By: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Is this Georgia Tech's year? And what does “Georgia Tech's year” even look like?
It certainly doesn't mean a visit to the National Championship game like it would for their in-state rivals from Athens. When the stars align for the Ramblin' Wreck you can put a cap at about 11 (maybe 12) wins...and that's getting pretty bold. The 2018 Tech roster is filled with kids required to take calculus and in most cases hold down a summer internship. Typically four and five-star recruits choose schools that don't require as much academic rigor and in some cases schools with equal academic pedigrees can provide an easier workload and more relaxed path to a diploma. But don't be surprised to see Tech look more imposing on defense this year and more consistent on offense than in 2017. 2018 could be a good year for the Jackets.
Forecasting Georgia Tech the last few years has been difficult. With Paul Johnson on the hot seat entering 2014 he reeled off an 11-win Orange Bowl season, and all 3 losses that year came by a single possession. The 2015 campaign brought high expectations and resulted in a 3-9 injury-plagued debacle. The following season concluded with the Jackets finishing fifth in the ACC's Coastal Division but with a respectable overall record of 9-4 that saw the Jackets go 3-0 against the SEC. Then came 2017. With a two touchdown fourth quarter lead against Tennessee in the opener, Tech handed the game over to the Volunteers, and in the process, defined their season. After having a game against UCF cancelled because of Hurricane Irma, they would go on to blow three more games after leading by two scores in the 2nd half. An offense that was often times a juggernaut was led by an athletic but inconsistent quarterback that made too many untimely mistakes in his first year as a starter. And a defense that was loaded with experience entering the season failed to bring pressure, force turnovers, and get off the field. As disappointing as 2017 was, 2018 has potential to be a strong year for Tech, despite playing one of the nation's toughest, if not the toughest schedule. Georgia Tech will face 3 of the top 8 teams in the country in 2018 in Clemson, UGA, and Miami and go on the road to face South Florida and Virginia Tech. But here's how a good season for Tech might shake out.
Georgia Tech Offense
Georgia Tech returns nine starters on an offense that at times ran like a well-oiled machine. Senior quarterback Taquon Marshall (who rushed for 1,146 yards in 11 games last year) strung together a highlight reel of jaw-dropping shiftiness and homerun hitting ability.
But ask him to drop back and go through his progressions and he struggled. Like big time. Marshall ended 2017 with an anemic 37.1% completion percentage, a record low for the school. In his last 7 games he completed just 28.9% of his throws. Marshall will never put up Texas Tech or Oklahoma-level passing numbers, but with his athleticism, a small improvement in the passing game could go a long way. Paul Johnson is committed to Marshall and after a season ending injury in fall camp to sophomore back-up Lucas Johnson (hyped as an efficient passer) Tech doesn't have an experienced viable option right now anyway. With a full year's experience under his belt and an offseason where he was able to prepare knowing that he will be the week one starter, Marshall has worked hard at his craft and should make enough improvement in the passing game to make Tech more balanced in 2018. If he doesn't improve you can expect the Jacket's offense to struggle against quality defenses.
Running Back
Georgia Tech Junior B-back Kirvonte Benson was buried deep in the depth chart in 2016 and things weren't looking good for the former Georgia AAAAAAA 100-meter state champion. But with the transfer of rising junior Marcus Marshall and the dismissal of classmate Dedrick Mills, the door was propped wide open for Benson and he did not disappoint. A low-to-the-ground runner with raw power, the 5'9" 208 pound sophomore back (who also squats over 500 lbs) ran for 1,053 yards in 2017. He's worked all off-season to lower his body fat in an effort to increase his agility and speed. Look for Benson to have another solid year. Coach Johnson has also expressed confidence in backups Jordan Ponchez-Mason and Jerry Howard. Both have good size and potential and should help Benson carry the load more in 2018.
The Yellow Jackets also return a trio of experienced A-backs that are poised for a strong season. Seniors Qua Searcy and Clinton Lynch and Junior Nathan Cottrell have logged a lot of reps and made plenty of plays. Both Searcy and Lynch were the benefactors of Justin Thomas' ability to distribute the ball in 2016 and showed just how dynamic they could be. This wasn’t the case last season. Along with Marshall's troubles in the passing game, he also opted to pull the ball down and run as opposed to pitching it to his playmaking A-backs. Each of these A-backs are speedy and capable with the ball in their hands, but because of their slight size they've struggled at times getting perimeter defenders to the ground on blocking assignments. That’s been a point of emphasis during the off season with the hope that it will translate into open running lanes and more big plays.
Wide Receiver
Look for wide receiver to be a weakness for Georgia Tech in 2018 unless a surprise star steps up. Gone is three-year starter Ricky Jeune, the 6'2" 204 pound standout is currently in camp with the Dallas Cowboys. Returning starter and senior Brad Stewart caught just four balls last year, and his 2017 season was marred by a couple uncharacteristic drops that really hurt the Jackets. One notable, potential game-sealing drop in the rain against Miami exemplified the potential issues Georgia Tech could encounter this year if Marshall’s accuracy doesn't improve and a go-to receiver doesn’t emerge.
