Facing changes in the lineup because of injury, Georgia Tech’s offensive line is looking to backups to meet the challenge. The availability of multiple players for Saturday’s game at Virginia is unclear – linemen Jordan Williams, Nick Pendley and Kenneth Kirby all either did not play in Tech’s most recent game (against Duke) or were hurt in it.
There are undoubtedly others not playing at full health given the toll taken by the first six games of the season. Left tackle Devin Cochran said the adjustment to a new group has been difficult, but that the chemistry is improving.
“We were kind of molding together,” Cochran said of Wednesday’s practice. “We had really good energy, the competition was there and I feel like the more we do that, the better we’re getting. We’ll keep preparing through the week and I think it’ll continue to get to where it needs to be.”
Cochran said he has challenged backup linemen to be ready. Reserve guards William Lay and Paula Vaipulu and tackles Jakiah Leftwich or Wing Green could be tapped.
“I told them the other day, I said, ‘Anybody who hasn’t been playing as much as they wanted to, this is the opportunity you want,’” Cochran said. “‘If you can go in, say you get five plays, 10 plays, three plays. If you can make all three of those plays count, maybe next time you get seven, eight, nine, 10 plays, play a series, a couple series.’”
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