Aug. 2, 2007
Quotes from Georgia Tech’s Football Media Day, held this afternoon:
HEAD COACH Chan Gailey
With Notre Dame beginning your schedule, your players are so excited they’re ready to play tomorrow. How about you?
“No, I’m not ready to play tomorrow. We can use all the practice we can get to get ready to play this ball game. But it is exciting. The great thing is that it has created a sense of urgency all off-season, and it will create a sense of urgency in our pre-season preparation. That’s a great advantage. The disadvantage is you have to go play a great football team in the opening game of the season.”
With the way the last three games of 2007 left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths, would you rather the players hang on to that, or leave it behind?
“I think you need to keep a piece of that. It sticks in your craw a little bit. If you get to a point where you’re at peace with it, then you’ll settle for it again, and I hope they don’t make peace with it. I hope a little bit of that sticks in their craw. It does in mine.”
Do you consider Tashard Choice a pre-season Heisman Trophy candidate, and with a name like Choice, how would you market him?
“First of all, that’s not my job. My job’s not to market guys. My job is to put guys in position to be the best player they can be. Tashard played great last year. To me, he worked out and had a better off-season that he had last year. We’ve got four or five offensive linemen returning. We have a chance to have another good year running the football. He’s very, very good runner. You decide all that other stuff. I want to make sure he does a great job on the field and put him in position to be the best player you can be.”
Without Calvin Johnson in your receiver group, can we expect to see a more balanced passing game this year?
“We’ll be more diversified. Instead of seeing 120 catches spread around two or three receivers, it’ll be spread out over four or five guys. I think that’s a safe assumption. James Johnson has the most experience of that group, but I think we’ve got some other guys who are going to step out there and be very successful and very productive this year. The passing game will show a little bit more diversification to allow that to happen as well.”
Is it good that defenses don’t have one player to focus on?
“That is one side of the sword. You lose a great player that you can go throw it up and he can go get it, it doesn’t matter if he’s covered. Now you’re able to tell the quarterback, `Take what they give you.’ If they put the coverage over here, throw the ball where it’s on-on-one or where the zone crease is. That part will be a lot easier for teaching a quarterback.”
How has Taylor Bennett come along? Before the Gator Bowl, no one was really sure he could step in and become the starting quarterback, but his performance changed that perception.
“And that’s what we have to be careful of, to let one game crown somebody with a certain identity or ability. Really, we’re not there yet. He’s played well when he’s had the opportunity. He’s going to be a very good quarterback. But time tells on those things. Can he handle it when it’s all his? When you’re a backup, everybody loves you.”
Going into South Bend, how important is it for him to have had that start in the Gator Bowl?
“It’s very big. It’s great that he’s had success in a big situation. I’m sure he would have anyway even if he hadn’t played in the Gator Bowl, but now I feel extremely confident that it will not awe him in the least to be walking into that type of ball game.”
Some of his teammates called him a student of the game, said he spent an lot of time working on his own initiative. Is that more than a normal quarterback? Is he unique in that way?
“I don’t think so. I think the great ones do that. I think the great ones spend that kind of time. Some people call them studious. Some people call them gym rats, a guy that hangs around the gym all the time and wants to get better. He falls into those categories. He is very eager to be the best player he can be. He goes to a lot of lengths to try and be the best.”
Have you seen evidence of that in the way he sees the field, recognizing coverages, etc.?
“You can watch all the film you want. But until you’ve done it in a game, it’s a whole different process. He’s got a little experience, but every game he plays will add to his ability to become a better player. I don’t know what we’ll see early in the season, how he’ll play. But I think we’ll see a quarterback that will continue to get better and better as the season goes along.”
What impressed you about Bennett’s composure in the Gator Bowl?
“It didn’t start just in the Gator Bowl. He had handled himself well in other situations where he had come in and played. I expected him to react the way he did. To compile all those yards and make some of the throws he made, I didn’t know he could do that. I’ll be honest with you. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that. I’m looking forward to seeing how things unfold as time goes on with a new set of receivers, a different passing attack. It’s going to be interesting to see how that comes together.”
