Tech drags through 13th practice
Notes from practice. More Wednesday.
1. Georgia Tech’s 13th practice of fall camp brought little good fortune.
A day after a double session and in afternoon heat, the Yellow Jackets dragged through a full-pads practice Tuesday that elicited the ire of the coaching staff.
“I hope that’s not our best,” defensive coordinator Al Groh said. “You have to keep moving forward all the time. If you stall, you’re losing ground. Some players [moved forward], but not enough.”
Coach Paul Johnson said that practices have for the most part been decent, but that the team “hit a doldrum. You have to push through.”
The Jackets will have two more practices Wednesday.
After 13 practices in 12 days, inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy said that many players’ legs are heavy, “but that’s no reason not to push through, so we’ve got to come back [Wednesday] with our minds set to push through and get better at practice.”
2. A bronze statue of former Tech coach Bobby Dodd is scheduled to be unveiled Sept. 14 on Callaway Plaza outside the stadium that bears his name. A group of Dodd’s former players led the project to honor Dodd, one of only three people to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and coach. The bronze sculpture, which will portray Dodd in his familiar kneeling position, will be dedicated the day before the Tech-Virginia game. At that game, Dodd’s 1952 team, which went 12-0 and shared the national championship, will be honored.
“Not many times in your life do you get to do something like this, and it’s really been very meaningful to all of us,” Tech Hall of Famer Taz Anderson said.
3. Wide receiver Jeff Greene and cornerback Rod Sweeting returned to practice Tuesday after being held out with injuries. Other than that, the list of players out remained the same, Johnson said. That would include B-backs David Sims and Charles Perkins and offensive tackles Ray Beno and Morgan Bailey. Johnson deflected a question about a possible cutoff date for Sims, recovering from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his shin, to return by in order to play against Virginia Tech Sept. 3.
“He can’t practice until he’s healthy,” he said. “We’ll figure it out when we need to figure it out.”
4. Wide receiver Anthony Autry’s play in camp has made him a strong candidate to play as a true freshman. Autry, from Norcross High, is competing with freshmen Travin Henry and Micheal Summers and four returners for spots on the depth chart.
“We’ll decide here after Saturday who’s going to play and who’s going to maybe sit right now,” Johnson said. “I’d say he’s on the probably-going-to-play bubble.”
Thanks for reading. More Wednesday.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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295 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:15 pm
Yep, The Ride of the Valkyrie. Y’all don’t know this about me, but I actually like opera, and I have seen that particular one in person twice, and on video 4 times (live twice and recorded the other times). I also have it on CD and DVD.
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
12:16 pm
how did you get the umlaut over the “a”? Did you cut and paste it?
whistle whistle look away whistle some more
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:16 pm
LOL @ HT and gollum’s Precious
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:17 pm
LOL @ HT
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:17 pm
OOPS, I meant LOL @ Lee on that last one
HighTech
August 15th, 2012
12:17 pm
GT Lee…”Satisfaction” was for the USO show, which was memorable, too. “Ride of the Valkyries” was the music blaring from the loud speakers when the Air Cav strafed the village. Remember when Robert Duvall said, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:18 pm
Awesome movie. I have that on DVD too
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
12:18 pm
I saw an opera once. I think it was called Tommy
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
12:19 pm
HighTech the USO show song was Suzie Q……Satisfaction was the scene where the guy was waterskiing up the river…..
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:19 pm
@ Lee…..nothing wrong with that. That’s legit and very good, though pretty strange
HighTech
August 15th, 2012
12:20 pm
I’ve seen opera on tv. I guess you could call me HighTech, LowBrow.
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
12:20 pm
it’s the smell of………………..VICTORY
HighTech
August 15th, 2012
12:20 pm
You’re right GT Lee. My bad.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:21 pm
You guys are on a roll today. Hate to leave it, but I got to get some lunch and then get out of this house. Y’all have fun
HighTech
August 15th, 2012
12:22 pm
Enjoy the rest of your day, Supersize.
UOAD!!!!
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
12:23 pm
UOAD Super, UOAD!
GT FAN IN PA
August 15th, 2012
12:26 pm
Concerns yes- but lets see how the season plays out- this is the first year I’ve heard Groh being positive about what he is seeing as a whole. Super- Been a long time hope all is well.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
On my way out, FAN IN PA, but yeah. You disappeared during the off season. Good to see you back on board. Have a good one !!!
