Tech wide receivers planning to surprise
It was everything to put a Georgia Tech fan at ease and perhaps even raise hope. Quarterback Tevin Washington unleashed a pass from about the 40-yard line to the corner of the end zone.
Wide receiver Jeremy Moore outmaneuvered a cornerback and dove headlong. With one outstretched hand, Moore captured the ball and brought it back to his body while touching down inbounds with both feet.
“‘Tev’ put it right there for me to get it,” Moore said. “It was a perfect play — perfect pass, perfect catch.”
The only niggling detail would be that Washington and Moore connected in Monday’s practice at the Brock indoor facility, not at Lane Stadium against Virginia Tech in the season opener Labor Day night. Only the season ahead will reveal how much the Yellow Jackets wide receivers — perhaps the least experienced wide receiver group in FBS — will contribute to the mix.
“This group will develop at its time,” wide receivers coach Buzz Preston said. “I can’t tell you when that’s going to be, but I’m seeing things start to come [together].”
Tech has four returners — Jeff Greene, Chris Jackson, Darren Waller and Moore. As has been noted, none has a single career reception. It’s the result of Tech attempting and completing the third fewest number of passes in FBS last season (82-for-167) and having two departed receivers (Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton) dominate playing time last season. The returnees’ contributions have largely come on special teams.
“You’re always a question mark when you haven’t really proven yourself,” Preston said.
Preston has seen encouraging signs. In the preseason, his group has made plays, both in the passing and running game, which it hadn’t previously. Players have paid more attention to detail. With starting jobs open following Melton’s graduation and Hill’s early departure to the NFL, Preston sees players who are more locked in and hungry because a starting position is within grasp.
“We’re all just competing and pushing each other,” Jackson said.
Coach Paul Johnson said that he doesn’t worry too much about his receivers not having any catches, pointing out that Hill didn’t have many catches in 2010 (15) before breaking through last season. Hill, though, did gain the experience of nine starts in 2010.
“I don’t worry too much about that,” he said.
There is potential. Greene and Waller, both sophomores, have size and can run. At ACC media days in July, Johnson said that Waller had “unlimited ability.” Jackson, a senior, stood out in spring practice and may have the deepest knowledge of the offense in the group. Moore, a junior, has fought injuries but has demonstrated the sort of flash on the practice field that he did Monday. Melton’s scouting report: Smooth stride, natural pass catcher, quickness, speed.
“If he’s healthy, he’ll be the surprise of the year,” Melton said Wednesday from Houston, where he’s training and hoping for a call to join an NFL training camp.
They’re being pushed by freshmen Anthony Autry, Travin Henry and Micheal Summers. It appears that Autry has taken the lead in the race to avoid a redshirt.
“Right now, I’d say he’s on the probably-going-to-play bubble,” Johnson said.
The players are well aware of the perception.
“We’re going to keep a smile on our face and go out there and compete, and people are going to be surprised by what we as a receiver group can do,” Jackson said.
Less than three weeks remain before they line up against the Hokies and possibly the best defense in the ACC. Greene and Moore are at the top of the depth chart, though Greene has been out this week with an injury.
Said Waller, “I feel like we’re going to be perfectly fine when the season comes.”
Thanks for reading.
Interview with Paul Johnson from Wednesday practice will go up around 11 a.m.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
149 comments Add your comment
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
Please show any obscene remark by me liar super. You can’t because I haven’t written any.
Heli Jacket
August 16th, 2012
3:45 pm
New to commenting on here, gt grad in 76 and 86, first gt game ND in 1974.
TW will start because he is dependable and won’t pull a reggie ball and lose the game for us. Young qb look good but make mistakes. Simple enough for me – TW until he shows he can’t do it, then a young qb.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:45 pm
Ok you’re right gt fan. It’s the fault of the offensive guard. Cause we all know he throws the ball. Wow you’re as dumb as a rock.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:46 pm
I guess if a batter is standing in the batters box and gets hit by a pitch, according to gt fan, it’s not the fault of the pitcher. It’s the 3rd basemens or first basemens fault!
HighTech
August 16th, 2012
3:46 pm
When you feed mockingbirds, they sh!t all over the place. Don’t feed mockingbirds, homeless dwags, or trolls. They never leave if you do.
