While everyone seems to be preoccupied about Paul Johnson’s option offense, the coach said he is more intrigued by Georgia Tech’s kicking game.

Punter Chandler Anderson and kicker Scott Blair have some big shoes to fill in Durant Brooks and Travis Bell.

Brooks left Tech with the highest career punting average in the history of the ACC (45.32 yards on 144 punts) and was named the 2007 Ray Guy Award winner, given to the nation’s best punter.

“If you go back and you look at the tape, he helped the defense a ton. Those defensive numbers wouldn’t be the same without him,” Johnson said.

Blair will replace Bell, who ranks atop the Yellow Jackets record book for field goals made in a season (23) and a career (61), as well as career field-goal percentage (72.6). Not to mention, Bell made all 138 career PAT attempts.

“That’s two really good guys that you have to replace. So that’s an area that we’ll have to find out about when we start playing,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Blair hasn’t missed a field goal yet in practice, but he is curious to see how the sophomore will fare in a game.

“I’ve seen a lot of guys that were good in practice and vice versa. I’ve seen guys who weren’t as consistent in practice but when it came game time, they didn’t miss many,” Johnson said. “Does he have the ability? Yeah. Am I confident in him to try field goals? Yeah. Until he proves otherwise.”

Return game

Johnson hinted Saturday about handing kickoff return responsibility to senior linebacker Tony Clark, and he wasn’t kidding.

Johnson said Monday that Clark, 6 feet 1, 213 pounds, approached him with the idea and the coach decided to try it out. With 6-foot, 228-pound Jonathan Dwyer by Clark’s side, Johnson likes Tech’s odds.

“We’ve probably got the two biggest kick returners in the country with him and Jon Dwyer. Hopefully whichever one catches, the other one ought to be able to get a block. They’re both over 200 pounds,” Johnson said with a smile. “They both got the speed. I think that if they got in the clear … they can take it all the way.”

Shaw will play

Johnson said Monday that he doesn’t mind splitting time between starting quarterback Josh Nesbitt and freshman backup Jaybo Shaw this season.

“We’re not going to redshirt [Shaw],” Johnson said. “I think he’s earned a couple of series in the game and we’ll figure out when we’re going to put him in and play. I think he’s good enough to help us win a game, so we’re going to get him in there and see what he does under fire.”

Shaw finished his career at Flowery Branch with 9,340 yards and 127 touchdowns.

Rain or shine

The steady rain Monday and a 100 percent chance of more wet weather predicted for Tuesday won’t affect the Yellow Jackets’ practice schedule.

“I hope it rains,” Johnson said. “We haven’t got to practice in it a lot. That’d be good.”

Johnson said only lightning will keep his team off the field.

“I haven’t looked at the weather report because I don’t think they can get it right for 12 hours much less three days,” he kidded.