Looking forward to a practice report!

S

statelinejacket

Damn Good Rat
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
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I couldn't make it today, getting a new rear tire and brakes for my Harley-Davidson. So a report....a balanced report of the overall performance of the team would be nice. Specifically the offense, please a balanced report on the quarterbacks(especially J.Garner)and how the coaches are working with them.

Anyone that has read my posts on Stingtalk or BuzzOFF know my faith in Gailey, Nix, and co. is very little and my patience even less so. But they have another year now to get it right. So lets have a balanced report commenting on the direction of the team. Does the execution look any better than in practices of the previous years? (And I have witnessed practices.) Does Jamal Evans really add another dimension to the offense? Does the offensive line look better? Quicker? Stronger?(I'm not so impressed with just weight increases, added strength will add positive weight)

I'll be down there myself this week for a practice or two next week but I sure do miss being down there today . I'd loved to have met LB Coach and Trey Dunmon's dad.

P.S. Any BuzzOFFers(and you know who I am talking about)want to debate their view of stars, our new recruiting coordinator, outr new coaches, recruiters, Dan Radakovich, and such and want to do so in person are encouraged to come down to Tech this week and do so.

As for MsTechAnalysis, I want her to bring any if not all of her former Tech football player friends with her and let them tell me that 'Star' ratings are important in April and that the recruiting can't possibly take on an upside swing what with the new additions to the staff and a new athlectic director to communicate with 'the Hill'.
 
I didn't make it either, but reports are saying that Jamal looked GREAT again today.
 
I read on the Hive that Jonathan Garner hurt a knee and was icing it down. I dearly hope it is not serious. The lack of information on Taylor Bennett's performance leads me to believe his #2 job could be in jeopardy if Garner steps up.

ONE MORE TIME TO THE BuzzOFFers this concerns....especially Beebad and MSTA(and her explayer'friends'): I'm off work this coming week so I'll be available to visit practice and discuss our new recruiting coordinator, our new coaches....who as recruiters have strong backgrounds in Georgia and Florida, and our new athlectic director. Y'all private message me on the ezboard and I'll answer you back. That goes for 'Old Fogy' also. It's time for y'all to put or shut up.
 
At first looks it doesn't look serious for Garner(from what I heard) and TB is taking his lumps at QB. I for one think it is good for him to go against Johnny's D. What better than to prepare against one of the best in the business?
FWIW, Garner needs to jump quite a bit to catch Tater right now.
 
Here's the AJC's report: web page

I'm looking forward to see Tashard Choice and Jamaal Evans in person next week. But going by this and what I'm seeing on the Hive, our offense will continue to suffer when the '06 season starts at the quarterback position. If the quarterback can't open up the offense when the real action starts in September the opposing defenses will be able to take away that running game that otherwise could prosper.

On the bright side the injuries to Gary Guyton and Jonathan Garner don't appear to be serious.
 
FWIW, I was there, but probably don't have the eye for detail that many there may have had. I als have not read any practice reports on the hive, so some might be a repeat.

Jaamal Evans played like he wants to be the starter, not the backup. He worked very hard and appears to have learned much for a kid that just stepped on campus. He got a lot of reps so I suppose we will be seeing a lot of him this coming season.

A lot more pass attempts to TE's. The TE's looked good.

The DL looks very good with Vance Walker and Darryl Richard on the front lines.

Calvin crushed Tony Clark with a block that got some OOHS and AAHS. Otherwise, Kenny Scott did a good job covering him.

LB's look good, all of them to me - Wheeler, Taalib all of them. Barnes looks huge.

Garner was hurt early, but it looked more like a bruise or cramp type thing.

The "D" applied a lot of pressure.

Bennett is much more muscular than he was. He looked breakable when he first arrived at Tech. He looks solid now. Absolutely has the strongest arm of the QB's. The D just had the QB's corralled today.
 
Just to add a few things about the practice that I haven't seen online yet....

FWIW, I think TB has improved his accuracy substantially from last season. The thing I noticed the most was how, whenever we did go for the fade/jump ball situation, more often than not it landed in bounds. This has been one of my biggest beefs with RB-- If you're going to huck it up to Calvin, at least give him a chance to catch it IN BOUNDS.

There were four botched center-QB exchanges: One went over TB's head, one hit him in the hands and he dropped it, and the other two I think were both with Garner under center. Add to that one of the punt longsnaps hit the ground before it got to the punter and we might have a problem looming here.

Grant was lining up as a receiver in some of the formations. Definately more shotgun stances and less fullback action than I have seen out of a CG offense thusfar. It will be interesting to see if the playbook opens up more with RB as a running threat, and a capable backup in TB.

