AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSome glaring weaknesses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This blog will be posted before I speak with Chan Gailey after practice, but I’m going to ask about Reggie Ball today. Will Chan and his staff monitor Ball more closely, give more thought than most weeks to pulling him if he’s not up to his usual speed?
Clearly, against Clemson, Reggie was banged around enough that he became limited. Most of his rushing yards came on broken passing plays, and fairly early in the game Patrick Nix appeared to stop calling his number as a runner.
The passing attack was poor, obviously, against Clemson, and much of that was probably due to the fact Clemson could see Ball was limited, and didn’t have to fear/respect Reggie as a dual threat. When a defense has to be on its toes to look for him to run or pass, it helps Tech’s passing game as linebackers in particular have to kind of linger before either committing to him as a runner or drop into coverage. It helps Tech’s running game, too, of course.
But when Reggie’s gimpy, a team can defend Tech more straight up; make a call and execute it.
It’s been said, but I’ll say it again: If the Jackets’ defense doesn’t slow the run better than in the last two games, they’re in trouble again.
In the past two games, Maryland’s Lance Ball, Clemson’s James Davis and Clemson’s CJ Spiller have all gone past 100 rushing yards against Tech, Davis way past that mark, obviously. Tech in those games had to come from behind than then hold on for life against Maryland, and got whipped at Clemson.
Miami can throw the ball a little anyway, and they may get back one of their better receivers from last season. If the ‘Canes find they can run it Saturday — and their running game has improved with the freshman James — it will not be a good omen for Tech.
And what about Travis Bell? Tech’s options behind him are limited.
On hoops:
Coach Paul Hewitt has the way his team is going about conditioning, chiefly in the offseason, by reducing or eliminating track work and instead doing most conditioning on the hardwood.
“We’ve had a lot of lower leg and back injuries and [previous training methods] may have contributed to that,” Hewitt said. “[Lewis] Clinch missed five games with a stress fracture [in his leg]. Going back a year, Elder tore a hamstring, and dislocated a knee cap. The year before that, Tarver dislocated a knee cap. Jeremis Smith had problems with his lower back all last year.
“We changed our conditioning this year to do more on-the-court workouts, just running the lanes, doing some basketball drills. Two things I hope come out of it. Number one, I hope our conditioning is better, and number two, we reduce the probability of injuries. You can’t eliminate injuries. Our trainers feel like if we’re running them on the wood rather than the track, you might reduce some of it.”
Asked about the impact of freshmen Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young, Hewitt said, “They’re both very talented players. So is [freshman] Zach Peacock, and Mouhammad Faye is essentially a freshman. I think [freshman] Brad Sheehan is going to be very good as well, but physically he has to develop.”
And as for how long it will take new players to mesh with returning players:
“A lot of it’s going to depend on how quickly we develop defensively. We’re not talking real well on the court. Because we don’t talk, we’re playing like a team that’s slow. We’re a step slow on our rotations, and a step slow on a lot of our closeouts. When we get to a point where we become a fast team defensively, we’ve got a chance to be pretty good. If we don’t ever develop that communication on the court, then we’ll be average, or below average.”
Anthony Morrow (back) remains on schedule to return to practice Nov. 5. Hewitt said he “might” play in the Nov. 10 opener against Elon.
Morrow said he’s ready to go now, but understands the idea of holding him out now to reduce the likelihood of his back nagging him later in the season.
It was interesting to see him and Mario West hanging out in the lobby of the hotel in Greensboro the other day, chatting with Maryland’s DJ Strawberry and Ekene Ibekwe, and Virginia’s very good backcourt of Sean Singletary and JR Reynolds. They were speaking to one another for at least 20 minutes, waiting for their respective coaches to finish so they could head back to their campuses.
Finally, Maryland coach Gary Williams comes rolling through, sticks his head in the lounge and says, “Anybody get a Redskins score?” to folks watching NFL games (which the players completely ignored, by the way). Told the Redskins-Colts game had not yet started, Williams corralled his lads and bolted.
Comments
By The Man
October 26, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this
THIS BLOG IS IRRELEVANT!!!
CRIMINAL U WILL DESTROY NERD U!!!
THEN THE DAWGS AWAIT!!!
THE DAWGS WILL DISMANTLE THE NERDS!!!
