Tech’s T.J. Barnes kicking it into gear
Of all the testimonials given to Georgia Tech nose tackle T.J. Barnes’ improvement, perhaps none carries more credence than one from a teammate who has spent much of the past two weeks colliding with him.
“T.J., he used to not be much of a threat to rush the passer,” guard Will Jackson said, “but now he’s getting back there and he’s a lot quicker and a lot more explosive off the ball.”
The wait for Barnes, blessed with an easy laugh, quiet personality and immense size, to measure up to his potential may be over. This much is certain – now heading into his senior season, he can’t wait much longer.
“I think he realizes right now he’s got 12 games he’s guaranteed to play,” strength and conditioning coach John Sisk said.
The hoopla over Barnes began soon after his arrival from Enterprise, Ala. He was a terror on the scout team in his redshirt season. It led coaches and fans to imagine what he could do against actual opponents.
“He’s got the ability to one day be a great player,” former defensive line coach Giff Smith said during Tech’s 2009 spring practice, Barnes’ first. “How quick he gets there will be determined by how hard he continues to work.”
The fervor grew when coach Paul Johnson hired Al Groh as his defensive coordinator following the 2009 season. Barnes, 6-foot-7 with weight that hovered around 340 pounds, seemed an ideal fit to be an anchoring nose tackle in Groh’s 3-4 defense. However, in his first three seasons, Barnes’ most estimable opponents were not Georgia or Virginia Tech, but his stamina and weight. He missed only one game in his first three seasons, but made the starting lineup only three times.
Logan Walls has graduated and Barnes’ backup, Shawn Green, is promising, but has only played four games. Tech, it appears, has no choice but to start Barnes, who has in turn shown teammates and coaches that he is ready to accept the challenge.
“T.J. wants to do very well,” Groh said. “He’s got a very strong want-to.”
In the summer, following the team’s morning strength and conditioning workouts, Barnes voluntarily returned in the afternoon three to four times a week for extra training with Sisk. Barnes used the time for stretching, elliptical machine, core-strength work and kettle-bell exercises. When the team had a week off at the end of the summer term before the start of fall camp, Barnes did two more workouts on his own.
Said Sisk, “I think he took ownership of his work ethic this summer.”
Teammates noticed his work in the morning workouts. Just before the start of fall camp, inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy gave Barnes credit for his conditioning work, for managing his weight and for keeping up with smaller teammates in speed drills.
Barnes “kicked it into gear,” Nealy said. “I can’t honestly say what made him kick it into gear, but I’m just glad that he did.”
Asked that question, Barnes pointed at a finger at Nealy and other teammates.
“You’re just looking to your left and to your right and behind you,” Barnes said. “You’re fighting for those guys.”
Another is Julian Burnett, whose neck injury in the Sun Bowl ended his career.
“You don’t want to let them down, especially since we lost ‘Rambo,’” Barnes said. “He’s still counting on us. Being a senior, you have to be able to push through.”
A superior season from Barnes could shape Tech’s route to an ACC championship as perhaps any player. As a nose tackle, Barnes’ responsibility is to stalemate centers and guards and disrupt offenses. Groh has described the position as being “the pillar or the rock in the middle.”
“There’s nothing better than having somebody who can just stuff the middle every time,” defensive end Izaan Cross said. “Just eliminating that from the game plan is awesome.”
At last check, Barnes’ weight was a manageable 342 pounds and his summer labors appeared to have had the desired effect on his endurance and flexibility. Tech will start the season Sept. 3 against Virginia Tech.
Will Jackson can hardly wait.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech notes
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326 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
August 19th, 2012
6:19 pm
Granted, UGA has more good athletes than Tech does, and probably always has. But to say we are not on equal footing would say that Tech would never win and never even play competitive games. But, in fact, with the exception of last year, Tech has been very competitive every year since the debacle in Gailey’s first year. Most of those games, including the games Tech won, could easily have gone either way.
