AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 26
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Gotta love the start of spring practice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Its a big day for GT football fans. First official spring practice of the year. Gotta love it!
Fourth Quarters Tech fans have been following things for a few weeks now, on the internet, since we caught wind of the new “Four Quarters” drills that Mike Knobler touched on in his most recent article. The first warning came from some Navy fans who popped in to warn us about what was coming and to expect some fallout or attrition.
It sounds like the “Fourth Quarters” drills were open to both football players and any middie that was crazy enough to come work out with the football squad up in Annapolis. I admit, the details relayed were fairly brutal. I can’t imagine any circumstance under which I would voluntarily throw myself under that conditioning bus. No thanks! Its alot worse than Mike’s article portrays.
“Matt Drills”? Yeah…whatever.
I expect to see a marked increase in toughness and endurance on this year’s team.
Bits & Pieces By all accounts, the coaches are impressed with the teams’ efforts leading up to the first real practice. And I haven’t heard of any players who have washed out because of the conditioning challenges.
Booker and Nesbitt will have an interesting competition for the starting job, in my opinion. Booker has shown he can throw the ball and lead the team in adverse conditions (see last season’s bowl fiasco) while Nesbitt is the obvious athletic specimen. The job may come down to decision making and who brings the best total package to the offensive backfield. Who can make the reads and make the calls with the game on the line?
How will the offensive line adapt to a new blocking scheme that is predicated on blocking down field and hitting assignments in the defensive secondary in many cases rather than pro-style pass protection assignments or zone blocking for Tashard Choice?
Which receivers and kick returners are going to fight for playing time in the A-back (think slotback) position? The A-back is going to block, run, and catch out of this offense. Expect to see more people get playing time and rotate into the game…especially if they can block.
Who will backup Jonathan Dwyer in the B-back (think power back / fullback) position? Maybe Richard Watson gets some time as a true freshman? With Roddy Jones and Jamal Evans moving to the A-back slots, we’ll need a bruiser to spell Dwyer in games.
I’m looking forward to practice reports and details from fellow GT fans. I may actually get down to a few practices this week myself.
Season Tickets My crew is sorting out our ticket choices this week since our wives have dropped out of the block to look after all the new babies. Tailgates will still be a family affair but the games will be for the “guys” this time around. I’ll miss having my daughter there for good luck head rubs and signing the fight song.
How many of our GT readers here have picked up additional (or better) seats due to the staff changes and new excitement surrounding the programs going into 2008?
If so, sound off for your section. I know LW 102 will be loud and proud again this season.
Go Jackets!
THWG!
