Johnson says Tech will try and clean up defense

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said he didn't yet know if there would be any changes to the defensive depth chart before Saturday's  critical matchup against No. 4 Virginia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

"We got who we got. There is no waiver wire," Johnson joked after practice Monday. The team avoided inclement weather and worked out at the Georgia Dome .

Johnson did say that he was going to simplify the defense to try to reduce the mistakes that have plagued the team in the past two wins against Mississippi State and Florida State. In those games, Tech allowed 487 yards and 539 yards, respectively. That's 1,026 yards in 120 minutes.

Defensive backs coach Charles Kelly said he wants the cornerbacks to improve their tackling to limit yards after the catch. He said they let too many small plays turn into big plays at FSU. The Seminoles were able to consistently break screen passes to the sideline for sizable gains  in the Yellow Jackets' 49-44 win in Tallahassee on Saturday. He also wants the secondary to take advantage of interception opportunities, saying there were too many tipped passes that Tech didn't get to.

Kelly said he is still evaluating who will start against the Hokies. Cornerbacks Rashaad Reid, Mike Peterson and Rod Sweeting will all get snaps.

Taylor back

Safety Cooper Taylor practiced with the team on Monday. It was the first time back on the field since leaving the Miami game on Sept. 17 with dizziness and a rapid heartbeat.

He was diagnosed a day later with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and underwent subsequent surgery to correct the condition.

Johnson said "we'll see" about the chances Taylor will play Saturday.

Johnson also disclosed wide receiver Kevin Cone broke his ankle in the win against FSU. Cone started the first three games but has appeared on special teams mostly the past three games.

Watch out for Williams

Virginia Tech Frank Beamer doesn't want to take too much credit for the surprising success that running back Ryan Williams has had this season.

"I don't know that you make good backs," Beamer said. "You have to recruit good backs."

He recruited a good one, then.

The Hokies were rocked in August when 1,000-yard rusher Darren Evans sustained a season-ending knee injury in training camp.

But in stepped Williams, a redshirt freshman who now leads the ACC with 122.3 yards per game. He's averaging 37 more yards a game than Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer.

"Ryan can make you miss and he can run by you and he hurts you when he runs through you," Beamer said. "Not all backs have those qualities and when you put them together, you have a special back."

Beamer said he had an idea that Williams could be another in a long line of tough Hokie backs when he was on the scout team last year and the defensive coaches kept telling him that Williams was the best back they'd seen. And that includes a long sequence of players, including Evans, Kevin Jones and Lee Suggs.

"Ryan Williams is the real deal," Johnson said.