AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March
March 2008
Here, there, everywhere at Rose Bowl Field
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Scattershooting from Tech’s fifth spring practice …
OL A.J. Smith, who has been working at G, left practice. Don’t know if he’s sick or injured. More later.
LB Shane Bowen, a projected starter, is out for the duration of spring practice after shoulder surgery. But he’s here today, in pads, working on the side with one of those can’t-miss red vests on.
RB Tyler Evans is out with a likely dislocated left shoulder, suffered Saturday. He’s working alongside Bowen, but with no shoulder pads.
A-back/PR Andrew Smith (illness) is back after missing all of last week.
Tony Clark working LB rather than DB, though there’s no way to be sure that will stay just from watching.
Jackets just finished a mini-scrimmage situation. Nesbitt and Jamaal Evans each broke long runs. Booker struggling with some footwork. Multiple players struggling with some pitches and catches. Nesbitt missed a wide-open receiver deep.
Now, in passing drills, defense working on dime. Current alignment: CBs: Word-Daniels and Butler; Ss White and Reese; dime backs: Tarrant and Burnett.
Nesbitt just connected waaaaay deep right with walk-on WR Kevin Cone (St. Pius) with Martin Frierson covering, and then deep left with freshman Tyler Melton on a very nice over-the-shoulder catch. Tarrant covering.
Booker just connected for 35 yards right to redshirt freshman walk-on WR R.B. Clyburn.
I’m curious … the talk about increasing mental toughness, is that standard for a new coach? Ever hear a coach say, “We’re tough enough; we’re just not fast enough or strong enough?”
This is definitely a mental thing, as Paul Johnson said last week. So how might one coach and his staff be better at coaching that than another?
Therein lies a question for which I don’t have an answer, like why are Atlanta’s streets so bad (they finally pave a street after finishing the sewer line on that street only to tear holes in it again within months), or why aren’t the traffic lights in this very big (and very fast-growing) metropolitan area timed?
My experience from coaching changes is they work more often to positive effect in the short-term. When covering the Falcons, I noted a big pickup in Jim Mora’s first year and it wasn’t because of big roster changes (Rod Coleman was the only significant pickup in 2004). It was new energy, and oh yeah, Michael Vick didn’t have a broken leg.
Random example: Look at Minnesota’s basketball team this year. The Gophers were horrible last season, just attrocious. Tubby Smith didn’t overhaul the roster, but he overhauled the attitude. And the Gophers won 20 (or more). He did the same thing years earlier at Georgia, and kept the Pitino verve alive at Kentucky before petering out. The key? For him, at least, cut bait and run at the right time (or a year or two too late from Kentucky).
Maybe I’m nuts, but Josh Nesbitt looks a bit leaner. Jonathan Dwyer does not. He’s a project, which is saying something. Skill is not the issue. It’s about intensity. My two cents: he needs to shed about 10-12 pounds.
Got some recruits out here today, same as Saturday. Don’t know names at this point. Might be able to find out later.
I wonder, too (and will ask), about the slotting of some positions. There are some guys working with the top OL units, like Jason Hill and David Brown, who did not make marks last summer or season while some others who did (most notably Clyde Yandell, and to a lesser degree Nick Claytor) are working with backup units.
Perhaps because both offensive line coaches are new, and there is no keen in-house first-hand knowledge of the players at those positions, the coaches just go on a combination of the obvious (like Gardner, Voss, Dunmon and Smith working high because they played a lot last year) and then a deferment to years (Hill and Brown are upperclassmen and Yandell/Claytor/Gilbert) are redshirt freshmen. Then, let players work it out.
I don’t care what kind of blocking scheme this runs, if I had to make a bet, I’d put Yandell’s name on the line if asked who might start or play a lot on the OL this year that last year did not. He had a good summer before redshirting. He moves well, has good size, etc.
More later.
I’m going to write for tomorrow morning about DEs, and a little bit about some philosophical changes in the D-line.
Matt
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Week 1 shows …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some observations through four of 15 Georgia Tech spring practice sessions:
—Josh Nesbitt showed in today’s scrimmage that he has the potential to fit Paul Johnson’s offense. He has a lot of learning ahead of him, but the raw creative ability he has is a gift that isn’t teachable.
—Johnson is serious when he talks about getting Tech tougher. He has absolutely no patience for anything but all-out effort. And he doesn’t mind calling out a player when he doesn’t see it. He has challenged Jonathan Dwyer. In today’s scrimmage, I thought Dwyer responded. But it was noteworthy that Dwyer began the scrimmage as a second-teamer, behind Quincy Kelly at B-back (fullback).
