Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Football Practice Report
8/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 20, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With an off-day looming on Sunday, the Wake Forest football team went through their 20th practice of the preseason on a hot and muggy Saturday morning.
In temperatures that eclipsed 90-degrees by 10 am, the Deacs fought through the difficult conditions to put together a relatively crisp two-hour practice.
After spending much of the two-hour session in 11 on 11 drills, the Deacs closed the practice with an overtime period.
The first and second team offense each started drives at the 25-yard line, similar to the NCAA overtime setup.
The second team offense took on the first team defense. After two rushes failed to gain a yard, Aaron Curry then sniffed out a throw-back screen to tight end John Tereshinski for a loss of three yards. Ryan Plackemeier then pushed a 45-yard field goal wide right.
The first team offense had early success in the drill. Micah Andrews took the first down handoff and scampered 16-yards down to the second team defense's 9-yard line. On first and goal from the 9, Andrews then plunged off left tackle for a gain of three yards. Ben Mauk then rolled out to his left on an option play, but was stripped off the ball ending the drive on second down.
Wake Forest will have a group of players work out again on Saturday around 3 p.m. to concentrate on special teams.
Injury Report
A number of players sat out Saturday's practice, including Willie Idlette, L.J. Flintall, Michael Lockett, Will Hollis, Michael Simmons, Robert Simmons and Johnny Edwards. Zac Selmon suffered a slight ankle injury in practice, but it was not thought to be serious.
Head Coach Jim Grobe
"I like what we have done. Our guys have worked really hard. I like the attitude of this group as much as anything. They have worked hard without a lot of griping and complaining. We have had some practices in pretty hot weather and they have not complained a bit. We are not in shape yet, but we are getting in better shape."
"Overall, I am pleased where we are right now, but we certainly have a lot of work left to do for Vanderbilt. We have not really gotten into much of that yet and we have a ways to go, but I am happy with where we are."
"This is one of those years where I feel we are pretty much right on track. I do not think that you will ever find a coach at this point that would ever think they are ahead of where they should be, but I do not think we are far off. If I came out and watched us practice today, I would figure we were about two weeks out. I am not saying that we are ready to play the opener, but we are getting closer and closer."
"The majority of the improvements we need to make are mental. We are starting to get there physically from a conditioning stand point, but we are making too many mistakes and too many blown assignments. That is always your worst fear in that opening game."
