Georgia Tech will likely make mistakes of some sort Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. The Yellow Jackets' centers and quarterbacks are making sure that fumbles on the center-quarterback exchange won't be one of them.
Coaches doubled the practice time Tuesday for snaps after Tech had three against Western Carolina and will continue to do so, center Jay Finch said. One botched exchange was between Finch and quarterback Tevin Washington and two were on the No. 2 unit, between center Nick McRae and Synjyn Days. Center-quarterback exchanges were also an issue in preseason scrimmages.
"We've got to knock those out because, like Coach [Paul] Johnson said, one turnover [against] a good team, you're going to lose because of that," Finch said. "I don't want to be that guy who let the whole team down."
Finch also accepted responsibility for another fumble, a poor pitch from Washington to A-back Tony Zenon. Finch said he didn't make a good snap to Washington, which gave him an awkward grip on the ball when he tossed to Zenon.
Before the snap, "I know I'm trying to think about, I've got to go full speed and who am I going to get, but I've got to be like, boom [with the snap]," Finch said. "Consistency is a big thing with the snap."
Likely redshirts
Johnson said true freshman players who didn't suit up for the Western Carolina game are likely redshirt candidates. Those players were offensive lineman Bryan Chamberlain, linebackers Chaz Cheeks, Anthony Harrell and Jabari Hunt-Days, running backs Chris Milton and Broderick Snoddy, defensive back Domonique Noble and quarterback/defensive back Demond Smith.
Co-offensive line coach Mike Sewak praised a true freshman who did play against Western Carolina, guard Shaquille Mason.
"He made mistakes, but all correctable," Sewak said. "That guy works real hard. He asks a lot of questions."
Still deciding
Sewak said the No. 3 guard spot hasn't been determined yet. Lineman Ray Beno, who started at tackle but will likely go to the bench when Phil Smith returns from a two-game suspension, can also play guard, and J.C. Lanier could return next week from a stress fracture. True freshman guard Trey Braun is looking more like a redshirt candidate, along with Chamberlain and tackle Errin Joe.
"All three of those young guys, three of the four guys, we hopefully get a redshirt year underneath them, get them in the weight room, get the power cleans and the squats, because the guys they're going against have been in the weight room for a lot longer," Sewak said.
Lighter schedule
Tech is in the second year of a three-year deal with MTSU. The teams will play again next year at Bobby Dodd Stadium, giving Tech two home games. Johnson wouldn't be opposed to seeing more teams like the Blue Raiders and fewer like next week's opponent, Kansas. He said he'd probably prefer playing three non-conference games against non-BCS conference schools, with the fourth against Georgia. Typically, Tech has played two or even three teams against the power conferences.
"The conference [schedule] is tough enough," Johnson said.
Familiar matchup
Wide receiver Stephen Hill was named ACC receiver of the week Tuesday for his four-catch, 181-yard game against Western Carolina. An even bigger prize awaits him Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tenn. -- bragging rights. Hill hopes to line up against Blue Raiders cornerback Kenneth Gilstrap. Hill and Gilstrap attended Miller Grove High and are best friends. Because of a knee injury, Gilstrap missed the Tech-MTSU game last October.
"There's definitely going to be a lot of talking," Hill said.
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