—That being said, don’t get too caught up in who is where on the depth chart. This is a team in a state of flux. It is, however, interesting to note when something changes. Jake Blackwood moved up to second team at safety, with Willie White moving down. Roddy Jones moved up to join Jamaal Evans at first-team A-back (slotback), with Greg Smith moving down.
—I have written very little about the defensive line, because, frankly, it’s the one spot on the team where I don’t see a lot of questions. When you’ve got Darryl Richard and Vance Walker in the middle and Derrick Morgan and Michael Johnson on the outside, things look good, and having guys like Elris Anyaibe and Robert Hall (who is injured) behind those starters ought to be reassuring, and there are about four other guys who might contribute. It’s good these days to be Giff Smith, the line coach.
—Yes, Mario Butler got burned on the 51-yard touchdown pass from Nesbitt to Demaryius Thomas, but he also has done some things that suggest he has a chance to be an answer at cornerback. Jerrard Tarrant, another corner, isn’t quite as far along but made a great play today when he blitzed and stripped the ball from Calvin Booker. Dave Wommack (safeties) and Charles Kelly (corners) probably will have only one player in their top five defensive backs who isn’t a redshirt freshman or a sophomore. That would be Jahi Word-Daniels. So though things could be a little bumpy this fall in the defensive backfield, they ought to be better in 2009 and 2010.
—The offensive line is likely to go through some shuffling between now and the season opener against Jacksonville State. There might be a pretty good competition at center between Dan Voss and Trey Dunmon. Fifth-year senior David Brown is an unlikely-looking right tackle, listed at 6-3, 271. (What a great story he would be if he does contribute on the offensive line after all the former defensive lineman has been through.) Does Cord Howard play there in the fall, or does the spring practice he’ll miss because of his broken foot put him too far behind? How long is it before redshirt freshman Clyde Yandell makes a move up the depth chart, and does he move into that right tackle spot?
That’s all for now. I have more to say, and some of it will show up in stories scheduled to be posted online Monday morning and evening.
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Johnson says Jackets need toughness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Paul Johnson’s evaluation after seeing his Georgia Tech football team practice in pads for the first time: “We’ve got to get a lot tougher, a lot tougher.”
No sooner had special teams work ended than the Yellow Jackets jumped straight into hard-hitting drills.
At 4:10 p.m., it was “Oklahomas,” the kind of who’s-the-toughest drill that is all about seeing who is man enough to accomplish the blocking and tackling basics that win football games. One player blocks, one plays defense, one tries to carry the football between two pads and past the defender.
“You try to find out who will stick their face in there,” Johnson said.
Setting the tone at the start of the drill were two of Tech’s best, offensive tackle Andrew Gardner firing out to block defensive tackle Darryl Richard. Richard missed Wednesday’s practice because of a class but is back today and going all-out.
Vance Walker, who sat out of drills on Wednesday, is in with Richard at first-team tackle. The first-team ends are Derrick Morgan and Michael Johnson. The linebackers: Kyle Jackson and Anthony Barnes on the outside and Brad Jefferson in the middle. Corners: Mario Butler and Jahi Word-Daniels. Safeties: Morgan Burnett and Dominique Reese.
Center Trey Dunmon, who was out sick for the first two practices, is back. Dan Voss still ended up taking a lot of the snaps at center with Jason Hill at guard, though Voss did appear at guard, too. The other guard was A.J. Smith. Gardner and David Brown are at tackle. Greg Smith and Jamaal Evans were the top A-backs, with Calvin Booker continuing to work at No. 1 quarterback.
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Philip Wheeler’s take on new defense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s no shortage of former Georgia Tech football players dropping by spring practice this week. On Wednesday, I spotted former safeties Djay Jones and Jamal Lewis, Webmaster and former defensive end Adamm Oliver and former linebacker Philip Wheeler, and there might have been others.
Wheeler’s impressions: “They looked pretty good for the second day.” I asked him what difference he saw between the old defense and the new one. He laughed. “I didn’t see any blitzes,” Wheeler said.
My take: It’s a good sign when former players are invested enough in the program to show up to watch a spring practice or two.
My second take: Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who spent a lot of Monday’s practice trying to get Kyle Jackson’s attention, appeared much happier with Jackson’s performance on Wednesday. With Wheeler and Gary Guyton gone, Tech needs Brad Jefferson and Jackson to step up and play alongside Anthony Barnes and Shane Bowen. Those four seem most likely to produce the starting three, though Travis Chambers didn’t rejoin the team for a redshirt senior season just to sit around.
