AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August
August 2008
Nice way to start an era
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back with some edits …
Not bad, huh? It goes in the books as 41-14 Tech.
First, regarding Michael Johnson, who was not credited with a tackle and was taken to the locker room: dehydration.
Now, let’s make a quick pass at the over-unders I posted earlier today in a prediction sort of blog.
Over-under on Tech fumbles lost (EDIT): two. Tally: two. A push.
Over-under on Tech points: 45 Tally: under, but not by much.
Over-under on JSU points: 13 Tally: over, by a mere one.
Over-under on sacks by Tech: four Tally: Four. Another push.
Over-under on players who enter the game for Tech: 64: Tally: 64. A push.
Over-under on attendance: 41,000: Tally: over (45,076)
Over-under on Tech touchdown passes: two Tally: under (none)
Over-under on No. of Tech rushers with 40 yards or more: four Tally: Dead on. Another push.
Over-under on avg. No. of plays per Tech possession: six Tally: avg. 4.8
I also wrote in a comment to the blog that there would be at least three players with catches for 20 or more yards. There were THREE (Jones, 39; Greg Smith, 30; and Cox 29). Spot on.
In short, I rocked those over-unders pretty hard.
Enough for now. I’m tired.
Matt
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Game day arriveth!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It only seems like it’s been over five years since Georgia Tech last played a football game. Really, it’s been under eight months.
Over-under on Tech fumbles lost (EDIT): two.
Over-under on Tech points: 45
Over-under on JSU points: 13
Over-under on sacks by Tech: four
Over-under on players who enter the game for Tech: 64
Over-under on attendance: 41,000
Over-under on Tech touchdown passes: two
Over-under on No. of Tech rushers with 40 yards or more: four
Over-under on avg. No. of plays per Tech possession: six
I have a hunch the pace tonight will be what catches the most attention from fans, especially those who didn’t attend scrimmages. Sure, the plays will look different, but it will be impossible to miss the speed with which the Yellow Jackets run plays in and execute them.
My picks for stars in advance: Michael Johnson, Derrick Morgan and Kyle Jackson on defense; Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones on offense.
Tech’s new offense may appear complicated, but coach Paul Johnson said, “There will be five or six base plays we’ll run every game, and we’ll add a wrinkle or two off of them. If they come up with some sort of [defensive] concoction, we’ll run the plays that work good against that.”
Tech will face a 3-4 defensive alignment, although the Gamecocks will mix fronts. JSU has old-school inside linebackers, at least size-wise, in Antonio Bonner (6-feet-2, 245 pounds) and Morrell Jones (6-0, 235).
The player to watch is usually outside linebacker Marquise Elston, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior tabbed pre-season All-OVC. He had 42 tackles and three sacks last season. Fellow outside linebacker Brenton Davenport is 6-2, 240.
Safety Carnell Clark is the fastest player for the Gamecocks, helping anchor a secondary in which every player is at least 6 feet tall.
That should keep you all busy for a while.
Matt
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Here, there, everywhere … where am I?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Apologies in advance for some rambling! My thoughts are increasingly disjointed as I wind down my final few days covering Tech as there are a lot of loose ends to tie up professionally, etc., and that kind of thing is keeping me busy and occupied.
Plus, today is a big-time lull day, as there is not much news left with the football team prior to the opener. So, I’ll dump some thoughts.
Walk-ons are going to be a significant part of what Paul Johnson does at Tech, particularly in the next couple years.
As Tech emerges from the scholarship reductions brought about by NCAA sanctions, they’re at 76 scholarship players this year (limit is 85). Three of those are former walk-ons that Paul put on scholarship (Troy Garside, Andrew Smith and James Liipfert).
By my count, no walk-ons or former walk-ons will start tomorrow, unless you count PK Scott Blair and P Chandler Anderson.
But a bunch are on the two- and three-deep depth chart and will play this season.
Garside, A. Smith and Jonathan Malone will all see action at A-back, in my opinion. WRs R.B. Clyburn and Zach Fisher will as well.
Backup C Andrew Folkner is a walk-on, although an injury to C Dan Voss might prompt someone else to slide into that spot.
There are others, but this makes my point: Walk-ons matter plenty.
When I sat down with Paul back in June, we talked a little about walk-ons. I’ve used some of this in a previous blog, but here ‘tis anyway:
“If guys come in and walk-on, that’s an area that I want to work on because I think with the Hope Scholarship [program] and the in-state kids … we had some really great football players who walked on at Georgia Southern. They became captains and All-Americans and played in the NFL (NOTE: I believe former Grady High DB Earthwind Moreland fits this bill). I don’t see why we didn’t do it here. My philosophy is if a kid comes in and plays, I want to hold a grant for them because they’ve earned it.
“I think as we get going, and we help a couple walk-ons and the high school coaches realize that and the kids realize that, then the walk-on program is going to get better and better. This year, we have several walk-ons coming in who had scholarship offers to other places, smaller schools or maybe schools farther from home. Who’s to say those kids aren’t going to be better than the ones you [signed to letters of intent]?”
Some of this ties together with recruiting. Some of these future walk-ons are likely to come from schools where Johnson has ties, and maybe can obtain more info in recruiting kids with potential than some other coaches will be able to acquire. Having coached at Georgia Southern and — this is important — graduated quite a few future HS coaches while there, he’s very well connected for a guy who’d been out of state the past six years.
I’ll write a story next week, I think (don’t hold me to that), about the very high number of high school coaches and assistants in Georgia who played for Paul at GSU either when he was the head coach, or when he was an assistant.
You’re going to be surprised by the numbers, which I’m still tallying.
Other random thoughts, and observations:
My last blog will be Friday, or possibly Saturday. I’ll write a few stories after that to help with the transition as those of us leaving the AJC via buyout depart.
I erred last week in mentioning the future Tech writers for the paper. One, D. Orlando Ledbetter, will stay on covering the Falcons instead. So I’m not going to speculate more on my successors. I will say that one seems pretty much a lock, the other TBD.
In talking last week to AD Dan Radakovich for the Russell story, I asked about last year’s AA budget. He said Tech finished the fiscal year roughly $1.9 million in the black. That’s a pretty big development considering the mess he inherited. The economy, and even gas prices, plus the ongoing construction of a new softball facility, may make the idea of matching a pretty tall order. I’m not saying it can’t or won’t happen, though.
