The defensive line is still a question mark. Depth in the secondary could be a problem. Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof isn’t blind to these matters, but it’s not bringing him down. For Roof, this spring practice has been one to savor.
“I’ve enjoyed every day I’ve stepped on the football field to coach,” he said, “but I’m having a lot of fun this spring.”
The Yellow Jackets will conclude the spring with their spring game Friday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Tech defense is replacing six starters, three of whom could be drafted — All-American defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive back Jemea Thomas and linebacker Brandon Watts. Nevertheless, Roof likes what he has seen thus far.
“There’s a good vibe,” he said.
One factor is that Roof is in his second year. Most of his defense learned Roof’s scheme and terminology last spring or in the preseason. As Roof has taught and installed the defense this spring, it’s been a refresher for many.
“I feel like we’re more comfortable as a whole, just knowing why we do things instead of just doing them,” said safety Jamal Golden, back from his season-ending shoulder surgery.
To some degree, players have improved their effort level, which means less time spent on enforcing the standard for effort and more time spent teaching techniques.
“When you don’t have to scream at guys about playing hard and running around a lot, you can really get into the details of the defense, and that’s kind of what we’ve been able to do,” defensive line coach Mike Pelton said.
This spring, Roof elected to install less of the defense than he did last year, acknowledging that the volume of the playbook that he tried to teach his players last spring probably impacted their play in the season. This spring, he wanted to have a greater emphasis on fundamentals over scheme.
“Once you understand techniques and fundamentals, then you can mix and match and be multiple,” he said.
With more of Pelton’s time available for teaching and not screaming, nose tackle Adam Gotsis said the line is playing more cohesively. Personally, he said he has become more aggressive with his hands and tried to develop a more physical style.
“Fundamentals is what we’ve really been working on,” Golden said. “Blow delivery, pad level, things of that nature that, as a defense, we’re just trying to polish up and be able to do it when we’re tired.”
Roof has seen the defense improve at forcing fumbles, which partly explains the ball-security issues that the Tech offense has had this spring. A number of players have made steps forward, including linebackers Tyler Marcordes and Quayshawn Nealy and linemen Gotsis and KeShun Freeman, an early enrollee.
“I look forward to our season,” Nealy said. “I can’t wait for it to get here. We still have a lot more room to improve, but at the same time, we’re moving in the right direction.”
The question marks are the defensive line, where there isn’t significant experience after Gotsis, and depth in the secondary.
“I’m hopeful and I’m uncertain,” Roof recently said of the defensive line. “So, I’m hopefully uncertain.”
Last fall, in Roof’s first season, Tech’s scoring defense improved from 30.2 points per game against FBS opponents to 26.4 last season. Particularly given what he called the “unproven commodities” on the defensive line, it will remain a mystery until the season whether Roof’s good feeling will translate into progress.
“We’re nowhere where we need to be,” Roof said. But, “I’m pleased with how far we’ve come.”
About the Author