Ol'JacketFan
August 19th, 2012
6:24 pm
Quality depth is a product of winning and recruiting well. We’re seeing each class at Tech being more talented that the preceeding class since CPJ has arrived. Tech has more depth now that anytime since CPJ came in and it’s going to pay dividends as the team goes forward. The 2 deep on the O line is experienced and talented, this trend spreading to other positions as well. Tech’s not there yet but it’s not far away.
WnE
August 19th, 2012
6:29 pm
re:
Supersize that order, mutt
August 19th, 2012
6:08 pm
@ Mock 1……I came down pretty hard on you earlier, and I think with good reason, but your last several posts have been very good and very fair. You and I are actually in agreement about UNC. That game scares me, because, prior to CPJ, Tech had a terrible record AT UNC….remember 1990? I DO think we will beat the Hokies, because, contrary to what you said, the TO does seem to work better in the early games. And VT over the past few years has played very poorly in their early games.
____________
CPJ “success” at UNC has propped up by NCAA player suspensions and a very late coaching change.
Posters like you lose a lot of credibility when you leave out major details so that you can fit the end result into your “pro-CPJ” agenda.
2 of CPJ ’s wins vs. UNC were greatly affected by NCAA sanctions on the Tar Heels.
To leave that info out as if CPJ has done something magical vs. UNC is very deceptive.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 19th, 2012
6:33 pm
@ OJF……I agree
WnE
August 19th, 2012
6:34 pm
re:
Supersize that order, mutt
August 19th, 2012
6:19 pm
Granted, UGA has more good athletes than Tech does, and probably always has. But to say we are not on equal footing would say that Tech would never win and never even play competitive games. But, in fact, with the exception of last year, Tech has been very competitive every year since the debacle in Gailey’s first year. Most of those games, including the games Tech won, could easily have gone either way.
______________
We’ve lost 10 of 11 and have only beat UGA something like 15 times since the late 1950s!
The way you speak of playing them close maybe you should change your name to Capt. Moral Victory.
Meanwhile, I’m the Harvey Specter (”Suits” on the USA network) of GT fans ; “I’d rather win big than lose close”.
You and FlJacket remind of Louis Litt (sp?) from that same show.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
6:56 pm
There’s not a big gap but they tend to get a big play maker or two and that’s the difference. We had the biggest one ever in Calvin but no qb who could get him the ball.
dry dirt road
August 19th, 2012
6:56 pm
1 4 GT, I just read your reply on same day; yeah ol’ Rock was strong as Hell; he was same year as me, not in any of my classes though; you’re right about accomplishing two things by doing only one of them, aka “killing two birds with one stone”- you work, and work out at same time
George Stein
August 19th, 2012
6:57 pm
Does Johnson get credit for anything, you dolt?
dry dirt road
August 19th, 2012
7:01 pm
now I have to go back through all 6 pages and erase my name so nobody will use it and impersonate me; I found my name on my dad’s computer the other day, which I had never commented on, and promptly used it for new comment; I guess if you don’t erase your name from Name and E-mail boxes for each page of same article, you stay on AJC for everybody to see
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
7:04 pm
Agree wne. Losing 10 of 11 is not equal footing. And richt could have easily run the score up last year had he wanted. The sad part is the reason why the games have been somewhat close since pj arrival is uga has taken a step down. Not so much last year but the 2 years prior. This year I think they will win the east and play either bama or lsu in the champ game. They have a really good defense this year and i believe they were ranked 6th in the nation last year. And let’s face it. The win in 08 was a second half fluke. Uga went into halftime feeling the game was over. Kudos to pj and the players for coming out to win and not giving up. What frustrated me is when we should beat them, 09, we can’t. That was more disappointing for me than the relief was from the 08 win. Especially since both acc champ contender teams lost to their sec rivals and those sec teams were not having good seasons.
