So for this edition of the WAR ROOM I thought I would go position by position through where things stand as of today and going forward:
QB:
Justin Thomas obviously is still the guy, he is suffering from missing veteran talent around him and is frustrated and not playing at as high a level as hoped. Once the guys around him settle down he should look a little more relaxed. We saw flashes of that in the UNC game for example.
Going forward, TaQuon Marshall and Christian Campbell are the two guys I expect to battle for the job in the spring. Matt Jordan could end up staying playing the Byerly role as the goal line guy and older vet.
BB:
Patrick Skov is an imperfectly stopgap and a real warrior. Kid deserves a ton of credit for how hard he is playing through pain with a bum shoulder. Marcus Allen on the other hand is a guy I wouldn't be surprised to see not return for his senior year. He may just not be tough enough.
Marcus Marshall and Dedrick Mills are the future with Quaide Weimerskirch mixed in there as a big bopper like Skov only more agile and faster. That should make for a nice mix and give defenses something to worry about.
AB:
This group was destroyed by injuries this year and hopefully burning the shirts and such will payoff down the road. Qua Searcy was the best playmaker of the group and he is done for the year. The best player of the group is J.J. Green and he was ineligible this year and the most experienced guy Broderick Snoddy broke his hand and is likely out for the rest of the year.
Going forward TaQuon Marshall, Clinton Lynch and Mikell Lands-Davis have a chance to really gain some nice experience. MLD has a ton of upside there, but he just doesn't know his blocking assignments yet. Lynn Griffin is an interesting X-factor guy for the rest of the year and next as well. He has a great frame and is a tough customer and should be a good blocker once he understands what to do.
Heading into 2016 this should be the deepest position on the team when you add Searcy, Nate Cottrell, KirVonte Benson, Omahri Jarrett and Xavier Gantt into the mix.
WR:
Losing Mike Summers had a huge impact in the last two losses, don't kid yourself. Brad Stewart is playing more snaps than he should and physically he isn't ready to block on the level he needs to and he is still learning the route tree and where to be. Stewart will be good, but Summers and Ricky Jeune make a legit WR duo. Jeune needs to be better at blocking, but he is showing why he was highly recruited out of HS. Until Summers comes back this will be a mess.
Looking to the future Harland Howell is the guy the staff thinks could be the next Bay Bay or Smelter, he has all the physical tools, just very raw which is why they have been trying like hell to keep the redshirt on. Christian Philpott is somewhere in the land of Stephen Hill and Darren Waller right now, lots of talent, aimless blocking and needs to be physical. Antonio Messick has been a bust, like I thought he was going to be when they signed him in the first place. Looks like Tarzan and mostly plays like Jane save for a few hits when he gets pissed. Out of the group he is the most disappointing because he should at least put guys on the ground, he is a physical specimen.
OL:
The group the fans are disappointed in, the group I shrug at. Bryan Chamberlain and Trey Braun are what they are and they have played up and down based on how everyone else does, they are not elite guys, just average. Errin Joe played really well last year, but I think Shaq Mason inspired some of that and he has trouble sustaining that level for some reason. Shamire Devine is another guy like Marcus Allen with all the gifts but isn't mean enough for football. Devine is also still about 30 pounds too heavy. Freddie Burden has played well enough, but he can't carry the other four guys. Losing Chris Griffin hurt because he could push Chamberlain and Joe and not having a more experienced backup guard has hurt pushing Braun and Devine, Trey Klock isn't quite there yet. I think he has done a nice job developing though.
I want to see some of Andrew Marshall and Will Bryan, both are wasting redshirt years that would be helpful right now. You have to get them in some... Same goes for Gary Brown and Jake Whitley, if there were an injury I'm not sure they would be ready to really play meaningful snaps or a whole game because the staff is afraid to throw them in for a snap or two. I think they don't' rotate the line and don't pull guys when they screw up enough. It has been a constant issue I've had with CMS over the years. I'm of the belief that if you screw up badly you need to sit for a minute and understand there is a consequence for your actions...
