As it pertains to Georgia Tech, Willie Anderson has some knowledge.
He is a former All-Pro offensive tackle. He is now a trainer of offensive linemen from high school to the NFL as the founder of the Willie Anderson Lineman Academy. His pupils include Jared Southers, who was to enroll Monday at Tech as a grad transfer from Vanderbilt. And, lastly, as the father of Yellow Jackets sophomore wide receiver Jair Hawkins-Anderson, he is someone who has paid close attention to Tech.
Anderson’s perspective on the impending transition in scheme from an option offense to a spread scheme, as new coach Geoff Collins takes over for Paul Johnson, is more informed than most. And, he isn't so concerned about his area of expertise, the offensive line.
"If guys can play in the previous offense, it's going to be a breeze," Anderson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
There would seem to be little question that the type of bodies that Collins will recruit differs from those played on the line for Johnson. Take Southers. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, Southers is shorter than only one returning lineman and, along with Boe Tufele, is the heaviest offensive lineman on the roster.
Three of the 2018 offensive line signees on the Temple roster are 6-6 or taller. Of the three linemen who had committed to Collins for the 2019 class and signed, two were 6-6 or taller and the third wasn't a shrimp, either – 6-4 and 300.
Of Tech's 15 returning offensive linemen, only offensive tackle Zach Quinney is 6-6, although four players are 6-4 and three more are 6-5. Johnson and his staff put a priority on agility, flexibility and an ability to play with leverage, traits more common in smaller linemen. Former All-American Shaquille Mason and guard Parker Braun, arguably Johnson's two best linemen, are 6-1 and 6-3, respectively.
But Anderson takes confidence in the fact that zone-blocking schemes have been successful with smaller and faster linemen, most notably under the direction of former NFL line coach Alex Gibbs, who coached the Falcons' line 2004-06 and is recognized as one of the greatest offensive-line coaches in the game’s history. Zone blocking could give Tech linemen another way to take advantage of their quickness off the line.
"Now they have a chance to be up and be more athletic," Anderson said. "You wouldn't think Parker Braun can play left guard and be All-ACC? I think it'll benefit a guy like Parker the most."
Anderson said that playing in a pro-style scheme would give NFL scouts a better look at what Braun can do.
"He's going to kill it because he's a monster," Anderson said.
There will obviously be more challenges in pass blocking, which does favor taller players with longer arms. But, Tech’s guards and centers figure to have an easier time of it playing out of a stance that isn’t so forward-leaning. In Temple’s spread, offensive tackles played out of a two-point stance, another technique that will enable them to retreat into a pass set and form a pocket. It’s not hard to imagine Quinney, among others, being able to make the transition.
A question, though, is will there be enough. Anderson’s assessment was that players who could play in Johnson’s offense could make it in Collins’. Beyond Braun, centers Kenny Cooper and Jahaziel Lee and guard Conner Hansen, it’s not a group with much experience.
Anderson was also excited about the expected hire of Brent Key, the Tech grad who has coached the offensive line at Alabama for the past three seasons. The two are colleagues.
"If Key's the o-line coach, it's the biggest thing that Tech fans should be happy about," Anderson said.
Key's reputation for developing linemen will be a recruiting draw, Anderson said.
More broadly, Anderson was optimistic about the transition in schemes.
"I think one, because I think kids are going to have a great attitude about wanting to do something like that," Anderson said. "When you have that kind of attitude, it works very well."
That includes his son Jair, who has had limited playing time in two seasons. Starting over with a new staff and in a scheme that can use three- and four-wide receiver formations should create more opportunities. Wide receivers could show off a wider range of skills, he said.
"I would love see what Brad (Stewart) could have done in this system," Anderson said, "because Brad can really route people up. That's a fast guy, but he can route you up, which this offense is going to cause you to run routes - still block some - but you're going to run a lot more routes. Your hands and speed and size are going to all matter."
Anderson praised Johnson, saying that his offense worked. But the change looks promising to him.
“I’m excited about it,” he said. “I think everybody should be excited about it.”
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