AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBennett on the mark; Tenuta off
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings and sorry to be late here. I screwed up, and misunderstood my schedule.
First and foremost, if you asked me what has jumped out at me in two days of practice, I would say that Taylor Bennett is making some very impressive throws. LB Gary Guyton picked one off late in practice today, and it was both a nice play by Gary and a poor throw, but one of very, very few.
Bennett is throwing into tight spaces, especially on the sidelines, and putting nice pace on his touch throws, too. I’m not talking about good throws, but some great throws. Hate to gush because it’s not really my style, but yowzer!
More observations:
— Hope whatever injury it was that kept Colin Peek out of practice today isn’t serious. He did plenty of work on the side, and didn’t appear in great pain, but I don’t know what the ailment is.
— Fr. RB Roddy Jones is quicker than I thought he’d be.
— S Jamal Lewis is off to a flying start. He’s the only safety capable of covering consistently in space, no small shock since he’s a former CB and may play there yet again this year win the nickel back role. (Might Joe Gaston take his safety spot in those situations?)
— Jon Tenuta is off his game. Very few sonic readings generated by the DC so far.
— Don’t know his actual weight, and Chan usually doesn’t let media speak with freshmen (other than early enrollees) until after the first game, but T Nick Claytor (listed at 312) looks considerably leaner than when I saw him (admittedly, in a suit) in February.
— RB Tashard Choice is at it again, yapping, jawing with defenders. Today, he went at it with Guyton and S Djay Jones. All in fun, but if you didn’t know Tashard’s personality, you might be surprised to see this for the first time.
— Practice tomorrow at 4:30. I think they go to “shells” which is the light shoulder pads. I could be wrong about that, but I know they’re not in full pads for a couple more days. Bummer.
Comments
By BeeBad
August 4, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
Been observing and participating in sports for over 40 years and my chosen profession has always involved sizing people up so those skills are very well honed.
The truth hurts sometimes but here’s the observations on Taylor Bennett:
If things don’t go Bennett’s way this year is his momma going to show up raising hell again like she did a couple years ago?
You rarely if ever see a momma’s boy be a great leader. They are usually quitters. Look at what happened at Arkansas with Mitch Mustain. Things weren’t going his way so his momma got involved and the kid ended up quitting and transferring somewhere else. Where the hell was his dad or his uncle or his brother to step in if there was a problem?
Look at Bennett, you don’t see a tough, hard-nosed kid. You see a sweet little momma’s boy. Just look at him, he looks like he’s 15 years old. A QB that looks like a sweet little kid like Bennett does should shave his head and get a tattoo but he won’t ‘cause momma won’t let him.
This kid has some nice talent and he’ll have some good games. But when the going starts getting tough and he takes shots and gets racked up a little bit and throws a few interceptions he is going to fold up like a card table. Until he proves this analysis wrong when it comes to toughness Taylor Bennett is no Reggie Ball.
BeeBad bbuzzoff@hotmail.com
By Bad Buzz
August 4, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Matt,
Does the team seem effected by the Tickle Pile controversy? Do you think it will have an effect?
By GT Fan
August 4, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update Matt.
I only made it to the second half of practice today, but I agree…Bennett was looking good.
Also noticed that Bowen was taking most of the reps with the starters as opposed to Barnes…do you think Bowen is already claiming his spot or is it still up for grabs?
I heard Nate McManus talking about practice at 3:30 today…is that true? …is it closed to the public?
Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks again Matt.
Go Jackets!!
By JJacket
August 4, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
What’s the matter Peepad? You and your little anti-Tech buddies not getting enough attention nowdays so you have to come here?
By JD
August 4, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
2 comments from two morons. We’re batting 1.000 so far!
By Matt Winkeljohn
August 4, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
No practice at 3:30 today. Next practice is Sunday at 4:30.
Chan said Thursday that Bowen is No. 1 at SLB for now, that he won that job in the spring. It’s sort of like RT, where A.J. won the job in the spring but could lose the job in August. In short, it’s up for grabs, but Shane has a one-handed grip on it.
As for Bennett’s toughness, I have no evidence one way or the other, but that theory strikes me as one born in a laboratory and unlikely to be bulletproof in the field.
Matt
By TechWreck
August 4, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
Wow, BeeBad. What a “fan” you are.
Do you have the same idiotic opinion about Tim Tebow, whose father was at Urban Meyer’s hip throughout fall practice last year?
By Jared
August 4, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
Seriously, what ignorance. TB is a tough kid, you’d know that if you knew him, and the team is behind him fully.
Claytor is just under 290
By jackets
August 4, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
BeeBad
apparently you just wake up….did you watch the Gator Bowl? Taylor knew the hit was coming and stood there to thrown the ball; he did not even try to bent down like Ball does.
By 66mustang
August 4, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
BEE BAD Brett FARVE is a mother loving/catering to son. Is he not a leader? Joe Hamilton was raised by a single mom, and was he not a leader? Your T** envy is a joke. What happened to you? Did your dad beat and abuse you? Did you not get to suck on the BREST long enough? Leadership is delivered in many forms. Respect and Belief are the most defining atrubutes of a LEADER.
