Lineup changes afoot for Georgia Tech
Notes from Thursday.
1. It appears that Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson will give a few young players a shot in the starting lineup for Saturday’s home opener against Presbyterian.
B-back Zach Laskey and wide receiver Darren Waller, both sophomores, and offensive tackle Bryan Chamberlain, a redshirt freshman, will make their first career starts, according to the depth chart released Thursday.
At his Wednesday news conference, Johnson deemed the play of the wide receivers in the loss to Virginia Tech on Monday “not great.” Waller is projected to replace Jeff Greene and start opposite Jeremy Moore. Laskey takes the top spot claimed last week by Charles Perkins, who started against the Hokies but gained five yards on three carries. Chamberlain is slotted at left tackle and Ray Beno, who started in that spot on Monday, is flipped to right tackle. Tyler Kidney started at right tackle Monday.
No changes were made among defensive starters.
“Saturday night’s about Georgia Tech,” Johnson said Wednesday. “It’s about us moving forward and improving in a lot of areas we need to improve in.”
Safety Fred Holton is the only player listed as out for the game. B-back David Sims is doubtful while offensive tackle Morgan Bailey and A-back Orwin Smith are questionable. Johnson said Wednesday that Bailey, who suffered a high-ankle sprain before the opener, has been cleared to play and that Smith, who hurt his shoulder against the Hokies, is available. Inside linebacker Daniel Drummond and cornerback Louis Young, whom Johnson said Wednesday probably wouldn’t play because of injuries, are expected to play. Drummond is suspended for the first half.
2. For Young, it will be his first game since the Georgia game last November. He was suspended for the Sun Bowl and the Virginia Tech game for selling tickets to the Georgia game, a violation of NCAA rules. He addressed the matter with a post on his Facebook page this week.
“Last year I made a terrible decision & I was suspended for the bowl game last year & this past Monday night game vs. VT. I disappointed my family, friends, coaches, but most of all I disappointed my teammates,” Young wrote. “I’m blessed they forgave me & I’m just ready to be a dependable teammate for my team & train every day to be a playmaker. The past is the past, now let’s go get this [ACC championship].”
3. Quarterback Tevin Washington’s 10 completions to the A-backs and B-backs Monday were the most reception in a game by Tech’s backs under Johnson. However, no Tech wide receiver caught a pass in the same game, only the second time that has happened since Johnson became coach for the 2008 season. The other occurrence was in the 2010 Orange Bowl against Iowa.
A-back B.J. Bostic had seven touches in the game, including one pass attempt. Of those seven, four produced first downs, including three on third or fourth down. Bostic had 54 all-purpose yards in the game.
4. The Brock indoor practice facility will be open to the public Saturday 4-6 p.m. before the game. Also, the athletic department will offer family-friendly activities on Fowler Street and Callaway Plaza, including a live band, face painting and inflatables. Free shuttle service to and from the stadium is again available from Atlantic Station, which will also hold a free event Friday night with live music, the Tech marching band and spirit squad and Buzz.
5. Presbyterian coach Harold Nichols coached at Georgia Southern 1992-95, before Johnson’s term as head coach there from 1997 to 2001. Nichols was an assistant under Tim Stowers, who also was on the Southern staff with Johnson as assistants. The two are acquaintances.
“All I’ve ever heard about Harold has been positives and good things from people that have worked with him,” Johnson said.
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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207 comments Add your comment
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
11:30 am
FL: Again, if this was TW’s first bad game, of course I’d have patience. TW has had 15+ games at GT QB. The time for patience is over.
If Vad was in there, he COULD break tackles. TW can’t. Vad CAN make open field moves. TW can’t. Vad CAN take it to the house with his feet. TW can’t.
And yes, in his first game, I’d have plenty of patience with Vad. And if he fumbles, fine. That TO can’t be any worse than the INT in OT. Maybe equally bad, but not worse.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
11:35 am
Not trying to instigate a riot or anything, but how in the hell do you know what Vad can or cannot do?
Jorge O'leary
September 7th, 2012
11:36 am
Tech will lose to Clemson, Utah, Miami and Georgia. And lose recruits to me at Central Florida.
FL Jacket
September 7th, 2012
11:36 am
GTJoe…I love that you completely ignore that Tevin had a better game against this Hokie defense than Denard Robinson did. I’m sure you’d have NO ISSUE telling me who the better athlete out of the two is.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
11:38 am
Also, FLJ, Brady Hoke put in a pro set, which I was told was the cure all!
