Jackets open spring practice with anticipation

Georgia Tech’s spring practice race is on.

Under far greater expectations than a year ago, the Jackets began spring practice Monday with goals to develop depth and advance their offensive and defensive schemes.

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Coach Paul Johnson oversees a special teams drill.

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Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

Cornerback Michael Peterson catches the ball during defensive back drills.

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“We’re going to try to do some more stuff,” coach Paul Johnson said. “We’re going to try to put it in as fast as we can.”

With strength and conditioning coach Eric Ciano barking out instructions during warm-up drills, the Jackets began the first of their 14 spring practice sessions.

The team worked out for a little more than two hours, starting with punt and punt return practice, then working in position groups and later as full offensive and defensive units. The Jackets worked out in jerseys, shorts and helmets. Johnson said players looked rusty.

“I think anytime you start a spring practice, you want to start on day one and build up, build the intensity and the speed of practices and all that,” he said. “We’ll work on that on Wednesday.”

Johnson said that the team will work on special teams in all of the practices. In 2008, after the Jackets did not work that much on special teams in the spring, they were ninth in punt return average in the ACC and 10th in kickoff returns.

Said Johnson, “I think we can be better than we were a year ago in that area.”

Nesbitt looks sharp

Quarterback Josh Nesbitt looked sharp, zipping short and long passes with accuracy.

“The coaches try to pound it in my head to just do the basic things like following through, making sure my toes are pointed in the right direction, bending my knees, just little things,” he said. “All of that helps accuracy.”

As a precaution, Nesbitt’s ankles were taped under and over his shoes. He injured both ankles last season. Two months ago, he underwent surgery on his left ankle to clean out bone spurs.

“Nothing major,” he said. “I feel good.”

Nesbitt called it a relief to be back on the field.

“This is what we were born to do,” he said. “We’ve been gone a long time, so it feels good to get back out here.”

New No. 93 on the field

Emmanuel Dieke isn’t trying to live up to the number he inherited. That would be foolish.

The slender defensive end, who enrolled in January, was given Michael Johnson’s No. 93.

“You hear it every day — Michael Johnson wore the number so you have to live up to the hype,” Dieke said. “I feel I can just make a name for myself and I’ll be fine.”

A North Clayton product, Dieke said he graduated early so he could “get a head start on college and participate in spring practice.”

He’s been working out with the team for two months. He termed his first practice OK.

“I had a few mishaps, but I’m getting better,” he said.

Dieke, a 6-7, 241-pounder, is Tech’s only early enrollee. He said Johnson’s advice was a big help.

“He was like, ‘Just do your thing, go out there and show everybody you’re capable of playing on this level,’ ” Dieke said. “And I took that to heart.”

Missing from action

Two starting offensive linemen will miss all of spring practice.

Center Dan Voss is recovering from shoulder surgery. Left tackle Nick Claytor has a back injury.

Junior Sean Bedford replaced Voss on the first unit, while senior Brad Sellers stepped in for Claytor.

Inexperience at center led to snap problems.

“There are going to be a lot of guys playing this spring that haven’t played,” coach Paul Johnson said. “But that’s what spring is about.”

Bedford and Sellers joined right tackle Austin Barrick, and guards Cord Howard and Joseph Gilbert.

“It’s going to be interesting for them to see what they can do,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to see some of these freshmen that we redshirted compete and play. We’ll find out more when we put the pads on this weekend.”

Recruit visits

Coach Paul Johnson spent time during warm-ups chatting with recruit Michael Dyer, Scout.com’s No. 4-rated running back in the Class of 2010.

Dyer, who was on an unofficial visit, has a slew of major offers. He ran for more than 4,600 yards the past two seasons for Little Rock (Ark.) Christian Academy.