By Alfred
August 4, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
Will someone explain?!?!?!?! What is the Tickle Pile controversy????
By Ted Bee
August 4, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
Apparently we have some kind of investigation going on by the President’s office concerning Tickle Piles. I don’t know exactly what they are. Supposedly a tradition at Tech but I never heard of them while I was on campus.
By godawggs
August 4, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
Stafford is 10 times better than Bennett ever will be already. He threw 2 times as many INT’s as TD’s! He is the greatest! Who cares if Bennett threw for more yards and TD’s in the Gator bowl than Stafford did in any game last year. Stafford will win the heisman the next 3 years. Stafford loves Cox!
By T Baker
August 4, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
Matt, who is #2 at tailback right now should Choice go down? Is Grant or Evans getting more reps?
Also, with Bell(PK) and Brook(P) both being seniors, do we have solid depth behind them or does it look as if we’re finally going to have to use a couple of scholarships on special teams?
By Matt Winkeljohn
August 4, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this
The question on scholarships for punter/kicker is asked too early to be answered. There are some new walk-ons in each position, but they have to be evaluated for a few months before serious thought is paid to that idea.
Rashaun Grant has been getting the second-most snaps at RB, although he’s getting a chunk of his reps while deployed at unusual spots, like H or wing.
Hard to say what would happen if Tashard were dinged.
By Davey
August 4, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this
Matt,
Claytor officially weighs about 288 from what I have heard.
I hope to come to a couple practice and give some my insight too! Maybe I’ll see ya their!
By Davey
August 4, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this
Whitey,
Go to the last blog to see my rebuttal.
Now I’m off I got to pick up my lawn mower thats getting repaired by a ND fan……LOL! I’m actually serious too. Hahaha.
By Class of 78
August 4, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this
As silly as this whole Tickle Pile sounds there must be something to it. I had thought it was a bunch of UGAY silliness but decided to put my mind at ease and called the Presidents Office to see if there was some kind of problem. Instead of an outright denial I got the run around. I was told that they didn’t comment on internal matters and that I should put my inquiry in writing. It seems to me that if there had been nothing to it they would have simply said so.
By JustMe
August 4, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this
Class of 78 is the same idiot that posts all of the ‘tickle pile’ comments. He is a loser from Emory U that was denied GA Tech baseball scholarship. So, he’s reduced to posting crap on here. Very sad.
By yellowblood
August 4, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this
Dawg Fans: You pompous gasbags. Stafford could’nt even wear the right jersey color in practice or is he worried that he might get hurt. Ah yes, the greatest time of the year for you guys is the 30 days before the season starts. The problem is when reality sets in after you get waxed by Vandy.
By Ignore the NONSENSE
August 4, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you guys realize that if you just ignore the ignorant tards that are making the tickle pile comments…and saying NOTHING about them, don’t even acknowledge they said anything…EVENTUALLY they will just go away if they see that they are not getting the attention they were hoping for!??!?!?
By JustMe
August 4, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this
Except that…..
It would be great if everyone sick of the ‘tickle pile’ comments show up at the 1st home game of Emory baseball with signs, etc. to torment him. His name is Sam Cunningham.
By jabster
August 4, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
Truth about tickle piles at this link:
http://i12.tinypic.com/4vskpl5.jpg
I used to ignore the FIRST TICKLE PILE POST ON A NEW GT BLOG!!!! trolls, but with this kind of photographic evidence…
By JDSmith
August 4, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
Matt,
How do you weed through these blogs? Why waste your time? You must have to respond of the AJC will dock your pay or something… I just came here to see what you had written and sure enough people want to turn this into an area where you can not have serious posts.
I went to GA Southern and I follow both Tech & UGA each year and it always amazes me how many DAWG fans think each year they are one play away from a National Title or something.
Stafford a Heisman winner the next 3 years? He is good and might win one, but this is not the year for that nor a 10 win season for the dogs.
Tough year for UGA on the way. Tech should have a better record due to the schedule they have, but that is not saying they will be better than UGA.
Any thoughts on Tech beating ND in South Bend as it looks like early is the best time to get them this year and how much of a challenge will OK ST really be for UGA in Athens?
I am sorry Matt that you have to read these posts, but please try to give us your personal opinions on Tech & UGA, the ways the schedules play out and what you think the teams records will be. It is OK to say between 8-4 and 10-2 depending on this, etc.. just so we can know what Matt thinks and not looneys that think Stafford wins the Heisman this year.
Thanks Matt, JD
By Ironic Isn't It?
August 4, 2007 11:56 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe I’m actually posting something here and adding to the problem.
This blog needs some adult supervision. Matt puts some comments out which deteriorate into a series of imbecilic insults. FWIW, the UGA blog is 10X worse.
I like the idea of a daily interactive blog, but I’d recommend that either The AJC monitor the postings more closely and lock out flamers or otherwise have those interested submit questions by email. Otherwise, this is just another version of The Vent.
