Every Friday night at the team hotel, Georgia Tech kicker Harrison Butker sits in his bed and visualizes kicking field goals, kickoffs and even going through warm-ups. One other scenario he pictures – a last-second field goal.
“I’m like, if the game’s on the line and I have to be the one to kick the game-winning field goal, am I ready?” Butker said. “The answer is always yes.”
Butker, the highly-touted freshman, has had a pretty quiet season. He has attempted just 10 field goals, making seven, including five of six from 40 yards and out. He has made 47-of-48 point-after tries. Out of 62 kickoffs, 25 have been touchbacks.
“Obviously, it was a little scary at first, being a true freshman out there, but I think I’ve relaxed into it,” he said.
Last-minute game-winning field goals have been a rarity under coach Paul Johnson. In 2009, Scott Blair hit the game-winner against Clemson with 57 seconds remaining in a 30-27 win. David Scully narrowly missed a 48-yarder in the 2011 Sun Bowl that would have won the game on the last play of regulation. The Tech-Georgia game was last decided by Luke Manget for the Yellow Jackets in overtime in 1999.
“I feel ready,” Butker said. “I feel like I’m ready to show people that I’ve got some ice in my veins.”
Beno ready: After a test run Saturday for his injured foot, offensive tackle Ray Beno should be able to go the distance against Georgia on Saturday.
Beno, who made his first start Saturday since the fifth game of the season, went about 20 snaps against Alabama A&M, playing at both left and right tackle. Coach Paul Johnson said Beno should be able to play the whole game against the Bulldogs in his final game at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Offensive line coach Mike Sewak said that Beno had some nice blocks and moved his feet well against Alabama A&M, but his pass blocking needs attention after missing four games. Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices, the most physical workouts of the week, will be important to give Beno chances to knock rust off his technique. Beno and tackles Will Jackson and Bryan Chamberlain could work in a rotation Saturday.
Offensive tackle Chase Roberts, who suffered a concussion in the Clemson game and was held out of the Alabama A&M game, is not expected to play against Georgia. Sewak said that Roberts is feeling better.
Team honors: The players of the week after the win over Alabama A&M were A-back Synjyn Days (offense), linebacker Tyler Marcordes (defense) and long snapper Trevor Stroebel (special teams).
Days’ two carries both went for touchdowns on eight- and two-yard runs, the second two-touchdown game of his career but his first as an A-back. Marcordes had an interception, 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in the second start of his career as he subbed for the injured Brandon Watts.
Marcordes was named the special-teams player of the week twice previously this season.
Stroebel, who became the first-string snapper when Sean Tobin suffered a broken leg in the Clemson game, played a clean game on punts, point-after tries and a field goal.
Speedy recovery: On his Monday night radio show, Johnson sent compliments and well wishes to Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who tore his ACL against Kentucky on Saturday and will miss Saturday's game. In three games against Tech, all Georgia wins, Murray was a combined 48-for-65 for 738 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.
His 211.8 passing efficiency rating in the three Tech games dwarfs his career rating of 158.6. Johnson said the plan won’t change much for Bulldogs quarterback Hutson Mason, who will make his first career start for Georgia.
“I think you get ready for the system,” Johnson said. “They’re not going to go wholesale change a lot of things.”
One Tech coach knows Mason. Sewak’s son Nick, now a long snapper at Georgia Southern, and Mason were teammates one season at Lassiter High.
“I liked him,” Sewak said. “He was a nice kid.”
Injury report: Watts is expected to return to practice Tuesday after missing the Alabama A&M game with an undisclosed injury.
Backup middle linebacker Daniel Drummond is considered doubtful after suffering a lower-leg injury in Saturday’s game.
Fresh legs: Players reported feeling fresher Monday than they would normally because of a lighter workload in the Alabama A&M game. Starters didn't play past halftime in the 66-7 rout and many played much less than that.
Quarterback Vad Lee, who has been banged up this season, said he felt tight prior to Saturday’s game but said he felt good Monday. Center Jay Finch, who likewise has been nursing injuries, said he felt “worlds better” after not only playing a limited number of snaps but against smaller opponents than usual.
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