ATLANTA- Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson spoke with the media on Monday after the Jackets completed the fourth practice of Fall Camp. Johnson talked about transitioning to full pads on Tuesday and ramping up competition while still evaluating the true freshmen and overall depth.
"They gone well and guys have pushed through (practice). It has been a little warmer the last two days which has been gone and for the most part guys have pushed through and you can't complain about the effort," Johnson said.
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Marshall is one of the players thankful to be back on the field after he missed his senior year last year with a foot injury. Marshall is working at both right tackle and center and Johnson said his veteran lineman has some rust to knock off after not practicing in over a year.
"He is rusty," Johnson said. "It is going is going to take him a little time, but he is getting reps and the more reps he gets, the more it will come back to him."
Johnson admitted they may have rushed Marshall back too soon last season trying to get him ready in the middle of the year.
"It might have been too early getting him ready for Miami," Johnson said. "This time we took a good long time off so he was completely healthy."
For Marshall, the start of camp marks an anniversary of his foot injury in camp.
"It was about a year ago today, we were in camp and doing one-on-ones and it happened, just doing one-on-one and put my foot in the ground and it popped. It happened again in October and had the surgery then, since then it has been a long road, but a good road," Marshall said.
After the season, Marshall could've left to play elsewhere as a grad student, but he elected to come back for one more go-round.
"I thought it was 50/50 (Marshall) would come back to school. A lot of guys want to play that last year and he knows this is probably it for him football wise and he didn't want to go out that way and wanted to play," he said.
With Marshall back on the field, the Jackets have some flexibility moving guys around.
"He is playing tackle and center and we are moving guys around to find the best eight offensive linemen," Johnson said.
With Kenny Cooper sidelined, Marshall and Jahaziel Lee have split time with the first team offense at center.
"(Jahaziel) is doing great, I think he does well with it (playing center)," Johnson said.
Cooper's status remains a key question because he is so important to the offense. Coach Johnson said they still do not have an exact date set for when his starting center will be a full go.
"(Kenny) should be back, I don't have a magic wand. He is weight bearing and running so I think he will be back practicing by the first game," he said.
Bailey Ivemeyer talked about following his dads footsteps and he is graduating at the end of next spring so while he is a JR, he may not be back for 2019, so it may just be a one-year gig. Said he is very proud he followed in his dad's footsteps and that he will be graduating early.
Clinton Lynch said he is 100% now and feels good, said last year was tough for him.
Lynch said that Tijai Whatley has really caught his eye so far in camp though he admitted taking a liking to him since he is his roomate.
TaQuon Marshall said that James Graham has impressed him and he is coming along faster than TaQuon did at that time, said it is a learning process for Graham, but he has all the tools.
TaQuon said his passing has been much better and his chemistry with the WRs is much-improved as well. Said they are all on the same page now and they are making minor adjustments and seeing results.
TaQuon said the QBs won't be live in camp even though they asked CPJ and CCC for it, CPJ didn't want to put them through that. TaQuon said not being full contact makes it easier on the D and him to make plays because he knows he is hard to tag and the D knows he is more likely to pitch it, but he thinks he will be fine without contact and taking that beating.
CPJ said they will be able to do more interactive coaching and more 11-on-11 with the pads on. Said they have gotten a lot done in shells and they've played a little (thud) the last few days.
CPJ said there are several freshmen who have caught his eye so far, but he wants to see them in practice. Said WR is a spot where you may see a true freshmen.
CPJ said that Bailey Ivemeyer is one of those guys who doesn't look like much outside of pads, but plays at a high-level with the pads on. Started 3 of 4 games for them last year and earned his ship. GT is at 85 now.
"They gone well and guys have pushed through (practice). It has been a little warmer the last two days which has been gone and for the most part guys have pushed through and you can't complain about the effort," Johnson said.
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Marshall is one of the players thankful to be back on the field after he missed his senior year last year with a foot injury. Marshall is working at both right tackle and center and Johnson said his veteran lineman has some rust to knock off after not practicing in over a year.
"He is rusty," Johnson said. "It is going is going to take him a little time, but he is getting reps and the more reps he gets, the more it will come back to him."
Johnson admitted they may have rushed Marshall back too soon last season trying to get him ready in the middle of the year.
"It might have been too early getting him ready for Miami," Johnson said. "This time we took a good long time off so he was completely healthy."
For Marshall, the start of camp marks an anniversary of his foot injury in camp.
"It was about a year ago today, we were in camp and doing one-on-ones and it happened, just doing one-on-one and put my foot in the ground and it popped. It happened again in October and had the surgery then, since then it has been a long road, but a good road," Marshall said.
After the season, Marshall could've left to play elsewhere as a grad student, but he elected to come back for one more go-round.
"I thought it was 50/50 (Marshall) would come back to school. A lot of guys want to play that last year and he knows this is probably it for him football wise and he didn't want to go out that way and wanted to play," he said.
With Marshall back on the field, the Jackets have some flexibility moving guys around.
"He is playing tackle and center and we are moving guys around to find the best eight offensive linemen," Johnson said.
With Kenny Cooper sidelined, Marshall and Jahaziel Lee have split time with the first team offense at center.
"(Jahaziel) is doing great, I think he does well with it (playing center)," Johnson said.
Cooper's status remains a key question because he is so important to the offense. Coach Johnson said they still do not have an exact date set for when his starting center will be a full go.
"(Kenny) should be back, I don't have a magic wand. He is weight bearing and running so I think he will be back practicing by the first game," he said.
Bailey Ivemeyer talked about following his dads footsteps and he is graduating at the end of next spring so while he is a JR, he may not be back for 2019, so it may just be a one-year gig. Said he is very proud he followed in his dad's footsteps and that he will be graduating early.
Clinton Lynch said he is 100% now and feels good, said last year was tough for him.
Lynch said that Tijai Whatley has really caught his eye so far in camp though he admitted taking a liking to him since he is his roomate.
TaQuon Marshall said that James Graham has impressed him and he is coming along faster than TaQuon did at that time, said it is a learning process for Graham, but he has all the tools.
TaQuon said his passing has been much better and his chemistry with the WRs is much-improved as well. Said they are all on the same page now and they are making minor adjustments and seeing results.
TaQuon said the QBs won't be live in camp even though they asked CPJ and CCC for it, CPJ didn't want to put them through that. TaQuon said not being full contact makes it easier on the D and him to make plays because he knows he is hard to tag and the D knows he is more likely to pitch it, but he thinks he will be fine without contact and taking that beating.
CPJ said they will be able to do more interactive coaching and more 11-on-11 with the pads on. Said they have gotten a lot done in shells and they've played a little (thud) the last few days.
CPJ said there are several freshmen who have caught his eye so far, but he wants to see them in practice. Said WR is a spot where you may see a true freshmen.
CPJ said that Bailey Ivemeyer is one of those guys who doesn't look like much outside of pads, but plays at a high-level with the pads on. Started 3 of 4 games for them last year and earned his ship. GT is at 85 now.
