I'm back in action

Helsinki Finland was great, but nothing beats the good old US of A. Nice to be back on home soil. After leaving at 12:00 am eastern time (7:00am Finland time) for the airport, and arriving last night at 10:30 pm eastern, I am worn out to say the least. The saving grace was that Delta upgraded me on both long flights to "business elite" class, which is always nice - fully reclining seats, personal video unit, champagne, 4 course meal topped off with an ice cream sundae. Now that's flying.

It's funny, I flew through Amsterdam and there was a McDonalds. I thought, I need to American junk food. So the girl gives me my meal and there is one little packet of ketchup. I ask for extra ketchup. She says "that will be 35 cents per packet". I said "you charge for ketchup?". She says "That's the way we do it in Holland". Allllllll-rrrrriiiggghhhttty-then.

Well, there is much to be updated in Jacket nation. First, thanks for the kind comments about the site. Glad to see it is as addictive as a good cup of coffee. Nice to see it is missed while I was away.

So, to the action.

First, football action is heavy and so is the media coverage of the Jackets.

DEPTH AND INJURIES
On thing you will see as a common thread in many of these stories are minor injuries plauging the team. The good news is that there are no MAJOR injuries, just minor ones. But the following have missed practice time due to injuries:

Rashaun Grant, PJ Daniels, Nate Curry, Reuben Houston, Dawan Landry, Leon Robinson, Kyle Wallace, Kevin Tuminello, Travis Parker, Eric Henderson, Joe Anaoi, Daryl Richard,

COACH GAILEY UPDATES HIS WEBSITE
Coach has posted a team update - link here.
Some of his key comments are:
- a number of minor injuries, but everyone working hard still
- WR group especially thin with minor injuries
- both Calvin Johnson / Pat Clark have stepped up as freshman.
- LB group still the #1 question. Reis & Wilkenson are set, while Hall & Moore battle for the other spot.
- place kicking is solid with Travis Bell
- punting job still wide open
- PJ Daniels in the best shape of his career
- Reggie Ball improving but consistency still #1 issue
- Pat Carter / Taylor Bennett are really pushing for playing time.
- TE job still in the air, but all doing good things
- Nate Curry hasn't practiced at all, but will be ready
- D-Biblo is really coming along well.

FAN PHOTO DAY ON SUNDAY
Grab your kids and head to this fun event.

RECEIVERS SHOW VERSATILITY
www.ramblinwreck.com
Ok, this one is fresh off Saturday's scrimmage, where 5 different receivers caught TD's. Levon Thomas hauled in 2 TD's as well as 94 yards and really looks to be improved this season. Calvin Johnson caught 5 passes for 85 yards and 2 TD's. D-Bilbo ASLO caught 2 TD's, James Johnson caught one and freshman Pat Clark caught one as well. Throw in a 20-yard TD to FB Jimmy Dixon. Folks, Nate Curry isn't even practicing yet and he is our #1 guy. Holy cow. I am trying REAL hard not to get overly excited, but it is hard.

And check out the line on Reggie Ball - 14-22, 232 yards, 7 TD's, 2 INT's. And kicker Travis Bell hit 3 more FG's without a miss.

PJ DANIELS DEFLECTS PRAISE
RamblinWreck.com
He is humble off the field, but on it, he wants to crush you. My kind of guy. Having said that, I will issue a challenge to PJ. Your best games last year came against the weaker opponents (other than FSU). Show us this year that you can consistently take it to the other guys. Take you game to the next level. Everything I read leads me to believe you have put in the work to do it. Make us proud!!

DANIELS / WOODS OFF VERSATILITY TO RUNNING GAME
Rana Cash - AJC
How the tandem of these guys could cause headaches for opposing defenses.

THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Dan Toth - Calgary Sun
This was an interesting find on the net. Buddy Geis is an assistant coach with the Jackets. You should know that his son is a high school coach in Florida, who happens to coach Maurice Wells, one of the most talented RB's in the nation who is considering GT, Ohio State and USC as his top 3. Well, it looks like his daughter is in the football game as well - sort of. Her boyfriend happens to be Tommy Jones, a QB with the Calgary Stampeders. Geis and Jones spent time throwing the ball around in the back yard, and some of Geis's advice has helped him win the starting QB job. Nice going.

What is important for Jacket fans to take out of this is that Buddy Geis has worked with Troy Aikmen and Jim Harbough. A strong resume for any QB considering the Jackets. Throw in the fact that Gailey has worked with a bunch of talented ones like Kordell Stewart, Aikmen and John Elway and it is impressive.

HENDERSON ON LOMBARDI WATCH LIST
RamblinWreck.com
Congrats to Eric Henderson, who will lead our talented D-Line. Some national recognition for this talented player.

TECH'S D-ENDS AN IMPOSING PAIR
Rana Cash - AJC
The bookends of Eric Henderson and Travis Parker should be fun to watch this season. Sounds like these guys are best buddies and it is exciting to hear them talk about their focus in training this summer - speed. Not that I know what they needed to focus on, but it sounds like they did and worked hard.

Now, to bring you back down to earth. Both of these guys sat out practice with minor injuries and could be back Monday. Uuuuugggghhhh. Just what we need.

DAVIS, SCOTT DUELING FOR STARTING CORNER JOBS
Mike Knobler - AJC
Definitely a competition going on, and nice to see GOOD play resulting in unclear decisions for the coaching staff.

FROM DOOM TO BOOM FOR BELL
Mike Knobler - AJC
Nice story on using adversity to drive you in the future. Also interesting that Coach Gailey told him to only focus on kicking from 40 yards in. Nice to hear this comment:

"I know where it's going to go, and it feels the same every time I kick it," Bell said. "The only thing left now is to do it in a game."

WANTED: CONSISTENT PUNTER
Rana Cash - AJC
Well, Coach mentioned in his update that the punting job was wide open. Why? Nobody is stepping up, or "getting it up". Coach doesn't seem to be worried about distance, just eliminating the shank punts.

Other notes in that story
- PJ Daniels sat out with a minor injury but should be back Monday.
- Henderson / Parker also out until Monday.
- 19 tackles for a loss would give Henderson the GT career record

Here's another version of the same with a few variations in the team notes.

TECH HOPES TO REDSHIRT QB BENNETT
Rana Cash - AJC
Bennett is pushing hard for the #2 QB spot, although Coach would like to redshirt him. Bennet has already gained 25 pounds since spring - impressive.

Also note in the article concern over the run defense. While it was the rock of our defense last year, our offense ran for 276 yards in the first scrimmage. Great for the backs, not so great for the defense. Coach says it is more about technique than personnel (Anoai was out).

ROOKIE BENNETT HAS FOOTBALL OBSESSION
Macon Telegraph
Team notes, including the fact that QB Bennett is obsessed with learning the game. That bodes well for his future.

TECH RECEIVERS TALL ORDER FOR OPPONENTS
Mike Knobler - AJC
Ok, are you thinking what I'm thinking? A 6'4" WR on one side, a 6'3" guy on the other. Both with speed and jumping ability who can catch. I tell you, with the Daniels / Woods tandem in the backfield and the potential growth of Bilbo and Johnson and the maturation of Ball, the possibilities are endless. It really makes me realize more and more that Reggie Ball's development might be the most important of all.

TEAMMATES AT CENTER OF SUPPORT GROUP
Rana Cash - AJC
Nice to see the other guys on the line really supporting Kevin Tuminello, a redshirt freshman who will start this season. Starting freshman on the O-Line is NOT typical so it does raise a red flag for me. It is great that they say he is one of the strongest lineman we have. But let's face it - this is a depth issue here, one of the key weaknesses coach talks about all the time.

LINE-DANCING SUITS JACKETS
Mike Knobler - AJC
Again, a depth issue here. Good to see some guys stepping up.