UOAD!!!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
3:47 pm
Hmmmm, funny that he brought us back from a 21-13 halftime deficit to take a 26-21 3rd quarter lead. He sure seemed to have stopped that first momentum change and taken charge.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:48 pm
I am talking about his arm strength from 2010 to 2011 imbecile. DUH.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
3:49 pm
Actually his arm strength WAS better in 2011 than in 2010. As far as the obscenities, you are right; you didn’t use any. But you DID respond with childish name-calling.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
3:51 pm
@ Mock 1……you did it again. Not once have I called you a name, other than perhaps saying early on that a comment you made was stupid. But you have called me an imbecile and an idiot because you don’t agree with what I say. That seems pretty immature to me.
Heli Jacket
August 16th, 2012
3:51 pm
Mock 1 are you Wne in drag? Try to talk football and not argue with the others on here GT Fan and Super are well known loyal GT football fans.
MD Jacket
August 16th, 2012
3:52 pm
Mock 1… drop it. your are wrong and are boring me with your weak defense.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:54 pm
Amazing how some thing a football game is only 3 quarters long.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:55 pm
Yes I responded that way after being attacked with vulgarity super. Get a clue.
Heli Jacket
August 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
@ Mock 1. CPJ is a talented coach. Why do you think you know more about GT football? CPJ plays the people that give him the best chance of wining. CPJ plays TW because he is the best we have at qb.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
Even more amazing that some “thing” the fate of a football game lies solely with the performance of the QB
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
Oh really? It was better? Well againt vt miami and uga it sure wasn’t and those are the only games we can compare.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
3:57 pm
Mock 1……WHERE did I attack you with vulgarity???? That’s not the reason you called me an imbecile and an idiot. You did that because you are immature.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:57 pm
If you think my comment is stupid, then you think I am stupid too idiot.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:58 pm
Then that says everything about his recruiting heli if that’s the best they have.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
3:59 pm
Don’t you mean gt’s weak defense md?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
3:59 pm
Why are those the only games we can compare? If he had bad days against those two teams (assuming that was the problem), why does that say uncategorically that he had poor arm strength?
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:00 pm
Again super u putz, I never said soley moron. I said a large part and I am only stating what anyone with any football knowledge would say. The qb drives the offense but I guess according to you it’s the left guard and fullback.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:01 pm
You called me names so I returned the favor.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:02 pm
because those are the ONLY games he played in 2010. Gosh are you really this dumb? Should we compare the clemson game in 2010 that tw didn’t play in??? WTF!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 16th, 2012
4:02 pm
Well, it’s obvious that Mock 1 has no ability or desire to carry on a conversation without resorting to childish name-calling, so I am done with him. He has his mind made up, and there is nothing anybody can say to change it. So be it.
U O A D !!!
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:03 pm
Heli where did I EVER say I know more about football than the coach?? I didn’t. That’s bs. I haven’t even mentioned the coach today except for his lapse in the utah game.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:05 pm
And it’s obvious that super thinks a football game ends at the end of the 3rd quarter and a qb shouldn’t take any responsibility for throwing an INT and that no loss is ever the fault of the qb. Shaking my head now at your ignorance. No wonder people make fun of gt fans.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:13 pm
Heli
The problem with Tevin is he can’t win the big games. And don’t give me clemson. If you do, then you’re saying he has a 20% success rate. Cause the big games last year were the same teams that beat them in 2010 and he lost those same games again. He’s an average player running this offense. Funny the navy qb from a couple of years ago is light years better than tw. And i think one of the qb’s gt currently has has the ability to be that player but the coach doesn’t want to sacrifice his job by possibly having a 4-5 win season in leiu of a 6-7 win season.
Mock 1
August 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
It’s funny all those years of watching football, I never heard one announcer every say that offensive lineman or wide receiver or rb led the team down the field! It’s always the qb. But not according to super and gt moron. It’s not tevins fault when they lose. He isn’t the leader. This should help out you guys…football for dummies
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/football-players-roles-in-team-offense-and-defense.html
The offense:
•
QB = quarterback: The leader of the team. He calls the plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of scrimmage, and then receives the ball from the center. Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a receiver, or runs with it.
•
C = center: The player who snaps the ball to the quarterback. He handles the ball on every play.
•
RB = running back: A player who runs with the football. Running backs also are referred to as tailbacks, halfbacks, and wingbacks.
•
FB = fullback: A player who’s responsible for blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking to protect the quarterback. Fullbacks, who are generally bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners.
•
WR = wide receiver: A player who uses his speed and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football. Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play.
•
TE = tight end: A player who serves as a receiver and also as a blocker. This player lines up beside the offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback.
•
LG and RG = left guard and right guard: The inner two members of the offensive line, whose jobs are to block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers.
•
LT and RT = left tackle and right tackle: The outer two members of the offensive line.
