Lineup changes could be coming for Georgia Tech as it prepares to play Pittsburgh Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
On the Yellow Jackets depth chart released Tuesday, B-backs Patrick Skov and first-year freshman Marcus Marshall were both listed as options to start, as were right tackle Errin Joe and first-year freshman Will Bryan. Skov and Joe have started all six games this season. Marshall and Bryan had not previously shared the starter line with Skov and Joe, respectively, on the depth chart.
Also, A-back Mikell Lands-Davis has been moved into the starting lineup ahead of Isiah Willis, who had started five of the six games this season. Were Marshall and Bryan to start, the Jackets would have three freshmen, one redshirt freshman and two sophomores starting on offense.
“Just trying to get some of those young guys the ball,” coach Paul Johnson said, particularly referring to Lands-Davis. “We’ve got to get some explosive guys on the field other than the quarterback who can make some big plays.”
Particularly in the run game, Tech has had a shortage of big gains. Since A-back Broderick Snoddy ran for 48 yards against Notre Dame in the third game of the season, Tech has not had a run play longer than 24 yards.
Joe was injured in the Clemson game and did not practice Monday. Bryan has been the No. 3 tackle behind starters Bryan Chamberlain and Joe, although he has primarily been the backup at left tackle behind Chamberlain. Eason Fromayan came in for Joe against Clemson.
“He’s got to slow himself down, but I think he’s going to be a good player,” Johnson said of Bryan on Monday.
Marshall received the majority of carries against Clemson among the B-backs. He ran 11 times for 45 yards, while Skov had two carries for four yards. Johnson has repeatedly said that the team needs more production from that position. He said Tuesday that both Skov and Marshall will play, with the starting job to be determined by practice.
The Tech offense has had significant difficulty in producing in the past four weeks with much of the scrutiny placed on the offensive line. The Jackets ran for 71 yards against Clemson, the lowest output in Johnson’s tenure.
“I’ve never called so many third-and-12’s or second-and-16’s or second-and-14’s,” Johnson said. “The nature of what we do, that’s not something that happens usually. For us, a bad play is two yards going forward. You miss a read, we make two yards, it’s second-and-8, not second-and-15. It’s just kind of out of character and I think that when it goes like that, if they’re not careful, you lose a little confidence. So you start pressing and you start trying to do more and that’s when it makes it worse.”
First-year freshman running back Quaide Weimerskirch is no longer on the depth chart. He had been listed as a backup A-back, though he had yet to play this season. Johnson said Tuesday that he will redshirt. Wide receiver Harland Howell, another first-year freshman who has yet to play, remains a possibility, Johnson said.
The defensive lineup remained the same. Johnson said Monday that he anticipated no changes with that unit.
“I think it’s going to be the same guys playing,” he said. “I don’t think anybody’s ready to give up. We’ll continue to try to get better and play. Still got half the season left.”
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