Georgia Tech's run-heavy offense has benefited over Coach Johnson's 9-year tenure from big bodied, more-than-capable receivers. First Demaryius Thomas and Stephen Hill, then Darren Waller and Deandre Smelter, and last year Ricky Jeune. Look for 6'2" 210 pound junior Jalen Camp (penciled in as starter), 6'5" 205 pound sophomore Stephen Dolphus, or 6'3" 185 pound true freshman Malachi Carter to try to fill Jeune's shoes and continue Georgia Tech's recent tradition of churning out tall, big-bodied wide receivers. The verdict is still out.
Offensive Line
Georgia Tech's offensive line took its fair share of lumps in 2017. Lack of depth and injuries forced the the Jackets to shift players around each game and, in turn, the line never fully gelled. After the loss of just one lineman from last season, Tech looks loaded with depth after the return of former starter Andrew Marshall from injury and the admission of Ole Miss transfer Jack Defoor. Juniors Parker Braun and Kenny Cooper are strong linchpins in the interior of the line. Do-everything Will Bryan, entering his 3rd full season as a starter, can play guard or tackle. Junior Jahaziel Lee, returning for his second year in the starting lineup can play tackle and center. Paul Johnson says this line can go nine or 10 deep which is a far cry from last year when Tech was forced to rely on inexperienced walk-on Baily Ivemeyer and untested true freshman Connor Hansen to provide depth. Those guys are back as well as redshirt freshmen Charlie Clark and Zach Quinney and redshirt junior Brad Morgan who are each looking to break into the lineup as well. This offensive line has a chance to be pretty good.
For the Georgia Tech offense to improve in 2018 each position group must play consistently and Taquon Marshall has to get better with his reads and be able to make some plays in the passing game. Experience is the key ingredient for an offense that doesn't have a single four or five-star recruit. Parker Braun may have next-level ability and Taquon Marshall has elite quickness but compared to other teams in Power-5 there's nothing special about these guys. But, as we all know, Paul Johnson's offense can do more with less as well as anybody in the country. If they stay focused and play with a chip on their shoulder, the nature of their offense should give them a chance against almost every defense that they line up against. Almost every defense.
Georgia Tech Defense
In the early to mid-2000's Tech's Jon Tenuta-coached defenses wreaked havoc on quarterbacks. They were disruptive, made plays, played with attitude, and were fun to watch. Tenuta was able to churn out NFL linebackers (Daryl Smith, Keyaron Fox, Gary Guyton, and Phillip Wheeler) and help attract/develop defensive linemen (Tony Hargrove, Michael Johnson, Daryl Richard, Vance Walker, and Derrick Morgan). All of this despite Tech's well-documented recruiting disadvantages. Defenses in the Paul Johnson era -- aside from being really bad at stopping anybody -- have been downright boring to watch. Dave Wommack, Al Groh, and most recently Ted Roof were unable to hold up their end of the bargain. Defensive lines were unable to disrupt, linebackers looked slow to react and struggled making open field tackles, and secondaries that have had their fair share of NFL talent were forced to cover for what felt like years while quarterbacks stood in a perfect pocket. In Ted Roof's fifth and last year at Tech, his 2017 defense ranked 124th in turnovers gained, 118th in tackles for loss, and 108th in sacks. Johnson had had enough.
Enter Nate Woody from Appalachian State. His 3-4 defense is aggressive, designed to penetrate the backfield and alter plays before they start. Roof's defenses were bend but don't break, while Woody's might give up an occasional big play for the sake of more sacks and turnovers. Last year the Mountaineers were 17th in sacks, 30th in tackles for loss, and 16th in turnovers gained. Expect a totally different style of play in 2018 from Georgia Tech and expect to actually see a few athletes on this side of the ball.
Defensive Line
On the defensive line the Jackets return three starters. Desmond Branch is built for being a 3-4 defensive end and Anree Saint-Amour at 6'3" 246 lacks ideal size but makes up for it with brute strength, good quickness off the ball, and straight-line speed. Both will be called on to shoot gaps and penetrate the backfield. Look for Saint-Amour, who was offered by Ohio State coming out of North Gwinnett, to finally break through as a senior. Senior Kyle Cerge-Henderson will anchor the middle at nose tackle. Nate Woody has said the nose is the most important position on the defense, and I don't think Cerge-Henderson is a perfect fit, but he's experienced and has won the job outright. Brandon Adams and Chris Martin will provide depth there while Antwan Owens and Brentavious Glanton will spell Amour and Branch. Outside of Saint-Amour, Tech will be looking for playmakers; the line is stacked with experience, but not top-tier talent.
