Nesbitt still out, as Tech practice winds down

Georgia Tech had far less than a full squad for its second-to-last practice before the T-Day game, which is at noon Saturday.

Monday’s practice was canceled because of the weather, and Tuesday’s practice conflicted with lots of classes.

“I think we had 30-some guys when we started, but in the spring there’s no way to make it up,” coach Paul Johnson said. “When you have to move one here, with academics, there are so many labs on Tuesday and Thursday.”

The Jackets practiced in shorts but will don full pads for their final practice at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rose Bowl Field.

Tech worked exclusively on the passing game during the scrimmage portion, albeit without starting quarterback Josh Nesbitt.

He injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder when a defender fell on him in Saturday’s scrimmage and is listed as day-to-day.

“It’s ironic,” Johnson said. “Everybody talks about getting hit, getting beat up. He pulled a hamstring running, turned his ankle when he stepped on a shoe, and somebody fell on him. That’s when he’s gotten hurt. It’s not been like everybody would think.”

Even if Nesbitt can’t play Saturday, Johnson said Nesbitt gained a lot more from this spring than last, when he was limited by injury to six practices.

In Nesbitt’s absence Tuesday, backups Jaybo Shaw and Tevin Washington took turns throwing mostly quick routes. Demaryius Thomas and Tyler Melton made nice catches, while Roddy Jones and Marcus Wright each dropped one. Corner Mario Butler broke up two passes.

Kicker Blair limiting his spring work

Kicker Scott Blair is keeping his workload relatively light this spring. Blair, Tech’s starting punter and kicker last season, takes 10 field-goal tries, then watches them on the screen of a small video camera.

“[I] see what I’m doing wrong, try to fix it in about 10 more kicks and that’s about it for the day,” said Blair.

Last fall, Blair said he kicked too much in practice, which wore out his leg. He said fatigue leads him to develop flaws in his kicking. Blair made only 12 of 19 field-goal tries last fall. He has mostly concentrated on kicks between 30 and 40 yards this spring but has been moving into the low 40s.

Blair has also been working with the punting and kickoff units, which Tech has worked on every day. Blair has stayed ahead of the backups, including Chandler Anderson and Andy Elakman at kicker and Kevin Crosby and Anderson at punter. Anderson has missed some time after a case of appendicitis. Tech is expected to bring in walk-ons to challenge him in the fall.

“I think he can handle all three [field goals, punting and kickoffs], but he might be really superior if you let him do one or two,” said offensive line coach Mike Sewak, who oversees the long snappers, holders and kickers.

A-back Wright improves chances to start

Despite a dropped pass Tuesday, Wright, an A-back, has impressed coaches enough that he might start come September.

The speedy back from San Antonio said he was “thrown into the fire” last season when his redshirt was pulled in the sixth game. Today he understands the offense a lot better.

“I just know what I’m doing now, who I’m supposed to block, all the plays, so I’m able to go out there and play full-speed,” said the 5-foot-7 Wright, who has bulked up to 184 pounds.

Aside from his burst, coaches like Wright’s blocking style on the perimeter.

“You cut-block a guy a couple times, and the next time he sees you coming he’s going to be a little more worried about you getting his knees than he is about making the play,” Wright said.

Wright wasn’t asked to block much in high school: He scored 45 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for nearly 3,400 yards.