Self Fulfilling Prophecy

[midatlantech]

"PJ's offenses don't throw the ball"... It seems that this statement has caused good wide receivers to avoid Tech which in itself makes us throw the ball less. Without a couple of good wide outs, guys that can catch and break away, we certainly will not throw the ball often. But if we can't throw the ball often enough to attract wide outs, then we won't get the players needed.

Our offense is still so young and really throwing the ball is still an unknown. It is frustrating to see however that our future passing game may be predetermined by a lack of star power at the WR spot.

 

[beej67]

We'll be fine at WR, because in the worst case we'll move some ATHs we recruited at QB over.

 

[hiveredtech]

"PJ's offenses don't throw the ball"... It seems that this statement has caused good wide receivers to avoid Tech which in itself makes us throw the ball less. Without a couple of good wide outs, guys that can catch and break away, we certainly will not throw the ball often. But if we can't throw the ball often enough to attract wide outs, then we won't get the players needed.

Our offense is still so young and really throwing the ball is still an unknown. It is frustrating to see however that our future passing game may be predetermined by a lack of star power at the WR spot.

mid

Has anyone really avoided GT? We were only going to take one WR this class...and we took an early commitment from Jeremy Moore out of Texas. Only because of interest in us coming unsolicited from star players like Stephen Hill and Jamal Patterson have we decided we will take another only because they are too good to pass up.

Next year we will likely take zero WR's as we only have 10 kids graduating...and we will have a couple kids recruited as "athletes" that will end up there.

Of course, if Thomas were to go NFL early...like this year (he will have completed 3 years) that could be a temporary setback from an experience standpoint...but I feel ok there.

btw...the coaches really like Quentin Sims (6-3, 190)...he was extremely close to not being redshirted.

 

[midatlantech]

mid

Has anyone really avoided GT? We were only going to take one WR this class...and we took an early commitment from Jeremy Moore out of Texas. Only because of interest in us coming unsolicited from star players like Stephen Hill and Jamal Patterson have we decided we will take another only because they are too good to pass up.

Next year we will likely take zero WR's as we only have 10 kids graduating...and we will have a couple kids recruited as "athletes" that will end up there.

Of course, if Thomas were to go NFL early...like this year (he will have completed 3 years) that could be a temporary setback from an experience standpoint...but I feel ok there.

btw...the coaches really like Quentin Sims (6-3, 190)...he was extremely close to not being redshirted.

Red,
PJ is a genius coaching offensive football. He can probably win without throwing the ball, but if we have that in our arsenal too it's only the better.

Add in other issues such as red zone possession receiver that may really add to our scoring percentages and I would like to have star WR's too.

We are winning with really star B Back and star WR. It is our unusual situation that we may have those guys, but I want them all the time in the future. So yea, I'd like to see a few more BeBe/Calvin's coming down the pike.

 

[hiveredtech]

Red,
PJ is a genius coaching offensive football. He can probably win without throwing the ball, but if we have that in our arsenal too it's only the better.

Add in other issues such as red zone possession receiver that may really add to our scoring percentages and I would like to have star WR's too.

We are winning with really star B Back and star WR. It is our unusual situation that we may have those guys, but I want them all the time in the future. So yea, I'd like to see a few more BeBe/Calvin's coming down the pike.

Funny thing is that while Calvin was widely recruited, Demaryius was not. UGA offered him as a TE...SC came in late with an offer. However, there was not much activity around his recruitment.

With exception of Calvin and Dez White (which many liked at SS), we have never recruited a big-time large receiver. We have done pretty well with the smaller, shiftier receivers like Kelly Campbell (not recruited by anyone), Nate Curry, Jonathan Smith (we were his only offer until last week before signing day), Harvey Middleton, Kerry Watkins, etc. etc.

Quentin is a tall receiver at 6-3, not necessarily bulky...not many WR's are. Stephen Hill is even taller at 6-5...still slight build at 190.

I am not worried yet. It is not that difficult to find one or two receivers per year that can win in single coverage...and have one of them with a little size each year.

Lets see where we are after next season.

 

[midatlantech]

Funny thing is that while Calvin was widely recruited, Demaryius was not. UGA offered him as a TE...SC came in late with an offer. However, there was not much activity around his recruitment.

With exception of Calvin and Dez White (which many liked at SS), we have never recruited a big-time large receiver. We have done pretty well with the smaller, shiftier receivers like Kelly Campbell (not recruited by anyone), Nate Curry, Jonathan Smith (we were his only offer until last week before signing day), Harvey Middleton, Kerry Watkins, etc. etc.

Quentin is a tall receiver at 6-3, not necessarily bulky...not many WR's are. Stephen Hill is even taller at 6-5...still slight build at 190.

I am not worried yet. It is not that difficult to find one or two receivers per year that can win in single coverage...and have one of them with a little size each year.

