Johnson wants better Tech punt-return team

If Paul Johnson has anything to do with it, Georgia Tech’s punt-return team will do a bit better against Gardner-Webb on Saturday than in Tech’s previous game.

Against Duke on Saturday, freshman Tyler Melton returned four punts for minus-2 yards. However, Tech’s coach did not lay responsibility at Melton’s feet. In lamenting the return and cover units, Johnson said “the biggest disappointment Saturday was probably our punt-return team.”

The Jackets have dedicated extra time to special-teams work this week, changing up schemes and personnel. Johnson said Melton would likely keep returning punts. Special-teams coach Jeff Monken said earlier this week that it often has been the case that one player’s missed assignment on a return has forced Melton to have to fair catch or try to return the ball with a defender right on top of him.

The kick-return duties, which mostly have been handled by Melton and sophomore Jonathan Dwyer, could change, Johnson said. Freshman Marcus Wright, expected to make his first career appearance Saturday, is a possibility.

“It’s going good,” Johnson said of the special-teams work this week. “We’ll know Saturday.”

Georgia Tech is 10th in the ACC in net punting (32.8 yards per punt), 11th in punt-return average (3.6 yards per return) and last in kick-return average (17.7 yards per return). Tech is fourth in kickoff net coverage (45.5 yards per kick).

Johnson also said that against Duke, there were mistakes in the extra-point and field-goal kick teams that could have been exploited.

“It wasn’t, but it could have been,” he said.

Gardner-Webb punter Michael Hanna averages 33.4 yards per kick. Returners are averaging 6.8 yards per return against the Bulldogs.

According to the depth chart released Thursday, punter Chandler Anderson will have punting duties for the second game in a row. Kicker Scott Blair had been punting for the first four games.