Wow holy crap! It says what??? It says the qb is the leader! How can it be when super and gt fan say he isn’t. I guess they are right and all that I’ve learned about football in the past was wrong!
GT fan
August 16th, 2012
4:49 pm
Mock 1, your baseball / hit-by-pitch makes you sound even dumber! You should’ve quit while you thought you were ahead.
“Every int is the QB’s fault b/c he’s the one that threw the pass” … Mock 1, 8/16/2012
Quite possibly the dumbest words ever written on a football blog.
Not Disappointed!
August 16th, 2012
4:55 pm
I look forward to the season starting in 2 weeks!
BLT
August 16th, 2012
5:40 pm
Mock 1 has dog pooh on his shoe.
HighTech
August 16th, 2012
6:32 pm
BLT
August 16th, 2012
5:40 pm
Mock 1 is dog pooh on my shoe.
——————————
fify
GT Lee
August 16th, 2012
6:49 pm
HT the new waterboy just won’t quit barkin’
BLT
August 16th, 2012
7:52 pm
Good Ol Wrexie says GT won’t recover on the recruiting blog. We are doomed! Doomed I say!
GT Lee
August 16th, 2012
8:28 pm
Time for BLT to get “feisty” again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BLT
August 16th, 2012
8:35 pm
Go check out the UGA recruiting blog. It’s a hoot! Particularly “LSU” and “FAN”. Add both their IQ’s together and you’d still get a single digit.
GT Lee
August 16th, 2012
8:37 pm
Just read it, BLT!!!!!!!
You could throw in a few more and still have single-digit IQ
BLT
August 16th, 2012
8:46 pm
I need to go to sleep. I got a good laugh. “Early to bed early to rise” as the saying goes.
Suprise
August 17th, 2012
5:38 am
If you’re gonna “suprise” someone this season you probably ought not allow it to be in the newspaper.
Mock 1
August 17th, 2012
8:07 am
Nothing dumb about it as all. You’re the type of loser who doesn’t believe in personal responsibility.
Mock 1
August 17th, 2012
8:10 am
Angry N e r d s
The new game coming to ios for tools on here.
GT FAN IN PA
August 17th, 2012
8:40 am
I will chime in now- To Mock1 first of all when making a reference to football- You don’t have to say Offensive Guard- it’s just Guard every knows that the Guard is on offense (your 345 post) when it comes to football- I’m sure if you check the site you listed it will show that-
I’m not saying TW is a great QB- I think he is an adequate QB for Tech. Let’s see what he does this season then pass your judgment. By what you’re saying he never wins the big games? Then if that is true I guess you think Dan Marino was the worst QB of all time then uh?
Of the games lost it falls on the Defense when you score 21pts or more- you should be able to win the game- if the defense gives up more than you score then you get to mark an “L” on your schedule- I think if you look back at those 0-6 games TW is against those teams you will see it was the defense that gave up those points and not TW. Could there have been a fumble or interception in some of those……yes but I don’t think any of those were the last plays of the game that cost GT the win. AGAIN it was the Defense-
He plays to the best he can and gives it his all- I will support him and hope he gets the job done- and for the record GT will not be 6-7 this year. And so you know i’m sure everyone on the GT FOOTBALL views the wins and loses as TEAM effort not just one person or one side of the ball.
Tech Man
August 17th, 2012
9:15 am
Thank you, Mock 1, for showing us where you learned your vast football knowledge. Please tell me more.
Jack G
August 17th, 2012
11:24 am
WnE—Mock 1 Tell iot like it is—–keep the het on.
Just remember, as Ray Ragsdale,nee Stephens sings, There is none so blind as he who will not see
Go Tech
Jack G
August 17th, 2012
11:25 am
Enter your comments hereheat not het
DPayne
August 17th, 2012
12:59 pm
Not worried about the WRs … the offense is geared around big play receptions and broken coverages in the secondary … We have physical receivers who will swallow DBs on the perimeter when blocking and going up for the jump ball … Orwin Smith is finally healthy and provides great hands in the slot … I’ve heard good things about SDays hands at A Back but as we know time will tell … Go Jackets
MORGANTECH
August 18th, 2012
8:53 pm
IM NOT TO EXCITED ABOUT TW RETURN.IM SURE HE,S A GOOD KID, BUT NOT THE KIND OF QB ANY FANBASE WOULD GET EXCITED OVER.
Fireant
August 19th, 2012
9:44 pm
Would like to see Greene elevate his game… his hands(ie drops) were a problem in the hs games I saw… hopefully he has solved his ‘dropitis’ hands….