Lets see where we are after next season.

Yes, you are right. I will point out however that J. Smith, Harvey Middleton, and Kerry Watkins would all be A Backs today.

Our four best wide receivers in throwing era football were Campbell, CJ, DT and Dez White. All four were tall (Campbell at 6'?) and fast.

There is no doubt that PJ will recruit big outs to do blocking. I am hopeful for big wide outs who can run too.

By the way, now that Josh and Jaybo are settled in at QB for a few years and with Luallen coming, do you think Tevin is destined for WR?

 

[beej67]

With exception of Calvin and Dez White (which many liked at SS), we have never recruited a big-time large receiver.

This is extremely important.

Tech has never gotten amazing WR recruits. The one exception is Calvin, and he picked Tech because of the academics. We would have gotten him anyway.

Having a system that doesn't attract 5 star WR talent is not a drawback to us. Having a system that doesn't need 5 star WR talent is a major benefit.

 

[beej67]

By the way, now that Josh and Jaybo are settled in at QB for a few years and with Luallen coming, do you think Tevin is destined for WR?

I think it's way too early to tell. I think it will depend largely on how Luallen does in camp once he gets in here, and then the following year how the Younger Shaw does. I feel pretty sure PJ would like to go reliably 3 deep at QB, with a 4th redshirted, which means Tevin would stay at QB for the 08-09 season no matter what. For 09-10, who knows? WR, A back, Safety, maybe even QB if it turns out he's got the talent for it. He put up better numbers in high school than Jaybo did, and was widely regarded as one of the best recruits in Alabama by a lot of sports writers over there.

Also, I'm not convinced we're done with QBs in this class either - Luallen might have competition. If I were PJ and fully into the swing of things, I'd take 2 ATH QBs per year, minimum, then transfer one per year to another spot on D or O.

 

[midatlantech]

This is extremely important.

Tech has never gotten amazing WR recruits. The one exception is Calvin, and he picked Tech because of the academics. We would have gotten him anyway.

Having a system that doesn't attract 5 star WR talent is not a drawback to us. Having a system that doesn't need 5 star WR talent is a major benefit.

I keep thinking back to what the Jacksonville State coach said "You couldn't have better players for this offense in Josh, JD" and now DT. The coach went on to say that we wouldn't normally get those guys.

Why Not? I want it all. Until we send players into the NFL we may have to wait on the top guys next time. And we are a bit thin at the WR ranks.

I thought that DT was a big time recruit by the time he verballed with us. I like winning firstly, but I also like a little throwing the ball around too. I want it all.

But otherwise, your post is correct. We generally didn't get those guys and in this offense we don't have to have them. But they would add to our offense no doubt.

 

[midatlantech]

I think it's way too early to tell. I think it will depend largely on how Luallen does in camp once he gets in here, and then the following year how the Younger Shaw does. I feel pretty sure PJ would like to go reliably 3 deep at QB, with a 4th redshirted, which means Tevin would stay at QB for the 08-09 season no matter what. For 09-10, who knows? WR, A back, Safety, maybe even QB if it turns out he's got the talent for it. He put up better numbers in high school than Jaybo did, and was widely regarded as one of the best recruits in Alabama by a lot of sports writers over there.

Also, I'm not convinced we're done with QBs in this class either - Luallen might have competition. If I were PJ and fully into the swing of things, I'd take 2 ATH QBs per year, minimum, then transfer one per year to another spot on D or O.

Tevin is not a safety I think.

I thought Younger Shaw was going to be a WR or something or is he going to be looked at as QB first.

 

[beej67]

I thought Younger Shaw was playing QB at Flowery Branch right now, and performing better than Jaybo did, running an option offense that is slowly being evolved to look more like Tech's offense, and also already has an outstanding offer from Tech.

But maybe I dreamed that.

edit:

http://georgiatech.scout.com/a.z?s=140&p=8&c=1&nid=3606217

Apparently he plays QB and WR at Flowery Branch, but is listed on Scout as a WR because that's what most schools are recruiting him as. I'm sure we will have offered him as a QB, though.

Not much info on him there, except that he's an inch taller and a tenth faster on the 40.

Here's one of few articles I could find on him:

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/8497/

 

[ElTechelero]

By the way, now that Josh and Jaybo are settled in at QB for a few years and with Luallen coming, do you think Tevin is destined for WR?

Tevin showed good progress running the offense, particularly in the running game. He has a real burst and has home run potential running the triple that no other QB on the roster has (Josh is super elusive and fast enough to rip off big chunks, but not a burner).

Through the air, Tevin is more of a project. However, some kids just need college coaching to develop technique and can improve rapidly.

I see Tevin staying at QB. PJ will redshirt Luallen if at all possible.

