Notre Dame is looking more and more like a play:
Offensive line takes beating from injuries
[SIZE=-2]Matt Winkeljohn - Staff[/SIZE]
[FONT=geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2]Thursday, August 17, 2006[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,geneva,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]It's clear that Georgia Tech's football team is quite beat up, especially along both lines, and that the offensive line is in dreadful shape as starting guards Nate McManus and Matt Rhodes weren't even at practice Wednesday.
Beyond that, it's shades of gray, although coach Chan Gailey said, "I think this is the most [injured players] we've ever had [in his four-plus years at Tech]," and he admitted that an offensive line missing three starters is "a little tenuous, and that's probably being positive."
McManus (left leg) and Rhodes were injured in Tuesday's scrimmage. Their absence and those of starting right tackle Mansfield Wrotto (left ankle) and top backup guard Jacob Lonowski (shoulder) made it tough on the entire offense in a week where two defensive linemen have switched to offense.
"We just have to continue to practice like those guys [McManus and Rhodes] aren't going to be back, but hopefully they will be," center Kevin Tuminello said.
Gailey most often speaks of injured players in terms of whether they're expected to be out long- or short-term.
When asked if he knew enough to predict that McManus or Rhodes --- who visited doctors Wednesday --- might return short-term, the coach said, "I don't know that much yet."
It got worse Wednesday after backup center Trey Dunmon moved to No. 1 right guard and backup right guard LeShawn Newberry moved to No. 1 left guard.
Dunmon went down screaming late in practice and was taken from the field. He was replaced by Dan Voss. "It was a leg, but I don't know what part," Gailey said of Dunmon.
Monday, the Jackets moved sophomore defensive linemen David Brown and Andrew Folkner, a walk-on, to right tackle and center. Also, Will Miller, who has been injured, has moved from tackle to guard.
Wednesday, Brown and Folkner were second-teamers.
"It's extremely hard [to practice], especially when you went into the season thinking [the offensive line] was a strength, and now all of the sudden we're really scrambling," Gailey said. "We've got guys playing in that second offensive line that have been in the offensive line for two days."
Anyaibe fills in at end
Starting defensive ends Darrell Robertson (who is no longer wearing a precautionary collar on his neck) and Adamm Oliver (sprained ankle) and top reserve Michael Johnson were out, so backup tackle Elris Anyaibe moved to starting end.
Two days earlier, starting tackle Joe Anoai moved to the other end. Regarding injured defenders, including safety Djay Jones, Gailey said, "I don't see them out past the middle of next week."
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