Going forward, it really depends on who they sign. I like Klock and Bryan penciled in as potential starters on the left side next year depending on what happens with Errin Joe and if he gets a sixth year.
DL:
This group has been okay, KeShun Freeman needs to get stronger, that happens with time he is like 19 years old still. The rest of the DL has played pretty well expect for Francis Kallon. Kallon still gets jacked up like a walk on by OLs sometimes. I wonder how close to graduation Kallon is and if he even plays his senior year.
Pat Gamble has really developed into a good NT, but he can't afford any more concussions. He could have a NFL future.
Jabari Hunt has been a disappointment in some ways, Adam Gotsis remains the man. Rod Rook-Chungong is the lunch pail guy and Antonio Simmons is showing that he could end up growing into a Michael Johnson type before the end of his career.
My main gripe with this group is why the heck did you burn Anree Saint-Amour's redshirt. PLAY HIM, don't waste the kids ship. The same is needed with Kyle Cerge-Henderson, if you burn the shirt you owe it to the kid to get him MEANINGFUL REPS.
Lots of young talent in this group, I really like Brentavious Glanton and Scott Morgan inside. Morgan will take a little longer to develop, Glanton has some major upside once he bulks up. The ends look good with Anree, Freeman and Simmons. They could use one more bigger DE in this class.
LB:
Tyler Marcordes is a great cover LB, never going to be super physical and that hurts a little this year. He was not an ideal replacement for Quayshawn Nealy. Brant Mitchell however will fit nicely into that role next year once he understands everything. He has a chance to be special. PJ Davis is what he is, 100-percent effort and the occasional brain cramp or miss fit because of his stature. They are the weakest link on the defense, but are still better than some of the LBs in the league. Victor Alexander has a lot of upside as well as PJ's long term replacement.
Terrell Lewis has been a disappointment this year and Tre Jackson hasn't figured out how to compete at this level either. Tyler Cooksey is a big question mark as well. Emmanuel Bridges and Jakob Brashear will help. Lewis still has the talent to turn into something, but they may need to redshirt him next year IMO.
DB:
This group has played pretty well, lots to be excited about going forward when you look at guys like A.J. Gray, Lamont Simmons, Step Durham and Dorian Walker. I wonder a little about strong safety after this year, I'm not sold on Corey Griffin or Shaun Kagawa there. I would like to see GT find a stud safety like a Romeo Finley to mix into that group.
Corner will be interesting as well, Step and Lamont will start and they will have depth next year with Lance Austin, Walker and Meiko Dotson. I think Dante Wigley moves to either safety or nickel.
Nickel will be Lawrence Austin and Jarett Cole and David Curry going forward and maybe Wigley.
There isn't much to say about the current group, they have played pretty well.
Specialists
Each one of the three guys has had a major meltdown in the three losses. Ryan Rodwell bothers me the most because it is a continual issue. Sean Tobin had two bad snaps and Butker missed a couple of easy field goals. It is the most mental of the positions, I just wouldn't want to be CRR if this keeps up...
OVERALL:
I mean they are so injured right now, even getting guys back they still are at double digit injuries for the year and none of it is poor S&C or anything you can point at, just random dumb luck. CPJ and company could easily be 4-1 right now, but they aren't and the road remains hard just to get to a bowl game. It should be interesting to watch, but they are also laying the ground work for a ACCCG and perhaps playoff run next year as well... Tech has not had back to back 9-plus win seasons since 1955-56, there is a reason why, it is a tough place to win year to year because of the academic restrictions and how that impacts football recruiting. The only 8-plus win stretch year to year came under GOL and he was getting kids into school that would NEVER be considering now with APR and the current Hill set up. It is what it is, just understand there are highs and lows with everything.
I think the majority of people on here that are the most disappointed bought into the pre-season hype machine. That is a bunch of bull and it is a beauty contest and GT got love because of beating UGA, nearly beating FSU and whipping Miss State, that was what was in the minds of the voters.
