Georgia Tech’s first on-site practice in advance of the TaxSlayer Bowl did not overwhelm coach Paul Johnson. Or defensive coordinator Ted Roof, for that matter.
“It dragged a little bit,” Johnson said following the Yellow Jackets’ Wednesday morning session at Fernandina Beach High. “It wasn’t as sharp as I would like, but we’ve still got one more day.”
The team prepared for its Saturday matchup with Kentucky before an afternoon at TopGolf. Johnson surmised that perhaps the lack of energy was because he didn’t give the team a curfew Tuesday after its arrival from Atlanta. Players had options to venture out from the team hotel following a welcoming banquet.
“Sometimes, it’s not the guys who play, it’s the (scout-team players) that you have to challenge to do better,” Johnson said.
As planned, the curfews were to begin Wednesday night. Asked what time players returned Tuesday night, Johnson responded, “I have no idea. I was asleep.”
Roof saw the practice similarly.
“It wasn’t as crisp as it needs to be,” he said. “We’ve got to get that right and get that thing polished up so (Thursday) we go on the field and we’re polishing this thing and we’re getting ourselves to the point where we’re ready to play. There were too many mistakes (Wednesday).”