He also said he still hopes to break ground on the basketball practice facility adjacent to AMC in Feb. or March. Budget stands at $7 or $8 million.
A personal observation here: I think Jaybo Shaw is developed beyond his years in his ability to understand what’s required of his position (QB). He doesn’t process information like a freshman. But I think it has been a little bit unfair to him, and even to starter Josh Nesbitt, that so much has been made of him before playing any games. First, it has created some expectations that may be unreasonable (we live in a society that loves more than ever to create expectations, and make predictions; ask Paul Hewitt his theory on this), and the fuss also discounts the possibility that Nesbitt may prove to be very good in this offense. Yes, he’s been bothered by injury, and the everybody-ALWAYS-loves-the-backup-QB storyline (especially if he’s a freshman).
But I’d wait before anointing anybody or anything.
Won’t have to wait much longer, though, to start making real-time evaluations instead of those based on passing drills and scrimmages against backups.
Matt
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Tech’s going to be better than some think
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The curtain comes up in a couple days, and Georgia Tech football will not be the same.
The offense won’t look the same. The defense won’t look the same. The uniforms won’t look the same, and dare I say the same ol’, same ol’ vibe will be gone and soon easy to forget (some clearly have tried very hard already to wash away memories, right?).
Jeez, is it ever going to stop raining? I digress.
My hunch is that one of the most refreshing changes in Tech football will be a different level of accountability. If the defense stinks, Paul Johnson will say it. I don’t mean he’s going to indict people or coaches, but the days of, “We’ve got to get better,” as an accounting measure are gone.
Blandness? Uh, no. Gone.
But that doesn’t mean Jerry Glanville’s coaching on The Flats (again), either. Johnson will be a straight shooter. Sometimes defensive, yes. Sometimes, prone to stretch statistics out of whack or mangle their context, sure. But not one to trot out boilerplate and coach-speak ad infinitum, either.
While there is a temptation to say that it will take a while for Johnson’s offense and Wommack’s defense to grasp new systems, that’d be excuse-making. Forget that. Isn’t it reasonable to suggest that Johnson has more talent to work with on offense than he’s had before? I’d say yes, but that’s just a semi-educated guess.
Yes, his team is incredibly young. Even if he does indeed have more talent on the offensive side than he’s ever had, he has virtually no experience that relates to his scheme.
Still, I think the unique nature of his scheme will mask some of the youth. Where scheme masked talent deficiencies at Navy, I think this season it can mask youth. But I’m not saying Tech is going 9-3. The system didn’t mask anything the first year at Navy. The Middies were 2-10.
But there’s more talent on this team than that team, young or not. That’s a better mesh. And on defense, if you area of your team is going to be super strong and the other two young, it’s best to have the fellas up front with the experience. That’s Tech.
And from my vantage point, the Jackets have a much better feel about themselves than they had much of last season. Couple that with reduced expectations/pressure (remember, last year’s team had a lot of returning starters back from a team that played in the ACC championship game), and I’m not going to be surprised if Tech wins seven. Maybe even eight.
I think the Jackets are going to score quite a few points this season, especially by the Miss. State game, when I think the offense will start grooving. They’re probably going to give up more than in the past few seasons, too, however.
Bottom line: you read it here — at least seven wins, and a bowl game.
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About A-backs and uni complaints
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m at a loss of sorts for material with the combination of practice closing and this limbo period before the first game, especially in what amounts to a transition period for me, but …
- Paul Johnson’s decision to give Troy Garside a shot at A-back strikes me two ways: There’ depth, albeit young, at safety, and he’s probably not going to be able to help much there. Plus, while there are a lot of bodies, also very young, at A-back, I don’t think Paul’s been as impressed with what he’s seen there. Lucas Cox, who had emerged as a candidate to start, apparently has been injured, and nobody else is stepping into the void. Two true freshmen, Peeples and Lockhart, are listed in the mix on the depth chart.
Johnson said Tuesday about A-backs: “We’re going to play some freshmen in there, but physically they’re still growing, they’re babies. We need somebody bigger in there.” Garside’s not big, per se, at least not like Cox, but he’s more physically developed than those freshmen for sure.
- Listened to a little of Paul’s radio show. Good grief, people, give the uniform questions a rest. You really think he chose the uniforms? Come on!
Have to go.
Later.
Matt
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Apples, oranges and a big payoff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Going to go a different direction today, but I may check back in with some standard fare later. Reward for the diligent at the end of this blog.
First, regarding the Russell Athletic sponsorship story:
It was trimmed to fit the paper, and some interesting material didn’t make the cut.
Surely, some will wonder why there is such a great disparity between, say, UConn’s new 10-year, $46 million deal with Nike (and Washington just did a 10-year, $39 million deal with Nike, although that was not in the story) and Tech’s 10-year, $20 million-plus package.
The simplest explanation: Nike’s deals with those schools include footwear, which they make and Russell does not, and there is BIG money in shoes, obviously. Secondly, UConn has 24 varsity sports to Tech’s 15, which means that much more exposure. Mostly, it’s gotta be the shoes.
There is a stipulation in the Russell contract with Tech that says if Russell develops or acquires athletic footwear, Tech must give due consideration to using the product. With Warren Buffett at the controls of Russell now, so to speak, you’d think there is a real possibility that Russell will branch out into footwear in the next 10 years. That guy goes for broke in everything.
Also interesting: Tech is the only school with which Russell has an all-sports contract. They do football and a couple other sports with Mississippi State, and I think they do a sport with Clemson, etc. But Tech is the only all-in school.
More edits:
Nike recently did deals with UNLV worth about $3 million. Why the relatively low number? The package include two five-year deals and a three-year deal for just mens and womens basketball and football.
The only cash in the Nike-UNLV is $75,000 per year that Nike will pay the school specifically to defray basketball coach Lon Kruger’s $5.2 million salary, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Get a load of that salary!!!!!
This made the story, but for sake of comparison here it is again:
According to a copy of the contract obtained by The Journal-Constitution, Tech’s deal will net (as a non-profit organization, the Georgia Tech Athletic Association in tax-exempt) $750,000 in cash per year from Russell for each of the next four years, increasing to $950,000 for each of the final two.
