Team returns to the practice field today

Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
Dustman said:
Bruce he should be able to correct this IMO. His kicks don't move that much from right to left. Now if it's me trying to hit a golf ball between the uprights, then I agree with you.
Click to expand...
I agree that it should be fixable but all of last year and in 4 games so far this year he has been completely consistent in what he can and cannot do. So far he has not been a jack of all trades at kicking. If that changes then great but until he can do it consistently in practice then it is smarter to play to his strengths. So he has tried to just kick off for touchbacks ever since the first 2-3 KO's in the GSU game. The same should probably go for field goal attempts off the hashes unless the distance is great enough.
 
Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
In that CPJ audio one reporter gets him to retell an anecdote from before the first game of the year about Smelter. Y'all should listen to it.

Coach says that he overheard Smelter saying that what he could not wait for in the game was his "first crack back block." Not his first reception but putting a hurting on an opponent with a block. Is it possible for me to love rooting for Smelter any more? I bet he is nice to old ladies and kittens as well.

What a great story, player, athlete, and seemingly person he is, and with a head really screwed on straight about this offense.
 

Eric

Retired Co-Founder
Messages
12,734
Bruce Wayne said:
In that CPJ audio one reporter gets him to retell an anecdote from before the first game of the year about Smelter. Y'all should listen to it.

Coach says that he overheard Smelter saying that what he could not wait for in the game was his "first crack back block." Not his first reception but putting a hurting on an opponent with a block. Is it possible for me to love rooting for Smelter any more? I bet he is nice to old ladies and kittens as well.

What a great story, player, athlete, and seemingly person he is, and with a head really screwed on straight about this offense.
Click to expand...

and you can tell from the effort he puts into blocking...I really am going to miss Smelter. So I am cherishing his performance each game.

He has laid some NASTY blocks.
 
Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
Eric said:
and you can tell from the effort he puts into blocking...I really am going to miss Smelter. So I am cherishing his performance each game.

He has laid some NASTY blocks.
Click to expand...
Same here. He owned, who was it?--Kendall Fuller?--the corner for VT who is on every preseason awards watch list and ACC defensive rookie of the year last year? For both of those guys this game was an early NFL audition and Smelter won that one-on-one match-up hands down.

CPJ says he told Thomas on that tying drive at VT to "just give Smelter a chance, he is a good athlete." What a blessing Smelter's effort and hands have been and will continue to be this year for a young starting QB. Thomas is proving himself a leader in his own right but he also has players around him that he can put his trust in. They feed off each other. Seniors like Smelter and Laskey right now are so important for the kind of QB Thomas is going to be when he is a Junior and Senior.

Getting only two years from such a talent and with such a good mindset is a tad bittersweet. But it makes him even more of a great story.
 

Eric

Retired Co-Founder
Messages
12,734
GTNavyNuke said:
Thanks, he may win us or lose us a game yet but I'd rather have Butker in for the 60 yard game winning attempt over anyone else..... 20-40 yards, maybe not. When we intercepted the ball on VT at the end of the game at about the 40, I was thinking that we were in FG range already.

What was the injury? Hopefully it doesn't affect his distance on KOs. Right now he's at 6th ... http://www.cfbstats.com/2014/leader/national/team/offense/split01/category29/sort04.html in Touch Back %. I don't like the total yards stat as much because he intentionally did a shorter squib kick at the end of a game (Ga Southern?) that messes with his average yards.
Click to expand...

Can't really comment on specifics like that unless the staff does.
 
BainbridgeJacket

BainbridgeJacket

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,210
I would think we would be trying Searcy at safety. I know we need corner more, but his best position is safety. I said the same thing about jemea.
 
CuseJacket

CuseJacket

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
19,564
dressedcheeseside said:
Ken S. of the ajc says he's practicing at field corner:

Ken: He is training at the field cornerback position, where Chris Milton is starting. On the depth chart, Milton is backed up by Lawrence Austin and Lynn Griffin.

Also, I'm a little surprised that spot is open for tryouts with both Lance Austin and Lynn Griffin backing up Chris Milton. Really surprised LG hasn't stepped up yet.

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/techs-searcy-getting-cornerback-tryout/nhTp3/
Click to expand...

Per CTR, Lynn Griffin has had a good couple days of practice this week.

 

MWBATL

Helluva Engineer
Messages
6,545
What I think I am hearing is that there seems to be more competition going on now on D, and some guys (Searcy, Lynn Griffin) are playing hard and pushing for playing time. Plus D linemen are ant least putting in the effort to get a bit of playing time to spell our starters. These are all good signs (long term) IMHO!
 
Dustman

Dustman

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,246
jeffgt14 said:
Wasn’t it Ben Arndt who leveled the Miami punt returner to save a TD? I think the same game he had the 80 yard punt to seal the win.
Click to expand...
Nice recall Jeff! According to his bio....

Named ACC Specialist of the Week and National Special Teams Player of the Week by the Master Coaches Survey for his performance in Tech's win at third-ranked Miami . . . Boomed a 78-yard punt (fifth longest in school history) to back Miami to its 11-yard line late in the fourth quarter . . . Also made a crucial tackle to prevent a possible touchdown return by the Hurricanes . . . Averaged 40.3 yards on nine punts against Miami with four punts inside the 20 . . .
 
jeffgt14

jeffgt14

We don't quite suck as much anymore.
Messages
5,879
Location
Mt Juliet, TN
Dustman said:
Nice recall Jeff! According to his bio....

Named ACC Specialist of the Week and National Special Teams Player of the Week by the Master Coaches Survey for his performance in Tech's win at third-ranked Miami . . . Boomed a 78-yard punt (fifth longest in school history) to back Miami to its 11-yard line late in the fourth quarter . . . Also made a crucial tackle to prevent a possible touchdown return by the Hurricanes . . . Averaged 40.3 yards on nine punts against Miami with four punts inside the 20 . . .
Click to expand...
Imagine 9 punts by a CPJ coached team.
 
Top