As far as the lines were concerned, both first teams did well: i.e. TB had plenty of time to throw against the second team D-line, while Manley was running for his life mostly against the first team D.

Kenny scott had an unbelievable INT: He hit the WR from behind to cough out the ball, and then reached around front of his man to snag the INT. That guy impresses me every time he steps onto the field with his athletic ability.

Overall, I was pleased, but it was hard to get too excited without seeing RB at center. I think we would all agree that our offense (read RB) is the greatest concern coiming into the fall.
 
I saw where uArk

had a great idea.Let the first team play together (ie-RB) but give the 2nd unit 7 points at start of Qtr to overcome.Made game 35-28 and both teams tried hard to win..
 
I was there Saturday, some things I noticed:

1. The GT was back at mid-field (may only be temporary but it looks better)

2. Garner's injury is not biggie, saw the whole play. Robertson flew in from the left side, beating his man and brought the wood when he hit Garner. Robertson, the left tackle and Garner all hit the turf. Garner got up limping, the trainers were looking at it while he lightly jogged. Didn't look that bad at all, he needs to get hit every now and then.

3. Taalib Tucker looks like Phillip Wheeler, fast and has a nose for the ball. (He should be a good one).

4. The first team O-line looked pretty solid most of the day, the second team O-line looks huge but they have work to do.

5. Jamal Evans the frosh from Texas at running back reminds me of Jerry Mays (same size and both wear #20). This kid is the real deal, finds the hole and slips through for 5-10 yards a crack. Hopefully, he will be durable, his size is a concern, especially when those big LB's pound him all day).

6. The D looked solid, they were blitzing LB's, corners, safties, etc... all day.

7. As a side note, sat next to a former Tech player that was on the 1990 NC team, great guy. We talked about past games and the team now. He said he is very worried about Travis Bell, said once a kicker's head is not right its over. He said Bell has all the talent in the world but when you start doubting yourself as a kicker its over. (hope he is wrong but I am worried).

Other than that, great day for football, sun blazing down, grass lush and green, and those glorious gold helmets flying around Grand Field.
 
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5. Jamal Evans the frosh from Texas at running back reminds me of Jerry Mays (same size and both wear #20). This kid is the real deal, finds the hole and slips through for 5-10 yards a crack. Hopefully, he will be durable, his size is a concern, especially when those big LB's pound him all day).

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I would not worry about his durability. I talked to one of our coaches about that and he said it is not a concern because he is built like a rock at 190+ lbs. on the 5'8" frame and people hardly ever get a hard shot at him because he is elusive and smart.

btw....Joe Hamilton was exactly the same size at 5'8" and 190.

If Jamaal was 170 and ran straight up then I would be concerned!
 
Not disagreeing with you Red, but Joe H was knocked out of quite a few games in his early years. But I think the real key is how a back takes a hit. Tony Dorsett lasted all those years because he'd never take a hit. Eric Dickerson had that knack of bouncing off people or hitting with that dead leg (like Young against USC). Earl Campbell meanwhile got completely beat up over time. Evans sounds like a smart and elusive back that will survive.
 
not counting late hits as a QB against FSU.

I also do not remember Joe ever missing a start...maybe one. I could be wrong though.

Either way, PJ Daniels was a big back and he missed more games than most GT tailbacks over the past 20 years. Not a knock on PJ...just making a point.
 
Hivered is correct. Durability is not an issue with Evans. He played in the highest classification and one of the best leagues in Texas and was never injured.
 
Did not get to see Evans in the scrimmage on Saturday but standing up close at practice on Friday I was extremely impressed with him. I would not worry about durability either as I counted one time out of probably 15 where anyone would have had a shot at hitting him, and this was against our 1st team D. Very impressive for what is in fact just a high school senior!
 
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I also do not remember Joe ever missing a start...maybe one. I could be wrong though.


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He was out with an injury for the Georgia game his freshman (RS) year.
 
re-Evans

you ignored his best chance for paying the price at 190(btw-if he is 190 ,since JHam was 183 at pro combine after sr yr and always listed at 190),is on blocking.Hitting 230 lb LBs/250lb DEs when they are charging is rough.when he is running the ball HE can dodge to control hit but not blocking.
 
Re: re-Evans

Couple of thoughts. First he'll grow. Mike Imoh at VT was 175 lbs as a freshan and 195 now. Not to say that Evans can carry another 20 pounds but he will get stronger as he's on the weights if not much heavier. Otherwise, he just has to learn how to handle himself out there. He never has to be the kind of blocker that buries a defender, all he has to do is get in the way and buy time. We won't know if he can take the punishment until he tries it. So no need to worry about it now.
 
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