Finally, if you haven’t seen it (and I’m sure some of you have), go to Youtube and put “UGA” and “Hitler” in the search field. You will not be disappointed. I don’t think.
Later.
Matt
Even more details available
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yesterday, a speculated list of starters. Today, more on possible starters but after having spoken with Paul Johnson and Dave Wommack for edification and viewing an updated depth chart (NEW INFO, AN EDIT OR TWO AND SOME BASKETBALL TIDBITS FOLLOW).
As Bill Sanders wrote in Tuesday’s paper, Paul said there is time for WR Correy Earls to work back into the mix after missing so much practice with a bum hamstring. My prediction: Tyler Melton will start next Thursday opposite Demaryius Thomas. Earls is listed as a backup now.
If there were a game this Thursday, Paul said Lucas Cox would probably start at A-back opposite Roddy Jones. In fact, he’s listed as the starter. Johnson said he’s looking for more from Greg Smith, who was set back by injuries. It’s almost like the starting job is being offered to Greg, but coaches are waiting for him to seize it. Johnson said it hardly matters who starts; four or five will play at A-back, and four or five at WR.
A.J. is still in the running for a guard spot, but it sounds to me like he has a long road. He’s missed a lot of injury time, and Paul said he needs to play better when he practices than he has to date. My money: Gilbert and Howard start. A.J. is listed behind Cord, Zach Krish behind Gilbert and Jason Hill behind both.
No, to answer a comment/question on yesterday’s blog, Claytor and Yandell would not be the leading candidates to backfill at RT if David Brown can’t go (dunno about next Thursday, but I don’t think he’s going to practice today or maybe tomorrow; details fuzzy about severity of his leg injury). I asked if Austin Barrick was the most likely candidate, and Paul said yes. There’s nine days for that to change, but Barrick is listed No. 1 now and Brown is listed as out. Alex Paquette is listed behind Barrick.
Nesbitt back at practice yesterday, Bryce Dykes was not. Booker is now listed No. 3 at QB, Dykes is listed as out.
On defense, D-line is of course set. I was a little surprised when Wommack answered by questions about jobs still up for grabs. No shock when he said safety. This is new, though: Edwards is listed at No. 3 with Dominique Reese back at No. 1 and freshman Cooper Taylor at No. 2 — at at free safety.
Wommack said all LB jobs remain open, although, “Brad [Jefferson] is probably the furthest ahead.” Jefferson starts at MLB in my world. Still in the mix for the two OLB spots: Kyle Jackson, Anthony Barnes, Shane Bowen and Tony Clark. Jackson and Barnes now listed No. 1s.
Uniform rollout is today. I wonder if there’s a blue jersey in there somewhere? Boy, do folks get bunched up about uniforms and colors or what?. Interesting to see/hear the blowback sometimes.
Met former player, and ertswhile JMU assistant Jon Babul. He is going to be the academics advisor for the basketball team. That’s three AAs in three years. He’ll follow Chryste Gaines.
Also talked this afternoon with Jeremis Smith. He was in the Edge. Working out at Tech, not with an NBA team. Said he thinks he’s about to sign a contract with a team in either France or Turkey. Doesn’t want to sign a two-year deal cuz he wants the flexibility to try the NBA next year if he plays well in Europe. Great guy, Jeremis.
Later.
Matt
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Here’s who’s starting for Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I think.
It goes without saying that after two-plus weeks of football practice, and especially after the second scrimmage, figuring out who is going to play where should be easier for Georgia Tech observers.
But those observers cannot confirm their theories visually. Practice is closed to the public and media from here on out.
That’s far from unusual. Many college coaches only open up a practice or two in the summer, or let the media watch only the first 20 minutes or so, etc.
Without going too deep, here’s my projected starting lineup, working on the assumption until I know otherwise that RT David Brown will be healthy and able by the opener:
WR - Tyler Melton A-back - Roddy Jones LT - Andrew Gardner LG - Cord Howard C - Dan Voss RG - Joseph Gilbert RT - David Brown A-back Greg Smith WR - Demaryius Thomas B-back - Jonathan Dwyer QB - Josh Nesbitt
DE - Michael Johnson DT - Vance Walker DT - Darryl Richard DE - Derrick Morgan OLB - Anthony Barnes MLB - Brad Jefferson OLB - Kyle Jackson CB - Jahi Word-Daniels CB - Mario Butler S - Morgan Burnett S - Dominique Reese
PK - Scott Blair P - Chandler Anderson
No clue on returners.
The only tricky picks on offense are LG and the A-back position opposite Roddy Jones.
Jason Hill kind of slipped from the guard competition as he was injured some late in camp, and Howard definitely had the second-highest number of meaningful reps at G after Gilbert. A.J. Smith might still have time by the opener to work into that discussion (or at T if Brown’s injury is a problem), but he’s missed a lot of time recently.
That other A-back spot is sticky. Greg Smith missed a bunch of practice, obviously, but has been back in action nearly a week. The other options may be led by Lucas Cox. He may be as good a blocker as Tech has at the position, but perhaps the lesser threat as a runner — and probably as a receiver — among those in contention for the spot.
I’m having a hard time pegging Andrew Smith’s spot in the A-back pecking order since he was injured. He’s been back, but … I just haven’t been able to tell.
The other players who’ve seen action enough to warrant consideration would be Embry Peeples and Jonathan Malone. Marcus Wright is out of it, unless coaches reverse their trend of the past week. He was relegated to scout team work, mostly, although he got some action in the scrimmage. He needs to ramp up tremendously as a blocker, receiver, and at ball security. Looks like a redshirt.
On defense, I don’t see a lot of debate possibilities past Reese/Mario Edwards at a safety spot, and maybe, just maybe Butler at CB. Edward worked a bunch at No. 1 once his eligibility was confirmed, but after four or five days, he appeared to slip on the depth chart as if he was pushed off a cliff.
If Edwards were to be No. 1, though, I think Reese might be in consideration with Butler at that CB spot.
The nickel and dime spots have been fluctuating, although I feel comfortable predicting that freshman S Cooper Taylor will see action as a nickel and/or dime safety from the season’s start.
I will check in later today.
