Attaochu, Drummond questionable for Georgia Tech
Greetings-
Notes from Monday’s practice that will go in Tuesday’s paper. I’ll add some comments later. I’ve got to grind a little more. Thanks for reading.
1. Georgia Tech may take on Maryland without two of its starting linebackers, including star Jeremiah Attaochu.
Neither Attaochu, an outside linebacker, nor inside linebacker Daniel Drummond practiced Monday. Coach Paul Johnson rated both as questionable and was less than precise about their chances to play Saturday.
“I don’t know if he’ll play, but he’s O.K.,” Johnson said of Attaochu. “We’re not going to have to shoot him or anything.”
Johnson said Drummond’s injury “might be a tad worse” than Attaochu. Both sustained leg injuries in Tech’s win over N.C. State Saturday.
Their likely replacements would be Malcolm Munroe (Attaochu) and Quayshawn Nealy (Drummond). Munroe primarily plays special teams and Nealy plays special teams and on the “dime” defense. Munroe made some noteworthy plays, including a sack, but was inconsistent.
Defensive coordinator Al Groh said that Nealy has played increasingly better in the dime defense, but that his responsibilities don’t compare with what he would do in the base defense. He was hopeful that Nealy will gain experience if Drummond sits “and become more of a full-time player.”
Johnson also reported that long snapper Tyler Morgan is out after sustaining a hand injury in the game. He was replaced by Sean Tobin.
(The Jackets have had favor with injuries so far this year. I think the past two games were pretty physical. We’ll see how they make it through the rest of the year, because they’re pretty thin in some areas.)
2. It could be a rough week of practice for Tech. Johnson said that video review of Saturday’s 45-35 win showed “a lot of stuff to correct. I couldn’t even begin to start.”
Two areas are run defense and kickoff returns. Tech gave up 195 rushing yards to the Wolfpack, which had been averaging 85.0 yards on the ground.
“It wasn’t real good,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the kick return team “wasn’t worth a [crud]” and that, after making personnel changes last week, he’ll make more this week. Tech’s best field position off a kickoff prior to the final onside kick try was its 30-yard line.
Johnson did say that new kickoff specialist David Scully did “O.K.” and will keep his spot as long as he practices well.
(The new cats that replaced “them cats” apparently weren’t the solution. An explosive offense covers up a poor return team, but consistently starting around the 23-yard line is no formula for a championship. This goes beyond the returner.)
3. Johnson said video review of the game showed that the spot on a third-quarter fourth-and-1 run by quarterback Tevin Washington at the N.C. State 3-yard line was inaccurate and wrongly denied Tech a first down. He also said that a 15-yard clipping penalty later in the quarter was unwarranted, as “the clip was nonexistent.” He said the team will send in the plays to the ACC office for review.
Johnson acknowledged that on a holding penalty on A-back Orwin Smith that wiped out a 71-yard touchdown run by A-back Roddy Jones, “I could see why they’d call it.” Johnson was irate after the penalty because it was called by an official who was far across the field.
(I wonder if Johnson will send the official he was barking at after the Smith penalty a bouquet of flowers with a card that says, “Oops! Sorry for screaming at you on national television!” Actually, no, I think I know the answer to that one. I imagine he might say, “They didn’t send me one for the bad spot.”)
4. Kicker Justin Moore was named the ACC specialist of the week for making all six of his point-after tries and a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to help Tech secure its victory. Moore is 34-for-34 in point-after tries this season.
Coaches named defensive end Izaan Cross, Jones and Tobin as players of the game. Jones had five touches for 64 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception, and executed assignments with proficiency. Cross had two tackles and graded out well. Tobin cleanly handled his snaps after replacing Morgan in the first half.
(You could make a case again for Jemea Thomas on special teams, but I’m partial to long snappers. I may be the only reporter in Super Bowl history who wrote stories at two different Super Bowls profiling the snappers. In his first college game, at a position where it isn’t hard to screw up, he did his job and went unnoticed.)
5. Tech will play its Oct. 15 game at Virginia at 3:30 p.m. … Tech has sold all but 2,500 tickets for the Clemson game Oct. 29. Sales for this Saturday’s Maryland game are considerably lower. Tickets are available at 1-888-832-4849 and ramblinwreck.com. … The athletic department has hired Stephanie Herbst-Lucke, who designed and conducted an extensive fan survey for Tech in the spring, as a consultant on ticket sales and marketing. Herbst-Lucke, who has won multiple Peachtree Road Race masters titles, won a 5K in Syracuse Sunday with a 5:21 mile pace. … Tech’s win over N.C. State will be replayed on CSS Tuesday at 4 and 9 p.m.
