AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPondering PT for backups
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s been enough rumination on how much Reggie Ball and/or Taylor Bennett should play against Duke that I figure it’s about time to go another direction?
What about Rashaun Grant, Jamaal Evans, or Trey Dunmon?
Evans is the No. 3 tailback, and I’m not suggesting he should play because Tashard Choice is injured because as far as I know he’s not. Choice has been on a roll, a huge, huge reason why the Yellow Jackets are in the ACC title game. But I’m curious to see Grant and/or Evans in extended time.
Dunmon’s become the backup guard with the season-ending injury to Jacob Lonowski, and if Nate McManus is still dinged, why not give him a few shifts off?
I was wondering … how many snaps have backup linebackers played this season? We sure haven’t seen much of Shane Bowen, Matt Braman or Taalib Tucker, huh?
Moving onto hoops. I bet the atmosphere for Thursday’s Tech-Ga. State game will be pretty good, at least compared to Elon or Jackson State. The men have the unusual starting time of 6 p.m., which probably won’t help draw working stiffs. Then again, they’re not generally the ones who make the noise, are they? And State figures to bring fans, too.
Women follow. I’ll be covering both, and watching to see if momentum carries.
Here’s a tidbit of note. Of the 72 field goals scored by the men in two games, 52 have been dunks, layups or other shots in the paint. No wonder Paul Hewitt was talking the other night about having, “finishers,” huh?
Comments
By James Kolz
November 15, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
When Rashaun Grant starts running straight and stops switching directions, then we should think about more playing time.
By Senior Citizen
November 15, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this
Coach Nix: Please don’t call for a pass play on 3rd and 2 again. The probability of sucess is only about 39%. It’s much better than that with a run by Choice.
Best wishes for continued sucess.
GO YELLOWJACKETS
By view from snellville
November 15, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this
The frustrating thing is we had games already this season whereby we should have gotten up on the score and these guys already been playing. Just look to the East as to what can happen if you do not get backups ready to go.
By savgt
November 15, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this
I think Taylor should get significant time on sat.To give Reggie some rest and to see what he can do in real game situations for the future.
By jim
November 15, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this
I think all this talk about playing backups gives me a bad feeling about the game. Let’s win it first, then worry about backups. The last thing I want to see is a Duke win.
By Steve
November 15, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this
I’m all for starting Ball on senior day. However, I do believe he and some of the other starters should be given some time off if Tech gets a lead. They could use the rest with bigger games coming up, especially this late in the season.
Not only has Taylor Bennet missed out on valuable game time experience during the season, now coach Gailey “slams” him by saying to the press that an injured Ball is still better than a healthy Bennet. That must do wonders for Bennet’s confidence. I guess Gailey wants to drive Bennet into transferring so that he can use his scholarship next year. Do transfers still count against the graduation rate?
By The Man
November 15, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this
BASKETBALL IS ALL YOU WILL HAVE AFTER THE DAWGS CRUSH YOUR NERDY FOOTBALL TEAM!!!
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IS NOT A REAL SPORT!!!
I AM THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By James
November 15, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this
Steve, I agree with you fully. But we’ve got to keep in mind that what Chan said about an injured Reggie is better than Bennett is, in fact, true. But I do expect to see Bennett throwing some balls, which will hopefully be caught, by other recievers than the Johnson’s (key word: caught). Ball knows a bit more about things than Bennett does, so we’ve got to rely on Ball against Duke.
And, in all due respect, Ball is a senior and it’s his last home game. If you don’t start a senior on his home game for at least a few plays, then that’s just cruel.
By GT
November 15, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this
We open up against the Irish there next year with a freshman quarterback or Bennett. This might be a good time to give Bennett a few snaps. Georgia is not going to the SEC Championship Game so their full attention is on us plus they have a week off to prepare. We can beat Duke with Bennett like we beat Connecticut last year. If won’t be pretty but it will serve the purpose.
By phipps
November 15, 2006 06:13 PM | Link to this
Hello, “the man”. Good to see you back. We have missed you. Thought you were either playing with your moms sex toys or going to night school to get that middle school diploma!! Anyway, please don’t spend too much time here because it distracts from your sweeping and mopping and we might have to fire your a—!!**!!Good luck with classes!!!!!!!!!!!!
By legaleagle
November 15, 2006 06:40 PM | Link to this
Guys you all forgot last year. Taylor played a great game for the injured Reggie Ball.
