Days to play ’somewhere’ for Georgia Tech against Hokies
1. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson wasn’t in much of a mood to share details, but allowed this about quarterback/A-back Synjyn Days. He’s in the plans for the opener against Virginia Tech.
“We’ll see where he plays, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t play in the game somewhere,” Johnson said following Wednesday’s practice.
Johnson said he didn’t know if Days, who has spent some of the preseason training at A-back, would play at that position. Coaches want to get Days on the field to make use of his playmaking ability, but he is behind Tevin Washington at quarterback.
Coaches “really haven’t said anything, just that we want the best 11 players on the field and they said I’m one of the best 11,” Days said. “If it’s a special package or something, I’m just trying to do the best for the team any way possible, even if it’s special teams or holding the kick or something.”
Days has worked with the punt return and kickoff return teams in addition to A-back and quarterback. A-backs coach Lamar Owens said that Days is “getting there” as an A-back.
Johnson said he didn’t know how big the A-back rotation will be. Orwin Smith and Robby Godhigh are the expected starters, followed by Deon Hill. Johnson mentioned Tony Zenon, B.J. Bostic and Days as possibilities.
“There could be several guys rolling in there by situation,” he said.
(My guess is Days will play some at A-back. He was something to watch in the spring, though, running the pistol.)
2. Johnson said that Wednesday’s practice dragged. “The defense was a little more up-tempo, probably, than the offense,” he said.
The team was in full pads. Offensive tackle Morgan Bailey, defensive back Lynn Griffin, safety Fred Holton, wide receiver Chris Jackson and B-back Zach Laskey were held out. Bailey was still in a walking boot. Laskey has strep throat. The other injuries were not disclosed, but are not believed to be serious.
B-back David Sims practiced for the third day in a row.
“I think he’s getting back to healthy,” Johnson said.
Tech will practice Thursday, scrimmage Friday and then have the weekend off. Johnson plans six practices next week, Monday through Saturday. The team will fly up to Virginia Tech Sunday.
(Secondary coach Charles Kelly bragged a little on Griffin on Tuesday. “I’m really excited about him,” he said. “He’s big, physical, he can really change directions and run.”)
3. If Bailey is not available for the Hokies game, some adjustments may be made. Johnson said that left tackle Ray Beno has worked at right tackle in Bailey’s place, with Bryan Chamberlain playing left. Backup right tackle Tyler Kidney could play in a rotation.
Nose tackle T.J. Barnes is likely to play no more than 35 or 40 snaps in a game, Johnson said. He is backed up by Shawn Green.
“He’s done well in practice, but we’ll see once we get going game-wise,” Johnson said of Barnes. “I have no reason to doubt him.”
True freshman defensive lineman Adam Gotsis has stayed up with what Johnson calls “the varsity,” meaning he is a candidate to play this season and not redshirt. Gotsis is from Abbotsford, Australia.
(Chamberlain being responsible for Washington’s blindside in his first career game at Lane Stadium is a tall order. With the injuries to Beno and Bailey in camp, he’s gotten a lot of extra practice time. “He’s starting to get a little more comfortable with his own assignments, with his own techniques in a critical situation,” offensive line coach Mike Sewak said. Also, I don’t remember who asked about backup offensive lineman J.C. Lanier, but I asked Johnson about his role. “Right now, he’s a backup offensive lineman. That’s what he is.” I asked if a switch back to defense had been considered. Said Johnson, “I think he’s in the right spot, if he’s going to play.”)
Thanks for reading. There’s no more coach or player access until next Tuesday, so the next couple days I’ll be posting a couple stories that I reported this week on Orwin Smith and Quayshawn Nealy. Also, I need to post the next in the “10 things” series, on inside linebackers coach Joe Speed. Interesting background.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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235 comments Add your comment
gt4ever
August 23rd, 2012
8:31 am
@WnE
That was just silly… 30-45 snaps for a NT …… If he gets that many snaps, quality snaps mind you. We will WIN the game…. Period…
gt4ever
August 23rd, 2012
8:35 am
I may be wrong, but I have a very GOOD feeling about this game…. Go Jackets! THWG!
gt4ever
August 23rd, 2012
8:44 am
@George
I’m shocked! CPJ let go….. Miracles do exist…
not oldschool
August 23rd, 2012
8:56 am
Days, Big O and D.Sims with T Wash running the option is the best backfield
hoodoo
August 23rd, 2012
9:03 am
Won’t be any different than last year with tw at qb.