Tech Troll 13
August 15th, 2012
12:46 pm
Even though there has been a lot said on this blog that I don’t agree with (I’m a hlf full in ieu of half empty type guy), the “Don’t Feed The Trolls” policy has made for a more enjoyable read.
GT fan
August 15th, 2012
1:08 pm
[h][b]say what[/b][/h]
GT fan
August 15th, 2012
1:12 pm
say what
1 4 GT
August 15th, 2012
1:20 pm
[h][b]say who[/b][/h]
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
1:22 pm
GT fan gettin’ bold!
1 4 GT
August 15th, 2012
1:24 pm
GT fan after typing the 1st “say what”, what did you do to post the 2nd “say what”?
1 4 GT
August 15th, 2012
1:39 pm
[h]h[b]say who[/b][/h]
GT fan
August 15th, 2012
1:50 pm
1 4 GT,
Just trying to be cool…or maybe I should say ……… cool
hedgepruner
August 15th, 2012
2:01 pm
Big Ol Stinger & Supersize that order, Mutt – I do like much of what PJ is doing at TECH as far as the character of our players and he doesnt mind getting in there grill at the appropriate times but he needs to do a few things which one he did one – get a specials team coach & if our defense falls on its face again he needs to replace old Al Gohl – never fancied Al anyway – but as a TECH faithful we deserve a win at least every 3 years against the leghumpers & get us a DAMN BOWL WIN !!!!! GO TECH !!!!
Big Ol Stinger
August 15th, 2012
2:43 pm
hedgepruner,
I’m with you. I like most of what he’s done. I think it’s fun to watch because I like the running game. That’s football to me.
I also think Tech has it’s challenges with recruiting given it’s choices of majors and campus location. Might as well face up to it and try “Plan B”. We’re not going to get traditional 5 star fball players. I’m perfectly OK with that. We’re not LSU, Bama, USC etc……….
But, UGA is not in that tier and Tech should be able to beat them more often than once a decade. The bowl record has gotten embarrassing, he’s got to do better on both of those fronts.
GT fan
August 15th, 2012
3:20 pm
GT academics … or lack there of (i.e. just not the plethora of majors/areas of study found at schools like, UGA, FSU, BAMA, Auburn, Clesoson, SC, UF, UT, etc., etc) will forever be a crutch that hinders GT football in become a consistent power.
Yes, there will be the occasional 2009 season, but they won’t happen every season or every other season even. It’s tough to consistently beat teams that can easily land loads & loads of 4/5 star talent.
I like that PJ’s system can keep the Jackets in the overwhelming majority of its games. I think he’s good for GT football. It also appears that he’s able lighten up on his stubborness – by hiring a ST-only coach. I hope it’s a good hire, and the teams improves its ST play. Hope Groh proves the many naysayers wrong too.
If GT’s ST & D improve I don’t see PJ have any season with fewer than 8 Ws. And 8 Ws is more than an acceptable low point for the GT football program. Improved D & ST will also put GT in more ACC title games too.
BLT
August 15th, 2012
3:21 pm
what
Ghost
August 15th, 2012
4:01 pm
GTFan , That sounds eerily similar what Dave Braine said about tech football when Chan was the coach. I believe tech can recruit better than what its been doing the past few seasons.Good luck in 2012 season.
it is what it is
August 15th, 2012
4:14 pm
I have to laugh..some of you who think other people are the clutter are actually the clutter that hogs all blogs 24/7…
GTfan 2012
August 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
Ghost,
Dave Braine never said anything about GT winning 8 games per year AT A MINIMUM! I think personally, it will be better than that over the next five years, with a 9-10 win average for GT.
flamboyant defense
August 15th, 2012
5:14 pm
Drag that hokie qb down this year.
Big Ol Stinger
August 15th, 2012
5:19 pm
I’d like to see Tech schedule tougher out of conference too. Even a loss to an Auburn, Tennessee, or Florida for instance gives the program more credibility than a win over the Presbyterian Blue Hose and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. I don’t like paying for those games in my season
ticket package either. We need to schedule more regional games against tough opponents.
