ATLANTA- Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson isn't expecting good news as backup quarterback Lucas Johnson heads to the doctor on Thursday. The redshirt sophomore Georgia Tech quarterback went down in a scrimmage last week and he may have a date with the surgeon now.
"They did a MRI and he is probably going in tomorrow and they are going to look and he may have surgery, we will see," Paul Johnson said. "Most guys I know wouldn't come back from that anytime soon and play this year."
Lucas Johnson missed a big chunk of spring ball with a hamstring injury for the second time in his brief career.
"It is frustrating and again it is a non-contact injury and the second time in three years we've lost a quarterback (Matthew Jordan) to a non-contact injury just planting.
With Johnson likely down for the season, Tobias Oliver will move up to the backup spot. The redshirt freshman had a strong spring pushing Johnson for the number-two job. Walk-on Ryan Lantz is running the third offensive huddle at quarterback right now because of an injury to James Graham. Graham had been playing both quarterback and receiver in camp, but if Lucas Johnson is down for the year, he will be a full-time third string quarterback this Fall.
"(James) hasn't practice and he has been out since Saturday," Johnson said. "James will be back at quarterback as soon as they turn him loose."
CPJ said the defense was better today than yesterday in practice. Said he wasn't sure the offense was better, said some of the issues were kids not wanting to be out in the heat today.
CPJ talked about the return game.
CPJ said he is not sure who the kicker will be and it has been less than stellar in camp, charting every kick. Said kicks have been getting off, but inaccurate. Said yesterday the holders dropped two FGs. CPJ said he could have a kicker and kickoff guy. CPJ scolded Ken for asking about kickoff strategy in regards to sky kicking with the new fair catch rule.
CPJ said Brad Stewart is likely to be the punt returner again, need to get some help for him and they are trying some younger guys at punt returner and it may be situational who they use.
CPJ said they have to kick and cover better overall. Said it was problematic all-around and not just one thing.
CPJ said in his 40 years they are good when they have a good returner like Tarrant, said a good return guy can take a return right and reverse it and go 90 yards.
CPJ said they have a chance with some of the young guys. CPJ said number one thing he looks for is possessing the ball especially on PR, if you can then make one guy miss it will be a good return or if you get good blocking. If you are not returning them well then they need to block more.
CPJ said he is not too worried about WR or targeting specific guys, said he hopes that Stewart makes catches when they throw to him. Jalen Camp and Brad Stewart are the ones, Steve Dolphus or Malachi Carter would be 3 and 4, but they are competing for the three spot, Dolphus returned to practice today btw. CPJ said that Carter will definitely play this year and may play a bunch he is probably the 3rd WR. CPJ said Dolphus missing time hurt him some.
CPJ said the A-backs can play both sides, but he lines them up sometimes by what they do unless they have a special skill and then they will flip them based on the call. Some are better on the toss play or better receivers so they use them for what they do. The starters mostly don't flip, just play L-AB and R-AB, but if they come back in they could end up in a different spot depending on what they do.
CPJ said that Clinton Lynch has done a good job pass blocking, Qua Searcy can block and Nathan Cottrell can block.
CPJ said the OL guard depth is not good. CPJ said that Will Bryan may have to move back to guard. CPJ said none of the young guards have stepped up in practice. Also Mike Minihan hasn't been available due to injuries and Zakk McKeehan has been dinged as well. That's left them with Charlie Clark and Boe Tufele as the backup OGs. Probably also why Kenny Cooper may play RG if Jahaziel Lee can handle center.
Another OL shuffle today in practice, Will Bryan was at RG and Zach Quinney/Bailey Ivemeyer at LT with the ones, Brad Morgan is out for a few days with a minor injury.
Brad Stewart said that David Curry and Christian Campbell are having big camps on D. Said that Brant Mitchell is really excelling in the new D as well.
Stewart said that Malachi Carter is very talented and they are impressed with how they are progressing.
Qua Searcy said that Dontae Smith and Tijai Whatley are having good camps at A-back and are picking up the offense very quickly. He said both of them are also very good route runners and dangerous speed wise.
KirVonte Benson said they are trying to grind and still find consistency every day in practice. He said he feels like he has improved a lot and is getting better every day.
"They did a MRI and he is probably going in tomorrow and they are going to look and he may have surgery, we will see," Paul Johnson said. "Most guys I know wouldn't come back from that anytime soon and play this year."
Lucas Johnson missed a big chunk of spring ball with a hamstring injury for the second time in his brief career.
"It is frustrating and again it is a non-contact injury and the second time in three years we've lost a quarterback (Matthew Jordan) to a non-contact injury just planting.
With Johnson likely down for the season, Tobias Oliver will move up to the backup spot. The redshirt freshman had a strong spring pushing Johnson for the number-two job. Walk-on Ryan Lantz is running the third offensive huddle at quarterback right now because of an injury to James Graham. Graham had been playing both quarterback and receiver in camp, but if Lucas Johnson is down for the year, he will be a full-time third string quarterback this Fall.
"(James) hasn't practice and he has been out since Saturday," Johnson said. "James will be back at quarterback as soon as they turn him loose."
CPJ said the defense was better today than yesterday in practice. Said he wasn't sure the offense was better, said some of the issues were kids not wanting to be out in the heat today.
CPJ talked about the return game.
CPJ said he is not sure who the kicker will be and it has been less than stellar in camp, charting every kick. Said kicks have been getting off, but inaccurate. Said yesterday the holders dropped two FGs. CPJ said he could have a kicker and kickoff guy. CPJ scolded Ken for asking about kickoff strategy in regards to sky kicking with the new fair catch rule.
CPJ said Brad Stewart is likely to be the punt returner again, need to get some help for him and they are trying some younger guys at punt returner and it may be situational who they use.
CPJ said they have to kick and cover better overall. Said it was problematic all-around and not just one thing.
CPJ said in his 40 years they are good when they have a good returner like Tarrant, said a good return guy can take a return right and reverse it and go 90 yards.
CPJ said they have a chance with some of the young guys. CPJ said number one thing he looks for is possessing the ball especially on PR, if you can then make one guy miss it will be a good return or if you get good blocking. If you are not returning them well then they need to block more.
CPJ said he is not too worried about WR or targeting specific guys, said he hopes that Stewart makes catches when they throw to him. Jalen Camp and Brad Stewart are the ones, Steve Dolphus or Malachi Carter would be 3 and 4, but they are competing for the three spot, Dolphus returned to practice today btw. CPJ said that Carter will definitely play this year and may play a bunch he is probably the 3rd WR. CPJ said Dolphus missing time hurt him some.
CPJ said the A-backs can play both sides, but he lines them up sometimes by what they do unless they have a special skill and then they will flip them based on the call. Some are better on the toss play or better receivers so they use them for what they do. The starters mostly don't flip, just play L-AB and R-AB, but if they come back in they could end up in a different spot depending on what they do.
CPJ said that Clinton Lynch has done a good job pass blocking, Qua Searcy can block and Nathan Cottrell can block.
CPJ said the OL guard depth is not good. CPJ said that Will Bryan may have to move back to guard. CPJ said none of the young guards have stepped up in practice. Also Mike Minihan hasn't been available due to injuries and Zakk McKeehan has been dinged as well. That's left them with Charlie Clark and Boe Tufele as the backup OGs. Probably also why Kenny Cooper may play RG if Jahaziel Lee can handle center.
Another OL shuffle today in practice, Will Bryan was at RG and Zach Quinney/Bailey Ivemeyer at LT with the ones, Brad Morgan is out for a few days with a minor injury.
Brad Stewart said that David Curry and Christian Campbell are having big camps on D. Said that Brant Mitchell is really excelling in the new D as well.
Stewart said that Malachi Carter is very talented and they are impressed with how they are progressing.
Qua Searcy said that Dontae Smith and Tijai Whatley are having good camps at A-back and are picking up the offense very quickly. He said both of them are also very good route runners and dangerous speed wise.
KirVonte Benson said they are trying to grind and still find consistency every day in practice. He said he feels like he has improved a lot and is getting better every day.
