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
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
326 comments Add your comment
crackbaby
August 20th, 2012
10:16 am
@dawghater1 – McClary may have rotated in at NT, but Kevin Battle started and made big plays at NT.
Here is a quote and link, “The charter flight home was magic. Players sang and danced in the aisles. Homer Rice politely declined to boogie. After landing at Hartsfield and busing back to campus near midnight, the Jackets were stunned to see thousands and thousands of fans – mostly Tech students – awaiting them.
Offensive guard Jim Lavin, a New Orleans native, later told me, “It reminded me of Mardi Gras and we were the parade coming down the street.” For Shawn Jones, the scene was “like that square in China.” Tienanmen Square. Nose guard Kevin Battle thought, “World War III.”
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092107aaa.html
GT
August 20th, 2012
12:05 pm
The defense and a improved special team are the keys to the kingdom. Field position and offensive time of possession will improve this year or we will not win the ACC. I think we will see what great coaching does and we have a lot of kids graduating too, something not common with good football.
sean jones
August 20th, 2012
12:49 pm
say NO to Groh in 2013!!
1 4 GT
August 20th, 2012
12:53 pm
Ramblin’ Man—-I’m still laughing at you turning the logic of WnE & Mock -1 around and using it to eliminate our losses and give us wins because of NCAA meddling. I LOVE IT!!!
Yeller Bug
August 20th, 2012
12:56 pm
SJ: Let’s see how Groh does in 2012 first. He’s stated that typically his D shows improvement in year 3—well this is year 3. If we have 7 wins or less then this will be a disappointing year, 8 would be average and a 9-3 record or better after the regular season would be considered a good year. Talk is cheap—let’s see GT walk the walk.
1 4 GT
August 20th, 2012
1:02 pm
crackbaby—THANKS for posting that link on GT/UVA 1990. That was some special birthday present for me that night. I was having chills reading the article. THANKS again!!
BigTimeTECHFan
August 20th, 2012
1:12 pm
If that’s the case why were you jumping all over Coach Johnson for not getting a commit out of DT Jay Woods who is 280 lbs?????? (See recruiting thread/Jay Woods commits to Vandy), you went on talking about how Tech missed out on him.
Yet Tech has commit from DT 6-3 / 305lb DT Darius Commissiong and Tech get no praise.
My suggestion would be to work on your memory so you can keep track of all the garbage you make up.
BigTimeTECHFan
August 20th, 2012
1:14 pm
@WnE YOU said
“Why did CPJ extend a scholly offer to a 6-0 280 NT when the likelihood of that Recruit being successful on the field is very low?
If you’re going to run a 3-4, the Recruit NTs out of HS that are 6-2 to 6-5 310lbs & up.”
If that’s the case why were you jumping all over Coach Johnson for not getting a commit out of DT Jay Woods who is 280 lbs?????? (See recruiting thread/Jay Woods commits to Vandy), you went on talking about how Tech missed out on him.
Yet Tech has commit from DT 6-3 / 305lb DT Darius Commissiong and Tech get no praise.
My suggestion would be to work on your memory so you can keep track of all the garbage you make up.
1 4 GT
August 20th, 2012
1:19 pm
Big Time TECHFan—-give the ole dwag troll HELL!!
GTfan 2012
August 20th, 2012
1:57 pm
BTTF, we’ve got to let it go with WnE. He has no understanding of the NT position. He doesn’t even know what the ideal body size/type is. He would certinly never mention 6′5″ if he did. But at this point, its clear that he is just trying to “drive” the discussion in these comments even if he lies and makes up s**t to do it. We can’t feed him. I think we have to post every once in a while just to prove that he’s not honest. But other than that, we need to just let most of his comments go unanswered.
909
August 20th, 2012
2:34 pm
TJ Barnes versus a young and inexperienced VaTech O-Line.
CPJ has proven he can roll-up tons of yards on “Dud” Fosters defense.
