Tech Topics - Fall 2007 - (Page 45)

YellowJackets Life After Calvin Coach Gailey’s ‘very good football team’ does lack depth MICHAEL SCHWARZ 20 07 PR FO EV OT IE BA W LL By Neil B. McGahee G eorgia Tech head football coach Chan Gailey has an answer ready for the question: Is there life after Calvin? “Calvin Johnson was a great player and we’ll miss him,” Gailey said. “But teams play football and we’ve got a very good football team this year.” With 17 starters returning from last year’s Coastal Division champions, including nearly intact offensive and defensive lines and last year’s ACC rushing leader, that seems a fair appraisal. “Depth is our biggest problem,” Gailey said. “We have a lot of experience in the first-line positions, but after that we’re pretty thin. Some of these new guys will have to step up.” The Yellow Jackets again play one of the toughest schedules in the nation, facing Notre Dame, Miami, Maryland, Virginia and Duke on the road and Virginia Tech, Clemson, Boston College, North Carolina and Georgia at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Offensive coordinator John Bond, who fashioned one of the most potent offenses in the nation at Northern Illinois University, installed new looks in Tech’s offensive scheme. “John will call the offensive plays and coach the quarterbacks,” Gailey said. “We had a lot of success running the football last year so we won’t make many changes, but we plan to change the passing game to accommodate the quarterback and get the running backs and tight ends more involved.” Junior quarterback Taylor Bennett goes to the head of the huddle after two years of backup duty behind starter Reggie Ball. After Ball was ruled ineligible to play in last season’s Gator Bowl, Bennett, a 6-3, 215-pound lefthander, completed 19 of 26 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns to lay claim to the starting job. “Taylor is a different quarterback than Reggie was,” Gailey said. “He’s a classic pocket passer instead of a scrambler so we’ll make adjustments to our reads and thought processes.” Bennett will be backed up by redshirt juniors Kyle Manley and Calvin Booker and freshman Byron Ingram, the son of former NFL receiver Brian Ingram. Tailback Tashard Choice and fullback Mike Cox, both seniors, anchor Tech’s backfield. Choice, last year’s ACC rushing leader, gained 1,473 yards, Coach Chan Gailey obviously is pleased with Tashard Choice’s play. The Tech tailback was the leading rusher in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season, when he gained 1,473 yards. including seven 100-yard games, following the 6-1, 245-pound Cox, ranked one of the best fullbacks in the country by Sporting News. “Believe it or not, Tashard is bigger and stronger than he was last year,” Gailey said. “He should be able to lead the conference in rushing again. And Mike Cox, what can you say? He’s Mike Cox. He can do so many things. He can catch the ball, he can run up the middle and he can block.” Gailey said senior Rashaun Grant and sophomore Jamaal Evans should get a lot of playing time in a backup role. “Rashaun is a very good runner and pass receiver,” Gailey said. “He gives us a lot of flexibility. He’s a very good pass receiver so we’ll work with him to see what he can do. Jamaal got some playing time last year and showed a lot of promise.” With wide receiver Calvin Johnson in the National Football League, the other Johnson — James — gets a chance to shine. Playing opposite Calvin, James was the No. 2 receiver last year, catching 39 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns. “We’ll see more receiver-bycommittee this year than the one-man show we used with Calvin,” Gailey said. TECHTOPICS “James Johnson played very well last year, but some of our offensive schemes use at least three wide receivers, so Greg Smith and redshirt freshmen Demaryius Thomas and Correy Earls will have to step it up. “Smith picked up some experience playing backup last year. Earls has a ton of speed. He started slowly in spring practice then finished strong. Thomas is a big, strong receiver with great hands who has played well since day one.” Tight ends may be a problem for the Jackets. “Two starters and a reserve graduated in May, leaving a gap in the offensive line,” Gailey said. “I moved Colin Peek, a redshirt sophomore, up to a starting position and transferred freshman defensive ends Austin Barrick and Brad Sellers to tight end.” Tech’s offensive linemen — tackle Andrew Gardner, guards Matt Rhodes and Nate McManus and center Kevin Tuminello — returned for their senior seasons, leaving only NFL fourth-round draft pick Mansfield Wrotto’s right tackle position open. “We’re fortunate to get our offensive line back,” Gailey said. “We have three 300-pounders and two weighing about 285. They are very quick and think well on their feet, so our quarterback should be well-protected.” All-ACC defensive end Adamm Oliver, last year’s fourth-leading tackler, and senior Darrell Robertson anchor each side of the defensive line with defensive tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker shoring up the interior. Juniors Elris Anyaibe and Michael Johnson and true freshmen Robert Hall and Derrick Morgan should see playing time as backups. “Probably the strongest area of our football team is our defensive line,” Gailey said. “These guys have a lot of experience, great speed up front and some big bodies.” KaMichael Hall is gone, but talented linebackers remain: seniors Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton. Wheeler, a second-team All-ACC and All-America selection, led Tech defensive stats with nine sacks and 89 tackles while Guyton made 29 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown against Virginia Tech. Shane Bowen, who played in every game last year, has the experience that makes him the front-runner for the third spot, Gailey said, adding that redshirt sophomore A.T. Barnes is improving. “We’ll need a lot of depth at tight end, so juniors Matt Braman and Travis Chambers, sophomore Sedric Griffin and redshirt freshman Osahon Tongo will get more playing time too.” The secondary, ranked ninth nationally in pass defense last year, is anchored by senior safeties Jamal Lewis and Djay Jones, who picked off seven of Tech’s 13 interceptions. Lewis, an AllACC first-team selection, contributed 74 tackles and three interceptions, while Jones recorded four interceptions and 46 tackles. Jackets junior Jahi Word-Daniels started six games at cornerback last year, breaking up 13 passes and intercepting two. He has a lock on one starting position while seniors Avery Roberson, Joe Gaston and Pat Clark and sophomores Jake Blackwood and Laurence Marius are expected to compete for the other slot. The Yellow Jackets’ kicking game should be strong. All-American punter Durant Brooks, averaging nearly 46 yards per kick, is rated the nation’s best returning punter and senior placekicker Travis Bell is ranked third in career points, making 38 of 56 field goals and 101 for 101 extra points. GT 45 | FALL 2007

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Contents Mail Call Alumni House Historic Renovation 007 Buzz Bash Dazzling Daylilies Living History Cover Story: Key to the City The Hill Tapping Technology Robotics Rivalry No Easy Ride Giving Back Balancing Act Student Life Burdell & Friends Epic Story of Heroism Yellow Jackets Very Good Team Passport to Retirement Real World

Tech Topics - Fall 2007

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