AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 08
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Get your re-ranked Tech freshman here!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, as I said a week ago, here are re-rankings of TRUE freshmen in terms of their chances of playing this season, which is another way of saying these are the freshmen I think least likely to red-shirt. This takes into consideration what I’ve seen in six practices and combines it with roster depth parameters as I see them. This is not coach-based; with a couple exceptions nobody is telling me up from down here. This is the Matt-meter so there’s a dumb factor involved.
1 DE Derrick Morgan (1a)
Only early enrollee left, listed No. 3 behind Adamm Oliver and Michael Johnson (who’s been limited so far) on one side (Robertson and Hall 1-2 on other side). Johnson will play a ton for a “backup,” as all Tech fans know, when Oliver will move inside in many situations. Morgan has been repping at No. 2 LDE during Johnson’s down time. I see Tech taking five DEs and four DTs into battle, with Oliver playing even more inside than the No. 4 DT. Hasn’t been a standout, but not getting blown out for sure.
2 QB Josh Nesbitt (1b)
He’s no less athletic than suspected, but he hasn’t thrown the ball well, and he’s playing too fast for his own good. Not unexpected, probably, but not helping himself yet. There’s time. Plus, Calvin Booker has been steady at No. 2. Still very much a candidate to be used in specific situations, ala Florida’s Tim Tebow.
3 S Morgan Burnett (3)
May be the best cover safety on the team other than All-ACC pick Jamal Lewis. Still learning the ropes, though, which is that much more important while playing inside. Clearly a talent. Somewhere I read the suggestion that if he red-shirts this year, he’s going to leave Tech as a four-year starter at FS. No way. This guy’s not going to be on campus five autumns. Are you nuts?
4 RB Jonathan Dwyer (5)
Not at a need position THIS YEAR, but Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant are seniors with sophomore Jamaal Evans trailing them. Dwyer’s been impressive. Biggest thing he has working against him is depth. Could emerge in return game, which really hasn’t been worked on much if at all.
5 WR D.J. Donley (8)
Mistakenly listed as a DB last week. He’s about the No. 6 WR now, maybe No. 7. His size (6-4) helps, and though he’s freshman raw (too rough a word really) at the finer points like route-running and the like, I have a hunch he’s going to be in the mix in special teams. Gailey gave him props after Weds. a.m. practice.
6 K Scott Blair (NR)
Walk-on from Calhoun is said to be in the mix for the right to kickoff. I’ve seen some absolute howitzers come off that foot. And a couple skulled iron shots, too.
7 CB Mario Butler (NR)
I have to assume coaches would rather not be in a position to be asking for much from a freshman CB, but their choices are becoming limited. Butler moved to No. 2 CB on his side Tuesday when senior Pat Clark was excused from practice. Clark was present at Weds. a.m. practice, but hardly did any work. He doesn’t appear to be injured, and Gailey was oddly vague in describing Clark’s status. If Clark returns, Butler’s stock drops. Tech’s most precarious position: cornerback.
8 RB Roddy Jones (NR)
Biggest positive difference between what I expected and what I’ve seen among freshmen. Still think he’s a realistic bet to red-shirt, but as his value on special teams has not yet been determined, I’m moving him up until I have a reason to move him down. I can’t see great logic in having none of the top five running backs red-shirt.
9 LT Clyde Yandell (NR)
We’re getting into longshot territory fast, but Yandell moved up and worked with the No. 2 OL for a while when injuries and absences began to be a problem at RT. He moved up briefly to No. 2 LT as Jason Hill moved over to No. 2 RT rather than freshman Nick Claytor moving up there. He was very much in it again Weds. a.m., and when asked Gailey said he’s ahead of all the young guys. “He’s not in the mix yet,” Gailey said, “but we’re trying to determine if he could be.”
10 DE Jason Peters (6)
Hasn’t really done anything terribly wrong that I’ve seen, but there is so much depth at DE and Jason did not enroll early, like Derrick Morgan.
11 LB Kyle Jackson (7)
There’s been no notable movement among the LBs behind the first- and second-teamers. Guys like Fr. LBs Jackson, Brad Jefferson and Albert Rocker are hard to read until special teams start sorting out in another 10 days or so. Probably all face a steep climb to play this season, as I’ve been told special teamers figure to be dominated by returning players and some who red-shirted last season like Anthony Barnes and Dominique Reese, maybe Martin Frierson et al. Then again, maybe you want at least one of these three linebackers to start his clock ticking?
12 OL Nick Claytor (4)
See above. Claytor has slimmed down, allegedly into the 290-pound range from somewhere around 320, although when I saw him today I said, “I saw somewhere that you were down to 288,” he laughed, shook his head and rolled his eyes (the only freshman we’re allowed to talk to is Morgan). I think the chief goal for him this season/school year is to tear down and rebuild his body. I could be over-simplifying, or wrong altogether. The return of Jacob Lonowski originally did him no favors, although the injury this week to A.J. Smith and the tenuous academic status of Cord Howard don’t hurt. Still, a verifiable longshot.
13 Willie White (10)
Also mistakenly listed as a DB last week. Unless he factors in the return game, or there are several injuries, Willie’s a red-shirt, as are DL Logan Walls (a lock), Joseph Gilbert, Jerrard Tarrant, Michael Peterson and probably Rocker. Jefferson I haven’t seen much of yet. He’s kind of tall, but can he play CB? Nevermind.
I’ll update them again next Wednesday after practice.
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Clark returns, sort of
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Senior cornerback Pat Clark has returned to practice at Georgia Tech on Wednesday, one day after he was excused from practice with no explanation. However, he did not participate. I talked with Chan Gailey and Clark after practice and will have an update on this in our daily practice report. Clark said he expects the issue to be resolved, possibly as early as Thursday.
Missing, for the second consecutive day, was third- or fourth-string quarterback Byron Ingram. He might not be back. That’s also updated in the practice report that should be posted on our Web site by 7 p.m. or so (after the second practice).
Tech is in full pads for this morning’s session, and it is hot and sticky. I ran four miles before coming out here, and I didn’t run fast, and I lost a lot of hydration in 34 minutes, so I can only imagine what it’s like for these guys. They’re doing some serious work, too, one-on-one tackling drills.
I just saw the first scuffle of the preseason. It was brief, with Philip Wheeler taking on someone. It looked like Jamaal Evans, a tough 5-8, 196, came off the bottom of the pile.
More updates to come from the first day of two-a-days.
