro-Style (or close) Offense”
The first statement is that Orwin doesn’t have the size to play RB in a pro offense and then the second statement is that he should play in a pro offense. Only in WnE’s head are these statements not in conflict.
dawgfan
August 14th, 2012
9:00 am
“Up at Georgia they try to baby their players…”
There it is. That’s my cue. Morning boys.
That’s some real tough talk coming from a fan whose team basically QUIT in the second half against UGA last year. Go back and watch a replay if you’ve got the stones (You don’t). Your boys quit on you Techie. No passion. No fire. They were just going through the motions. Once again a Techie’s big fat mouth is writing checks his joke program can’t cash. Why am I not surprised?
GTfan 2012
August 14th, 2012
9:36 am
UOAD!!!
GT GRAD
August 14th, 2012
9:55 am
PJ is a master motivator……..I say he is simply using the depth chart to motivate Perkins AND Laskey has obviously played well (he probably deserves the praise as well as some additional playing time!).
With regard to Snoddy: Speed simply equates to wins! If he can play the position as well as or better than the other players on the B-Back depth chart………I say give the kid the ball. With his speed………when he breaks through the line, he could be gone for 6!!!
I really love the depth we have at several key positions!
Ted Striker
August 14th, 2012
10:14 am
I like Lee’s attitude and moxie.
UGA fan here, wishing him well.
Tech Dropout
August 14th, 2012
10:19 am
Whiney contradicted himself in his analysis (if you can call it that) of Orwin Smith. First he said that Orwin is not the right size to play RB for a BCS team, and then he goes on to say how Orwin should have played RB for a BCS team. Huh? Why do you people keep asking for his opinion when you already know what it is – he despises CPJ.
Paddy
August 14th, 2012
10:19 am
Regardless of what many have said; having alot of running backs is real good thing in college football. UGA & Tech are sitting in a fine position this season. Let the games begin!
Hayseed Dixie
August 14th, 2012
10:24 am
@dawgfan
“There it is. That’s my cue. Morning boys.”
Bwhahaa! Dude, you really, really, really need to get a life.
HighTech
August 14th, 2012
10:31 am
Please do not feed the trolls. Ignore them instead.
UOAD!
9/3!
THWG!
Dawg48
August 14th, 2012
10:42 am
What happened to my buddy 5150? Has he been banded from Internet? LOL
DawginLex
August 14th, 2012
10:48 am
Hopefully my reputation as not being a TROLL/Hater preceeds me before you read this:
IMO(again, IMO), I believe Vad Lee is a square peg in a round hole with this offense. He is a talented thrower and from the film I have seen, would potentially thrive in a pro style offense or a spread with run and throw options.
The TO is evidently beating this kid up and short of CPJ modifying it to suit his talents, I see Lee as not really ever contributing at Tech.
I obviously could be wrong but he has DJ Shockley skill set and is being forced to play like Josh Nesbitt.
Just my $.02
I still think y’all go 10-3 including a bowl win
I'm not Vad Lee
August 14th, 2012
10:49 am
What a colossal mistake that young man (Vad Lee) made. A fairly talented real QB signing on with CPJ and his H.S. offense has stopped his career quicker than a blitzing LB. I hope the QB’s being recruited by CPJ see the light before it is to late.
DawginLex
August 14th, 2012
10:50 am
Ken
I just posted someting I do not want to re-write
Filters!!!! Argghhhh!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 14th, 2012
10:51 am
@ Dawg48……yes, he has been temporarily banned because he erupted in a string obscenities Friday night……frustrated at the inconsistency shown by the AJC staff in banning Tech trolls from UGA blogs, but not banning UGA trolls from Tech blogs……this coupled with the pressure he is under from his mother’s illness. He and I have talked, and he and Ken have been in communication as well. All will be ok.
DawginLex
August 14th, 2012
10:52 am
5150 is out?
That ain’t right
He is ok. We know where he stands and is reasonable
Supersize that order, mutt
August 14th, 2012
10:55 am
I have vowed not to respond to the ignorant trolls, but I get so sick of seeing the words “high school offense,” that I cannot sit idly by this time……
@ I’m not Vad Lee”, be a man and educate yourself, IF YOU DARE…….Check out this link, and you will see that Johnson’s offense is probably the most complex offense run by any college in the country. You may not like it, but it is NOT a HS offense, and it is no more gimmicky than any other. It takes a quick-thinking QB to make it work and proper execution. Come on, be a man, and read this —-
http://footballislifeblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/paul-johnsons-if-then-methodology-to.html
Supersize that order, mutt
August 14th, 2012
10:56 am
@ DawginLex…..he’ll be back
Ghost
August 14th, 2012
10:58 am
GT Rich, Lucas Cox doesn’t play football professionally, and Mike Cox his brother that plays for Falcons didn’t play for PJ.