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Clark returns to safety
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tony Clark is working out with the safeties today in Georgia Tech’s second spring practice. He used to be a defensive back, of course, but he had been moved to linebacker under the Chan Gailey administration. Paul Johnson’s stated policy is to let players begin the spring where they’d like to play and then move them if and when he decides they need to be at another position. It will be interesting to see how long Clark stays at safety, where he is working with the No. 2s.
The secondary, at the moment: Jahi Word-Daniels and Mario Butler at cornerback, Morgan Burnett and Dominique Reese at safety. Backups at corner: Michael Peterson and Jerrard Tarrant (who was a safety). Backups at safety: Clark and Jake Blackwood.
Other observations: defensive tackle Vance Walker is here and in uniform but not participating in the drills. Defensive tackle Darryl Richard isn’t here. I’ll ask about both after practice. That left a No. 1 defensive front of Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan at end and Elris Anyaibe and Ben Anderson at tackle.
Tech practiced punts at the beginning of practice. Roddy Jones, Tyler Evans, Tyler Melton and Jerrard Tarrant were getting a look at the return position. I think Jones has promise in the role, as long as he can prove he can field punts consistently without dropping them. Paul Johnson values ball security first and foremost. Evans is a proven commodity in that respect.
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More from Day 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some information from Georgia Tech’s first spring football practice that didn’t make it into my story or Matt’s update on Jacob Lonowski:
A couple of players weren’t practicing on Monday because of illness: center Trey Dunmon and A-back Andrew Smith. Dan Voss ran with the No. 1 line at center.
With no tight end position, Austin Barrick, listed at 6-3, 254, was playing the same position as Jamaal Evans, 5-8, 186. That position is A-back, or slot back. I can’t remember the last time I saw such a size difference at one position on one team. (Maybe in high school?) It’s either a sign of the flexibility of Johnson’s offense or of the determination of Barrick to find somewhere he can play.
It’s way, way, way too early to care a lot about depth charts, real or imaginary, but … it looked like the first unit on the offensive line was Andrew Gardner, Jason Hill (6-4, 299 former tackle at left guard), Voss, A.J. Smith (6-7, 299 former tackle at right guard), David Brown (former defensive lineman who has spent, if I remember correctly, about a year on offense). I will follow up with the OL coaches (remember, there are two of them) about the theory behind big guards. Not all the big guys are on the inside: Clyde Yandell (6-5, 296) was at No. 2 right tackle, with Joseph Gilbert inside him, Andrew Folkner at center, Drew Brannon at left guard and Nick Claytor (6-6, 304) at left tackle.
Linebacker will be a key position this spring, with Gary Guyton (who was there watching) and Philip Wheeler both moving on to the pros. With Shane Bowen rehabbing after surgery, Brad Jefferson and Kyle Jackson worked with Anthony Barnes. Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary spent a lot of time on Jackson’s case. I can’t remember Jean-Mary ever being as vocal on the practice field; that’s probably a sign of the difference that comes with a staff change. Jon Tenuta did enough yelling for everyone on defense in the past. Now, there’s room for the other coaches to be heard, and they were certainly being heard on Monday.
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Tech at it again, with Paul Johnson in charge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pretty good crowd for the first day of spring practice, it being a week day and starting at an hour (4 p.m.) when a lot of folks have to work.
Not in full uniforms yet, of course.
Bunch of number changes, although I won’t get into them here (other than former WR Willie White wearing No. 6 now that he’s working at safety).
If they were to play next week, White and Morgan Burnett (back to safety from CB) would probably be the starting safeties.
The secondary will bear a lot of watching this spring, and summer.
Interesting watching the new coaches, even the old coaches, in new roles.
Former special teams coach Charles Kelly is working with CBs. He’ll keep a hand in special teams, as will several coaches.
DC Dave Wommack is working with safeties.
Paul Johnson is working with QBs and B backs.
Everybody’s back to having their names taped on helmets.
KaMichael Hall, Gary Guyton and P.J. Daniels (on crutches) among former Jackets in attendance.
Supposed to be a good bit warmer by Wednesday’s practice, I think/hope. Windy out.
Another watch spot: kicker/punter. If I had to bet, I’d suggest Blair at PK, and dunno about punter. Yahioui will have a shot at that spot, but there are some unfamiliar names what will get good looks. They’re not kicking well today. Wind doesn’t help.
Depth chart? Forget it. Won’t be one released for weeks. Guys are just lumped in groups right now.
