Technical Tidbits 4/9

Sophomore Ricky Jeune, one of three main candidates to step up and replace the production of Darren Waller and DeAndre Smelter from a season ago, is impressing onlookers and coaches so far during spring practice. Jeune, along with fellow receivers Antonio Messick and Micheal Summers, will need to come into his own as a playmaker in time for the 2015 season -- DeAndre Smelter showed us last season what good a consistent target can do, even in the flexbone offense. If Jeune can step up and become that guy, Tech would only be better for it; he certainly has the talent and tools to be the next big export from Wide Receiver Receptor U.

Georgia Tech baseball claimed its 22nd win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating in-state rival Mercer by a final score of 4-3 at Russ Chandler Stadium. The win means that the Jackets are now 22-11, including a perfect 6-0 against teams within the state of Georgia. That encompasses wins over Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, and now Mercer. It also means that Tech is an amazing 10-0 against the state of Georgia across basketball, baseball, and football (including a basketball exhibition game against Clayton State). But you know, we suck at sports.

For Synjyn Days, his 2014 breakout campaign came just in time to elevate his draft stock and make some top NFL teams aware of his presence. Days, a feature B-Back for Tech following the midseason injury to Zach Laskey, is regarded by many as a sleeper in the upcoming NFL Draft. He has fantastic potential to play at the professional level, most likely as a complimentary or change-of-pace back for a team with a savvy general manager. Two names that immediately jump off the page are the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. In Atlanta, new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has been know to effectively use a platoon system at running back, and Days could be a perfect compliment to fellow ACC product Devonta Freeman. On the New England side, Bill Belichick was one of the pioneers of the platoon system -- he has won numerous Super Bowls by employing that tactic. Well, that tactic and a couple of other very deflating maneuvers.

While internal expectations for Paul Johnson-led programs have always been sky-high, outside expectations for the Georgia Tech football team have generally been much lower. This was especially true last season, when most "experts" projected Tech to finish fifth in the Coastal; the Jackets quickly proved them wrong with an 11-3 season culminating in a top-10 finish. This season, however, could be different. Georgia Tech is riding a media hype train for the first time since I can remember and the public seems to be totally on board with what was dubbed an inefficient high-school offense just a season ago. My, how opinions change.

What does going 10-0 against the state of Georgia tell us about the state of Georgia Tech athletics?

Have a great Thursday!