Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said he has some ideas of what he wants to do to improve his team’s performance next season.
Picked to win the ACC’s Coastal Division, the Yellow Jackets fell to 3-9 with a 13-7 loss to Georgia at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday.
Johnson said it will take a couple of days to evaluate the team, and will include some metrics that he typically uses.
He did reference that the A-backs are going to get an influx of talent with the return of Nate Cottrell, whom he said the coaches thought might be the best freshman but suffered a season-ending injury during preseason practice, and Qua Searcy, who missed the final nine games. They will join Clinton Lynch, who Johnson seemed pleased with, and Mikell Lands-Davis. The group will lose Broderick Snoddy
“That position’s going to get a real overhaul,” Johnson said.
The B-backs will see more competition with the addition of C.J. Leggett and Quaide Weimerskirch. Each suffered season-ending injuries in the spring. The group will lose Patrick Skov, who has used up his eligibility.
“Three B-backs back will help us a bunch,” Johnson said.
The offensive line will return several underclassmen who played and will lose seniors Trey Braun, Bryan Chamberlain and Errin Joe, each of whom started numerous games this year. As harsh as it may seem, it may be addition by subtraction considering the almost weekly complaints Johnson has had of the group after games, including again on Saturday when he said a few times that the pass protection was poor. Quarterback Justin Thomas was sacked once but frequently pressured by Georgia.
“That’s one thing we will be better at, I can promise you,” Johnson said.
The defense will lose nine seniors, including defensive lineman Adam Gotsis. Four of the five in the starting secondary were seniors, including safety Jamal Golden and cornerback D.J. White.
“We played a lot of guys this year,” Golden said. “They will know what to do, how to get lined up. They just have to execute.”
It remains to be seen who Johnson will retain on the coaching staff. Each of the three large groups (offense, defense and special teams) have had issues. Johnson is the offensive coordinator. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof’s contract is through the 2017 season. Special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski’s contract expires in June, 2016.
Johnson said his takeaway from the season is this:
“We played a lot of young guys,” he said of the 23 freshmen or true freshmen who played. “Lot of guys got experience. Guys take winning for granted. They should have got a good dose of that. I know I did.”
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