ATLANTA-- Georgia Tech wrapped up the last day of the warm-up period toward full pads of camp on Monday. Jackets head coach Paul Johnson said he could notice his team dragging a little as they are ready to start hitting on Tuesday.
"It was okay and we are glad to get in pads tomorrow," Johnson said. "We got some stuff done and it was kind of humid out there after it rained."
After signing a larger freshman class in 2017, Johnson said there still are only a few spots where he expects to play true freshmen this fall other than placekicker and punter.
"There are a few (new players) that have a chance to play maybe. It will be harder this year because we have more depth, but there are a few that may have a chance to play," he said.
The quarterback competition has been relatively quiet so far. Coach Johnson said that practices without pads aren't really the best showcase for projected starter Matthew Jordan.
"With what we do it is hard to do that in shells. That is not Matthew's game. We will start to find out with him tomorrow and he is there. We've worked a ton on throwing and those type of things that you can do in shells."
Jordan was out of his non-contact yellow jersey on Monday and should be live in camp meaning he can be hit as he runs the offense along with the rest of the quarterbacks.
"Matthew is fine physically and there is nothing wrong with him," Johnson said.
CPJ said that Jaquan Henderson should be able to at least help on special teams.
CPJ said that A-back is a top 4 of Green, Lynch, Searcy and Cottrell, then it tails off with more open spots among Omarhi Jarrett, Xavier Gantt and possibly TaQuon Marshall. CPJ mentioned him moving to A-back is still very possible depending on the QB situation. CPJ said there is no hard fast timetable to make a decision on moving TaQuon or not.
CPJ said Nate Cottrell had a good spring and he understands the offense, can play full speed and can run.
CPJ said the pecking order at B-back right now is Dedrick Mills, KirVonte Benson and Quaide Weimerskirch in that order with the two freshmen Jerry Howard and Jordan Mason getting reps and pushing to get in the rotation. Said they didn't know what they had with Mills until they got in pads, so he is very curious how the two freshmen look and what happens with Benson and Quaide as well. Said all those spots are open to the two best guys.
CMS and CPJ hinted that they think Zach Quinney may be able to play this fall at OT. They are working Charlie Clark at OG/OT, Boe Tufele at OG, Connor Hansen at OC, Mike Minihan at OG. CMS said that Quinney and Clark have an edge over the other OLs because what they are doing is similar if not the same as what they did in HS.
CMS said that Andrew Marshall got some reps at OC and they are still working Scott Morgan, Chet LaGod and Hansen there.
CPJ said that at WR it is still Jeune, Brad Stewart and Jalen Camp then a bunch of other guys. They did say that Adonicas Sanders has impressed in camp so far. He had an Odell Beckham Jr type TD catch today one-handed.
CCC said that it is interesting have a full room at QB and B-back, he is leaning some on Tevin Washington to help with the B-backs at times. They have six QBs and five B-backs right now and I think they have one or two walk-on B-backs as well.
Clinton Lynch had a surgery to help alleviate pain in his knees and he had blood injections into his knees to help with chronic pain. Said he feels really good and is ready to go.
Matthew Jordan said he has been more vocal in leading the offense.
Parker Braun spoke about his bromance with Will Bryan leading to them shaving their heads together before camp. Braun lamented that no one else on the team opted to join them in their head shaving.
Parker Braun said he is working on improving his pulls and being more consistent with his weight distribution.
Ricky Jeune said that Jay Jones has the strongest arm on the team and that Jair Hawkins-Anderson is the fastest player on the team overall.
CCC said that Jordan needs to work on his passing still and get quicker and more fluid in his decision making.
CCC said that Dedrick Mills has matured a lot and he has been talking to him about making sure he is there every play mentally and that is something Mills acknowledged was an issue at times last year, but he is working to fix.
CMS said that the starting LT job is still up in the air between Jahaziel Lee and Jake Stickler, said Stick has had a good camp.
CMS said that Shamire Devine is in better shape, they still aren't sure on his snap count yet, but he is fighting to stay out there and get better. He still thinks Shamire could be an All-American if he can get in and stay in-shape/healthy. They expect a three-guard rotation with him and Will Bryan and Parker Braun in the fall. CMS said that it won't be specific plays or play types but performance based rotation.
"It was okay and we are glad to get in pads tomorrow," Johnson said. "We got some stuff done and it was kind of humid out there after it rained."
After signing a larger freshman class in 2017, Johnson said there still are only a few spots where he expects to play true freshmen this fall other than placekicker and punter.
"There are a few (new players) that have a chance to play maybe. It will be harder this year because we have more depth, but there are a few that may have a chance to play," he said.
The quarterback competition has been relatively quiet so far. Coach Johnson said that practices without pads aren't really the best showcase for projected starter Matthew Jordan.
"With what we do it is hard to do that in shells. That is not Matthew's game. We will start to find out with him tomorrow and he is there. We've worked a ton on throwing and those type of things that you can do in shells."
Jordan was out of his non-contact yellow jersey on Monday and should be live in camp meaning he can be hit as he runs the offense along with the rest of the quarterbacks.
"Matthew is fine physically and there is nothing wrong with him," Johnson said.
CPJ said that Jaquan Henderson should be able to at least help on special teams.
CPJ said that A-back is a top 4 of Green, Lynch, Searcy and Cottrell, then it tails off with more open spots among Omarhi Jarrett, Xavier Gantt and possibly TaQuon Marshall. CPJ mentioned him moving to A-back is still very possible depending on the QB situation. CPJ said there is no hard fast timetable to make a decision on moving TaQuon or not.
CPJ said Nate Cottrell had a good spring and he understands the offense, can play full speed and can run.
CPJ said the pecking order at B-back right now is Dedrick Mills, KirVonte Benson and Quaide Weimerskirch in that order with the two freshmen Jerry Howard and Jordan Mason getting reps and pushing to get in the rotation. Said they didn't know what they had with Mills until they got in pads, so he is very curious how the two freshmen look and what happens with Benson and Quaide as well. Said all those spots are open to the two best guys.
CMS and CPJ hinted that they think Zach Quinney may be able to play this fall at OT. They are working Charlie Clark at OG/OT, Boe Tufele at OG, Connor Hansen at OC, Mike Minihan at OG. CMS said that Quinney and Clark have an edge over the other OLs because what they are doing is similar if not the same as what they did in HS.
CMS said that Andrew Marshall got some reps at OC and they are still working Scott Morgan, Chet LaGod and Hansen there.
CPJ said that at WR it is still Jeune, Brad Stewart and Jalen Camp then a bunch of other guys. They did say that Adonicas Sanders has impressed in camp so far. He had an Odell Beckham Jr type TD catch today one-handed.
CCC said that it is interesting have a full room at QB and B-back, he is leaning some on Tevin Washington to help with the B-backs at times. They have six QBs and five B-backs right now and I think they have one or two walk-on B-backs as well.
Clinton Lynch had a surgery to help alleviate pain in his knees and he had blood injections into his knees to help with chronic pain. Said he feels really good and is ready to go.
Matthew Jordan said he has been more vocal in leading the offense.
Parker Braun spoke about his bromance with Will Bryan leading to them shaving their heads together before camp. Braun lamented that no one else on the team opted to join them in their head shaving.
Parker Braun said he is working on improving his pulls and being more consistent with his weight distribution.
Ricky Jeune said that Jay Jones has the strongest arm on the team and that Jair Hawkins-Anderson is the fastest player on the team overall.
CCC said that Jordan needs to work on his passing still and get quicker and more fluid in his decision making.
CCC said that Dedrick Mills has matured a lot and he has been talking to him about making sure he is there every play mentally and that is something Mills acknowledged was an issue at times last year, but he is working to fix.
CMS said that the starting LT job is still up in the air between Jahaziel Lee and Jake Stickler, said Stick has had a good camp.
CMS said that Shamire Devine is in better shape, they still aren't sure on his snap count yet, but he is fighting to stay out there and get better. He still thinks Shamire could be an All-American if he can get in and stay in-shape/healthy. They expect a three-guard rotation with him and Will Bryan and Parker Braun in the fall. CMS said that it won't be specific plays or play types but performance based rotation.