Changing gears a little bit … I know some fuss has been made about an increased tempo and the like. I gotta say, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a coaching change where there wasn’t talk of an uptick in tempo. It just goes with the territory. Now, over time, there will be a more relevant evaluation of that. But has anybody every followed a coaching change only to hear players say, ‘Well, we’ve slowed things down.”? Uh, no.
New staff said to be getting along well. Less tension in the workplace for reasons that can be theorized about far and wide.
Short story will come on-line tomorrow morning about Jacob Lonowski’s decision to end his football career. Too many shoulder issues. He had a choice, but opted out. He’s here today.
Mike is writing for later about quarterbacks, and Johnson’s role working with them.
We’re going to post some sort of football story each morning for the next few weeks, whether Tech practices or not. On days following workouts, there will be at least two stories, the main that will be in the paper and an on-line story as well. Dunno about weekends, but on weekdays.
Later
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Tech and the NCAA tourney
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Seven of Georgia Tech’s 14 non-conference opponents wound up in the NCAA tournament. So did ACC rivals Miami, North Carolina, Duke and Clemson.
So, as a Tech fan, do you follow those teams with added interest? Are you pulling for Carolina to win it all? Do you actually want Duke to win, or is Duke hatred non-stop, even when it’s representing the ACC in college sports’ showcase event?
Do you watch the tournament with an eye toward who would be a good coach for the Yellow Jackets if and when Paul Hewitt leaves? Do you look to see how players Tech recruited but didn’t sign perform?
Or do you try to ignore the NCAA tournament when Tech isn’t in it, and has your attention switched to the spring sports — baseball, softball, tennis, golf and
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Should Tech have been in CBI?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s the NCAA, and then there’s the NIT and this year there’s the CBI, the College Basketball Invitational, a tournament for those teams that didn’t make the 65-team NCAA field or the 32-team NIT.
Who’s 98th?
Not Georgia Tech. Virginia, which lost to Tech in the ACC tournament, is a No. 1 seed in the CBI. Cincinnati, which lost its last six games to finish 13-18, is in the 16-team tournament, too.
Would you have wanted the Yellow Jackets (15-17) to play in the first-year tournament, which isn’t run by the NCAA? Before you answer, be sure to weigh the benefits of added practice for the returning players against the potential stain of being associated with a tourney that made Cincinnati a five-games-below-.500 at-large pick.
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Tough weekend for Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The baseball team got swept by Florida State. The men’s basketball season came to an end in Charlotte. And the rival from Athens cut down the nets at Alexander Memorial Coliseum after winning the SEC tournament on Georgia Tech’s home court.
Which was toughest to take for Tech fans?
By the way, I thought Tech showed a lot of class by bailing out the SEC and offering Alexander Memorial Coliseum as a backup to the wind-damaged Georgia Dome. Spotted at one of Georgia’s games on Saturday: Tech guard Matt Causey, watching dispassionately. I asked him what he thought, expecting some sort of reaction to the strangeness of Georgia playing on Tech’s court. I should have known better. His analysis: “Great game.”
There should be good news for Tech tonight with the women’s basketball team receiving an NCAA tournament invitation for the second consecutive season, a first in school history.
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It’s elementary; the better team won
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I thought there were two keys more important than others in Tech’s loss to Duke:
When the Blue Devils were — as usual — drastically overplaying Tech’s wings, the counter needed to be back cuts. The Jackets scored on one, by Morrow, by my count in the first half when Tech’s ball movement was horrid much of the time, especially in contrast to what we saw the night before against Virginia.
Beyond that, drive, drive, drive. When the Jackets went on their 19-2 run in the second half, they did. They had five layups in that stretch, and got to the line a couple times.
Not as important, but a big factor especially in the first half: crummy rebounding.
Don’t think the defense was horrible, but not great. DeMarcus Nelson was a huge difference make.
A lot of those offensive problems has to do with Duke, the way the Devils play defense, and the talent they have. You line up eight former McDonalds All-Americans, have a guy like Jon Scheyer who doesn’t even start, and you’d better be good.
I don’t think there’s much chance of Tech getting an NIT bid, not at 15-17 when there are four other ACC teams that won’t make the NCAA tournament who all have plus-.500 records. Unless they all turn down bids.
Paul Hewitt suggested that he almost certainly would not turn down an NIT bid if the Jackets were so fortunate as to get one.
That’s all. I’m tired.
A season on the line
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For some, this may go without saying, but Georgia Tech’s season is almost certainly on the line tonight against Duke.