(A good hire, I think, and evidence of how much Tech is trying to move tickets. I spoke with Herbst-Lucke for the story I linked and was impressed. I will blog on this topic before too long.)
Thanks for reading. I’ll have something up in the morning – I’ll aim for 9 – and then the post news conference update. (Update: It’s going to be mid-afternoon. Sorry for the delay.)
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146 comments Add your comment
Saban
October 4th, 2011
7:29 am
Really hope we play Georgia in the SEC Championship. Give my b team some work and nah we won`t keep the beatdown reasonable. Let`s see. Don`t see how we could beat them less than 6 touchdowns even with the b team.
If I kept the A team in, the hospital in Athens would not have enough beds.
Is it true Choakdawg ate Russ?
Will
October 4th, 2011
7:30 am
Nice. Comment blocked? Why? Yes ajc recruiting dude is a uga grad. All his headlines are pro uga…unless of course a uga recruit does something dumb like bash in mailboxes.
Will
October 4th, 2011
7:33 am
Cut blocking isn’t dead. I see it in games all the time. Even the nfl on occasion. What do you expect from a uga homer.
GTJeff
October 4th, 2011
7:36 am
Anyone that has tried to watch that Pollack Palmer show can acertain Pollack is not the brightest person in the world. He reminds me of a smaller version of Ogre from Revenge of The Nerds.
Will
October 4th, 2011
7:37 am
And his recent headline..where he talks so highly of a bama recruit switching uga!! the recruit is visiting other schools. yet he leaves those out of the headline. that’s my point about this clown. he skews everything pro uga. which is expected cause he is a uga grad. but for a paper to allow such bias is a joke. how about a fair headline reading bama recruit visiting other schools, uga among them. i would be fine with that. but this joke of a writer writes it like it’s just uga and they already have switched him. amazing.
5150 UOAD
October 4th, 2011
7:39 am
Delbert D
You know what I mean. A Big person is one situation. The thing that kills me are the people that are to big to sit with their legs together and have to Spread Out and use too much space they don’t pay for. Dodd just needs to take out some of the Seat #s so you can enjoy the game in some comfort. I understand big of overweight people should go to and enjoy the games, but they are not paying more for the space they need. If you had a row with 4 0r 5 Wes Durham’s there would be 2 people in the aisle.
Burdell
October 4th, 2011
7:49 am
Pollack makes Jesse “The Bachelor” Palmer look like a Mensa candidate…that is VERY hard to do. He’s just skeered…
GO JACKETS!!
Will
October 4th, 2011
7:55 am
gt45
What he did, and it doesn’t surprise me at all being a stupid ga player, is slam all our fine armed forces institutions. He really should apologize and rescind that comment but I think he’s too stupid to realize how dumb it is. Hey polly what a wimp you are had to quit after one hit. Bwahaha
Eric S
October 4th, 2011
8:11 am
Will
I agree with you. Michael is here to report the recruiting news and not be a hack for uga. Can’t really do that job if you are a grad of either school esp uga though. Here are his two headlines for the article and both are heavily slanted for uga.
Is Alabama in danger of losing OL recruit Brandon Greene to UGA??
keep in mind that there are other schools he is looking at.
Will Alabama OL recruit Brandon Greene switch his commitment to UGA?
Both of these are highly slanted to uga. But what do you expect from the ajc and it’s hires.
Eric Berry
October 4th, 2011
8:16 am
The cut block amounts to legalized dirty play, but it is legal. Just don’t try it on an NFL quarterback. That could prove to be a very expensive maneuver. Defenders knees and ankles just aren’t nearly as valuable as are those of quarterbacks.
GT45
October 4th, 2011
8:23 am
I need to clarify-after slamming cut blocking, and how anyone with NFL aspirations, being qbs, running backs, recievers, and O linemen, should never come to Tech, they then made the comment that the triple option is a dying breed. It must be getting one last breath of life, as I see it on high lights on every tv station. I will love to hear what CPJ says about it!
Ga Tech Old Timer
October 4th, 2011
8:28 am
Ken – On the bad placement of the ball on the 4th & 1 run by Washington – I’m wondering why didn’t Coach ask for a review? Those of us who wached the game on TV saw the spot was bad and even the announcers wondered why Coach didn’t ask for a review. Who do we have in the booth upstairs that is supposed to alert Coach to potentially reviewable plays? This woudln’t have been an issue if they had been on the ball checking things out. This could have been potentially the difference in the ball game – or may be at some time in the future. Coach needs to have a heart to heart talk with this guy.
