ATLANTA -- Quarterback Justin Thomas was surrounded by inexperienced players last season, and Georgia Tech went 3-9.The year before was the exact opposite. Thomas, a sophomore, was a full-time starter for the first time, and the Yellow Jackets spread option attack was flush with veterans at B-back, A-back and receiver.Georgia Tech beat Georgia, advanced to the ACC title game, won the Orange Bowl and finished 11-5.Thomas was a driving force in the teams success two years ago, but he grew despondent as the bottom fell out last season.I think he got frustrated real easily, coach Paul Johnson said Saturday at the Jackets media day. I think any time youve played at a high level like he had the year before -- and he had a plethora of weapons around him. Im not sure people realize that some of those kids were pretty good.He could kind of sit back and he didnt really have to be a leader.Now three days into the start of fall camp, Thomas is focused on what he can control. Regardless of the personnel or situations around him, Thomas is concentrating hardest on ball security.The Jackets fumbled 36 times last year, losing possession 14 times. They lost four of Thomas 10 fumbles. Thomas threw eight interceptions.I made a lot of, I guess, boneheaded plays, throwing picks that I dont (normally) do, even fumbling the ball, Thomas said. I need to make sure Im being more careful with the ball.Johnson saw firsthand how Thomas frustration affected everyone around him. As the Jackets lost nine of their last 10 games, Thomas was hard to console.Its easy to go back and sit on the bench and go, `Man, what am I playing with? Johnson said. At quarterback you cant do that and especially where youre called on as a leader. I think he grew up a lot and learned a lot. Then he got dinged up and wasnt healthy. People dont realize all the time that he played a good part of last year not healthy, not 100 percent.The year before Thomas had DeAndre Smelter, Synjyn Days, Zach Laskey and Darren Waller to make plays. He had an experienced offensive line led by Shaquille Mason.They knew where to go and what to do and how to adjust, Johnson said. Then all of a sudden, after about three games (last year), youre surrounded at every position with guys whove never played. Theyre trying to feel their way through it.Thomas has benefited this offseason from working alongside Marcus Marshall, Clinton Lynch, Dedrick Mills, Marcus Allen, Qua Searcy and Ricky Jeune. They all went through growing pains, too.Thomas has five offensive linemen Freddie Burden, Eason Fromayan, Will Bryan, Shamire Devine and Trey Klock to provide the space and protection he needs to succeed.Getting all those reps in the spring, summer and now were into camp, its the same guys, Thomas said. ?Not somebody new you havent played with. You get to know the person, how they play the game and what they can and cant do. Just having that comfort level is a lot better. DeAndre Jordan Nets Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Dzanan Musa Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. https://www.netsrookiesshop.com/Theo-Pinson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. DeAndre Jordan Jersey .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. Dzanan Musa Nets Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times.Lewis Hamilton expects a closer fight with Ferrari this season and has downplayed the significance of not winning the opening race in Australia. Despite topping every practice session and taking pole in qualifying, Hamilton lost out team-mate Nico Rosberg after a poor start in Melbourne.The world champion finished second, but it could have been worse as Ferrari looked stronger during the race than in qualifying, but blew their chances of victory with a strategy error. Ferraris overall race pace, I was never really around them, but I thought they looked quite quick, said Hamilton.They were on a different tyre to me on a different strategy, so he looked quick at the end. Hopefully we are going to have more close races like that going forward, but I dont think Nico had trouble staying behind him on the medium tyres when he was on the supersofts.Australian GP driver ratingsIve a really good feeling about my pace, youve seen all weekend that I was ahead. But I am hoping it is going to be a good battle. There are going to be races where we are five to 10 seconds ahead and races where we will be wheel-to-wheel.Hamiltons thoughts were echoed by Sky Sports F1s Damon Hill who believes Ferrari could be a real threat in 2016.I think it will be more than a two driver fight for the title, I think Ferrari are close enough and a lot closer now than they were last year at this stage. If they get more horsepower, Red Bull could be a threat, Hill told Sky Sports News HQ. After slipping to sixth place on the first lap having started on pole, Mercedes Lewis Hamilton was happy with his performance It was the first race with new regulations limiting the drivers to just one clutch for the start.dddddddddddd. In the past they could drop one clutch at lights out to start the car moving, before gently feeding in a second, but this year drivers have just one paddle to control the cars clutch.Hamilton made a poor getaway from pole which saw him drop as low as seventh on the opening lap.I just got wheel spin, so no particular real issues, the Mercedes driver said.The Ferraris were very, very strong, my initial phase was the same as Nicos, but the second part where you release the clutch fully I had wheel spin and didnt recover from it.Conclusions from the Australian GPThat mistake cost Hamilton seven points in his fight with Rosberg, but he has downplayed the significance having won the title in 2014 despite not even finishing the first race.The longer the season they make it the less important one race becomes, he said.We have 20 races from here so there is a long, long way to go. I just look at 2014, I was 25 points down from here, so this is a blessing, seven points behind and I am really happy.Dont miss the F1 Report for all the reaction and analysis from the Australian GP. Natalie Pinkham is joined by David Brabham and former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley on Wednesday at 8:30pm on Sky Sports F1. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. Also See: Damage limitation for Hamilton Australian GP driver ratings ' ' '