MORGANTECH
August 19th, 2012
7:43 pm
sounds like someone has alot of red and black in their closet
GT fan
August 19th, 2012
8:04 pm
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
George
So you don’t believe in revenge or teams getting tired of losing to the same team over and over and using that as a motivating factor?
———————–
So, Mock 1, I guess your Dawgs only beat UF last season b/c they were “due” a W, and not b/c UF had THEIR WORST SEC SEASON IN 40+ YEARS? Yep, UF was a juggernaut in 2011, and UGA was “due” to beat them.
Then by your rational, GT will beat VT, Miami and your mighty Dawgs plus win the bowl game simply b/c the Jackets are DUE.
GTfan2012
August 19th, 2012
8:22 pm
WnE, I was talking about Shawn Green, But whatever… Yes I certainly have an anti-WnE agenda… because you are a PROVEN UGA fan and a PROVEN LIAR. And yes, I can document my proof to all who are interested.
observations
August 19th, 2012
8:23 pm
Gtfan, Florida had there worst team in 40 years? sounds like you need to go back and look at Florida football history. Florida 3 of 6 losses come to team in final top 10 and 5 in final top 25. Floridas was as good as anything tech has put out the past 5 years.
George Stein
August 19th, 2012
8:37 pm
Florida had a good defense last year, but they couldn’t score on Paris Hilton. Who knows who would have won a game between them and us?
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
8:47 pm
I like both gt and uga. As for the dogs being due, yes they were. And the game was close as it was in 2010.
Again why would they beat vt and uga. Miami yes. But not vt and uga. I have already explained this for the 5th time now. Uga is suppose to win most of the time. Probably 4 out of every 5 games. Cause they have big advantages in recruiting. Vt does also but the gap is not as wide as it is with tech and uga. Now why would u throw vt in the mix when they have won only two years in a row? My whole being due belief stems from beating a team at least 3 times in a row as miami has done to gt. Got it now?
WnE
August 19th, 2012
8:47 pm
re:
GTfan2012
August 19th, 2012
8:22 pm
WnE, I was talking about Shawn Green, But whatever… Yes I certainly have an anti-WnE agenda… because you are a PROVEN UGA fan and a PROVEN LIAR. And yes, I can document my proof to all who are interested.
____________
Yet another CPJ screw up!
He signed Green after he brought in CAG, he should have backed off Green when he started inviting CAG to “hang around” while Wommack was still the DC (what a classless stunt by CPJ).
Anyway once you get a guy in your program, and since GT doesn’t run guys off and oversign, then you’re stuck with him for 4 or 5 yrs., CPJ as “veteran FB coach” should have known that a 6-0 280lb. Tweener DL (not quite a NT & not quite a DE) would not fit what CAG likes to do.
Green’s 4* status was unimportant if he didn’t fit what CPJ’s hand-picked new DC likes to do on defense.
Yet another example that CPJ still has a lower-level (D1-AA) mentality where one warm body is the same as another warm body, unfortunately at this level Recruiting does mean an awful lot.
Not Disappointed!
August 19th, 2012
8:54 pm
Good luck Barnes! Have a fantastic year!
Ramblin Wreck!
GT Geoff
August 19th, 2012
8:55 pm
Mark it down TJ and Uzzi will both be top 20 picks
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
8:58 pm
Yes observations, he clearly doesn’t know much about fla football to write that.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
8:59 pm
Dwyers playing fyi on nbc
WnE
August 19th, 2012
9:06 pm
re:
Ol’JacketFan
August 19th, 2012
6:24 pm
Quality depth is a product of winning and recruiting well. We’re seeing each class at Tech being more talented that the preceeding class since CPJ has arrived. Tech has more depth now that anytime since CPJ came in and it’s going to pay dividends as the team goes forward. The 2 deep on the O line is experienced and talented, this trend spreading to other positions as well. Tech’s not there yet but it’s not far away.
________________
This is where GT fans like yourself are very much confused.
GT is NOT building quality depth!