D'ALESSANDRIS BUSY WITH OFFENSIVE LINE
Brian Murphy - Macon Telegraph
More of the same. Injuries and depth. One is not needed and the other is.

INJURIES HIT GT'S O-LINE
Adam Van Brimmer - Morris News Service
...and other team notes.

REIS NEGATES INEXPERIENCE WITH DRIVE
Brian Murphy - Macon Telegraph
I can tell you that YellowJacket nation is starting to really like this guy, and good things always seemed to happen when he was on the field last season. Well, this year he'll REALLY have his chance, as a starting linebacker. He's added 10 pounds, although he is still undersized for his position. But of course speed is critical and playmaking ability.

JACKETS HOLD FIRST SCRIMMAGE
Re-cap of scrimmage #1. Notice the nice circus catch TD's from Bilbo. Lots of good to point to........ Here are some further notes from the scrimmage.

CARDS IN A TIGHT SPOT AT TIGHT END
Russ Brown - Kentucky.com
It is official now that Wayne Riles will be transferring to GT. He will have to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules. Sounds like his team is a bit miffed at the last minute notice........ Here's a bit harsher look at Riles and the events surrounding his transfer.

RECRUITING BATTLE - CARLOS THOMAS
insiders.com
We are right in the hunt with this talented WR/DB. He lists GT and UGAg as his favorites. Why GT? He knows the team well and his brother plays at Tech.

A LOOK AT THE ACC
Star news Online
Here's what they said about the Jackets:

Yellow Jacket justification

Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey enters his third campaign and despite bowl appearances in his first two seasons the Yellow Jackets have finished 7-6 both times. They have been outscored by arch rival Georgia 85-24 and last year became Duke's first ACC victim of the century in a 41-17 rout.

Tech was picked by the media to finish eighth in the 11-team ACC and its conceivably it could end up 10th ahead of only Duke.

Reggie Ball may have been named ACC Freshman of the Year last season but he was no more than mediocre at quarterback. He was thrown to the wolves too soon and was a contributor to an opening loss at BYU.

He did improve, but still made enough questionable decisions to warrant concern.

But Ball has wonderful potential and should make strides this year. If he doesn't, however, Tech will have to rely too much on tailback P.J. Daniels. Tech has some very talented players but lacks depth.

The Jackets were very close to several more losses last fall, notably an overtime win at hapless Vanderbilt. This year's club may not pull out such games. And if it doesn't, Gailey may not see a fourth season.

SEVEN JACKETS SET TO COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS
RamblinWreck.com
The article highlights when they will compete. This is exciting stuff for GT and these athletes. These people are not just representing GT, they are representing the USA. Let's show them our support......... Here's another mention of some YellowJackets in the games.

GT HAS 112 ATHLETES ON THE HONOR ROLL
Congrats!!!

WOMEN'S HOOPS SCHEDULE RELEASED
RamblinWreck.com
Tough schedule, but you have to beat the best to be the best.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - DARREN BRAGG
Marc Lancaster - Cincy Post
He's now playing with the Louisville Cards trying to make it back to the bigs.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - TONY HARGROVE
Scott Eklund - SeaHawks.net
Brief mention of Tony in this article.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - GEORGE O'LEARY
AP
Another starting over article from the media........ Here's another version.

FORMER JACKET READY TO STAR AT LSU
Gannett News Service
EJ Kuale played a year at GT but left due to academic reasons. Now after some time a junior college, he will be stepping on the field for the LSU Tigers.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - DAVID DUVAL
Glenn Sheely - AJC
Duval was disappointed in his performance at the PGA Championship.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - DARYL SMITH
www.jaguars.com - Q&A
On D-Smith finding a place:

Richard from Atlanta: Since I go to Georgia Tech, I'm wondering how Daryl Smith will fit into the mix this year? Do you see him starting or will that take a year?
Vic: Daryl Smith, in my opinion, is the Jaguars' top-performing rookie. I can't imagine he won't find a place in the Jaguars' starting lineup this year.

Hoops updates on the way.