Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Football Practice Report
8/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 15, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Tuesday marked the second of five two-a-day practice sessions for the Demon Deacon football team.
After practicing for nearly three hours this morning, 25 periods, in temperatures well over 90-degrees, the Deacs pushed back the start of Monday's second practice from 3:30 to 4:15. They also practiced in mesh shorts.
Wake Forest then practiced for just over two hours in the afternoon. The offense continued to look crisp. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ben Mauk not only completed numerous passes from the pocket, but also made a number of throws on the move. Mauk continued to show that his ability to scramble is quite underrated.
The Deacs closed the afternoon session with a pair of two-minute drills. The offense had to go 80-yards with exactly two minutes on the clock and only one timeout.
Mauk completed three consecutive passes and scamperped for another first down as the first team offense moved inside the first team defense's 20-yard line. Mauk then missed on a pair of possible touchdowns. The signal caller just overthrew redshirt junior Nate Morton on a slant, then lofted a perfect pass into the deep corner of the end zone that was knocked loose by redshirt junior free safety Josh Gattis.
On third down, Mauk went away from Morton and tried to spot redshirt senior Chris Davis in the back of the end zone, but the pass was deflected and intercepted by redshirt sophomore Johnny Edwards.
The second team offense led by redshirt senior Cory Randolph picked up two quick first downs, on completions to Demir Boldin, David Hobson and John Tereshinski. After an incompletion on first down, Randolph was then sacked by Jeremy Thompson. Setting up 3rd and 10 with only four seconds left, Randolph was sacked by Jyles Tucker which not only ended the drive, but also ended practice.
Media Day Is Tuesday
Because of a change in the practice schedule for later Tuesday, media day has a slightly altered schedule for tomorrow morning at Groves Stadium.
10:15 -- Team arrives at Groves Stadium 10:30 -- Team photo in Groves Stadium bleachers 10:45 -- Photos/Interview session begin on the field
Players and coaches will be available until 12:30 p.m.
In the event of inclement weather, outdoor photos will not take place, but the players and coaches will be available in the Snead Room -- located on the 2nd Floor of Bridger Field House.
The team will now practice from 3:45 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on campus.
Injury Report
A number of players that sat out Saturday's scrimmage due to minor injuries did participate in practice Tuesday, including Jon Abbate, John Finklea, Delon Lowe and Matt Robinson. Abbate and Finklea are still battling hamstring and ankle injuries, but are improving daily. L.J. Flintall, Michael Lockett, Kevin Marion, and Michael Simmons were among those who did not practice.
Head Coach Jim Grobe
"I liked the way our offense looked at the stadium Saturday. We made some mistakes, but I thought we had another good practice this morning. Defensively, we are still shuffling personal around and we have a couple guys dinged up. We are also still trying to figure out our substitution pattern."
"Our offense is doing a nice job of taking care of the football. I think we are where we need to be. We continue to work hard in the kicking game. If we get to the point where Swank and Plackemeier are a little more consistent, I'll be feeling a bit better about special teams."
"We have done really well so far. We have had a couple of issues with guys losing fluid, but there is no easy way to do it. As a football coach you have to prepare them that on any Saturday in September it could be just as hot as it is right now. We have to treat it that way so you are in real good shape."
"The one thing you worry about in the heat is not as much as kids getting dehydrated, it is the injuries. Quite often when kids get tired they do not defend themselves real well."
Junior Offensive Tackle Steve Vallos
"The offense did pretty well this morning. We continued to progress with things from Saturday. We have a definite solid starting five on the line and good backups at each spot. We are way ahead of way we were a year ago."
