Tech Releases Depth Chart for WCU Game

by acedarney on Aug 29, 2011 10:30 PM EDT

After an offseason of turmoil and uncertainty, Paul Johnson has made a decision. Georgia Tech released their depth chart for the game against Western Carolina on Thursday night. I'm sure the first thing you thought was, "what does acedarney think about this?" Well, I'll alleviate your anxiety by telling you after the jump.

QB: Tevin Washington, Synjyn Days

It looks like Vad Lee will not be starting this season. I'm hoping that they'll save his redshirt by not really playing him until next year. I think we all saw this coming after Paul Johnson's recent comments.

BB: David Sims, Charles Perkins or Preston Lyons

We all knew that Preston Lyons was the less talented of the three, but had the best grasp of the position. David Sims really played well during preseason camp and really earned the starting job. While Charles Perkins is a good runner (maybe the best of this group), Coach Johnson has questioned his work ethic repeatedly this fall. For a while there, I thought he was just trying to motivate the young man, but lately I've been thinking that he has been complaining for a reason.

AB: Orwin Smith & Embry Peeples, Robert Godhigh & Tony Zenon

There isn't much here that's very telling because of injuries. Starter Roddy Jones and reserves B.J. Bostic and Marcus Wright are both on the injury list and therefore not on the depth chart. Tony Zenon has really impressed the coaches this offseason, and I think Godhigh is just the next available guy. This will be interesting to watch during the game, as the AB's typically rotate out regularly.

WR: Steven Hill & Tyler Melton, Jeff Greene & Daniel McKayhan

Nothing too surprising here. Jeff Greene made a push to start, but couldn't quite push out Melton. He'll definitely see the field though.

OL: See depth chart

Nothing here that we haven't seen before. With Phil Smith's suspension, the coaches decided not to move Will Jackson out to guard and start the promising freshman Trey Braun. Of the two that are vying for the left tackle spot, I see Beno as the better player, but he may be more suited for guard than tackle. Paul Johnson has said that both players will get a look.

DL: See depth chart

Nothing surprising here at all. We'll see how those three guys do.

ILB: Julian Burnett & Daniel Drummond, Quayshawn Nealy & B.J. Machen

Nothing surprising here either. I'm excited about the depth at this group, as Nealy looked really good, and Drummond is a promising young player.

OLB: Jeremiah Attaochu & Steven Sylvester, Brandon Watts & Malcome Munroe

This is where I thought we would see a change. I really like Brandon Watts, and I think he should be the starter. However, Sylvester is a senior, so maybe that had something to do with it. Watts is definitely the better player though.

CB: Rod Sweeting & Louis Young, Jamal Golden & Michael Peterson

After a talented top two, Golden and Peterson are mirrors of each other. Golden is young and talented, while Peterson is going to rely on his experience more than God-given talent. I think I would still prefer Rashaad Reid at the nickel spot, but we'll see how it goes.

S: Isaiah Johnson & Rashaad Reid, Lance Richardson & Jemea Thomas

Given what happened to Fred Holton, who I believed could have possibly started this season, I'm not sure the coaches had many options here. I like Jemea Thomas' physicality over Rashaad Reid's coverage skills, but I'll let it play out. They'll both get to see the field this week, and I have a feeling that this position group is not settled for the entire season.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

AB injuries

I missed out on the injuries – anything serious?

by twojackets on Aug 29, 2011 10:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

PJ said Roddy was 'dinged up'

I’m assuming he’s not seriously injured. Hopefully him, Bostic and Marcus Wright get back on their feet quickly.

My years in marching band have made me an authority on football.
Oh, and I have a Twitter.

by MagnaCarterGT on Aug 29, 2011 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Bostic's injury

was a little more significant. His arm was in a sling a week or so ago. Fortunately, we’re pretty deep at the position. For the WCU game, however, the other injuries have thinned the position.

by acedarney on Aug 30, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Saw him walking down the street on Friday, he still has it in a hard cast.

The Church of Paul Johnson - There's not much to it outside of whooping ass and giving haters the finger. To HELL With georgie!

by LilBroey700 on Aug 30, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

AB #'s

I guess this is why CPJ likes to keep what seems like a million AB on the roster. He’s got 3 of them as out or doubtful for the game and they are all players that are expected to be contending for the starting jobs.

I wonder if AB is one the higher risk positions of injury in this offense (after OL, obviously). I’m looking at it this way, the AB are often asked to block the much larger LB and are usually moving at higher speeds.

by Dive Keep and Pitch on Aug 30, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

They may be higher risk

simply because they’re typically smaller players going against bigger players. Fortunately, we have a plethora of players at that position.

by acedarney on Aug 30, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure the first thing you thought was, "what does acedarney think about this?"

That was exactly my first thought, how did you know?

A few thoughts. I would like to see Vad Lee redshirted but I do not yet see any evidence that Paul Johnson has decided. I kind of think he is waiting to see how the two starters do. “Whoever can win us some games” is how he put it.

I am slightly concerned about the A Backs. It is a good thing this is Western Carolina. Hopefully this just gives the other guys a chance to mature. I really like the idea of Bostic and Jones on the field at the same time once they get healthy.

Don’t count out Preston Lyons yet. He is a consistent player.

The secondary still makes me nervous even though there are some great athletes out there.

by Atlanta's original team on Aug 30, 2011 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

Just fueling my narcicism

As for Lyons, I’m sure his injury in the scrimmage didn’t help his cause for playing time in this first game. He’ll see time, but I think it’ll be along the same lines as many of the other backups: late in the game and sparingly before that. This whole Sims v. Perkins thing may still be playing itself out.

I agree with your comment about the secondary, and I’m excited to see how they progress through the first half of the season (while the teams are still below average).

by acedarney on Aug 30, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Lee needs to be redshirted, regardless.

If they want to play him at some point, sure, burn the redshirt, but putting a guy with such high prospects at 3rd on the Depth Chart is a waste of eligibility.

The Church of Paul Johnson - There's not much to it outside of whooping ass and giving haters the finger. To HELL With georgie!

by LilBroey700 on Aug 30, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Not a whole lot of surprises out there

except for the David Sims > Charles Perkins.
Lots of hype on Perkins. Good work on Sims in making the transition and taking the starting role.

Better to have died a small boy than to drop this football - John Heisman FromTheRumbleSeat

Twitter, twitter, twitter

by Winfield Featherston on Aug 30, 2011 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

One surprise I forgot to include

Zach Laskey won the punt returner job. As a DB, he wouldn’t have a chance to see the field, but he worked his way into special teams, beating out players that would already be active. Let’s hope he fields the ball as naturally as Coach Johnson claims.

by acedarney on Aug 30, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I think I remember reading or hearing

That Paul Johnson was going to focus more on special teams this offseason. Do you know anything about that? Have the comments about Laskey been encouraging?

Go Jackets, go America.
THWG.

by JohnHeisman on Aug 30, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

They have focused on special teams more in practice

I don’t know details about what they’ve been doing exactly, but they’ve practiced it every day. I think it’ll head more toward competence, not excellence. Keep in mind that it’s not just kick and punt returns. There’s punt and kick coverage, as well as field goal offense and defense. They’re trying to improve in all six phases.

I haven’t seen any of the kickers in person, so I can’t comment on their talent level, but I haven’t really heard much positive about them.

by acedarney on Aug 30, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions