Aug. 7, 2007
GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL
Post-Practice Report – August 7, 2007
Practice #5
Rose Bowl Field
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Format: Full pads
Weather: 90 degrees, 45 percent humidity
The pads popped this morning as Georgia Tech’s football team put on full pads for the first time this preseason. Tuesday morning’s practice was the Yellow Jackets’ only full-scale workout of the day and it was their fifth practice overall. Tech’s first two-a-day practice is scheduled for Wednesday.
Notebook:
— Junior offensive tackle A.J. Smith, a projected starter on Georgia Tech’s veteran offensive line, was injured very early in the first 11-on-11 drill today. There are no more details on Smith’s injury at this time.
— Head coach Chan Gailey cut about 15 minutes off today’s practice schedule because of the heat.
Fact of the Day:
Georgia Tech has preseason candidates for the Maxwell Award (Tashard Choice), Nagurski Award (Philip Wheeler), Bednarik Award (Wheeler), Remington Trophy (Tuminello), Lott Trophy (Darryl Richard), Ray Guy Award (Durant Brooks) and the Jim Thorpe Award (Jamal Lewis). There is no preseason “watch list” for the Heisman Trophy.
By The Numbers:
6 – Number of fumbles lost by Georgia Tech in 2006
14 – Number of their own fumbles recovered by the Yellow Jackets in 2006
22 – Number of fumbles lost last season by both Oklahoma and New MexicoState, which tied for last in the NCAA statistics
105 – Number of Division I-A teams that lost more fumbles than Georgia Tech in 2006
Quoting Mohamed Yahiaoui, Junior, Placekicker/Punter
On the kickoff rule change (moving back to 30-yard line):
“The main thing now is you want hang time and just get it around the goal line. If we can do that, and hit it in the right spot, it should help our coverage team.”
On improving kickoff coverage from last year:
“Getting the ball in the right spot and the coverage people in the right spot; that is something that I need to improve on. I worked on it during the summer and during workouts.”
Next practice:
Wednesday (9 a.m.) at Rose Bowl Field
Wednesday (4:30 p.m.) at Rose Bowl Field
Remaining preseason practice schedule:
Thursday, 10:15-12:15
Friday, 9-11
Friday, 4:30-6:15
Saturday, 11:45-1:45 (stadium)
August 13, 9-11
August 13, 4:30-6:15
August 14, 10:15-12:15
August 15, 9-11
August 15, 4:30-6:15
August 16, 10:15-12:15
August 17, 10-12:15
August 18, 11-1 (stadium)
August 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m. (stadium)