P.S. Disclaimer: This is not official; it is a blog, and subjective in nature. Terms, conditions, exceptions and especially exemptions apply.
Throwing 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
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Depth charts! Get GT depth charts here!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just kidding.
Unlike my colleague in Athens, I don’t know how to imbed links or I’d post one to the new Tech depth chart here. It’s on the school’s website, ramblinreck.com. I just know those of you who really care will manage to find a working link somewhere.
(Editorial assistance: PDF Depth Chart)
Oh wait … looky there. Happy, happy.
Depending on your criteria for surprise, there are few to nearly none, and there are a few items that make little or no sense. We were told it can change by the hour, which was like saying, “This is just so you’ll stop bugging me, not to be interpreted as gospel.”
I’ll say this, though,even though we all know youth will be the buzzword (sorry) for the Jackets this season, seeing that depth chart really pounds it home.
When you look at the offensive skill positions (QB, B-back, two A-back and two WR spots) and see just two upperclassmen listed among those 18 spots, and then note that neither (A-backs Greg Smith and Jonathan Malone, both juniors) are listed as starters, well, that’s an eye-opener.
Altogether, there are just eight of 24 upper classmen listed as starters, and seven of those eight are on the O- and D-lines (Gardner, LG A.J. Smith, C Dan Voss, DTs Walker and Richard and DE Michael Johnson; the other is CB Jahi Word-Daniel). PK is sophomore Scott Blair, and P for now is R.-soph. Chandler Anderson.
The QB depth goes Nesbitt-Shaw-Dykes, which should surprise nobody.
Oddities:
Sr. Andrew Smith is not listed among the top six A-backs. That can’t be right, can it? Unless he’s changed positions and I’m not aware of it.
Sophomore Preston Lyons as the No. 3 B-back. Preston’s been an A-back to my eye, and he is not eligible this season. The former Marist star transferred from Colgate and has to sit out. The backup B-back behind Dwyer is Quincy Kelly, who also has worked a little at A-back. No Richard Watson.
OK, maybe it’s not odd, but five of the six WRs listed are freshmen, including projected starter Tyler Melton, or redshirt freshmen. Sophomore Demaryius Thomas, a returning starter, is the only non-frosh. Others in the mix for now are R.-Fr. walk-ons R.B. Clyburn and Zach Fisher, and Fr. Daniel McKayhan and Quentin Sims. No sign of Correy Earls, who began camp as a starter but hasn’t practiced since day three (hamstring).
Little surprised to see A.J. Smith as the No. 1 LG rather than Jason Hill (who’s No. 2 RG). Smith’s missed quite a bit of practice time.
No surprises on defense, although Soph. Mario Edwards is listed as the No. 1 FS even though he’s been working reserves, even scout team, the past two practices. Maybe they’re just messing with his mind, checking out how he’ll handle it.
In sum, young, young and younger.
There will be changes.
Later
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A little of this, a little of that
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I wouldn’t make much of the fact that Josh Nesbitt was initially expected to practice Wednesday afternoon after bruising his shoulder in the morning practice only to not practice after all. Nor if he doesn’t practice this afternoon. I bet he’s limited.
If he doesn’t practice Friday, then it gets a little curious. And what about the scrimmage Saturday morning?
Paul Johnson told it like it was when I asked if Mario Edwards and Martin Frierson were being disciplined after I saw them working scout team yesterday afternoon. It’s in the notebook in the paper/on-line. If you haven’t seen the comment:
“We’re just rolling bodies in and out,” the coach said. “They didn’t do very well this morning [in practice] so we’re giving other guys a chance.”
Thing coach is getting everybody’s attention?
Greg Smith hasn’t taken long to get back in the groove after missing all that time.
I’ve said all along the Donley transfer was not a slam dunk. No, he’s not re-joining Tech’s team. At least not soon. I don’t think Purdue knew of his academic standing, etc., when the Boilermakers took him as a transfer. I wonder if they know now?
Hate this for D.J. I like him. Somebody’s giving him horrible advice, methinks.
Lesson: with transfers, as with many things, terms, conditions and exceptions included. Gotta cross t’s and do i’s.
More later.
Matt
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Keep up if you can
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s re-cast this now that it appears Josh Nesbitt’s shoulder injury in this morning’s practice is but a bruise (see story on ajc.com).
Plus, some update on the D.J. Donley transfer. It may not happen, and I’m not saying that he’ll end up back at Tech (or that he won’t).
The story about Donley is in the editing process now. Hopefully, it will be on-line soon. But Purdue coach Joe Tiller may have jumped the gun yesterday in suggesting that Tech was holding up the transfer. Stay tuned, and check Tiller’s comments below.
Now, back to regularly-scheduled blogging …
If you’re a fan, your initial reaction to opening up with Jacksonville State might not be euphoria, nor that it’s on a Thursday, or the fact that Clemson and Alabama will play their opening day game two days later in the Georgia Dome, right?
Then again, a night game to start pretty much guarantees it won’t be 101 degrees, which is a very good thing, right?
And playing on the road will be no picnic the next two weeks for the Yellow Jackets (at B.C. and at Virginia Tech), but it’s a good thing for you that you won’t be sitting in Bobby Dodd Stadium on those two dates, guaranteeing you won’t roast in 99 and 96-degree temperatures. The first day home game will be Sept. 20. That’s a good thing, too, right?
I was surprised to find this last night on Rivals.com: Tiller was asked about the delay.
“He has to get his transcript cleared from Georgia Tech and they’re dragging their feet,” Tiller said. “That’s out of our hands and probably out of the kid’s hands, too.
“Our experience on that is that it’s Georgia Tech’s prerogative and they can submit when they feel like submitting, as long as it’s before their first day of class.”
Matt
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Firing wildly, and … Tech’s best five?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WARNING: CONSIDERABLE CHAN GAILEY BASHING IN COMMENTS BELOW, SOME OF IT NON-SENSIBLE, SOME OF IT SEMI-SALIENT.
Now, back to regularly-scheduled blogging …
Quick hitters …
It wasn’t re-posted on-line, but it made the paper when I spoke with Greg Smith after the p.m. practice about his injury situation (hip pointer).
