2013 Georgia Tech Spring Football Analysis

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2013 ... Head Coach: Paul Johnson

Georgia Tech

Yellow Jackets

2013 Schedule
8/31 Elon
9/7 OPEN DATE
9/14 at Duke
9/21 North Carolina
9/26 Virginia Tech
10/5 at Miami
10/12 at BYU
10/19 Syracuse
10/26 at Virginia
11/2 Pitt
11/9 OPEN DATE
11/14 at Clemson
11/23 Alabama A&M
11/30 Georgia

Why To Get Excited … the defense—finally—has a chance to be pretty good. In longtime veteran assistant Ted Roof, himself a former Yellow Jacket, head coach Paul Johnson lured a terrific assistant to the Flats. The new coordinator inherits a unit that returns eight starters, and was peaking as the 2012 campaign came to its conclusion.

Why To Be Grouchy … under Johnson, Tech has hit a plateau. Since peaking with an ACC crown in 2009, the Yellow Jackets are just 21-19, and the gap with in-state rival Georgia has widened. The option-based offense continues to crank out yards on the ground, but the passing game has faded and the D is an annual liability. The school is having a difficult time escaping mediocrity’s grip.

The Number One Thing To Work On Is … installing Roof’s system as quickly as possible. The coach is expected to employ a 4-3 alignment, which means stout linemen will come at a premium. The Jackets are in great shape at linebacker, led by Jeremiah Attaochu and Brandon Watts, but there isn’t a sure-thing up front on the roster.

Team Concerns For 2013: The Yellow Jackets should be ready to rock and roll with a veteran team returning, but veteran quarterback depth is a problem and the defensive line will be a concern. More plays needs to be made behind the line and the punting game has to be far better for a running team that relies on field position, but outside of experienced options, Paul Johnson has his team in place.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Skill players. Quarterback was addressed last season, but that still didn't stop Damon Mitchell from signing on. Travis Custis will eventually be a star among the running backs, while Donovan Wilson should bring a little bit of pop. JuMichael Ramos fits the Georgia Tech mold of big receiver. Offensive tackle Shamire DeVine is a massive big body who's ready to roll out of the box, while the defensive front has few nice options led by tackle Darius Commissiong and end Kevin Robbins.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 39. That Class Was Heavy On ... Receivers. Georgia Tech recruits to a type, and while its classes won’t ever be high up on the lists, they work for what Paul Johnson is trying to do. The defensive line is a focus with a few excellent talents coming in, and the secondary is getting a few new prospects even though the 2010 class was loaded with DBs, but the key might be finding the next gamebreaking receiver to be the home-run hitter the offense needs. No Tech target will ever be a 100-catch playmaker, but Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas have made the school cool for wideouts.

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 44. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. The offense needs options to run the Paul Johnson attack, and while there’s an eye towards doing more for the passing game, Vad Lee, Demontevious Smith, and Jamal Golden are runners who’ll be moved around where needed. Broderick Snoddy was the only true tailback brought in, and while he’s not big, he’s fast enough to be a gamebreaker. Defensively, the bulk is at linebacker with Tremayne McNair and Anthony Harrell for the middle and three nice prospects for the outside in Jamari Hunt-Days, Nick Menocal, and Chaz Cheeks all athletic big hitters.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 37. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive backs. Paul Johnson loaded up on linemen last year, he has a few solid quarterbacks in place to run his attack, and several other decent pieces are in place offensively. This year he wanted help for the secondary and he got it with seven defensive backs including Louis Young, a fine corner out of Maryland, and Ryan Ayers, a speedster with lockdown ability. Safety Isaiah Johnson has the build and the potential to be a difference maker, an All-ACC difference maker, while Fred Holton, speedy Synjyn Days, and Jake Skole beefed up the safety depth.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 34. That Class Was Heavy On ... linemen. For Paul Johnson, success starts on the lines, and he recruited with that thought in mind. With both sides of the ball being hurt by graduation, the Yellow Jackets added four big bodies to the offense and five on defense. The front four returns just one starter, creating an opening for 345-pound tackle J.C. Lanier to avoid a redshirt and make a quick ascent up the depth chart.