Students at Georgia Tech concluded their two-day fall break Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets have a slight reprieve of their own this week as they prepare for Miami on Saturday.
Coach Paul Johnson is easing up on players this week because of concerns about tired legs after playing seven consecutive games on top of four weeks of preseason practice.
“I think that might explain a little bit where we’ve been the last couple weeks,” Johnson said, referring to the team’s lackluster play in a win over Maryland and a loss to Virginia.
On Tuesday, when they normally practice in full pads for full-speed contact work, the No. 22 Jackets practiced in shoulder pads and shorts and also had practice time shortened to 18 periods, about five fewer than normal.
Center Jay Finch, nursing an injury sustained in Saturday’s game, called it “an early Christmas.” Quarterback Tevin Washington said players had more energy in Tuesday’s practice.
There were “a lot of guys flying around, ready to go play this week,” he said.
With no classes Monday or Tuesday, Washington said he slept about two hours later than normal and used the time to catch up on homework and watch extra game video.
“Hopefully we can get to the gate and be a little fresher and play fast like we did early on in the year,” Johnson said.
Injury report
Linebackers Jeremiah Attaochu and Daniel Drummond both practiced Tuesday. Drummond is expected to be ready to play. Johnson said Attaochu is “75, 80 percent [Tuesday], and we’ve still got time.”
Both players sustained leg injuries in the Oct. 1 N.C. State game and did not play in the past two games.
Scouting report
Defensive coordinator Al Groh’s assessment of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, who is second in the ACC in passing efficiency with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions:
“He looks like he’s playing the best that I’ve seen him play in the years that we’ve played against him, and we’ve played him every year [beginning in 2008, when Groh was at Virginia]. There seems to be a poise and a patience to his play that [was missing that] was maybe the reason for some negative plays that balanced out the very positive plays that he would have.”
Competition at kicker
Johnson said that he will open the placekicking job this week. After his 52-yard attempt was blocked Saturday, Justin Moore is 4-for-8 this season. Moore has had trouble raising the trajectory of his kicks. One possible challenger is Chris Tanner, who was 14-for-14 on point-after tries in the 2009 season.
“It may be Justin,” Johnson said. “I’m not saying he’s not going to kick, but we need to see improvement this week.”
Quotable
Johnson was asked about the postgame coaching squabbles at the Georgia-Vanderbilt and Detroit Lions-San Francisco 49ers games last weekend. He said that 99 percent of the time, the handshakes are cordial, but that coaches have so much invested, emotions can fly. Johnson said he tries to mind his manners.
“Nobody wants to have, ‘Hey, my guys kicked your [butt], huh?’” he said.
Etc.
The team practiced in the rain for most of the afternoon, but retired to the indoor facility when it turned into a downpour. When practicing in heavy rain, Finch said, “you can’t even hear the guy next to you because all you can hear is the rain thumping on your helmet, so it’s nice to have the indoor facility.” ... Johnson praised the play of backup defensive back Jemea Thomas and said that “I think you’re going to see him play more here down the stretch.”
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