AJC: Dennis Andrews no longer onthe Team

[deeeznutz]

Just rewatched senior film on Jarrett, Cottrell, Marshall. Jarrett has all kinds of moves and is very natural as a receiver. Only knock is he looks slight. Could get inserted at a receiving specialist on obvious passing downs as that is not Snoddy's strength. Cottrell's senior film shows more power than his junior film and he looks like he'll be a pretty good receiver also. Can definitely run it.

Marshall to me looked like if Robbie Godhigh weighed 205lbs and could run a 4.4. Dude is built solid with a super low center of gravity. What I noticed this time was how quickly he accelerates after contact which is also where Dwyer got a lot his football speed. Also Marshall plays very fast in the trash...lots of little cuts and adjustments with his hips without losing much speed, body lean, or leverage so he is ready for contact. I think he'll be able to use this physical ability much like Godhigh or Roddy to block the crap out of guys.

They didn't seem to throw to Marshall much so hard to evaluate his receiving.

Marcus Marshall is probably the RB I'm most excited about in this class. He looks like a phenomenal athlete and is built very well for a RB. Cottrell also looks like he could be special. Not discounting MLD or Jarrett, just haven't seen as much video of those guys to get me pumped up.

 

[awbuzz]

Like many, wish the Benson hadn't gotten hurt and was in the mix. I know his heart was into coming in and competing this year.

Ike, Broderick along with the various freshmen should do well. Will they do better in games 5 and 6 than the first 3 games? Sure they will, but that's to be expected regardless if Dennis was still on the team or not.

 

[InsideLB]

For good measure I watched MLD's senior highlights yesterday (and his junior highlights as well for that matter). It was fun rewatching them and realizing at least one of these guys is going to have to log major minutes at A Back. Of course ultimately and perhaps ideally MLD and/or Marshall end up at BB.

The case for MLD at A Back as I saw it from film:
--College ready body and good size...might be able to upright block more as Ant Allen sometimes did as an A back
--Lot's of receiving highlights in which MLD looked very natural. They even lined him up in the slot sometimes. Cool to see he appears to be a good receiver.
--Versatility: He lined up in a lot of different positions on offense and defense generated highlight plays from most of them.
--Looks quick enough and fast enough to me to help us at AB for awhile.

So my guess of which tr-fr will play to help us at AB in order is (1) Marshall, (2) MLD, (3) Cottrell, (4) Jarrett. All good looking players.

For the hey of it I also rewatched Brad Stewart's junior and senior film. Two things stood out. First had he a bazillion jump ball catches where he high pointed the footbal using his 38" vertical. That appeared to be the main way his HS used him....drop back and throw it to him whether he's covered or not.

Second, his highlights showed him hustle to get blocks way downfield for teammates.

Last year saw us keep a lot of drives alive with Smelter and Waller winning jump balls. I see why Johnson offered this kid. If he fills out in year or two and gives max effort blocking I can see his ball-control receiving skills keeping drives alive. Also I think he'll be able to trick CB's on play action and get behind them even.

 

[RLR]

After a self-imposed hiatus, I went back and reread this read and reconsidered my post. My overall takeaway:

1. I was wrong and based my reaction from the wrong perspective (i.e. the esoteric merit & flaws of the rules vs. a coach enforcing team rules)
2. GT has a very intelligent fan-base + very respectful/humble fanbase...some really well-thoughtout posts in this thread
3. We have some serious young talent at Aback

Can't wait for the 2015 season.

 

[UgaBlows]

I think MLD is a B-back all the way

 

[DrJacket]

MLD is a grown man. He'll be starting out on the smaller side of B-backs if you just go by height/weight listed. But, he's filled out and ready to go. At least as far as the eyeball test.
In basketball when I saw him play this year, he didn't look like anything else out on the court.

 

[InsideLB]

I think MLD is a B-back all the way

No question it's his natural position. And we gotta have a #3 BB. So you are probably right.

If Quaide gets back in time Quaide was looking good at BB in the spring and could hold down #3 BB behind Skov and Allen.

That'd free up MLD if a mature body is needed at AB and he was the best option.

Allen, Days, and Cox were all natural BBs who were effective at AB. You get your best guys on the field.

MLDs senior film shows he is a both a capable receiver and versatile (slot, backfield, wildcat, safety, LB).