The NIT is not likely to take Tech (15-16), perhaps even if the Jackets get their record to .500, which would take getting all the way to the finals of the ACC tournament. Of course, if the Jackets did that and won, they’d go to the NCAAs. If they got there and lost, they’d be 17-17 and still not a lock to make the NIT.
The Jackets, I’m told, are virtually certain not to accept an invitation from the new College Basketball Invitational (CBI) if one comes, and in fact no ACC team may accept a bid from the CBI. That’s not official, as league spokesman Brian Morrison told me the subject has not come up in league offices, yet there’s scuttlebutt that no ACC team will go.
While the NIT does not require teams to have a .500 or better record, at least not in writing, some ACC insiders think it highly unlikely the NIT will take any ACC teams at or below .500.
If Tech beats Duke and loses in the semis, the Jackets would be 16-17.
With 32 teams going to the NIT, tournament officials are less likely to take the Jackets than pro-.500 ACC teams like Florida State (19-13 pending a game with UNC), Virginia Tech (18-12 pending a game against Miami), even struggling Maryland (18-14). Wake Forest is 17-13, and less attractive, especially since Tech beat the Deacs twice, but tourney officials might covet the team for something approaching a unique appeal as it is in the first season after the death of Skip Prosser
In sum, Tech’s next loss will almost certainly end the season no matter when it comes — unless multiple other teams turn down NIT bids (which happens).
Moving on …
I’ve been around this basketball team for three or four months, but if anybody out there can tell me where the %$#@ these guys were hiding for some of that time, I’ll be in your debt.
Look, Virginia’s not Memphis, or Kansas, or UNC.
But the Cavs have played better lately, and didn’t play poorly Thursday — until they started to wear out. And they did, same as in Tech’s win in Charlottesville.
The Jackets’ pressure, particularly on Singletary, and pace, pace, pace were eventually more than Virginia could cope with and sustain.
When this team moves the ball like that, and of late in wins over Clemson and Boston College, the results bear little resemblance to the team of February.
In the past five games, the Jackets have rung up 18, 17, 16, 17 and 22 assists.
In the past three, they’ve shot 26 of 50 (against a pretty good defensive team in Clemson), 30 of 53 and then 33 of 57 tonight. Combined, that’s 89 of 160 (55.6 percent). That’s fairly smoking.
Lewis Clinch isn’t exactly lighting it up, but he’s clearly not playing in that funk any more.
Morrow’s stroking, Jeremis Smith is playing out of his mind, Moe Miller is growing up big-time (four 3 pointers, including the biggest shot of the game — his 3-pointer with 14:09 left when Virginia had taken a 56-51 lead with a 10-2 run to start the second half, when the Jackets looked for a bit like the ones with heavy legs).
Gani Lawal has become less productive (scoring 26 points in the past four games, grabbing just five rebounds in that span after scoring two and not grabbing a rebound Thursday night). Gani’s only basket came very early in the second half, when Bell whipped a pass inside and it skipped off Lawal’s hands, went up, and fell in the basket (the type of play, by the way, that has almost never gone the Jackets’ way this season). He scored without shooting!
Good thing Zack Peacock (14 points, two assists, two rebounds) and Alade Aminu (11 points on four of four shooting, five rebounds and three blocks) are stepping up.
I’m not saying this team is going to beat Duke.
But it’s far from a foregone conclusion.
Anybody out there still willing to put up the argument that Tech lacks sufficient talent to compete?
Uh, no. Again, not saying these guys are world-beaters, but recent evidence suggests that the coaching staff took too long to mesh pieces, that the pieces are there to be a lot better than 15-16.
Football alums — where they are now
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There were more alumni watching Georgia Tech’s football pro day on Thursday than there were seniors participating in it.
Here are updates on some who were there:
—Calvin Johnson: Heading into his second season with the Detroit Lions.
—Reggie Ball: Also with the Lions, he will be in workouts in Detroit next week. He’s expecting to earn a Tech degree in the spring or summer of 2009.
—Damarius Bilbo: Played quarterback in Thursday’s workouts and showed off a strong arm. If anything, his accuracy might have been better since the last time I saw him throw, when he was a Yellow Jacket. The Cowboys moved him to safety before releasing him last fall. “I’m trying to show people I’m a quarterback and a receiver,” Bilbo said. “I don’t care if it’s Canadian [Football League], AFL, I just want to play quarterback.” Bilbo also flashed the sense of humor that endeared him to so many people at Tech. Johnson, who brought a football to the workout, was looking for it with the intensity of a man who’d lost his wallet. “How much does an NFL ball cost, $90?” Bilbo asked the man who signed a six-year contract with more than $27 million guaranteed. “You can buy 1 billion, 2 million.”
