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Depending on your perspective -sorry, just have to add, in that Lee article...about the ladies. Another crap narrative. Yes, techs student body is 65% men. But the school is in prime location in midtown atlanta. Give me a freaking break. If you can't meet women in the city of atlanta, walking across the street to the nightlife area to hang on occasion...lol...then you probably don't care to meet women anyway.
the narrative should be, "tech is 65% men, but in the top 3 in the nation for meeting single women and located right in prime time midtown; so Lee has a good right to be excited"
good lord do we suck at influencing the narrative.
I think we have really been building momentum recruiting the last couple years. It takes some time to show but I feel pretty confident it will.
Very good post. I also feel the last two classes have been Johnson's best BUT you only know for sure when they show it on the field. CPJ seems pretty confident though so hopefully we get back on track.Agree. Last year with a huge recruiting class coming in almost 1 in 3 scholly players was a tr-fr. And it was likely Johnson's best class on tape. Last year was a very solid class on tape as well. We still need to improve our recruiting, but IMO the last two classes have been incrementally better and are arguably the top 2 prospect-wise of Johsnson's tenure. Finally getting recruiting support staff has done wonders.
Where I am seeing the incremental improvement the most is in the offensive skill players we are getting. Maybe a 2014 effect? Before we brought in tall, fast, but very raw wide receivers. Now they are tall, fast, and look pretty decently developed for HS D-1 WR commits. Lucas Johnson is a step up as a QB recruit (he's on the Vad, Justin level). AB recruits have been much more dynamic and productive on HS film and when healthy have looked good at GT (e.g. Lynch, Searcy). Best group of receiving ABs we've had, IMO. BB looks great with MM, Mills, & Allen, and some solid looking dudes behind them like Kirvonte Bensen, Quaide, etc. MM and Benson have AB crossover ability I'd think. MLD looks like the Synjyn Days C-back who is on his third offensive skill position. IMO he's too skilled not to emerge somewhere.
OL is perhaps the biggest need and we already have 4 committed for this class. Film/size/frame and fit look good for all parties. If we can get our offensive line rolling and stay healthy we have the skill guys to make some defenses look silly. Having a healthy Chris Griffin this year would really help but I don't think we can count on that.
DLine recruiting has improved with the likes of Cerge-Henderson, Simmons, Woods, St. Amour, Glanton, Martin, & Kallon was highly regarded. DL recruiting needs to get better still. We haven't had a pass rush in years. Would love to see Simmons, Freeman, and Kallon break out. We're always good at DB it seems, and I feel like Roof is going to get us where we need to be with LBs. Specialists have been addressed with the top punter and a highly regarded FG kicker in this year's class.
So I can see what Jordan Woods is saying....there are a lot of pieces in place. IMO if we can just keep everything else stocked and add or develop a couple of elite trench guys on both side of the ball then with appropriate luck we can get back to the Orange Bowl and compete for a playoff spot.
Uncharacteristically so. Some have interpreted this as CPJ trying to instill confidence in young players, or trying to build up team morale. But I don't think CPJ blows smoke. Usually there is a reason for his confidence whenever it shows up. Even if his confidence should later be proven to be too optimistic, it is never based on nothing.CPJ seems pretty confident though so hopefully we get back on track.
My guess is hopefully the development of a wide out as a deep threat to take the pressure off to be perfect on the OL.Uncharacteristically so. Some have interpreted this as CPJ trying to instill confidence in young players, or trying to build up team morale. But I don't think CPJ blows smoke. Usually there is a reason for his confidence whenever it shows up. Even if his confidence should later be proven to be too optimistic, it is never based on nothing.
Likewise, when he refers to last year's unusual string of injuries, I don't think he is just making excuses. Where I would love to be a fly on the wall is with regard to how practice is going with the OL. CPJ has been brutally frank about them being a dumpster fire last year. Wonder why he thinks this year will be better?
My guess: a re-focused Freddie Burden. He had quite a burden on his heart last year and couldn't spend all the time required to be the best player he could be, and I think this hurt us in getting the correct calls along the line. Now he can again focus his energies on football and he's playing with a purpose...I fully believe he's going to be an All-ACC level player this year at center, and that is going to pay huge dividends across the line as a whole.Uncharacteristically so. Some have interpreted this as CPJ trying to instill confidence in young players, or trying to build up team morale. But I don't think CPJ blows smoke. Usually there is a reason for his confidence whenever it shows up. Even if his confidence should later be proven to be too optimistic, it is never based on nothing.
Likewise, when he refers to last year's unusual string of injuries, I don't think he is just making excuses. Where I would love to be a fly on the wall is with regard to how practice is going with the OL. CPJ has been brutally frank about them being a dumpster fire last year. Wonder why he thinks this year will be better?
My guess: a re-focused Freddie Burden. He had quite a burden on his heart last year and couldn't spend all the time required to be the best player he could be, and I think this hurt us in getting the correct calls along the line. Now he can again focus his energies on football and he's playing with a purpose...I fully believe he's going to be an All-ACC level player this year at center, and that is going to pay huge dividends across the line as a whole.
That article about what he was going through really blew my mind, the dude is way stronger mentally/emotionally than I could ever be in his situation. I had no idea what was happening during the season, but with hindsight you can see that his mind wasn't right compared to 2014. Like I said before, I expect an All-ACC season of redemption from Freddie, and if he's the leader we have been looking for then it should have an impact across the entire line.Freddie at least on twitter has been very outspoken about this year and how he is ready. I read about his schedule he kept last year with his school work, practice and being at the hospital and not many people could do it. I received a liver transplant in 2010 and I know just how hard to waiting can be on a family.
tired of people writing articles about DT's that are 6-1 or 6-2 saying they are undersized. That is total BS. The best nose guys and 1techs in the NFL are around that height. Its a crap narrative from people. All these guys below are top DT's in the NFL, and are 6-2 and under. And I didn't even list the guys who get big PT or start that are not at the top of their profession.
being 6-2 or 6-1 3/4 as a DT who is 290 in college is freaking fine and not undersized...he will need to add weight and muscle
vince wilfork
aaron donald
micheal bennett
cullen jenkins
kyle williams
brandon mebane
malcolm brown
marcell dareus
dominique easley
dan williams
kawan short
geno atkins