Birmingham Jacket
October 4th, 2011
8:42 am
You guys give Pollack a break.
He’s just a washed-up, wanna-be, that never could cut it in the NFL with a chip on his shoulder.
Loser….
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
8:43 am
@GT45
Nothing wrong with running the triple option. Many high schools still use it, as do the service academies. Most spread offenses implement the TO occasionally. That said, it is not an offensive scheme that you will find NFL teams running. The quality of players in the NFL allows for much more complex offensive schemes.
All of that being said, I agree that Pollack is not very bright. What do you expect? He’s a football player, not a brain surgeon.
Glenn
October 4th, 2011
8:45 am
Apparently you can’t challenge a ball spot or the clip, and they are not reviewable, because of some crazy rules like that or Coach Johnson would have done so on Saturday. That’s why he’s sending the videos into the League. There’s a request that the rules be amended so that they become reviewed so that these errors can be corrected on the field, especially when games are important and potentially have Conference Championships implications.
Eric S
October 4th, 2011
8:46 am
They are on espn u now
Favored
October 4th, 2011
8:51 am
We will be favored in every game the rest of the season. Gotta love that.
threetrone
October 4th, 2011
8:59 am
I accept changing colors of leaves in the Fall, but I do not accept changing colors of jersey numbers which never changed dating back to when I was at Tech from ‘69 to ‘73. Only the leaves have changed each year since then. I do not accept the home unis now. Next year don’t change jersey colors during the season. Fickle females are supposed to change their minds, not Tech men.
ToeMeetsLeather
October 4th, 2011
9:02 am
Pollack is just a “pretty boy” dumba** hired to up the female viewership.
When he talks it’s like the teacher on Charlie Brown, wa,wa.wa…wa,wa,wa.
Great news about the LB’s injuries not being as serious as I had feared.
Russ Childers
October 4th, 2011
9:02 am
So, in your old article about the survey, you state that Tech has a deal with Atlantic Station for game parking and a shuttle to and from. There is NO information on the Tech web site and nothing I can find on the AS web site. Are they keeping it a secret or did it fall through. Paying $20 a pop to park after $60 of gas for the 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) is getting old — a season of Tech football for my grandsons and I is about $3 grand and rising
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
9:05 am
Favored
October 4th, 2011
8:51 am
“We will be favored in every game the rest of the season. Gotta love that.”
Why do you guys feel the need to come in here and post on Tech blogs? Get your own blog dummy!
BigTimeTechFan
October 4th, 2011
9:14 am
When I watched Pollack was very complementary of Tech, in Buy or Sell segment of the team 10 thru 15, he said buy GT, they are for real.
juvenal
October 4th, 2011
9:25 am
any D-line discussion, Ken?
William Casey
October 4th, 2011
9:26 am
I watched the Palmer/Pollack show in question and was a little anoyed. However, although David’s not a rocket scientist, I believe that he was attempting to answer the question: “why don’t more teams run it?” Good question, because they don’t. The fact that the pros don’t run it (and consequently it might hurt recruiting) is a valid answer. Other valid answers are:
1. Football coaches tend to follow-the-herd.
2. Many coaches don’t want to risk injury to their QB’s.
3. Coaches fear turnovers and perceive it to be a high risk offense.
4. They don’t have Paul Johnson to call the plays.
FINALLY, Georgia Tech’s offense is NOT the old Oklahoma or Alabama triple option (”wishbone”) offenses of the ’70’s and there are many more differences than the fact that GT’s attack employs two wingbacks rather than a full-house backfield. It’s a brand new thing. Call it the “Johnson Express” offense because that’s what it is.
St. Richt
October 4th, 2011
9:30 am
Give Pollack a break- I think he’s pretty good on the air. And I respected the heck out of him as a player, too. Hated him because he was a bulldog, but respected him nonetheless. No, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. But he knows football.
GT
October 4th, 2011
9:32 am
I like Johnson barking, sets a tone for the team and makes the refs wake up too. I don’t get spacy head coaches, I often wonder how they get through an interview for the job in the first place. We have had a few at Tech, they did not work out well.
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
9:38 am
@William Casey
You’re right… Sort of. CPJ doesn’t run the wishbone. He runs the veer, which is an older variation of the TO than is the wishbone.