Linebacker
The Jackets are loaded with talent at linebacker -- multiple guys who can run and hit. You won't see many long, rangy NFL types, but you'll see guys flying to the ball. It all starts with Senior Brant Mitchell. Mitchell started a few games as a true freshman in 2015 and is entering his third year as a full-time starter in the middle. Brant is intelligent and very physical at 6'2" 236. Keep an eye on number 51. Senior Victor Alexander, a one time UCLA commit, is vertically challenged but packs a punch and flies around the field. He's excited about playing in a new defense that allows him to think less and play faster. David Curry and Bruce Jordan-Swilling will split time at the other middle linebacker position. Curry out of Buford is hard nosed and instinctive while Bruce Jordan-Swilling -- a true sophomore and former 4-star with offers from LSU and Alabama -- is still learning the linebacker position but is an absolute athlete. Tech fans can't wait to see him in this new defense after a breakout freshman year.
The other outside linebacker position, the 'Stinger,' is currently a two man race between Jalen Johnson and Christian Campbell. At this hybrid safety-linebacker position, Johnson and Campbell will look to come off the edge or drop in coverage. Both of these guys have waited their turn but never stood out in Ted Roof's defense. They're hoping the new defense will fit their skill sets a little more. Also keep an eye on backups Quez Jackson, Charlie Thomas, and Jaquon Henderson. Each had plenty of options coming out of high school and decided to choose Tech. They're athletic and can get to the ball. Don't be surprised if Charlie Thomas starts some games before the season is over but regardless expect to see a lot of guys at linebacker this year and for this position group to be a strength for the Jackets.
Secondary
The biggest question mark on this year's defense is definitely in the secondary. Tech graduated four of five starters and lost the lone returnee, AJ Gray, to a career-ending neck injury in the off-season. Most of these guys are young, had a slew of offers, and offer something we haven't seen in a while in the secondary -- a lot of length. We'll have to see how things shake out as the season goes on, but sophomore Ajani Kerr and senior Lamont Simmons provide size and some experience at cornerback. They're being challenged by more highly recruited prospects sophomore Jaytlin Askew and redshirt-freshman Tre Swilling as well as true freshman four-star Jaylon King and fellow freshman Zamari Walton.
On the back end, former 4-star redshirt-freshman Kaleb Oliver, at 6'4" 205, fits the mold of a prototypical safety, but look for grad-transfer Malik Rivera to play a lot of snaps early in the season having come from an identical defense at Wofford. He's taken on the valuable role of coach-on-the-field and has already earned his teammates' respect. He'll get the start in week one next to the tall, athletic sophomore Tariq Carpenter who was lightly recruited out of high school but has impressed teammates and coaches since his arrival last Fall. True freshman Juanyeh Thomas has been on campus just one month but has wowed coaches with his athleticism, playmaking ability, and passion for the game. As good as he's being billed, his biggest contribution may come in the return game however. Looking at these 4 guys, it will be hard to keep any of them off the field.
Overall, having a bigger, more highly recruited secondary is great and makes for a higher ceiling, but this young group has yet to prove anything. Look for a lot of fluidity at both safety and corner, especially early in the season.
Defensive Outlook Overall the defense looks promising. Tech generally lands smaller recruiting classes ranked in the 40’s and 50’s, but don't sleep on the talent of some of these younger players on defense as well as some of the solid upper-classmen. Georgia Tech is rarely able lure a four-star to play in the triple option which skews class rankings even more so, but the defense has recruited well for the last few years. An experienced defensive line, athletic linebackers, and a rangier secondary in coach Nate Woody's aggressive new scheme has Tech fans really excited about the season and the future of Georgia Tech's defense in general. No one will confuse this defense with the '85 Bears but this should be a more exciting brand of football especially after what Tech fans have experienced for the last 9 years.
Georgia Tech Special Teams
Punter Pressley Harvin impressed as a true freshman last year and will no doubt be a weapon for years to come; he may be an All-American before it's over. In the place-kicking game, two missed chip-shot field goals in last year’s Tennessee game played as big of a roll in that loss as the late fumble. Kickers Brenton King and Shawn Davis are still battling for the starting role. Their experience last year will certainly help them early in the season.
Tech has been atrocious at returning kicks and punts the last few years so the arrival of Juanyeh Thomas and his decisive take-over of the return game has Tech fans optimistic. His high school film reveals big play potential, explosiveness, and fearless approach to the game. Hopefully he can live up to the hype.
2018 Season Forecast
Keep an eye on Tech this year, they'll be donning new Adidas uniforms, a new defense, and are bringing back a ton of players on a squad that was just as close to nine wins last year as five.
Paul Johnson has had a knack for following up bad seasons with good ones. If Taquon Marshall improves his passing they could win every game outside of UGA and Clemson and hopefully keep those competitive. Of course, it's always possible that Marshall plateaus, no one steps up at wide receiver, and the players don't catch on to the new defense as quickly as Tech coaches are hoping...BUT there's a “buzz” around the program this preseason, and all things seem to point toward a better year for the Yellow Jackets. My prediction is eight or nine wins, and for Georgia Tech, eight ain't bad and nine is pretty dang good.
Players to Watch:
Taquon Marshall (QB)
Kirvonte Benson (RB)
Brant Mitchell (LB)
Anree Saint-Amour (DE)
Bruce Jordan-Swilling (LB)
Newcomers to Watch:
Juanyeh Thomas (S)
Charlie Thomas (S)
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