What you define as “quality depth” is really our 1st string players becoming LES TALENTED and moving “back to the pack” so to speak.
For example, the gap between Dwyer and our 2nd string B-back was huge, when A. Allen was our main A-back the gap between him and the rest was noticeable.
Fast forward to today, AFTER our FB Program has been “infected” by CPJ’s Recruiting or lack thereof:
Now we have Sims, that isn’t much better than Laskey, Perkins, or Lyons from last yr. for that matter, in this example we HAVE NOT built much quality depth, but instead our “starter” is now only marginally better than our back-ups.
The net effect is that at some positions we have “back-ups that are masquerading as starters”.
I-Johnson at Safety isn’t close to being another Morgan Burnett, instead he’s simply not much better than his back-ups and you’re merely confusing this phenomenon as building quality depth.
This is WHY we play so well vs. cupcake city and then get our behinds handed to us vs. legit competition.
The CPJ apologists (boy I wish I could call them BLTs and not have to use the acronym) refuse to see the talent drain that is taking place and are deluding themselves by saying that CPJ is building quality depth because the gap between the starters & the back-ups is hardly noticeable.
The reason this gap is hardly noticeable is because our starters have gotten less talented and now are barely better than our back-ups.
Instead of name calling, be honest with yourself and ask, which scenario is more likely to be true, quality depth, OR, are are starters getting worse and now the gap is smaller between starters & back-ups.
An honest GT fan would tell you that my scenario is more likely to be true.
WnE
August 19th, 2012
9:07 pm
LES should be LESS
George Stein
August 19th, 2012
9:10 pm
WnE mentioning honest fans is humorous.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
You’re correct wne that gt didnt have anyone as good as JD or AA last season and that hurt. Maybe someone will surprise this year. Uga will have some new rb’s this year too with the idiot crowell getting the boot. That’s one thing i’ve never understood. Why can’t pj get 4 or 5 star rbs? You’d think that would be the position he could do it.
Ol'JacketFan
August 19th, 2012
9:22 pm
woof, woof, woof……………….another tirade from someone who fears being contradicted. Thank you WnE for your enormous contributions to the Tech program. You are what we should all strive to be.
I’m not going to enter into any discourse with you tonight or anytime soon. You are everything I despise in blogger and you are a waste of my time. I did not and have not addressed you or any of you crap today so your attack on me or the positions I hold is completely without merit or justification. Keep your opinions to yourself and lpease do not comment on anything I post. They are not meant for you in any shape or form.
GTfan2012
August 19th, 2012
9:23 pm
WnE, full of S H ! T once again.
“Green is a defender that could play defensive tackle or nose guard on the collegiate level.” – Chad Simmons, scout.com
Which recruiting website do you work for WnE?!?! You obviously know more than the guys that do.
Yeller Bug
August 19th, 2012
9:32 pm
WnE: This could be a bellweather year to test your theory. Tech’s offensive line is supposedly 2-deep vitually everywhere and is quietly promoted as CPJs best since he has been here. They all may be just mediocre and if so, then our rushing attack will not be any better (which being in the top 5 provides a legitimate challenge to maintain). A better evaluation will be pass protection and will TW be running for his life in a collapsing pocket. So let’s see how GT does against VT, UM, UVA, Clemson, UNC, BYU & UGA assuming they win the other 5 games. Win 4 or more of the above and then Tech is making progress. Less than 4 and we are standing still or degrading. Even CAG claimed that year 3 is the “breakthrough” year in D. We’ve hired a special teams coach and there’s ample room for improvement there. Supposedly we’ve made the right moves….if we don’t have the personnel, then that will become evident quite soon.
Tech dropout
August 19th, 2012
9:42 pm
I will believe it when I see it. Prove it TJ!
WnE
August 19th, 2012
9:44 pm
re:
GTfan2012
August 19th, 2012
9:23 pm
WnE, full of S H ! T once again.