 

[floridajacket]

790 after the game said, with how big of a part WR blocking plays in this offense, PJ may look for quick TEs moreso than prototypical NFL WRs. Many star WRs did very little blocking in high school. Bebe fits into this mold with an offer from UGA to play TE.

 

[hiveredtech]

Yes, you are right. I will point out however that J. Smith, Harvey Middleton, and Kerry Watkins would all be A Backs today.

Our four best wide receivers in throwing era football were Campbell, CJ, DT and Dez White. All four were tall (Campbell at 6'?) and fast.

There is no doubt that PJ will recruit big outs to do blocking. I am hopeful for big wide outs who can run too.

By the way, now that Josh and Jaybo are settled in at QB for a few years and with Luallen coming, do you think Tevin is destined for WR?

Coach Johnson's own words on Tevin: (paraphrasing)...everyone missed out on recruiting this kid. If he is not a starting QB one day...he could be an all-conference WR or RB.

Quentin Sims and DJ McKayhan have looked good. I also think Clyburn will give us production in the coming years as a big receiver.

If we were to land big-time athletes like David Sims (still in it with him) and Dontae Aycock (looking good there again) along with Luellan...you can bet one will move...probably to AB.

In regards to past WR's...I would bet possession receivers like Watkins and Middleton would have stayed at WR (like Tyler Melton). I agree that Freddie and Nate would have made awesome AB's. With Kelly's slight frame at 165 lbs...he may have had to stay at WR.

 

[GTplusCPJequalsSuccess]

Here's my take on it:

Bebe got huge props from most all sports news outlets for his game on Saturday. GT leads the ACC and is 7th in the nation for Yards per attempt passing. The receiver's, granted they have to block for the run a whole lot, will usually get big, big yardage when the pass is thrown their way. They are usually facing one on one and really get to show off their playmaking ability, and I think this would attract some good maybe great WR's. I am not too concerned with this fact.

Another angle is this. There are alot of good WR's in the state of Georgia. Georgia has really 2 premiere teams, GT and that agricultural school in Podunk. The reason I gave above and wanting to stay in Georgia to play, could just give GT the edge on recruiting good WR's.

On another angle, how awesome is GT going to be when it comes to recruiting RB's??!!! Chances are that we will have a heisman come out of here before that idiot Moreno gets one.

 

[hiveredtech]

btw...remains to be seen how he progresses there...but Willie White asked to be moved to WR three weeks and the coaches did that. He is 6-3, 182....every bit of 6-3.

 

[BuzzCzar]

Question: There have been references to certain recruits being "offered as" a certain position. What is the significance of this? For example, if Tech offers a scholarship to a certain player "as a QB" and that player signs in part based on that designation, does this somehow preclude us or make it more difficult for us if we later prefer to move that player to, say, WR? Or are these promises simply governed by the loss of reputation among future recruits we would suffer if we had the reputation of not honoring these kinds of promises? Are all players "offered as" a certain position?

it usually happens most with those between QB, DB or WR; or LB and RB

it has more to do with reputation, as there is no 'agreement' per se to force a position onto a player. usually, it is like "ok, we will give you a shot to go for RB" instead of excluding that guy from RB drills b/c you think he is a better fit for LB

it can make the difference to a recruit. the classic example in my mind is David Pollack that went to UGA b/c they told him that they would give him a shot at Fullback. He played exactly one down at FB, but i bet they let him work at that position in the first Spring.

Tech told him that we wanted him as a Defensive End, and he went to UGA. Maybe that was not the only reason, but it was one of the reasons.

of course, the recruits talk to coaches to see how they think they will be used. if the coaches say, we want you to play LB, then the kid pretty much knows he wont be playing any FB, for example

 

[JWE37]

Question: There have been references to certain recruits being "offered as" a certain position. What is the significance of this? For example, if Tech offers a scholarship to a certain player "as a QB" and that player signs in part based on that designation, does this somehow preclude us or make it more difficult for us if we later prefer to move that player to, say, WR? Or are these promises simply governed by the loss of reputation among future recruits we would suffer if we had the reputation of not honoring these kinds of promises? Are all players "offered as" a certain position?

If you offer a kid at a certain position...say QB, and the kid commits to you because of that opportunity then you owe them the chance to play at that position. If it isnt working out at QB, I think you give the kid a choice between "being a QB or getting playing time". Most kids would choose playing time vs not playing. But I think as long as the kid has a chance to show what they can do before the decision is made then neither side can hold a grudge.

 

[BarrelORum]

Our four best wide receivers in throwing era football were Campbell, CJ, DT and Dez White. All four were tall (Campbell at 6'?) and fast.

Campbell was 5' 11".
So was Harvey Middleton, Kerry Watkins, Jonathan Smith, etc. etc. etc.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Who needs a passing game when we have 500 yards on the ground? ;)