Just depends on who shows out and who stays healthy in camp. Good deal to have some flexibility.

 

[Skeptic]

No question it's his natural position. And we gotta have a #3 BB. So you are probably right.

If Quaide gets back in time Quaide was looking good at BB in the spring and could hold down #3 BB behind Skov and Allen.

That'd free up MLD if a mature body is needed at AB and he was the best option.

Allen, Days, and Cox were all natural BBs who were effective at AB. You get your best guys on the field.

MLDs senior film shows he is a both a capable receiver and versatile (slot, backfield, wildcat, safety, LB).

Just depends on who shows out and who stays healthy in camp. Good deal to have some flexibility.

This posting kind of kindles a notion that, whatever the problems and where ever they are -- and God knows our offense has replacement issues come August -- I suspect a large part of Johnson's ego, if you will is fed by the need that becomes an opportunity, to sit down and move pieces around the board, and to come up with such moves as you noted or like the Bedford switch of position and unit that turned him into an all-ACC center. Don't know if that talent is unique, but it is remarkable regardless.

 

[InsideLB]

Good point. Neccessity is the mother of invention and we've seen some interesting inventions.

I do think despite the stylized appearance of his offense Johnson is creative cooking with whatever's in the pantry. Part of that's gotta come from years and years of experience running the offense.

Will be interesting to see what's on the menu this year.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

This posting kind of kindles a notion that, whatever the problems and where ever they are -- and God knows our offense has replacement issues come August -- I suspect a large part of Johnson's ego, if you will is fed by the need that becomes an opportunity, to sit down and move pieces around the board, and to come up with such moves as you noted or like the Bedford switch of position and unit that turned him into an all-ACC center. Don't know if that talent is unique, but it is remarkable regardless.

 

[iceeater1969]

When the best offensive player on the team gets the ball on every play, it let's the coach get creative.

 

[hwdgeplague]

TOO MANY MEN ON THE FIELD. .. (or does it just seem that way)

 

[GTpdm]

TOO MANY MEN ON THE FIELD. .. (or does it just seem that way)

Note that the color scheme for the puzzle includes red and black. That says to me that @dressedcheeseside somehow got a copy of Mark Richt's game planner for last year's Tech-dwag matchup.

 

[croberts]

Have you not learned by now?????? You have uttered the name of a coach who shall for forever and day remain nameless!!!!!!! I hope you're not walking under ladders or by black cats or shattering mirrors in your spare time!

Won't be me. I never understood it. The first thing I said when I heard it announced was "Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Turned into the worst hire ever but if you need to know it is easy to understand why it was done. We had just lost the national coach of the year in Bobby Ross and had the chance to hire the New national coach of the year when he was coming off of a a near perfect season and bowl victory at East Carolina. Was an assistant coach at Tech before and knew the school. Having a hard time saying this but thought it was a good hire. Boy was I wrong. Many people used Tech as an example for getting the least momentum from a National Championship ever!

 

[forensicbuzz]

Turned into the worst hire ever but if you need to know it is easy to understand why it was done. We had just lost the national coach of the year in Bobby Ross and had the chance to hire the New national coach of the year when he was coming off of a a near perfect season and bowl victory at East Carolina. Was an assistant coach at Tech before and knew the school. Having a hard time saying this but thought it was a good hire. Boy was I wrong. Many people used Tech as an example for getting the least momentum from a National Championship ever!

I always thought that ECU team was a fluke for him. I remember looking at his body of work and saying, "where's the track record of high performance?" We should have been able to attract anyone we wanted. I wanted a well established coach, with a track record of winning at the highest level. Guess I was naive, but then again, I was a 5th yr junior at the time.

 

[Skeptic]

I always thought that ECU team was a fluke for him. I remember looking at his body of work and saying, "where's the track record of high performance?" We should have been able to attract anyone we wanted. I wanted a well established coach, with a track record of winning at the highest level. Guess I was naive, but then again, I was a 5th yr junior at the time.

I do recall at the time some comments from up Greenville way that Tech hired the wrong ECU coach, and the guy most responsible for their success was Steve Logan, the OC or QB coach, I forget which. Regardless he was the offensive guru but actually wound up on some radio station in Raleigh, I think. Guess he got the least momentum from ECU's success.