Red dog
September 7th, 2012
11:39 am
What I expected. No response when facts are presented that 100% show you are wrong.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
11:40 am
I never disputed the facts, red dog. Again, thanks for playing.
HighTech
September 7th, 2012
11:41 am
Jorge…Tech will not play Utah unless they meet in a bowl game again.
Red dog
September 7th, 2012
11:41 am
So you’re comparing last years vt team to this years? Wow that makes sooo much sense. You’re correct gt joe. If this coach had any brains, he would say ok, time to prepare for next season and get the new qbs a chance so next year won’t be like this year. Cause another season of tevin = a 5-6 loss season. Unbelievable how so many of you accept crap.
Red dog
September 7th, 2012
11:42 am
Sure you did George and you lost. Enjoy playing in the sand box with the other 4 year olds.
FL Jacket
September 7th, 2012
11:44 am
“So you’re comparing last years vt team to this years? Wow that makes sooo much sense.”
Red Dog…Even Bud Foster is on record saying this year’s defense has the chance to be his best ever. It is possible, although not in a troll’s mind, that we lost this last game because they were a pretty good team.
Red dog
September 7th, 2012
11:44 am
And yes I am sayin playing vad or whoever now will probably lead to a 6 loss season. Same as TW. But your coach sure doesn’t want to be the one to have the bowl streak end on his watch now does he. Nevermind the fact he can’t win one! So he’ll play TW even though the kid has no business playing qb on a major college team.
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
11:45 am
George: Let’s see. Spring game, 9-16 for 120 with 2 TDs with 1st team offense. CPJ says he is clearly “the best passer”. August scrimmage, 2 TD passes to Bostic, 1 TD run, no turnovers, 38 yard run.
Are you debating that TW is a better passer? CPJ would disagree. Are you debating TW is a better athlete/runner? EVERYONE will disagree. Your only argument is that TW makes better decisions. Judging by what I’ve seen on Monday night and the previous 7 games, Vad can’t be worse.
5150 UOAD
September 7th, 2012
11:45 am
FLJ…..I’ve been reading the FTRS page just not posting much. It is good stuff and no UGa fans and not many Self Loathing Tech fans. People over there are a lil more rational. Well except when I get there
Jorge O'leary
September 7th, 2012
11:45 am
My bad, Bringem Young. Utah beat them last year?
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
11:47 am
Also, a better passer/better athlete can OVERCOME mistakes. TW doesn’t have the talent to overcome a SINGLE mistake, as we saw on Monday night.
Red dog
September 7th, 2012
11:47 am
All coaches say that u dunce. And comparing bowl game performance let alone different seasons is a complete asinine joke. Each game is it’s own separate thing. Especially first games of the year in big games AND bowl games. I will say vt surely made the gt offense look like garbage. But i expect a lot of teams will this year when you have an incompetent player running the offense.
FL Jacket
September 7th, 2012
11:50 am
UOAD…we’re more rational because we’re actually Tech fans! That, and a majority of us are alums and students of Tech history. We realize how good Tech football is right now comared to the post-Dodd era up to CGO. These trolls on here don’t get checked or moderated and unfortuantely a great many of them simply get off on pissing off real Tech fans by posing as disguntled ones.
Red dog
September 7th, 2012
11:51 am
At the very least joe, he should be given the chance. I mean, when you play like tw has the past 8 games and then the end of the vt game with that boneheaded play, he should be benched. Another reason why i shake my head at this “genius”!! What an oxymoron. There’s been little to no improvement of tw on the field of play from the end of 2010 to today. 3 losses to vt with the lead in the second half. That says everything you need to know. And key turnovers by him in two of those losses.
FL Jacket
September 7th, 2012
11:52 am
“But i expect a lot of teams will this year when you have an incompetent player running the offense.”
In his last 2 games, Tevin is 20-29 for 226 yards, 2 TD 1 INT
I don’t see a lot of incompetence at the QB position there…
GT84
September 7th, 2012
11:55 am
I think it is time to START Vad and see what he can do. If he comes in the 2nd half this weekend, it will be with 2nd teamers and hopefully we will be up by a bunch. It wont do him any good. If I remember correctly, Josh Nesbitt learned on the fly in CPJ’s first year. Let Vad do the same to see if he can play. If not, do the same thing with the Thomas kid next year. Unfortunately, our schedule is not allowing us to experiment this year. It would have last year.
GT84
September 7th, 2012
11:56 am
I watched this offense all through the 90’s and early 2000’s. It performs best when the QB is explosive, which Tevin is not.
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
11:57 am
FL: you can parse stats however you want to. Sure, ignore the 3-10 UGA game right before. Or ignore the fact that the INT basically negated the ENTIRE VT game.
Ignore the fact that TW led us to 289 yards total against VT (one of the lowest in the CPJ era). Ignore the fact that 2011 under TW was the worst offense in the CPJ era in terms of total yards.
There’s one common denominator here. Choose to ignore it if you want.
GT84
September 7th, 2012
11:59 am
You need 3 explosive options otherwise the defense will only key on 2 which is happening this year and last year. The B back should be the leading ball carrier, but the defenses are keying on the A and B backs because they are not afraid of Tevin.
FL Jacket
September 7th, 2012
12:01 pm
“Or ignore the fact that the INT basically negated the ENTIRE VT game.”
Just like you’re ignoring that the TD in the 4th quarter saved it already?
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:01 pm
I disputed the conclusion, you dolt.
It was a spring game and a scrimmage. Look, I fully realize that you might be right. All I’m questioning is why you feel so strongly.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
Actually, there isn’t a common denominator, GT Joe. Only if Tevin was playing with the 2008 and 2009 teams would there be a common denominator.
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
12:06 pm
exactly gt 84. Defenses try to make you beat them with your weakest link. In our case, TW.
I fully expect to see TW have a stellar game against Presby. He always does against lousy comp. Then I fully expect the TW apologists to be on here praising him and insulting me.
Then I fully expect losses to UVA and Miami. If we win those games, it will be because of our improved defense, not TW’s offense.
And if we go into the MTSU game at 1-3, Vad probably starts for the rest of the year. Sadly, we will have burned the first third of the season on TW, but better late than never I suppose.
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
12:08 pm
Huh George? What do 2008 and 2009 have to do with TW? You are so defensive about CPJ that you assume that everyone who critiques Tech wants CPJ fired.
I like CPJ. He’s great. Just needs to be man enough to bench a senior QB who works hard, but just isn’t good enough.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Then I fully expect losses to UVA and Miami. If we win those games, it will be because of our improved defense, not TW’s offense.
How can you possibly make this statement with a straight face? You have no idea what’s going to happen. But I really like how you already built in a way for you to never be wrong. Must be nice.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Believe me, GTJoe, I have as much loyalty to Johnson as he has to me. I am not defensive of him. There is room to criticize.
As to your question, Tevin had nothing to do with 2008 and 2009, which is why he isn’t the common denominator.
GT84
September 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
I agree with you most of the time George, but not this time. Josh was explosive which is the difference between those 2 years and this year. I believe that if the schedule had been weak at the front again this year, you would have seen Vad or Days alot to see if they could play or not.
GT Fan
September 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
IMO, Charles Perkins (”who performed better than the other 2 Bbacks” per PJ) deserved more than 3 carries!
I still shake my head in disbelief when I picture TW’s OT-int! Flings the ball towards the endzone just before his arse hits the ground…sheesh!
GT84
September 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
Days needs to be on the field somewhere. QB or A back because of his explosiveness. If he hadn’t had the fumble problem early last year, I don’t think we would be having this discussion right now.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:20 pm
I like Days a lot, GT84. I also have a lot of hope for Vad. And I loved Josh. But it’s virtually impossible to compare Tevin to Josh because the rosters aren’t static. If you want to say Josh was a better athlete, I’d almost certainly agree. But let’s not pretend that if Josh was on this team everything would have been different Monday.
You are probably right that we would have seen both more but for the opening game at VT.
GT Fan
September 7th, 2012
12:20 pm
As for people that don’t think a game can be decided on ONE play (like, IMO, I believe JA’s personal foul in 2011 turned the game) ……
On VT’s last drive, 4th & 4. If GT plays better D or if VT does NOT execute, does that change the outcome of the game????
Have we all not heard and announcer say “It all boils down to this ONE play” ?
GT Fan
September 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
GT84 & Stein ……
What’s the D’s FIRST assingment vs the TO??? Answere = stop the dive.
GT’s problem is lack of a gamebreaker/homerun threat at the bback spot. Allows the Middle LB to roam (see VT’s LB who had 17 tackles on Monday), and doesn’t make the safety “honest”
Player quotes suggest that B.Snoddy is the “gamebreaker/homerun threat” but I’m assuming he’s too small for PJ’s liking?
GT Fan
September 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
PJ says Synjyn is “too good to be standing around wearing the baseball cap” then only has SD play one snap vs. VT. And that was only b/c of the new helmet comes off player has to sit next play rule.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:34 pm
People say that’s the first thing they need to stop, but I’m not so sure. I think the only real benefit to committing to taking away the pitch and the dive is that the QB doesn’t get a breather, so you can tire him by letting him take the bulk of the carries.