Fumbles and injuries to QB’s are certainly factors in choosing to abandon the TO offensive scheme, but what really did it in was the fact that defenses have quickly learned to shut it down whenever it has become popular. So long as it is relatively obscure, it will provide an advantage to teams facing defenses that aren’t accustomed to playing against it.
Andrew
October 4th, 2011
9:46 am
Anybody know the best time/site to get Clemson tickets? Saw the triple play online, but can’t go to the VaTech game so wanted to hold out. Help?!
Techmaninathens
October 4th, 2011
9:52 am
Saw Pollack on ESPN. When he talked about the DAWGS he gushed about Crowell as being great, also Malcome Mitchell who I think is very good and a solid player. He also said Crowell was a “brusing” runner which is total baloney. He is fast and quick, but runs over nobody. During the 2nd half of the MSU game it appeared he didn’t want the ball anymore when they were slamming him at the line of scrimmage. UGA needs a tough back to slam it in the line and they just don’t have it in Crowell. Pollack also said that UGA have a very good defense and that Boise State could pick any team apart. He said that they stopped South Carolina but that defensive points scored by USC beat them, not the defense. Pollack is actually pretty good except when he starts talking about UGA he really stuttered and acted very nervous because his love of UGA came through. EPSN producers should get that attitude out of him.
Also Clemson is the darling of ESPN boys now. They think they are going all the way. Both Palmer and Pollack picked Clemson to beat GT in Atlanta. We’ll see. They also said that Clemson knew how to stop GT’s offense. Since when?
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
9:52 am
@Andrew
Just pick them up from the ticket window at the gate. No problem.
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
9:57 am
Techmaninathens
October 4th, 2011
9:52 am
“They also said that Clemson knew how to stop GT’s offense. Since when?”
Since October 23, 2010?
Favored
October 4th, 2011
10:23 am
Pee wee wtf are you talking about? I am a tech fan. Do you think won’t be favored in every game the rest of the way assuming we don’t lose badly before the clemson game? They are the only team who could possibly be favored against us. You need help with reading comprehension.
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
10:27 am
Tech doesn’t really play anyone until Clemson. Yes, Clemson will be favored. Probably by at least 2 TD’s.
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
10:34 am
After Clemson, Tech will probably be favored over Duke — if they win all of their games leading up to Clemson. If not, then it’s probably a push.
1 4 GT
October 4th, 2011
10:35 am
Ya’ll ever listen to Belue on 680AM? Talk about a “homer”. His cohort brought up Tech and he said “Don’t want to go there”. UGAG gets at least 30 minutes air every time I listen & GT is lucky to get 5 minutes. When Tech was #7 in ‘09, Kalil didn’t even mention Tech on Sunday night news (channel 11). I emailed him about it. Got a reply with an rude undertone—”I talked about Tech earlier today–we don’t shortchange Tech”. Yeah right. Tech gets minimal coverage in Atlanta media until I stumbled upon this site. I love the info & good work Ken puts into this.
juvenal
October 4th, 2011
10:35 am
wonder what the prior handles were……most offenses require a smart QB, this O requires a smart everybody……
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
10:38 am
@juvenal
What the veer triple option requires is 3 running backs with good hands in the backfield. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
BobinBuford
October 4th, 2011
10:39 am
PeeWee:
At least 2 TD’s?? That would be the line if CU was playing Elon. Not GT.
And if GT does beat Maryland and UVA, they WILL be favored over Clempson – bya t least the 2 to 3 points that home teams get.
Flounder
October 4th, 2011
10:41 am
@PeeWee
… gotcha, but what about GT against Clemson twice in 2009 (2 GT wins)? And 2008 (GT win)? and 2007 (GT win)? And 2005, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 (all GT wins).
And since so many folks like to point out the series record between GT and the “Athens Plantation for Drinking and Remedial Studies [APDRS] … GT leads the series with Clemson 49-25-2. In the ACC era, GT leads the series with Clemson 25-24.
Oh yeah … and pre-empt the usual comments of any Dawg Trolls on here … GT has lost 9 out of the last 10 games against UGA.
BobinBuford
October 4th, 2011
10:44 am
1 4 GT:
Remember, 680 is not the flagship station of GT athletics – 790 is. So they see no reason to say anything about GT, especially from a UGA alum. If you want GT coverage, then go to 790 – especially “Two Live Stews” with GT alum Ryan Stewart. He always gushes about the GT football team.
