Georgia Tech’s recovery from its loss to Virginia Tech will have to begin on the Alexander-Rose Bowl practice fields.
At his weekly Tuesday news conference, coach Paul Johnson said he had been challenging the team since preseason camp to practice with more intensity and with faster tempo, a shortcoming that likely played a role in the Yellow Jackets’ 17-10 loss to the Hokies last Thursday. He said he saw more intensity and urgency in Monday’s practice as they get ready to visit Miami Saturday.
“Hopefully we’ll play better if we’ll continue to practice like that this week,” Johnson said. “I think sometimes when you get embarrassed, it kind of makes you think (about) where you are and what you’ve got to do and how you got there.”
Quarterback Vad Lee said the team, and the offense in particular, had become complacent after starting 3-0.
“It really starts in practice,” Lee said.
Johnson had a difficult time communicating with the offense about its flaws, particularly running the option, as it rolled up points in the first three games before the loss to the Hokies.
After the loss, in which Tech was limited to 129 rushing yards, “they see that we’ve got to do better (on the option), we’ve got to coach better, we’ve got to coach the fundamental parts of it better,” Johnson said.
Lee badgered: The honeymoon for Lee lasted three games.
Lee, whom Yellow Jackets fans have been eagerly awaiting since he was a high school prospect in North Carolina, said he received messages on his Twitter account attacking him for his sub-par play against Virginia Tech.
“When you’re winning, you’re the greatest player,” he said. “When you’re losing, you (stink). It’s nothing that I take in.”
It was Lee’s fourth career start.
“People are just like that in this world,” he said. “It doesn’t shock me at all. Everybody wanted us to win, everybody was pulling for us, and I really wanted that game, too.”
Mystery defense: Ever since Johnson faced Miami coach Al Golden when the latter was at Temple and the former was at Navy, Golden's defenses have played out of a 4-3 set. However, Johnson said, the Hurricanes have used a 3-4 scheme about 70 percent of the time this season. That leaves Tech in the position of being unsure what the Hurricanes will do Saturday, as teams often alter their looks when they play against the Jackets' spread-option offense.
Return slots: With Jamal Golden out for the season due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery, special-teams coordinator David Walkosky will look to three or four players to take his place returning punts and kickoffs. On punt returns, Walkosky said he could use DeAndre Smelter, Jemea Thomas, Dennis Andrews and Lynn Griffin. With Broderick Snoddy hobbled – he did not practice Tuesday – David Sims will take one of the kickoff return spots and the other will be taken by one of the aforementioned four.
Captains chosen: Earlier this week, the team voted defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu, B-back David Sims and cornerback Jemea Thomas to be the team captains for the season.
“I was really honored, because I didn’t vote for myself,” Attaochu said. “I voted for Jemea and David.”