—Mansfield Wrotto: That switch to offensive line for his senior season paid off with a fourth-round selection by the Seattle Seahawks, who moved him from tackle to guard. He didn’t play in 2007 but did stay on the team. “I’ve proven I could be a solid backup, which was my goal,” Wrotto said. “Now, I want to prove I can compete for a position.”
—Dennis Davis: He was set to play cornerback in the new All-American Football League, but the league on Thursday announced it has postponed its inaugural season until 2009. “I’m in shape ready to go where I need to go,” Davis said, and he looked as ready as he sounded.
—George Cooper: He has re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s still close to Michael Matthews, who competed with him for the starting tight end spot at Tech and went on to play for the New York Giants. “I talk to him every day,” Cooper said.
—Joe Anoai: A free agent, he is looking to get a chance with the right team. “It would be nice to be in a 4-3,” Anoai said.
—Eric Henderson: The 2006 free agent signee is still with the Cincinnati Bengals and eager to play after missing the 2007 season with a wrist injury.
—Curtis Modkins: The former Tech running backs coach took some ribbing from players on Thursday for showing up in red, that UGA color, but Modkins just laughed it off. He was dressed from shoes to cap in Kansas City Chiefs attire and said it’s easy to get over the color scheme when he looks at the numbers on his paycheck.
By the way, I told Adamm Oliver I would help spread the word about his Web site, on which current and former Tech football players have appeared to answer questions and share news and views. www.meethemachine.com is well worth a visit.
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Tech travels one day later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey, Mike is going to have a football blog today, and I’ll have something after tonight’s ACC tournament game.
Quickly, Tech coach Paul Hewitt decided a few days ago that since the Jackets don’t play until 7 p.m. (rather than noon, which looked possible until last week) to travel to Charlotte Wednesday rather than late Tuesday.
A couple primary reasons beyond the obvious, which is they play later:
— This allows student-athletes to stay on campus that much longer, and some apparently have some substantial tests to take. I know Anthony Morrow had a big one yesterday before leaving.
— Hewitt wanted to make this as much like a regular road trip (always depart the day before game, not two). Last year, the Jackets practiced in Tampa (site of last year’s tournament) very hard the day before a night game against Wake Forest, and lost in double overtime.
The net result meant that the Jackets were not in Charlotte for the open practice, meaning some fans who thought they might get to watch did not.
Until tonight …
What memories of Jeremis, A-Mo have you?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Talking to Anthony Morrow the other day, for a story that will post tonight and run in Thursday’s paper.
He almost went out of his way to say, “I want to be remembered for something.”
I’ll have more specifics in the story, but I’ve heard it said that that recruiting class — Morrow, Jeremis Smith, Zam Frederick, Ra’Sean Dickey — under-achieved.
That’s a tough call, and subject to each person’s opinion, but it’s worth pointing out that when they came in (fall 2004), they had a tried and true point guard (Jack). Made the NCAA tournament that spring, but went out in the second round.
A lot of people considered that underachievement; most of the national title game team was back. That team was wracked with injuries throughout the season, never really hit a long stride.
Then, Jack left school a year early and the highly-touted PG recruit who was to apprentice for a a year and then take over (Austin Jackson) opted for baseball instead.
So there was no point guard their sophomore season, which was, of course, a disaster. Zam transferred, which was probably in the best interests of both him and the program, and last season Morrow was injured at first, and then sacrificed — Hewitt’s words — with the coming of Crittenton and Young.
They left, there goes another PG. Dickey waffled last season, battles knee problems to this day, fell ineligible last fall, and then redshirted in part because of continuing knee issues.
Morrow and Smith are Tech’s leading scorers this season. Smith is the leading rebounder, Morrow third I believe.
Effort has never been an issue. Lack of continuity at point guard has been.
We’ll see if they make any memories in Charlotte.
Hey look! Basketball can be fun
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is not just lip service: when I say there is a very different air around the basketball team, I mean it.
Do not misinterpret. I’m not suggesting Tech is going on a tear to win the ACC tournament. I’m not making a prediction on what will happen in sum in Charlotte.
But these are not the same Jackets I saw lose five straight.
After the first 10 minutes against Clemson, when the defense was as bad for as long as at any point all season, the Jackets have had their act together.
