AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 06
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Can Tech overcome the loss of Gardner?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Can Georgia Tech overcome the loss of Andrew Gardner?:Georgia found out this season that replacing a good left tackle is a hard thing to do. Once Trinton Sturdivant went down in the summer it started a game of musical chairs trying to get the entire line stabilized. Georgia Tech faces the same task, but now it’s November, in replacing the injured Andrew Gardner. Playing in Chapel Hill is difficult enough. Having to play the Tar Heels without Gardner is even tougher. You know that North Carolina’s defense (which allows 113.6 ypg rushing) is going to put an extra defender in place to slow down the run and force Tech to pass. North Carolina leads the nation with 17 interceptions on the season. It would be easier to get the running game going if Gardner were there. That is a tough, tough injury for the Jackets.
2. What will be Georgia’s frame of mind at Kentucky?: Part of me thinks the Bulldogs will be anxious to play and get the nightmare that was Jacksonville behind them. Another part of me wonders if they will have a whole lot of enthusiasm for the trip to Lexington. If Georgia comes out flat, the Dawgs could be in for quite a battle in the bluegrass. Kentucky has a pretty good defense (No. 26 nationally) and has an offense that is getting a little better with freshman quarterback Randall Cobb. With Auburn coming up next week, this is a dangerous game for Georgia.
3. Can Florida lay a big number on Vanderbilt?: History says Florida will win ugly Saturday at Vanderbilt. The Gators are coming off an emotional win over Georgia and it will be hard for them to perform at that level for two straight weeks. Florida’s 1996 national championship team had to fight for their lives to win at Nashville, 28-21. The 2006 national championship team beat Vandy 25-19 in Nashville. The 2002 Florida team, the only one to beat Georgia that year, escaped with a 21-17 win in Nashville. So I think it will be close. But a friend of mine says it won’t because the Gators, ranked No. 5 in the BCS, know they have to keep winning impressively. If Urban Meyer gets a chance to hang a big number on Vanderbilt, he will. It should be interesting.
4. How much extra security will Alabama take to Baton Rouge?: I’m hearing that the security detail will be beefed up for Nick Saban’s first trip back to LSU, where he won the national championship in 2003. But here’s the irony of the “warm” reception Saban will receive. I believe the hostile crowd will only serve to make the Crimson Tide even more focused than they usually are. Alabama is a different team, and better, team on the road because Saban demands that they focus on the task at hand. Just ask Arkansas (49-14), Georgia (41-30, 31-0 at halftime), and Tennessee (29-9).
5. What will the “Vol Walk” be like on Saturday?: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer announced on Monday that he will be stepping down at the end of this season. So before Saturday’s game with Wyoming, Fulmer will lead his team on the pre-game “Vol Walk” for the next-to-last time. The last time will come on Nov. 29 against Kentucky. It’s bound to be an emotional scene. The Tennessee players are obviously angry with the school’s administration at the way this thing was handled. I wonder if their play will reflect that in the final three games?
Services »
