AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDepth chart takes shape
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I blogged yesterday before learning that Jonathan Garner had decided to transfer away from Tech.
Chan Gailey also made it pretty clear that he has a pretty good read already on Kyle Manley so quarterbacks Taylor Bennett, Steven Threet and Jonathan Ingram will get more snaps in spring practice by a considerable margin than Manley. He said Calvin Booker figures to get roughly the same number of snaps as Manley even though they know less about the Auburn transfer. He said it will be up to Booker to make his impression largely in drill work. If he makes the right kind of impression, then perhaps he can graduate into more 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 work.
As for the early depth chart, I guess only one thing surprised me, and not very much at that.
Looking at the spots vacated by seniors and junior WR Calvin Johnson, the one that caught my eye was the CB spot held previously by Kenny Scott. I was a little surprised not to see Avery Roberson listed there but rather he’s at a backup safety spot.
At that corner sport, though, is Laurence Marius, who played specials teams (and very sparingly at CB in a couple blowouts) as a freshman last year. It shouldn’t be a complete shock because he was probably Tech’s most highly regarded recruit last year, but Roberson seemed to play well there for the most part although he went back and forth to safety. Marius is listed ahead of Pat Clark
The other starting cornerback is Jahi Word-Daniels, who is listed ahead of Tony Clark and Dominque Reese.
It doesn’t mean the world at this early juncture, but I found the CB position interesting.
Elsewhere, redshirt sophomore Greg Smith is listed in Calvin’s spot. Colin Peek is listed as the No. 1 tight end, although he’ll miss spring practice after undergoing some sort of surgery.
A.J. Smith will open at right tackle, but he and Cord Howard, who’ll miss spring practice after shoulder surgery, will compete for that spot - although Gailey said they might switch Andrew Gardner from LT to RT (Bennett’s blindside) in part because of the nature of Howard’s shoulder injury and the fact it receives less torque on the left side.
The backup WRs are sophomores Correy Earls and Demaryius Thomas, and Gailey admits this position is one where incoming freshman have a very good chance to make hay.
Vance Walker is listed in Joe Anoai’s DT spot, though Adamm Oliver will move inside in nickel situations (Tech plays a ton of them obviously).
Gary Guyton is likely to move from strongside linebacker into KaMichael Hall’s weakside spot. Shane Bowen, who enrolled early last year, is listed No. 1 at WLB but when I asked about Anthony Barnes, Gailey said they will compete.
Rashaun Grant will be utilized often as an H-back, perhaps making it possible both freshmen RBs, Dwyer and Jones, will not redshirt although it’s too early to read much into that.
Other players injured or coming off surgery who will miss spring practice: OL Jacob Lonowski (shoulder), fullback Mike Cox (don’t know), LB Sedric Griffin (broken leg in Gator Bowl) and safety Djay Jones (don’t know). Roberson will work in his spot in the spring so this may be about getting him more work than knowing Marius will start at CB. Or maybe they want to see a lot of Marius, or both.
Quincy Kelly is moving back from LB to FB, and Martin Frierson, former WR, is listed as a third-string safety behind Joe Gaston.
Comments
By Kevin
February 27, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this
Didn’t Bebe Thomas and Cory Earls redshirt last year?
By Matt Winkeljohn
February 27, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this
Yes, Earls and Thomas redshirted last year. They’ll be sophomores academically, redshirt freshmen athletically. Sorry for the confusion.
By a tech guy
February 27, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
quincy kelly moving is good to hear, he can run the ball some being a former rb
By ryan
February 27, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
greg smith is a stud…. watch out, hes gonna have a big year with taylor throwing to him
By mtraininjax
February 27, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this
Word-Daniels is our other best CB? What a joke, this guy was burned more in the Gator Bowl than Reggie in the press. This guy is so slow, even Gailey could run faster. That is pathetic!
By hiveredtech
February 28, 2007 7:31 AM | Link to this
“Jonathan” Ingram ??
By Ron
February 28, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this
Gee, I feel great knowing that Gailey has evaluated the QB talent. This is the same idiot that started Reggie Ball for 4 years! That alone is testimony that Chan is the worst coach in Division 1. I was so crushed that he did not go elsewhere when all those rumors were flying. I know he’s a nice guy, I know that…but he is STUPID and so is anyone who would leave him in charge. No wonder UGA wins every year. Even as a Tech grad and lifelong fan, I had to laugh when I heard that joke about UGA retiring Reggie’s number. It was righteous. Surely he did more than any Dawg player to determine the outcome of that game all four years. Thanks Chan, Dan, Wayne.
By gtapa
February 28, 2007 7:57 AM | Link to this
I was surprised to see LeShawn Newberry’s name completely off the roster, anyone know what happened?
