The top rung of Georgia Tech’s quarterback depth chart is abundantly clear – two-year starter and two-time team captain Justin Thomas.
The second spot is equally unclear. Matthew Jordan backed up Thomas last season, but TaQuon Marshall moved to the position in the spring from A-back and dazzled. The two have not separated from each other yet through a week and a half of preseason practice.
Asked Monday who he would go with as No. 2 if the season were to start now, coach Paul Johnson said neither had the edge.
“I’d go off feel, off who I thought would give us the best chance to win the game,” he said.
Following Monday’s practice, Johnson was irked that neither player helped himself in the day’s full-pads session. He said that Marshall needed to make better decisions, take better care of the ball and do better with reading the option. He had the same evaluation of Jordan.
Quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook was more pointed in his assessment of the day’s practice.
“Just not good decisions,” he said. “I think mentally, just up and down. Some stupid stuff that, some of it’s before the snap, some of it’s after the snap. Matthew’s played enough there, that shouldn’t happen with him. If it’s really elementary stuff with TaQuon, that shouldn’t happen, either.”
Johnson has said that Jordan, at 208 pounds, could be a short-yardage sub for Thomas, who is 185 pounds. Marshall has playmaking ability in the running game that could make him dangerous. Cook said last week that he hoped that both could have a role this season.
If one can emerge as a solid No. 2, whether in the preseason or once play begins, it could play a factor in who becomes the starter next season after Thomas’ graduation. That’s hardly speculation Johnson was likely eager to entertain Monday.
“Both of them have got to be better,” he said.
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