Georgia Tech Spring Game: What To Watch For On Offense

The Yellow Jackets have plenty of position battles heading into the spring game

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Apr 14, 2023 3:23 PM EDT

In this story:

The White and Gold Spring game is finally here for Georgia Tech.

After a month of practicing and getting prepared, Brent Key is going to lead the team for his first spring and it is going to look different than it did last season. For starters, the game is on a Saturday afternoon and the format will be two 12-minute quarters with standard clock operations in the first half. Following a brief halftime, the second half will include two quarters with a running clock. Team rosters will be announced the week of the game (Per Georgia Tech PR).

On the offensive side of the ball, it is hard not to find a position where there is not a battle going on. From quarterback to tight end, the spring game is going to be an opportunity for guys to get ahead in their battle to be a starter or the backup.

Here is what you should keep an eye on tomorrow afternoon.

The Quarterback Battle

There has been a three-way quarterback battle through the spring and tomorrow is going to represent a chance for either Haynes King, Zach Pyron, or Zach Gibson to pull ahead in a battle that is likely to extend into the summer and fall camp.

It will be interesting to see who takes the first snaps for the Yellow Jackets tomorrow and it would not surprise me if it's Pyron. I would not overreact to anything in tomorrow's scrimmage because there is a long way to go in this battle. All of the quarterbacks are in their first season under new play-caller Buster Faulkner and I am looking to see who plays the cleanest football tomorrow and takes care of the ball and who has the most command of the offense. In a spring game type of setting, I think that is more important than raw stats.

Here is what Key said about the quarterback battle just a couple of weeks ago:

"It is a competition for sure. It really is. Zach has experience playing games here and Haynes has played games somewhere else and both of the Zachs... when there is a familiarity with the guys around you, it puts the guys on offense at ease a little. It is a voice they recognize, a cadence, rhythmatic coming from that person so there is a familiarity that both of the Zachs came in with.

I think all three have strengths and all three have things they need to continue to work on but all have shown at different times and in different situations, the poise and the ability to take advantage and execute what we want them to do. Now, as the situational part of the game really kicks up as this week continues to go on and through the scrimmage on Saturday, that is where you really have to see the command really start to take place and then as tempo starts to increase, increase, and increase, it is the ability to play at a high level and tempo on offense and play really fast but that quarterback have that command and control of the offense and keep them calm while they are doing it.

I have been pleased with the progression of all three of them. Buster (Faulkner) does a really good job... it was the first time on the headsets hearing him call an entire game so that was good for me to hear how he calls it, the flow of the game and how he really adapts how he calls it with each quarterback that is in there so it puts them in position to make plays and take advantage of our strengths and make sure we stay away and kind of disguise and hide some of our inefficiencies."

The quarterback battle won't be won just based off tomorrow's performances, but there could be a leader.

Running Back Depth

Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith — Donate Smith is the leader of Georgia Tech's running back room
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

I think this is the position I have the most confidence in right now for Georgia Tech on offense. Dontae Smith is back for his last season and Louisville transfer Trey Cooley is going to be a good complement to him. What I am watching for out of this position tomorrow is the guys behind them.

Jamie Felix got some playing time toward the end of last season and he showed his talent. Antonio Martin was the highest-rated commit a couple of recruiting classes ago on 247Sports and guys like former walk-on Daylon Gordon and true freshman Evan Dickens are looking to provide depth and challenge for playing time. This group is in a good spot with the top two and I am interested to see how deep this group could possibly be this season.

Can a Wide Receiver or Tight end Emerge?

Will Brett Seither emerge as a weapon at tight end?
Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

This is going to be a vital position to watch tomorrow for Georgia Tech's offense. Leo Blackburn was lost for the season with a knee injury a couple of weeks ago and this was already a position dealing with a lot of departures from last season.

Malik Rutherford has been praised by the coaching staff this spring and he looks like he is going to be one of the top options on this team. Transfers Christian Leary (Alabama) and Abdul Janneh (Duquesne) are going to get their first action as Yellow Jackets and young players like D.J. Moore, James Blackstrain, Avery Boyd, Zion Taylor, and Juju Lewis are going to have a chance to step up and be a leader for this offense.

No tight end on Georgia Tech's roster topped 100 yards or caught a touchdown and that was a problem. Most offenses are going to function better when they have a threat at the tight end position and that will be something that Faulkner is going to be working on.

Back are Dylan Leonard and Luke Benson and the Yellow Jackets are going to be adding transfers Brett Seither (Georgia) and Jackon Long (USF).

During the 2022 season, Leonard led the tight ends with 90 yards receiving on 11 catches and zero touchdowns. Benson had nine catches for 85 yards and Harris finished with six catches for 61 yards. No tight end caught a touchdown for Georgia Tech last season.

Could one of the transfers take over the starting position?

I think it is possible, but both Seither and Long are light on experience. Long did not play a snap for the Bulls last season, but I am intrigued if he can push for playing time, despite not having the playing experience the other tight ends on the roster have. Seither is someone I will be watching closely tomorrow.

The Offensive Line Depth

Georgia Tech offensive tackle Jordan Williams will be a leader up front this fall — Will Georgia Tech's offensive line take a step forward this fall
Atlanta Journal-Constitution- Credit: Danny Karnik, Georgia Tech Athletics

While Georgia Tech's offensive line was not very good last season, there is a lot of experience back for this team up front and new offensive line coach Geep Wade is looking to get this group to be improved.

I think Corey Robinson, Joe Fusile, Weston Franklin, Jordan Williams, and Jakiah Leftwich are likely to be the first group, but it will be worth monitoring to see the rotations and reps this group gets. Paul Tchio, Brandon Best, Tyler Gibson, Wing Green, and true freshman Elias Cloy are going to have an opportunity to push these guys and I think it is worth watching to see the rep distribution and where some of these guys play tomorrow.

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