GT has a 2-Deep roster of experienced road-graders at O-Line this year.
GT is going to pummel VT on Sept 3.
dawgfan
August 20th, 2012
2:45 pm
CPJ has also proven he can roll-up plenty of losses to Virginia Tech. He’s 1-3 against them. What a genius!!!
What planet are Tech fans on?
GTfan 2012
August 20th, 2012
2:52 pm
UOAD!!!!!
1 4 GT
August 20th, 2012
2:55 pm
Bark bark woof Grr! (dwagspeak for go away-this is my territory-is your nose stooped up? GIT, as humans say).
GT Lee
August 20th, 2012
3:11 pm
dawgfan
August 20th, 2012
2:45 pm
CPJ has also proven he can roll-up plenty of losses to Virginia Tech. He’s 1-3 against them. What a genius!!!
What planet are Tech fans on?
_____________________________________
dwagfan you moron,
you forgot to mention that Richt really rolls up the losses to Florida; 2-8. What planet are YOU on, dwagfan?
GT Lee
August 20th, 2012
3:14 pm
my bad dwagfan, 3-8…..still……….
1 4 GT
August 20th, 2012
3:45 pm
They only understand dwagspeak GT Lee.
WnE
August 20th, 2012
4:23 pm
re:
BigTimeTECHFan
August 20th, 2012
1:14 pm
@WnE YOU said
“Why did CPJ extend a scholly offer to a 6-0 280 NT when the likelihood of that Recruit being successful on the field is very low?
If you’re going to run a 3-4, the Recruit NTs out of HS that are 6-2 to 6-5 310lbs & up.”
If that’s the case why were you jumping all over Coach Johnson for not getting a commit out of DT Jay Woods who is 280 lbs?????? (See recruiting thread/Jay Woods commits to Vandy), you went on talking about how Tech missed out on him.
Yet Tech has commit from DT 6-3 / 305lb DT Darius Commissiong and Tech get no praise.
My suggestion would be to work on your memory so you can keep track of all the garbage you make up.
__________
CAG really wanted Jay Woods, but he eliminated us, also he projected to be a 3-4 DE or a DT in 4-3, we obviously wanted him as DE, plus all the scouts & BCS level recruiters think he has a lot of growth potential.
Woods is nothing like Green our NT, he came out of HS at 275 and now in his 3rd year out of HS and after 2 full yrs. in a college weight program he is only 280, and not considered super quick either.
I have no problem with Commissiong (don’t mess around oh, oh, oh…. Der Commissiong’s in town oh, oh, oh……..) , I have said on numerous occasion I have no problem with recruiting “big guys” even taking reaches on big-guys, instead of wasting more schollies on smallish A-backs that won’t get more than 6 carries per game even if they are as great as Orwin.
WnE
August 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
re:
GTfan 2012
August 20th, 2012
1:57 pm
BTTF, we’ve got to let it go with WnE. He has no understanding of the NT position. He doesn’t even know what the ideal body size/type is. He would certinly never mention 6′5″ if he did. But at this point, its clear that he is just trying to “drive” the discussion in these comments even if he lies and makes up s**t to do it. We can’t feed him. I think we have to post every once in a while just to prove that he’s not honest. But other than that, we need to just let most of his comments go unanswered.
____________
That team in Athens that ruins our Thanksgiving Weekend every yr., their NTs are 6-6 350lbs.,(RS-Jr.) 6-4 350lbs.(Sr.), 6-4 335lbs. (T-Fr.), and next yr. they have verbal commits from these guys for 2013—— 6-3 315lbs., 6-4 315lbs., and they might have this guy coming from prep school 6-3 325lbs. if he does his school work.
That how you recruit quality depth for your NT position, so even if some guys get injured or don’t pan out, you improve your chances for success by getting big guys in numbers.
That is how you Recruit for the 3-4.
What does CAG know that CTG doesn’t that makes him think he take 6-0 280lbs. guys and make his 3-4 work like CTG’s 3-4 that was in the Top-10 in the country in year TWO, while CAG is still looking for answers going into year THREE.
