This summer, as he spoke to a group of reporters at Georgia Tech's Edge Athletic Center, Dave Wommack shared his only concern about his defense.
He was somewhat nervous about injuries.
As worrisome actions go, it was one that seemed quite minor at the time. But these days, with the season entering its latter stages and his defense filled with walking wounded, he has seen his preseason fear become the unfortunate microcosm of his latest season.
"You've got a variety of things going on, and I said it before the season, 'The one thing that would kill us more than anything was injuries.' And we've got some critical ones -- like against Miami -- early in the season," said Wommack, Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator. "People don't want to hear that, but it just affects you so much when you lose some critical guys."
The Yellow Jackets have lost a host of key starters to some of the strangest injuries.
From linebacker Kyle Jackson -- who did not practice this preseason and has missed the entire year because of a spring practice foot injury -- to defensive end Robert Hall, who is out several more weeks with a knee injury, Georgia Tech's defense has been greatly depleted.
It's enough to make a coach feel like he's fighting a never-ending battle.
"I mean, yeah, it does (feel that way)," Wommack said. "There's some years when you've done it as long as I have, and it just seems like every once in a while one of these years comes along and you can't even keep any continuity at all going.
"This seems to be one of those years. There's nothing you can do about it, you just have to keep pushing on and do the best you can do."
Along with Hall, who was knocked out of the Miami game with his injury, the Yellow Jackets also lost safety Cooper Taylor for the remainder of the year that day. The sophomore continues to recuperate from a heart condition.
Additionally, the Yellow Jackets' defensive backfield has been treated with on-again, off-again news about fellow safety Dominique Reese, who has fought through the season with a shoulder injury.
Although Wommack expects to see Reese back in action this week after the junior saw limited playing time last Saturday, the coordinator announced Tuesday that backup Mario Edwards would get his first career start at Georgia Tech.
A transfer from Virginia Tech, Edwards is in his second year playing for the Yellow Jackets after appearing in 12 of the team's 13 games last fall.
This season, he has recorded eight tackles, including five in relief of Reese in Saturday's 56-31 win over Vanderbilt. He also forced a crucial second-half fumble in the game, helping hold the Commodores to three points in the final two quarters.
"My first drive, I was kind of tired. It was the most I had played all season. But after the first drive, I kind of got settled in and felt comfortable out there," Edwards said. "After that, it was more about relaxing and just being focused on what I had to do."
A junior from neighboring College Park, he left Virginia Tech last year to be closer to his family, which was dealing with a serious personal situation. Due to the circumstances, the NCAA granted him the opportunity to play last season, instead of forcing him to sit out a season like typical transfers.
In the time since joining the Yellow Jackets, Edwards has played a host of positions. He has gone from linebacker to "Wolf" to safety.
The Wolf was a nickel position Wommack brought to Georgia Tech last year after using it successfully at Southern Mississippi. The position is unique in that it is designed to provide an additional defensive back as part of the team's base defense.
"It's a little different," Edwards said of playing the multiple positions. "I just have to stay on top of my mental game and learn every position. But wherever the team needs me, I'm ready to play. But it's been a transition all season playing all three positions."
The toughest part of that transition has been training his eyes for understanding the different angles from which he is charged with attacking ballcarriers and pass-catchers.
"When you're at linebacker, it's more about spilling and filling your gap and getting good run-pass feeds," Edwards said. "But at safety, you've got more pass responsibilities and more man-to-man responsibilities, so you're basically all over the field."
According to Wommack, it is the latter spot where Edwards currently is best suited.
After the Yellow Jackets scrapped their 4-2-5 "Wolf" defense for a simpler 4-3 base package several weeks ago, free safety was where Edwards fit, and it is where he will be Saturday against Wake Forest.
"I've always been a confident person and just wait for my opportunity," Edwards said. "I'm just kind of waiting for Saturday to show what I've got." To see more of The Macon Telegraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.macon.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Macon Telegraph, Ga. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
