April 5, 2008
ATLANTA — Nearly all of Georgia Tech’s two-hour practice here Saturday morning was an intra-squad scrimmage in rainy Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The Yellow Jacket defense had some shining moments while the offense struggled with numerous fumbles and loose balls.
“It’s frustrating to see so many fumbles,” head coach Paul Johnson said, “but what’s more frustrating is that we didn’t hustle to the ball after it was on the ground.
“We’re going to have to do a much, much better job holding on to the ball. You’re not going to win many football games putting the ball on the ground like that. The defense did a good job causing a couple of those (fumbles), but mostly it was poor fundamentals and execution.”
There were some highlights in Tech’s eighth practice of the spring:
– Senior quarterback Calvin Booker found junior Greg Smith in the end zone with a 15-yard touchdown pass. With Josh Nesbitt out nursing a tender groin, Booker, Bryce Dykes and Jim Henry handled all the quarterback snaps Saturday.
– Sophomore B-back Lucas Cox had a 25-yard touchdown run up the middle. “I thought he (Cox) did some good things today,” Johnson said.
– Maybe the hit of the day came from sophomore linebacker Osahon Tongo, who crushed Dykes in the backfield and sent the QB’s helmet flying.
– Sophomore Dominique Reese hauled in an interception.
– Sophomore linebacker returned a fumble 20 yards for a TD.
The Yellow Jackets return to practice Monday afternoon.