He said he didn’t talk to his position coach, Jeff Monken, yesterday after Monken told him he needed to practice. “Just stay quiet and listen,” he said. “Just play. It’s all I do. It’s discouraging, but you’ve got to go out here and support your teammates.”
I asked if he smashed his hip. He said, “you could say that.”
I asked if he was second-guessing his move from wide receiver to A-back, and he said, “Nah. It’s just football.” Or something to that effect. Hmm.
• Reader Dan Walker points out that (edited only slightly): Rich Ellerson - best known for devising Arizona’s “Desert Swarm” defense in the 1990s - was defensive coordinator a Hawaii when Paul Johnson was offensive coordinator there. Ellerson is the head coach at I-AA Cal Poly, and last year his team led the nation in total offense. Their offense? The triple option.
Dan also wrote that when Tech hired Paul Johnson away from Navy, Navy hired Joe DuPaix, Cal Poly’s offensive coordinator. Hmm.
• The entire defense, starters, etc., stayed after each practice yesterday for conditioning. Translation: punishment. They ran in place, and did a bunch of up-downs. That’s rough at the end of practice, especially when you practice twice, even if the heat wasn’t so bad yesterday.
The crime? “Loafs,” said DL Elris Anyaibe. Loafs? “Poor effort plays in Saturday’s scrimmage,” he said. Hmm.
• Some Georgia fans love to read this Tech blog, and respond, huh? Hmm.
• Do Tech fans read Georgia blogs and respond in similar numbers? What about per capita?
• The longer I watch, the more I think Tech has a chance to be better than quite a few people think sooner than a lot of people think.
• If coaches bring that secondary and young linebackers up to speed fast, that is.
• As I noted in the paper, Jarrard Tarrant was at practice yesterday. That’s “at” it, not in it. He was in street clothes, or kick-around clothes to be more accurate.
• Best five players on this team, in no order: Andrew Gardner, Michael Johnson, Morgan Burnett, Jonathan Dwyer, Vance Walker.
CHECK BACK LATE AFTERNOON FOR PRACTICE UPDATES.
Matt
P.S. For my two cents, depressed by inflation from the point of Gailey’s hire to the present so as to be worth nothing, well, I don’t have two cents. Hard to have an opinion from my vantage point when I wasn’t on point at the time. Makes sense, right?
I was covering the Falcons when Gailey was hired. I’ve heard from several alums allegedly “in the know” over the years that it was a ham-handed transaction from start to finish. I won’t repeat the stories of others here without checking facts, though. Some of those tales are downright hard to believe.
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Starting on the Jax State plan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UPDATES INCLUDED BELOW. ALSO CORRECTED A-BACK/B-BACK STUFF. PLUS, SOMETHING WAY DOWN BELOW ABOUT SOFT TICKET SALES, ANNOYING HEADLINE ON THAT STORY, A BUNCH OF BULLDOG REFERENCES THAT WILL INFURIATE SOME, CAUSE LAUGHTER AMONG OTHERS:
Unless I’m crazy, which is quite possible (probable?), Sunday’s day off helped the Yellow Jackets. They seem to have a little more pep in their steps in practice this morning as they appear to be working a little for the first time specifically for their first opponent, Jacksonville State.
Passing drills are crisp. Nesbitt is throwing well. Nice not to have that No. 1 D-line in your face, huh Josh? Demaryius Thomas, however, dropped a nice ball from Booker.
On a down note, Greg Smith seems to be digging a hole for himself. He’s been bothered by a hip pointer. It’s cost him a lot of time. He was at practice through the first couple periods, then went over to the Beach, with other injured players.
A-backs coach Jeff Monken, Smith’s coach, did not like that.
When the team broke for water, Monken went over and laid into Smith pretty good. In sum, he told Smith he needed to be out there working with the team.
Other injured players: WR Correy Earls (who has been out about 10 days with a hamstring), DE Anthony Egbuniwe, B-back Richard Watson, CB Rashaad Reid, S Brandon Leslie, OL Alex Paquette, OL A.J. Smith and back du jour Quincy Kelly. I’m told A.J. and Kelly suffered concussions Saturday.
Roddy Jones (hamstring) is back and immediately began working with the No. 1 offense, at A-back. He’s not getting all reps with 1s, though.
Looks now like the defense is working against scout team offense, Jacksonville State stuff. First time I believe I’ve seen that. Same thing with the offense at the other end.
Booker and Washington are running scout QB. A-back Marcus Wright with scout, too. Embry Peeples working with the main offense.
Starting safeties are Burnett and Edwards. No. 2s are Cooper Taylor and Reese.
More later.
Matt
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Hey, these guys are better
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Surprise! Georgia Tech looked as if it had been practicing. And Jaybo Shaw sure doesn’t look like a freshman.
When the Yellow Jackets scrimmaged Saturday morning for the first time since summer practice began (not counting some fairly live situational stuff in practice), there was a big difference between the spring scrimmages.
Ball security was much, much less an issue. Exchanges were more crisp all the way around, and … the first defense was still pretty good slowing the first offense.
I think you can forget the possibility of Jaybo Shaw redshirting. He completed 3 of 6 passes — a 37-yard touchdown to WR R.B. Clyburn, a 59-yarder to WR Quentin Sims and a 52-yarder to A-back Embry Peeples. Shaw ran for two scores, too.
For the record, those are all freshmen. And every play was, as coach Paul Johnson noted afterward, against the No. 2 (or 2.5 in some instances) defense.
Still, Shaw knows what he’s doing.
B-back Anthony Allen rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries. He won’t be able to play until next season after transferring from Louisville, but the starting B-back is no bum. Jonathan Dwyer went 70 yards on the second play, although he faced tough sledding other than that.
Johnson said the No. 1 passing game is so bad in part because the No. 1 line can’t pass protect against the No. 1 defense. That’s good news for the defense. Not so good for the offense.
Mario Edwards continued to work No. 1 nickel safety with Morgan Burnett, Dominque Reese sliding up into the slot. Boy, there is no depth at cornerback unless somebody grows up in a hurry, but knowing Edwards can play this fall sure helps Dave Wommack and Charles Kelly slide folks around a little more.
QB Tevin Washington made some plays with his feet, and a well-timed pitch for a touchdown. He’ll redshirt, though.
