AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSomething in the water at Tech?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gonna go a little shorter this morning at Tech, where there’s a strange vibe under overcast skies.
First, RB Quincy Kelly, a redshirt freshman from Stone Mountain (Decatur High), apparently collapsed this morning. He wasn’t in a drill, kind of waiting his turn about 35 mins. into practice, and went down. He was face-down for at least a minute or two, and then on his knees for a while with trainers. He left in a cart, sitting up. I don’t know more than that. More later.
Second, the passing game looks more ragged than I recall it in any previous passes. Injuries might be counted as a factor, as WRs Correy Earls and Andrew Smith began the day injured, and D.J. Donley and James Johnson have since pulled out of practice with undisclosed injuries — both apparently to their legs. Plus, Demaryious Thomas seems a step off, not in sync or in time like he was before suffering a knee injury last week. He looks like a guy who’s missed some time. The young WRs, including Willie White and walk-on freshman R.B. Clyburn of Cartersville, figure to be a little busier in the scrimmage tomorrow.
Beyond that, though, QBs Taylor Bennett, Calvin Booker and Josh Nesbitt haven’t thrown the ball all that well.
Good news: RB Jonathan Dwyer (leg) is back, although he’s been deployed in a limited role in practice. I won’t be surprised if he does not participate in the scrimmage. S Joe Gaston is working more as well, and Fr. LB Brad Jefferson appears to be over whatever injury sidelined him early in the week.
Not bad, necessarily, but not good news: FB Mike Cox (leg) and TE Colin Peek (Achilles) were running before practice, but are not participating in practice. No way Peek’s in the scrimmage, and I doubt Cox goes. Reserve LB Travis Chambers (shoulder) is still out, too, although somebody told me he tried to sneak out here with shoulder pads only to be stopped.
On the ominous side, reserve OT Cord Howard is absent for the fifth or sixth practice. His academic status needs to be resolved pronto; classes begin Monday.
Matt
Comments
By curtrob
August 17, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
thanks for the update Matt, i think the guys are just tired, it happens every year to every team. players get tired of the every day routine after a couple of weeks, they are tired of hitting each other and the heat definelty played a factor as well. so, i am a little concerned about the little nagging injuries that seem to be bothering some of the players, because it hurts the timing and the rythme of the offense and defense for that matter, but i think the closer to game time, all the starters will be ready to go and too fired up to let these injuries keep them from playing. so i’m not worried about the QB’s having a few bad snaps and balls thrown, as long as come game time the coaches have fully prepared the guys so the team can be on the same page.
By Atljacket
August 17, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this
Prayers will go up for Q Kelly.
Is Jefferson rising in the depth chart? Is he the best looking FR LB?
With Howard out, does the 2nd OL look like Hill, Gilbert, Dunmon, Voss, Yandell?
By StraightJacket
August 17, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
Matt,
With the passing game looking a little ragged, I’d be worried too - but to counter your point somewhat:
-You may have answered your own question: The minor injuries may be affecting the timing.
-To the best of my knowledge, we are talking about ONE ragged-looking practice.
-Bond may have revealed the ND game-plan to those guys - the WR’s are going to be blocking the whole game because we’re going to RUN on the ND 3-4 until they prove they can stop us.
-R. Grant will probably be the leading WR in the ND game anyway,…
Finally, a lot can happen after these practices go “private” on Tuesday. Hopefully, everybody gets their tired legs back, the nagging aches heal a bit, and we hear about a better sharpness to the passing game as we approach September 1.
Thanks for your reports, Matt (and Mike)
-SJ
By JustMe
August 17, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
This crazy heat wave is getting to everyone.
Temperatures at or above 100 degrees is tough enough on regular people walking to and from their car. Imagine having football practice in pads going full speed! I know that these are strong young men in shape, still…..
It’s not like we are UGAY that have swimming parties and watermelon parties for practices.
The good news is that our players should be toughened a lot when we travel up North to play ND.
By Wrecker1
August 17, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t make light of Ugag’s swimming and watermelon parties. Coach Dodd was definately known to have light practices at times doing things like playing volleyball and the such. Sometimes you get more from your team in the long run as a coach when you’re flexible and interject some leisurely activities instead of the drudgery of long HOT practices.
By Spike
August 17, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Just Me.. Our swimming parties must make us tough enough to beat Tech on a routine basis. Maybe the Tech team should try it, they might beat UGA once in a while. Don’t knock it unless you have tried it, losers.
By Matt Winkeljohn
August 17, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
No more word yet on Quincy Kelly. Gailey said he will undergo various medical tests, and did not speculate whatsoever on what happened, or might happen. He certainly won’t be involved Saturday.
Straightjacket,
I didn’t answer my own question because I didn’t ask one. I just pointed out that the passing game was ragged. Yes, injuries are a factor, but then again there have been injuries all along (Demaryious, James, Correy, Peek).
It was just an observation, not an analysis.
Matt
By eaglejacket
August 17, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
So much of the hype this preseason has been on the improvement of the offense, rising offensive stars, etc. This vibe has generally been good. Thus, I’m not too worried about an off day. However, do you mind giving a brief description of the overall attitude and performance of the defense? It has seemed, forever, that the D has outperformed the O in practice, and has been jacked up and flying around. Are they as jacked up right now, and making their fair share of big plays? Thanks a lot.
By Grant
August 17, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
RAGGED PASSING? Ok i can buy that but dont forget who took the snaps last year. Reggie Ball only completed 44% of his passes last year and he also tossed up 14 ints. He managed all of that with the nations best reciever in the last 50 years and probablly the next 50. And dont forget his annual player of the game for UGA last year in November where he completed SIX passes, not even counting the two he served up to the guys in RED & WHITE. I know Calvins gone but so is Reggie. Meaning Tech will have a better air game and open up the ground attack for Tashard. P.S. Thank God RAGGED BALL IS GONE!
By Larry Munson's Gin Blossom
August 17, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
Spike,
You are a thUGA fan. That makes you a loser at life. It’s facts like that which make the losses in football a tad bit easier to take.
By Grant
August 17, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
RAGGED PASSING? Ok I can buy that, but dont forget who took the snaps for the Jackets last fall. Reggie ball only completed 44% of his passes and he tossed up 14 ints. Not to mention his annual player of the game for UGA last Novemeber where he completed SIX passes and served up TWO INTS. I know Calvin is gone but so is RAGGED BALL. I think Taylor has a great head on his shoulders and will lead the air attack much like George Godsey did. With the improved air game look for Tashard to open up the ground attack even more this year. ~GO TECH
By john
August 17, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
imagine being a nerd practicing in this heat………you guys are the biggest f*………………….
By Spike
August 17, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Larry Munson’s Gin Blossom. Who are you? Are you the do boy for Just Me?
By go dawgs
August 17, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
TASHARD WOULD NOT BE MY CHOICE WHEN YOU HAVE LUMPKIN,BROWN,MORINO AND CALEB KING GO DAWGS YOU GUYS ARE COMPLETE IDIOTS. BY THE WAY THE WATERMELON WAS GREAT……
By George P. Burdell
August 17, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
You’re right, Tashard is horrible. He only had 1,473 yards last year compared to the 1,585 put together by the entire UGA team by committee. I hope we don’t start him because it gets really old watching him run for all of those 100+ yard games.
What an idiot.
By Phil
August 17, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
Insightful commentary and punctuation as always from the dawg fans.
By 6NAROW
August 17, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
No, it’s not the water. It’s the lack of talent that’s the problem. Did Tech steal this QB Bennett away from Middle Tennessee or what?
By Mike
August 17, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Actually, all the comments from folks like “go dawgs” and “Spike” simply confirm the sterotypes Tech folks have of UGa fans…obnoxious little children.
By GTNC
August 17, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
Bennett has always practiced so-so but not spectacular. That’s the point to Ball getting to start for 4 years. But when it counts (game time)- Bennett thrives in front of the crowd and he’s very smart. He’ll be fine.
“Go Dawgs”- keep your ridiculous comments to the playground my friend. Choice is a candidate on many many national watch lists and your comments are only meant to rawl up the crazies. I shouldn’t stoop to comment but I did…..
By Superchill
August 17, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
Three weeks following both ND & GT as they prepare for their game on 9/1/07 and here’s what I am seeing out there:
(1) Either ND is going to be A LOT more capable than the world thinks or CW is a master at covering it up;
(2) GT needs to get their act together; ever since I interviewed Tashard Choice at the ACC-Days event I have been a bit skeptical of how this team might handle expectations that are higher going in to the season than usual; the fighting, the injuries, the academics; what is going on?
I still say that GT wins this game but I am nowhere near as positive as I was only three weeks ago.
By not disappointed
August 17, 2007 7:19 PM | Link to this
Go Jackets!!
By JustMe
August 17, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
The ugay comments on here make me laugh…..
If you go to the ugay blog and post one anti-ugay message they crucify you. However those same idiots must come over here to the Tech blog.
Can you spell H-Y-P-C-R-I-S-Y????
The only other reason for those idiots to be here is that they fear Tech. What else could be the reason?
By spike
August 17, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
Mike, before you make fun of us, try to use words you can spell correctly. At least we can spell “stereotype”. Bozo.
By Carter
August 17, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
JustMe- You give us a bad name…quit posting please. Go ahead and make your lame comeback. But, please quit posting.
By Knute
August 18, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this
How is the Tickle Pile investigation going?
By Sigh
August 18, 2007 1:21 AM | Link to this
H-Y-P-C-R-I-S-Y?
You can really make a guy laugh, even at 1:15 AM. I thought we were supposed to be smarter…
Next time, if you’re going to make a post asking someone if they can spell correctly, make sure you can spell correctly. Like me. I re-read this post probably 30 times to make sure everything was spelled correctly. Because I don’t want my anonymous euphemism to appear ignorant. It’s just bad taste.
Good luck with your future posts. You might want to pick another euphemism for yourself, however. Something like… “Felicity”
Now that’s classy.
By Sigh
August 18, 2007 1:23 AM | Link to this
H-Y-P-C-R-I-S-Y?
You can really make a guy laugh, even at 1:15 AM. I thought we were supposed to be smarter…
Next time, if you’re going to make a post asking someone if they can spell correctly, make sure you can spell correctly. Like me. I re-read this post probably 30 times to make sure everything was spelled correctly. Because I don’t want my anonymous euphemism to appear ignorant. It’s just bad taste.
Good luck with your future posts. You might want to pick another euphemism for yourself, however. Something like… “Felicity”
Now that’s classy.
By Stan
August 18, 2007 3:10 AM | Link to this
HEY SPIKE
If beating UGAG every year requires recruiting Thugs to our campus, being a hypocrite about religion, and having seven players arrested every offseason….NO THANKS
By Jason McEntyre
August 18, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
Stan- cmon now. Please don’t stoop to another level. Why would you accuse someone of being a hypocrite in their religion? Is that bitterness or just being malicious in nature. There is not one instance to accuse Mark Richt of being a hypocrite in his faith. I will have fun with the best of them with taking “jabs” back and forth with a Georgia fan about football. But, posts like that are out of line. We accuse them of having no class, and a lot of them lack that. You sir, can be classed in that same category.
By GATOR
August 18, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Poor Bulldawgs..what the matter….still can’t figure out how to beat the GATORS!…what’s it been since your last national championship, 26 years….just a note, if you can figure out how to beat Kentucky and Vanderbilt then your chances will be greatly enhanced!….oh, and don’t forget you will still need to beat the GATORS!….enjoy your watermelon
By Spike
August 18, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Hey Stan…. Read Jasons comments above. And get some decaf. Some of you guys sure can dish it out, but can’t take it. Lighten up.
By yellowblood
August 18, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
George P: Thanks for the response on T Choice. I would rather you respond to the UGA gasbags than me. They all know their team is headed for disaster and they’re blowing their air while they can. Like I’ve always said There’s no greater fun than to be a UGA fan during the 30 days before the season starts.
By Jamal
August 18, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Uh… Gator, if you didn’t notice..this is a GT blog. But, thanks!! Maybe it would be a better idea to go to a UGA blog and comment.
By treyinathens
August 18, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
From a Dawg…here’s hope that Kelly is OK, and there are no major problems.
By Dalton
August 18, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
Until we get a “HANDLE” on this Tickle Pile situation I don’t believe our passing performance will improve. When Bennett beat up Robertson on the way to the Tickle Pile we learned just how important these darn Tickle Piles are to our players.
By gt2nash
August 19, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Preseason kinks and challenges are a good thing, since, hopefully, the coaches will be that much more diligent and creative in preparing the team for the season - which cannot start soon enough. I am tired of all the negative energy being directed at Ga Tech and the rest of the ACC. Personally, I think the ACC does well with developing the recruits it receives (as measured by the high number of draft picks each year), considering the non-academic, athletics-first SEC attracts most of the top recruits out of high school.