Its that time of year again for Jacket fans when conversations are focused on:
A) Why Tech cant get passed those in Athens we don't speak of.
B) Who will replace Paul Johnson after another 7 win season.
C) How much better things would be if Joe Hamilton was running the offense.
Only this year, the conversation is different. Tech left Athens with trimmed hedges in tow, CPJ is (temporarily) seen in high regards, and Justin Thomas is being called the best quarterback seen since, you guessed it, Joe Hamilton.
So why do I still feel like Charlie Brown about to have the football pulled away by Lucy right when I am about to kick it?
Maybe its because I still feel how we all did in mid-September when Georgia Southern, after scoring 28 unanswered points, was just about to put a dagger in the season three games in. Perhaps its because I still have visions of North Carolina's Marquis Williams having as much time in the pocket as it takes the Varsity to bring out a new batch of onion rings.
Now, don't get me wrong, what this team did in 2014 was incredible. 11 wins is something to be excited about. But if you are looking for warm fuzzies on how great last year was on the Flats, you wont find it here. It is July my friends! Time to close the scrapbook of last season, and face the reality of what awaits in less than 60 days.
So with that, lets look at the good, the bad and the ugly of Georgia Tech Football in 2015.
First, the good. Justin Thomas has proven that he is the missing piece that Paul Johnson needs on his chess board. It took me some time to buy in on Thomas, but he IS a game changer. We all know he can run, but it is his passing ability that gives him the edge that I was not expecting. It wasn't pulling the Georgia Southern game out of the fire, or looking like a super hero against Mississippi State that sold me. It was what he did in a loss at North Carolina.
A week before at home against Duke, Thomas threw two interceptions, looked flustered, rushed his reads, and was eventually pulled. The next Saturday in Chapel Hill, Thomas responded by throwing for over 230 yards, 3 touchdowns and no picks (Unfortunately Williams threw for nearly 400).
And should Thomas get a knick or two, Justin Byerley is more than capable of running this offense. So under-center, this team is in good hands.
When you look at who will be protecting Thomas, a solid offensive line (even with the loss of last year's most undervalued asset, All-American Shaq Mason) is back. Four out of the five linemen projected as starters this year will be upper classmen who have seen meaningful playing time including Freddie Burden at center.
And on the other side of the line of scrimmage, a young defensive line that showed some promise last year will be back for the most part. DT Adam Gotsis got stronger as the season rolled along and will be expected to be the anchor this year. And with this unit, if you are superstitious like me, its time to begin knocking on wood and holding your breath when it comes to Jabari Hunt-Days being as good as advertised.
The linebacker turned DT missed last year because of academics, but he still had a major impact on the field as he battled Shaq Mason all week at practice. He was also a monster this spring and the defense will get a much needed push at the point of attack with him.
The bad: Who else with Thomas will be leading the offense? Sure, its an offense that lets teams get away with minimal talent at the skilled positions. But this bunch has a lot to prove when it comes to ball carriers. Not to mention who will be the overlooked air component after the departure of DeAndre Smelter and Darren Waller.
Lets begin in the backfield where there just one back that carried the rock last year. At b-back, the void left by the firm of Days-Laskey-Conners is immense. Throw in the fact that the air apparent, CJ Leggett tore his ACL and there is a glaring problem. Oh, and then freshman Quaide Weimerskirch broke his foot. That leaves the role to Stanford transfer Patrick Skove and converted linebacker Marcus Allen (who had a stellar spring game and has a decent enough name for a punishing back).
And at A-back, the outlook isn't quite as blique. Five of the six a-backs from last year's rotation are gone, with the lone returner being Broderick Snoddy who was turning in a stellar year before breaking his leg.
At wide receiver, the number to know is 12. That is the total number of receptions made by players returning this year. Smelter and Waller alone had a combined 61 and the rest of the team had 45. I don't claim to have a mathematics degree, but I know enough to realize that there are some holes at the position.
And of course on defense . . . well you know the story there. It is a work in progress for Ted Roof and company, but I will say that progress is being made.
Now for the ugly. A schedule that is anything but light.
Now look, I understand it isn't the SEC. But the Atlantic Coast Conference still has a narrow tightrope every team has to walk. I will be breaking down the schedule in more depth soon, but lets look at the obvious stand outs.
Barring another devastating injury to DeShaun Watson in the first quarter, a road trip across the lake to Clemson will be tough. Notre Dame has some questions they need answered before the third week of the season, and there is not a Rudiger on the roster at last check so I feel a bit better about that trip. And an October visit from the Seminoles will mean that they will likely have their quarterback game plan in check.
But its the final 3 game stretch in November that, like last year, could determine the fate of the season.
First, a Thursday night ESPN matchup with the fighting Frank Beamers. And there is not enough space in this blog for more to describe my disdain for Thursday night games, particularly against Virginia Tech. So I will simply move on for now. After a week and a few days to get the bad ju-ju of the Thursday night ESPN game off, Tech will make a trip to Miami to hopefully pick up where the Orange Bowl left off in January against a QB in Brad Kaya that may be the most impactful player in the conference when all is said is done. And lastly, Clean, Old Fashioned Hate returns to BDS and after the gut punch suffered in 2013, I cant help but fear the worst.
Those final three games will undoubtedly be an uphill climb and I see them being the difference between a 10 and 7 win season.
Ultimately, I see a win or two against a team Tech probably should lose to on paper, and a loss that when we look back in January, we will grimace about putting Tech at 8-4 for the season.
What do you see for 2015 on the Flats? Is it good, bad or ugly? Hopefully, my outlook will be much brighter after a route this weekend against Alcorn State.
