AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCan Nesbitt handle the BC defense?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the second weekend of the season:
1. How will Josh Nesbitt handle the Boston College defense? The Georgia Tech quarterback played well in the opener against Jacksonville State. He showed more poise and good decision making than I expected for a first start.
But on Saturday Nesbitt will take a definite step up in class when he faces the Boston College defense. If you count linebacker Brian Toal (injury) and DE B.J. Raji (academics), who both sat out last season, the Eagles return eight starters from a defense that finished No. 2 nationally against the run (75.5 ypg). Last week Boston College held Kent State’s Eugene Jarvis, the nation’s leading returning rusher (1,669 yards last season), to just 51 yards on 11 carries. DC Frank Spaziani will make sure that Nesbitt will be under a lot more pressure in this game.
2. What will be Dan LeFevour’s final numbers against Georgia?: The junior quarterback from Central Michigan had 3,652 yards passing and 1,122 yards rushing last season. He’s only the second player (Vince Young of Texas was the first) to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He is used to putting up big numbers. He had 213 yards passing and three touchdowns last week against Eastern Illinois. He’s a big guy (6-3, 226) who has a knack for getting down the field. But good defenses can contain him. Last season against Clemson LeFevour completed 20 of 34 for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for only 31 yards in five carries. Hold him to those numbers on Saturday and the Dawgs will have another comfortable win.
3. Will the Florida-Miami game be competitive? It’s hard for me to get a handle on this one. My gut says Florida has too many weapons and gets a big edge by playing at home. WR Percy Harvin is scheduled to play for the first time this season. I also believe the Florida kids are going to get geeked up to play Miami with a chance to break the Gators’ six-game losing streak to the Hurricanes. I also think that while Miami has improved its talent base in two years of recruiting under Randy Shannon, the Hurricanes are still a long way off from where they used to be. Other people have told me that Miami is due for a breakout game under Shannon and that this might be it. With an 8 p.m. start at the Swamp, it should be quite an atmosphere.
4. Will Chris Smelley lock down the QB job tonight for South Carolina? Tommy Beecher still has a bad shoulder after getting his bell rung last Thursday against N.C. State. So Chris Smelley, who came off the bench to play well against the Wolfpack, gets the start tonight against Vanderbilt (8:30 p.m., ESPN). The South Carolina defense pitched a shutout (34-0) last week and looks like the real deal. If the Gamecocks can just get decent play at quarterback, they could have a respectable season. But keep this in mind. Vanderbilt had the SEC’s No. 4 defense last season and the Commodores are pretty good again on that side of the ball. They will try to turn this into an ugly game.
5. Will Alabama be sharp, or flat, against Tulane? The Crimson Tide will certainly beat Tulane Saturday at Bryant-Denny. I don’t normally look for style points in a game but in the case of Alabama, it will be instructive. How will they play after receiving almost universal praise for a week for their dominating performance against Clemson (34-10) last Saturday? In my conversations with Nick Saban he is always concerned how this group of players will handle both adversity AND success. Both, an old coach used to tell me, are poison if you swallow it.
If Alabama builds on the Clemson win and comes out and takes care of business against the Green Wave, there is reason for optimism in T-Town. If they take a step back and sort of slop their way through this game, that means there is still a lot of work to do.
Fortunately for Alabama, it has one more exhibition game next week against Western Kentucky before opening the SEC season at Arkansas on Sept. 20.
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Comments
By MP
September 4, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
YES, LARGE, MAYBE, NO, SHARP
By Matt
September 4, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this
Why are we even talking about games against Central Michigan and Tulane? Some of these schools’ non-conference schedules are a joke.
By VanDSIRROM
September 4, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this
Vandy comes into tonight’s game a 10 pt. dog.
There’s some serious money to be made by anyone who knows ‘what Vanderbilt has’ and ‘what SC doesn’t have’.
If there’s a 10 point spread at game’s end, it’ll be Vandy on top.
VanDSIRROM VandySportsNews.com
By Spike
September 4, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
The Gators should man up and play the Canes every year. No excuses. What happened to the “Cocks next savior Garcia?
By tbia
September 4, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Dang Tony,
No comments about Auburn and their wonder coordinator Tony Franklin?
Just trying to help Roswell Dead out.
By HomeDawg
September 4, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Matt: CMU is a 2-time defending D-1 conference winner with a legit Heisman contender. That’s why games like that are discussed. Tony: The Dawgs have weathered MANY prolific passers from out of the conference over the years (from UCLA, BYU, Cal, etc.), not to mention guys like UK’s Lorenzen who must’ve averaged over 400 ypg against us. He never beat us, and neither did the other schools. Lefavour may get his yards, but he won’t beat us. On the other hand, we may treat him like Colt Brennan II, and we’ll probably control the ball too well, anyway.
By USC gamecock
September 4, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
USC will finally start getting some much deserved respect when they lower the BOOM on vandy. uga will sit up and take notice after this game. CBS will be thrilled they picked this game for national tv….so will all C0CK fans as USC will open 2008 3-0 ! BTW, vandy will badly beaten in this game as USC rolls.
By fellow Grady grad
September 4, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Tony, thanks a million for your college football insights and analysis over the years.
Where will your post-AJC career take you? Let me know if I can get you my resume!
Go Deacs!
By m
September 4, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Tony, in case you haven’t noticed, Tech has a REAL football coach now. You can expect improvement out of Nesbitt every game. Unlike the last 6 years when there was apparently no coaching done whatsoever at the QB position. And don’t you think it is ironic that a lot of people will criticize Reggie Ball, but they seem to forget that it was Chan Gailey who started him for 49 games???? Thank God and Greyhound that Chan Gailey is Gone FOREVER!!!!
By SC Rules!!!
September 4, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
‘Bama will be fine Saturday. Coach Saban will make sure they are ready and don’t suffer a let down. They still have a ways to go to be one of the top two or three teams in the SEC but they are certainly headed that way. Yes, one game a season does not it make (Unless it’s the Super Bowl: NE Pats) but they are getting better at all points and the recruiting is really starting ot work in their favor. This is almost an exact copy of the blueprint Coach Carroll has used so successfully to rebuild a terrible SC program. Lets not forget it wasn’t but 7 years ago they sucked out loud much as that pains me to admitt. ‘Bama will be just fine and I look forward to seeing them in the Sugar Bowl in the not to distant future! RTR!! & Fight On!!!
By murfdawg
September 4, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Tony, This doesn’t have anything to do with your column today, but I wanted to give you the answer for the BCS early. First of all because you ar Mr. CFB the BCS will be known a the BARNHART CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. The championship game will be the winner of theSEC against the winner of the Big 12.This game will be played in New Orleans. The next game will be the two runners up in the conference championship in the Barnhart Chik-fil-a Bowl in Atlanta. The next game will be #2 team in the sec east vs the #2 team in the big12 north. The next game will be the #2 team in the sec west vs the #2 team in the big 12 south. This will give you the best four teams in football and it will be decided on the field. Southern cal and the ohio state can play in the Rose Bowl, they can be undefeated and all the writers from the midwest and the west will be happy. In the South, we like to have our championships the old fashion way. We like to earn them!!!!!
By saint nick
September 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Matt,
Are you actually gonna sit there and say that SEC schools have weak schedules???Clemson for Bama and SC, ASU for UGA, West VA. for AU, FSU and MIA for FLA, UCLA for Tenn.,Vandy had a tough opener(for Vandy), ARK plays Texas and Tulsa, so I don’t think thats a joke!!! Bama wins 45-9 with three backs with 80 or more rushing(Ingram,Coffee,Upchurch)and 2 Receivers with 100 YD games(Jones and McCoy)The tide will have 500 yds offense. The defense is better than I expected it to be, but the first two SEC games will tell how good this team is gonna be. They will handle Arkansas easily and then 2 Top 10 teams in UGA and Bama “tween the hedges” will show how good BOTH these teams are. Last year was a great game, I expect nothing less this year. RTR!!!!!!
By reservoirDAWG
September 4, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
1-No 2-We’re not Eastern IL. 3-Yes 4-No, you know SOS 5-They will be sharp after the LA-Monroe debacle.
By PTC DAWG
September 4, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Anything thinking UGA’s schedule is weak is a clown.
In the latest USA Today Poll, UGA plays 6 ranked teams.
USC and Ohio State play 3 each. Now that’s a JOKE.
By TrueCrimson
September 4, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Who cares?
Dan Who?
No
No
Sharp
When, exactly, did Auburn become irrelevant?
By GOTECH610
September 4, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Tony, great insight first of all.
I think in regards to Nesbit and BC’s line, I have one word… Lateral. Yes, BC’s line is big and good, but with big linemen it is generally known that they don’t move laterally very well. They are slow to push outside and get to the ball, at least compared to fast backs ability to get outside.
CPJ will not run the ball up the middle often as that would be playing right into their hand. We will Triple option more this game going outside and making them chase us around, and by the 4th quarter they should be worn down. I also tend to think that maybe we pass a little more in this one to keep them even more off balance.
Prediction GT 24- BC 21 into the fourth, then GT get’s 2 TD’s making this one 38-21. I can only assume that BC cannot score more than 21 with their offense against our most experienced unit, defense. If all they could muster was 21 last week against Kent, we shouldn’t have a problem.
GOOO TECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By The also have to play defense
September 4, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Am I missing something? Has anyone talked about Central Michigan’s defense or has all the talk been about The Fever?
Here are the scores of their last eight meetings with BCS schools (pay particular attention to all the “L”s):
2007: @Kansas - L (52-7) @Purdue - L (45-22)
@Clemson - L (70-14)
2006: Boston College - L (31-24) @ Michigan - L (41-17) @ Kentucky - L (45-36)
2005: Indiana - L (20-13) @ Penn State - L (40-3)
Another couple of tasty Chippewas nuggets:
** 2-23 in regular season non-conference road games
** 6-27 on grass since 1995
By yellowblood
September 4, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Tony, I wanted to invite Alumni and Students of both Tech and BC to a Tickle Pile to be held immediately after the game at the BC soccer field. We will be there rain or shine ,hot or cold. Maybe a few goose bumps will be interesting:-)
Thanks,
Bobby(yellowblood)
By william turner
September 4, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
GOTECH610 has it right. I watched the BC game last week. They are slow and have poor rections everywhere. I don’t think this game will be that close, GT by 21.
By Miles
September 4, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Florida will crush Miami…South Carolina will handle Vandy…Alabama will look better against Tulane than they looked against Clemson…Tuscaloosa will welcome Bob Toledo with open arms and smash mouth SEC hitting…
By TechCrybaby
September 4, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
GEORGIA TECH 28, BOSTON COLLEGE 24
By Eeesay, Tech guys ...
September 4, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Being a Tech fan I like the optimism regarding the points Tech will score vs. BC’s D; HOWEV’A ……
Let’s just hope the boys don’t put the ball on the ground all day - rain & more rain is in the forecast, and while that usually results in more running than passing, it’s also conducive to ‘fumble-itis’. Yes, I’m hoping Tech has too much speed for these big guys, but the O-line will need to come up big vs. this unit so they are not camping-out in the backfield all day long.
Passing will keep BC honest, but can Nesbitt make the plays - he’s the better athelete, but Shaw is a much more accurate passer. I don’t know what to think regarding BC’s offense from their 1st game. Were they holding 90% back b/c they had no fear of Kent St., and not wanting to show Tech much or were they really trying to score??
Nervous optimism yes, but the utmost confidence in Paul Johnson’s pregame, and moreover, his in-game coaching acumen. In my opinion: 2 or fewer turnovers, and the Jackets win. 4 or more turnovers, and the Jackets lose. 3 is toss-up.
