Georgia Tech's offensive line in good shape despite loss of Mason
The bad news about Georgia Tech's offensive line is that All-ACC guard Shaq Mason, a four-year starter, is gone. He was an anchor on the right side and will certainly be missed.
But that's virtually the only bad thing about the guys who will do the blocking and open the way for what has proven to be one of the best rushing teams in the nation. Otherwise the offensive line looks like it should be better than ever.
"We want to continue what we started off last year," said senior right tackle Errin Joe. "We lost Shaq and somebody is going to have to fill those shoes, but if we fill that position we're going to be OK."
Georgia Tech has rushed for 300 yards or more in 48 of the 94 games of the Paul Johnson Era, going 38-10 when that occurs. They Yellow Jackets are 13-3 in the last 16 games when rushing for 300 yards and have rushed for 200 yards in 14 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation.
Joe is in the middle of the action. The redshirt senior (6-3, 313) played 13 games last season and started the final seven.
Other returning starters are: left tackle Bryan Chamberlain (6-4, 295), a redshirt senior who started 13 games and was named honorable mention All-ACC; left guard Trey Braun (6-5, 294), a redshirt senior who started all 14 games; and center Freddie Burden, a redshirt junior (6-3, 3-2) who started 14 games last year and was named honorable mention All-ACC.
The new starter at right guard was expected to be Shamire Devine (6-7, 365), a redshirt sophomore who played 13 games last year.
"I've gotten used to Shamire and some of the other guys rotating in there," Joe said. "He's put in some good practice.
"Pushing through practice is good for him."
But Devine has been less than impressive, causing many to wonder if true freshman Will Bryan or Andrew Marshall would do enough in camp to take the job away.
Devine played better in Saturday's scrimmage. Johnson said that overall the line was OK, but added that "Shamire Devine did much better. He got some really nice blocks on the first couple of drives."
Others expected to play are tackles Trey Klock and Jake Stickler, a pair of redshirt freshmen, guards Eason Fromayan and Gary Brown. Fromayan started one game last year and played in 13 and Marshall played in 10 games. Brown was voted the best offensive scout team player. Stickler, Klock and Brown did not play in a game last season.
Nick Brigham opted to stop playing football because of concussion issues and Michael Preddy left school and enrolled at the College of Charleston.
"We can all help each other," Joe said. "Last year we were still learning the offense. This year I have a good feel for the offense and going forward I can help the younger guys."
Part of it may simply be preseason posturing, but Johnson has not been overwhelmed by the offensive line's performance over the first two weeks of camp.
"He just expects more out of us, especially for a few of us individuals who has a lot of experience under their belts," Chamberlain said.
<b>Skov impresses in scrimmage</b>
The training camp officially ended on Saturday and concluded with the second scrimmage of the summer.
The Yellow Jackets ran 100 plays and scored on its first three possessions, with quarterback Justin Thomas leading two scores and backup Tim Byerly leading the other.
It also marked a breakthrough for graduate transfer Patrick Skov, who had his best day since arriving from Stanford.
The B-back hopeful ran eight times for 86 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 24-yard pass.
"Patrick really played well," Johnson said.
"It was his best performance to date. It was good to see him be physical and finish runs forward."
Marcus Marshall, a true freshman from Raleigh, N.C., shared the first-team snaps with Skov.
The defense created two turnovers. Reserve cornerback Step Durham recovered a fumble and safety Jamal Golden intercepted a pass.
Georgia Tech will not practice on Sunday. Classes begin on Monday.
This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Georgia Tech's offensive line in good shape despite loss of Mason ."