4 losses and a ho hum bowl game
ACC Football Daily Links — Here’s How the Florida State Seminoles Win the 2012 National Championship | Atlantic Coast Convos
August 23rd, 2012
9:05 am
[...] Days to Play ‘Somewhere’ For Georgia Tech Against Hokies (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) [...]
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
9:05 am
Nice to see someone has stolen my handle. They are lucky it isn’t my handle of Maker’s, as that would be cause for violence.
mb94
August 23rd, 2012
9:12 am
The Yellow Jacket rallying cry. 9/3. Fight Win
dawgfan
August 23rd, 2012
9:19 am
This just doesn’t sound like a team that’s ready to go up to Blacksburg and open up the season in prime time. Sounds like Paul Johnson is having a hard time figuring out who to put on the field. Frank Beamer, who is a much better overall coach than CPJ, has probably already worked out those issues as best as he can save a few injuries here and there. Virginia Tech is probably already preparing for Tech while Tech is still stuck in 1st gear. Sorry Techies, no creampuffs the first week to work out the kinks this year like you’ve grown accustomed to.
I’m sorry Techies. I just don’t see this happening. You will lose and then we’ll see how your team reacts after its season is basically over after the 1st game. Will it have the stones to keep plugging along? I have my doubts.
Thanks.
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
9:22 am
Thanks for your input, dawgfan. Really hard-hitting stuff there.
Ken Sugiura
August 23rd, 2012
9:32 am
Regarding Barnes, Al Groh said something Tuesday that probably correlates to his number of snaps. He said that the defense lines up in the 3-4, if memory serves, about a quarter of the time. And, given that Groh seems to prefer mixing in backups for the sub packages, 35-40 snaps may be the right number.
GT Grad – considering that practices and scrimmages are closed, and that there are plenty of questions I ask that I don’t get much of an answer on (I would surmise, for instance, that Johnson has a far better idea of how he wants to use Days than he let on), I don’t think you need to worry about me giving away the game plan to Virginia Tech.
Birmingham Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
9:41 am
Opening line VT -7.5. It’s likely to be worse than that.
It’s fun to think big, and wish for that win to open the season, but don’t get your hopes up.
I’ll say it again…. There’s a big difference in our roster and VT’s. Beamer has playmakers. We have players that WANT to be playmakers.
When you wake up saddened Sept 4th, remember… Paul Johnson just doesn’t get it done in February.
GTVegas
August 23rd, 2012
9:42 am
Ole Yeller said it best. I can never understand why anyonewho is not paid to do a certain job thinks he knows how to perform the job better than someone who has spent decades performing that job.
I used to have pilots come into my office all the time and try to tell me how to structure their 401k. Well, I was the CPA/Finance guy in the room and paid a big Investment Firm to run it. If I had listened to the pilots, we would violate so many regulations it isn’t funny. Let’s just say my favorite response was “do I tell you how to fly your plane?”
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
9:45 am
Then go make yourself some cash, Birmingham. Otherwise, stop telling us how bad it’s going to be.
GTVegas
August 23rd, 2012
9:50 am
George – Anyone who reads half this stuff knows that was not you.
DawgFan – Remember, even your beloved Bulldogs usually schedule a “creampuff” at the beginning of the season. Look back at the creampuffs our next opponent has openned with the last few years and you might see some surprising results. VT has a tendency to choke on their openning creampuffs a bit.
As for BJ above, you have now been lumped into the Wheeinie category. That beiong someone who no longer needs to post anything since we all know your opinion and you don’t post much more than that. We all know what your posts will say before actually reading them, placing you in the “skip this comment” category.
WnE
August 23rd, 2012
10:06 am
re:
gt4ever
August 23rd, 2012
8:31 am
@WnE
That was just silly… 30-45 snaps for a NT …… If he gets that many snaps, quality snaps mind you. We will WIN the game…. Period…
____________
I find it amazing that everyone thinks that a guy who couldn’t beat out Logan Walls for TWO straight seasons is all of sudden going to find 35-40 “quality snaps” per game in game conditions played at game intensity.
Such pre-season optimism usually ends up with the same feelings of angst come the last Saturday in November.