The bigger issue to me is that we didn’t hit the pass plays. People have been itching for a short passing game, but that does nothing to loosen up the defense. You have to hit the bomb twice a game and force them to choose between a one play drive or death by 1,000 cuts. They’ll choose the latter every time because of the chance that we make a mistake.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
12:38 pm
The other issue from Monday that irritated me was that VT was rolling their backers hard on the
Motion and we never ran the inside counter play.
All of this gets fixed if we hit the deep ball though. VT played their backers two yards off the d-line’s butt and their safeties were inside of eight yardsost of the night. If they felt threatened deep, they would not have done that an the running lanes would have been huge. That is what must be addressed.
GTpack
September 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
Well, this is definitely a game to try some different starters and to give backups a chance to get some game experience, including QB. TW is a senior, and we need a QB who can start next year with a little bit of game experience and will be with the program for then next 3 years after this season. TW goes down, someone might need to be able to step in and play well while an important game is on the line. This is the perfect time for game experience.
I also agree with Wne and others, that we do need better recruits. We need more Dwyers, we need a QB that can not only read the option, but is as fast as Nesbitt. Johnson needs to go after Gif Smith or some proven recruiters who can bring in better players. Of course nothing helps recruiting more than winning.
The defense is much improved over last year, but they need to learn how to stop teams when they start that 2 minute drill. Coaches get paid the big bucks to figure this out.
How many of you whining are going to be at home watching the game on your computer? Crowds do make a difference, both during the game and for any visiting recruits. I expect this game to be half empty. Let’s get out there and support the Jackets and help them be successful this season. Don’t be a sit at home whiner and backseat coach. Go to the game and make some noise!!!!!
For all practical purposes we did come within 44 seconds of beating the #16 team at home, so I still feel optimistic about this season.
tooltime432
September 7th, 2012
1:00 pm
If Johnson makes the tackle and the game ends, I wonder if we’re talking about TW nice throw on 4th down o keep the game alive. Just food for though. I also want to see how the next month shakes out before we make any changes.
Lee Corso
September 7th, 2012
1:04 pm
Isiah Johnson just cant play , period !!
Lee Corso
September 7th, 2012
1:06 pm
Isiah Johnson just cant play, period !
GTfan2012
September 7th, 2012
1:12 pm
Again, I’ll reiterate my point. Any “fan” that gives up on their team after one game in the season (an overtime game on the road against a division rival that has won the division in 5 of the last 7 years) is NO FAN AT ALL. I think you should at least let the season play out, BUT the bandwagon jumpers should at least wait until after the Clemson game. If we are only 3-3 after the Clemson game, I will at least consider the possibility that the seaon is a failure. If we are only 2-4, I’ll consider the possibility that CPJ should be fired.
TechApp fan
September 7th, 2012
1:13 pm
GS, do you think TW has the ability to consistantly hit the long bomb? (does Lee?) You and PJ seem to agree that even a missed bomb will entice the D to back away from the line.
I vote for completions LOL.
..was last year a fan of shorter passes but now, not so sure. Tech passed a few short ones along the line that gained almost no yards and did nothing to make the D line up further away from the line.
Did PJ call that type of pass?
Pitbull
September 7th, 2012
1:14 pm
Ever notice how Tech fans hate Mark Richt?
Ever notice how UGA fans love Paul Johnson?
Do any of you Tech people have a clue as to why that is the case?
Hint 1: You might want to start with the fact that Mark is 10-1 against Tech.
Hint 2: UGA has never recieved NCAA probation, much less a 4 year probation under Mark. On the other hand, Tech is in the first year of its 2nd straight 4 year probation.
Hint 3: Highly ranked recruits genrally do not want to attend a school on probation although USC (the real one) is an exception. And Tech is no USC.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
1:19 pm
This should irritate some folks: According to ESPN the Magazine, we have the 14th ranked head coach.
George Stein
September 7th, 2012
1:23 pm
Define consistently, TechApp Fan.
GT Joe
September 7th, 2012
1:25 pm
GS: I could be wrong about UVA and Miami: TW COULD carry us to victory with great running and passing, and no mistakes. But past performance is always the best indicator of future performance, and we know how that’s been with TW.
GTFAN: giving up on the season? who is giving up? not me. But “letting the season play out” without making some changes is tantamount to sacrificing a whole season.
I don’t know of anyone calling for CPJ’s head on this blog, I’m talking only about benching TW for Vad.