Mailbag 11/19
- The Buzz - Members Only
- 30 Replies
Do you think this year will be like Pastner’s first year? Not expecting to be successful and end up in the NIT championship...
Depends on if they stay healthy and can make shots. I think that they have a chance to finish between 10-12 on the higher end and that would put them in the NIT. James Banks is saw raw and AD isn't significantly better so that will be a problem against some ACC teams.
What is your take on how the new defensive football staff is being received by recruits? Do you think they will be successful recruiters?
Really CSW and CJR are the only new ones, CNW isn't specifically recruiting an area. Both are well-liked by kids and are working hard. I think they will get better and better, both are determined people. I know the recruits have been very positive about both.
*On the A-back rocket tosses is there different variations (some wider, some quicker, some deeper, some closer to the line) from time to time they look different but I didn't know if it was my imagination or if they really were different variations.
There are depth variations depending on the call. It is a lot of inside baseball type discussion, but yeah there are different ways to call it for CPJ.
*In your opinion what is the difference between the team we seen the first 4 games of the season and the one we've seen the last 6 games?
The defense is a little better and I think the offensive line has played better. Those are the two keys, I think GT struggled a lot at RG and at times at C early in the season. Defensively the OLB production is night and day from the opening part of the season. Jalen Johnson really suffered from not getting those spring reps at Stinger and Charlie Thomas was learning on the job. I think they also struggled figuring out the CB rotation and that still isn't perfect.
*With the turnaround of the last 6 games is this CPJ's best coaching in his tenure at Georgia Tech, if not what season would you say was his best while facing adversity like earlier this year?
I thought the turnaround in 2012 was a little more impressive because he was coaching both sides of the ball every week and in every meeting for both sides of the ball after he fired Groh. CPJ worked with CCK and CAM on coming up with a dead simple defense and at the same time he was mixing in Vad Lee at QB for Tevin Washington. It was crazy.
I hate to lose Brad Stewart after this year but who do you think will be the guys starting in our WR core,starting WR's next year?
Hard to say, Jalen Camp has pretty much locked up one spot. Steve Dolphus has been playing hurt most of the season and so it is hard to judge how much progress he made. Malachi Carter shows flashes of a big-time player. I'd expect those two.
Are there any discussions taking place outside of AI2020 to add additional staff to FB recruiting after this season?
They've added one during the season, Zach Laskey. I'm sure there are additional hires coming, whether they are recruiting or other areas like analysts? I'm not sure.
With the new rules, can you list the scholarship players who are on track to redshirt this season?
QB- James Graham 2gms
BB- Christian Malloy 1gm
AB- Tijai Whatley
AB- Dontae Smith
WR- Peje Harris
WR- Jaylen Jackson
OL- Harrison Jump
OL- Zakk McKeehan
OL- Austin Smith
OL- Mike Maye
DL- Quon Griffin 2 gms
DL- TK Chimedza 3 gms
DE- Justice Dingle 4 gms
DE- Luke Johns
LB- Jordan Domineck 3 gms
CB- Jaylon King 3 gms
CB- Zamari Walton 4 gms
How do you feel about Dowdy & Black as OLine prospects? Do they have a high ceiling in our system?
They love Dowdy, I think he is a good fit. I honestly haven't spent a lot of time watching Black's film but I'll try to check him out later.
How has Wesley Walker performed this season coming back from a knee injury? Is he trending back towards 4 star based on performance?
My understanding is he has had a great SR year, that will be up to Woody if he gets that fourth star back or not. I didn't see him in-person so I don't get a say in that.
Why is Askew no longer getting reps at CB? We are a disaster at boundary corner. If Askew is sitting due to injury, can we continue to keep the redshirt on Walton?
Askew got four snaps behind Tre Swilling on Saturday. Ajani Kerr is backing up Lamont Simmons and played very well against UVA. They want to redshirt King and Walton.
In the Recruifing Buzz you said six spots left. In the list of those walking Saturday you said that provided 19 available. What changed.
I explained that in the buzz, they are factoring in some attrition.
You also indicated earlier CJ would probably take 3 more as early signees and keep open any others until the late signing period. Giving the current list of possibilities would CJ now take the full amount in the early period.
I think you mean PJ, things change and they can take five total in December if they want. There may be a little more space after the season when attrition creeps up. There are a few guys who may opt to leave who aren't going to play and there is always a surprise either academic casualty or a goofball who wants to go JUCO.
How well do CPJ and CJP know each other and what’s their relationship like?
I don't know the answer to that. I know they both respect each other. I think CPJ has embraced CJP more since MBob left because CJP was sort of the golden boy when he first got hired and I think that may have not played well with the veteran coaches at GT across the sports especially since MBob spent so much time with Josh which was more than any other coach ever saw him probably in total. LOL.
Any chance Searcy could get a medical redshirt since he nearly missed the whole 2015 season so that he could play next year?
I suppose there is a chance. I can ask and see if that is something they are looking into. Qua is also probably wanting to get his life started. He may not want to play another year of college ball.
Seriously, how many shady bags are being dropped on CJP and hoops recruiting? Two Top-100 guys destined for GT and flip in the last 24 hours.
I always felt bad about Chandler Lawson. Marcus Watson was a kick in the balls because who wants to live in Stillwater.
I'm glad we're not shady - we get caught when we even try (W. Carter / D-Lab), but it has to be very frustrating for CJP and staff. Gonna have to go the Banks / Transfer route and 3-4 year recruits until we hopefully get it rolling.
I think it is a smart way to cover up some recruiting shortcomings in the short term. I'm saying taking a guy who has to sit and has more than one year to play, not the crap BG was doing.
Follow up question from previous mailbag....Did they send a clip of the CJ interview to all recruits? If not, wonder why. I’m not in marketing but he said damn near everything you’d want your most popular and accomplished player ever to say.
No idea, I'd have to ask recruits.
Depends on if they stay healthy and can make shots. I think that they have a chance to finish between 10-12 on the higher end and that would put them in the NIT. James Banks is saw raw and AD isn't significantly better so that will be a problem against some ACC teams.
What is your take on how the new defensive football staff is being received by recruits? Do you think they will be successful recruiters?
Really CSW and CJR are the only new ones, CNW isn't specifically recruiting an area. Both are well-liked by kids and are working hard. I think they will get better and better, both are determined people. I know the recruits have been very positive about both.
*On the A-back rocket tosses is there different variations (some wider, some quicker, some deeper, some closer to the line) from time to time they look different but I didn't know if it was my imagination or if they really were different variations.
There are depth variations depending on the call. It is a lot of inside baseball type discussion, but yeah there are different ways to call it for CPJ.
*In your opinion what is the difference between the team we seen the first 4 games of the season and the one we've seen the last 6 games?
The defense is a little better and I think the offensive line has played better. Those are the two keys, I think GT struggled a lot at RG and at times at C early in the season. Defensively the OLB production is night and day from the opening part of the season. Jalen Johnson really suffered from not getting those spring reps at Stinger and Charlie Thomas was learning on the job. I think they also struggled figuring out the CB rotation and that still isn't perfect.
*With the turnaround of the last 6 games is this CPJ's best coaching in his tenure at Georgia Tech, if not what season would you say was his best while facing adversity like earlier this year?
I thought the turnaround in 2012 was a little more impressive because he was coaching both sides of the ball every week and in every meeting for both sides of the ball after he fired Groh. CPJ worked with CCK and CAM on coming up with a dead simple defense and at the same time he was mixing in Vad Lee at QB for Tevin Washington. It was crazy.
I hate to lose Brad Stewart after this year but who do you think will be the guys starting in our WR core,starting WR's next year?
Hard to say, Jalen Camp has pretty much locked up one spot. Steve Dolphus has been playing hurt most of the season and so it is hard to judge how much progress he made. Malachi Carter shows flashes of a big-time player. I'd expect those two.
Are there any discussions taking place outside of AI2020 to add additional staff to FB recruiting after this season?
They've added one during the season, Zach Laskey. I'm sure there are additional hires coming, whether they are recruiting or other areas like analysts? I'm not sure.
With the new rules, can you list the scholarship players who are on track to redshirt this season?
QB- James Graham 2gms
BB- Christian Malloy 1gm
AB- Tijai Whatley
AB- Dontae Smith
WR- Peje Harris
WR- Jaylen Jackson
OL- Harrison Jump
OL- Zakk McKeehan
OL- Austin Smith
OL- Mike Maye
DL- Quon Griffin 2 gms
DL- TK Chimedza 3 gms
DE- Justice Dingle 4 gms
DE- Luke Johns
LB- Jordan Domineck 3 gms
CB- Jaylon King 3 gms
CB- Zamari Walton 4 gms
How do you feel about Dowdy & Black as OLine prospects? Do they have a high ceiling in our system?
They love Dowdy, I think he is a good fit. I honestly haven't spent a lot of time watching Black's film but I'll try to check him out later.
How has Wesley Walker performed this season coming back from a knee injury? Is he trending back towards 4 star based on performance?
My understanding is he has had a great SR year, that will be up to Woody if he gets that fourth star back or not. I didn't see him in-person so I don't get a say in that.
Why is Askew no longer getting reps at CB? We are a disaster at boundary corner. If Askew is sitting due to injury, can we continue to keep the redshirt on Walton?
Askew got four snaps behind Tre Swilling on Saturday. Ajani Kerr is backing up Lamont Simmons and played very well against UVA. They want to redshirt King and Walton.
In the Recruifing Buzz you said six spots left. In the list of those walking Saturday you said that provided 19 available. What changed.
I explained that in the buzz, they are factoring in some attrition.
You also indicated earlier CJ would probably take 3 more as early signees and keep open any others until the late signing period. Giving the current list of possibilities would CJ now take the full amount in the early period.
I think you mean PJ, things change and they can take five total in December if they want. There may be a little more space after the season when attrition creeps up. There are a few guys who may opt to leave who aren't going to play and there is always a surprise either academic casualty or a goofball who wants to go JUCO.
How well do CPJ and CJP know each other and what’s their relationship like?
I don't know the answer to that. I know they both respect each other. I think CPJ has embraced CJP more since MBob left because CJP was sort of the golden boy when he first got hired and I think that may have not played well with the veteran coaches at GT across the sports especially since MBob spent so much time with Josh which was more than any other coach ever saw him probably in total. LOL.
Any chance Searcy could get a medical redshirt since he nearly missed the whole 2015 season so that he could play next year?
I suppose there is a chance. I can ask and see if that is something they are looking into. Qua is also probably wanting to get his life started. He may not want to play another year of college ball.
Seriously, how many shady bags are being dropped on CJP and hoops recruiting? Two Top-100 guys destined for GT and flip in the last 24 hours.
I always felt bad about Chandler Lawson. Marcus Watson was a kick in the balls because who wants to live in Stillwater.
I'm glad we're not shady - we get caught when we even try (W. Carter / D-Lab), but it has to be very frustrating for CJP and staff. Gonna have to go the Banks / Transfer route and 3-4 year recruits until we hopefully get it rolling.
I think it is a smart way to cover up some recruiting shortcomings in the short term. I'm saying taking a guy who has to sit and has more than one year to play, not the crap BG was doing.
Follow up question from previous mailbag....Did they send a clip of the CJ interview to all recruits? If not, wonder why. I’m not in marketing but he said damn near everything you’d want your most popular and accomplished player ever to say.
No idea, I'd have to ask recruits.