So this guy is supposed to be the “key” to the defense this year, when he couldn’t crack the lineup on a weak defense in years past.
All you smart GT guys would never hire a guy for an engineering job with a 2.0 from Southern Tech, because his track record doesn’t indicate future success.
Yet, all you guys are betting on Barnes’ bad track record to somehow show future success, maybe vs. Dook & MTSU, but not vs. real competition.
Tech Guy
August 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
Tech needs to have an effective passing game to complement the excellent running game. Passing is needed for Tech to compete with the good teams. .
dawgfan
August 23rd, 2012
10:22 am
“Thanks for your input, dawgfan. Really hard-hitting stuff there.”
Yes, I’m sure your homer opinion is much more hard-hitting and accurate than mine. I mean, its not like Georgia Tech went 14-12 the past two seasons or anything, nor are you 2-6 against VT since they joined the ACC. Where in the world would anyone get the idea that Georgia Tech isn’t ready for this game? I’m sure you’ve got plenty of hard facts to back up your presumably rosy outlook on this game, so let’s hear them smart guy. The floor is yours….
“Remember, even your beloved Bulldogs usually schedule a “creampuff” at the beginning of the season.”
I know and it bores me to tears. I probably won’t even watch the Buffalo game. I’ll be on the golf course. I prefer opening up with a legit opponent even if it might mean a loss. I think it pays off in the long run. There’s a greater sense of urgency in preseason practice and a better foundation is built for the rest of the season. We’ll see if that holds true for Georgia Tech this year. As you might expect, I have my doubts.
Paddy
August 23rd, 2012
10:25 am
Okie Dawg……hate to dissagree w/a fellow Dawg fan but teams do ebb and flow during the pre-season camp. I don’ put much stock in the offense or defense having a sub par practice day. It happens with every team,college or pro.
GTVegas
August 23rd, 2012
10:36 am
Hey Dawgfan, I actually agree with you on something. I understand the logic behind scheduling a “creampuff”, but I do not necessarily like it. Some of it depends on the actual cisrcumstances though. I would not want to play a higher quality opponent for my first game if that opponent already had their first game the week prior. Most programs do not have the luxury of being able to know all the facts before making up the schedule, so it is always safer to schedule a “practice” game as the first game.
It is not a pefect world. As for having some positive to say about the first game, I would much rather approach life, in general, with a positive attitude and an optimistic view than always assume the worst. Hey, we all know VT is favored for a reason. We all know that, on paper, the game should go to VT. That is an easy position to take, especially by a UGA athletic supporter.
On the flip side, we all know how close the games have been in this series and all have had similar lines, if not worse. We all know that GT can win this game and we all believe it is better to support the team and keep a positive attitude and outlook than it is to assume the outcome before it is determined. That is surely a losing attitude adn self-fufilling prophesy.
To think, as you do, that we should not have this positive attitude and expectation is truly a myopic view and one that should be discounted as such. Do you not have the same outlook and expectation every year against Florida, against LSU, against USC.
So, step back and think of why you are really on this blog and do us all a favor and disappear; or save your comments until you have something meaningful to add to the discussion.
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
10:39 am
Funny, dawgfan, because I don’t think we are going to win against VT. It’s more of your general lack of reasoning skills that prompted my response.
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
10:44 am
GS…I looked up the data and found that we average 2 FL per game in our opening games, and that’s against FCS-level competition. Not a good sign, is it?
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
10:45 am
Guys, let the trolls troll. Let them say their idiotic nonsense and let them move on…
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
10:46 am
Maybe not, FLJ, but in general I think fumbles a product of luck, not skill. The other thing if say is that a four game (speaking strictly of openers) sample may not be enough to draw many conclusions. I’d also want to know how that differs from other games.
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
10:52 am
GS…to be fair, 2008 was a huge step up the learning curve. Josh Nesbitt threw a very shaky pitch. Tevin lost 10 fumbles in the last 4 games of 2010 before settling down in 2011. FL by year…
2008 – 20
2009 – 12
2010 – 20
2011 – 11
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
10:53 am
GS…by the way, I did another interesting piece about ACC Officiating and Tech…
http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2012/8/22/3254488/why-does-acc-officiating-hate-georgia-tech
dawgfan
August 23rd, 2012
10:55 am
“To think, as you do, that we should not have this positive attitude and expectation is truly a myopic view and one that should be discounted as such. Do you not have the same outlook and expectation every year against Florida, against LSU, against USC.”