He’s kind of a back-door leader, having organized movie outings and other things. He’s already accomplished that earning of respect, hasn’t he?
“Our guys understand what Taylor’s about. Taylor’s about being a team player, being successful, working hard, getting better. Our players respect that about him. The intangible parts, some of the off-the-field things, he’s been very involved in that. He understands leadership. He’s got a great grasp of leadership. So, he is ahead of the curve in that respect.”
Since Bennett has limited experience, and you have a guy like Tashard Choice, do you expect them to pack the line and make him prove himself?
“Sure. That’s what most any team would do. You’ve got the leading rusher in the ACC returning with a bunch of the linemen, and an unproven quarterback and an unproven set of receivers, that’s what you’re going to do. I think it’s pretty obvious what will happen when we walk out there in the first quarter.”
What do you have behind Taylor? Obviously you want to get that settled.
“We’re going to have to see how that unfolds. We have Calvin Booker, Byron Ingram, Kyle Manley, Josh Nesbitt. There are a lot of guys who are in the mix, and that’s one of the keys for us in pre-season, to see how that plays out.”
How did you come to find John Bond, and how does he compare to Patrick Nix as an offensive coordinator?
“I met John and had people call me about John. I felt like we were a good fit. I talked with him on the phone, I met him and visited with him. We talked offense for quite a while, and I thought we were a good fit. And I explained to him who we were, where we were as a team, what we needed, and where we were going. I think he felt the same way and bought into it. We seemed to hit it off real well.
“I made the statement the other day; we’ve been driving the simulator for a while. Spring practice is a simulator. You’re not on the track with the car going 200 miles and hour. We’re getting ready to find out what the traffic is like, what the speed is like, having to negotiate our way through a game. That’s the next step.”
Did your early discussions include play-calling?
“That was included in it, completely.”
Notre Dame lost their quarterback, top receiver and top running back. Can you talk about the uncertainty of preparing for them without those players?
“The great thing is, whoever they throw out there will not have a lot of experience. The bad thing is, you don’t know who they are and what they can do, what their strengths and weaknesses are so you can take advantage of them. They are revamping on offense, but we all know Notre Dame. They’ve got good players. They’re just going to throw a less experienced team out there, not less talented. I’m sure that we’re going to challenge them to think quickly.”
After coming within a win of the ACC Championship last year, will it be a disappointment if this team doesn’t punch through and win it?
“Sure. It’s a disappointment every year if you don’t win the championship, because that’s the goal. The goal is to be a champion. That’s why you work all off-season. That’s why you line up and practice every day, is to go win and be a champion. It was a disappointment last year and the year before that.”
What has it been that has made your defense so successful each year?
“Our defense has been consistent because of (defensive coordinator) Jon Tenuta and his scheme. He does a great job of running his defense and getting guys to buy in and play at a high level. We’ve been able to have some very good defensive players here the last few years. Jon Tenuta does a great job of using the talent to be successful on defense. That’s what has given us, year in and year out, a good defense. We’ve got a good group coming back this year again.”
How do you like your depth in the secondary?
“I feel like our safeties are pretty good. We’ve got Joe Gaston back from a knee injury. We’ve got three seniors at safety – Gaston, Jamal Lewis and Djay Jones – who have been very good players to this point. The corners are something else. Jahi Word-Daniels played some last year, played good at times. Avery Roberson played good at times. Pat Clark played good at times. We’ve got some guys who have been in games, but to put it all together and be a solid group back there, we’re going to need some other young players to step up and become players for us.”
How much does the offense change without Reggie Ball’s running ability?
“It’s changed a decent amount. We don’t have that weapon now. Taylor’s not going to do that. Taylor’s going to be more of a pocket, pro-type passer. We will have to run the football strictly with our tailbacks.”
Your receivers who red-shirted last year and had good springs – is it possible that some of them can step up and be “top-line” players for you?
“To me, you have to reserve that category for guys that have proven it on the field. Do they have the ability and the potential? Yes they do, to be very good players before it’s over with. Whether they get there or not, that’s why we give them the opportunity to get in games and see if they can do it.”
