Jackets’ kicking game remains a concern

Many Georgia Tech fans likely left Bobby Dodd Stadium with unease about the kicking game.

Put coach Paul Johnson in the same boat.

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Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

Head coach Paul Johnson said ‘I’m real concerned [about kicking game] after watching it today.’

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Kicker Scott Blair missed all three of his field-goal tries, from 35, 39 and 49 yards. Walk-on Chris Tanner made a 37-yarder and missed from 34.

“I’m real concerned after watching it today,” he said.

Because of Tech’s attention on the return teams this spring, Blair did not work with the field-goal team, making it difficult to develop chemistry with a snapper and holder. Johnson also said that when kickers work without a live rush, as they did Saturday, it tends to throw off their mind-set.

“He can be a good kicker,” Johnson said of Blair.

What irked Johnson more was when Blair dropped a punt snap and, not facing a live rush, casually picked it up to kick it. Johnson, watching from directly beside Blair, slapped the ball out of Blair’s hands, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Said Johnson, “I guarantee in a game he wouldn’t have done that and gotten it off. You need to have a little urgency.”

Said Blair of the punt, “I stuck it out [to kick it], and it was gone. I just kind of looked at him in awe, and he just told me to run off the field.”

Blair, who was 12-for-19 on field goals, said he will work a lot this summer with the snapper and holder, likely Brad Sellers or Jeff Lentz, and Chandler Anderson, respectively.

Peeples shows his speed

A-back Embry Peeples showed his blazing speed on a 60-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and also when he got behind the defense for a 63-yard catch.

“Seeing Embry Peeples’ run was ridiculous,” B-back Jonathan Dwyer said. “The speed we have, this offense has a high potential. Who knows what we can do with it if we stay on one task and do what we’re supposed to do.”

A-back Anthony Allen also had his moments, rushing seven times for 69 yards and turning a short catch into a 20-yard gain. A-back Marcus Wright ran four times for 30 yards and caught a 26-yarder. Wideout Tyler Melton went 45 yards on an end-around.

Lyons, Watson still dueling

B-backs Preston Lyons and Richard Watson, battling to be Jonathan Dwyer’s backup, both had solid afternoons. Lyons played with the first-string offense and ran nine times for 32 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown. Watson carried 11 times for 51 yards and caught a 14-yard pass.

“I thought Richard Watson ran the ball hard. He played the whole game for his team,”Johnson said. “[And] Preston Lyons had a couple of nice runs.”

Etc.

Starting this week, Georgia Tech will begin to replace the videoboard with one whose screen is twice as big as the existing one. The athletics department will also add ribbon boards along the stands and also a new sound system. … Tech had sold about 21,700 season tickets as of late last week. It sold 23,950 last season. Season tickets are still on sale.