The past 5 years or so YES, I absolutely do. My team has given me very little reason to believe that we can beat those teams, much like your team has given you very little reason to believe it can beat VT. I guess I don’t live in fantasy land like you do.
“So, step back and think of why you are really on this blog and do us all a favor and disappear; or save your comments until you have something meaningful to add to the discussion.”
I’m here because I have nothing but clean old fashioned hate for Georgia Tech football. That should be obvious by now. It doesn’t mean my opinions are any less valid. Tech fans have a funny definition of “meaningful discussion.” It seems to only encompass discussion that you agree with. George Stein doesn’t like my “reasoning” because I implied that Paul Johnson is not doing a good job of getting his team ready for the game. That’s not reasoning. That’s just my opinion and I happen to think its backed up by solid facts. The reports from practice have been less than stellar and Paul Johnson does not have a good track record against VT or in any other big game for that matter. Yet, George Stein is attempting to portray me as an idiot simply because I disagree with him. That’s about as myopic as it gets. Tech fans are some of the most myopic and narrow minded people on the planet if you ask me.
Thanks.
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
10:56 am
Yeah, I remember Tevin – and the offense in general – putting the ball on the deck at the end of 2010. The Miami and UGA games were lost because of fumbles. It was a joke between me and my brother in law that the sponsored Applebee’s Red Zone thing they have at Grant Field was the Applebee’s Turnover Zone.
se
August 23rd, 2012
10:58 am
AL GROH’s group will once again be a “NO SHOW” in 2012
George Stein
August 23rd, 2012
11:00 am
I’m here because I have nothing but clean old fashioned hate for Georgia Tech football. That should be obvious by now. It doesn’t mean my opinions are any less valid.
I agree with this 100%. Your opinions aren’t invalidated because you root for UGA, dawgfan. I disagree with your opinion because the facts you allude to aren’t include in your opinion or otherwise cited.
GT Lee
August 23rd, 2012
11:06 am
apparently dwagfan’s optic nerve is wrapped around his colon, thus his crappy outlook on life.
Thanks
GT Lee
August 23rd, 2012
11:08 am
” I probably won’t even watch the Buffalo game. I’ll be on the golf course.”
Hey Carl Spackler, make sure you get that gopher…..
Thanks
GTfan2012
August 23rd, 2012
11:19 am
Only UGA fans like WnE and Dwagfan would TALK about FACTS while not actually presenting any. Classic. You can say that your opionion is backed up by FACTS, but then you actually have to provide FACTS not just more opinions in order for your reasoning to be valid. Otherwise most on here will think you are just a pompous windbag…. Hmmm, I think maybe we’ve come to a logical, well-thoughtout, reasoned conclusion based on facts.
GTVegas
August 23rd, 2012
11:22 am
Fair enough Dawgfan, but I will continue to not stoop to your level and feel the need to post meaningless drivel based on no real facts on the UGA blog. At least I can recognize a waste of time when I see it.
We just have to recognize that you have now painted yourself as the definition of Troll and treat you thusly. I will skip over your comments as I do wheenie’s. Your opinions, and they are just that, are not worth the feces you just left on the field.
Oh yea, I did not ask you for your opinion, yet you remain present. What does that really say…that you have way too much time due to unemployment, that you are that self-absorbed to think that we care about your opinion, that you feel the need to insert yourself where you have no real value. I think you just have some of the same deeply set issues that plague the likes of wNe.
When it’s all said and done, we do not value your opinions and you add no real value here, but keep on posting and hoping that it adds meaning to your life. I just think you are pathetic and a waste of human potential.
As far as GT fans being narrow-minded, I do believe you will find that same opinion expressed by any fan towards their rivals and by exprssing such, you truly show your lack of any insight or depth.
