The cavernous building was mostly quiet, save the digging of cleats into the artificial turf, the cushioning of whistled passes into gloved hands and periodic instructions from Georgia Tech quarterbacks Justin Thomas and Tim Byerly.
Yellow Jackets backs and receivers took part in the summer workouts, conducted at Tech’s Brock Indoor Football Practice Facility, led by Thomas and Byerly. Before each snap, Thomas might call a pass play and a coverage and give his input on how to run the route.
“Justin may say, ‘Don’t necessarily go (the assigned yardage) because I may be getting this type of a blitz coming in,’” wide receiver Micheal Summers said. “’So you just turn it at this depth, or you have to come in this hole.’”
Tech received the initial dividend on that summer investment in the first quarter of its season opener against Alcorn State. From the Braves’ 19-yard line, Thomas dropped back, set in the pocket and fired to the right boundary of the end zone, where Summers was covered by safety Anthony Williams. The ball spiraled just beyond Williams’ grasp to Summers, who caught it at the top of his leap for his first career touchdown.
“That ball was the only place it could go,” quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook said. “If it was outside more, it was incomplete. If it was inside more, it was picked or broken up. That was a good throw.”
After the throw, Thomas dropped to one knee and pumped his fist, an uncharacteristic display of emotion.
“We’ve been working hard this offseason. For him to get that touchdown in that type of way is great,” Thomas said. “It just builds his confidence and just makes him more of a weapon.”
One throw against an overmatched opponent — precisely delivered as it was — isn’t conclusive evidence. Regardless, Thomas appears set to take a step forward in the passing department. Two things: One, Thomas was hardly a noodle-armed bumbler last season. His 153.90 passing-efficiency rating would have ranked 13th in the country had he accumulated enough throws. Two, coach Paul Johnson likely will never stray too far from his spread-option offense’s run-game roots.
That said, Thomas’ year of starting experience and his continued work with a young but talented group of receivers could make the passing game even more effective.
“When (Johnson) calls the number to pass, we’ve got to complete it,” Thomas said. “The more we complete it, the more comfortable he’ll feel calling pass plays, and the more we may do it.”
Tech’s two main weapons in the passing game last season, receivers DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller, were drafted into the NFL. Given the lack of experience replacing them — Summers entered the season with 17 career receptions, Antonio Messick had one and all others had none — there is reasonable concern. That is countered by Thomas’ own growth.
Johnson said that Thomas comprehends what he is seeing more quickly and misses less. That leads to better decision-making with the ball.
“I think he’s just gotten more comfortable,” Johnson said. “He’s more aware of where people are and that kind of thing.”
On Summers’ touchdown, the route was based on the coverage. He and Thomas read it the same way, resulting in the pass to the sideline. After the play, the two hashed over what they were seeing in Alcorn State’s defense. They used a grease board, Summers said, “because I’m more of a visual guy.”
While hardly an outgoing personality, Thomas’ ability to communicate clearly is a strength. In the summer workouts, Thomas sought to learn his receivers’ and backs’ preferences on where they liked the ball thrown, with Thomas telling them how he wanted routes run and where he would deliver the ball against certain coverages.
“Justin is a quiet leader,” Summers said. “He’ll pull you aside and make sure you’ve got your mind right. He’ll definitely do that. Justin’s that type of quarterback that I think anybody would want to play with.”
Summers, who has been inconsistent through two seasons as a part-time starter, could emerge as Thomas’ go-to target. Ricky Jeune is another possibility. Against Tulane on Saturday, which gave up 324 yards on 29-of-44 passing against Duke in the season opener, the Jackets will have an opportunity to reap more from their summer efforts.
“We worked on every throw that we possibly could in the offseason,” Thomas said. “The other night, it kind of translated into what we’ve been working on, and we want to just keep it going in that direction.”
