Newspaper Page Text
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
Biffle falls further behind top 10 after crash
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.
- Greg Biffle’s day started
bad when the truck driving
Kim around the 2.45-mile
Watkins Glen International
taad course Sunday had his
hame misspelled. The letter
on the side of the truck read,
“Biffl.”
His day got even worse
once the AMD at the Glen
Started.
Not only was he in a back
up car after crashing during
Friday’s qualifying, he was
involved in a Lap 43 crash
that crippled his chances to
qualify for the Chase for the
Championship.
Kyle Petty rear-ended
Biffle midway around the
11-turn road course, send
ing Biffle to the garage for
repairs to his radiator. His
finish dropped
Morris News Service
Georgia Tech’s Mansfield Wrotto works out with the
squad during practice recently. Wrotto, who moved from
defensive to offensive tackle says he’s now comfortable
with the position.
Wrotto finally
secure on GT OL
By Adam Van Brimmer
Morris News Service
ATLANTA - Georgia
Tech’s Mansfield Wrotto
saw teammate Joe Anoai go
ddwn with an apparent inju
ry last week.
For Wrotto, the sight of
Anoai, a defensive tackle, on
the ground could have pro
duced more than the normal
amount of anxiety one team
mate feels for another when
injured.
Thoughts of “Here we go
again ...” would have been
natural for Wrotto, who
moved from defensive tackle
to offensive tackle for the
second time in two years
- he switched to offense
last spring only to return to
defense because of an injury
- ih the spring.
Yet Wrotto said Anoai’s
injury, which turned out to
be nothing more than heat
sickness, never made him
anxious about another posi
tion move.
‘ I’m an offensive lineman
noiv,” Wrotto said. “I think
like one. I’m comfortable
with it.”
He should be. His coach
es call him a natural at
right tackle, and the tackle
opposite him, All-Atlantic
Coast Conference perform
er Andrew Gardner, said
Wrbtto plays like a long-time
starter on offense.
Wrotto is among the most
experienced Yellow Jacket
players already. He started
32 games the previous three
yedrs, albeit all at defensive
tackle.
He was supposed to have a
year’s experience on offense
coming into this season. A
lack of depth on the offen
sive line prompted a move
to bffensive guard prior to
20(15 spring practice. He
showed promise there until
his replacement at defensive
tackle, Darryl Richard, tore a
knee ligament late in spring
drills. The injury sidelined
Rickard for all of last season,
and Wrotto moved back to
his old spot.
him to 13th in the Nextel
Cup Series standings, 180
points short of the final
qualifying spot for the series
championship.
The final 10-driver lineup
for the Chase will be set after
four more races. If Biffle is
going to make the cut, he
not only needs to make up
180 points, he needs to pass
three other drivers.
“I don’t have any
(thoughts) on the Chase
right now,” Biffle said. “We
just run every race that we
can. We’ve got four more
races before the Chase and
we’ll just see what hap
pens.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
remained 10th in the rank
ings, but his position as the
final qualifier is tenuous. He
is just 54 points ahead of
Wrotto flip-flopped
again this spring. Richard
returned, and reserves Vance
Walker and Elris Anyaibe
played plenty off the bench
last year.
Wrotto is confident that
depth makes his move to
offense permanent this time.
And if the defense should
want Wrotto back, the coach
es might have to fight Joe
D’Alessandris, the offensive
line coach, for him.
“Everything he has done
so far, he’s been a great fit
for us,” D’Alessandris said.
“He’s a wonderful person,
a student of the game, a
hard worker, very coachable.
He wants to be successful
and strives to be successful.
When you get a package like
that, you have a heckuva
offensive lineman.”
Wrotto insists he still has
much to learn. The tech
nique of playing offensive
tackle is vastly different of
that employed by defensive
tackles, particularly when it
comes to hands and feet.
Offensive tackles must be
light and fleet on their feet
to pass block against quicker
defensive ends and lineback
ers. And perfecting how to
use one’s hands without
drawing a holding penalty
is tricky. Wrotto is a quick
study, though. Head coach
Chan Gailey’s only concern
about his new right tackle is
how quickly he will adjust to
the speed of the game.
“When the defense chang
es a formation or shows
something different right
before the snap, he has to be
able to adjust,” Gailey said.
Urgent news for people who took
SEROQUEL
Seroquel . an antipsychotic tint# also known as Quctiapine, has
been linked to diabetes, pancreatitis, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
and even death, if you or a loved one have experienced any of
these health problems, call us now toll free at 1-800-THE-EAGUB
for a free consultation. We, practice law only in Arizona, but
associate with lawyers throughout the I ! .S.
GOLDBERG & OSBORNE
l-SOO-THE-EAGLE
(1 -«00-*43-324S)
www.iaoottiecagle.com
iHtmi
Ofteft* o PTiwna
and Tycoon
llth-place Kasey Kahne.
