Light mailbag which is not a bad thing after a very busy weekend and a busy week coming up.
As far as coaching style on the field, what differences do you see between Chip Long and his predecessor?
KQ- So as far as TE coaching goes, they do a lot more route running and route development stuff and passing overall. I think all the blocking stuff is very similar to what Wiesehan was teaching. On the OC side, is is hard to tell, they are very focused on details and getting things right and executing plays with crispness. I think they "played" more football with the old staff, but I think the actual practice is really hyper-focused more on what the install is and the things they've installed. I can't get too in the weeds but that is fair to say.
My example would be there will be staple plays they execute at a really high-level and I thought other than the baseline RPO stuff GT really struggled at times with the old OC if they had to switch gears in a game. I think Chip Long will have more of a bag of things to use to adjust in-game.
Obviously we all know now that Collins way overdid it on branding our team culture as GT being fun for players, get lots of p-t, be in a “cool” program, NC here we come. Sometimes just plain giddy. ….Now, every player and coach you interview uses the word “accountable” two or three times.
The old serendipitous culture had some plusses, one being attractive to transfer players. What is the “mood” of the players, coaches, CGC like now? On coaching/management approach and style, did we make a 45, 90 or 180 degree turn? Or too early to say?
KQ- I think Collins was really excited to get the job and had the carte blanche from ADTS to run it however he wanted to for the most part and he did. I think he did that and like literally every head coach at GT I've ever spoken to from Ross to Johnson, he found out the job is harder than he thought and hit unexpected speed bumps. I think they tried to be hip/cool/whatever you want to call it and that works to a point and sells in recruiting to a point, but it wasn't working and they reset it and found more of a balanced approach. Hopefully, it is in time for all involved to right the ship.
Regarding MBB:
1. How is team overall team morale?
KQ- Surprisingly good and we saw that on Saturday when they beat BC despite being shorthanded and having Mike Devoe in foul trouble for basically 60-percent of the game. They have played hard every single game except maybe the first half of the NC State game for whatever reason, that is a credit to the kids and the staff.
2. Given the Covid year, does Khalid have another year of eligibility or is this it?
KQ- He does, it will not be at Georgia Tech, he is planning to play elsewhere per my sources after discussing it with Pastner.
3. In your opinion, can Jordan Usher be an NBA 3&D man assuming he learns to shoot the 3 consistently?
KQ- Ush has some of the best potential of any player I've covered at GT from a pure athleticism standpoint, his motor, emotions and on-the-court IQ are the things holding him back and I don't know how that will be viewed in the pros. I do think he should get a look in the G-league and see if someone can harness that ability.
4. A few weeks back, you mentioned that you thought that Pastner needed to make one staff change. Do you forsee that change being made this off-season?
KQ- That will depend on if he can upgrade that position or not. I know he is going to have some specific things he wants to see improved from everyone in the program including himself and they are going to change around some things as well.
5. Will Bubba qualify for a medical redshirt?
KQ- Yes, but I think he will go somewhere else to play his last season as well.
6. Lastly, this year was awful. Kelly, do YOU see reasons for optimism for next season? If you do, give us two.
KQ- A lot, they have five or six really good pieces for the future, two solid options at point guard in Deivon Smith and Kyle Sturdivant, two great shooting guard/wings in Miles Kelly and Deebo Coleman (he is a volume player that will get really good when his stamina increases) and a freak in Jalon Moore who is sort of between an Usher and Moses Wright and two developing big men Jordan Meka and Rodney Howard. I think they need to find someone to bridge that front-court scoring and they need a combo guard and they'll have a team that should be on the bubble at least. The young guys are REALLY talented.
This is probably the most talent and depth GT has had on a roster going into a season since 2009-10.
When it comes to camps, you stated that schools are limiting the way they are doing them and the amount of players at them. Which is more likely to happen more Rivals camps or regional camps to help the players get evaluated?'
RJ- When it comes to the future of the camp cycle, I think it is very hard to get a real feel for where things are headed. At a school like Georgia Tech, with a ton off talent within a one hour radius and a strong ability to evaluate, the emergence of the 7v7 camps have been huge.
At these camps, hundreds of recruits are all competing at one time, and the coaches are getting hte chance to see skills guys compete, while showcasing things such as ball skills, catch radius, arm strength, football IQ, and much more.
These types of camps also help limit the amount of "sleepers" there are in the area that emerge late in different parts of the country.
The late find in that regard is always notable, especially because oftentimes those recruits were already being communicated with regularly.
Rivals camps are great to get verifiable measurables, put the best of the best regionally on film, and see where a local star measures up against the increased level of competition.
How would you grade how each position group looks this spring and do you see any breakout players in each group for 2022?
-QBs
-RBs
-WRs
-TE
-OL
-DL
-LBs
-DBs
KQ- Save this for the Mailbag on 3/21.
Of the spring freshmen and incoming summer freshmen, who do you see burning a redshirt this year?
KQ- Who burns their shirt? Jaylin Marshall, Zach Pyron (depending on some factors, I expect he is is QB2), DJ Moore if he stays healthy should be in the top 4 WRs, Horace Lockett or KJ Miles are likely to play and maybe one of the frosh RBs, Antonio Martin or Jamie Felix, but that could change depending on the portal.
Are they practicing best on best or 1s vs 2s? Any idea what the plan for spring game will be in that respect?
KQ- They always mix it up like any school in practice. Collins also believes in rolling players in and out so other than the OL which is often static by huddle, they will rotate everyone else to get some reps with each group, especially in the spring. As far as the spring game, I'm not sure. I'd like to see them draft it out, but we shall see.
Not that I anticipate him to stay another year if he has a breakout like was originally expected, but is Keion White eligible to apply for a medical for last year(can’t remember what the qualifications are for football ?
KQ- I can't imagine he would, I think playing as much as he did last year sort of makes that improbable as a medical redshirt anyway.
How do you see kicker position shaking out this year?
KQ- No idea, I have not seen them kick this spring being perfectly honest. They do that when we are not at practice typically.