Oh and BTW I went to UGA and just to set the record straight, I don’t work at McDonald’s, the Post Office, or call a GA Tech grad boss. I do have a lot Tech grads as co-workers though, pretty good bunch of guys until they start singing The Budweiser Song.
By reckme
August 5, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this
Go Dawgs- are you so concerned about Tech that you have to monitor these blogs??? Honestly, you are scared that Bennett and Tech will beat the fleas off your sorry little butts this year. Admit it. Get a date and stay off our blogs. Aren’t you Dawgs all about womena and booze? Go get em’! Lift some kegs above your heads and let that masculine macho crap yelp from your mouths. Seriously, admit that you ARE CONCENERED that Tech is getting better and will probably turn the tides this year. Your bragging rights are comiing to an end so get in the shots now…….. wooof wooof
By john
August 5, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
What the AJC needs to do is to stop putting these stupid blogs on in the first place!
Its like the bathroom wall, for chrissakes!!
By fortebuna
August 5, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this
Some guy on Stink Talk named Tech Gator or as he should call himself RESIDENT IDIOT blasts BEEBAD for his comments about TB. I believe TB is old enough to take care of himself. The point I’m making is that the ST resident idiot is calling the AJC a Stink Talk blog. So where did the Resident Idiot get this idea? OOH gosh I forgot resident idiot is an idiot!
By gte578e
August 5, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Hey Matt,
I know you said you didn’t want to go “gaga” over Bennett, but there are others who share your optimism. Scout had this to say
Sorry to degrade, but where did Scout rank UGA
By the way, Matt, do you think BayBay has a shot at winning ACC freshmen of the year?
By WFC
August 5, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
I love the “up-to-the-minute-at practice” blog. It has the info I’m interested in. I hate the “off-topic” comments and wish they would be deleted. I guess that TB’s “toughness” is a legitimate question at this point but it will be resolved on the field at ND and not before. Stafford has the makings of a good QB but the fact remains that he couldn’t put a TD on the board against GT last year until there were less than two minutes to go in the game. I think that Joe Namath might have done better. In fact, I SAW him do better at Grant Field in 1964.
By Sam
August 5, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
Is it true that Georgia Tech football ends it’s practices with a nude Tickle Pile?
By Maturer than all you old fogies
August 5, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this
The truth is nobody posting here played at either UGA or Tech. Grow up, cut the snipping, and have adult conversations.
That said, this could be Tech’s year. Bennett seems to be a smart, accurate QB, our tailbacks are studs, and so is the line. Tenuta will keep opposing scores low, for the most part.
I say 10-2 or 11-1, given the easy schedule. VT at home, UGA at home, Miami is on the decline, and ND lost everyone except the fourth string water boy and he is hurt.
What do you say Matt?
By Historian
August 5, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
My perspective is that this year is a break out year for Gailey and Tech. Should they open with some consecutive wins, ESPN is more than ready to talk them up in the polls. However, if the season goes south, Tech football reputation may truly damaged forever. The up and down since Dodd left, doesn’t allow Tech much wiggle room to recruit. They really need some consecutive good seasons to really get back to where they once were, and yes that means winning ACC championships and beating UGA.
By Superchill
August 5, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
I can appreciate your spunk Jacket fans but this is already reminding me of “Rocky III” where Balboa (GT) was training in the public eye and Clubber Lang (ND?) was closed off to the media. On one level GT played a solid game and gave ND all it could handle in 2006 but on the other maybe ND got a wake up call as well? Make no mistake, GT should win this game and win it hands down with all they have coming back from its ACC-Championship team in 2006. All I do know about ND is that - while young and inexperienced - they are more talented at every single position in 2007 than a year ago. Just something to be aware of - and in the end - the game needs to be played before we know.
Let me get back to fixing Davey’s mower now -
By Joseph
August 5, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Tickle Piles are a Tech tradition although I don’t think the Football team participates. Some team members are involved but as individuals.
By GT90CHAMPS
August 5, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
Look as long as gailey is coach here the yellow jackets are in trouble.Gailey is a coach that plays scared and to sit on leads not to try and put games out of reach,i love my jackets but they need a coach in here that will go for 4th downs at the other teams 45 yard line in a huge game where you have a chance to knock off a ranked appontant like nd last year ….gailey blew that game
By GT90CHAMPS
August 5, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Watch the nd game this year we should win but gailey will blow it.
By GT90CHAMPS
August 5, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
But no surprise the jackets will win the coastal div. again even though everyone is in love with v.tech and rightfully so the mass. at v.tech was bad.
By tech76
August 5, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
What is a tickle pile?
Is that what stafford & his buddy were doing in those pictures? Isn’t is also called spooning?
By destin
August 6, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
How do UGAY grads get to park in handicap parking spaces? They just put their diploma on the windshield. Oh, I forgot, most UGAY fans don’t have a diploma. That’s why there are so many ‘intelligent’comments from these inbred pig farmers.
By statelinejacket
August 6, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this
Beebad wouldn’t.knows guts if he was an eyewitness at Normandy. Screw him and the rest of his cult following.