Ga. Tech's receiver Thomas loves Jackets' offense

By Ray Glier

For the AJC

At some point during the pass play, the smallish cornerback is going to have to deal with Demaryius Thomas’ NFL size. The corner can back off in one-on-one coverage to create some space, but the 6-foot-3, 228-pound Thomas is going to attack the corner and stick him inside like paste on a wall and then make a move.

“Attack them and make them move,” said Thomas, who is on the preseason All-ACC team. “That’s what you have to do.”

For all the talk about Tech’s receiver-unfriendly offense, Thomas is grateful the Jackets punish so many teams with the run. It means the defense leans inside with an extra defender to stop the run and he can usually find himself matched up one-on-one with a defensive back.

One-on-one is good news for teams who have a tall, physical receiver such as Thomas because the trend in college football is toward shorter defensive backs, who are better able to stick with receivers in the spread offenses. NFL scouts bemoaned the lack of tall defensive backs in the 2009 draft.

Thomas had only 39 receptions in 2008, but he averaged a whopping 16.1 yards per catch. He studies former Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens, who also are tall, muscular receivers.

What makes Thomas an even better receiver is his willingness to knock a defensive back under the bench with a big block.

The solution for defenses matched against Thomas away from the ball is to have a safety ready to slide over for help over the top. That sounds fine, Thomas said, until an A-back like Anthony Allen or Roddy Jones goes streaking down the middle of the field.

“It’s going to be one-on-one there in the middle or with me,” Thomas said. “We have some different things we can do.”

Notable

● Georgia Tech’s offense is really good, which is a big reason why the Jackets are ranked No. 15. They plowed over third- and fourth-team defenders Friday in a scrimmage, which is what they should have done.

Paul Johnson, the Tech coach, just wishes it wasn’t so easy.

“The longest drive on offense might have been four plays for a touchdown,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t a lot of resistance. It is a real concern. We’re going to have to find a way to have those guys do a better job.”

● Johnson said sophomore wide receiver Tyler Melton has a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in a knee and will not play in the opener. Demaryius Thomas said Melton could be out two to four weeks.

● The special teams, which have been a special concern, had its up and down moments in the scrimmage. Johnson noted a lack of discipline with six offside calls in the kicking game, but said the return game was better.