Tech’s Johnson unsatisfied with opening win

Georgia Tech will have a brief practice Saturday morning, and it’s a good bet coach Paul Johnson will have already turned his sights on the kicking games after the Jackets’ 41-14 win over Jacksonville State in Thursday night’s opener.

Scott Blair’s only punt went for 51 yards, although it went into the end zone for a touchback. There was little in the kicking to rave about. Rant? Sure.

Blair missed both field goal tries, and a PAT. Tech did not have any punt return yards, averaged 3.5 yards per kickoff return while surrendering 18.3, and snapper Bret White had some issues.

“The kicking game was atrocious,” Johnson said.

The prospects of him continuing to both kick and punt may be in peril. Despite Thursday’s performance, punting is likely his weaker skill.

Redshirt freshman Chandler Anderson, in fact, was listed as the No. 1 punter on the depth chart at the end of summer practice.

Johnson also was less than satisfied with dropped passes, short-yardage failures, defensive inconsistencies and some badly missed blocking assignments.

“I learned a long time ago an ugly win is better than a pretty loss,” the coach said. “They say teams make the most improvement from game one to game two, and certainly we’ll need to do that next week [at Boston College].”

Super sophs

To say the recruiting class of 2007 was well represented Thursday night would be an understatement. Jonathan Dwyer (112 yards and two touchdowns on 11 rushes), Josh Nesbitt and Roddy Jones, all part of that group, combined for 233 of Tech’s 349 rushing yards and five of the six touchdowns.

“Jonathan Dwyer is a player that we had in our sights about three times, and just couldn’t tackle him,” said Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe. “I think Jonathan Dwyer is a phenomenal player.”

Jones, Dwyer and Tyler Melton – also part of that class although he did not enroll full-time until Jan. of ‘08 – made four of the Jackets’ eight receptions, and classmate Morgan Burnett had both Tech interceptions.

Members of that class combined for 22 of Tech’s 71 tackles and assists (linebacker Brad Jefferson led the way with five), 2 1/2 of the four sacks (1 1/2 by end Derrick Morgan and one by linebacker Osahon Tongo), and one of two fumble recoveries (Morgan).

By the way, every Tech point was scored by a player recruited from within the state of Georgia, including five by Blair, a walk-on in ‘07.

Depth chart

The only real personnel surprise came when freshman Rashaad Reid moved up to No. 1 nickel back, who comes in as a fifth defensive back in passing situations. During summer practices Burnett moved into the nickel spot and was replaced at safety by either Cooper Taylor or DeRon Jasper.

Seven players made their first starts on offense, and five on defense. Senior left tackle Andrew Gardner made his 40th consecutive start.

Injuries

No news was available Friday on injuries, but defensive end Michael Johnson, who did not have a tackle before being taken to the locker room, was said to have suffered from dehydration.