Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson said he was pleased with how freshman Dedrick Mills and sophomore Marcus Marshall played in the season-opening win over Boston College.
According to the depth chart released Tuesday, Mills will start Saturday’s game against Mercer at B-back. Marshall is listed as No. 2.
“I thought he did OK,” Johnson said of Mills. “He plays hard. He’s going to be good.”
Mills had 18 carries for 68 yards, including the game-winning 4-yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining. Marshall had nine carries for 31 yards with a long of 18.
Johnson said Mills missed a few things with blocks and cutting when carrying the ball instead of continuing to run straight. For example, on his 21-yard run – his longest of the day — Mills cut back when it appeared he had a clearer path in front of him.
Johnson said with experience Mills should improve in a few of the areas.
“No one will ever be perfect,” Johnson said.
Quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook said the footwork of both players needs to improve.
"It's little things that unless you see the tape you might not notice sitting in the 15th row," Cook said. "We should have had a lot more production at that position."
Mills’ only blemish was losing a fumble, which Cook said was a combination of Mills’ not holding the ball as he should and a good play by the Boston College defender.
“It should never matter how the defense plays and how they attack you and what they do or where they punch or how they strip it or any of those things,” Cook said. “If you have good ball security none of those things should matter.”
Cook said there was no reason for the fumble, but said those moments were learning opportunities.
“That’s on us to get fixed and on him to secure the thing if it comes loose in the open field,” he said.
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