The offense has been more efficient over the past four games than all season. They’re hanging onto the ball (15 turnovers combined in the past three halves). The defense has dialed in (28 steals last two games) with the exception of that gash against Clemson. The pressure, which coach Hewitt prefers to play, is making a difference.
So often early in the season, the Jackets played pressure as if it hurt them. Not of late. Their pressure defense has been their best defense.
They’re playing on both sides of the play without the indecision that plagued them in the five-game losing streak, with confidence like that of their three-game road winning streak.
A few individual notes, and then one very painful summation:
Gani Lawal has made 16 of his previous 23 free throws. Very good. Seriously. He also has just five rebounds in the previous three games, going three, zero, two. Not good.
Past four games, Jeremis Smith has rebounded 13, six, seven and 10 times. Very good. He had four steals at B.C.
Lewis Clinch made four of six shots, two of three 3-pointers at BC., and looked like he was comfortable shooting for the first time in ages.
Peacock has made 18 of 32 shots in the past three games, and 20 of 23 free throws over the past five games. Want him at the FT line. That’s a big reason he’s playing more minutes than Lawal (even though Gani’s been better at the line recently than he was most of the season). That and the fact Peacock has a 10-4 assist/turnover ratio lately (25-32 on the season), and Lawal’s ratio is 2-11 in the same span (9-51 for the season).
Now, Tech finished 6-8 on the road, and 4-4 in ACC games, best since the year the Jackets went to the national title games, and one of the best seasons in decades.
But the reason they’re in the pickle they’re in: 6-7 at home, 3-5 in ACC games. Those five ACC losses came by eight points. No matter the margin, that’s the reason Tech is where Tech is.
Actually, I’ll make two predictions: Tech will play very hard in Charlotte, and will beat Virginia Thursday. After that?
Looking into the crystal ball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Funny how in the two games Clemson and Tech played, the team that made 23 free throws won each game, and the team that made just nine lost each time.
Hmmm. Big surprise, huh?
But onto deeper matters, what about next season?
I’ll work on the presumption that Paul Hewitt will still be the coach.
I don’t think Iman Shumpert will be the shooter that departing Anthony Morrow was, but I have a hunch he’ll be a more rounded scorer. Freshmen rarely excel defensively, especially early. I have no hunch about his defense, rebounding, etc.
My guess is Shumpert will start at one wing and play some point to give Miller a break from time to time. It seems like it would be a crazy for Miller not to start at PG. If I’m right, Shumpert will partially fill the roles of both Morrow and departing PG MAtt Causey while playing more like Thad Young than either of them.
Dickey may be able — on paper — to replace departing Jeremis Smith’s rebounding and scoring totals, although I don’t think he’s a lock to start. I’m betting Lawal and Peacock start in the frontcourt, and Dickey and Aminu spell them. I dunno about Sheehan’s role.
At this point, I’d tab Bell as the other wing. I bet Storrs makes a quantum leap, and will surprise folks as a shooter, thereby replacing some of Morrow’s skillset.
This leaves the enigma — Lewis Clinch.
He’s passing up shots, and shooting poorly when he does shoot. His psyche is a wreck, in my opinion, and while there’s a long time between now and next season, much work needs to be done to bring Lewis back from wherever he’s been.
So the questions are how to balance the PG minutes, chiefly behind Miller I think, and how to facilitate the return of Clinch?
Then, the great intangible: who emerges in leadership roles?
I think that’s an issue. Bell has been more assertive, but is not a super vocal guy, nor is Miller — at least not yet. Dickey is too quiet, and inconsistent to be counted upon for that based on existing evidence.
Time will tell.
On to Boston.
Tech men finally get it done
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When Georgia Tech allowed Clemson to get back-to-back offensive rebounds, and the Tigers had the ball and a chance to tie, I was thinking “here we go again,” but Zach Peacock got the next rebound, and made the free throws, and the Yellow Jackets finally got a big home victory.
Sure, it’s too little too late, but it was impressive to see, nonetheless. Tech 80, Clemson 75.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Categories: Basketball
What we know; what we don’t
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech’s baseball team has allowed only 20 runs through 10 games, the fewest runs this far into the season in the history of the program.
How much does that mean, when the Yellow Jackets have yet to play an ACC game? Maybe more than you think.
Tech hasn’t exactly played an all-star schedule: Youngstown State, Rutgers, Kennesaw State, Western Carolina and Georgia Southern. But those teams aren’t punchless. I took a look Wednesday night at how those teams fared against opponents other than Tech. The results: 214 runs in 28 games. That’s a healthy 7.6 runs per game. So, yes, it means something that Tech held them to an average of 2.0.