His first completion was for a touch down. The guy can throw the ball with the best of them.
By Green Jacket
November 15, 2006 06:49 PM | Link to this
If Michael Matthews is able to play I would love to see some passes go his way. He has caught just about every pass thrown to him (5 rec.) and has done a great job for the Jackets in his 4 years. As far as QB is concerned, I look for next year’s starter to be someone not on the 06 roster.
By luvthejackets
November 15, 2006 07:03 PM | Link to this
I prefer that we start and play our key players. The last thing Tech starters need is a “bye” week. We are not a good team following a week off. We must stay as sharp as possible. We will need to bring our “a” game to win in Athens. I really believe our defense will have Stafford on his back most of the game. Tech will have two touchdowns off of turnovers and it will still be a close win.
By Sautee Dawg
November 15, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this
Hey Tech fans hope you don’t mind a post from a dawg fan. congradulations on a great season, looking forward to watching Calvin Johnson play, very talented player, any word on whether he comes back next year or not?
By GERG
November 15, 2006 07:25 PM | Link to this
Hey Sautee Dawg, it’s nice to get a reasonable post from a Bulldog. Gailey told Calvin’s parents he’d be crazy to return next year. But his parents really want him to get a Tech degree. Nevertheless, he’s gone.
James Kolz’s comments about Rashaun Grant’s being more likely to get more playing time as soon as he learns to quit changing directions every half second are correct.
By Sautee Dawg
November 15, 2006 07:53 PM | Link to this
Thanks GERG, whether Johnson comes back or not, i’m sure he’ll be successful playing on staurdays or sundays.
By The Man's Daddy
November 15, 2006 08:05 PM | Link to this
My evil son is at it again. The Man was too slow and uncoordinated to play on the boys basketball team in Blue Ridge, so the little puss played on the girls squad. He was still the most unathletic player on the team.
I ‘member the night I pr’duced the ugly li’l bastard, I pulled out of his mama a li’l bit late and the BEST part of m’son ran down my leg.
Tyhe Man’s Pappy
By Ramblor
November 15, 2006 08:22 PM | Link to this
The Man’s Daddy, that is the funniest thing I have heard in a long, long time. Thanks!
By BigEd
November 16, 2006 12:40 AM | Link to this
If an injured Reggie Ball, is better than a healthy Taylor Bennett as Chan Gailey stated, Taylor Bennett had better find himself another home next season. Reggie Ball has only one asset and that is his ability to run. Since he can’t run, he has no assets at all. He is a liability to Tech and gives away as many points as he helps make. Gailey must have no regard for Bennett at all. Gailey is an idiot for berating his backup quarterback.
By WFC
November 16, 2006 06:31 AM | Link to this
None of us can possibly know what kind of QB Bennett will be until he is “the man.” All I can think of is all the “gloom and doom” there was when the great Joe Hamilton graduated. The little used George Godsey stepped in and led GT to a great season. Just shows that “you never can tell.”
By Sturge
November 16, 2006 08:13 AM | Link to this
Reggie is an awful QB. Never before in the history of Div-I has a 4-year starter been worse as a senior, than as a freshman. Calvin wouldn’t be a distant 3rd in the Heisman if someone competent could throw to him (or anyone else) on a consistent basis…as in >50% of passes completed. Why has Calvin done so well? Well, even Barry Sanders had a Hall of Fame career behind the Detroit Lions O-Line. I’m hoping Chan Gailey continues w/his pro philosophy and benches Ball against Duke and UGA. Mark these words, Calvin will have huge games if he does.
By jackets fan
November 16, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this
I have a theory about GT’s poor offensive performance last weekend. I think Patrick Nix tried to simplify the offensive looks, so he can save some stuff for next weekend. Knowing UNC was bad (and Duke this weekend), maybe Nix decided they would pound the ball with Choice and throw only when they had to. It’s just a thought. I mean, you can say the offense was bad, but they didn’t really call a lot of fancy plays. Most of the time they tossed to Choice. Who knows. I don’t expect a huge offensive explosion against Duke, unless Choice just breaks a big run against a sorry defense. I do expect Calvin to get in the end zone, but they won’t be going all out to score 50 points.
By JS Tech Fan
November 16, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this
Don’t feel too bad about a 7 point win at Chapel Hill. These guys always play tough at home no matter what their record may be.
Rutgers only won by 5 and Wake Forest by 7.
Tech is due another game like we had against VT… In Athens!!