This past week's Pre-Spring Practice Press Conference predictably shed little light on what specifically will change in offensive or defensive schemes. Expect the cloak and dagger approach to philosophical transparency to continue all the way up to the South Carolina game on August 31st.
But the way that Tech has assembled its staff, and added players to the roster, can give us a glimpse of what to look for and hopefully get excited about. Scott Roche already astutely called out the importance of offensive line gelling. Having OL coach Matt Moore and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery gelling in philosophy and having philosophy match technique and execution is equally important. Thankfully, they have nearly an entire off-season to do so.
Since much of what you will hear officially reported this spring will be of little consequence, it'll be important to hear how certain players and player groupings are performing, and then see with our own eyes in Lane Stadium on April 12th.
1. Defensive Line
We will not hear specifically what alignment that new defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes will run this year. But we should expect a departure from what we've done for the better part of the last 30 years, and that there will likely be more of a multiple front alignment.
As a result, Tech is going to be asking for different things from its holdover players. So listen for reports on how Emmett Laws, Aycen Stevens, Kemari Copeland, Kelvin Gilliam, Keyshawn Burgos and Jason Abbey are adjusting and performing amid the changes in scheme.
2. Corners vs Receivers
Tech fans are understandably excited about seeing players like Dante Lovett, Thomas Williams and Joshua Clarke stepping up, as well as the arrival of newcomers like Isaiah Brown-Murray.
Keylen "Brodie" Adams is out for the spring, so all eyes will be on Ayden Greene, Chanz Wiggins and newcomer Cameron Seldon. Reports on how the receivers are developing and competing against their counterparts on the other side of the ball will be informative.
3. Leadership
One thing that's not been consistently present in recent history is a cohesive team culture and player leadership. A player-led culture that nurtures accountability in a way that everyone buys in and gets better together is crucial and difficult to do with turnstile rosters.
Unless you're in the locker room, you're not going to know, but the seeds of development started in winter workouts and continues through spring ball. Listen for reports of players stepping up their vocal leadership and leadership by example.
4. Grain of Salt Reminders
Reminder number one is something NOT to worry about. The running back room during spring practice will bear little resemblance to what Tech runs onto the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in week one. Highly touted freshman Jeffrey Overton Jr. is out for the spring. Bowling Green transfer Terion Stewart won't be here until summer. Jeremiah Coney, Marcellous Hawkins, and PJ Prioleau are on the limited-to-out spectrum for spring. Take results with a huge grain of salt.
Reminder number two is the post-spring transfer portal window. Some players will leave after spring. Some newcomers will join. For all of its struggles over the last several years, the Tech coaching staff has done a good job of evaluating talent and filling gaps (see Peebles, Powell-Ryland, Lane, Tuten, etc.). Remember not all attrition is regretted attrition.