Georgia Tech football: 3 offseason keys

The 2008 season just ended, and the 2009 season is about to start for Georgia Tech.

How’s that, you say?

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Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is looking for improvement from some defensive linemen during the offseason.

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Offseason conditioning will begin soon at both schools, starting the grind towards spring practice.

Signing Day is less than a month away.

Spring games are about three months away, when players can get an early jump on moving up, or down, the depth chart.

Said Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack of his players, “Right now, it’s critical that they get in the weight room, that they get stronger, bigger, in some cases smaller, improve their agility, those types of things.”

It’s the mandate of the offseason. As coaches review the 2008 season and look ahead to 2009, here are three things to think about for fans of the Jackets:

1. Who will start on Tech’s offensive line?

The linemen who played the final three games of the season together — tackles Austin Barrick and Nick Claytor, guards Joseph Gilbert and Cord Howard and center Dan Voss — all return.

Their spots in the lineup are not guaranteed. They shined in some moments and struggled in others. As will be the case at every position, coach Paul Johnson will demand improved quickness, technique and execution. Better pass blocking will be a priority, as well.

By virtue of experience alone, the Jackets should improve. Freshmen Omoregie Uzzi and Phil Smith, who both redshirted this season, are among younger players who will likely push their way up the depth chart.

2. How will they replace three starters on the defensive line?

Defensively, the Jackets’ greatest strength has become an area of inexperience. End Michael Johnson and tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker, along with backup Elris Anyaibe, were the backbone of Tech’s defense. They’ll take the experience of a combined 88 starts and 198 games with them.

Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack gave returning backups Ben Anderson, Robert Hall and Jason Peters plenty of snaps. The addition of freshman T.J. Barnes, who was a scout-team terror this past season, is highly anticipated.

Said Wommack, “The young guys, the T.J. Barnes and Antonio Wilsons and the Logan Walls and those guys, need to step it up a notch.”

3. What will Tech do to improve its special teams?

It was not only in the Chick-fil-A Bowl that Tech’s special teams lagged.

In kickoff return average, punt return average, net punting, and field goal percentage, Tech ranked in the bottom four in the ACC. The Jackets held their own only in kickoff coverage, in which they ranked third.

Tech went through three punt returners, Tyler Melton, Roddy Jones and Andrew Smith, hoping to find one who could consistently hold onto the ball, but did not. Tech fumbled five of its 27 punt returns.

Kicker Scott Blair finished well, making his last four kicks of the season. However, he hit just 63.2 percent of his tries and did not make a field goal from longer than 39 yards.