Do any of them feel pressure to fill Calvin Johnson’s shoes?
“I don’t think any of them worry about that. Calvin Johnson was a great player and an amazing athlete. All these other guys have confidence in their abilities. They believe in themselves. So they’re not trying to pattern themselves after anybody else.”
Do any of them have big-play potential?
“They all have it in their own ways. There is some speed out there, some height out there, some running after the catch ability. Each of them has their own thing that allows them to be special at some point.”
Talk about your offensive line as a strength, not only with their size and ability, but their intelligence.
“They’re really smart football players. You’re not worried too much about those guys staying up until three in the morning studying to pass a test because they’re good and have learned time management. And, the communication between them up front is really good and clean. They understand it. It makes sense to them. They communicated with each other for a couple of years now. That makes any adjustments you might have to make at the line or on the sideline a lot easier.”
How do you think Colin Peek will come back at your tight end position?
“I think Colin’s going to have a very good year this year. He played as a freshman and red-shirted last year because we had three senior tight ends. I think that’s going to be good in the long run for him and for us. He’s a big guy, 6-6 or so, with decent speed. He understands the passing game very well. It’s just a matter of getting involved in the passing game, getting the repetitions and getting comfortable with Taylor, and Taylor with him. I think he could become a very good receiving tight end for us.”
The only missing spot on the offensive line is right tackle, which is Bennett’s blind spot.
“As we go into the fall, I thought A.J. Smith really came on and played well the spring. It’s his job right now. There may be some guys – Cord Howard, Jacob Lonowski – that push for that position. But right now, it’s A.J.’s, and I feel confident about A.J. He’s bulked up. Our line as a whole has bulked up. We now have three over 300 (pounds), which is amazing.”
Will (running back) Rashaun Grant have a set amount of playing time, or will it be more a game flow type of thing?
“Rashaun Grant will have more of a diversified role on this team. There will be times he is a slot back. There will be times he’s in there as a fullback. There will be times he’s in there as a receiver. We experimented with him in spring practice, and we’ll experiment with him a little more this fall, but he gives you another type of weapons out there because of his quickness and his hands. The key to him is ball security. That’s the only thing that’s kept him from being on the field a lot.”
Mike Cox, Senior Fullback
On his protection now:
“It’s a little bit easier when you have a pocket passer, instead of someone running around, because a defender may take off in a different direction and its difficult to hold your block for a long time. Having Taylor (Bennett) back there, knowing he won’t be doing a lot of scrambling around, will make my job easier.”
On Coach (John) Bond getting him the ball more:
“I hope so. Looking at what we did in the spring, it looked like we were going to get me the ball a little more, but not a lot more. I take pride in the blocking part though.”
On his shoulder:
“The shoulder feels good and I have actually been able to start bench pressing and lifting and it doesn’t hurt when I wake up in the morning, which it used to. So I’m feeling pretty good about coming into camp with two good shoulders.”
Durant Brooks, Senior Punter
On thoughts going through mind before punt:
“I wanted to kick it out there 44 or 45 yards and make sure that I always got the punt off. I never wanted to get a punt blocked.”
On Ray Guy:
“He’s from where my mom is from, so I met him through her. I went to some of his camps, and you just have that bond being from where he’s from.”
On being a finalist for the Ray Guy Award:
“It was incredible, almost surreal. I never thought it would have been possible coming into the year, but it was awesome. Didn’t win it, but that’s motivation for this year.”
On surprising even himself:
“Maybe at Virginia Tech. First away game, that stadium, and knowing how Virginia Tech can block punts under Coach (Frank) Beamer. I was surprised at first, and then I knew I could do it, especially after that game.”
Tashard Choice, Senior Running Back
On players in the NFL from Georgia and Texas:
“I have a lot of friends that are in the NFL from the state of Georgia. It just really depends, because both states do well. But Texas is way bigger than Georgia.”
On the offense running around him:
“I am ecstatic about the opportunity to try and carry the load. I know that Taylor (Bennett) is a real student of the game and he will make good decisions out there. I’m just ready to go.”