Here is something to think about:
QB:
Justin Thomas obviously is still the guy, he is suffering from missing veteran talent around him and is frustrated and not playing at as high a level as hoped. Once the guys around him settle down he should look a little more relaxed. We saw flashes of that in the UNC game for example.
Going forward, TaQuon Marshall and Christian Campbell are the two guys I expect to battle for the job in the spring. Matt Jordan could end up staying playing the Byerly role as the goal line guy and older vet.
BB:
Patrick Skov is an imperfectly stopgap and a real warrior. Kid deserves a ton of credit for how hard he is playing through pain with a bum shoulder. Marcus Allen on the other hand is a guy I wouldn't be surprised to see not return for his senior year. He may just not be tough enough.
Marcus Marshall and Dedrick Mills are the future with Quaide Weimerskirch mixed in there as a big bopper like Skov only more agile and faster. That should make for a nice mix and give defenses something to worry about.
AB:
This group was destroyed by injuries this year and hopefully burning the shirts and such will payoff down the road. Qua Searcy was the best playmaker of the group and he is done for the year. The best player of the group is J.J. Green and he was ineligible this year and the most experienced guy Broderick Snoddy broke his hand and is likely out for the rest of the year.
Going forward TaQuon Marshall, Clinton Lynch and Mikell Lands-Davis have a chance to really gain some nice experience. MLD has a ton of upside there, but he just doesn't know his blocking assignments yet. Lynn Griffin is an interesting X-factor guy for the rest of the year and next as well. He has a great frame and is a tough customer and should be a good blocker once he understands what to do.
Heading into 2016 this should be the deepest position on the team when you add Searcy, Nate Cottrell, KirVonte Benson, Omahri Jarrett and Xavier Gantt into the mix.
WR:
Losing Mike Summers had a huge impact in the last two losses, don't kid yourself. Brad Stewart is playing more snaps than he should and physically he isn't ready to block on the level he needs to and he is still learning the route tree and where to be. Stewart will be good, but Summers and Ricky Jeune make a legit WR duo. Jeune needs to be better at blocking, but he is showing why he was highly recruited out of HS. Until Summers comes back this will be a mess.
Looking to the future Harland Howell is the guy the staff thinks could be the next Bay Bay or Smelter, he has all the physical tools, just very raw which is why they have been trying like hell to keep the redshirt on. Christian Philpott is somewhere in the land of Stephen Hill and Darren Waller right now, lots of talent, aimless blocking and needs to be physical. Antonio Messick has been a bust, like I thought he was going to be when they signed him in the first place. Looks like Tarzan and mostly plays like Jane save for a few hits when he gets pissed. Out of the group he is the most disappointing because he should at least put guys on the ground, he is a physical specimen.
OL:
The group the fans are disappointed in, the group I shrug at. Bryan Chamberlain and Trey Braun are what they are and they have played up and down based on how everyone else does, they are not elite guys, just average. Errin Joe played really well last year, but I think Shaq Mason inspired some of that and he has trouble sustaining that level for some reason. Shamire Devine is another guy like Marcus Allen with all the gifts but isn't mean enough for football. Devine is also still about 30 pounds too heavy. Freddie Burden has played well enough, but he can't carry the other four guys. Losing Chris Griffin hurt because he could push Chamberlain and Joe and not having a more experienced backup guard has hurt pushing Braun and Devine, Trey Klock isn't quite there yet. I think he has done a nice job developing though.
I want to see some of Andrew Marshall and Will Bryan, both are wasting redshirt years that would be helpful right now. You have to get them in some... Same goes for Gary Brown and Jake Whitley, if there were an injury I'm not sure they would be ready to really play meaningful snaps or a whole game because the staff is afraid to throw them in for a snap or two. I think they don't' rotate the line and don't pull guys when they screw up enough. It has been a constant issue I've had with CMS over the years. I'm of the belief that if you screw up badly you need to sit for a minute and understand there is a consequence for your actions...
