DTs moving forward, not looking back

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Don’t focus on the 77 tackles and the 12 sacks, not to mention years of leadership, that left Georgia Tech when Darryl Richard and Vance Walker were drafted into the NFL last April.

Those who are stepping into those defensive tackle positions say that Tech’s coaches have already turned the page.

“[Defensive line coach Giff Smith] did a good job during springtime, during spring camp, making sure that we knew that we had a big role,” said Jason Peters, a redshirt sophomore who played in 10 games last season and made five tackles and two sacks. “He treated us just like we were starters, just like we had been there forever. He put expectations very high for us. We are striving to meet them.”

Smith indicated as much this summer, saying the only thing that would disappoint him is if the players seemed complacent. He said he wants them to push for the same all-conference honors that Walker and Richard earned last year.

To do that, Peters said he and the rest of the tackles — Ben Anderson, T.J. Barnes and Logan Walls — are focusing on perfecting their assignments.

“We have to know what we are doing every play and execute it perfectly,” Peters said. “If we don’t do that, it won’t matter what we do right, how fast we are, how strong we are. We will struggle against offenses if we don’t have our assignments down.”

As a unit, Tech’s defensive line is not going to be able to match up pound for pound with their opponents.

Offensive lines at Virginia Tech and North Carolina, which along with the Jackets are considered capable of winning the ACC’s Coastal Division, average 293 pounds and 307 pounds respectively. by comparison, Tech’s defensive line averages 277 pounds, and that includes defensive tackle T.J. Barnes’ listed weight of 353. (His updated weight on Tech’s Web site is 341.)

“One of our biggest strengths is our speed,” Peters said. “We’re not as big as some of the defensive lines out there. But that’s not a big issue for us. We’re ready to fight at any point in time. We’re ready for a battle. That’s our biggest thing. Coach always tell us never be afraid of anybody. We can beat anybody we go up against.”


QB shuffle

With injuries to backup quarterbacks Jaybo Shaw (broken clavicle) and freshman Jordan Luallen (ankle), coach Paul Johnson said that freshman Quentin Sims is working out at quarterback. Sims, who normally plays wide receiver, ran the option offense (albeit briefly, just during the postseason last fall) at Colerain High School in Cincinnati.

Behind starter Josh Nesbitt, the depth chart lists redshirt freshman Tevin Washington at No. 2 and true freshman David Sims at No. 3


Lanier out

Freshman defensive tackle J.C. Lanier will redshirt this season, Johnson said.

Lanier, a 6-foot-4, 335-pound graduate of the Emanuel County Institute, has missed most of the past two weeks with an injured shoulder. Johnson couldn’t specify the injury but was hopeful Lanier would be back in time for spring practice.


Defensive ends

Freshman Izaan Cross continues to impress coaches, so much so that he’s now listed on the two-deep depth chart at defensive end, joining Derrick Morgan, Robert Hall and Anthony Egbuniwe, according to Smith.

Cross, a 6-4, 272-pound graduate of Flowery Branch High School, came to Tech as a defensive tackle but was moved immediately to end.

“He’s very mature for a guy his age,” Johnson said. “He’s got good strength. But he’s going to help us. He’s a big, strong kid.”

Smith said that Cross would be the only freshman on the defensive line to play regularly, as things stand now.