Credit Georgia Tech quarterback Tim Byerly for this: He looks on the bright side.
Asked about the monsoon conditions that hovered over Bobby Dodd Stadium on Friday night for the spring game, Byerly responded, “That’s great that we get this type of experience in the spring. That’s huge for us.”
It wasn’t particularly great for fans, of which there were perhaps 1,500 people who braved the conditions, huddling under the upper-deck overhang to stay out of the bone-chilling rain. Safety Isaiah Johnson was asked what he would have done if he were a fan.
“It was on ESPN3, right?” Johnson asked. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”
The white team — first-team offense, second-string defense — won 20-12 on the strength of two long Byerly-led drives over the gold team.
Balls on the ground: On the cold and rainy night, the two offenses fumbled 13 times. That was more than coach Paul Johnson's first spring game, the memorably sloppy nine-fumble game in 2008.
On Friday, several were on exchanges, either between the center and quarterback or quarterback and B-back, and some of that could be attributed to the number of different centers, quarterbacks and B-backs in the game and a lack of familiarity.
But others were simply attributable to not securing the ball well enough. A most critical drop took place in the second quarter, when the white team offense drove inside the red zone, where linebacker Paul Davis forced a fumble from quarterback Tim Byerly, a turnover returned 86 yards by Isaiah Johnson for a touchdown.
Defensive star: Linebacker Quayshawn Nealy closed out a strong spring with a number of stops for the gold-team defense.
“‘Q’ was everywhere,” defensive tackle Shawn Green said. “Every time you look up, you see (him) on the play somewhere.”
Nealy has shown quickness and speed and an ability to finish tackles, often penetrating creases to get into the backfield.
“Of course, he’s been back there (as a three-year starter), but I think he’s improved a lot, and I think he’s going to be one of the leaders on the defense,” A-back Tony Zenon said. “I feel like we’re going to see a lot of plays from him.”
Power back: Laskey showed speed and power, gaining 73 yards on 12 carries, including a 40-yard touchdown run. He also flashed some hands, making an over-the-shoulder pass from Byerly in the third quarter.
Laskey will go into the summer as the No. 1. Freshman Travis Custis did not play, held out with an undisclosed injury. Custis has been an impressive player in the spring and figures to give the Jackets a 1-2 punch at B-back reminiscent of the combination of David Sims and Laskey last season.
Laskey also made the postgame declaration of the night.
“I think we have a chance to be great, to be honest,” he said. “The guys are working hard. I see no reason why we can’t win the Coastal and hopefully the ACC.”
Running the option: After a messy start, Byerly looked at ease running the white-team offense. He was at his best when he led the white offense on a quintessential Tech drive in the third quarter, pounding out 77 yards on 16 plays on a drive that consumed nearly nine minutes of game time.
He ran the option well and, despite the rain, made a number of accurate throws, some of which were dropped. He had 26 carries for 101 yards, including a touchdown, and was 5-for-11 for 69 yards.
No. 1 quarterback Justin Thomas, who suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s scrimmage and did not practice this week, dressed but did not play Friday.
“The more he plays, the better he gets at (the option),” Paul Johnson said of Byerly. “He’s a tough kid. He doesn’t mind running the ball and putting his head down and doing that, so I think he’s got a chance to help us.”
Different looks: The white team showed some wrinkles in the second quarter, working on the no-huddle look that it had worked on throughout the spring.
In nine plays, under Byerly’s direction, the offense traveled from its 18 to the gold team’s 20 yard line, hurrying to the line of scrimmage after each play. On multiple instances on the drive, one of the A-backs went in motion as if to begin an option play, but then reset. As he returned to his original position, Byerly looked to quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook for a play signal, which was relayed to the offense.
Going no-huddle when not in a two-minute situation and the pre-snap change of play from the sideline are new looks. Offensive players have raved about the hurry-up offense, often citing the momentum or rhythm it provides.
“We get some momentum going with that and get it going,” Zenon said. “I feel like it’s for our advantage and should be able to help if we do it during the season.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
