Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson isn’t used to losing, finishing with a sub-.500 record for just the second time in his 14-year head-coaching career. Last season, his team went 6-7 after closing with a 14-7 loss to Air Force in the Independence Bowl. The postseason setback was a microcosm of an uneven season: turnovers, special-teams miscues, momentum-killing drives allowed by the defense, and an offense unable to push its way into the end zone when the game was on the line. Tech will go to work on those weaknesses when spring practice begins Monday. However, more questions remain on the eve of spring practice. By Doug Roberson droberson@ajc.com
Three hot topics
1. Who will run the ball? B-back Anthony Allen, last year’s leading rusher (1,316 yards), is gone. Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, the team’s leader and the ACC’s most prolific rushing quarterback (2,806 yards), is gone. Allen stepped in for Jonathan Dwyer last season and the position didn’t suffer. Therefore, whomever steps in for Allen, whether it’s Charles Perkins, David Sims, Richard Watson or Preston Lyons, has precedent. However, none has the experience that Allen already possessed.
All of the A-backs return, led by seniors Roddy Jones and Embry Peeples. This group had trouble holding on to the ball late last season and lacked the consistent big-play ability that Allen brought to the team during the 2009 ACC championship season.
However, Orwin Smith showed flashes last season, getting loose for a 73-yard run and four touchdowns.
2. Who will pass the ball? Tevin Washington started three games last season after Nesbitt’s season-ending injury at Virginia Tech. Washington completed 41 percent of his passes, a slight improvement over Nesbitt’s 37.1 rate, but nowhere near what is needed.
Washington, a junior, also threw three interceptions that virtually ended games. However, he should benefit from the experience and could be much improved.
He ran the first-team offense last spring while Nesbitt recovered from ankle surgery.
Challenging Washington for the starting spot will be Synjyn Days, who redshirted after running a similar offense in high school.
3. Who will catch the ball? This was arguably the biggest issue for last year’s offense. When Nesbitt and Washington put the ball on the mark, the wide receivers and A-backs often dropped or fumbled it. Only Kevin Cone is missing from last year’s regulars.
Tech totaled 1,091 passing yards with nine touchdowns last year. The receivers had just six of the team’s receiving touchdowns last year. Perhaps too much was expected from Stephen Hill, who lost his starting job for two games during the regular season and was suspended for the bowl game because of academics. Hill caught a meager 15 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns last season. However, he also uncharacteristically dropped a lot of passes early in the season. So did Tyler Melton, the senior and expected leader of the group.
There is not a lot of experience behind that duo.
Three projects
1. Improving the pass rush. The 3-4 defense has the reputation for generating a pass rush. Tech had 17 sacks last season, 11th in the conference and eight fewer than it had in 2009. However, there were positive signs. Freshman Jeremiah Attaochu had three sacks in limited playing time; he’s expected to win one of the outside linebacker positions. Steven Sylvester, who also had three sacks, returns as the starter on the opposite side, but he should expect competition there. Defensive coordinator Al Groh, in his second season, said it usually takes two years for players to understand how the schemes work. The Yellow Jackets had issues getting to the quarterback, which resulted in issues defending the pass. Opponents completed 60.5 percent of their passes, but Tech allowed just 201.9 passing yards per game. The pass rush will need to improve because the team is breaking in new starters at every secondary position.
2. Improving the special teams. By the time he finished the season, Scott Blair handled every kicking duty for the Jackets. Tech has either one or three jobs to fill. Justin Moore showed a good leg but not great consistency with kickoffs last year. Sean Poole showed potential as a punter before injuring his knee. Chandler Anderson, who capably handled the punting duties in 2009, returns for his final season. But who will handle field goals? Blair had an ACC-type performance last season, making 15 of his 17 attempts. That competition will be keen.
3. Improving the red-zone offense. Tech scored touchdowns 57 percent of the time it was inside the opponent’s 20-yard line last season. That’s an 8 percent decrease compared to 2009.
The Jackets were unable to put away Virginia Tech because of a goal-line interception and were unable to stay in the Miami game because of a fumble. They couldn’t get enough of an offensive-line push to pick up a first down against Clemson when the game was close. The line’s inability to generate a consistent push for the run game or adequately pass-block were issues exacerbated close to the goal line.
The line lost three starters from last year’s team and won’t have a senior among the two-deep roster. Many of the underclassmen received experience last season and there should be a lot of competition.
The line seems set with the exception of right tackle.
On the move
1. David Sims: Sims has been a quarterback for the past two seasons, but will try several positions in the spring, including B-back. He has the size (6-foot, 213 pounds) and showed toughness on a few runs last year in limited playing time. He needs to demonstrate he has the speed to get those extra yards once he gets through the line of scrimmage. The B-back position is seemingly open with Anthony Allen’s departure. This might be the best way for Sims to get more consistent playing time.
2. J.C. Lanier: The defensive lineman, a heralded high school player at Emanuel County Institute, hasn’t been able to get off the scout team in his first two seasons. He’s moving to the offensive line, possibly center, to add depth. At 6-4 and 290 pounds, Lanier seemingly has the size to hold off linemen, but needs to show he has the quickness to get out and tie up linebackers. He also needs to show he has the temperament to engage and win the crucial one-on-one battles.
3. Daniel Drummond: He has been at B-back the past two seasons but is moving to linebacker. He had 174 tackles his last two seasons at Flowery Branch High School. His size (6-3, 236) and speed will help him make plays at outside or inside linebacker if he can learn the schemes.
Injury report
Sean Poole: Poole took the starting punting job from Chandler Anderson last season, and both went out with injuries. Anderson is healthy while Poole (knee) is scheduled to return in the fall.
Jeremy Moore: The speedy wide receiver missed the 2010 season after injuring his knee. He returns for the spring and may be able to compete in contact drills. Moore’s return will add competition to what seems to be one of the thinnest positions on the team.
