Observations from Georgia Tech’s fourth preseason practice

[GTFLETCH]

Observations from the portion of the practice open to the media, along with a note from defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker’s media availability:


1. Wide receiver Malik Rutherford performed well again in one-on-one pass drills. He went to the ground to secure a back-shoulder throw from quarterback Jeff Sims inches from the turf in one repetition. In another, he used a stop-and-go move on cornerback Eric Reed to get free to make a catch on a deep ball.

2. As was the case Monday, the offense appeared to get the better of the secondary, breaking open for catches and drawing defensive pass-interference penalties. Wide receivers Ryan King and James BlackStrain and tight end Ben Wilhelm were among those getting open for receptions. Safety Derrik Allen and cornerback Zamari Walton did execute well on two plays in particular, Allen defending wide receiver E.J. Jenkins well to force an incompletion and Walton recovering on a deep ball to Rutherford to break up the pass, both of which charged up Thacker.

3. Freshman defensive tackle K.J. Miles is trying to learn fast. During a drill using a blocking sled, Miles caught the attention of David Turner, assistant head coach for the defense, for not executing the drill properly. Later in the period, Turner stopped a different drill to show Miles how to correctly drive out of his stance. Miles, one of Tech’s higher-ranked prospects in the freshman class, could see playing time this fall along with fellow freshman Horace Lockett, another defensive tackle.

4. After the practice, Thacker said that safeties Jaylon King and Allen “really are rock solid right now.” The two are vying to replace safeties Tariq Carpenter and Juanyeh Thomas, both now competing for roster spots in NFL training camps. Thacker said that Allen “has some top-end ACC traits as a mover” and that King has shown himself to be a dependable player in the defense “I would argue he is one of the three most dependable guys on the defense in terms of what he knows, how he can keep his composure out there and how he can be in the right position,” Thacker said. After that, LaMiles Brooks and Jalen Huff are battling for playing time behind them. Thacker said that Brooks is “establishing himself as one of the first couple-group safeties.”

Observations from Georgia Tech’s fourth preseason football practice of 2022

Here are some observations from the portion of Georgia Tech's football practice that was open to the media Wednesday.

www.ajc.com

 

[Techfan02]

Will the D get The O one day??

 

[RamblinWreck27]

Observations from the portion of the practice open to the media, along with a note from defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker’s media availability:


1. Wide receiver Malik Rutherford performed well again in one-on-one pass drills. He went to the ground to secure a back-shoulder throw from quarterback Jeff Sims inches from the turf in one repetition. In another, he used a stop-and-go move on cornerback Eric Reed to get free to make a catch on a deep ball.

2. As was the case Monday, the offense appeared to get the better of the secondary, breaking open for catches and drawing defensive pass-interference penalties. Wide receivers Ryan King and James BlackStrain and tight end Ben Wilhelm were among those getting open for receptions. Safety Derrik Allen and cornerback Zamari Walton did execute well on two plays in particular, Allen defending wide receiver E.J. Jenkins well to force an incompletion and Walton recovering on a deep ball to Rutherford to break up the pass, both of which charged up Thacker.

3. Freshman defensive tackle K.J. Miles is trying to learn fast. During a drill using a blocking sled, Miles caught the attention of David Turner, assistant head coach for the defense, for not executing the drill properly. Later in the period, Turner stopped a different drill to show Miles how to correctly drive out of his stance. Miles, one of Tech’s higher-ranked prospects in the freshman class, could see playing time this fall along with fellow freshman Horace Lockett, another defensive tackle.

4. After the practice, Thacker said that safeties Jaylon King and Allen “really are rock solid right now.” The two are vying to replace safeties Tariq Carpenter and Juanyeh Thomas, both now competing for roster spots in NFL training camps. Thacker said that Allen “has some top-end ACC traits as a mover” and that King has shown himself to be a dependable player in the defense “I would argue he is one of the three most dependable guys on the defense in terms of what he knows, how he can keep his composure out there and how he can be in the right position,” Thacker said. After that, LaMiles Brooks and Jalen Huff are battling for playing time behind them. Thacker said that Brooks is “establishing himself as one of the first couple-group safeties.”

Observations from Georgia Tech’s fourth preseason football practice of 2022

Here are some observations from the portion of Georgia Tech's football practice that was open to the media Wednesday.

www.ajc.com

Thank you for posting these

 

[Flywheel]

When Thacker says the safeties are really strong in coverage, I find myself wanting to play a 5-4-2 defense.

 

[GTWannaBee]

I am not encouraged by the fact that the DB’s are getting beat so often in 1 on 1 coverage. Sure, it could be a sign that our receivers are excelling but it’s more likely our DB’s are still struggling.

 

[Akinji07]

I am not encouraged by the fact that the DB’s are getting beat so often in 1 on 1 coverage. Sure, it could be a sign that our receivers are excelling but it’s more likely our DB’s are still struggling.

It’s a sign our DBs are struggling.

