Woohoo! Can't wait for the season to officially get going.
5 things in particular I am looking to see develop...
5. Inside Linebacker
With the departure of Harrell, as outlined in a separate thread here, it will be interesting to see who steps up. Certainly, there are 3 incoming freshmen who could and my guess is one of them will crack into the 2-deep. There are returning guys like Tre' Jackson who have the opportunity sitting right in front of him on a plate. Further, will Beau Hankins take the top ILB starter role and run with it? Will one of the OLB's move over to ILB to compete?
4. A-Back
CPJ stated in an article that he is not too worried about the A-Backs heading into camp... http://www.observerchronicle.com/sp...about-a-backs-georgia-tech-sports-blog/14272/ "That’ll take care of itself,” he said. “I’m not too worried about that.” As pointed out in a separate thread earlier this summer, I share this same view. Tech doesn't rebuild at that position. We just reload. Are there question marks as to who will be a part of the "reloading"? Absolutely. Though, I think the hand-wringing by some Tech fans while understood to a degree is unnecessary. I have faith in the guys we have coming back and the guys coming in. We've had multiple occasions where new guys stepped into starting roles and performed very well. Further, I am curious to see how the frosh are incorporated and when. Incoming guys Jarrett, Cottrell and T. Marshall have a super opportunity in front of them. Same for R-Fr. Searcy. I think Cottrell can help us potentially in the return game as well. Will Willis build on his super spring practice and be the starter opposite Snoddy? Looks like he will enter camp with that starter label.
3. Wide Receiver
Which freshman will step up and in? Perhaps could be both Philpott and Howell. For that matter, I think Brad Stewart has a chance as well. I think Summers is a given to be one starter. Can he become JT5's reliable security go-to guy? Ricky Jeune has the Smelter size. Will he step up and snare the starting WR role opposite Summers? I will not be surprised to see 2 frosh play here though I think CPJ would prefer to have only 1 in the 2-deep and redshirt the other 2 incoming WR's. I am assuming Dorian Walker will be redshirted and wind up at DB in 2016.
2. Jabari Hunt-Days and DL
Will JHD step up into the starting DT role beside Gotsis? He reportedly still had some "work to do" to get qualified academically over the summer, though CPJ has continued to state he is on track and "looking good" in that quest. Assuming he is ready to go in a week, it is hard to fathom a guy who was labeled "unblockable" will be a backup. If JHD starts as I expect he will at DT, that opens up all kinds of opportunities to move guys around for Coach Pelton and Roof. Patrick Gamble in particular can move outside some, for instance. Further, it will be interesting to see if Francis Kallon continues his improvement and adds important depth inside to spell Gotsis, JHD and Gamble to provide some much needed breaks to keep fresh for the 4Q. Certainly, Kallon should get ample opportunity to show what he can do in the first 2 games. I am also curious to see what becomes of long-awaited Kenderious Whitehead. Can he push Chungong for a starting role as a fast bookend rusher to Freeman? I love the depth that we now have along the DL. Should be the best since 2008 that featured 4 guys who played on Sundays.
1. B-Back
In some ways, I think similarly to A-Back above in that we tend to reload here. However, the loss of production from Laskey and Days in 2014 can't be ignored. Again though, I think having a road grader like Shaq Mason to run behind made those guys look really good. Hopefully, the experienced and talented guys on the O-Line like Errin Joe and Shamire Devine will grate some roads themselves. I think Marcus Allen showed he is very capable of performing well in the starting featured B-Back role. We need to develop some depth though. I think Marcus Marshall and Mikell Lands-Davis both have great opportunities to play as true freshmen, though I think CPJ prefers to redshirt both or at least one of them. Weimerskirch is iffy in terms of his return from foot injury and will be interesting to see if we just go ahead and use a redshirt on him this fall. Certainly, getting Patrick Skov in the mix helps with the chances that CPJ can and perhaps will redshirt all of the incoming freshmen. If Allen and Skov can stay injury-free and perform well in the role, then CPJ may get his wish.
One more: Quarterback
Will Matthew Jordan step up to earn some playing time in the first 2 games in what should be chances for playing time against Alcorn State and Tulane in the 2nd half if those games go the way we hope? While we may not learn much in August and perhaps will learn a lot more during the season via reports from the scout team, it will be interesting also to see what Christian Campbell does. Nobody expects him to see the field this year. But, he could be the future at the position post-JT5. His brother - as outlined in a separate thread - could be a future anchor on the O-Line if Tech can snag him away from LSU. We all hope so. While it is taboo to mention our greatest fear as Tech FB supporters, we do all know - like any position - JT5 is always just one play away from being lost. So, while it is nice having an experienced guy like Byerly as the primary backup, we need him to get some reps in those first 2 games to stay sharp as well. I think Byerly can be a mentor to the young guys and I won't be at all surprised if he makes it back to Tech one day in a coaching capacity under CPJ (or his multiple proteges like Monken at Army).
