AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThrowing it all out there
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, last practice/scrimmage open to the public and media is in the books and …
I don’t know the severity of RT David Brown’s injury. X-rays were negative, Paul Johnson said. Most of you are probably aware that some rumors are circulating about ACL and others about a sprained ankle. I don’t know. When I do, I’ll write about it.
If Brown were to be down, I bet there’s a chance that either Cord Howard or A.J. Smith, tackles last year but guards this, would move over there at least for a look-see. Austin Barrick got most of the important work there Saturday, though.
Odds & ends …
Booker will play this year. One man’s opinion. No, he doesn’t run the baseline offense especially well, but he’s astute and I still think he’s the best passer. Change of pace.
Dwyer is going to be fantastic. No surprise there.
WR Tyler Melton doesn’t appear to far behind Demaryius Thomas to me. They’re your starters. Nothing Correy Earls can do about it now. Not enough time to catch up before the opener.
These guys look pooped, and sore. It’s that time. Lot of football, lot of hitting the past two weeks. Time to ease off the gas, coach. He knows that.
If Richard Watson returns to practice and plays well the next week-plus, I still think he might not redshirt at B-back. You’ve got Dwyer, Quincy Kelly (who has had injury issues himself) and then? Anthony Allen and Preston Lyons are not eligible to play this year after transferring. There is some debate, actually, on Lyons, but he seemed to confirm to me this year that he’ll be out. I’ll check. Lucas Cox was back at B-back today, and he has the build. Not great wheels, though. He’s a better blocker than runner, and that fits at A-back, actually, even though speed is more of a prerequisite there.
OLB Kyle Jackson has surprised me. He’s ahead of where I anticipated.
Don’t know OLB Anthony Barnes’ injury. It’s not serious, though.
Thinnest spot on the team? For my money, it’s CB. If Jahi were subtracted, whoa!
Thickest spot? D-line for sure. Everybody raves about the starters. There’s depth, too. Anyaibe, Peters, Hall, Anderson, maybe Logan Walls and Egbuniwe when he gets healthy. Best thing about that, you can rush the passer efficiently with your starters, then sub liberally without a huge dropoff, and not just by subbing one guy in and moving somebody (like Adamm Oliver from DE to DT when Michael Johnson entered). The D-line should be able to stay fresh from start to finish. That would be very important to the LBs and DBs, who are young, and don’t need to be asked — especially early in the season — to do too much, ie blitz and sacrifice coverage.
Time to go. Two more weeks.
Matt
Comments
By The Big Bug
August 16, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Judging by your report, I guess the ball handling was too sloppy to mention.
By AlabamaRamblinwreck
August 16, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Matt: Thanks for the Saturday fix.
Has Coach shown any propensity for using Calvin Booker in some type of “change of pace” role? Are you saying that he hasn’t yet, but he will later in your opinion?
Did the offensive line show any ability to block our 1st team defense today?
Go Jackets!
By CarolinaJacket
August 16, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Your observation re: d line depth is significant. I think last year they ran out of gas at times and it cost us greatly. Got to keep rotating those big guys. And thanks for the great updates, Matt.
By The Other Shoe
August 16, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Ball handling takes discipline.
A reminder from this past April:
Georgia Tech QB signee arrested By Mike Knobler | Monday, March 31, 2008, 08:04 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech quarterback signee Jaybo Shaw of Flowery Branch was arrested early Sunday morning on a charge of underage drinking, a misdemeanor.
Shaw was arrested at 12:30 a.m. and released the same day on $500 bond, Hall County jail records show.
Shaw was the first player to commit to play for Paul Johnson after Tech hired Johnson as coach last December.
By Matt Winkeljohn
August 16, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
This is not a report. It is a blog.
Ball-handling was poor, maybe six or seven fumbles, muffed pitches, exchanges, etc.
By Matt Winkeljohn
August 16, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Alabama,
I think you’ll be interested in a comment or two by coach Johnson in the story that should be posted on-line any time (about Booker).
By Navy Jacket
August 16, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Off topic: what are the away jerseys like? We need to bring back the classic navy jerseys.
By The Big Bug
August 16, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
You report.We blog. It would appear my guess was right.
