The undying hope of Georgia Tech fans flickered anew Saturday. In the team’s first scrimmage of the preseason, the Yellow Jackets’ offense trotted out a passing game that was capable and at times even punitive.
“This is the best scrimmage that I’ve seen that we’ve thrown the ball like this,” said B-back Preston Lyons, a senior who joined the team in 2008 as a transfer.
Unofficially, quarterbacks Tevin Washington, Synjyn Days and Vad Lee completed 19 of 37 for 271 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a scrimmage that went about 100 plays. An offensive line integrating new pieces provided protection.
The offense managed its passing gains despite starting wide receivers Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton sitting out with injuries. Passing played a large hand in producing two 70-yard touchdown drives, one each by Washington and Days.
“That part of the game was a little better,” coach Paul Johnson said. The defense was “kind of geared up to stop the run real hard, so play-action was fairly open.”
In Johnson’s first three seasons, Tech completed 43.1 percent of its passes. Last season’s 38.1 completion rate was lowest in FBS (formerly Division I-A) by seven points. On Saturday, mostly against the first-string offense, Washington was 7-for-12 for 133 yards. He hit A-back Roddy Jones for a 62-yard catch-and-run on a play-action pass that sucked in the secondary. A-backs caught at least 14 of the 19 completions, on underneath and downfield routes.
“It feels like we’re moving in the right direction,” said Washington, who coordinated the team’s 7-on-7 passing drills over the summer with players from Georgia State and Morehouse.
Looking good
Among the notable players from the scrimmage: Linebacker Julian Burnett, defensive end Emmanuel Dieke, center Jay Finch, wide receiver Jeff Greene, defensive end Jason Peters, B-back David Sims, A-back Tony Zenon and Washington.
Burnett caused the fumble on Washington on the game’s first drive with a punishing hit.
Said Washington, “I was telling him, ‘Don’t hit me that hard next time. I want to make it to the first game.’”
Dieke brought consistent pressure on passers. He worked mostly with the second unit and got more snaps than most.
“I just need to get in better shape,” Dieke said. “Overall, I was pretty pleased with [the scrimmage].”
Greene, a freshman, caught one pass for 19 yards, a leaping catch in traffic near the end zone.
“Just put it up there, and he’ll go up and make a play,” Washington said.
Days led a touchdown drive that mostly featured runs by him and Sims. He capped it with a touch pass to A-back Orwin Smith on the sideline for a 22-yard touchdown. Unofficially, Days led the running backs with nine carries for 44 yards.
Plenty of goofs
It was not all candy and balloons for the offense. There were at least nine fumbles, at least four of them on center-quarterback exchanges, and several false-start penalties. Two lost fumbles, one by Washington and another by Sims, were inside the red zone. Costly fumbles near the opponents’ goal line were a troublesome theme of the 2010 season.
Johnson acknowledged it was typical of a first scrimmage, but said, “Clearly, we’ve got to emphasize that a little more.”
Lee update
Johnson said it was difficult to evaluate Lee, a freshman, as he didn’t play repeatedly with the same unit. Lee, who has impressed coaches with his quick development and work ethic, led a drive that gained four first downs before stalling. He also was intercepted by freshman defensive back Jamal Golden as he tried to throw the ball away as he was sacked.
“He’s not ready to play right now, but we don’t have to play today, either,” Johnson said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Sidelined
Hill and Melton were among several players who sat out the scrimmage with injuries. Wide receivers Daniel McKayhan and Jeremy Moore, offensive lineman Morgan Bailey, defensive back Domonique Noble, safety Lance Richardson and B-back Richard Watson also were held out. Wide receivers Greene and Chris Jackson received most of the snaps with the first-team offense. Hill sustained a mild concussion earlier in the week, Johnson said. Guard J.C. Lanier has been out with a stress fracture.
Etc.
Kicker Justin Moore made his only field-goal attempt, from 45 yards. David Scully missed wide left from 52 yards. ... Johnson gave the team Sunday off after 11 consecutive days of practice. The team will have one more week of practices before breaking camp Aug. 20 after a second scrimmage.