 

[ElCidBUZZingFAN]

The big defense shakeup in the off-season included giving Tillman sole coaching responsibility of the secondary. We were gonna make a big jump cause they’d hear one voice and all that.

Thacker comes out today saying how he’s helping with Nickles and CBs and Collins roams around between them and the safeties, as needed.

Soooo…ya…umm…k.

 

[00Burdell]

Thank you for posting these

Seconded. Much obliged.

 

[1982Jacket]

Seconded. Much obliged.

Thirded. I really, really appreciate it.

I do have a question. Is Sims hitting receivers in full stride? Always? Mostly? Only occasionally? Not completing passes on great catches, or to wide open receivers who have to slow down or break stride or even stop. But actually hitting receivers in the hands in full stride where they can rack up big YAC?

 

[00Burdell]

Thirded. I really, really appreciate it.

I do have a question. Is Sims hitting receivers in full stride? Always? Mostly? Only occasionally? Not completing passes on great catches, or to wide open receivers who have to slow down or break stride or even stop. But actually hitting receivers in the hands in full stride where they can rack up big YAC?

We better get this figured out. With Long and Weinke, Sims better be dropping NFL back corner endzone fades.

 

[GoGATech]

The big defense shakeup in the off-season included giving Tillman sole coaching responsibility of the secondary. We were gonna make a big jump cause they’d hear one voice and all that.

Thacker comes out today saying how he’s helping with Nickles and CBs and Collins roams around between them and the safeties, as needed.

Soooo…ya…umm…k.

He's helping with individual drills in practice. Tillman is coaching coverages and has them all in the same film room where that was all separated last year.

 

[Jmonty71]

Thacker saying anything is "rock solid" is disturbing, to me. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, they will not be "rock solid".

 

[Chattanooga Jacket]

The big defense shakeup in the off-season included giving Tillman sole coaching responsibility of the secondary. We were gonna make a big jump cause they’d hear one voice and all that.

Thacker comes out today saying how he’s helping with Nickles and CBs and Collins roams around between them and the safeties, as needed.

Soooo…ya…umm…k.

Thacker and Collins’ involvement with the D doesn’t get me excited at all. It’s a bad reminder of what they don’t bring to the table. Hopefully, the other coaches on D can out coach them.

 

[GoGATech]

Thacker and Collins’ involvement with the D doesn’t get me excited at all. It’s a bad reminder of what they don’t bring to the table. Hopefully, the other coaches on D can out coach them.

Yeah I hate knowing our HC that was responsible for getting Mississippi State to a top 5 defense in the SEC in 2013, had a defense that led the SEC in sacks and red zone defense in 2014, and coached the Florida defenses to #6 and #11 in scoring in 2015 and 2016, is now spending the majority of his time working with the defense instead of trying to help out and give input to a struggling OC.

 

[whiskey clear]

Yeah I hate knowing our HC that was responsible for getting Mississippi State to a top 5 defense in the SEC in 2013, had a defense that led the SEC in sacks and red zone defense in 2014, and coached the Florida defenses to #6 and #11 in scoring in 2015 and 2016, is now spending the majority of his time working with the defense instead of trying to help out and give input to a struggling OC.

What has he done lately? Fail catastrophically. Can we send him back to Mississippi State? How much would Tech have to pay them to take him back? Temple won't have him back....that's a certainty. :D

 

[Jmonty71]

I would like to know how they plan to improve the communication breakdowns. It wasn't the overall play, that bothered me. It was the DBs getting torched from obvious defensive breakdowns. I think, without those breakdowns, we win 5 games, last year. Maybe I am wrong. But, preventing the bone headed plays alone, will double the wins.

 

[Chattanooga Jacket]

Yeah I hate knowing our HC that was responsible for getting Mississippi State to a top 5 defense in the SEC in 2013, had a defense that led the SEC in sacks and red zone defense in 2014, and coached the Florida defenses to #6 and #11 in scoring in 2015 and 2016, is now spending the majority of his time working with the defense instead of trying to help out and give input to a struggling OC.

Something didn’t translate at GT. That much is obvious. Perhaps he had better assistants at his previous jobs. Perhaps he had better players. Whatever the case, his GT resume is all that matters right now.

 

[GoGATech]

What has he done lately?

Been too involved with the offense and trying to be more of a "CEO" type coach. That's what. He hasn't been heavily involved in the defense.

 

[GoGATech]

I would like to know how they plan to improve the communication breakdowns. It wasn't the overall play, that bothered me. It was the DBs getting torched from obvious defensive breakdowns. I think, without those breakdowns, we win 5 games, last year. Maybe I am wrong. But, preventing the bone headed plays alone, will double the wins.

Having a singular DB coach in Tillman being the lone voice in the meeting room, film study, teaching coverages, etc. is how. For the past 3 years the corners and safeties have been in different meeting rooms, different film rooms, etc. getting coached differently. Now they are all together.

 

[whiskey clear]

Been too involved with the offense. That's what.

Too involved in making three win seasons an annual occurrence.