Having moved to his new position midseason last year, Georgia Tech A-back Lynn Griffin wanted to continue his education in the Tech offense over the summer. He had a pretty good teacher at his disposal, quarterback Justin Thomas.
“We watched film every day this summer,” Griffin said Monday after the Yellow Jackets’ preseason practice. “He always grabbed me. (Or) I’ll call him up: ‘What are you doing, man? Let’s watch film.’ Just to try to get everything down.”
Griffin played his first 2 ½ seasons at defensive back, but moved to A-back at the encouragement of coach Paul Johnson, who saw a player not getting much playing time who was well-suited for A-back. But, being completely new to the offense, it left him in the position of having a lot of ground to cover. Hence, Thomas serving as Griffin’s tutor. Thomas also had redshirt freshman Nate Cottrell in the video room learning the offense.
“I want to know what everybody on the field is doing, just so I can get a better understanding of why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Griffin said.
Another goal for the offseason was mastering a particular A-back skill, cut blocking.
“Because if you can’t cut block, you can’t play,” Griffin said.
Griffin finds himself in perhaps the most competitive position battle in camp. Clinton Lynch, Qua Searcy, J.J. Green, Isiah Willis, Cottrell and Griffin are all viable candidates for significant playing time at the two slotback spots.
“(The depth) definitely limits ball carries, so when you do get the ball, it’s like, make the best of it, definitely make the best of it,” he said. “Everybody’s good with the ball in their hands. Everybody’s a pretty solid blocker. So when you get in, just produce.”
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