“Green is a defender that could play defensive tackle or nose guard on the collegiate level.” – Chad Simmons, scout.com
Which recruiting website do you work for WnE?!?! You obviously know more than the guys that do.
______________
I am amazed that guys like you that “hate” the Recruiting services would turn to those same Recruiting services when you need to justify your agenda.
CAG was upset with Green’s progress & work ethic after his RS yr. when he was still only bench pressing 315lbs. and was still in horrible shape.
Do you honestly see Green playing NG/NT at 6-0 280lbs?
Maybe DT in a 4-3, but CPJ had already fired Wommack before he signed Green.
Also definitely no DE for Green 3-4 or 4-3.
You’re embarrassing yourself , you come across as someone who gets all their knowledge about CFB from the CPJ call-in show with Wes.
If you don’t hear it there, then according to you it must not be true.
George Stein
August 19th, 2012
9:48 pm
I am amazed you ignore them when it’s convenient, too, WnE. Also, stop lumping everyone into one big straw man, you dolt.
Paul in NH
August 19th, 2012
9:48 pm
Did I read someone saying that if you are a QB in the NFL and your team only wins 3 games you must suck?
Peytom Manning threw for over 3,700 yards and 26 TDs on a 3-13 Colts team his rookie year.
Jacket Man
August 19th, 2012
9:49 pm
News flash: STOP ENGAGING WnE. HE IS A TROLL.
WnE
August 19th, 2012
9:52 pm
re:
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
You’re correct wne that gt didnt have anyone as good as JD or AA last season and that hurt. Maybe someone will surprise this year. Uga will have some new rb’s this year too with the idiot crowell getting the boot. That’s one thing i’ve never understood. Why can’t pj get 4 or 5 star rbs? You’d think that would be the position he could do it.
_____________
Simple.
4* & 5* RBs want to play in the NFL, all CPJ has to do is run a few more screen passes to RBs, pass the ball 20-25 times per game to give the B-Backs a chance to pass block.
Then maybe he could convince better quality B-Backs to sign with GT.
But CPJ is stubborn, and so are the elite RB recruits, and so they take their talents to Programs that will get them ready for the NFL.
The “gap” between the GT Business Admin. degree and that same degree from other schools is not enough to offset the “FB stuff” in the eyes of the elite RB recruits.
Quite simply “enough” HS Recruits don’t “trust” CPJ to get them ready for the NFL.
gt40pinhd
August 19th, 2012
9:57 pm
super, i agree w/ u, early games are good for the to. we have a real good chance to beat vt!
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
9:59 pm
Yeah I said that Paul and i stand by it. Funny how you omit his 28, yes twenty eight interceptions and his 71 qb rating!! 28 being the worst of his career and 71 being by far the worst rating he had. Oh and once last fact. His completion % was a dismal 56% compared to 62 the next season and averaging around 67% from 02 thru 2010. Those pesky facts!!
Paul in NH
August 19th, 2012
10:05 pm
So Mock 1 – How can a QB who “sucks” by his team going 3-13 possibly end up getting better?
Yeller Bug
August 19th, 2012
10:05 pm
I wish Tech could complete 56% of their passes….without the INTs though.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
10:07 pm
Well wne i don’t buy that argument because there are a lot of rbs that go to lesser known schools that are huge stars in the nfl.
And it’s not like gt has ever been rb U I mean who has done anything over the past 20 years in the nfl besides levens? Choice has been ok with the cowboys. And I don’t remember if lavette did anything at the next level or jimmy lincoln or william bell. If anyone knows of others, they can enlighten me.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
10:09 pm
Experience. Duh
And better draft picks. Duh.
But experience only works for special talent. Some guys just reach a point where they can’t do much more. And imo TW is that kind of player.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
10:12 pm
Just imagine what could be accomplished the past 3 seasons with Joe Hamilton running the offense.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
10:15 pm
Me too yeller. Maybe vad is the guy. I just hope he gets the chance to play a good bit this season.
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
10:46 pm
gt40
Why do you think that when the evidence so far says otherwise? every bowl team we’ve played has had weeks to prepare and gt has lost every game. i’m not following ur logic. vt has had several months to prepare.
fuzzybee78
August 19th, 2012
11:25 pm
on recruiting– Gailey’s last class of 07 was ranked #14 in the country, we know the players– two years later we win the ACC not just on talent but on the experience of CPJ and the difficulty of playing the TO. It takes both talent and coaching but PJ makes up some of the talent gap with his system but he admits himself that “superior talent cancels all theories” . He has not come close to recruiting the talent of 07 but the classes of 12 and 13 are far better than before.
I do think Vad Lee has the chance to be Josh N and Lil Joe combined in one QB. And JThomas will push him. Winning more will also be a factor in the recruiting wars.
Dwyer and Allen were both BB and are in the NFL. That position gives you the opportunity to put up big numbers that demand attn from the NFL. Maybe you dont get the ball thrown to yoiu blah blah blah–
In the defense of Sims # and the perceived talent gap some of that is the fact that defenses are forcing TW to pull the ball and run it himself because the theory is he is the lesser threat — pound him so he is a beat up QB when its time to throw, and that is also a factor in his performance in the 4th qtr.
Bottom line is the program is on the rise after two mediocre years and so is the talent level.
GTfan2012
August 19th, 2012
11:49 pm
Mock 1,
Beamer said they were spending an extra DAY on GT prep. If its so beneficial, why didn’t they start the GT prep in spring and keep doing it all the way through fall camp?
GTfan2012
August 20th, 2012
12:02 am
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to the master of the straw man the guy who creates red herrings just so he can prove them wrong, all while ignoring the factual argument that he can’t disprove… WnE! FACT: WnE is a proven Liar and a proven UGA fan, and he doesn’t even bother to dispute it. FACT: WnE believes that CPJ is a poor recruiter, even when he recruits 4* talent that leading college recruiting analysts say could be good players at the position they are recruited for. I guess he wasn’t a 5* so WnE wasn’t impressed. Not sure how you can label a football player like Shawn Green a disappointment after a RS year and one year of eligibility. Then again, WnE is big on evaluating players in his own mind. I guess he’s a real “expert”. I am actually interested to see how our GT SAs play on the field rather than in WnE’s twisted mind. All right, I’m done…. I’ve clearly shown this guy to be a buffoon, and I can go back to ignoring the trolls for the rest of the week.
GT fan
August 20th, 2012
12:06 am
mock 1 and observations ……
do your research you dumb-arse dawg fans ….
b/c UF had THEIR WORST SEC SEASON IN 40+ YEARS?
Ya see, I said worst SEC season …. go check it.
AND MOCK 1 …. his name is DWYER, not dwyerS ………..
——————–
Mock 1
August 19th, 2012
8:59 pm
Dwyers playing fyi on nbc
GT fan
August 20th, 2012
12:09 am
Folks, I’m beginning to think Mock 1 and WnE are either the same person or they are related.
—————–
Mock 1, I may not know much about football, and sports in general, but I guarantee, son, I’ve forgotten more about both than you’ll ever know.
MORGANTECH
August 20th, 2012
8:26 am
how can anyone like dirty dawgs,and tech .its like oil and water.they dont mix.THWG!!!
Ramblin Man
August 20th, 2012
9:07 am
Now that I know we can blame NCAA investigations for wins and losses then I will no longer count the 09 loss to UGA or the Orange bowl loss, though I will count the ACCCG. I will also discount many of the 2010 losses. I like using WnE logic and turning everything to fit whatever scenario I prefer. Now that I think of it any recruiting mishaps are the NCAAs fault as well.
By the way did anybody see Rodgers play the other night for the Falcons? Silly tweener only 5′6″ and thinks he can play RB in the NFL. What are the idiot coaches in the greater Atlanta area thinking?