The only way Tech moves up the respect scale is to play tougher out of conference games. Let’s face it, the ACC is a lousy football conference. I don’t think that can be argued given the leagues out of conference record and lack of national respect. Why not schedule tougher out of conference opponents to increase home attendance and respect for the program? Will we win a NC that way? No, probably not. Will we win a NC playing in the ACC and playing the Blue Hose and Blue Raiders out of conference? No.
Ghost
August 15th, 2012
5:21 pm
“Georgia Tech can win nine or 10 games. They will never do that consistently. That’s my feeling … because of the type of program this is.”http://thinkexist.com/quotes/dave_braine/
Dave Braine quote
I said eerily similar, and you could be right about 9-10 wins I don’t agree but i won’t flame, Tech schedule gets tougher this year and dropping Maryland and picking up FSU in 2013.
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
5:40 pm
Is losing to UGA 4 years in a row acceptable? One of the reason GT fan base sucks is becasue we keep losing to those mutts and they out recruit GT every year. Some of you guys forget that CPJ had alot of success with player like dwyer,morgan,and burnett. CPJ would have never landed those type of ball players. Bottom line is CPJ needs to recruit better if he plans on keeping his job.
Big Ol Stinger
August 15th, 2012
5:45 pm
So what would you do to recruit better? What do you think he’s not doing?
How do you get 4/5 star kids who have no interest in Engineering or Business to come to Tech?
What’s the solution? We know the problem.
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
5:45 pm
“CPJ had alot of success with player like dwyer,morgan,and burnett. CPJ would have never landed those type of ball players”
Pure speculation on your part.
GT Lee
August 15th, 2012
5:46 pm
“Bottom line is CPJ needs to recruit better if he plans on keeping his job”
Why? Are you in a position to fire him?
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
5:49 pm
Bottom line people he is losing to UGA! How does that not piss you off? Why would you bare or want to keep CPJ if he can’t win that game?
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
5:54 pm
I had a 20 minute conversation with drad shortly after the bowl lost. He basically said that he would reevaluate the staff if that happens. I don’t know for sure that he would be fired but im sure his ass will be on the hot seat if he loses thanksgiving weekend in 2012.
Big Ol Stinger
August 15th, 2012
5:54 pm
Do you really believe UGA and GT are on a level playing field? You can’t really believe that.
On paper, GT should probably never beat UGA. They usually play them tough though, and once in a while they’ll pull off an upset.
That’s the bottom line.
Truly study the game of football
August 15th, 2012
5:55 pm
Georgia Tech has won 34 games the last 4 years and a conference title.
UGA has won 34 games the last 4 years and no conference title.
And it’s 3 games, not 4 games GT1990.
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
5:57 pm
@Big Ol Stinger
The problem is his offense. Whether or not you want to agree with it. No coach is going to land a top 10 recruting class at GT year in and year out but, there really isn’t reason GT is not in the top 25 every year. I would like to see CPJ hire a OC and a new younger black DC.
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
5:58 pm
@ truly
I was saying if GT loses to UGA in 2012. That will be four years.
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
6:03 pm
Everybody is in titled to there own opinon right? I am speaking mine because i want a coach that can beat UGA other than one time. I am tired of hearing those mutts talk. As a die hard GT fan how can some of you guys have CPJ back right now?? He is fading quick and this year is going to tell what his coaching skills are. Im just saying if we lose to UGA and we get beat up pretty good in conference play he should be fired!
Big Ol Stinger
August 15th, 2012
6:04 pm
I’m not in love with the offense, but I think it’s been at least an interesting experiment given Tech’s limitations. If I was him, I’d loosen it up a little. Throw some short passes out of a pistol set, line up with a tight end, throw in some more wrinkles.
If the defense doesn’t improve this year, I agree with your comment about needing a new DC. I couldn’t care less what color he is. He could be purple on top and green on the bottom for all I care. But they need to hit and wrap up, and they need to cover somebody. I’m tired of seeing opposing receivers catch the ball with no Tech jersey within 10 yards.
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
6:04 pm
@ truly
GT did not win a conference title. Yes we did win that game but the win was vacated. So no CPJ didn’t win a title.
GT1990
August 15th, 2012
6:08 pm
The reason why i said black is because i believe a young black DC would be able to recruit GT. Especially around the atlanta area. If your really a die hard GT fan you wouldn’t be satisfied with CPJ body of work the past two season.