By Eric1
September 4, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Bama has already played their best game of the season. It’s all down hill from here. WDE!!
By Lee Curso
September 4, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
why does everyone dog other teams about cupcakes. especially the SEC. i dont know why an SEC team would even think about playing a top team. kudos to bama, but why would they want to play clemson. they play ga, lsu, au, ut, i mean hello.
everybody cant play usc, ok ,ohio state every week
By TJ
September 4, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Tech is going to LOSE badly!!!!
By BCMIke
September 4, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
GaTech fans, I think this will be a good game. However, I would encourage you to temper your enthusiasm in thinking that you’re going to rush on the edges effectively vs. BC. While it’s true you’ll have next to zero success up the middle, we weren’t ranked the best run defense in the nation last year because we couldn’t stop the outside rush. This year’s front 7 is arguably stronger than last year’s. If GaTech is going to beat BC (certainly possible, Vegas only has the Jackets at a touchdown dog), you’ll have to go to the air to do it. That’s just a fact.
By BCMIke
September 4, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
YellowBlood(Bobby)—I realize you’re just having fun slighting BC and GaTech, but perhaps you should entertain having more respect for a team that whooped you in a couple bowl games. Just sayin’.
By GT RIch
September 4, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Dearest Yellowblood, You forgot the most important person to invite to you rtickle pile > UGA’s very own Matthew Stafford. Clearly he is the king of tickle piles. Don’t believe me? Ask his “back-ip” quarterback. >> http://www.secfanatics.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=27358
By Mikey in Sav
September 4, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
zzzzzzzzzzz
By Roswell Ed
September 4, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Who care about any of these tickle matches?
The only game of any significance is the Auburn/USM game.
But you people are devoid of intelligence & are incapable of understanding my untamed wit & intellect.
WDE
By GT RIch
September 4, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
BCMike, While I agree that GT fans need to temper expectations, I didn’t see the same BC team as last year. Although I can see why you would say the BC D-line should be better, they still gave up 126 rushing yds to Kent State?? Most of those yards where in the first half. BC’s ball control kept Kent State off the field the second half. GT will be able to sustain drives better and wear out those over-sized DTs by forcing them to chase the GT backs down the line of scrimmage. I can see the game as low scoring in the first half, then a toss up come the 4th quarter on which defense is more worn out.
By Josh H
September 4, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
BCMike:
The game between Tech and BC will come down to Tech’s offensive line and defensive line. We need our offensive line to block that massive front four you guys have. We need our defensive line to mask the fact that our most talented linebacker is out this game.
While I do believe we are going to have to throw it to win, we’re going to have to run it with at least modest success to throw.
I also fully expect to see Calvin Booker taking a couple of series this game. He’s the most polished passer on the team, and we’ll need him to get to that BC secondary.
All in all, I am cautiously optimistic. I think GT pulls it out, but BC could manhandle our O-line and that will make for a very long day.
By BC81
September 4, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Hey BC Mike.
You make two good points. Let me add that in both cases, a ranked Georgia team lost to an unranked underdog BC team, and the bowl games were played in the South.
PS. Good comment by CU81 last week on the SEC vs. ACC. The SEC is admittedly a better football conference these days. The ACC has a disadvantage because the football players actually have to go to class and graduate.
By Roswell Ed
September 4, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Sorry I haven’t posted anything this morning. Therapy took longer than expected.
By RCH
September 4, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Where are the games for the “Beat Barnhart” football prediction contest?
By GOTECH610
September 4, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Good luck BC fans, I think this will be an exciting game. I just hope/think that GT pulls this one out.
Good luck!!!!!
GOOO TECH!
By reservoirDAWG
September 4, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Tony ended the Beat Barnhart after so many of us beat him. You know “Mr. College Football” and all.
By OldGold
September 4, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
You really think CPJ doesn’t have something extra (different) for the BC defense? We’re not talking about Chan “The Man” here. He won’t send his backs right up the gut 4 times in a row and expect good results. Expect more throws and some ESPN highlights to come from the Ramblin’ Wreck on Saturday afternnon.. THWG!
By GOTECH610
September 4, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
Good comment OldGold, this is exactly where my confidence comes from. I bet CPJ didn’t run but about 1/4 of his playbook last game. Like Dwyer said, they only ran the triple option like 8 or 9 times and it’s their bread-and-butter play.
This week will be awesome. He is unlike Chan, he is not afraid to throw in the trick plays every now and then to win.
By Spike
September 4, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
A lot of big talk from Tech. Hope they can back it up. And what happened to the Cocks hot shot QB Garcia?
By SC Rules!!!
September 4, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
UGA/FLA/LSU fans: When are any of your respective teams gonna MAN UP and take Coach Carroll’s offer of: “Any time, any place, any one”???? For all your worthless cracks about Southern Cal never playing anyone (wait You forgot the Arkansas (2) times and Auburn (again twice) butt kickings! Oh I forgot you always say how those don’t count either ‘cause they sucked those years crappola excuses! ‘03/04 we cleaned AU’s clock and ‘04 was the year that y’all cry about how AU was screwed out of the NC game!??? Hell you can’t beat us even when you DO try!!!! So until you slapnuts wanna actually MAN UP; SHUT UP!!!!
By BT fan
September 4, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Bama playing Tulane and Tony BRINGS THEM OUT AGAIN. Tony , you are a true Saban delight, probably member of REC, prejudice as in Cynthia and Jay, lost in bias moments
By fla./miami
September 4, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
this game will absolutely be competitive tony, for about 3 minutes it will be 0-0.
By scrules!!!!!
September 4, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
take roll georgia fans, scrules!!!! has arrived, you do know this is a closet tech fan, now he is adopting a west coast team gentlemen. he gives himself away as a tech fan immediately with his lack of football knowledge! pete carroll hasn’t invited ga. or fla. or lsu out to play his team buggie. pete ain’t that stupid. now i was surprised that the left coast officials didn’t invite the bulldogs to play in the rose bowl and chose ilinois, yet it definitely helped usc in this years polls to have a win with alot of returning starters over a weak big ten school. interesting, probably why the condoms are ranked high to begin this season. surprised notre dame isn’t up there, but they dropped well below the top 80 teams in the country last year when they lost to the mighty insects from atlanta
By bama/flat or sharp
September 4, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
tony, flat or sharp, rough or smooth, slow or fast, it doesn’t matter bama will beat tulane,, tulane is only slightly stronger than clemson
By tech and bc
September 4, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
we are talking football here gentlemen? aren’t we? be careful this may turn into a basketball game. tech’s basketball program has looked real promising lately too, i even heard coach hewitt was trying to recruit a few uga wide receivers to start at tech in november , now that is low of hewitt , but i guess will do anything to get a decent basketball program….given the condition of their football program
By scrules!!!!???
September 4, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
you tried to make a point…..but………..you didn’t…..go back to the tech blog..terrence moore needs another friend…later buggie
By Matt
September 4, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
i am sorry guys, your right i forgot us techies play gardner-webb..guess they are a bit weaker than c. micheegan
By boston red sox
September 4, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
heck , tech couldn’t outscore the former world series champions
By Wil Walton
September 5, 2008 12:19 AM | Link to this
APB out on Gamecock Henry.
By DAWGHATER
September 5, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
I think your out of conference schedule is super week. Ga. Southern, then Central Michigan. No wonder your sorry azzes are 31-2 against non-conference foes. The SEC is tuff and that’s why you lose to Bama, LSU and Auburn. There is no way you win the National Championship, so good luck on that! LMFAO! Its the SOS every year at your crappy school. Your fans are rednecks and your team sucks. Every year all yoru fans say ” This is the year” This aint the year and wont be so get use to it. SC lost to Vandy. That’s a joke in itself. Good luck to ya when you play the real SEC teams.
By pcqrwkzm rkufcwb
March 29, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this
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