I AM THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By KneeJerk
October 26, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this
Matt, Are the Jackets up for this game, or are they still thinking about Clemson? I have little doubt the Jackets will prevail if they are up for it. If the Jackets go up by 14 early, the Hurricanes will lay down like Liston. I live down here in West Palm Beach and sports radio is already talking about possible replacements for Coker. You should hear the names being thrown around. The Ole Ball Coach had his name mentioned. I don’t think Miami is ready for a tough game, mentally or physically. Jackets 24 Hurricanes 10
By old gold engineer
October 26, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this
It will be very interesting to see how Coach Gailey responds to your question regarding Reggie Ball. Would like to see the coaching staff go to plan B quicker when it is obvious that plan A is not working. And it shouldn’t take 3+ quarters of a game to determine whether or not plan A is effective. This also assumes that there is a plan B. I believe Coach Nix is smarter than he showed at Clemson in figuring out how to be successful and score on offense. I would like to see him demonstrate that ability moreso than in the last two games. Looking forward to a fine Homecoming win this Saturday against Miami.
By Brad
October 26, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this
Why does Reggie continue to get a free pass? He has never been able to throw the ball…period. What Nix did with him in the first 6 games was remarkable - took a guy with no ability to throw or make decisions and made him look decent. But the truth is that Nix has no confidence in his 4th-year starter QB to let him attempt to get the ball to the best WR in the country. That is pathetic. Stop waiting for Ball to show signs of life that he hasn’t shown in 4 years and pull the plug. And stop going easy on him. He walked on campus with more talent than Joe Hamilton and will walk off no better than when he started. Get Bennett some meaningfull snaps before his first game AT ND next year. He’ll get eaten alive if not.
By By Vandy 24 UGA22
October 26, 2006 05:26 PM | Link to this
In response to “The Man”. I feel certain the other folks in this blog would agree that you’re simply a waste of oxygen. Why you insist on wasting your time defending UGA’s supposed football team, yeah the one that almost beat Vandy at home, is beyond me. The Dawgs may as well not even make the trip to Jacksonville or Auburn, and when the Jackets show up between the hedges, your going to see another team of “Nerds” whip UGA’s a*. So please continue to defend those Dawgs, as it provides quality laughs before the inevitable beat down coming in November. p.s. nice win against Miss St.
By Whining Dawgs
October 26, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this
Here’s hoping the boyz (and coaches?) from NERD U figure out how to put the ball in Calvin’s hands!!! It’s such a no-brainer I wonder if it really is NERD U!
As far as BOO HOO U goes, I’m really looking forward to the Gators spanking the pups in Jax, sending those rednecks yelping and whining all the way back to Watkinsville, Athens, etc.
Hey, THE MAN, isn’t it time for you to get to work, get that pizza delivery route going?
By savgt
October 26, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this
Brad I honestly think that one of the true freshmen(Nesbitt or Threet) will start next year. I’m real anxious to see Bennett in action though against a first string Defense, though. I don’t think he’s any better than a hurt Reggie though or we would of seen him last saturday. Go Jackets!!!!!!!!!
By Ga_Tech_92
October 26, 2006 09:04 PM | Link to this
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!
By Ruby
October 26, 2006 09:37 PM | Link to this
The Man,
Come on home honey, I have ‘possum casserole in the oven and your favorite toe-jam slather’d on the biskits. I forgive you for lyin’ t’me about having gone to school at Jawja. Even if you were in the county lock-up those four years, I still love ya!
Ruby
By Ricky
October 26, 2006 11:42 PM | Link to this
Why do Tech fans insists on calling UGA fans names? What does it do other than bring you down to the level you think you are insulting? Don’t let you inferiority complex regarding the football teams spill over into your personal life.
By John
October 27, 2006 12:17 AM | Link to this
Ricky, I think there’s only one appropriate, measured response to your inquiry:
Shut up and get those boxes on the top shelf, Wal Mart doesn’t pay you to USE the computers.
By Ruby
October 27, 2006 06:03 AM | Link to this
Ricky,
Stand in line to get your a* kicked.
The Man’s Girl, Ruby
By crazy4gt
October 27, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this
Will someone please block Chris from posting. We don’t need that trash.
By crazy4gt
October 27, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
Matt - you really need to have someone clean this up. I can handle greg or the man, way more than this moron chris…
By Kudzu
October 27, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this
Come out and make amends for last week…Ball is scary though, tell me he is not reverting back to his ignorant schizophrenic play of last year.
Absolutely READY for some Tech roundball…if the incomers are as good as advertised, and I’ve seen em play a bit…good grief, along with a more experienced team from last year, we ought to be awesome. I just wish Tech had a new arena to play in that actually could hold about 20k…then maybe I could obtain and afford a ticket.
I know…maybe Coke/Blank/Turner will front some land and money for a new basketball arena and football stadium. :)
By Glenn
October 27, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this
AJC
Thanks for starting to monitor and censor these sites…We don’t mind a little good natured ribbing but the obscenities and personal attacks are unacceptable. Its about time you started treating your blogs as a public forum.