By hiveredtech
February 28, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
Ron
Time to move on my friend. Your story is old. I recommend counseling so you can let it go.
We have a team that has forgotten the past and is ready to start a new era of Tech football. So please…get out of the way.
By hiveredtech
February 28, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
gtapa
Newberry transferred to a small school in Missouri.
By JustMe
February 28, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
Golly, Ron, do you REALLY think that anyone believes that you are a Tech fan - um, no.
By Matt Winkeljohn
February 28, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
Newberry transferred to an NAIA school near St. Louis. can’t remember the name. I’m trying to find it. Wrote that (very brief) last month.
Byron Ingram. Sorry.
By GTFAN
February 28, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
Newberry transferred to a much smaller school.
By Jacket hope
February 28, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Good article Matt. Thanks for the update! Jackethope
By Not Disappointed
February 28, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
The future is bright for the Yellow Jackets.
By BRS
February 28, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Calvin Booker will start for Georgia Tech and they will be much better! Taylor Bennett is garbarge and it won’t take long to find that out this spring! Calvin Johnson saved his but in the bowl game for the most part but it will show in the spring practice that at best he’s an emergency backup!!
By tidbit
February 28, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Djay Jones’s injury is minor. Also, he is an absolute beast. He has bulked up and really looks the part of a solid S. If you remember, he injury prone the last two years and the added muscle will only help him. He almost looks like a LB
By GTGreg
February 28, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the update Matt! What’s the popular opinion on Mike Cox getting any carries this year with Bond as the OC?
By Resiew
February 28, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
BRS - You know nothing. Taylor Bennett will make everyone wonder why he wasn’t starting the last 3 years. If Calvin saved his but(sic), why did Calvin have his best day on his last day in a uniform. How come Reggie Ball NEVER had as productive a game as Taylor. Go back into your dawg pen and let your master lick you again.
By Joshua Barlowe
February 28, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
I’m excited to see Marius at CB, I think he has plenty of skill to be there, and I really thought Roberson is more of a safety.
I think it will be interesting to see how Grant will see much time on the field, as I think Dwyer will claim the #2 RB spot early. If anybody is redshirted it will be Jones.
Go Jackets!
By cd
February 28, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
jONATHAN’S DEPATURE COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, GAILEY COULD HAVE HANDLED jg”S DEPARTURE DIFFERENTLY. ONE THING IS HE COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM REPS. HE NEVER DID AND NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF. OR LET HIM KNOW HIS PLAN BEFORE FEB. TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO TRANSFER WITH SCHOLARSHIP LOCKED UP. GAILEY WAS CLASSLESS FOR WAITING LIKE HE DID. THE WHOLE THING IS TRAGIC AND VERY COLD ESPECIALLY FOR ACOACH WHO IS SUPPOSEDLY A GOOD MAN…
By 91Wreck
February 28, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
I didn’t see any mention of Robert Hall. Does he have a chance of making it into the defensive end rotation? He is a tough football player.
By m
February 28, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Chan Gailey is the sorriest excuse for a coach I have ever seen in my life. His mistreatment of Garner is just like his mistreatment of Andy Hall….who transferred and made All-American at Delaware. Gailey is a poor judge of talent as he is a poor coach. He should have been fired already.
By Davey
February 28, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
And you are a good judge of talent? Sure 4 years later the decision is easy to make but who knew that Suggs was going to be a bust and Hall was going to go pro. And last time I checked you can only play one QB on the feild at the same time. Bennett is the better QB.
By Arob
February 28, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this
Davey- I have to disagree. Chan is a VERY questionable judge of skill at the QB position. There is a reason Suggs was getting no PT at Tennessee. He stunk! Let’s see here: Suggs and Ball. Now that’s some serious NFL talent there. Shame on Chan if he could not recruit or develop a better QB than those two over the last 6 or so years! What is he getting paid for? I know this is old hat, so let’s see what he can do with this new crop. But the whole Garner thing has me worried.
By m
March 1, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
The whole point is that Chan did not give Andy Hall a chance. He made up his mind for Suggs before spring practice even began. Now he has done the same thing to Garner. I repeat…CHAN GAILEY is the sorriest coach in college football history. He should have already been fired.
By exNFLplayer
March 4, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
The player/position most impacted by the departure of Calvin Johnson will not be Taylor Bennett or whoever plays QB. Folks this one is easy. It will be Tashard Choice and the Tech running game. If John Bond does not diversify the passing attack or another dominant reciever develops, defenses will have at least one, maybe two more defenders committed to run support. Calvin was doubled, sometime tripled, allowing Choice and the running game to flourish. It’s football 101 folks.