Georgia Tech Football: Spring Practice Storylines That Matter

Georgia Tech football spring practice is here. Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets look to put last year’s subpar campaign behind them.

Ramblin’ Wreck. More like a train wreck …

The Yellow Jackets were one of last year’s biggest disappointments, plummeting from a preseason ranking to a miserable 3-9 mark. While Tech was close in plenty of games, and even shocked Florida State, it was a shell of the team that won the Coastal Division in 2014.

This spring practice is all about erasing the memories of 2015, getting healthy and rebooting a triple-option that was unable to get out of the blocks, despite being led by QB Justin Thomas. It’ll be an especially critical year for Paul Johnson, who can ill-afford a second straight lackluster campaign if he wants to continue leading the Georgia Tech football program.

No One Is Worried About …

The offensive backfield. There’s work to be done on offense, no doubt. Thomas, though, has the talent and experience to bounce back, and the backfield is in far better shape than it was at this time last year. Marcus Marshall and Clinton Lynch flashed potential as rookies, and the infirmed are ready to join the competition for touches.

Extra Attention Must Be Given To …

The secondary. The pass defense was sound in 2015, yielding just a dozen touchdown passes. However, approaching similar results this fall will be a tall order considering all four starters must be replaced. Tech will need significantly more input from a mealy pass rush that produced a league-low 14 sacks. Spring practice will be important to identify which players have the potential to step up.