AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBebe, Gardner back
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Redshirt freshman receiver Demaryius Thomas returned to practice in full pads today at Georgia Tech. Bebe had been out since suffering an awful-looking knee injury last week that turned out to be far less serious than originally feared. Thomas immediately returned to working with the first team in seven-on-seven drills, alongside James Johnson and Greg Smith. The Yellow Jackets are rotating the receivers, though, and D.J. Donley is running with the first team, too.
Donley just made an outstanding one-handed grab. “You’re looking sweeeet out here today,” Tashard Choice said. The way Donley has been practicing, it’s all but a slam dunk he’ll play this fall.
Left tackle Andrew Gardner (shoulder) has returned to his spot with the No. 1 offensive line. That means the No. 1 line has everybody back but A.J. Smith (elbow). Jacob Lonowski continues to work at the right tackle spot in his place. Clyde Yandell is now spelling Gardner.
Fullback Mike Cox is with the injured players. He twisted a knee Wednesday afternoon. Tight end Colin Peek (Achilles) and freshman running back Jonathan Dwyer (knee) look like they’ll be back soon.
Add Roddy Jones to the list of players practicing fielding punts. Pat Clark is doing it on the main field, while Tyler Evans and Jones practice on another one.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By techfan
August 16, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
Have the coaches started practicing for the Notre Dame game yet or are they still teaching formations, routes, etc.? If they haven’t when will the team begin practice for the upcoming games?
By GTGreg
August 16, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
I hope Cox is ok… his status will go a long way to determine how well our run game does early on in the season. Thanks for the update!
By Adam
August 16, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Good to hear that Bebe and Gardner are back.
I’d really like to see Dwyer as our kickoff returner and Roddy as the punt returner. We need some guys who are capable game-breakers in those spots.
By Atljacket
August 16, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
With MJ practicing, is Oliver playing more DT or they just rotating the top three DE?
How as Q Kelly looked at FB?
What other OL gets plays with the 1st team OL?
By Mike Knobler
August 16, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Atljacket, good question. Michael Johnson runs with the first team when Adamm Oliver moves inside to tackle, which happens in certain passing situations. Tech historically has used two pass defense personnel groups: the nickel, with five defensive backs, two linebackers and four linemen, and the dollar, with five defensive backs, three linebackers and three linemen. Oliver frequently moves inside in the nickel.
Techfan, Chan Gailey likes to start working on the first game when he closes practice on the first day of classes. That’s Monday. Fans’ last chance to see the team work out is on Saturday, when there’s a scrimmage from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
By Mike Knobler
August 16, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
Yandell and Lonowski are the only non-first-teamers working with the first team OL, and Lonowski has been working at RT so long that it will be interesting to see whether A.J. Smith steps right back into the role. Actually, “see” might be the wrong verb, as that would happen when practice is closed.
Quincy Kelly? I haven’t seen anything that says he’s going to make a big impact anytime soon. That’s not a knock on him. Mike Cox is so good that he’s going to be the fullback, and in Tech’s offense he’ll get plenty of rest in all the formations that don’t include a fullback.
By Atljacket
August 16, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
Mike wrote: “Mike Cox is so good that he’s going to be the fullback, and in Tech’s offense he’ll get plenty of rest in all the formations that don’t include a fullback.”
I thought the best offense against a 3-4 D would be a good running game.
Can Tech be good at running with not a lot of FB leading run plays??
By BILLDAWG
August 16, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Hey Tech, How’s the Wreck?
By GTGreg
August 16, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
Hey BILLDAWG, how’s UGA II?
By Wrek94
August 16, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Billdawg, how’s the prison cell?
By Goodlawyer
August 16, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Billdawg, how’s the prison cell? I need more work!
By statelinejacket
August 16, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Great news on Thomas. Thanx for the news!
By jacketnation
August 16, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
Hey Billdawg, The wreck needs parts; UGA needs a prison built next the the athletic building. The football program needs a full time Bail-bondsman.
Hey Mike, Is Roddy Jones getting any carries?
Are they throwing to tightends?
By Mike
August 16, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
You guys can be so childish - grow up
By BILLDAWG
August 16, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
You mean the Wreck is as dead as UGA II? Give it a break, I’m just a football fan, interested in old school traditions! I don’t live and die by the Dawgs, and I even pull for Tech when they’re not playing UGA!! Put that under your mortarboard!!
By The Ring Leader
August 16, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
Mike,
Does it seem safe to say that as many as 5-6 recievers will split time in games this season? It appears as though James Johnson, Greg Smith, BeBe Thomas, Correy Earls, D.J. Donley, and either Andrew Smith or Willie White will make their way into the lineup, not to mention Colin Peek and Rashaun Grant being used in the passing game also.
Does this all seem to be by design, or will the number of guys that actually get playing time be less when the season starts?
Thanks for all the great reporting.
By Josh H
August 16, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
Is Greg Smith really considered the #1 receiver right now? He seemed to have a good bit of chemistry with Taylor Bennett in those blowouts last year.
At tight end, since Peek was to be the starter and the other guy is currently playing (forgot his name), if they both turn out to be ready do you think we’ll see some two tight-end sets.
And yeah, your most productive running plays are usually when the fullback is blocking. But football is a game of deception, and you can catch the defense off guard by running out of a 3 WR set sometimes. That being said, Cox should see plenty of playing time, but not so much that he’ll have to be spelled because he’s tired. At least that’s how I interpreted Mike’s post.
By MidGaBoy
August 16, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
FYI D. Thomas nickname is spelled BayBay…
By Jamal
August 16, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Man..chill out guys. A man makes a small comment, and it tears you up. No wonder people like to come on here and give us a hard time.
By Spike
August 16, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Yawn.
By shivas
August 16, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
Any update on the progress of Nesbitt is appreciated. I would hope that he has gradully become more comfortable as practices continue.
By Davey
August 16, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
FYI MidGaboy your wrong. It’s spelled Bebe. People have asked him how it’s spelled and it is in fact Bebe. Way to be a know it all though!
By Rex
August 16, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Go Irish
By Old 'N Gold
August 16, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
No Davey, MidGaboy is in fact right, I’m friends with demaryius on facebook and he has a photo album named Baybay
By BILLDAWG
August 16, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see Tech kick some Irish A**!!!!!!
By Old 'N Gold
August 16, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
No Davey, MidGaboy is in fact right, I’m friends with demaryius on facebook and he has a photo album named Baybay
By Dana
August 16, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
Mike, Any news on the grades yet for certain players?? When can we expect to get the final verdict??
By MidGaboy
August 16, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this
Davey sorry to tell ya but you’re WRONG.. =D
By James
August 16, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this
Wow, Tech fans fighting over what nickname is correct. Exciting blog!!
By GREENECOUNTYPAW
August 16, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this
I THINK WITH TIME AND PROGRESS OF LEARNING THE PLAYBOOK , JOSH NESBITT WILL BE THE IMPACT THREAT THAT TECH NEEDS AT THE QB POSITION.
By '01dawg
August 16, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
Hey Knobler, could you do us Georgia fans a favor and get the Georgia beat writers to write straightforward fact based blogs and articles like you do instead of all this National Inquirer/Bill O’Reilly button pushing garbage they’ve grown to love? Thanks.
By reckme
August 16, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
What’s to prepare for? ND has a totally new offense that probably can’t be scouted, just like Tech’s. But their D is returning just about the entire lineup, so it will be interesting to see how they match up against Bennett and Choice. This game probably doesn’t get into the 20’s until the 3rd quarter. Prepare of a fantastic defensive battle. I think the winning team will win with an effective kicking, field position game. And we have Durant to thank for this win. GO TECH!!
By Knute
August 17, 2007 6:54 AM | Link to this
Hey Girleymen!!!! How was last night’s Tickle Pile???
By yellowblood
August 17, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
TO MIKE KNOBLER: Great story on Jamal Lewis and Jones. Their experience and maturity alone should be a big factor this year. Once again its the Tenuta defense that excites me about Tech. If we can play even reasonably on offense and avoid turnovers this team should be strong.
By Joseph
August 17, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
Notre Dame is a 5-6 win team this year. We should destroy them if we have the team we think.