Synjyn Days: Better Late Than Never

[Techster]

Has our best BB since the Dwyer/Allen days been on the roster all this time? Nothing against David Sims, Preston Lyons, or Zach Laskey, but Synjyn Days has been a revelation since he's been pressed into BB duty out of necessity. Against two of the toughest defenses in the nation (Pitt and UVA), all Synjyn has done against them is put up back to back 100+ yard performances. When was the last time a BB put together two back to back 100+ yard performances against FBS opponents?

I've always thought Synjyn's "problem" was he is too athletic. That is, the guy can pretty much play any position (outside of the trenches) on both sides of the ball, and play them all above average. He was recruited as a top level DB by other colleges, and he came here as a QB. We've seen it on offense where he's a jack of all trades. Where do you put a guy like that to maximize his talents but at the same time help the team to the fullest of his capabilities? It looks like we're starting to answer that question. Throughout all the position switches, he's never complained once, and he's busted his tail when on the field.

Glad to have a guy like him on the team, and looking forward to watching him play more at the BB position.

 

[Big Philly]

Athleticism isn't what held Synjyn back at B-Back, it was ball security.

 

[Techster]

Athleticism isn't what held Synjyn back at B-Back, it was ball security.

Agree to an extent. He hasn't played much BB so it's hard to say ball security was a problem for him at BB. Yeah, he did have the fumble last week, but it was his first extensive time at BB. Dwyer wasn't the most turnover free BB either...he just had a skillset you couldn't ignore at the position. At QB Synjyn did show signs of playing loose with the ball. Had a few fumbles at AB. Sometimes when you put a higher level of responsibility on someone (securing the ball at BB), they step up. Synjyn has.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

But the point from Big Philly is that Synjyn could never have been put at BB originally because it took him longer than others to overcome his fumble-itis. I do not recall it in great detail but I also think he was moved from QB to AB originally because of his size and blocking ability more than his capacity as an athlete with the ball in his hands. He got over the looseness with the ball in the process of training and time at AB.

If anything I am not so much regretting his not getting a serious amount of game-play and a chance at BB until late in his senior year so much as wishing he could have just been moved from QB faster than he was. I too kind of wanted him at BB and not QB back in the day as well, however, he seriously just took longer to learn to value possessing the ball.

But I want to end on saying that I love the kid and he is such a great Tech player to root for. So I too wish I could see him play 3 more years and average 3 tds a game. Right at the moment it seems Tech has an embarrassment of riches of players simply easy to root for as all around great student-athletes.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Days is a great player and has done whatever it takes to help the team at whatever position we needed him at.

Great family, hope he gets a shot at the NFL. He may get some big time attention when he plays against Clemson and UGAg and our bowl.

I think the fumblitis was true the first year when he held the ball loose, but not last year or this year. I still remember one of his fumbles on the right side early in last year, where he was hit so hard (largely because he was going so hard) that I was surprised he didn't get his ribs broken.

But better late than never, agree 100%!

 

[SecretAgentBuzz]

Clearly, Synjyn Days was the player of the game. What a great way for a senior to celebrate Homecoming! Way to go, Synjyn!

 

[texasjacket]

I still want to see that B back position break a long TD run. I though he almost had one yesterday.

 

[Jacketfish]

I love the Synjyn story. He was a well known player throughout his college career but never was a huge factor as a runner. He never seemed to complain about not getting carries. He just went out there and took care of business, played any position coach asked him to, and blocked like a mad man. He is finally getting what he has so rightfully earned and I for one am proud of him for it.

 

[GTL]

I still want to see that B back position break a long TD run. I though he almost had one yesterday.

Heh...he said he didn't score on that play because "he was old and tired".

 

[gt02]

Agree . Great reflection on his family and the way he was raised. Hope that means good things about JHD.

I love the Synjyn story. He was a well known player throughout his college career but never was a huge factor as a runner. He never seemed to complain about not getting carries. He just went out there and took care of business, played any position coach asked him to, and blocked like a mad man. He is finally getting what he has so rightfully earned and I for one am proud of him for it.