My fellow GT fans laughed at UGA for hiring CTG and proclaimed that CPJ was “playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers” for hiring CAG, approaching 3 years later, who’s laughing now?
WnE
August 20th, 2012
4:51 pm
re:
GTfan 2012
August 20th, 2012
1:57 pm
BTTF, we’ve got to let it go with WnE. He has no understanding of the NT position. He doesn’t even know what the ideal body size/type is. He would certinly never mention 6′5″ if he did. But at this point, its clear that he is just trying to “drive” the discussion in these comments even if he lies and makes up s**t to do it. We can’t feed him. I think we have to post every once in a while just to prove that he’s not honest. But other than that, we need to just let most of his comments go unanswered.
_____________
If I’m just making stuff up, please explain WHY CPJ just signed a 6-5 300lb Aussie to a scholly at NT.
When I mention 6-5 you claim I’m wrong, but when CPJ signs a 6-5 NT from Down Under, you proclaim him a genius.
Your inconsistencies make you appear to be a hypocrite.
1 4 GT
August 20th, 2012
7:26 pm
Here is a little factoid for everyone. The truth of the matter is, the ideal NT for a 3-4 defense is about 6′2″-6′3″. A little bit shorter than the average offensive linemen trying to block him, yet tall enough to carry 300 + pounds with athleticism. Such as a short drop back pass (if he sees it in time) to get in the way of a receiver trying to catch a short dump off pass over the middle and perhaps prevent a completion. And a little shorter to have a bit of leverage underneath the taller OL’men. In reality 6′5″ is actually bordering on too tall for a true NT. Y’all watch me now!! Heavy on analysis and NO trolling!! Selah!
GTfan2012
August 20th, 2012
9:27 pm
Oh man, I know I shouldn’t respond but I can’t let this go…. Scout says Gotsis is 6′3″…. Scout says Gotsis is 6′4″… Gotsis’ own video claims he’s only 6′4″ (and I think we all know how those go).
GTfan2012
August 20th, 2012
9:30 pm
And as 14 Gt points out above…. its all about leverage. Smaller is better, but the coaches saw on film that even though at 6′4″ Gotsis is a little bigger than ideal he has great knee bend and can stay low. Remains to be seen how that will translate to major college foootball.
WnE
August 21st, 2012
7:38 am
re:
GTfan2012
August 20th, 2012
9:27 pm
Oh man, I know I shouldn’t respond but I can’t let this go…. Scout says Gotsis is 6′3″…. Scout says Gotsis is 6′4″… Gotsis’ own video claims he’s only 6′4″ (and I think we all know how those go).
__________
When the Tr-Fr. reported Gotsis measured in at 6-5 300lbs. according to the GT Media guide.
Gotsis was always thought to be 6-5 all along, at least 290lbs. but maybe more.
I also said this in an earlier post:
____________
If you’re going to run a 3-4, the Recruit NTs out of HS that are 6-2 to 6-5 310lbs & up.”
____________
GTEnvE12'13'
August 22nd, 2012
9:55 am
No doubt TJ has got to live up to these expectations, his position is the metaphorical keystone to CAG’s defense. If he plays well, our LBs should get a ton of tackles stuffing the run. If not, opposing lineman will easily get to backers and the tackles will go to the secondary who will subsequently begin to bite at any sign of a run play.
P.S. Interesting stats:
2009 GTppg – 33.8 Oppg – 24.3
2011 GTppg – 34.3 Oppg – 26.1 (ok so ppg skewed a bit by games like Kansas)
1990 GTppg – 31.6 Oppg – 15.5*
*Defense wins championships, hope 3rd year is the charm for CAG’s D
Tech’s Orwin Smith seeks pinnacle | Georgia Tech
August 23rd, 2012
7:19 pm
[...] T.J. Barnes kicking it into gear [...]