Daniels working for injury free season

ATLANTA - P.J. Daniels gets a charge out of running over would-be tacklers.

The senior says leveling a defender like a bull is how he motivates himself and his Georgia Tech teammates.

But Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey would prefer to see less of the bull and more of a leopard who will dodge defenders. The challenge for Gailey is how to persuade the tailback to avoid contact instead of seeking it when he has the ball.

"You talk to a guy about that," Gailey said. "But if a guy's a leopard, he's a leopard. You can't change him to something else. If he's a bull, he's a bull. You can't change him to something else. You can try and tell him if he's more elusive, he's going to be better in the long run, but he's got to come to that realization."

It's a key point for Tech as it prepares for its Sept. 3 opener at Auburn because a healthy Daniels is one of the top running backs in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

As a sophomore in 2003, Daniels rushed for 1,447 yards - the second-best total in school history - to lead the ACC. But as a junior, the production was cut in half - to 714 yards rushing - as Daniels missed four games and parts of two other games with injuries.

Gailey believes that if Daniels avoids more hits he has a better chance of avoiding injuries.

It's obvious Daniels has heard the refrain before.

"My coaches have told me to take some of the hits away rather than try to run somebody over," he said. "Make another move. That's the thing in my head like a broken record."

Daniels is opening Tech's practice schedule in top form.

In the Yellow Jackets' first preseason scrimmage Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Daniels rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns, including a 70-yard run on his first play.

At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, Daniels may not look like a back who would be expected to lower his shoulder and try to run over a defender. But it's so much a part of his psyche as a player that even after all the repeated lessons from the coaching staff, he says he can't turn his back on that side of his game.

"When it's needed I'll definitely run somebody over," he said. "Sometimes that's what you need to get your team pumped up.... That's what gets me pumped up. That's what gets my teammates pumped up."

Daniels struggled with injuries most of the second half of last season. He says he wasn't back to full speed until the Champs Sports Bowl game, when he rushed for 119 yards with two touchdowns in a 51-14 rout of Syracuse.

A healthy Daniels takes pressure off quarterback Reggie Ball and helps to clear the way for more passes to star receiver Calvin Johnson.

Without Daniels, however, Tech's offense struggled, even though backups Rashaun Grant and Chris Woods were at times impressive.

This year, Tech has more depth with the addition of Tashard Choice of Lovejoy High and Riverdale, Ga. A sophomore transfer from Oklahoma, Choice (6-1, 205) is expected to be Daniels' top backup.

"It's the best depth we've had since I've been here," Gailey said. "Chris Woods has played and done some good things. Rashaun Grant has played and done some good things. Then we've added Tashard Choice, who has solidified himself as the second guy going into this season."

While Daniels and Choice are physical runners, Gailey says Woods and Grant "are quick dip-and-dart guys."

Said Gailey: "The good thing is we might be able to finish the season with healthy backs, which we have never done here."

But Daniels may not be eager to share the carries.

"It's real funny, but as the game goes on I get stronger," he said. "When the fourth quarter comes, I feel like I'm the strongest person on the field. People ask me when do I get tired. I'm like, I guess when the game is over. But when the game is still going on, my legs are fired up and ready to run."

Added Daniels: "I'm not fearing anything. I'm just stepping up to the competition. I always feel like good things will happen, no matter what."