I see the QB lineup like this now: Nesbitt, Shaw, Dykes, Booker (may be used situationally, however, when the Jackets trail late as I believe he’s the most proficient passer by a sizable margin), Washington (redshirt), Henry (anybody see him at A-back, when he tried to throw a block? Not pretty).
Scott Blair is the PK. Mark it down. Johnson said as much.
More later.
Matt
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QBs will get blasted, have a blast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I spoke yesterday with Craig Candeto, a quarterback at Navy from 2001-‘04. He had been there for two seasons when Paul Johnson was arrived, and was primary signal caller for PJ’s first two seasons.
You won’t be surprised to learn that he loves the offense.
He did point out, though, there there are ways to slow it.
“There are a lot of things a defense can do to give you a false read. The best teams defending it were the ones that saw it, like Air Force,” he said. “A defensive end can crash down on the fullback and make it look like he’s going to tackle him, put a hand on him, and then bounce outside on the quarterback.
“A linebacker can be running at you, and at the last second run to the pitch.”
There was more, but the point was the offense is not failsafe. Of course. Nothing is. Candeto also went out of his way to point out that the quarterback get hit A LOT in this offense, to the point where his passing game may be affected because, “you’re going to end up with sore hands, elbow, shoulders … you get hit almost every play either carrying the ball or carrying out your fake.”
Bottom line, though, he loved it.
“I’m a huge believer in coach Johnson, and a huge believer in that offense,” Candeto said. “He’s not taking over a team that was 0-11. I think if the guys buy into the program, I’m not saying national championship or anything, I think they can have a winning season and go to a bowl game.”
Back LATER today WITH some practice UPDATES, although probably not from the morning session (I’m working on football section stories today).
Matt
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A bit of history for ya
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll be back with a few observations from practice later today. In the meantime, here’s Paul Johnson on the “invention” of his offense, as told at the ACC preseason meetings a few weeks ago (and re-told at Tech’s media day Saturday):
“I coached defense at Georgia Southern in ‘83 and ‘84 for coach [Erk] Russell. The offensive coordinator was a guy named Ben Griffith, and they had gone to some run-and-shoot stuff, ala June Jones. We had been an I-formation team. They ran a little bit of option with the run-and-shoot.
“At the end of the ‘84 season, the offensive coordinator left and coach Russell asked me to move over and be offensive coordinator, but he said he wanted to run the I-formation, which is what they had done at Georgia [when Russell was defensive coordinator there].
“We weren’t very successful. We didn’t have a tight end or a fullback, an I fullback, and I told him I want to get back in a double-slot. He said, ‘I don’t know if I want to do that.’ I said, ‘We’re going to get in it to run, our quarterback is Tracy Ham and we’ve got to utilize the guy.’
“He said, ‘Let me think about it,’ and came back down in 15 minutes and said, ‘Do what you got to do,’ and that’s what we did. We got in it, and through the years we evolved. If somebody gave us something that we thought was a problem, we just evolved.
“It was a run-and-shoot originally, play-action passing, a lot of option components. [The run-pass ratio] was a little out of whack at Georgia Southern because we averaged close to 40 or 50 points per game, and we’d get ahead at halftime and you don’t throw on people if you’re up 40-6. Up until June went back to Hawaii, our quarterbacks held a bunch of the passing records [from when Johnson was offensive coordinator there after leaving GSU and before returning to GSU].”
GSU won Division I-AA national titles in ‘85 and ‘86.
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Difference will be between the ears
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m thinking semi-long-term this morning more than about the next or most recent practice. So …
(BONUS NOTES BELOW, IN THE COMMENTS SECTION; ALSO, EDIT NOTE FROM THE NOTEBOOK: JASPER AND COOPER TAYLOR APPEAR TO BE WORKING NOT ONLY AS DIME SAFETIES, BUT AS MUCH OR MORESO AS NICKEL SAFETIES, IN FACT, SOMETIMES AT THE EXPENSE OF REESE )
Much as so many people try, the idea of trying to predict a team’s future is impossible to do with any great accuracy, particularly when that team has a new head coach, new systems on offense and defense, and — this is no less important — so many young players who will not just be expected to play great deal. They will have to play.
My experience is that first-year head coaches offer a notable bump in morale, whether the previous coach was a curmudgeon, a mute, or whatever. I saw it with Jim Mora in 2004, when the only significant roster changes with the Falcons — who were awful in ‘03 — were the addition of DT Rod Coleman, and the return of injured QB Michael Vick.
Dan Reeves was steady as a rock as a head coach. But he’d been there seven years, which reduces the ability of the boss to jolt the troops. There comes a point where players need to do the jump-starting, where peer-to-peer accountability is more important than how much players “fear” coaches.
Still, more than that morale swoon and collective tune-out sank the ‘03 season. Doug Johnson and Kurt Kittner simply could not get it done at QB, teammates came to know it, and whether knowingly or not, a bunch of players played down to reduced expectations. Too young, too inexperienced, and not good enough. Their ability, or shortages thereof, had a collective psychological effect — translation: lack of faith — on teammates that was too much to overcome.
Tech is going to be really young. The QB, B-back and starting WRs are likely to be sophomores, with freshmen or redshirt freshman quite possibly entrenched in the two-deep and having to play quite a bit. At least one starting A-back, Roddy Jones, is a redshirt freshman.
And on it goes, less dramatically in the O-line, not in the D-line, but significantly in the linebacking corps and in the secondary.
I think the ability of Tech’s young players to play “up” will go further toward determining the nature of the Yellow Jackets’ season than how well players pick up news systems on both sides of the ball (whether under or upperclassmen), how sound those systems are, or even how Paul Johnson and his staff coach the X’s and O’s and make personnel decisions.
This doesn’t mean every young player has to be an All-Star. But a few need to really bow up, and help upperclassmen take the yoke.
It’s tough to imagine the energy level, or chemistry, being problems in this first year. Enthusiasm is impossible to miss with this team, and it’s not the type generated just because football is back in business, the annual hump in energy that comes regardless of the coach. There are believers everywhere on the roster, which is not to say everybody understands yet nearly enough to make all the pieces work.
