With the recruiting class we have now and the possibility of upgrading it, and the staff we have in place, is this the best Tech has looked in all phases since you have been covering?
KQ- This is the most I've seen the Jackets firing on all phases since probably my first year on the beat in 2009 when they had a pretty good 2010 class. This class should eclipse that one and it will be interesting to see where they land in 3-4 years, that 2010 class was the core of the 2014 team that won the Orange Bowl and should've won an ACC Championship IMO if not for DeAndre Smelter's injury and Ted Roof's D.
I would think that a big outside WR would look at our offense especially with Philo and want to come in and rock it out. Do recruits consider stuff like who the QB is?
KQ- I believe they will be looking for that in the portal. That is something that is more of a portal mindset than a true HS kid, but I agree I would say that is the missing element right now. They need a guy who can get separation and go up and get a ball in the Calvin/Bay-Bay/Stephen Hill/Smelter/Waller way.
How many starters do we absolutely lose in the trenches plus linebacker next year due to eligibility?
KQ-
Offense Line: Jordan Williams and Weston Franklin, they have the replacements on the team already in Ethan Mackenny at RT and Harrison Moore at C I believe.
Defensive Line: Sylvain Yondjouen, Joshua Robinson, Kevin Harris, Zeek Biggers, Makius Scott, and Thomas Gore. This will be trickier and where I think GT spends their money in free agency for lack of a better description. Jason Moore is now listed as a R-Jr, somehow I've had him listed as a R-Sr. in my stuff so he has another year as well.
Any news on Dalen Penson I heard he was on a visit to southern cal
KQ- Wrong week, he is scheduled to visit there for the Notre Dame game on Nov. 30th. We will see if he takes that trip or not. Last I heard it was up in the air. Lincoln Riley also on a screaming red hot seat right now.
Maybe you’ve answered this in this past. Why do you believe we don’t try more routes over the middle in the passing game? I’d love to see us try and hit Singleton on some quick slant or skinny posts. . Seems like most of our throws are screens, flag routes and go’s. Occasionally a drag
KQ- I'm not sure, I thought it was more about Haynes King, but they don't do a lot of crossing routes or mesh concepts with any of the three QBs who have played. I agree I think that is an area where you could make some hay with short passes turning into bigger plays.
Josh Petty seems to have a small drop in his national ranking each time rankings are released. Is his current ranking of ~150 where he should be?
KQ- As I've said he is going to get dinged for his weight and right now 247 has been the outlier on having him really high and everyone else much lower. He is currently built more like a TE than an OL and that is hard for some people to see including me until I met his dad and saw how big of a man he was and then I got it, Petty is trying to keep his weight under control until he is in a college S&C program I think.
I know Jamal Haynes is banged up but what is going on with him? When they brought in Alexander (also banged up) he was at least gaining 4-6 yards per carry.
KQ- He was not himself and clearly he has some issues getting vertical on a knifing 3-3-5 type defense as well. I'm not really sure what the issue was, but he kept trying to get to the edge on the outside instead of sticking his foot in the ground and going up field. Haynes King did the same thing.
Do you think Damon can turn it around? I know it is very early but just wondering.
KQ- Sure, I think it is very early to be totally out on CDS, but I get why people are worried. I think it didn't help having Rothstein get everyone wound up so much. I thought GT would be a bubble type team and they've lost to three teams I expect to be in the NCAAT as of right now. UGA has been better than I thought they would be and North Florida is a 13/14 seed team and Cincinnati is a top 5 seed team right now.
