If Georgia State’s football players or fans held any doubts as to how new coach Trent Miles demands things get done, he showed them again during Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage at the Georgia Dome.
With the Dome hosting around 1,800 people, including more than 100 high school football players there to see what Miles and his staff were all about, Georgia State’s players decided to make their introductions with a leisurely stroll out of one of the tunnels.
Unhappy with the lack of intensity, Miles made them turn around and do it again.
They got it right the second time.
“We have to hold them to the standard that you believe in and you have to demand they do it the right way, and you can’t let them slide on anything,” Miles said.
That was the first chance to impress. A few of Georgia State players — defensive tackle Joe Lockley, quarterback Clay Chastain and wide receiver Avery Sweeting — looked for another in what was more of a scrimmage than a traditional spring-ending game. Each player took advantage.
Lockley, 6-foot-1, 298 pounds, showed flashes of promise last season as a freshman, but his production was limited by nagging injuries throughout the year. The setbacks continued into the first two weeks of spring. Lockley said he was anxious to show the new coaches what he could do at what may be the deepest position on the team.
He impressed Saturday with a tackle for a loss and an interception off a tipped pass.
“I knew once I got on the field I could show the coaches what I can do and what I’m capable of,” he said. “At the end of the day, I got better.”
Chastain was the quarterback who threw that interception, continuing what was a rough spring for him. Chastain signed with the Panthers out of Georgia Military College and was penciled in as the starter by fans, perhaps prematurely, because of his size (6-4, 218) and the struggles last season of his two competitors, Ben McLane and Ronnie Bell.
Chastain got off to a slow start re-learning how to play under center, something he barely did at Harrison High and never did at GMC, and with reading defenses. He was statistically poor in previous scrimmages and didn’t look good in the first half Saturday. However, he bounced back in the second to lead the offense to its only touchdown of the scrimmage with a 32-yard touchdown pass to walk-on wide receiver Desi Banks.
Chastain finished 4-of-9 for 82 yards. McLane was 4-of-7 for 25 yards and Bell 4-of-6 for 49 yards.
“It started out a little bit rough, but I got better,” Chastain said. “Today I was a little bit more comfortable when I was out there. I think it worked out great.”
Sweeting, a diminutive (5-8, 160) speedster, took advantage of the absences of the injured Albert Wilson and Danny Williams to catch some eyes. The sophomore caught two passes and was used during kick-return drills.
“Avery has gotten better from Day 1,” Miles said. “He’s catching the ball more consistently. You know he’s got the speed.”
Overall, Miles said he was pleased with his first spring with the team, but he’s not satisfied.
“We were able to get a great amount of film to evaluate these players and (were) able to establish the way we want to play football,” he said.
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