GT Rich
August 23rd, 2012
11:26 am
Fumbles may have been down last year because Tevin didn’t hand off nearly as much. Look at his carries vs Simms and the A-backs. If you don’t hand off or pitch, you’ll fumble a lot less. Not all Tevin’s fault, defenses keyed in on the pitch man, forcing Tevin to hold on to it.
sean jones
August 23rd, 2012
11:32 am
we hate AL GROH!
sean jones
August 23rd, 2012
11:33 am
he will cost us the opener. say no to AL GROH in 2013….he’s more sorry than O-Dumma!!
sean jones
August 23rd, 2012
11:35 am
i hear that the DWAGS have a soft schedule this year in the S-E-SHE
sean jones
August 23rd, 2012
11:35 am
vtech will beat us by 8
GTBob
August 23rd, 2012
11:38 am
My team has given me very little reason to believe that we can beat those teams, much like your team has given you very little reason to believe it can beat VT.
We have very little reason to think we can beat VT? CPJ is 1-3 against them. The three losses by an average of a touchdown. One of those games our starting QB left with an injury and our backup still only lost by 7. Last year we were leading late in the game until a stupid penalty killed the game for us. Its not like VT is beating us all over the place.
hoodoo
August 23rd, 2012
12:03 pm
bob
a loss is a loss is a loss
good teams overcome adversity. gt football rarely overcomes it.
GT fan
August 23rd, 2012
12:05 pm
George Stein, lose the handle….of Makers, and replace it with Woodford Reserve, “The Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby” I too was a big fan/consumer of MM (then upgraded to Knob Creek), but was easily converted once “introduced” to WF. I sincerely encourage you to try WF if indeed you’ve never had the pleasure.
Game plan vs. VT?
PJ says S.Days will play somewhere.
Ken says SD looked really good running the pistol.
VT’s weakness on D is it’s DBs (and I believe I read they are severely undersized when compared to Greene & Waller).
Would PJ dare run the pistol with emphasis on the matchup advantage between the GT WRs and VT DBs??
Is B.Snoddy going to break a long run from the Bback spot?
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
12:07 pm
“good teams overcome adversity. gt football rarely overcomes it.”
You are right, we have only overcome it 34 times out of 53 games…
Alan
August 23rd, 2012
12:10 pm
For a bunch of “fans” who talk a lot of junk I find it interesting they returned most of their tickets to the game. Go Hokies!
hoodoo
August 23rd, 2012
12:12 pm
really fl? playing mtsu w carolina, s carolina st, duke, and other crap acc teams is overcoming adversity? playing div1aa teams is over coming adversity? cause weak creampuff u is where half more than half ur wins have come from. yep such great wins against those small schools!!
Alan
August 23rd, 2012
12:13 pm
No keep Groh! He will do for you what he did for UVA!
GTBob
August 23rd, 2012
12:22 pm
cause weak creampuff u is where half more than half ur wins have come from. yep such great wins against those small schools!!
CPJ is 6-7 against ranked teams. Yeah, he can’t beat anybody. It sure would be awesome if he was 2-14 against ranked teams the last 4 years like some other coaches in Georgia.
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
12:25 pm
“weak creampuff u is where half more than half ur wins have come from. yep such great wins against those small schools!!”
12-2 versus Clemson, FSU, UNC, and the other SEC teams we’ve played. Throw in the wins against UGA, Miami, VT, and a very good 2008 Boston College team (went to the ACCCG that year) half our wins have come against good competition.
Yeller Bug
August 23rd, 2012
12:25 pm
Nice article FL jacket: It is a strange phenomena that we get so few penalties. The general problem is that ACC refs allow way too much lattitude in offensive holding on pass plays. It occurs nearly every play and yet it is rarely called and since Tech doesn’t pass much, they don’t get to, in essence cheat much. On D, because we pass little, there are less D holding and interference calls.
As for passing the ball more, I’ve been an armchair QB and saying we should do it like most others here on this blog. However, it may be worthwhile to review the stats first. The TO concept is that if we run the ball 3 times, we should get 10 yds and move the chains. Except for a misread or an exceptional defensive play, we rarely lose yds. So when we pass with less than 50% completion rate, over half the time we have to keep passing or get 10 yds in two running plays which is far more difficult. So if we implement more passes, they need to be high percentage routes–short curl routes or quick outs. The long ball is when we have a mismatch with WR to a CB or catch a safety cheating toward the run and have an A back go whizzing by. TW is a senior. Hopefully he will throw the ball better this year than in season’s past. If not, then we will run the ball 90% of the time.
FL Jacket
August 23rd, 2012
12:27 pm
“No keep Groh! He will do for you what he did for UVA!”
What…graduate guys like Chris Long, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and Brendan Alberts to the NFL?