Georgia Tech Might Be Without Two Starting Linebackers for Maryland Game

by Ben Broman on Oct 4, 2011 11:25 AM EDT

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremiah Attaochu #45 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets breaks up a pass intended for Tim Biere #86 of the Kansas Jayhawks at Bobby Dodd Stadium on September 17, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

And given the way that game appears to be shaping up, I'll take any help I can get. Via the AJC:

Georgia Tech may take on Maryland without two of its starting linebackers, including star Jeremiah Attaochu.

Neither Attaochu, an outside linebacker, nor inside linebacker Daniel Drummond practiced Monday. Coach Paul Johnson rated both as questionable and was less than precise about their chances to play Saturday.

"I don't know if he'll play, but he's O.K.," Johnson said of Attaochu. "We're not going to have to shoot him or anything."

Johnson said Drummond's injury "might be a tad worse" than Attaochu. Both sustained leg injuries in Tech's win over N.C. State Saturday.

Also, that's why Paul Johnson is awesome.

Drummond is a good outside 'backer, though he's lacking Attachou's star power: the guy with the-last-name-that-sounded-like-someone-just-sneezed is actually an emerging sack-master in Al Groh's 3-4 defense, with four takedowns in five games, good for 9th in the country and second in the conference. Attachou, for what it's worth, also attended HS in D.C. and picked GT over Maryland.

Anyway, Maryland's offense has enough problems on its own right now to also worry about Attachou marauding in and making Danny O'Brien's life even harder. They're only "questionable," of course, but even if they're less-than-100%, it'll be a useful boost to the Terps' offense.

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Comments

Yeah, but which uniforms will the terps sport this week?!

by Zol on Oct 4, 2011 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

white jerseys and gold pants or black pants

by fkterp on Oct 4, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha, Paul Johnson what a beast

too bad we never made a run at him while we had the chance

by terps3 on Oct 4, 2011 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

All yellow or yellow and white….whichever will confuse them as to which team you are on. The shellmet will come out soon.

by umcp96 on Oct 4, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Shellmet = gold.

Great name.

by Ben Broman on Oct 4, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Now if we can just get the rest of the team not to start

…. then we’d have a better chance.

by Jeffro78 on Oct 4, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

The offense had better be ready to score a lot of points.

Beacuse I don’t see our defense stopping these guys very much.

by retlag on Oct 4, 2011 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

I like the triple option offense...

We should hire the Navy guy or is there another triple option coach in America???

by ATLredskin on Oct 4, 2011 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

I might go Troy Calhoun before Niumatalolo.

That’s just me.

by Ben Broman on Oct 4, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh, the thing is neither Calhoun nor Niumatalolo strike me as the triple option genius

that Paul Johnson is. PJ perfected it at Georgia Southern before moving on to Navy and has been running the offense for years…he knows the triple option through and through, and is a certified offensive genius. Niumatalolo was promoted from o-line coach when PJ left and Calhoun was coaching in the NFL before going back to AF…neither is PJ.

by terps3 on Oct 4, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions