The Georgia Tech defense showed resolve in the team’s Saturday morning scrimmage. New defensive coordinator Ted Roof has hardly seen enough to be satisfied, however.
He indicated particular impatience with some of the backups.
“Some of those spots, the linebacker spots, the safety spots, that’s what I’m talking about,” Roof said. “The guys there that are in backup roles right now have really got to pick it up because they’ve got to understand. They’re one ankle sprain away from them being in every play and everybody depending on them.”
On a rainy, overcast morning at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the first-string offense scored on the opening series, driving 70 yards for a touchdown against the starting defense. The defense held the offense scoreless over the next six possessions. Second-string defensive tackle Patrick Gamble and first-team players defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive tackle Euclid Cummings, nose tackle Adam Gotsis and outside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy were among those who stood out on the defense.
“I’m real proud of how far we’ve come, but we’ve got a long way to go,” Roof said.
Tech has eight returning starters on defense, but there is limited experience among the backups. Roof surmised that younger players may not feel the urgency to improve as seniors, “because the seniors know that they’re running out of time. We’re all running out of time, but the seniors see it and the freshmen, sophomores may not.”
Practice report: B-back Broderick Snoddy was the offense's star of the scrimmage with a couple of big plays. The first was on a 39-yard catch and run off a screen pass from quarterback Justin Thomas. Two drives later, Snoddy took an inside handoff and bolted 61 yards untouched for a touchdown, freed by blocks from linemen Jay Finch and Will Jackson. Snoddy likely is the fastest player on the team, having set the school's 60-meter dash record three times last winter running for the track team.
He offers a different dynamic than the B-backs ahead of him, starter David Sims and second-stringer Zach Laskey, who are hardly slow, but bring more power. Sims was forceful on the opening drive of the scrimmage, which resulted in a touchdown for the offense.
“We were just playing ‘tough ball’ and running the fullback down the field,” coach Paul Johnson said of Sims. “He did a nice job.”
Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Vad Lee. Playing mostly with and against third- and fourth-stringers, walk-on A-back Sam McNearney scored a pair of touchdowns, including one on a 39-yard pass from freshman quarterback Ty Griffin.
Finch healthy: Finch, who was cleared to play Wednesday after shoulder surgery in the winter kept him out of spring practice and most of camp, played extensively. Finch said he had a scare on one play, but otherwise was without issue.
“I guess it was a good test to see how it would sustain throughout a drive and go play after play after play, but I think it held up pretty well,” Finch said.
Finch said that he maintained his fitness level by training with strength-and-conditioning coach John Sisk during contact portions of practices before he was cleared. Finch has chosen to wear gloves this season, an unusual approach for a center.
“I have big hands, and they always seem to get in facemasks or on buckles or stepped on,” he said. “So I figured, I might as well protect my investments.”
Most improved: On the offensive line, Finch said that right tackle Bryan Chamberlain stands out as having made progress in camp. He has subbed on the first string for Morgan Bailey, who has been out with an undisclosed surgical procedure that is expected to keep him out into the season.
“I’d say he has made leaps and bounds,” Finch said. “He and (right guard) Shaq (Mason) have great chemistry off the field. To see them on the field together, we’re going to have a pretty solid right side of the line, I think.”
Nealy called attention to the play of two freshmen: outside linebacker Paul Davis and nose tackle Justin Akins. Nealy credited Akins “for learning the plays, getting in his playbook and making a lot of plays up front. He’s going to be a big help for us.”
Camp ends: The scrimmage ended Tech's camp portion of the preseason. Players checked out of the team hotel Saturday and will begin class Monday. Finch will not miss his hotel bed.
“It’s so squeaky,” he said. “I have a tendency to roll, so I roll in my sleep and I wake myself up. … So I look forward to sleeping in my quiet bed.”
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