AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 02
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Will Tech need Nesbitt to beat Duke?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Will Georgia Tech need Josh Nesbitt to beat Duke?: Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has announced that freshman Jaybo Shaw will start at quarterback against Duke on Saturday. Shaw can run the offense well and technically he is very sound. Shaw will get the ball to the right man at the right time. But if things get tight at Bobby Dodd Stadium will we see Josh Nesbitt, who suffered a pulled hamstring on Sept. 20, come off the bench to help win the game? With Nesbitt the Yellow Jackets have another home run hitter (along with Jonathan Dwyer) out of the option offense. And the home run is the thing that the improving Duke defense (No. 5 in the ACC at 16.3 ppg) fears the most in this game. With Gardner-Webb coming up next week, I’m sure coach Paul Johnson would love to get through this game and not have to use Nesbitt. Then he should be in good shape for the trip to Clemson on Oct. 18.
2. Can Nick Stephens make any difference in the Tennessee offense? There is clearly a lack of communication between Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton and new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. Either Clawson is not coaching him up or Crompton is not listening. Based on what I have seen in four games, it’s probably both. Crompton continues to make fundamental mistakes that a fourth-year quarterback should not make. So Crompton needs to sit down and let Stephens, a redshirt sophomore from Flower Mound, Tex., take a shot. Tennessee can afford to shake things up against a Northern Illinois team that will be without its starting quarterback, Chandler Harnish, who continues to be sidelined with a foot injury. If Stephens can’t get it done, at least Crompton has had the benefit of watching for a while and will feel a sense of urgency. Remember last season when some Tennessee fans were so critical of Erik Ainge? They sure miss him now. They also miss OC David Cutcliffe, who really knows how to coach quarterbacks from the neck up, which is where Crompton’s issues appear to be.
3. What will the Auburn offense look like?: Coach Tommy Tuberville is stepping in and exerting some influence on the Auburn offense, which is struggling in the spread formation of new OC Tony Franklin. Tuberville reminded reporters this week that the Tigers are running “The Auburn offense, not Tony Franklin’s offense.” Translation: Auburn is going to go back to the power running attack using a fullback and a tight end. Tuberville realizes after five games that he just doesn’t have the personnel to do what Franklin wants to do and, quite honestly, the jury is still out on whether or not this offense will work against the faster, deeper defenses in the SEC. Auburn is going against a good defensive team in Vanderbilt and cannot afford turnovers. This offense also puts a lot on the quarterback and neither Chris Todd nor Kodi Burns is setting the woods on fire. It will be interesting to see what Auburn’s offense does against the Commodores.
4. Will Florida put a big number on Arkansas?: After losing to Ole Miss in The Swamp, Florida has dropped out of the Top 10. Tim Tebow has apologized to the world. Fans are questioning the play calling. The look on Urban Meyer’s face has gotten a little sterner, if such a thing is possible. In short, Arkansas has picked the wrong week to play the Gators. Arkansas has given up 101 points in its last two games against Alabama and Texas. And given all the weapons Florida has, the Gators could roll up a lot of points as well. Florida needs a boost to its psyche and the Arkansas defense is so bad that Meyer will have to substitute liberally just to hold the score down. I don’t think he’ll choose to do that. I think he and Gators take out their frustrations on the Hogs. It could be ugly.
5. Will Kenny McKinley go the distance against Ole Miss?: South Carolina has the nation’s No. 1 defense but the offense is 89th, averaging 21.4 points per game. A big part of the problem has been play at quarterback so expect Stephen Garcia to get significant snaps even if he doesn’t start. But the Gamecocks have also missed Kenny McKinley of Mableton, their big-play wide receiver. McKinley, who has a chance to be South Carolina’s all-time leading receiver, has been out for a month with a bad hamstring. Without McKinley, South Carolina has not been able to stretch opposing defenses. With 162 career catches, McKinley needs eight more plus 299 receiving yards to pass Sterling Sharpe on South Carolina’s all-time list. He has practiced the past two days and will suit up for the game in Oxford. He will play but will the hamstring allow him to go the distance?