Taylor Bennett, Junior Quarterback
On watching video:
“I’m taking that pretty seriously. You go into a game and you’re in a tight situation and you have to go back and say, this is their tendency on third down and this is where I’m going to go with the ball. Even in practice you can see that pays off. You have to outthink the defense and that’s where the game is won as a quarterback. When you outthink the defense, know their tendencies, and you know what’s going to happen.”
On the differences between Pat Nix and John Bond:
“Besides their names? Every coach has their own style and theories on how to read things. They are both very good offensive coordinators. Coach Nix is at Miami, the U, and Coach Bond is here. Seeing what he did at Northern Illinois, I’m very excited to have him here and seeing what he will be able to provide for us. I think its going to be good things.”
On running the ball more:
“I mean we do have Tashard (Choice) back there, why not? When you have an offensive line as good as ours, and experienced, plus you have the ACC leading rusher behind you, there’s no reason you shouldn’t run the ball.”
Kevin Tuminello, senior center
On the O-Line:
“We have a lot of experience coming back on the line. We are a close-knit group and hang out a lot. There will be a lot of competition at that right tackle spot but I know someone will come in and do a great job there.
“We are a running team with Tashard Choice and Mike Cox, so we just have to go out there and do what we do and hopefully that will open up a few good looks in the passing game.”
On Taylor Bennett being prepared:
“Taylor is always critiquing himself, always watching video on opponents and himself, especially on game day and even the day before. He is really a student of the game and always trying to get better. He is just constantly watching video and discussing what is going on. He has done a great job at picking up the offense with Coach Bond and I think he is going to do well this year.”
On quarterback depth:
“All the quarterbacks have different attributes to them and I feel that we will use all their talents to the best of their abilities.”
On opponents this season:
“We are not really worrying about the teams we will be facing this year. Right now we are concerned with being the best we could be. The whole summer we worked on becoming a better team, especially in the fourth quarter and just finishing opponents this year.”
Jamal Lewis, Senior safety
On the defense over the past few years:
“It begins with our defensive coordinator (Jon Tenuta). He puts us in the right places to make plays and we just go out there and run the schemes and just try as hard as we can to stop the opponent.
“We try to get to the ball as fast as we can and try and make things happen.
“As a defense, we just try to go out there and be the best defense we can be. We just go out there and play hard.”
On playing safety opposed to cornerback:
“I just think I am a defensive back, I don’t care what position I am playing. I just want to go out there and make tackles and just try to make plays to contribute to the defense as much as possible.”
On playing weight:
“I gained a few pounds over the summer; I think I am up to 205, so I guess I am a good weight to be a true safety.”
Darryl Richard, junior defensive tackle
On Georgia Tech’s defense:
“One thing we expect is perfection out of our defense. Some weeks that might not happen but we expect to play perfect defense and do such things as hold our opponents under 100 yards on the ground and 300 total yards for the game.”
On Georgia Tech’s offense:
“We have an offense right now that can methodically beat people by marching down the field with a guy like Tashard Choice. That means ball control and that gives the defense time to take a breather. I will take seven no matter how we get it, whether it is a quick or a slow seven, I just want seven.”
On giving up big plays against West Virginia and Clemson last season:
“If we eliminate big plays last season, those teams might not have beaten us, so I guess that is something we do not want to occur this season and something we will work on to prevent.”
Philip Wheeler, Senior linebacker
On playing Notre Dame:
“When you have a close game and you lose, it makes you want to play more intense the next year. It becomes kind of like a rivalry. I think we are going to play every team tough but this one will be special, especially because of the environment, being in South Bend, with touchdown Jesus and all that.”
On the Notre Dame-Georgia Tech rivalry:
“I think some of us think about it but we are really too young to really know about the true rivalry. I think it is just more intense because how close the game was last year and we could have won it.”
On Coach Tenuta:
“He motivates, he coaches and gets on you when you are doing something bad. It is just hard to explain but he just puts you in the best position to make plays and be the best player you can be.”