Kurt Busch (172 points
behind), Biffle (180) and Carl
Edwards
(191) all
need a mir
acle in the
next four
races to
make return
appear
ances in the
Chase.
Jimmie
Johnson
NOTEBOOK
Don Coble
Morris News
Service
continues
to lead the standings. He
is 124 points ahead of Matt
Kenseth.
AMD at the Glen winner
Kevin Harvick improved
to third in the standings,
followed by Jeff Burton
in fourth, Kyle Busch in
fifth, Martin in sixth, Tony
Falcons’ third-string QB
race remains in a dead heat
By Adam Van Brimmer
Morris News Service
ATLANTA - By most
measures, D.J. Shockley
defeated Bryan Randall in
the first public showdown
between the Falcons’ third
string quarterback hope
fuls.
* Shockley led the game
winning drive in Atlanta’s
26-23 victory over New
England.
* Shockley owned the
crowd, which roared its
approval Bulldog-style
by barking as the former
Georgia star entered the
game and after every big
play.
* Shockley’s media horde
even squeezed Randall out
of the locker the two shared
at the Georgia Dome follow
ing the game.
Yet Shockley failed to edge
Randall in one important
area: Impressing the head
coach.
“People will be very excit
ed with what D.J. did and
rightfully so, but I can’t
say right now standing here
that one of them has dis
tinguished himself over the
Gartrell injures knee, out for season
Coach Mark Richt has
been looking for somebody,
anybody to make a move and
join Mohamed Massaquoi
as a wide receiver that can
be counted on this year to
make plays for Georgia.
Junior T.J. Gartrell had
begun to show flashes in
that direction in the first
week of preseason practice,
but now Gartrell’s season
is over before it started
because of a knee injury.
“He was having a heck
of a camp,” Richt said.
“Unfortunately, he’s not
going to be able to play
this year.” Gartrell, from
Lithonia, will undergo sur
gery in the next few days
after tearing a patella ten
don in Friday’s practice.
Gartrell had three catches
for 76 yards last season and
started against Louisana-
Monroe.
Banks reminding folks
of a recent Bulldog safe
ty: After the first week of
practices, the new free safe
ty wearing No. 31 is remind
ing a lot of folks around
here of a just departed free
safety.
“Look at Blue,” defen
sive coordinator Willie
Martinez shouted after
freshman Quintin Banks
snagged a pass from
Martinez in a drill this
SPORTS
Stewart in seventh, Denny
Hamlin in eighth and Jeff
Gordon in ninth.
SADLER OUT AT
YATES: As expected, Elliott
Sadler drove his final race
for Robert Yates Racing
Sunday.
He will announce today
that he will finish the sea
son in the No. 19 Dodge at
Evernham Motorsports.
Part of the deal includes
the promotion of part-time
Busch Series driver David
Gilliland to Sadler’s seat in
the No. 38 Ford.
Although he spun early
in the race, Sadler gave
Yates a rare top-10 finish in
Sunday’s race. He finished
eighth for only his fifth top
-10 finish of the year.
Sadler’s accelerated depar
ture - he was supposed to
other,” Jim Mora said. “The
competition is still heated.”
Both quarterbacks burned
the Patriots’ defense Friday.
Randall led Atlanta to 10
points in three series, com
pleting 5 of 9 passes for
82 yards and a touchdown.
Shockley engineered the
game-winning drive, march
ing the Falcons 56 yards in
the game’s final 2 minutes,
40 seconds and into position
for a Michael Koenen 40-
yard field goal.
Shockley completed 4 of
8 passes - including two
clock-killing spikes for
incompletions - on the final
drive. Two of his comple
tions came on third down
and-long situations to pro
long the drive.
Shockley’s cool under
pressure impressed Mora
the most.
“It always come back to
the quarterback handling
the two-minute drive, and
D.J. did a nice job,” Mora
said. “He made good deci
sons. He got the ball out
quick. He knew when to
throw it away. He didn’t
take sacks. He came to the
sideline and looked me in
week.
“Come on Blue,” Martinez
told him the next time
though the defensive backs
line.
Blue is now turning
heads with his punishing
NOTEBOOK
By MARC
WEISZER
Morris News
Service
had a real nice lick,” Richt
said after Friday’s practice.
“It looked a little bit like
a Greg Blue-type of a hit,
kind of like a torpedo with
intentions of a direct hit.”
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound
Banks played at Houston
County, where he watched
from afar as Georgia devel
oped big-hitting safeties.
“A lot of the reason I
came here is that they play
big safeties that like to
hit,” Banks said. “ I think
DONATE TO
GOODWILL. >
♦ 2209 Moody Road M
♦ 115 Margie Drive M
♦ 1355 Sam Nunn Blvd M
♦ Galleria Malt - 2922 Watson Blvd
www.goodwillworks.org
Building lives, families , and comm time?
leave Yates at the end of
the season - was prompt
ed by the termination last
week of Jeremy Mayfield at
Evernham.