 

[UgaBlows]

He looks so powerful running the ball

 

[UgaBlows]

Can you just imagine if Dwyer had gotten this kind of blocking?

 

[Cheesehead Jacket]

Days is a great player and has done whatever it takes to help the team at whatever position we needed him at.

Great family, hope he gets a shot at the NFL. He may get some big time attention when he plays against Clemson and UGAg and our bowl.

I think the fumblitis was true the first year when he held the ball loose, but not last year or this year. I still remember one of his fumbles on the right side early in last year, where he was hit so hard (largely because he was going so hard) that I was surprised he didn't get his ribs broken.

But better late than never, agree 100%!

I have always wondered why he didn't play more, SOMEWHERE ! Great kid! I hope he gets his degree , too !

 

[DCSS]

Heh...he said he didn't score on that play because "he was old and tired".

I feel his pain.

 

[takethepoints]

Days had a great day yesterday and I'm glad we had him as a backup option for Laskey. Still, I'm hoping that Zach gets back on the job for Clemson. Why?

Because Synjyn is so valuable as an AB. The Snobs were spreading out the option and we were having a hard time sealing the edge after the first quarter. I think that was at least partly due to not having Days or Perkins to throw blocks out there. Also, think how effective Days has been on toss sweeps when Zach was still at BB.

It isn't that Synjyn can't play BB and play it well … I knew he'd do fine at the position when it was obvious that Coach had no qualms at all about him moving up to start. It's that with him at AB all the edge game gets so much more effective. But, since it is uncertain when Zach gets back, I sure am glad that Synjyn was there to step in and take over.

 

[Boomergump]

In the early days (pardon the pun) I think Synjin fumbled too much primarily because he just never wanted to go to the ground. He would use that ball carrying arm way too much trying to stay afloat. It was like a point of pride for him not to go down. I think he has learned to value possession over everything else now. It wasn't like he had clumsy hands.

 

[Whiskey_Clear]

Right now Synjyn looks like a legit candidate to play fullback in the league. Really has a great tool set for the position at the next level IMO. Good speed, can really grind out tough yards, hard to tackle one on one, very good hands, and great blocking. Seems like a no brainer.

 

[CuseJacket]

Synjyn's performance earned him a helmet sticker from ESPN:

Georgia Tech RB Synjyn Days: In the two games since Zach Laskey went down with an injury, Days has been a revelation. One week after racking up 110 yards on 22 carries - both career highs -- Days led the way to a win over Virginia by running for 147 yards and adding another 17 through the air, scoring twice. The Cavaliers entered the game with the No. 9-ranked rush defense in the nation, but Days became the first player to rush for 100 against them this season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/76635/acc-helmet-stickers-week-10-5

 

[LongforDodd]

Has our best BB since the Dwyer/Allen days been on the roster all this time? Nothing against David Sims, Preston Lyons, or Zach Laskey, but Synjyn Days has been a revelation since he's been pressed into BB duty out of necessity. Against two of the toughest defenses in the nation (Pitt and UVA), all Synjyn has done against them is put up back to back 100+ yard performances. When was the last time a BB put together two back to back 100+ yard performances against FBS opponents?

I've always thought Synjyn's "problem" was he is too athletic. That is, the guy can pretty much play any position (outside of the trenches) on both sides of the ball, and play them all above average. He was recruited as a top level DB by other colleges, and he came here as a QB. We've seen it on offense where he's a jack of all trades. Where do you put a guy like that to maximize his talents but at the same time help the team to the fullest of his capabilities? It looks like we're starting to answer that question. Throughout all the position switches, he's never complained once, and he's busted his tail when on the field.

Glad to have a guy like him on the team, and looking forward to watching him play more at the BB position.

Laskey may be a bit quicker to and through the hole but not by much. Days certainly runs lower and doesn't go down as easily. If Days doesn't have ball security issues, we haven't lost anything at Bback.

 

[yellowRambler]

Days should be starter rest of year. No question. Way more explosive than Laskey and just looks great out there. We will need Days getting a ton of reps vs Clempson and georgie