Jacket Detective
August 14th, 2012
10:58 am
@The Mask.
I like this analogy better.
You have a better chance of being squeezed to death by a python in Florida than you do of Laskey being the next Dwyer.
Pythons taking over there so there is the chance, especially if u visit the Everglades.
In 2009 we used a lot of backs.
Usually CPJ used the back who worked best with a specific play.
With the injuries football has (Ryan Mathews injured the first offensive play of the preseason for the Bolts), you cannot have enough good skill players.
Jacket Detective
August 14th, 2012
11:04 am
Forget what some of u want or think about the QB position.
I’ll bet Orwin Smith wants Tevin as the guy because he knows Tevin is the best of the group at getting him the ball.
Maybe I am drinking the koolaid but I like the offensive lineman who are coming into the program, the ones we already have and I think things are looking up for GT.
We still could lose at VT and Clemson.
If we are improved in a lot of areas, then I think we won’t.
We ought to be at least 3 points better per game on special teams.
Now if VT blocks a punt or FG, don’t start whinning that there is no improvement.
VT has had Beamer Ball (great STs) for quite some time.
A new coach will not get us to their level overnight.
Jacket Detective
August 14th, 2012
11:06 am
Well put Suspersize @10:55.
Jacket Detective
August 14th, 2012
11:06 am
Ugg my spelling.
Proves I went to Tech maybe?
Jacket Detective
August 14th, 2012
11:08 am
DawginLex is usually Ok.
And the guy who complemented us on our astronauts, I liked.
I should have noted his name.
Jacket Detective
August 14th, 2012
11:11 am
I hope we do not have the same refs as the time we won at VT with Calvin Johnson and Reggie Ball playing well. Although we won, there were lots of favorable marks helping the home team.
It is a tough job with a stadium of fans screaming at u who probably did not see the play in the first place.
Dawg48
August 14th, 2012
11:36 am
SS, if you talk to UOAD tell him to give me a call. I lost his email, he has my number.
GTBob
August 14th, 2012
11:41 am
I hope the QB’s being recruited by CPJ see the light before it is to late.
The QB’s being recruited by CPJ aren’t being heavily recruited as a QB at other major schools. There is a decent chance that Vad Lee, Justin Thomas, Synjyn Days, and Tevin Washington would have never played QB in a pro style offense at any major school. In our system they get a chance to shine. The real decision is whether they want to be a DB or WR at some other school or play QB at Tech.
crackbaby
August 14th, 2012
11:41 am
Late to the party here. Ken Swilling being honored as an ACC Legend is undeserved and an injustice to much better players from that era. Ken was a big fast recruit who made a splash and played very well his first two seasons. Whoever choose these guys (media?) is lazy and should be reprimanded.
He gained too much weight and was terrible during his senior year. Too slow and could not reverse field to stay with receivers. My guess is his selection is largely attributable to sharing a last name with Pat Swilling.
Far more deserving players are: Willie Clay, Jerrelle Williams, Calvin Tiggle (for the 1990 UVA game alone), William Bell and Shawn Jones.
Just my stinkin’ 2 cents…
WnE
August 14th, 2012
11:52 am
re:
Supersize that order, mutt
August 14th, 2012
10:55 am
I have vowed not to respond to the ignorant trolls, but I get so sick of seeing the words “high school offense,” that I cannot sit idly by this time……
@ I’m not Vad Lee”, be a man and educate yourself, IF YOU DARE…….Check out this link, and you will see that Johnson’s offense is probably the most complex offense run by any college in the country. You may not like it, but it is NOT a HS offense, and it is no more gimmicky than any other. It takes a quick-thinking QB to make it work and proper execution. Come on, be a man, and read this —-
http://footballislifeblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/paul-johnsons-if-then-methodology-to.html
__________
You guys make this too EASY!
You say it is NOT a “HS offense”, but when you click the link and go half-way down the page, they have a film clip of guess what………………?
A HIGH SCHOOL RUNNING THIS OFFENSE!
Did you even scroll down the page and see the clip of the crappy HS running this offense vs. another non-talented HS?
The evidence that YOU PRESENT that proves that this isn’t a “high school offense”………..wait for it………….wait for it…………………..
SHOWS A HIGH SCHOOL running CPJ’s offense!
Pure comedy!
I couldn’t script this kind of humor if I tried!
Thanks a lot pal, you really teed that one up for me!
I'm not Vad Lee
August 14th, 2012
11:52 am
Ah mutt hater I followed and read your link ? A bunch of what if this then that. What is your point? ALL offenses have similar schemes that follow the what if then that thought process. Do you really understand the game of football? Nothing in that blog indicated the TO was anything more than a H.S. offense. Complete waste of time. I thought you were providing me with an informative link.
Face it CPJ’s offense is H.S. based. An offense designed to compensate for substandard players. If it’s so glorious then why is it run by so few?
Ken Sugiura
August 14th, 2012
11:54 am
dawginlex – your post has been freed. not sure why it got caught. 10:48 a.m.
crackbaby
August 14th, 2012
11:55 am
Mini Rant – for those unmitigated retards who actually think anyone gives a rip about what you posted years ago, much less today, [b]Stick it where the sun don’t shine![/b]
Here is the TRUTH. You don’t recognize any accomplishments or facts that support conclusions contrary to your own – you think like a lawyer, not a scientist, engineer or businessman. Any idiot can look at a guys size and weight and rule him out for being too small. But coaches don’t do that.
Not big enough to play RB in the SEC? How bout Emmitt Smith (5′ 9″), Barry Sanders (oh, good thing he went to Ok State). Wes Welker, Jesse Tuggle, Mike Garrett (USC by the way)? How about Oregon’s backs?
Joe Hamilton? You would’ve passed on him, too.
okay… stepping off the soapbox…..
WnE
August 14th, 2012
11:55 am
re:
Ghost
August 14th, 2012
10:58 am
GT Rich, Lucas Cox doesn’t play football professionally, and Mike Cox his brother that plays for Falcons didn’t play for PJ.
________________
I thought one of those Cox boys transferred into GT from UConn, and the other was recruited out of HS by Chan.
I think they both played at GT.
1 4 GT
August 14th, 2012
12:05 pm
I thought I heard the announcers on the Falcons preseason game last Thursday mention Mike Cox & GT ib the same sentence……..HHHHHMMMMMMMMM. Could it be? Mike Cox did attend GT??
HighTech
August 14th, 2012
12:07 pm
He did, 1 4 GT, but he didn’t play for CPJ.
HighTech
August 14th, 2012
12:12 pm
http://www.nfl.com/player/mikecox/4235/profile
Supersize that order, mutt
August 14th, 2012
12:14 pm
@ Dawg48…..I just texted UOAD to call you
GT Lee
August 14th, 2012
12:15 pm
and Lucas Cox did play for the Falcons in pre-season 2011…..didn’t make the team and was cut in Sept 2011
crackbaby
August 14th, 2012
12:16 pm
@ Georgia Stein – that article you linked here. http://deadspin.com/5934392/san-diego-state-head-football-coach-might-just-go-for-it-on-fourth-down-this-season
Look at the reply – It’s Chris Kluwe. He’s the Vikings outspoken, and quite intelligent, punter. And he GOES OFF! Great read and for the record, he disagrees with you (with some statistical backup).
Ken – promise us that you won’t let the filter screen out Kluwe if he ever posts on this blog! LOL
crackbaby
August 14th, 2012
12:18 pm
oops, sorry George!
Gorilla Biscuit
August 14th, 2012
12:48 pm
Vad Lee was supposed to be the “savior” at QB and now he can’t even beat out Tevin Washington?
GT Lee
August 14th, 2012
12:52 pm
@Milkbone Monkey, don’t remember anyone calling him a “savior”. What is he saving us from? Do you have a link?
Reality
August 14th, 2012
12:53 pm
Vad will be fine. Nobody can expect him to be perfect at the TO at this time. Tevin will start the first few games to allow Vad to gain experience. Ultimately Vad will be the starter.
Supersize…I’m in agreement with your “Troll” philosophy.
GT Lee
August 14th, 2012
12:55 pm
Hey Milkbone Monkey, didn’t you call someone on ESPN a 3d string vampire? So what are you, a 3rd string troll?