Sadler already had agreed
to drive for Evernham next
year, but everyone involved
felt it was best to get a run
ning start on the 2007 sea
son.
While Sadler and Gilliland
are in place, Mayfield must
wait for Bill Davis Racing to
expand to two cars next year
- Toyota Camrys. There are
several scenarios where
Mayfield may serve as a fill
in driver, including at Yates.
Gilliland must get clearance
from NASCAR to race at
Talladega, Ala., on Oct. 8.
PIT STOPS: In addi
tion to Robert Yates Racing,
Robby Gordon is talking
the eye in timeouts and he
was just so calm, so confi
dent and so poised.
“But Bryan was the same
way.”
Randall needed a few more
snaps to get into his rhythm.
It was easy to understand
why: Randall played just
a handful of snaps in the
preseason last year, making
Friday his first significant
game action since he start
ed for Virginia Tech in the
2005 Sugar Bowl.
Randall predictably got
better with each of his
three drives. He completed
one pass on his first drive,
scrambled for a 29-yard
gain on his second to set
up a field goal and went 3-3
passing for 67 yards and a
touchdown on his last pos
session.
“It had been so long, yet
I felt like I had just played
last week,” Randall said. “I
felt confident out there and
felt comfortable with the
offense.”
Shockley played more on
instinct. He started two
series, missing on both pass
attempts in the first. He
found his touch in the two
I can fit into that system.
Even if he’s not ready to
anoit himself as the next
Blue just yet.”
“Blue’s on a whole other
level,” Banks said. “I’m
trying to get to his level.
Hitting is just a thing I love
to do. I’m trying to get bet
ter on my coverage skills,
but hitting is what I love to
do and I think I can do.”
Checking in on two
former Dogs: Former
Bulldog Josh Johnson, who
was booted off the team
in the spring of 2005 and
spent last season at Georgia
Military College, is trying
to get things together at
Marshall where he is play-
hits for the
Minnesota
Vikings,
but Banks
is already
drawing
Blue-like
compari
sons from
coaches
and team
mates.
“Quintin
NO EXPERIENCE?
NO PROBLEM.
As a driver for Schneider National
we’ll train you in every
aspect of the job.
• Company-provided CDL training
for qualified candidates
• 533.500-56C.500 :;cieiM!r ; tfeig .;,r. axpenenca;
• Low-cost medical and dental
insurance
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2006 ♦
with Hail of Fame Racing
about a partnership for the
future. Gordon is an inde
pendent operation without
any ties to another team.
So is Hall of Fame Racing,
which includes car own
ers Roger Staubach and
Troy Aikman. By working
together, the teams could
share testing and techni
cal information. Sources
said Gordon also has talked
with Yates about the same
deal ... Geoffrey Bodine,
who grew up 15 minutes
away in Chemung, was at
Watkins Glen showing off
a new bobsled for the U.S.
Olympic team. Bodine’s Bo-
Djm Bobsleds have won four
medals iii previous Olympic
Games, tke first medals for
the U.S. in bobsledding since
1956.
minute drill, though.
He overthrew a receiver
on his first attempt only to
hit on his next two, the first
a 10-yarder on third-and
seven to prolong the drive.
His fourth pass of the drive
was a throwaway to avoid a
sack. He completed a seven
yard throw two plays later.
His biggest completion
came on a third-and-seven
from the Patriots’ 38-yard
line with 30 seconds remain
ing. He threaded a tight
spiral to kevin Youngblood,
who ran a post pattern and
found a sdam in the defense.
That gave Atlanta a first
down at the 24-yard line
and brought out Koenen for
the game-winner.
Shockley tried to down
play his heroics afterward.
He said Randall’s play
inspired him and he enjoys
the competition.
“It only makes you bet
ter,” Shdckley said. “I’m
trying to win a job, but I’m
trying to get better too.”
It’s up to Mora and his
staff to Ultimately decide
which quarterback is bet
ter. And the coach is already
dreading the decision.
ing middle linebacker. “I
want the people to know
that I’m a changed person,”
Johnson told the Charleston
(W.Va.) Efeily Mail. “I’m
more mature here.”
Meanwhile, ex-Bulldogs
running back Michael
Cooper is the No. 1 run
ning back at Missouri State,
where he rushed for 151
yards last year after trans
ferring from Athens.
People Pleasing!
(We will delight you!)
green derbr
t-75 f*it 136* 987-M77
Apply Online at
scbneideriobs.com
Or call
1-800 44-PRIDE
11-800-447-74331
SCHNEIDER
ammmnmKmma
non v.tal'v
m
3B