"I think that day two was more of day one. Tomorrow we will put on shells and get uppers on and start to evolve slowly into some team work and playing against each other. We will be able to line up against each other and thud some things up. It is a gradual process and the kids are working hard," Johnson said.
Johnson said he spoke with the team about being better overall and one area he is focused on is special teams.
"We have to be better (on special teams). It wasn't good with the exception of Harrison Butker who had a good year kicking the ball. The rest of it was subpar so we have to continue to work and get better at that," Johnson said.
Without a special teams coach for the first time in several seasons, the Jackets coach staff have split up the duties and Johnson says that is a system that works better for him.
"We are going to look at new ideas and schemes in the return game to see if we can branch out some from what we have been doing. We need to do a better job of it," he said. "I think this model works best at least in my experience, having a guy do solely special teams may work for some people, but it wasn't the way I wanted it so we will have all our coaches involved now and they are responsible for the team they are coaching. It makes everyone a little more energized about it I think."
Coach Johnson confirmed two stories published by Jacketsonline over the summer that long snapper Trevor Stroebel and senior defensive end Kenderius Whitehead are no longer on the team. Stroebel transferred and will be replaced by Casey Wilson who handled some of the snapping duties last season while Stroebel missed the season with an injury and Whitehead was not in the rotation during his career at Tech nor did he play special teams so his loss to a medical hardship has limited impact.
CPJ said the OL two deep is basically this right now
LT- Klock, A Marshall
LG- Bryan, B. Morgan
C- Burden, A. Marshall
RG- Devine, S. Morgan
RT- Fromayan, Griffin or Stickler
They moved Griffin back out to tackle to help him with his knee, they think it is a better fit with his mobility impaired some.
CPJ said that Shamire Devine put weight back on and is where he is heavier than when camp open last year. Said he can do all the running and stuff, but sounded disappointed in him. Said he wants to see where he ends up once camp is rolling.
CPJ said he expects Klock to start at LT, but the other tackle spot is more of a competition at this point. Eason and Griffin have played games, but he wants to see more from Stickler.
CPJ said that Marshall is better at C/OT than OG.
CPJ said replacing Jamal Golden will be interesting. Said he had a ton of experience back there.
CPJ said coming in for spring camp was almost like having a season of experience for Dedrick Mills at B-back. He said he is way ahead of where they thought he would be. He knows what it is like to play at this level live and puts him ahead of the curve.
Talked a little about recruiting, CPJ said that the early signing period will come at some point, not sure when. Said they plan to sign a small class (18-20) and that he will not oversign if he has kids on scholarship said he just won't do it and cut kids before NSD because they won't have room.
CPJ said he thinks they have most of this recruiting class in place in his mind.
CPJ joked about holding spots because they have had more success signing guys late,
CPJ joked he isn't sure what that says about his recruiting that a lot of guys are late.
CPJ said that they are not expanding the offense.
Johnson said he spoke with the team about being better overall and one area he is focused on is special teams.
"We have to be better (on special teams). It wasn't good with the exception of Harrison Butker who had a good year kicking the ball. The rest of it was subpar so we have to continue to work and get better at that," Johnson said.
Without a special teams coach for the first time in several seasons, the Jackets coach staff have split up the duties and Johnson says that is a system that works better for him.
"We are going to look at new ideas and schemes in the return game to see if we can branch out some from what we have been doing. We need to do a better job of it," he said. "I think this model works best at least in my experience, having a guy do solely special teams may work for some people, but it wasn't the way I wanted it so we will have all our coaches involved now and they are responsible for the team they are coaching. It makes everyone a little more energized about it I think."
Coach Johnson confirmed two stories published by Jacketsonline over the summer that long snapper Trevor Stroebel and senior defensive end Kenderius Whitehead are no longer on the team. Stroebel transferred and will be replaced by Casey Wilson who handled some of the snapping duties last season while Stroebel missed the season with an injury and Whitehead was not in the rotation during his career at Tech nor did he play special teams so his loss to a medical hardship has limited impact.
CPJ said the OL two deep is basically this right now
LT- Klock, A Marshall
LG- Bryan, B. Morgan
C- Burden, A. Marshall
RG- Devine, S. Morgan
RT- Fromayan, Griffin or Stickler
They moved Griffin back out to tackle to help him with his knee, they think it is a better fit with his mobility impaired some.
CPJ said that Shamire Devine put weight back on and is where he is heavier than when camp open last year. Said he can do all the running and stuff, but sounded disappointed in him. Said he wants to see where he ends up once camp is rolling.
CPJ said he expects Klock to start at LT, but the other tackle spot is more of a competition at this point. Eason and Griffin have played games, but he wants to see more from Stickler.
CPJ said that Marshall is better at C/OT than OG.
CPJ said replacing Jamal Golden will be interesting. Said he had a ton of experience back there.
CPJ said coming in for spring camp was almost like having a season of experience for Dedrick Mills at B-back. He said he is way ahead of where they thought he would be. He knows what it is like to play at this level live and puts him ahead of the curve.
Talked a little about recruiting, CPJ said that the early signing period will come at some point, not sure when. Said they plan to sign a small class (18-20) and that he will not oversign if he has kids on scholarship said he just won't do it and cut kids before NSD because they won't have room.
CPJ said he thinks they have most of this recruiting class in place in his mind.
CPJ joked about holding spots because they have had more success signing guys late,
CPJ joked he isn't sure what that says about his recruiting that a lot of guys are late.
CPJ said that they are not expanding the offense.