Changing sports, we can ask a similar question, with more data but a lot of uncertainty. Just how good is Tech’s women’s basketball team? The overall record of 22-8 is great, but according to realtimerpi.com, the only two victories Tech has over top-50 teams came in November against Iowa (45th in the RPI) and Temple (50th).
That’s why today’s ACC quarterfinal against Virginia could be so important. The Cavaliers rank 20th in the RPI. With a victory, Tech could make a case for a seventh or eighth seed in the NCAA tournament. With a loss, Tech, which is No. 37 in the RPI, might look more like a ninth or 10th seed.
The women’s basketball committee doesn’t seed by RPI alone. Last season, Tech had a No. 52 RPI on Selection Monday but got a No. 7 seed, suggesting the committee considered Tech one of the top 28 teams. The reason: Tech had beaten Maryland.
A victory over Virginia could be a real seeding difference-maker this time around.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: baseball
Huge day for Tech women
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I drove up to Greensboro today for the ACC women’s basketball tournament, which has not been a fun place for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have won more than one game in the tournament only once in 28 years, in 1992. So nobody should have been surprised when Tech’s flight here on Tuesday was canceled and the team ended up traveling by bus.
But Tech really doesn’t have to win two games here this week. One ought to be enough. A victory on Thursday over last-place Miami ought to clinch an at-large NCAA tournament berth, and that would make history because it would put Tech in the tourney in back-to-back seasons for the first time.
The Yellow Jackets split with the Hurricanes during the regular season. Tech coach MaChelle Joseph said her team was excited about the chance to avenge the loss at Miami, which RPI-wise at least is by far the worst of the team’s eight losses this season.
I think Tech will win. You can watch it on FSN at 11 a.m., if you aren’t stuck at a job without cable TV.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Basketball
Tenuta sighting, and more
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m at Russ Chandler Stadium today. So is Jon Tenuta, Notre Dame assistant football coach, with, I believe, one of his sons. Yes, that Jon Tenuta.
Another celebrity sighting, sort of: Drew Saberhagen is pitching for Western Carolina. Yes, he’s the son of former Kansas City Royals ace Bret Saberhagen.
It really is a great day for baseball, believe it or not, and after what happened at Alexander Memorial Coliseum Monday night, and with spring football still more than two weeks away, isn’t it time for spring sports?
Actually, I switch back to winter sports later this week, with coverage of Tech’s women’s basketball team from the ACC tournament at Greensboro, N.C. The Yellow Jackets have a must-win first-round game against Miami that should assure them of an NCAA tournament berth. If you can’t be there, you can watch it on TV, assuming you’ve got cable at work and can sneak a peek when the boss isn’t looking.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Categories: baseball
Good start for current, ex and never-were Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech looks sharp on the mound, with four shutouts and a 1.68 staff ERA through eight games. Weekend starters Eddie Burns (14 strikeouts, 0 walks in 14 innings), Zack Von Tersch (12 strikeouts, 1 earned run in 13 innings) and David Duncan (13 strikeouts, 3 walks in 14 innings) appear ready for the ACC season. Which is good, because it starts on Friday, after midweek games against Western Carolina and Kennesaw State.
Former Tech star Matt Wieters is impressing the bosses in his first spring training. Here’s the link.
Meanwhile, former Tech basketball signee Austin Jackson has shown he can do more than play point guard, with Reggie Jackson calling him the best athlete in the Yankees organization.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: baseball
All cheer Jeremis Smith
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry to blog so late.
Two best individual games of the year: Moe Miller last Sat. at Va. Tech in a loss )29 pts., etc., etc.), and Jeremis Smith today.
16 points, 13 rebounds, goes flying out of bounds twice on tough plays, crashing horrifficly both times, spasming the first time after taking a cameraman’s knee dead center in the middle of the back.
Leaves game injured twice, draws a charge to foul out Wake’s best player (Teague), and this may go forgetten by some.
End of the game, 8.8 left, game tied, Tech inbounds, Miller gets stripped in the lane, and Wake’s Ish Smith — the fastest or second-fastest players in the ACC (ty lawson) breaks the other way. somebody lays out, reaches around, and tips the ball away, forward.
Five seconds left? ISH Smith outraces all to the ball a second time, easy layup with 1 second left. wake wins.
Two seconds left (which is when ISH smith took off), though and there’s not enough time for him to catch up.
No game-winning shot by Wake’s ISH Smith.
Tech’s Smith made the play.
Weird, and eventually fun, game.
Matt
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