Yellow Jackets scout team doing its job

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As proud as coach Paul Johnson said he was of Georgia Tech's defense after their performance in the second half of Saturday's win against Wake Forest, there were two other guys who were just as satisfied: Jim Henry and Jordan Luallen.

Henry and Luallen are on Tech's scout team. Each week they are charged with doing their best impersonation of that week's quarterback and offense to get Tech's defense ready for what they might see. This week it's Duke and quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.

This season, they've had to try to be some of the best in ACC history. From Tyrod Taylor at Virginia Tech, to Florida State's Christian Ponder, to Riley Skinner last week.

So after the No. 7 Yellow Jackets held the Deacons to 10 points in the second half Saturday, Henry said he felt like he had done his job.

"You don't necessarily get noticed on Saturday, but the coaches appreciate that you've put your time in and you've helped them get ready," Henry said. "You always want the defense to have a good game, you feel good about yourself and the effort you've put forth through the week."

Working the scout team not only gets the defense ready, it helps the quarterbacks learn their craft.

Luallen, a freshman from Greenwood, Ind., said mimicking the drop-back passers that Tech has faced the past weeks has taught him that being athletic doesn't make you a good quarterback. You have to learn to stay in the pocket.

"If I have to take the hits, I have to take the hits," Luallen said.

And Tech's players on defense say they appreciate the work. Defensive end Anthony Egbuniwe said they don't take it easy on the scout team because the scout team doesn't take it easy on them. Nor are they supposed to.

"They put their work in and try their hardest to give us some looks," Egbuniwe said. "Every week they get a new assignment to do. It’s a tough job for them and a good job they do every week."

Ready for a break

Tech has been practicing for 15 consecutive weeks, the first time Johnson has said he can remember ever doing that.

Because the Yellow Jackets' bye is next weekend, and because they started practicing the first week of August, Tech hasn't had a break for 3½ months.

"Everybody's looking forward to it," Johnson said. "The kids have handled it really well. Nobody's mentioned it. I haven't brought it up."