5 things in particular I am looking to see develop...
5. Inside Linebacker
With the departure of Harrell, as outlined in a separate thread here, it will be interesting to see who steps up. Certainly, there are 3 incoming freshmen who could and my guess is one of them will crack into the 2-deep. There are returning guys like Tre' Jackson who have the opportunity sitting right in front of him on a plate. Further, will Beau Hankins take the top ILB starter role and run with it? Will one of the OLB's move over to ILB to compete?
4. A-Back
CPJ stated in an article that he is not too worried about the A-Backs heading into camp... http://www.observerchronicle.com/sp...about-a-backs-georgia-tech-sports-blog/14272/ "That’ll take care of itself,” he said. “I’m not too worried about that.” As pointed out in a separate thread earlier this summer, I share this same view. Tech doesn't rebuild at that position. We just reload. Are there question marks as to who will be a part of the "reloading"? Absolutely. Though, I think the hand-wringing by some Tech fans while understood to a degree is unnecessary. I have faith in the guys we have coming back and the guys coming in. We've had multiple occasions where new guys stepped into starting roles and performed very well. Further, I am curious to see how the frosh are incorporated and when. Incoming guys Jarrett, Cottrell and T. Marshall have a super opportunity in front of them. Same for R-Fr. Searcy. I think Cottrell can help us potentially in the return game as well. Will Willis build on his super spring practice and be the starter opposite Snoddy? Looks like he will enter camp with that starter label.
3. Wide Receiver
Which freshman will step up and in? Perhaps could be both Philpott and Howell. For that matter, I think Brad Stewart has a chance as well. I think Summers is a given to be one starter. Can he become JT5's reliable security go-to guy? Ricky Jeune has the Smelter size. Will he step up and snare the starting WR role opposite Summers? I will not be surprised to see 2 frosh play here though I think CPJ would prefer to have only 1 in the 2-deep and redshirt the other 2 incoming WR's. I am assuming Dorian Walker will be redshirted and wind up at DB in 2016.
2. Jabari Hunt-Days and DL
Will JHD step up into the starting DT role beside Gotsis? He reportedly still had some "work to do" to get qualified academically over the summer, though CPJ has continued to state he is on track and "looking good" in that quest. Assuming he is ready to go in a week, it is hard to fathom a guy who was labeled "unblockable" will be a backup. If JHD starts as I expect he will at DT, that opens up all kinds of opportunities to move guys around for Coach Pelton and Roof. Patrick Gamble in particular can move outside some, for instance. Further, it will be interesting to see if Francis Kallon continues his improvement and adds important depth inside to spell Gotsis, JHD and Gamble to provide some much needed breaks to keep fresh for the 4Q. Certainly, Kallon should get ample opportunity to show what he can do in the first 2 games. I am also curious to see what becomes of long-awaited Kenderious Whitehead. Can he push Chungong for a starting role as a fast bookend rusher to Freeman? I love the depth that we now have along the DL. Should be the best since 2008 that featured 4 guys who played on Sundays.
1. B-Back
In some ways, I think similarly to A-Back above in that we tend to reload here. However, the loss of production from Laskey and Days in 2014 can't be ignored. Again though, I think having a road grader like Shaq Mason to run behind made those guys look really good. Hopefully, the experienced and talented guys on the O-Line like Errin Joe and Shamire Devine will grate some roads themselves. I think Marcus Allen showed he is very capable of performing well in the starting featured B-Back role. We need to develop some depth though. I think Marcus Marshall and Mikell Lands-Davis both have great opportunities to play as true freshmen, though I think CPJ prefers to redshirt both or at least one of them. Weimerskirch is iffy in terms of his return from foot injury and will be interesting to see if we just go ahead and use a redshirt on him this fall. Certainly, getting Patrick Skov in the mix helps with the chances that CPJ can and perhaps will redshirt all of the incoming freshmen. If Allen and Skov can stay injury-free and perform well in the role, then CPJ may get his wish.
One more: Quarterback
Will Matthew Jordan step up to earn some playing time in the first 2 games in what should be chances for playing time against Alcorn State and Tulane in the 2nd half if those games go the way we hope? While we may not learn much in August and perhaps will learn a lot more during the season via reports from the scout team, it will be interesting also to see what Christian Campbell does. Nobody expects him to see the field this year. But, he could be the future at the position post-JT5. His brother - as outlined in a separate thread - could be a future anchor on the O-Line if Tech can snag him away from LSU. We all hope so. While it is taboo to mention our greatest fear as Tech FB supporters, we do all know - like any position - JT5 is always just one play away from being lost. So, while it is nice having an experienced guy like Byerly as the primary backup, we need him to get some reps in those first 2 games to stay sharp as well. I think Byerly can be a mentor to the young guys and I won't be at all surprised if he makes it back to Tech one day in a coaching capacity under CPJ (or his multiple proteges like Monken at Army).