By It's Going to be Tough
August 16, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Wow, I am getting worried. I mean, I was already worried, but now it seems like Tech is going to have a really, REALLY tough season. CPJ needs to take it easy! Yet again, He knows what he is doing.
At first I doubt the preseason polls (not including the ‘Playboy’ joke), but know it seems like we are going to live up to the disappointing expectations.
I want the Jackets to have a good year. These injuries have to stop. He need to be healthy and prepared for the challenges ahead.
By The Big Bug
August 16, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this
6 or 7 fumbles will lose every game.
By GTman89
August 16, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
I got a feeling this season is going to be real ugly.
By T
August 16, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Thanks for your work Matt. Always appreciatd
By jabster
August 16, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
The Other Shoe:
Nobody gives a rat’s @$$ about simple underage drinking! Not here, not there, not anywhere! Nothing to see here and it shouldn’t be a crime for an 18 YO ADULT to have a friggin’ beer.
http://www.chooseresponsibility.org
By OUfan
August 16, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
GT’s season is going to be like the latest Bigfoot charade. All hype and a huge disappointment. 4-8 at best.
By Doug
August 16, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
By jabster
August 16, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
The Other Shoe:
Nobody gives a rat’s @$$ about simple underage drinking! Not here, not there, not anywhere! Nothing to see here and it shouldn’t be a crime for an 18 YO ADULT to have a friggin’ beer.
Even at UGA jabster?
By LongBeachJacket
August 16, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
Great reports from preseason, Matt. Lot’s of good detail and insight.
This is going to be an interesting season.
Predictions are all over the map.
A few things are probable.
It will be an interesting year with the new looks on both sides of the ball.
This team has talented players at many postions. It will not be outclassed by any opponent or out physicalled.
Therefore, it should be a competitive team.
The real keys, I think, will be in execution on offense and, as you allude, on the corners (CB) on defense.
A bad pitch (behind an A-back) could get scooped and taken for 6 the other way. That’s a particular risk with this offensive set and in the first year of it’s installation there are likely to be some miscues (hopefully not too many).
On the other side, we must get sustained pressure up front…which, fortunately is likely with our loaded D-Line. If we put too much pressure on corners in single coverage, we could get ripped a few times.
With a good D-line push taking away pressure to blitz too much, we can use LBs in coverage and our very good safeties (Burnett, Edwards, Reese, and young Taylor?) can help the corners over the top.
Finally, the 3-9 prediction by a supposed national magazine is an absolute joke! That ain’t happenin.
Do we win 6, 7, 8 or 9 in this first campaign under Coach Johnson? A bounce here or there will determine that.
I always expect the best and this season there is reason to expect better things and the hope of better things in store in the coming seasons.
GO JACKETS!!
By Doug
August 16, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
3-9 can’t happen LongBeachJacket? Validate that statement. You are better than Jax St. and Gardner Webb. BC and Duke w/David Cutcliffe are tossups. The rest of your schedule you can forget it. You might win 4. You are outmanned by everyone one else on your schedule but the above 4. Several of the better teams will blow you out. The 4th quarter will be a nightmare for you against the better teams on your schedule. Your optimism is blind.
By Harold Ickes
August 16, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Won’t get outclassed LongBeachJacket? Won’t get out physicalled? LMAO! LBJ, your team is going to be sucking wind so bad at the end of games that teams that are really deep and really physical like UGA, Clemson, VT, will be pushing you around like 90 pound weaklings in the 4th quarter. Mississippi State will beat you physically. Your offensive lineman will be so gassed that they’ll barely get off the ball in the 2nd and 4th qtrs. You have no quality Oline depth period. And your poor corners are in for a long long season.
By Chad
August 16, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
I got to hand it to you guys. You can take a team with mediocre talent at best and a coach that beat 4 teams with a winning record in 6 years in his last job against some of the worst competition in college football and all of a sudden you’re gonna win 7,8,9 games. Amazing. No wonder Tech fans as a collective group are some of the most bitter and angry people when each and every season ends. It never changes.
By Joshua Barlowe
August 16, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Big Bug - I have an inkling you’re a UGAy fan just making trouble. At least you can spell.
Matt does a tremendous job reporting AND blogging, and we appreciate both. Keep up the good work!
Go Jackets. No reason why we can’t be better than last year. The yoke has been lifted. Gailey is gone.
By The Big Bug
August 16, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
Wrong, Jay Barlowe! I have been preaching ball protection since practice began. Wait, make that since Johnson was hired. Matt omitted the most critical (IMHO) matter of the scrimmage….turnovers. I stand by my statement that 6 or 7 turnovers will lose every game. I just hope the results don’t leave us longing for Gailey’s return. Does this sound familiar?: “Better to die a young child than to fumble this football”
By LongBeachJacket
August 17, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
Blogs are fun cause the opinions of some are even funnier….
I remember back in ‘03…some people would like to forget…after flunkgate…early in the Gailey era.
Everyone who supposedly “knew anything” about football, including a prominent Atlanta radio sports personality were saying the Jackets would be a disaster that year…
The radio fella…a guy named Beau Bock said: “well, this year, Tech’s going 0-11”.
Obviously that didn’t happen. They won what would become a Gailey era standard of 7. Including an home opening surprise over Auburn and a tough win against a Maryland team that was in contention for the conference title at the time.
We’ll win our share this year and drop a few too. I expect some surprises. Including some pleasant ones….
Of course when it happens it will happen. If it doesn’t it doesn’t.
Whether or not Paul Johnson wins at Tech…and the odds are he will…he’s proven winner everywhere he’s been and a quality winner. I like our chances.
Anyone who says this team doesn’t have some players is probably from the same universe that said we’d go 0-11 in ‘03.
That’s a parallel universe…somewhere… …but clearly not this one….
GO JACKETS!!!
By m
August 17, 2008 1:50 AM | Link to this
I would like to continue to apologize to the entire Georgia Tech community for my posts over the last year or two. Most of you have NO IDEA how much stress can be caused by a partially successful gender re-assignment surgery, but let me tell you that it wreaks havoc. Please continue to bear with me.
By tech guy
August 17, 2008 2:01 AM | Link to this
Hey chad…..
We love Tech football, but love the school even more.
We would rather get kicked in the nutts than let our Institute have a semi-pro team of illiterate “recreation majors” like your sad sacks. If we can beat your idiots once every couple of years with our real students, we already win.
Just one question..how many UGAy fans love the school more than the football team?
The sad answer is that the average UGA fan doesn’t even know what I am talking about, and would laugh at it if someone read it to them in their trailer park.
By Just curious
August 17, 2008 3:47 AM | Link to this
I read where Tech fans are pleased with CPJ’s discipline and toughness. So, my question is: What was Jaybo Shaw’s punishment from his DUI in late March? Will he miss any games? His DUI was well after Signing Day so he was officially a Jacket after his arrest and conviction. CPJ is strong on discipline and wonder what the consequences of Jaybo’s actions are? Please enlighten me.
By Chad
August 17, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Real students tech guy. Ask the NCAA how many real students there are on that team based on your last probation for academic malfeasence. That was the biggest academic based probation in ACC history. It always goes back to that excuse doesn’t it loser.
By Clarity
August 17, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
To the UGA fans whose shift has not started yet and they have time to post on an opponents story:
I was EIGHT years old when you one your last National Championship against a team that a sorry Tech team had TIED. That is sorry.
What is UGA’s best team EVER? It is always the same one…NEXT years team.
Worry about your own team. Tech can take care of itself. Since you have an ACTUAL schedule this year (as opposed to 1980), you will have plenty to worry about.
By Wreckleagueskills
August 17, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Just Curious, Jaybo never got a DUI. He was charged with underage drinking. I would imagine that his H.S. Coach doled out the punishment since he was still in H.S. (and it was his Dad and all). Also, he certainly wasn’t convicted of DUI and likely got a pbj on the alcohol charge. I don’t see how that reflects on the discipline of CPJ. I hesitate to ask how CMR would have handled the situation given the history of offseason difficulties at his program.
Also, six or seven botched pitches in a scrimmage where everyone 1st team through scout team plays isn’t that bad. It also doesn’t equate to six or seven turnovers. I doubt there were six turnovers at the practice.
Our OL doesn’t have much experience in the system, but we don’t have horrible depth. It also appears that this coaching staff is going to use more guys than the previous one, which is going to be great for the program.
GT may struggle this year because there are 78 freshmen and sophomores on the team, but there’s a ton of talent and a fair amount of experience. I think 3-9 is a pipe dream on your part. GT will improve as the year goes on, and our offense will make big play after big play. I predict 8-4.
By Obnoxious Georgia Fan
August 17, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Clarity, how old were you the last time Tech beat Georgia?
By Tech Lies, Cheats and Deals,
August 17, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
Wreckleagueskills,
Don’t hesitate to think what CMR would do because I will tell you exactly how CMR would handle it. History proves it season after season. In fact, University policy requires it. The first offense of underage drinking at UGA is at least a one game suspension and possibly two. See Fred Mussenmeir and Clint Boling for examples. Both of these young men were first time offenders. Fred is suspended for two games (because he also mouthed off to the the policeman) and Clint will miss one game. (Clint’s charge was actually reduced to wreckless driving for not using a turn signal).
Obviously, CPJ needs a quarterback this year so he will let Jaybo slide on his underage charge. This is fine with me because “convenient” discipline will NOT work over the long haul.
Get ready for your 8th straight loss at the hands of the Dawgs in November with more to follow!!!
By Wreckleagueskills
August 17, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
OK, well, GT policy wouldn’t apply because he was not at GT. I’m not going to take the bait. I was just correcting the actual charge.
Flame away. GT will be 8-4 (or better) and will be better late than early.
By david
August 17, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
I was at the scrimmage and all but one of the fumbles was by the second and third string players.
By Munson
August 17, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Come on UGA fans, stop talking trash to them, especially about players getting in trouble. We have no room to talk in that department so lets try to show a little class and not go there with Tech. Tech fans, you do not have perfect players either so please remember that when the UGA players are getting in trouble.
And Techguy, this is one UGA fan who is every bit as proud of his school than he is of his football team. I remember growing up and never wanting to attend UGA due to its reputation as a pure party school, but the Hope scholarship has been a complete blessing for UGA and has greatly improved our academic standards.
Are we on par with Tech academically? Probably not, but I am still proud of the improvement my school has made in regards to academics.
By Clarity
August 17, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
Obnoxious…Let’s break down your question…Let’s see if I was EIGHT (as I stated previously) in 1980, then that would make me 28 in 2000. Oooo, ooo, that would also make Hershawll Walkah 46 now. (Or at least one of him is that age.) See Math isn’t that hard. Shouldn’t you be getting some sleep so you can be in early enough to start the biscuits? Go play on your own blog.
By Clarity
August 17, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
Obnoxious…Let’s break down your question…Let’s see if I was EIGHT (as I stated previously) in 1980, then that would make me 28 in 2000. Oooo, ooo, that would also make Hershawll Walkah 46 now. (Or at least one of him is that age.) See Math isn’t that hard. Shouldn’t you be getting some sleep so you can be in early enough to start the biscuits? Go play on your own blog.
By Guess Who
August 17, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
Clarity is obviously the imbecile that called himself gTech and polluted this blog with pure ignorance for 48 hrs+.
By Clarity
August 17, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
I pledge right here and right now that if this Tech team hasn’t won 9 games by the time game 10 rolls around that I will publicly kiss the butts of every one of you that opposses my predictions for this team that I have arrived at through my knowledge of football and superior intellectual skills. I am smarter than most of you here so I’m not real worried about the failure of my predictions.
By gTech
August 18, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Guess Who-
I think you are gTech
By Old GT Nut
August 18, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Saw on CNNSI where GT was picked to finish 1-7 in conference, and at the bottom of the Coastal Division. CNNSI says CU is picked to beat VT in the title game. Unbelievable.
Heard Jim Donnan on 680TheFan this morning talking GT. I am not really a Jim Donnan fan (UGA HC aside), but he is THE ONLY Atlanta sports commentator I’ve heard outlining the many reasons why he (and I) believe GT is gonna shock lots of people this year. Donnan said the GT defense will be THE BEST in the ACC this year. Damn right! Who, among you GT fans, don’t ALREADY see that??
Listening to 790 (GT’s “flagship” station) continue to focus on all of the reasons why GT is a lost cause in 2008 is just nauseating. I have yet to hear anyone on 790 focus on all the key aspects for why GT will (in my “blindly optimistic” opinion) go 7-1 in the ACC this year, with the one potential loss to FSU.
Folks, listen good:
BC won’t beat GT this year. BC in 2008 will be NOTHING like they were last year. BC lost QB Ryan, both RBs, both WRs and many starters on Off & Def. Wommack’s pass defense is not going o give up 450 yards of passing to BC. Not gonna happen.
And VT…everytime I hear how DOMINANT VT will be again this year I just wanna yak.
GT is going to beat VT…LIKE…A…DRUM. Remember, VT lost star RB Ore, all 4 WRs, and almost the ENTIRE starting defense. GT just might seriously blow VT out. I mean like 42-17. This game WON’T EVEN BE CLSOE. I mean seriously folks, how is VT supposed to beat GT(or win the Coastal) with most of their 2007 Offensive production GONE, and the starting Defense TOTALLY gone. And VT is supposed to contend for the ACC title this year. Are you kidding me?????
VT QB Glennon wore that ONE (#7) GT uniform in last year’s game in Atlanta. Folks, he’s gonna be wearing many GT DEFENSIVE uniforms this year, starting with: #93 Johnson, #99 Walker, #91 Morgan, and #95 Richard. And of course, 790, ESPN, and CNNSI will be shocked… SHOCKED I TELL YOU…when it happens.
As for CU, does ANYBODY HERE remember that GT’s defense allowed CU only 62 TOTAL RUSHING YARDS and ZERO touchdowns in 2007, with supposedly “the best rushing duo in the country.” And CU’s O-Line is gonna be much weaker than 2007. Does any dedicated GT fan SERIOUSLY belive a weaker CU team will be better than GT in 2008?? Don’t make me laugh !!!!
One of GT’s BIG weaknesses in 2007 was clearly the PASS defense. In 2007, GT defense got beat terribly & REPEATEDLY primarily on pass defense(like BC & VT games). That won’t happen in 2008. CU will be weaker on Off in 2008, and GT is going to significantly stronger on Off & Def in 2008. Harper is gonna be wearing many of the same GT defensive uni’s as Glennon.
The GT vs. FSU game is too close to call in my opinion.
GT will clearly have the toughest schedule in the ACC. We play at BC, at VT, at CU, and vs. FSU…”supposedly” the toughest teams in the ACC. The edge GT has is that GT gets BC and VT early in the season. CU gets both much later in the season. CU will have GT, BC, and FSU in a 3 game stretch late in the season.
CNNSI also said Miami is supposed to finish AHEAD of GT in the Coastal. The logic of that simply defies all known reasoning. UNC will be good in 2008, but not good enough for GT. As for UVA, practically a disaster before the season even begins. Duke or UVA will compete for the BOTTOM of the Coastal in 2008.
So who in the Coastal is going to beat GT in 2008: VT-Please; Miami-hah; UNC-close but no cigar; Duke-Nope; UVA-will be lucky to have enough team members out on bail for a game. So, GT wins the Coastal, and plays CU or FSU in Tampa for a rematch. Bobby is gonna show Tommy…Who’s STILL Your Daddy…on November 8th.
At the end of the season, GT will be THE STORY of the Year, and CPJ will easily claim Coach of The Year honors. It will be a “coronation” when oranges are raining on Grant Field on the Thursday night game vs. Miami in November.
By Response to Old GT Nut
August 18, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
gt nut:
it doesn’t sounds so nuts when you look at the ACC, but 7-1? i agree, BC & VT wont contend. FSU and CU seem like a toss-up in acc-atl div. FSU shut-out CU after halftime in 2007. It’ll be closer this year. t. bowden is on the hot seat.
After looking at that cnn-si acc projection, there aint no way Va, Vt, the U, and Dukkies all finish ahead of tech this year. unc wil be the big unknown in acc-coast in 2008. gt will do better than 2007. more like like 6-2. gt in last place of acc-coast is crazy talk.