Favored
October 4th, 2011
10:45 am
You are one idiot pee brain. Unless tech loses badly before clemson, they will be favored in every game the rest of the way. You have no clue about point spreads.
GTVegas
October 4th, 2011
10:46 am
The guy is obviously talking out of his arse. The bad thing is he is truly showing his ignorance.
Cut blocking is legal, period. Heck, if you watched last night’s NFL game, there was a play in which the announcers talked about the cut blocking on a particular play, the one that allowed a 40+ yard TD run. It is done in both college and pro football. Oh yea, to the guy talking about cut blocking on a QB, why would anyone block a QB? And how is tackling anyone by the legs ans different that cut blocking. A QB is under greater threat of injury by having linemen fall into his legs.
As far as the TO, it has also seen a bit more use in the Pro’s recently.
Bottom line, why does anyone care what Pollack thinks? Wasn’t Zeier the same? I enjoy watching GT football a heck of a lot more now than I have in the past. I am not going to let some announcer tell me what I should or shouldn’t like to watch.
The key to this offense is execution. When it is executed properly, it is a thing of beauty. Now, the ability to execute is influenced by many factors, including the size/ability on the other side of the ball. It’s up to the coach to find ways to use what the other team gives him to his advantage.
PeeWee
October 4th, 2011
10:47 am
@Flounder
Clemson is a much improved team. Same could be said of Tech compared to recent history.
So far this year, I’m more impressed with Clemson’s resume. That said, just because they are favored doesn’t mean they’ll win. It’s just silly to get angry with sportscasters who don’t slobber praise on GT. As for local coverage of CFB, the broadcasters will tend to play to the larger audience in their area. That’s life.
Delbert D.
October 4th, 2011
10:49 am
We employed crab blocking in HS. That is a blocking technique where the blockers go low at the snap but maintain their hands on the ground, “crabbing” forward with head and shoulders at or below the knee level, always pushing the defender around. As the defender attempts to fend off the block with his hands and move around it, the crab technique, the defender is steered by the block, moving him away from his desired direction. We used it because we had a small O-line and it was effective against larger defenders. It often resulted in the defender going down and taken out of the play. It is a variation of cut blocking, which is legal in the NFL, NCAA football, high school football and youth leagues.
Additional restrictions on how cut blocking in NCAA football is employed went into effect this year. Cut blocking also is used by defenders going low to take out a blocker or make a tackle.
Flounder
October 4th, 2011
10:52 am
@PeeWee … agreed.
1 4 GT
October 4th, 2011
10:55 am
BobinBuford…yeah I know..I just don’t like the 2 Live Crew..too much jive for an old fart…and b4 anyone says racist..NO I AM NOT..they just play to the younger folks way too hard…generally I think 680 gives better all around better “sports” coverage
GTVegas
October 4th, 2011
10:57 am
I am as big a GT fan as there is and I am with PeeWee (sorry for you that your moniker has such a deeper meaning…)
I believe Clemson will be favored if both meet undefeated in a few weeks. I actually hope they are, nothing like good bulletin board material about no respect, etc.
ESPN can keep gushing about Clemson all they want, give those guys all big heads and overblown confidence. GT needs to remain under the radar as long as possible.
Clemson has a win over VT, we have ours over UNC. I will be honest, Clemson has looked more impressive thus far. Give them their due. Bragging rights are settled on the field, not in the stands or in the press or on the internet.
Greg
October 4th, 2011
11:07 am
It isn’t about not getting praise. It’s mocking an entire group of young men who go to tech or air force or navy. He showed no class with that comment about their desires. And he’s flat out wrong on blocking. I watch games all weekend and see cut blocking in every game. It’s legal so why bring it up. Pollack is biased in his reporting and that is the problem.
St. Richt
October 4th, 2011
11:07 am
If you are looking for homer TV personalities, look no further than Matt Stinchcomb. Listened to him on the way into work yesterday and to summarize: “GT is overrated and Georgia is the favorite in the SEC east.”
1 4 GT
October 4th, 2011
11:07 am
I too think peewee makes some good points, but he is wrong about the veer requiring 3 running backs. The veer was originally designed by the HC at Univ of Houston in the late 50’s or very early 60’s and it was run with 3 setbacks or like Dan Henning’s H-back formation that he tried to cram down the Falcon’s throats without the proper talent. What CPJ runs is his updated very imaginative scheme. Almost every looks like the TO but might not be. The play sets are well designed & disguised.