Make no mistake, coaches are still selling their systems. Time will validate those systems, or it will not. Paul Johnson’s track record is pretty good. Navy was not good his first year there. Then, a run unlike any since Roger Staubach was in Annapolis.
I’m not saying Tech is going to go 4-8. It’s realistic to think, in my opinion, that the Jackets will win more than they’ll lose this fall. 10-2? That’d be quite a shock. 8-4. Possible. 7-5 or 6-6? Most probable.
I will check back in from practices today with UPDATES LATER in the comments section BELOW.
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Defense turning up the heat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back in full pads, and as if it’s not hot enough out here, the Tech defense just a while ago made life worse for the offense.
The Yellow Jackets were full go on the lines of scrimmage (no cut-blocking that I noticed, though), and the offense had fits getting off plays. Part of that was because of the mixing of personnel, some injuries (A-backs Roddy Jones and Greg Smith, WRs Correy Earls and Tyler Melton) don’t help, and the fact the defense has seen these plays dozens of times is a factor, too. Oh, and Tech is more talented in the D-line than anywhere else.
The ball-handling was no worse than what we’ve seen, maybe even a little better, but the defense is tracking half the wide running plays in the backfield. Back-side blocking is a particular issue to my eye.
Some nice plays: walk-on A-back Jamal Paige of Woodward Academy used his blocks well to break a long one outside. A-back Lucas Cox, playing more because of injuries, had a couple nice blocks. But the linemen are having fits. Nobody can block Michael Johnson.
S Mario Edwards CRUSHED WR Demaryius Thomas on a reverse, causing a fumble.
Freshman Cooper Taylor got some reps at safety with the first defense, although it appeared to be nickel stuff, not base defense. Also, there were some strange substitutions that made it a stretch to call it the No. 1 defense. It’s clear, though, that the Marist product is among freshman NOT likely to redshirt.
In passing drills, CB Michael Peterson made a nice interception on a long ball thrown to Marcus Wright. Embry Peeples, back today, made a nice over-the-shoulder catch on a long ball. Booker continues to throw better than others, in my opinion. Nesbitt has made a couple nice throws today, but has bobbled a snap or two.
On a totally unrelated topic, I’m not going into great detail on pending staff reductions at the AJC. Like many papers, we’re having to deal with some tough economic issues. But the post I saw on The Hive (yes, I read it and that shouldn’t surprise anybody) suggesting that we’re a victim of our political leanings is crazy.
The formula is much less attractive than a wacky plot like that. The growth of the internet and competing media, skyrocketing costs for not only production (newsprint is up like 34 percent in a year) but also in transportation costs for delivery (we drive a combined 80,000 or so miles a day to deliver the paper), decline in circulation and ad revenues and voila! Tough times. These conditions were spelled out very clearly in news reports a few weeks ago when this became a story.
Political leanings? Please, apply more thought, or even some research, next time.
More updates later.
Matt
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Jackets’ ranks thinning in spots
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the first time, Georgia Tech is starting to suffer injuries beyond nicks, bumps and bruises.
A colleague was at the morning practice, and I went to the afternoon practice.
A-backs Roddy Jones (hamstring) and Greg Smith (not sure) worked out on the side, and Embry Peeples left practice with what looked to me like heat-related issues.
And with wide receiver Correy Earls (hamstring) out for a third straight day, WR Tyler Melton, who has been impressive from the start of summer practice, went down in the middle with a shoulder problem. DE Jason Peters was wrenched in the middle of practice, too. Not sure what happened.
On the plus side, cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels, who tweaked a leg Saturday, is back in action. Also, RT David Brown returned Sunday and was back after missing Friday and Saturday to attend a funeral.
Nice play: Kamaron Riley picked a Jaybo Shaw pass to Daniel McKayhan in passing drills. A short out route to the left. Telegraphed from the beginning.
Scary moment: A-back Marcus Wright was off on a sweep, but before he could turn the corner, LB Sedric Griffin collared him — literally. Were it a game, it would have been a 15-yard penalty, a new rule this year. All horse-collar tackles are 15. Wright was slow to get up. Couldn’t tell what hurt, but he was back in short order.
When there was a rush, all quarterbacks had tremendous problems completing passes, partly because of the rush, partly for fault of their throws, and partly because coverage was good. The defense has a pretty good idea what’s coming. When finally Zach Fisher caught a pass, it was soon fumbled.
I did my best to leave the slang on the sideline, bros. (And sisses.)
Matt
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Bonus Blog! Come ‘n get it
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TokyoJacket (a blog responder, for those making initial contact),
I know a cat who lives in Tokyo, which I visited with the Falcons a few years ago by the way. While there, I loaned three intoxicated players — one still with the team — 800 yen when I ran into them in “Electronics City,” or whatever it was.
Imagine that, me loaning three NFL players dough.
Speaking of dough, and Tokyo … I know a dude who lives in T-town (hah; what are there, 10 million people there?). I’ve met him several times through a Tech contact. Get this: I first met him when Tech played basketball in Hawaii, then when Tech played in the NCAA tournament in Chicago, then when Tech played last fall in the Virgin Islands.
He doesn’t make all away games, but he makes some good ones, huh?
Filthy rich, eccentric, smart as hell, takes all kinds of exotic trips and involves his friends frequently … and he just turned 32. A Tech grad you should all be proud of, even if he makes his money in a unique way (don’t ask; I’m not telling).
BTW, love that train from the Narita airport to the city. Muy fast, the likes of which we may never seen in the U.S., unfortunately, for so many reasons.
But I digress.
New uniforms? Jerseys, OK. Pants, yuck. Wanna see the other color scheme(s).
Now, the good stuff. Darryl Richard is impressive on every level on which I’ve encountered him.
I asked him yesterday: what’s the difference in the team’s approach entering a season facing reduced external expectations (What’s the average prediction for Tech to finish? Third or fourth in the division? Somebody thinks the Jackets are the ninth-best team in the ACC.) with a lot of youth versus entering a season with loftier expectations like last season (coming off ACC title game with a lot of returning players).
Whoa, just blew a lot of words there. Wish I was paid by the word, as some assert.
Anyway, D-Rich, knocking it out of the park:
“This game involves psychology. No matter how much you try to act like it’s just played on the field, you [coaches] have to be able to get into the minds of players and use it to your advantage.
“Outside pressure can push a football team one way or another. You learn to temper expectations when they’re really high, and when they’re low … you try to keep a steady tempo of work no matter what people on the outside are saying.
“When people are saying good things about you, you have to use that as motivation … can we beat those expectations? When people are saying bad things about you, are you going to use that to pick the team up? Can you prove them wrong?”
Darryl on coach Paul Johnson: “You’re going to know how coach Johnson feels. It won’t take you by surprise. That’s something you have to respect. One thing about coach Johnson, he’s going to be vocal. He’s going to let you know if you know if you’re doing something right or wrong.”
If only everybody was like Darryl Richard, a Tech treasure to be sure.
LT Andrew Gardner was talking about the difference in line play this year. Simply put, they’re going forward more, and chasing people down. The most notable difference from the stands will be in pass protection. Forget watching guys retreat and “catch” rushers.
DE Michael Johnson has longed to play what football insiders call the “9 technique,” where DEs spread outside the tackles (sometimes by a yard or two), and just go hells bells. If he stays healthy, he’s going to be unreal. Not meant to play in closed quarters, that guy. Meant to play like John Abraham, or Charles Haley. Freak.
B-back Jonathan Dwyer was asked about whether he patterns himself after anybody, which, of course, is a stupid question (it wasn’t mine). How many elite athletes “pattern” themselves after anyone. Nonetheless, Tech fans will probably love his answer. He said Adrian Peterson.
Not bad. All that guy did while playing for Paul Johnson at Georgia Southern was set the NCAA career rushing record, and about one thousand other records.
I know we had two flowery columns in the paper today about Paul Johnson (Bisher and Bradley), yet I find these comments from Gardner a couple weeks ago just as interesting:
“Coach Gailey was more like what I would call a pro-style guy where he would expect you to act like an adult and take care of yourself. If you didn’t, you’d have more rules. You wouldn’t have a class check if you had a high GPA and that sort of thing. You could earn freedom by proving yourself.
“Coach Johnson is more of an old-school college coach where everybody is on the same rules. He’s on top of you more. He has more rules. He’s more involved.”
Later.
Matt
P.S. I’m not scheduled to do much in the near future, other than write one day live this coming week and blog daily. I’ll be around, though, and working on long-range stories.
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Better crowd on The Flats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Moving quickly today, but with the anticipation of plugging back in later more frequently than the first three days …
WR Correy Earls is on The Beach, the first injured player to be spotted there. He has a hamstring pull. He’s not having fun working out in the sun. He’s about 15 feet from me doing crunchers. He’s lifted a lot, stretched some, lifted more, done crunchers, etc. It stinks being injured.
Tyler Melton has worked in his spot with the No. 1s, for the most part. He’s made a couple more nice catches, too.
Marcus Wright is catching the ball today. He struggled yesterday.
Good turnout, probably 100 or so folks, give or take. Lot more pleasant than in the scorching heat Wednesday, or to a lesser degree yesterday. It’ll be warm this afternoon, though.
My opinion: Among QBs, Booker has thrown the best ball since practice started, and by a long shot. Shaw’s had stretches where he’s been impressive. Everybody else is up and down, although Nesbitt has fired a few impressive passes — generally when he throws over the middle. On the long throws down the sideline, Booker has been head and shoulders above.
Running the offense, making the pitches, the decisions to keep or give, Booker’s not in the top two or three. Again, my opinion.
More later.
Matt
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Seems like a good time to hit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m standing on the hill overlooking practice, and thinking, “Man, I haven’t seen any injured players yet in two-plus days.”
Of course, there hasn’t been any real contact yet, but the past couple years that I’ve been around you’d always see a smattering of players over on the side, “The Beach,” area as it has come to be called working out, stretching, doing whatever. By now, there would usually be some muscle pulls and the like keeping few players on the sideline.
But not so far. Is that because there are fewer injuries, or because players are more concerned that they can’t afford to miss time under a new coach? Are they sucking it up more?
And then I realize I don’t see senior David Brown, who has been working at No. 1 RT since mid-spring. R.-Fr. Clyde Yandell has been working there today, and sophomore Luke Snider, a walk-on from Norcross, behind him. I can’t find Brown anywhere. So I’ll check on that. EDIT: He’s at his grandfather’s funeral.
Also, although, I don’t see him out here, I just learned that backup FB Matt Kamp of Milton High, a junior, is out for the season with a lower leg injury.
So much for initial thoughts.
Quick hitters …
It’s more exciting out here when all the pads are on. And they’re not … yet.
Fr. A-back Marcus Wright can really run. He’s uber fast. But. He roasted safety Mario Edwards on a pattern straight up the seam, left Edwards literally spinning in his track, and a perfect pass was delivered. Wright dropped it. EDIT: he dropped a couple more later.
Fr. Tyler Melton keeps catching balls, and running nice routes. Paul Johnson was complimentary after practice. Said he’ll play this year.
Roddy Jones is almost always, maybe always always, one of the No. 1 A-backs. It appears to be that Greg Smith and Andrew Smith are splitting work at the other No. 1 A-back spot.
A.J. Smith has worked at No. 2 RG, and No. 1 LG, where Jason Hill continues to get most of the work.
It’s not quite as hot as Wednesday, but it ain’t air-conditioned, either.
S Morgan Burnett is wearing a soft cast on his left wrist. He broke it in the spring, and didn’t even know it. It bothered him long enough they checked, and it was broken. He anticipates wearing a soft cast when the season begins, too.
Practice is at 9:45 tomorrow, and the Great Jacket Encounter is at 3, kids festivities beginning outside the stadium on Callaway Plaza at 2. You can get autographs and pictures, etc. No charge for admission. Try to park in the Peters parking deck. The plan for players to wear the old uniforms and thereby keep the new ones in the dark until the Aug. 19 unveiling have been shelved. Players will be in the new unis. Maybe that has something to do with the fact new jerseys are already on sale in some places. Or, maybe not.
Coach Johnson on Wednesday mentioned a new depth chart coming out today. I’m told that does not necessarily mean it will be made available for public consumption. That remains unclear. EDIT: Not for public consumption.
More contact today, but not a lot, than Wednesday and Thursday. Players are in shells. Full gear Sunday or Monday.
Matt
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