Going forward, it really depends on who they sign. I like Klock and Bryan penciled in as potential starters on the left side next year depending on what happens with Errin Joe and if he gets a sixth year.
DL:
This group has been okay, KeShun Freeman needs to get stronger, that happens with time he is like 19 years old still. The rest of the DL has played pretty well expect for Francis Kallon. Kallon still gets jacked up like a walk on by OLs sometimes. I wonder how close to graduation Kallon is and if he even plays his senior year.
Pat Gamble has really developed into a good NT, but he can't afford any more concussions. He could have a NFL future.
Jabari Hunt has been a disappointment in some ways, Adam Gotsis remains the man. Rod Rook-Chungong is the lunch pail guy and Antonio Simmons is showing that he could end up growing into a Michael Johnson type before the end of his career.
My main gripe with this group is why the heck did you burn Anree Saint-Amour's redshirt. PLAY HIM, don't waste the kids ship. The same is needed with Kyle Cerge-Henderson, if you burn the shirt you owe it to the kid to get him MEANINGFUL REPS.
Lots of young talent in this group, I really like Brentavious Glanton and Scott Morgan inside. Morgan will take a little longer to develop, Glanton has some major upside once he bulks up. The ends look good with Anree, Freeman and Simmons. They could use one more bigger DE in this class.
LB:
Tyler Marcordes is a great cover LB, never going to be super physical and that hurts a little this year. He was not an ideal replacement for Quayshawn Nealy. Brant Mitchell however will fit nicely into that role next year once he understands everything. He has a chance to be special. PJ Davis is what he is, 100-percent effort and the occasional brain cramp or miss fit because of his stature. They are the weakest link on the defense, but are still better than some of the LBs in the league. Victor Alexander has a lot of upside as well as PJ's long term replacement.
Terrell Lewis has been a disappointment this year and Tre Jackson hasn't figured out how to compete at this level either. Tyler Cooksey is a big question mark as well. Emmanuel Bridges and Jakob Brashear will help. Lewis still has the talent to turn into something, but they may need to redshirt him next year IMO.
DB:
This group has played pretty well, lots to be excited about going forward when you look at guys like A.J. Gray, Lamont Simmons, Step Durham and Dorian Walker. I wonder a little about strong safety after this year, I'm not sold on Corey Griffin or Shaun Kagawa there. I would like to see GT find a stud safety like a Romeo Finley to mix into that group.
Corner will be interesting as well, Step and Lamont will start and they will have depth next year with Lance Austin, Walker and Meiko Dotson. I think Dante Wigley moves to either safety or nickel.
Nickel will be Lawrence Austin and Jarett Cole and David Curry going forward and maybe Wigley.
There isn't much to say about the current group, they have played pretty well.
Specialists
Each one of the three guys has had a major meltdown in the three losses. Ryan Rodwell bothers me the most because it is a continual issue. Sean Tobin had two bad snaps and Butker missed a couple of easy field goals. It is the most mental of the positions, I just wouldn't want to be CRR if this keeps up...
OVERALL:
I mean they are so injured right now, even getting guys back they still are at double digit injuries for the year and none of it is poor S&C or anything you can point at, just random dumb luck. CPJ and company could easily be 4-1 right now, but they aren't and the road remains hard just to get to a bowl game. It should be interesting to watch, but they are also laying the ground work for a ACCCG and perhaps playoff run next year as well... Tech has not had back to back 9-plus win seasons since 1955-56, there is a reason why, it is a tough place to win year to year because of the academic restrictions and how that impacts football recruiting. The only 8-plus win stretch year to year came under GOL and he was getting kids into school that would NEVER be considering now with APR and the current Hill set up. It is what it is, just understand there are highs and lows with everything.
I think the majority of people on here that are the most disappointed bought into the pre-season hype machine. That is a bunch of bull and it is a beauty contest and GT got love because of beating UGA, nearly beating FSU and whipping Miss State, that was what was in the minds of the voters.
Here is something to think about:
