AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August
August 2007
Where’s Kokomo? And who’s Rudy?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings from The Loop, where we’re surrounded by remarkable Chicago weather!
Sometimes, work really stinks.
It’s about 73 degrees, sunny, light breeze. Sweet! Heading to a Cubs game shortly, and no, unlike several Tech fans who’ve blogged in other places that they were drinking en route, I’m dry. Unless you count diet Coke.
Few cuts for space from this morning’s story about the Notre Dame mystique, and then onto a prediction.
I wasn’t kidding when I said Ara Parseghian’s Notre Dame teams were tough at home. They went 51-6-1 from ‘64-‘74 with the first three losses coming to Michigan State (‘65), USC (‘67) and Purdue (‘68) when each was ranked No. 1.
I think by starting to talk about Notre Dame’s history way back in the spring, Gailey’s goal was to work the “big deal factor” to a lower ebb by game time. Philip Wheeler is certain sick of the talk.
By the way, Tech lists its record as 2-16 at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame lists its home record against Tech as 15-2. The disparity? Both teams consider the 1938 game, a Notre Dame win, to have been played away. Dunno who’s right. Tried, preliminarily, to research that, but to no avail.
So what about that mystique, and its affect on opponents?
Sure, in ‘93, No. 1-ranked Florida State visited No. 2 Notre Dame, and drove to the 14-yard-line with a few seconds left and the Irish leading 31-24. FSU quarterback Charlie Ward had a receiver open in the end zone, but did not see him. Notre Dame won, and was in line to play for a national title.
But the very next week, the Irish lost their regular-season finale 41-39 to Boston College on a game-ending field goal - at home.
Does this mean a leprechaun succeeded the first time and failed the second, or that the bottom line is written less by a break or two, and more by players, coaches and the construction of a mind set?
It says here the latter. Ara Parseghian is long gone. The Irish are 23-9 at home over the past five seasons, 46-16 over the past 10. They have a new quarterback(s), RB, WRs, DC, and Tech has loads of experience, and perhaps plenty of bitterness (less over last year’s lost to Notre Dame, I think, and more over the way the season ended with three three-point losses).
Maybe a few jitters early, then Tech rolls, 31-20.
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Clark news means big boost
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday’s news that Pat Clark is academically eligible goes a long way toward solidifying Georgia Tech’s secondary. Clark has spent only one season as a defensive back — he began his career as a receiver — but he started five games last season at cornerback or nickel back and, based on what I saw in preseason workouts, is no worse than the Jackets’ third-best cover corner and might be second only to Jahi Word-Daniels.
Mario Butler might catch him by the end of the season, but Butler is just starting his college career. But for now, I’d rate Clark as a contender for the title of Most Valuable Backup on the Tech team, behind Michael Johnson.
Who would you consider for that title? Rashaun Grant? Jacob Lonowski? D.J. Donley, perhaps? (I see Tech starting a three-receiver set of James Johnson, Greg Smith and Demaryius Thomas.)
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Tougher trip: Notre Dame or Duke?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Location, location, location. It matters most in real estate, and while it may not be at the top of the list of considerations when trying to calculate the odds of winning a college football game, it sure rates up there somewhere.
So, road game coming up two days from now for Tech, and I wonder …
Does the efficiency level at which the Jackets will play hinge any more on the fact they will play at Notre Dame than it will when they play at, say, Duke?
Now, before going over a cliff, make sure you understand the question. I know the caliber of competition will be vastly different in Notre Dame, Ind. (home of the Irish, not South Bend, although NOBODY except the Notre Dame sports information department ever makes note of that mailing address) than in Durham, N.C.
That is not my point/question.
My question relates to the “vibe” generated by one’s surroundings.
Are Tech players any more likely to be nervous or mistake-prone at Notre Dame because it’s Notre Dame than at Duke, or at Maryland strictly because of the location and related crowd noise, emotion, etc.?
Or might such a thing work to Tech’s advantage? Might these factors serve to lend greater clarity to the mission at hand?
Might the plusses and minuses mitigate one another?
If there is to be a detectable emotional affect on the Jackets because this game is at Notre Dame, methinks a far more relevant mitigator will be Tech’s collective experience, the number of returning players on both sides of the ball. There are enough veterans and such a paucity of young players who will be counted on significantly that combined with a common-sense suggestion that younger players are more likely to be out of whack, I don’t think it factors against Tech any more than it would another road game.
Just one man’s opinion.
And again, I’m not saying it won’t be louder or more hostile at Notre Dame than at Duke. But I’m not buying the idea that the Jackets will be any more spooked or distracted Saturday than in Durham, one place that for my two cents I could see it being more difficult to focus for lack of clarity. The prize won’t be as rewarding, even though that’s an ACC game.
That’s it for today’s psycho-babble. You may return to life among the sane.
Matt
P.S. If the staff had to pick between Clark and Howard and have one eligible and not the other, Clark would’ve been the pick I imagine. Not to slight the two years younger Howard, who should be able to earn more chances, but having a senior CB go out before the opener at Notre Dame — when there is specious depth at the position — would have been a bad omen, period.
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Bond’s first play will be …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and John Bond is about to make his. That had me thinking back to two dramatic first plays.
2005, Tech vs. UConn: Reggie Ball misses the game because of what later proves to be meningitis, and Taylor Bennett debuts. The first play is a pass to Calvin Johnson just beyond the first-down marker, and Johnson takes it from there, completing a 42-yard touchdown play.
2006, Tech at Virginia Tech: Memories of the previous year’s 51-7 rout vanish immediately when Ball throws 59 yards to a wide-open James Johnson on the game’s first play. Georgia Tech goes on to lead 38-13 and coast to a 38-27 victory.
So, what does Bond call on his first play? A handoff to Tashard Choice? A pass to Greg Smith? A trick play? What would you do, and what will he do?
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Tech seeks multiple cures, or answers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For all of the considerable fuss about a new face at quarterback for Notre Dame and the fact coach Charlie Weis isn’t tipping his play sheet as to who it will be, Tech’s not having any easier a time preparing for the Irish defense.
The problem has much less to do with personnel, and a lot more to do with scheme. Notre Dame is switching to a 3-4 this season under new defensive coordinator Corwin Brown, most recently the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets.
Chan Gailey said this makes a big difference, and here’s just a snippet of his comments on the subject from today.
“It changes a lot of the thought process,” he said. “It changes protection schemes, running game thoughts, secondary disguise, etc. You wouldn’t think it would have that big of a variable, but it does. Because of the spacing on the line, who can rush and who can drop, there are a lot of the positives that come out of the 3-4.”
(please insert transition here)
Not that this is a good or bad example, but I’ve only been around for one Tech football season prior to this, having covered the NFL and Falcons for eight years previously, so maybe it’s too early for me to say this. But it seems to me like Gailey is more comfortable this season than last.
He didn’t strike me as uptight last season for starters, although more edgy late in the season for obvious reasons, but he’s been a little more chatty this summer than I remember last, more agreeable in talking about certain aspects of the team (though not necessarily as transparent as I’d like).
Some folks who’ve been around much longer than me seem to think that Gailey has grown considerably more comfortable with each passing season. I think the strength of this year’s team, the strength of the current freshman class, the reduced (at least for now) teeth-gnashing with regards to the quarterback position, it all adds up.
Finally, in answer to yesterday’s question concerning my thoughts on Mike Vick; can’t answer, not that I don’t have some thoughtgs. But it creates a monitoring problem in the office as all items Vick tend to lean toward explosive in blog commenting, so … sorry.
And finally, finally, postponing The Cure tour until next spring really stinks.
Matt
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Jones to trigger Fighting Irish?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have no money to back it up, but I think Demetrius Jones starts at quarterback for Notre Dame Saturday, not that I think it’ll make much difference if the Irish are to win. I’m not saying they are going to win, either, but I don’t think the caliber of play at that position wins the game for Notre Dame.
I do believe the caliber of play at that position may contribute strongly to Notre Dame losing.
If Notre Dame is going to win, the Irish are going to have to take care of the ball, figure out a way to slow Tech’s running game with their new-fangled 3-4 (don’t think it’s going to happen), and avoid big plays surrendered in the passing game (they have a shot at that).
If this game is low scoring again, like last year, Notre Dame’s chances are a lot better. But I don’t think Jones and/or Claussen combined with the rest of that offense will be built to score a lot of points on Tech’s unusually experienced defense.
I think Jones starts, Claussen plays, and Jones finishes.
Now, for kickoffs, I’m hedging toward Tech freshman walkon Scott Blair. This is about the only guesswork left for the Jackets, other than the return game, as Jacob Lonowski has to start at RT (A.J.’s been out too long). Starting WRs will be James Johnson and Greg Smith, although Demaryius Thomas will play a lot when Tech is in 3-WR sets, and at times he’ll be in there in 2-WR sets, methinks.
Later this week … will Tech be susceptible to the spook factor, and Touchdown Jesus, and so on and so forth? (Early hint: Puhleeze!)
Matt
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Of leprechauns and four-leaf clovers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Georgia Tech eight days from playing Notre Dame, the notion of the “luck of the Irish” suggests we should consider “Murphy’s Law,” or at least a variant of it.
So our topic of today: What’s most likely to go wrong for Tech in the opener?
Here’s what I think, based on what I saw last year and what I know from preseason practice:
—Kickoff coverage gives Tech fits. The Yellow Jackets have struggled in this department for two consecutive years and now have to start 5 yards farther back because of a new NCAA rule.
—Notre Dame passes the ball effectively. OK, I know it won’t be Brady Quinn taking the center snap, and I know Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight are gone. But Charlie Weis figured out a way to get 246 passing yards and a completion percentage over 60 in last season’s game.
—Taylor Bennett has a difficult day. This is his first start in an opponent’s stadium, and there were no expectations in his first two starts; there are high expectations now.
I don’t think things will go wrong on Tech’s offensive line, despite the injuries in the preseason. I don’t think things will go wrong for Tashard Choice, who doesn’t fumble and does reliably get his yards game after game.
What do you think?
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While Techsters were at the beach …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll tack on a football note or two after practice tonight, but I thought today I’d review changes at Tech in and around the athletics department since the end of the 2006-‘07 school year, while fans — at least those with sense and opportunity — were sunning themselves, golfing, etc.
I asked the sports information department to help with a list, and this is ALL generated by them (spearheaded by Mike Stamus). I’m merely a relay.
Some of these items are much better known than others.
Off the Field
• Big overhaul of the annual giving and donation structure for Tech athletics, anchored by the new TECH Fund, which establishes minimum giving levels tied to season tickets in various seating areas of Bobby Dodd Stadium and Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Some happy, some sad, many still withholding judgement.
• In the planning stages is a new stadium for Tech’s softball team, which will be located next to the O’Keefe building and open in 2009. Looks like they’re already tagging trees to be felled adjacent to current parking lot. Maybe I’m wrong.
• Tech’s former football locker room on the ground floor of the Edge Center being transformed into a new Technology Center facility for student-athletes.
•Georgia Tech Athletic Association, through its website, RamblinWreck.com, has formed a partnership with TeamFanShop, a company that specializes in online stores that sell officially licensed products for collegiate and professional athletic teams. More options available for purchase.
Women’s Basketball
• Teri Moren, formerly head coach at the University of Indianapolis, hired as an assistant • Mark Simons promoted to associate head coach • Ballyhooed recruiting class now in school includes high school All-Americans in Iasia Hemingway (Newark, N.J.) and Alex Montgomery (Tacoma, Wash.)
Women’s Track
• Samantha Musil, a freshman from Dubois, Neb., earned the silver medal in the women’s discus at the Pan American Junior Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil. • Adriane Lapsley, a former Tech standout, hired as an assistant
Men’s Basketball
• Anthony McHenry, member of the 2004 Final Four team who finished eligibility in 2005, working in the basketball office as a student assistant. Played in Leicester, England last year for former Tech point guard Karl Brown, a member of Tech’s 1990 Final Four team.
Golf
• Hired Christian Newton as assistant coach, following two years at Alabama and two years at Georgia Southern • Three current Tech players, Cameron Tringale, Taylor Hall and John-Tyler Griffin, and one former Tech player, Carlton Forrester, qualified for the U.S. Amateur, ongoin at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Swimming and Diving
• New coach Courtney Shealy Hart - Two-time gold medalist at 2000 Summer Olympics … NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year (2000) while swimming at Georgia … … National Champion in 50-meter freestyle, 100m free, 100m backstroke, 400m free relay and 400m medley relay … 26-time All-American • Tech will host 2008 ACC Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Feb. 20-23, 2008 (women), Feb. 27-March 1 (men)
Softball
• Projected to be one of the top teams in the nation next season by ESPN.com. Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=2942209
Baseball
• Assistant Bobby Moranda became the head coach at Western Carolina and assistant Josh Holliday accepted an assistant coaching position at Arizona State. New assistants are Bryan Prince, former Tech catcher from 1998-2001, and Tom Kinkelaar, who has been the director of operations the past three years.
• Seven of the 10 current players drafted in June signed contracts, including C Matt Wieters (Baltimore) OF Danny Payne (San Diego), SS Michael Fisher (Atlanta), LHP Tim Ladd (Atlanta), OF Wally Crancer (Baltimore), RHP Jared Hyatt (Texas) and LHP Ryan Turner (Texas).
• RHP Eddie Burns (Atlanta), LHP Chris Duncan (Washington) and OF Luke Murton (N Yankees) unsigned, and back in school. One of three drafted high school prospects made it to Tech, although Derek Dietrich had recent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
Volleyball
• Returning 12 of 13 members of team that finished 20-12. Only additions are two local players, both tabbed AJC Players of the Year and players of the year in their respective classes (Mary Ashley Tippins - AAAA, Jordan McCullers - AAAAA).
Womens tennis
• All-American Kristi Miller was selected to play in the Pan American games but could not attend after going through wrist surgery. She has returned to the courts and should be fine for the start of fall.
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Who backs up Choice?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re smack in the middle of the weirdest week of the preseason. It’s not quite the “camp” segment; two-a-days are over, and practices are closed. But it’s not game week, either. We’re in that place in between, where it feels a little bit early to break down the Notre Dame game but a little bit late to be talking about the two-deep.
That said, one thing I’m curious about is how the running back situation will play out behind Tashard Choice. How does Tech divide the playing time? The scrimmages and practices suggest Rashaun Grant might be as much a receiver as a running back and that Roddy Jones, if he doesn’t redshirt, would be used much like Grant. The X factor here is that Grant is hurt and might be out for awhile.
Does Jamaal Evans play when Choice doesn’t, or does Tech use Jonathan Dwyer as well with the first team, as it did on Saturday? I think Dwyer looks good enough to get a shot. What would you do?
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Plenty of questions, few answers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey, it’s been a few days, and the pace of matters has changed a great deal with no practice Sunday and then closed practices from here on out.
There may be some news today on the academic status of OL Cord Howard and DB Pat Clark. For quite some time, everybody operated on the idea that their situations had to be resolved by Monday, the first day of classes, but apparently circumstances have stretched the process.
We’ll certainly let you know tonight.
Any thoughts on the Tech-Georgia basketball game being played in January instead of early December?
From my vantage point, I wish they still played home-and-home as they did years ago, but there are myriad reasons that ended and won’t start again, some political, some practical.
I’ll have more tomorrow.
Matt
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Jackets’ open and shut case
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech practices this evening, but I’m posting our blog in the afternoon. The reason: Practice is closed. For the first time since practice began Aug. 3, Matt and I won’t be in a position to tell you how things looked to us.
We’ve had a lot more access than the reporters covering Notre Dame and several other schools, and that has helped us keep you up to date about who might be making a move up the depth chart and who might play various positions (strongside linebacker, nickel back and tight end, for example. Shane Bowen made a lot of progress at SLB, and Tech is still deciding at nickel but was using Avery Roberson there in recent practices, with Pat Clark filling Roberson’s CB spot in nickel situations, and Brad Sellers appeared to be slightly ahead of Austin Barrick at tight end, but Colin Peek ready to step back in at No. 1 when he got back from his Achilles injury).
Some colleges, most famously USC, keep their practices open year-round. Others keep them closed. Tech under Chan Gailey has followed a policy of opening practice in the spring and preseason, then closing it once classes begin. It’s an attempt to find a middle ground between the increased publicity and fan support that can come from openness and the potential strategic benefits of keeping some things secret from your upcoming opponents.
If you were a coach, what would you do?
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More answers for Dickey than Clinch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tech’s off today, and I’m working on a story for Monday’s paper so I don’t have much to add. I do think Tech is better equipped to deal with the loss of C Ra’Sean Dickey for the fall semester, than Paul Hewitt’s team was set up to deal with the loss of G Lewis Clinch last spring.
Onto another sport, some folks told me the Great Yellow Jacket Encounter was not well organized yesterday, lines were long, and people were generally not respectful. I heard that some players stuck around longer than expected, though.
If you went, what was your experience like?
Matt
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Tech, Blair healthier than U might think
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Early words from Bobby Dodd Stadium: don’t count out Scott Blair. The walk-on freshman kicker from Calhoun appears to be very much in the mix for the right to kickoff.
The Yellow Jackets haven’t done a lot yet in today’s scrimmage, as of 11:45, but they worked kickoffs with incumbent Mohamed Yahiaoui kicking off twice, once with the No. 1 cover unit, and once with the No. 2 unit. Then, Blair did the same thing. Nobody else (don’t know if that means Travis Bell is out of consideration because I know he’s the best at placing the ball where special teams coach Charles Kelly wants it, but he’s third in leg strength).
Bear in mind a new rule moves the ball back to the 30-yard-line for kickoffs this season.
Yahiaoui’s first kick went to the 2- or 3-yard-line, decent hang time, and coverage was good. Jamaal Evans returned it to about the 13.
Yahiaoui’s second kick went to the goal line, but was a line drive, which hurt the No. 2 coverage team. Rashaun Grant returned 42 yards.
Blair’s first kick went 2 yards deep with great air time, a helluva kickoff, and was returned 10 yards to the 8-yard-line — No. 1 kickoff cover team (I can only presume) on the job.
Blair’s second kick went to the 5, good hang time but not like the first though better than Yahiaoui’s second and perhaps even with the first. 13-yard return to the 18-yard line.
Make of that what you will.
Cord Howard is back. I can tell four players who are out: A.J. Smith, Colin Peek, Travis Chambers and I don’t see Correy Earls (who was not going to play today anyway) anywhere.
I’m mildly suprised to see Mike Cox in uniform, although presently RS-Soph. Matt Kamp is working FB with the No. 1 offense. Also, WRs James Johnson (knee) and D.J. Donley are in uniform, and Johnson’s already playing. Don’t know yet about Donley.
Quincy Kelly, who collapsed in practice yesterday, is here, but not participating. Don’t know any more yet about what happened to him.
First offense working its first possession against No. 2 defense. Tashard has had several very nice runs already. This may be his only possession.
Looking for a tip during this commercial timeout. Anybody got ANY suggestions on how to make a dog shed less? Seriously. We’ve had a Kelpie for about seven months. Great dog, somewhat rare in the U.S. (an Australian herding dog), but he sheds like nobody’s business. Lacquer? We brush him pretty regularly, but still …
Back to it …
Third-and-8 from the defense’s 18 … Bennett has to sidestep in the pocket, and Jake Blackwood breaks up Bennett’s pass over the middle for Johnson. Field goal unit on. His 35-yarder is good.
Brad Sellers working No. 1 TE.
Donley’s out there with the No. 2 offense.
Gonna go.
By the way, former Tech TE George Cooper, who caught a touchdown last night in the Falcons’ win at Buffalo, is on the sideline.
Matt
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Something 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
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Bebe, 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.
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Hot off the field, re-ranked freshmen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back again, for a third ranking of TRUE freshmen in terms of their chances of playing this season, which is another way of saying these are the freshmen I think least likely to red-shirt. This is the second re-ranking, and I may do one Sunday or Monday a.m., following Saturday’s scrimmage. Have to decide to do one last one heading into the regular season. This takes into consideration what I’ve seen in practices and combines it with roster depth parameters as I see them. Previous rankings are in order in parenthesis). I shortened the list this week as some pretty obvious red-shirts seem to be emerging.
Didn’t want to add this to the existing Wednesday blog because it’d be too long, but check that one (Injuries improving, Donley needs to D-up) out, too.
1 DE Derrick Morgan (1a/1)
Can’t imagine him red-shirting. Gailey said he’s ahead of all freshman in terms of knowledge. Hasn’t dominated in practice, but clearly is not being pushed around.
1b D.J. Donley (8/5)
Continues to make impressions. The fact he is shaping up as a near sure-fire contributor on special teams, not the mention the fact WRs coach Buddy Geis listed him as his No. 5 receiver the other day makes this increasingly obvious. His size helps, too, as evidenced by a few leaping touchdown receptions.
1c S Morgan Burnett (3/3)
Ditto. Also shaping up as a special teams contributor. If he’s not the No. 4 safety now and Blackwood is, Burnett is right on his heels. Plus, as safeties go, he covers quite well in straight man.
1d RB Jonathan Dwyer (5/4)
Prior to his leg injury, he was getting some reps in the KOR game, and showing serious talent at RB. Was quite solid in last Saturday’s scrimmage. I could see him passing Jamaal Evans as the backup to Tashard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
1e QB Josh Nesbitt (1b/2)
Still not throwing with near the authority you’d like to see as a coach (or fan), but coaches continue to work with him in a run-oriented package and as the scrimmage showed, he’s pretty darned good at that. Tebow II? Different style, and I’m not positive Nesbitt is going to be used like that, but if I had to say, I’d say he’ll find the field this season and probably more than a little.
6 LT Clyde Yandell (NR/9)
Has gotten so many reps at No. 1 LT with Andrew Gardner’s injury keeping him out, working ahead of previous backup Jason Hill. Quite impressive for a guy who played D-line only until his senior year of high school.
7 K Scott Blair (NR/6)
Walk-on from Calhoun is still in the running to kickoff, although much is to be determined.
8 RB Roddy Jones (NR/8)
Getting some work on KOR in part because of injuries to Dwyer and Correy Earls, but in my opinion still more likely to red-shirt.
9 CB Mario Butler (NR/7)
Rose last week and fell this week for the same reason: the status of senior reserve CB Pat Clark. Last week, Clark’s status seemed to be in flux, presumably for academic reasons, as he missed a couple practices and was limited other times. No evidence of that this week. Butler would be your No. 5 CB now by my count, and barring injuries or other issues with Clark or any of the others, I don’t know that coaches are hell-bent on keeping Butler active. I wonder if in a pinch they’d work a safety some at corner instead? This pick hard to call.
10 OL Nick Claytor (4/12)
Moved up this week because backup RT Cord Howard continues to be in flux as he was not at Wednesday a.m. practice and Gailey said Cord might not resolve all academic issues - for the better or worse — for a few more days. If everybody was healthy and sound academically, Claytor’s No. 4 at RT behind A.J. Smith, Lonowski and Howard, but A.J.’s been out a long time (though expected to be able to practice again before season opener) and Howard continues to fluctuate. I don’t think coaches want to skip red-shirts on both Claytor and Yandell, but what do I know? If Howard solidifies his eligibility, Smith returns to healthy and Lonowski’s shoulder holds, Claytor red-shirts.
11 DE Jason Peters (6/10)
I don’t think he’s doing poorly, but Tech has considerable depth at DE (Oliver, Robertson, M. Johnson, Hall, Morgan, Anyaibe in a pinch). Wouldn’t make sense for him to be active. Even if he started blowing people up, there are so many players ahead of him.
I see everybody else as almost a lock to redshirt.
Matt
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Injuries improve, Donley needs to D-up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Improving news on the injury front at Tech, as starting right guard Nate McManus is back in action this morning. Projected starting right tackle A.J. Smith (that might not hold up if he misses much more time) is doing more on the side than he has, and for the first time since his elbow injury he’s not in a sling.
Demaryious Thomas is running more, Colin Peek is too and today he’s doing it in cleats rather than sneakers.
Fr. LB Kyle Jackson is out with an undisclosed injury, and backup QB Calvin Booker appeared to be trying to stretch out his throwing shoulder. It hasn’t kept him out of practice though.
Tashard’s strutting. Just scored off left tackle (behind Fr. Clyde Yandell, as starter Andrew Gardner remains out) in full-contact goal-line drills.
I notice Fr. LB Brad Jefferson taking some reps with the No. 2s in goal-line, probably because Travis Chambers is still out.
With Jonathan Dwyer and Correy Earls still sidelined with injuries, Fr. RB Roddy Jones earlier joined Jamaal Evans and Rashaun Grant in taking some kickoffs.
On another topic, kind of an interesting day for Tech baseball, huh? If coach Danny Hall happens to get all four potential returning players and the three unsigned high school prospects (if they fail to sign pro contracts by midnight), his team will get a huge boost.
In the story we have on-line and in the paper, some information was trimmed from the bottom for length reasons.
With regards to the potential signing of C Matt Wieters, whom Baltimore drafted No. 5 overall, sources in the Orioles organization told the Baltimore Sun Monday that the two sides were far apart, and it is widely believed that adviser/potential agent Scott Boras and the Wieters familar rae looking for more guaranteed money than the $2.25 million bonus recommended - but not mandated - by the commissioner’s office as a guideline for that draft slot.
There is history to suggest that Boras/Wieters have a much bigger number in mind. The last Tech player to be drafted No. 5 — Mark Teixeira, in 2001 — received a $4.5 million bonus from the Rangers as part of a contract that came to be worth $10.6 million. He is represented by Boras. Plus, at least one player drafted later than Wieters has pulled $7 million in bonus.
It’ll be interesting.
Back to football, in passing drills, Taylor just lofted one into the end zone for D.J. Donley, who’s gone up and grabbed a few of those. This time, though, CB Jahi Word-Daniels went up and picked it. Donley needs to turn more defensive in that situation as the ball was slightly underthrown. Nice play by Jahi.
More later.
Matt
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JJ comes back, Thomas, Peek could soon follow
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Receiver James Johnson is back on the practice field Tuesday, as is backup fullback Quincy Kelly. Offensive tackle Andrew Gardner, offensive guard Nate McManus and backup linebacker Travis Chambers are running. Receiver Demaryius Thomas is not only running but practicing cutting, along with tight end Colin Peek. Receivers Correy Earls and Andrew Smith are pedaling stationary bicycles, next to offensive tackle A.J. Smith. Backup running back Jonathan Dwyer is lifting weights and doing pull-ups. The injury report stops there, at least for players on or near the two-deep.
The punt team is practicing on the far field. Pat Clark is back deep, getting practice fielding the punts. Jerrard Tarrant, James Johnson and Tyler Evans are on another field, catching from the backup punters, Mohamed Yahiaoui and Chandler Anderson, a walk-on from Columbus.
Tech is working on the passing game, with everybody but the offensive line on offense and everybody but the defensive tackles on defense. Michael Johnson and Darrell Robertson worked as ends with the top unit; there’s nothing wrong with Adamm Oliver, who is over with the rest of the D-linemen and sometimes will line up at tackle in passing situations. Robert Hall and Derrick Morgan worked as the No. 2 ends. James Johnson just bobbled a pass but stayed with it and pulled it in. Greg Smith continues to shine in practices. He’s working at the inside spot today. Johnson and D.J. Donley also are running with the first team.
Taylor Bennett just threw what looked like an ill-advised pass picked off by Djay Jones. It’s possible the receiver ran the wrong route. In an offense where receivers have to make decisions, it can be disastrous when the quarterback and the receiver decide differently.
In the 11-on-11, Oliver has worked at tackle with Robertson and Michael Johnson at end.
Interesting defense here, with Gary Guyton lining up in the middle and Shane Bowen and Anthony Barnes as the outside backers. Philip Wheeler is coming on now, so that was just a chance for the other guys to work without him.
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Tech back, but beat up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back at it two days after the Yellow Jackets’ first scrimmage, and a day removed from the first off day of the summer. The off day was not enough for A LOT of players, including starting DE Darrell Robertson. He’s not practicing, but is moving around from drill to drill with the D-linemen as opposed to working out on the side (the beach) with other injured players. I won’t be surprised if he practices this afternoon.
There are at least 11 not practicing, the only notable newcomer to the list of the shelved being Fr. RB Jonathan Dwyer. He has some sort of left leg issue, but was moving well while working out on, “the beach.”
Otherwise, without going into much detail, here’s who else is out as far as I can tell: TE Colin Peek (but not in that removable boot any more), Ts Andrew Gardner and A.J. Smith, WRs James Johnson (sore knee), Andrew Smith (hamstring), Demaryius Thomas (right knee, but moving pretty well as far as I can see) and R.B. Clyburn, DL Logan Walls (mending broken leg), LB Travis Chambers (shoulder).
WRs Correy Earls and D.J. Donley are getting work with the first unit because of injuries to others.
LT Jason Hill is back, but working with the No. 2s behind Fr. Clyde Yandell. Lonowski continues to work in A.J.’s No. 1 RT spot.
Interestingly, DT Elris Anyaibe took some snaps in Robertson’s No. 1 RDE spot rather than sophomore Robert Hall. Also, LDE Adamm Oliver worked in that spot some as Michael Johnson worked at No. 1 LDE in 11-on-11 work.
With Dwyer down, Earls, Rashaun Grant and Jamaal Evans took kickoffs.
Everybody seems a little more sedate than usual. Tenuta’s making noise, but it’s quieter than usual. Tashard hasn’t gotten revved up yet.
Gotta go. More later. Questions?
Matt
P.S. in passing drills, Booker just threw a nice touchdown pass in the left corner to RB. Roddy Jones with S Jake Blackwood covering.
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Scrimmage No. 1: Off and running
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech works out at Bobby Dodd Stadium today for the first time this preseason. The Yellow Jackets just finished punt practice (Durant Brooks boomed a 67-yard punt; no, that’s not a typo), and now they’re doing some seven-on-seven work at one end of the field and O-line vs. D-line on the other end. Taylor Bennett and Calvin Booker are wearing green mesh vests over their uniforms as a “don’t hit the quarterback” reminder.
Left guard Matt Rhodes, who has missed a lot of practice lately with an unknown injury, is back with the No. 1 line today. Freshman Clyde Yandell replaces left tackle Andrew Gardner, who has been in and out of practice with an unknown injury.
Among the players not in pads today: linebacker Travis Chambers (shoulder) and defensive end Michael Johnson (unknown).
They’re practicing kickoffs now, and the return unit was Dominique Reese, Tony Clark, Troy Garside, Joe Gaston and James Liipfert up front, Robert Hall and Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett and Martin Frierson behind them, and Jamaal Evans and Rashaun Grant as returners. Evans returned the first kick to the 43.
Mohamed Yahiaoui and Scott Blair are doing the kickoffs. Blair kicked two good ones.
James Johnson is not in pads today. I’m not sure what’s wrong with him.
Tashard Choice changed directions on a play designed to go to the right and ran 20 yards on the first play of the scrimmage. The No. 1 offense, working against the No. 2 defense, stalled after that. On the second series, Taylor Bennett completed an 8-yard pass to Greg Smith but the offense did not pick up a first down.
Now, it’s the No. 2 offense against the No. 1 defense. The No. 2 offense is not getting anywhere, not surprisingly. The worst play, which was nullified by a penalty, was a Calvin Booker pass that Gary Guyton almost intercepted.
No. 1 O vs. No. 2 D again. Jamaal Evans runs for 7 on 1st and 15, and then Taylor Bennett dumps a pass to Rashaun Grant, who uses some extra effort to get the first down while being tackled by Dominique Reese. Jonathan Dwyer follows with the best run of the day so far, a 19-yarder that suggests the recruiting excitement surrounding him might have had some basis in reality.
After a holding penalty, Bennett throws a 14-yard pass to Correy Earls, and on third-and-6 he hits Grant again, this time for 10 yards to the 20. Bennett throws a 16-yard TD pass to Greg Smith, who catches the ball near the right front pylon.
Cord Howard is playing No. 2 right tackle, and David Brown is playing No. 2 left tackle, and Booker is completing passes, a 10-yarder to Willie White on third-and-10, an 11-yarder to Jonathan Malone on second-and-8.
Now it’s the No. 1 offense again, and after a strong stiff-arm-assisted run by Dwyer Bennett passes to Greg Smith, who does a good job finding an open spot in the zone defense and then does an even better job breaking tackles to complet a 13-yard gain. Dwyer caps the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run on which the blocking is superb. He showed his speed, but he didn’t have to make any great moves or break any tackles.
Halftime, after the No. 2 offense failed to do anything in two series against the No. 1 defense.
I haven’t seeen Damaryius Thomas out here. Thomas hurt his knee in practice on Friday and is likely to be out awhile, but the good news Friday afternoon was that he’ll be back in time for the Notre Dame game.
The No. 3s are out there, and we learned right away why Josh Nesbitt isn’t wearing a green vest like Bennett and Booker. He takes a shotgun snap, fakes a handoff and runs for 12 yards, then does a quarterback sweep for a yard before a miscommunication with Jason Davis leads to a 6-yard loss. Nesbitt tried to pull the ball back, but Davis had it and held on. Nesbitt then scrambled for 22 yards on third-and-15, then ran 2 yards to the 6. A shotgun snap sailed over Nesbitt’s head on third down from the 3.
Nesbitt finally threw a pass, and completed it, on his second series, an 8-yarder to Willie White. After an incompletion, Nesbitt ran 15 yards to the 14. Then Ben Anderson broke through the line to hit Josh Wallace for a 3-yard loss, and Nesbitt completed a 4-yard pass to Alex Paquette.
Damaryius Thomas is here, and he’s walking with no apparent issues.
Now, the big moment, the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 1 defense. A 3-yard gain for Jamaal Evans, followed by a 5-yard penalty, followed by a 1-yard gain for Evans. On fourth down, Travis Bell kicks a 45-yard field goal.
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Thomas injured but will return
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech trainers are working on the right knee of redshirt freshman Demaryius Thomas, who appeared to catch a cleat in the turf while cutting during seven-on-seven drills. It’s way too early to know whether the injury will be a serious one. Quarterback Taylor Bennett and running back Tashard Choice have gone over to lend their moral support.
Thomas, known to everybody as Bebe, is one of the true athletic talents on this Yellow Jackets team and has been practicing as a starter in the three-receiver set. He is up and walking now, gingerly, with ice on his knee.
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE Thomas’ injury is “not as bad as we feared” and he is expected back in time for the opener Sept. 1 at Notre Dame, Tech coach Chan Gailey said in a statement I received Friday afternoon. I now return you to the rest of my practice blog from this morning. …
Freshman Jonathan Dwyer and redshirt freshman Jamaal Evans lined up as the top kickoff returners. Redshirt freshman Correy Earls and senior Rashaun Grant formed the second unit.
An early look at some of the top kick coverage guys: Joe Gaston, Robert Hall, Tony Clark, Dominique Reese, Tyler Evans, Anthony Barnes, Troy Garside, Sedric Griffin, Morgan Burnett and Avery Roberson. The kickers continuing to compete for the job include Travis Bell, Mohamed Yahiaoui, Scott Blair and Kevin Crosby.
Pat Clark is back at practice today and just took the field with the No. 2 defense. I haven’t seen Matt Rhodes. Dan Voss remains in his place at left guard. Freshman Clyde Yandell continues to spell Andrew Gardner for many of the first-team snaps at left tackle, as he did on Thursday. Jacob Lonowski continues to be the right tackle.
Linebacker Travis Chambers came out with what looks like a left shoulder injury. Griffin replaced him with the No. 2s.
Now I see Matt Rhodes. He’s here but not in full pads like his teammates.
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Lewis looks better; Rhodes still out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech took the field in full pads today, and an early look at strong safety Jamal Lewis shows little indication of the ankle sprain that sidelined him for the latter stages of Wednesday’s second practice session.
However, with the defense practicing a nickel package, Lewis and Pat Clark (excused from practice a couple of days ago) weren’t on the field. Joe Gaston and Jake Blackwood were. The second team unit was Morgan Burnett, Mario Butler, Martin Frierson, Tony Clark and Dominique Reese.
On the other hand, Lewis is working in individual drills. Clark, though, isn’t even at practice today. If he isn’t available when the games begin, that’s a big blow to the Yellow Jackets’ depth at defensive back.
On offense, Matt Rhodes remains present but not participating. Coach Chan Gailey said Wednesday that his starting left guard had been excused from practice but did not give a reason. Rhodes and right tackle A.J. Smith (right elbow in a sling) are on stationary bicycles on “the beach,” the area where injured players exercise during practice.
Freshman defensive end Jason Peters is back practicing today after sitting out Wednesday afternoon’s practice because of illness.
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Get your re-ranked Tech freshman here!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, as I said a week ago, here are re-rankings of TRUE freshmen in terms of their chances of playing this season, which is another way of saying these are the freshmen I think least likely to red-shirt. This takes into consideration what I’ve seen in six practices and combines it with roster depth parameters as I see them. This is not coach-based; with a couple exceptions nobody is telling me up from down here. This is the Matt-meter so there’s a dumb factor involved.
1 DE Derrick Morgan (1a)
Only early enrollee left, listed No. 3 behind Adamm Oliver and Michael Johnson (who’s been limited so far) on one side (Robertson and Hall 1-2 on other side). Johnson will play a ton for a “backup,” as all Tech fans know, when Oliver will move inside in many situations. Morgan has been repping at No. 2 LDE during Johnson’s down time. I see Tech taking five DEs and four DTs into battle, with Oliver playing even more inside than the No. 4 DT. Hasn’t been a standout, but not getting blown out for sure.
2 QB Josh Nesbitt (1b)
He’s no less athletic than suspected, but he hasn’t thrown the ball well, and he’s playing too fast for his own good. Not unexpected, probably, but not helping himself yet. There’s time. Plus, Calvin Booker has been steady at No. 2. Still very much a candidate to be used in specific situations, ala Florida’s Tim Tebow.
3 S Morgan Burnett (3)
May be the best cover safety on the team other than All-ACC pick Jamal Lewis. Still learning the ropes, though, which is that much more important while playing inside. Clearly a talent. Somewhere I read the suggestion that if he red-shirts this year, he’s going to leave Tech as a four-year starter at FS. No way. This guy’s not going to be on campus five autumns. Are you nuts?
4 RB Jonathan Dwyer (5)
Not at a need position THIS YEAR, but Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant are seniors with sophomore Jamaal Evans trailing them. Dwyer’s been impressive. Biggest thing he has working against him is depth. Could emerge in return game, which really hasn’t been worked on much if at all.
5 WR D.J. Donley (8)
Mistakenly listed as a DB last week. He’s about the No. 6 WR now, maybe No. 7. His size (6-4) helps, and though he’s freshman raw (too rough a word really) at the finer points like route-running and the like, I have a hunch he’s going to be in the mix in special teams. Gailey gave him props after Weds. a.m. practice.
6 K Scott Blair (NR)
Walk-on from Calhoun is said to be in the mix for the right to kickoff. I’ve seen some absolute howitzers come off that foot. And a couple skulled iron shots, too.
7 CB Mario Butler (NR)
I have to assume coaches would rather not be in a position to be asking for much from a freshman CB, but their choices are becoming limited. Butler moved to No. 2 CB on his side Tuesday when senior Pat Clark was excused from practice. Clark was present at Weds. a.m. practice, but hardly did any work. He doesn’t appear to be injured, and Gailey was oddly vague in describing Clark’s status. If Clark returns, Butler’s stock drops. Tech’s most precarious position: cornerback.
8 RB Roddy Jones (NR)
Biggest positive difference between what I expected and what I’ve seen among freshmen. Still think he’s a realistic bet to red-shirt, but as his value on special teams has not yet been determined, I’m moving him up until I have a reason to move him down. I can’t see great logic in having none of the top five running backs red-shirt.
9 LT Clyde Yandell (NR)
We’re getting into longshot territory fast, but Yandell moved up and worked with the No. 2 OL for a while when injuries and absences began to be a problem at RT. He moved up briefly to No. 2 LT as Jason Hill moved over to No. 2 RT rather than freshman Nick Claytor moving up there. He was very much in it again Weds. a.m., and when asked Gailey said he’s ahead of all the young guys. “He’s not in the mix yet,” Gailey said, “but we’re trying to determine if he could be.”
10 DE Jason Peters (6)
Hasn’t really done anything terribly wrong that I’ve seen, but there is so much depth at DE and Jason did not enroll early, like Derrick Morgan.
11 LB Kyle Jackson (7)
There’s been no notable movement among the LBs behind the first- and second-teamers. Guys like Fr. LBs Jackson, Brad Jefferson and Albert Rocker are hard to read until special teams start sorting out in another 10 days or so. Probably all face a steep climb to play this season, as I’ve been told special teamers figure to be dominated by returning players and some who red-shirted last season like Anthony Barnes and Dominique Reese, maybe Martin Frierson et al. Then again, maybe you want at least one of these three linebackers to start his clock ticking?
12 OL Nick Claytor (4)
See above. Claytor has slimmed down, allegedly into the 290-pound range from somewhere around 320, although when I saw him today I said, “I saw somewhere that you were down to 288,” he laughed, shook his head and rolled his eyes (the only freshman we’re allowed to talk to is Morgan). I think the chief goal for him this season/school year is to tear down and rebuild his body. I could be over-simplifying, or wrong altogether. The return of Jacob Lonowski originally did him no favors, although the injury this week to A.J. Smith and the tenuous academic status of Cord Howard don’t hurt. Still, a verifiable longshot.
13 Willie White (10)
Also mistakenly listed as a DB last week. Unless he factors in the return game, or there are several injuries, Willie’s a red-shirt, as are DL Logan Walls (a lock), Joseph Gilbert, Jerrard Tarrant, Michael Peterson and probably Rocker. Jefferson I haven’t seen much of yet. He’s kind of tall, but can he play CB? Nevermind.
I’ll update them again next Wednesday after practice.
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Clark returns, sort of
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Senior cornerback Pat Clark has returned to practice at Georgia Tech on Wednesday, one day after he was excused from practice with no explanation. However, he did not participate. I talked with Chan Gailey and Clark after practice and will have an update on this in our daily practice report. Clark said he expects the issue to be resolved, possibly as early as Thursday.
Missing, for the second consecutive day, was third- or fourth-string quarterback Byron Ingram. He might not be back. That’s also updated in the practice report that should be posted on our Web site by 7 p.m. or so (after the second practice).
Tech is in full pads for this morning’s session, and it is hot and sticky. I ran four miles before coming out here, and I didn’t run fast, and I lost a lot of hydration in 34 minutes, so I can only imagine what it’s like for these guys. They’re doing some serious work, too, one-on-one tackling drills.
I just saw the first scuffle of the preseason. It was brief, with Philip Wheeler taking on someone. It looked like Jamaal Evans, a tough 5-8, 196, came off the bottom of the pile.
More updates to come from the first day of two-a-days.
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Cord’s here, Clark’s not
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Blogmania is dead. At least for now, because time is an issue and I think the previous entry overwhelmed to the point where readers couldn’t sift through all of it. At least I hope that’s why response numbers were so modest.
Good and peculiar news from the Rose Bowl: Cord Howard is here. Pat Clark is not.
Howard, the reserve RT considered to be in competition with A.J. Smith for the starting job (although Howard missed spring practice and Smith has been pretty solid this month) was absent yesterday, and Gailey said afterward he was tending to academic issues.
Today, he showed up an hour late, but in uniform as Tech is going in full pads for the first time. He was late day one, too, when Chan said he was tending to academic matters.
From what information I gather, no players have been DQ’ed for academics, but two or three are in limbo for the time being, including Cord. Don’t know if that means appeals are under way, if they’re being allowed to make up work they missed while sick, re-take a test, NO IDEA.
And I don’t know who they are, at least not yet, other than Cord.
I’m told no starters are in this tenuous academic position. I know nothing about Clark’s absence. With him gone, the No. 2 corners are RS-Fr. Dominque Reese yet again, and for the first time, true freshman Mario Butler. CB is not a spot where Tech can be losing people. CB Jahi Word-Daniels has two interceptions in full team drills
We’ll try to report more later. Mike Knobler is doing a story on Troy Garside moving from kicker to special teams to cornerback (neat story), and tomorrow’s notebook.
I’m blogging, working on a story for Thursday about how to improve sorry kickoff coverage, then readying myself for my son’s football practice tonight (and the league draft this weekend).
No big hitting yet, as 11-on-11 work has just begun. First note from that: Jacob Lonowski working at right tackle with the first unit (he has been chiefly No. 2 RG). Hmmm.
Cord is now working No. 2 RT, David Brown No. 2 RG.
DE Michael Johnson has been a little more involved in drill work, but is not in 11-on-11s.
Peek is still wearing the boot on his right leg.
No other obvious injuries.
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Blogmania strikes Tech practice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s just so much I can’t contain it. Check here later today for practice updates (this is going to be a long file by Tech blog standards).
First, additions to the early Sunday practice blog, then questions answered off it:
With shoulder pads added today, there was more rocket fuel in the one-on-one pass-rushing drills. I’ve always liked watching that stuff, dating back to when I covered the Falcons and Chuck Smith used to get so amped up.
Did I mention that Bob Whitfield’s kid showed up Thursday to join tryouts at my son’s football league? He’s the biggest boy out of more than 100, about double my son’s weight (seriously), and my son is slightly above average for a 10-year-old (about 86 pounds). No weight limit to play in our league, but if you weigh more than 115 you can’t carry the ball, advance a turnover, or play anywhere other than interior line.
I digressed. Am I prone to do that or what? Prone! I wish I was prone right now. Anybody tired as me? Could go for some prawns, too. Oh, where was I?
In those pass-rushing drills, new starting DT Vance Walker was getting major take-off. He had rocket fuel for sure.
I was wondering if when a team has so many returning starters, like Tech (eight on defense, seven on offense although one of the departures was TE which hardly matters given the way TEs were deployed last season) if coaches are able to install systems faster. So I asked.
“We can put things in faster, but the execution is still rusty,” said coach Chan Gailey. “We’re getting it in faster, and it hurts the younger guys because it goes so fast. But the great thing is that after [Monday], I bet 80 percent of everything is in on both sides of the ball so then we can start repetition for the next 10 to 12 practices.”
Hmmm.
A few recruits were around this weekend: Chamblee OL Omoregie Uzzi and Henry County WR Chris Jackson (who already has committed) were casting about Sunday. Saturday, Buford LB T.J. Pridemore was on campus and at practice.
Now, for answers. I could use a few, by the way, Like when your wife …
Bad idea, huh?
I will not give daily quarterback updates, but I’ll comply today to that request. No one looked as good Sunday on offense, quarterbacks included, as on Saturday. I admit, I wasn’t zoned in on linemen in full team work, but the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and especially stand-in TE Austin Barrick slipped back.
Why? Not hard to figure part of the reason. Players added shoulder pads Sunday, so there was more hitting and more noise, both of which favor defense.
I would say that from my naked eyes’ observation, Calvin Booker slipped less than starter Taylor Bennett, but Bennett was so impressive Saturday that one shouldn’t read too much into that. Once, when Booker was flushed from the pocket, he flooded right, and threw in the intermediate flat for WR Correy Earls. High, not catchable, as Earls was upended jumping for it. Kind of a nasty fall.
Booker jogged out to Earls, helped him up and said, “I’ve got to get that ball to you next time.” That was an unusual sight.
Freshman QB Josh Nesbitt struggled. See the notebook for details.
On the matter of what the offense looks like … more one-back stuff, as OC John Bond has said. Yes, more spreading the ball around, like Bond said. And guess what? Tech has some screen passes in the playbook! Seriously.
Let’s talk cornerbacks. In my view, Jahi Word-Daniels and Avery Roberson will end up the starters, not that that is a revelation. I think the backups will be Pat Clark and R-Fr. Dominique Reese, who looks to have improved light years from last season, when he was converted from HS QB (out of Auburn, Ala.).
But I still won’t say Clark is a lock to be the nickel back. He started out there last year, but didn’t finish (although he played more very late in the season than in the middle). I wonder, with the return this year of S Joe Gaston, not to mention the addition of Fr.-S Morgan Burnett, if one of them might replace S Jamal Lewis in nickel situations as he slides into the nickel spot? It happened late last season, and when Lewis was a sophomore (although he was a CB then, not a safety).
That’d be a bummer for Pat Clark. I’m just saying it appears possible.
And gtland03, no, this doesn’t mean I think Lewis is moving to CB in the base defense only to be replaced by Burnett in the starting lineup. Not at all. And I don’t think Burnett is moving to CB, either.
Jamal Lewis is an All-ACC safety. Djay Jones is pretty good there, too, although Lewis is in a class by himself.
Tech needs to develop more depth at CB, though. Where last year Avery Roberson could swing from CB to S, the Jackets this year might need somebody to swing from S to CB.
That’s what happens when you lose senior CB Kenny Scott, and the top young CB on the roster last year — the guy being groomed to move into the rotation in 2007 — splits in mid-spring, and heads for the real heat, to live within earshot of Cuba.
Laurence Marius, I hope life is good in Margaritaville, and you and the girlfriend you so missed are doing fine. The Jax could use you.
Later,
Matt Winkeljohn
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Tech’s Jamal jammin’; Peek’s not
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HELLO BLOGMEISTERS!
Just thought I ‘d greet you the way Tenuta is emoting today. He’s back on his game, loud and rowdy — which is good. But TE Colin Peek is still not practicing. That’s not.
Tenuta had good things to say to CB Jahi Word-Daniel, who appears to me to be moving more comfortably in tight spaces than I remember last year. Jahi’s knee must be feeling swell. I’ll have to ask him soon. He looks bigger, too, but in a good way, like my man A.J. Smith.
Watching the DBs in one-on-one drills against WRs, there is a clear drop-off between CBs and Ss, as should be expected. There appear to be two exceptions, one that I noticed first yesterday and again today, and another that just jumped out at me.
Jamal Lewis, a former CB of course and still a candidate (I think) to play nickel back, covers like a CB, which is to say he drops his hips better when it comes time to change direction and he has a better sense than the other safeties of when to cushion and when to close.
The other exception? Hint: He’s a true freshman, and he’s wearing Reggie Ball’s old number.
Yeah, North Clayton’s Morgan Burnett. He had two nice matches against Fr. WR D.J. Donley. Won them both. Tenuta was dead silent each time. I think when a true freshman is impressive like that, especially more than once, he doesn’t want the kid getting a big head. Where he complimented Word-Daniels earlier, he’s very spare in his compliments for younger players. Plus, I think he wants to see it over and over and over and over.
Fellow Fr. Mario Butler, a CB, not as far along in the very early going.
The lads are in shoulder pads today for the first time, just barely missing a hardy rain shower that came through right before practice. That cooled the temperature, but now the humidity is heinous because the air isn’t moving a lick. No real hitting yet, 1:10 into practice.
There has been a sighting, but not by me, of Chamblee OL Omoregie Uzzi, a target of Tech and Georgia among others. I’ll look for him later.
Two most impressive freshmen walk-ons so far: Cartersville WR Robert (R.B) Clyburn, a 6-4 kid who reminds my of Brian Finneran with his body movements. Kicker Scott Blair, who has crushed most of his kickoffs the past two days. I mean well into or through the end zone. Then again, he wanked a couple back-to-back yesterday.
I’ll ask more about Peek later, but he’s been lifting weights, doing sit-ups, etc., over here on the side. I suspect no shoulder, back or abdominal injury based on what he’s been doing, and may — I stress may — detect an ever-so-slight limp. No notable wraps on his legs, though. Perhaps a strained ligament in the lower leg?
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Bennett 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.
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That’s not Calvin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings from Rose Bowl Field, where I am blogging live from Georgia Tech’s first football practice. (This is Mike, by the way; Matt and I made a last-minute switch on who would write this blog.)
Anyway, the team just started stretching, and the best news is there’s nobody on “the beach,” the area where injured players hang out during practice. Of course, this is a non-contact practice, just helmets and shorts, no pads, and nobody’s had time to get hurt, but things do look pretty good in that department. Whoops, I wrote too soon. Defensive lineman Logan Walls, a freshman from Dawsonville, just went to the Beach.
The strangest sight for a guy who has been watching Tech the past three years is to see No. 21. That’s not Calvin Johnson. That’s Jonathan Dwyer, and he’s a lot shorter (five inches) and looks nothing like Johnson. Tech fans hope he’s got some of the same star power, though, and the choice of number shows he’s got no shortage of confidence.
As usual for an early practice, there’s plenty of roster confusion. I’ve got a lot of new numbers to learn, and the addition of 12 walk-ons last night creates even more “who’s he?” head-scratching.
Tech added a new guy to its long list of potential punt returners: Jerrard Tarrant, a freshman from Carrollton, joined returnees like James Johnson, Andrew Smith, Pat Clark, Tyler Evans … the list goes on.
Matt plans to update you on the offensive line later today.
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Who benefitted from redshirts?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gimme your best guesses which players coming off redshirt years are most likely to help this season at Tech, and don’t list everybody. No more than six.
My list:
Fr. WR Demaryius Thomas. Might start.
Fr. LB Anthony Barnes. Might start after long NCAA-induced wait.
So. TE Colin Peek. Probable starter.
Jr. QB Calvin Booker. In running to be the backup.
Fr. WR Corey Earls. No. 3 on one side, but true FR D.J. Donley/Willie Whitelurk.
Fr. CB Dominique Reese. Quality prep QB; athletic, but true Fr. Mario Butler in wings.
Also, I’ll blog twice tomorrow, once during practice at around 10:45 a.m., and again after all is done and then said.
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Handicapping Tech’s newcomers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Absolutely no science here, some hunches, some common sense according to me. I’m going to predict the top Tech TRUE freshmen in terms of their chances of playing this season, which is another way of saying these are the freshmen I think least likely to redshirt.
Last season, just four players made this list, and one, CB Laurence Marius (perhaps the most talented) left school in the spring home/lovesick. (When I reached him by phone two weeks ago, he had nothing to say.)
The other three were DE Robert Hall (who’s listed No. 2 at one DE spot currently), RB Jamaal Evans (an early enrollee) and LB Shane Bowen (another early enrollee who is to compete with redshirt freshman Anthony Barnes at SLB). Last season, they were almost exclusively used on special teams save action in blowouts.
Of Tech’s balllyhooed 20-man signing class, two won’t count against this year’s scholarship numbers. One, QB Steven Threet, has transferred to Michigan. He was one of two early enrollees, too. WR Tyler Melton, though in summer school now, is not planning to enroll full time until Jan., in part because he tore an ACL last season.
I will not rank all 18 players, just the nine I think have a realistic chance not to redshirt. I expect this list to shrink as I update it weekly with some players moving up/down/in/out.
I think the number of true freshman to play will be higher than four this year because Tech will graduate/lose quite a few more players after this season than last and it is therefore that much more important to get experience for some players who will return next season. Even Gailey agreed with me on that concept, although he said he won’t force freshmen into action.
I’ll update my rankings, with possible additions or subtractions, each Wednesday leading up to Notre Dame week. Let’s roll:
1a DE Derrick Morgan Only early enrollee left, listed No. 3 behind Adamm Oliver and Michael Johnson on one side (Robertson and Hall 1-2 on other side). Johnson will play a ton for a “backup” as Oliver will move inside in many situations. Morgan — the No. 1-ranked player in Pa. last year — had a decent spring and may battle Hall for No. 4 DE spot, which with Oliver’s flexibility is more like a No. 3b spot.
1b QB Josh Nesbitt Lots of reasons. He’s an athletic specimen who landed at Tech in part because the Jackets told him he could give it ago at QB while some other schools were told him they saw him as a safety/WR or something else — period. If Nesbitt is not the second-best QB on the roster the first week of camp (that’s likely to be transfer Calvin Booker), I think he will be by the end of August. Even if he’s not, Tech needs to carry three ready-to-play QBs into the season, and I see no way Nesbitt fails to finish August ahead of Ingram and Manley. Plus, Gailey has agreed that the concept of using Nesbitt in specific situations, ala Florida’s Tim Tebow, is plausible.
3 S Morgan Burnett With the return of senior S Joe Gaston, who missed last season with a knee injury, and the flexibility of CB/S Avery Roberson, depth is not a huge issue behind Ss Djay Jones and Jamal Lewis. But Burnett, whose brother played at Georgia, is a football player first, a safety second if that makes sense. He needs to be on the field helping, and almost surely will see action this season in preparation for the fact that all three top safeties on the depth chart now will be gone next season; they’re seniors.
4 OL Nick Claytor I’m not sure he’ll truly be able to compete with A.J. Smith and Cord Howard for the open offensive tackle spot, and the somewhat surprising return of OL Jacob Lonowski gives the Jackets a bit more depth on the OL than expected, but Claytor is a strong candidate to play his way into a swing spot. Three starting OL are seniors (though no tackles) so some youngsters have to begin grooming.
5 RB Jonathan Dwyer Again, not a need position THIS YEAR, but Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant are seniors with sophomore Jamaal Evans trailing them. But Dwyer’s the real deal as a back, and next year when Choice and Grant are gone, he will have a shot to start. Better get him some playing time now. (I think fellow RB Roddy Jones will redshirt.)
6 DE Jason Peters Depth at DE doesn’t help Peters’ chances, but if he’s as good as he was made out to be in the recruiting process, when he committed to LSU ahead of Tech and Florida, and then changed his mind after a lousy visit to LSU when coaches allegedly tried to convince him to gray shirt (like Tyler Melton), he deserves to be on this list. Plus, there could be some movement on the D-line, where ends go to tackle and so forth.
7 LB Kyle Jackson Kind of like the RB spot as the top two (Srs. Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton) will be gone next year, and it wouldn’t hurt to at least get serious practice reps and perhaps a little action for a guy who might be in the main mix next season. Plus, there’s something special about Jackson’s demeanor/approach.
8/9 DBs D.J. Donley and Willie White Sure, these guys are talented, but my inclusion of them here again gets back to the future (hey, I could spin a movie title off that). The top three safeties — Lewis, Jones and Gaston — on the depth chart today are seniors. Two of the top three cornerbacks on the depth chart — Roberson and Pat Clark — are seniors, and the other, Jahi Word-Daniel, is a junior. Experience will be required real soon at all secondary positions. Next August, I guarantee the secondary at large will be the spot Tech fans will be fretting most entering the season (kind of like cornerback this season).
Remember, these are opinion-based, and I’ll update them next Wednesday — AFTER PRACTICE!
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