Among the first things that Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson noted Friday that he wanted to see in the team’s Saturday morning scrimmage was ball security.
Tech quarterback Synjyn Days did not grant him that wish. Days, competing with Tevin Washington for the starting job, fumbled the ball multiple times, enough to draw the ire of both Johnson and quarterbacks/B-backs coach Brian Bohannon.
“You can’t play and turn the ball over like he does,” Johnson said. “There’s just no way.”
Said Bohannon, “[When] things don’t go like they’re supposed to be or blocked like they’re supposed to be, you’ve got to take care of the football and you’ve got to have positive plays.”
On top of his issues holding onto the ball, Days slipped a few times, had a couple of catchable passes dropped, one by Stephen Hill, and often was flushed out of the pocket because of poor pass protection. Bohannon also questioned his focus in the face of fatigue and adversity.
“Whatever happens, you learn from it and you’ve got to let it go and you’ve got to move on,” Bohannon said.
On the positive side, Days gave himself plenty to study.
“I guess I can say [Saturday] was one of those days for me because I didn’t do as well as I hoped, but I’m going to keep striving,” Days said.
Washington was not spectacular, but opened the scrimmage by leading the first-team offense on a 13-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, including a 35-yard pass to A-back Orwin Smith. It was the only touchdown of the 80-play scrimmage. Washington also threw well in a pre-scrimmage passing drill in which Days often held the ball and then tucked it to run.
Defense rallies
After giving up the touchdown drive on the opening series and another long possession on the second, the defense took more control.
“We missed some plays that we had a chance to make,” defensive coordinator Al Groh said. “But as time went on, we seemed to push back a little bit.”
Among defensive players who made notable plays were linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive ends Izaan Cross and Anthony Williams and defensive back Jemea Thomas. Wiliams is a freshman who redshirted the 2010 season. He worked Saturday with the second-string defense.
“We need to get him against some better competition and see what he can do,” Johnson said. “He’s made a lot of plays.”
Perkins impresses
B-back Charles Perkins ran with effort and burst through the line. He did not have any long runs, but consistently advanced the ball on runs into the heart of the defense. Bohannon said he will evaluate video to determine if Perkins did enough to merit moving into the first group and dislodging either Preston Lyons or Richard Watson.
“We, as coaches, see things that are really positive,” he said. “We’re encouraged by Charles.”
Lyons had a deft run of about 30 yards and had several productive carries.
Etc.
Before the scrimmage, Roddy Jones, B.J. Bostic and Thomas took turns fielding punts. Johnson was actively involved in coaching the punt coverage and return teams. ... Kicker Justin Moore missed two field goals, both inside 40 yards. Johnson noted, moreover, that the misses came without a defensive rush. ... Inside linebackers Julian Burnett and Daniel Drummond both sat out the practice with minor injuries. ... Tech finishes with two practices during the week and then the T-Day game at noon Saturday.
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