Another Day, Another Two Practices
Random Observations On Practice from a Random Kind of Guy:
If there’s any concern around the program about Tommy Bohanon, no one’s letting on. We’ll have a story in tomorrow’s Journal with Coach Jim Grobe, trainer Don Steelman and Bohanon all discussing the the injury Bohanon sustained in Saturday’s scrimmage when his shoulder popped out of place. The gist is that Bohanon will miss a day or two or practice, but is expected to be back and full speed by the end of the week. It’ll be interesting to see if he returns by the next scrimmage, scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at BB&T Field.
The offensive line appears set, at least for now. The same five who started Saturday—Dennis Godfrey at left tackle, Joe Looney at left guard, Russ Nenon at center, Michael Hoag at right guard and Doug Weaver at right tackle—were running first-team today. Nenon, who said it’s a close-knit unit, said all the starters graded at least as high as 85 percent on Saturday.
Danny Dembry appears bent on getting the first significant playing time of his career. A junior wide-receiver from Ahoskie, Dembry caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Ted Stachitas Saturday and appeared to have another good practice this morning. But even with redshirt freshman Quan Rucker sidelined with a sprained knee, the competition is formidable. Marshall Williams, Devon Brown and Chris Givens combined for 166 catches last year, Jordan Williams and Terence Davis are going to get snaps and perhaps nobody on the team has been more mpressive this camp than Michael Campanaro, a redshirt freshman from Clarksville, Md. who has great hands and speed. And Grobe hasn’t ruled out either or both of the two tall freshmen, 6-5 Brandon Terry of Alpharetta, Ga., and 6-6 Matt James of Raleigh, finding the field this season.
Grobe has said he plans to take advantage of the talent and depth at wide receiver. We saw one way of doing that Saturday, when Brown, Givens and Campanaro would line up in the slot, shift to the backfield and then run off-tackle. That’s just one more thing for opposing defenses to be concerned with.
Senior linebacker Lee Malchow has shown great courage and resolve by returning to practice, but he doesn’t look right. He’s still limping on the leg he broke last Nov. 7 at Georgia Tech.
The Deacons have a defense that should be tough to run wide on, given their speed. Grobe said that overall it’s his fastest team at Wake Forest. But I wonder how strong they’ll be up the middle. Kris Redding, at 6-4, 255-pounds, started the scrimmage inside along with 6-4, 275-pound Frank Souza. Ramon Booi, who at 6-6. 300 pounds could provide some much—needed bulk inside, has not exactly distinguished himself thus far in preseason.
And I’ve seen nothing at the scrimmage or this morning’s practice to scare me off last week’s prediction that sophomore Ted Stachitas will start at quarterback in the Sept. 2 opener against Presbyterian.