AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCan Tech adjust enough for Troy?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pressed a little for time right now as I’m working on a story about Chan Gailey’s time at Troy State, but after talking with him and some players today, I’ve formed a few thoughts:
If the kickoff team continues to struggle, Tech might want to think — eventually — about trying a couple of offensive or defensive starters out there. Chan didn’t say the Jackets would do that, or that they wouldn’t. But he sure didn’t hesitate to say something’s gotta change, and fast.
Nobody will confirm my theory that it’s harder to get the running game in sync while operating so much more out of the shotgun, but that’s what I think. So far, the Tech offense hasn’t exactly looked like the spread to me, but it’s got elements of it. Gailey admitted the offensive line has been asked to execute a lot more different stuff on game days so far than on game days in the past. I still think the Jackets have all the pieces to run the ball quite well, once they get calibrated.
Don’t think safety DJay Jones is going to play Saturday, but DE Michael Johnson probably will.
Troy’s a lot faster than Samford, but similar in that they run a lot of passes. Gailey said they run an empty backfield a lot, but with four WRs to one side, and one to the other instead of 3-2, like most teams when they go empty. As he said, where many teams try to gain a man advantage inside, like by double-teaming a DE or something, Troy tries to get a man up on the edge. Interesting.
While some theorize that Troy playing FSU so well might be good for Tech, in that the Jackets will be more on their Ps and Qs because of it, I wonder if Troy didn’t max out against the ‘Noles? Maybe not. They’re not I-AA, remember. They’re Division I now, with more scholarship players.
More tomorrow.
Comments
By Davey
September 12, 2006 04:52 PM | Link to this
Who knows wat will happen………..Tech probaly will win but the way Troy play last week anything could happen. I doubt their lack of depth on their team(just cuz their team is not as good thus play less players) will make their team any worse. Unless their players have gotten hurt and they aren’t telling. I hope what happened last week for Troy was just a slip for F$U and not revealing the high power offense of Troy.
Go Jackets!!!!!!!! Get DeMorg!!!!!!!!!!!
By GREG
September 12, 2006 05:11 PM | Link to this
TECH HAS A GOOD SHOT AT BEATING TROY STATE!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!
By JustMe
September 12, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this
ALL CAPS BOY HAS A POOR CHANCE OF BREAKING A 50 IQ!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!LOL!!!!
By GTGreg
September 12, 2006 07:44 PM | Link to this
I think Tech will come out prepared and efficiently take care of business. I agree about the pieces being there for a good ground game, and I’d be willing to bet that the tailbacks put up big numbers either this game or next. Go Jackets!
By James Wilson
September 12, 2006 08:13 PM | Link to this
Well, any team that loses by 3 points to FSU nowadays is clearly a good team. But also, any team that loses by 4 points to Notre Dame nowadays is clearly a good team (for future reference, don’t give me that crap about how ND isn’t good, because they just blew out Penn State). I think that Tech will win, be it by 1 point or 100 points. Tech has the potential to be right up there with Notre Dame, and Troy has the potential to reach the same glory they did when Chan Gailey roamed the Trojan sidelines. Tech’s defense has dominated, and they will against Troy. Tech’s offense has improved (I would’ve predicted a 70-6 or so victory over Samford had we not subbed in our 2nd team offense during the 2nd half). But who knows, if it’s a Tech win it could be anywhere along the lines of 24-17 or 64-17. So, with that said, GO JACKETS!!!
By Ga_Tech_92
September 12, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this
Fight! Win! …..! ….!
By ramblin_wreck_ce
September 12, 2006 10:36 PM | Link to this
Just because the stats may end up looking different from 05 to 06 doesn’t necessarily mean something is broken. The shotgun is different.
The fact is that the top two running backs on the team are very different from P.J. Daniels. He wasn’t a pure power runner, but he did run with power. Choice and Grant both seem to be lighter on their feet and quicker. I was concerned their styles wouldn’t translate well to our blocking schemes, but there has been promising progress. It still may take a little longer to gel—hopefully we’ll get it done by VT.
In general though, a passing game out of the backfield (like some of the swing passes used against Samford) is about as good as a running game. It keeps the defense honest up front like an off-tackle run would. Add some FB and TE patterns underneath and you are keeping the DLine and LBs honest opening up the passing game to the WR.
By ramblin_wreck_ce
September 12, 2006 10:52 PM | Link to this
Discussions of whether or not we can overcome Troy shows just how gun-shy Tech fans have become.
How many times have we seen the same game against FSU and it was us as the upstart team? Then, late in the game, FSU “wakes up” and controls the game for 3-8 minutes (always just enough to win) and pushes past.
We need to come out focused. We need to come out motivated. We need a reasonable game plan to dictate our game, our way, in our stadium. The Opener showed that when we do those things we can take it to any team on our schedule.
Like the articles all said after the ND game. A new AD. No excuses. A new paradigm at Tech. (Fans included.) Let’s get out of this rut and turn this underachieving ACC on its ear!
By The ACC is OURZ
September 12, 2006 11:40 PM | Link to this
I agree with ramblin Tech fans need to step up and believe that after nine straight winning seasons Tech has already turned the corner and the home stretch is on the way. Some fans are too busy b*** about Chan and Reggie that their going to miss the parade. Fact is, Chan is a good coach for Tech. He’s not going to jump ship for another program because they have more seats in their stadium and he’s not going to the NFL again. Reggie is a competitor and I like the way he lowers his shoulder on the LB to get the extra yard. Tech fans need to let the season play out some more before they start freaking out. Let’s do our part and fill the stadium and fill it loud.
By LongBeachJacket
September 13, 2006 01:57 AM | Link to this
“The ACC is OURZ” - very well put. Absolutely correct! GO JACKETS!!!! All the way…..
By ramblin_wreck_ce
September 13, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this
Winklejohn, in your article on Nix revamping the offense, did you mean to quote Safety #4 Jamal Lewis or RB #20 Jamaal Evans?
By GREG
September 13, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this
KEEP YOUR HEADS UP TECHIE FANS!!!!TROY STATE MIGHT BE DOWN AFTER THERE NEAR WIN OVER FLA STATE!!!LOL!!!!!!I LIKE HOW YALL BOUNCED BACK AFTER YOUR MORAL VICTORY OVER NOTRE DAME!!!LOL!!!!!!
By GREG
September 13, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this
IM A MORON
By GREG
September 13, 2006 08:23 AM | Link to this
I THINK I JUST SOILED MYSELF!!!! MOM, COME CHANGE MY DIAPER!!!!! NO, MOM, I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION, SO I JUST TRY TO PROVOKE PEOPLE!!!!! LOL!!!!!
By GREG
September 13, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
GEORGIA TECH AND THERE BROWN PANTIES!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!
By GTEagle
September 13, 2006 09:52 AM | Link to this
I think Greg is Mark Bradley in disguise!
By GTalum
September 13, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this
I am surprised that fans are doubting this GT team as much as they are. I have been to the games and despite some mistakes, this is a quality team. They may implode down the line, but losing to ND may have been the best thing to happen to us. Now don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t talk for 2 days after screaming for the whole ND game and wishing so much that some things had gone the other way, but I still think that for the season the loss will serve THIS team better.
People may think that I am crazy for that statement, but while the boys were crushed after the loss, they left that game with a healthy confidence, but not an overconfidence. They didn’t leave the stadium thinking national championship, but rather, ACC contender. That is the first step and what they should be focused on, if they can win their ACC division and beat GA at the end of the year, the polls will take care of themselves.
By losing to ND GT avoided the overconfidence that plagued them after the wins at AU & MIA. They got themselves together and played a sound game against a lesser oponent last week rather than overlooking this team, being played close, and again being doubted. Now they have built strong confidence that they can handle the teams that that they are supposed to handle; something that they could not do the last 3 years. Focus on the ACC and beating GA at the end of the season. When we start steadily competing for the ACC crown, then we can worry about the NC. Till then keep it simple, beat the people you are supposed to beat and focus on running the ACC table.
Tech fans, continue supporting your team and have some faith.
“Tech Rolls Past Troy 42-9”
I will be there to see it.
By toemeetsleather
September 13, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this
the troy boys will hang for about two and one half quarters and then the jackets superior talent will take over…ROLL JACKET NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Greg
September 13, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this
UGA HAS A CHANCE AGAINST UAB?? FAT CHANCE!!! LOL!!!!!LOL!!!!!
By MCHammer
September 13, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this
Tech and Troy are from the same tier. Should be a good game. Tech loses in a mild upset.
By MCHammer
September 13, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this
GTalum, your chances of beating UGA are slim and none. Georgia is a vastly superior team in all categories. Stafford will kill your defense getting the ball out quickly on hot reads when you blitz and when you are forced to try to play conventional D you will simply get overpowered…pushed around. The dawg D will absolutely destroy Reggies ability to focus mentally with the ferocious outside pass rush from Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson. I predict 51 to 7. Dawgs in a smack down.
By ARTC
September 13, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Midway through the 3rd UGA will be ramming the ball down your D’s throat.
By GTalum
September 13, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this
MC - So you are saying that Stafford is better than your local celeb Shockley? He couldn’t manage to overpower our defense last year, and teh victory was one play from being a loss. Besides your O line is suspect this year and our D will sack Stafford 4-5 times in the game. You must not have watched the ND game and the problems that B.Quinn had against our D. You think Stafford and your O line is better than ND? I don’t think so, I have watched both play. Not to mention the fact that you think your boy Stafford will make it through the season without getting hurt or that Richt will leave him in after Joe T comes back.
UGA D is very impressive this year, but I don’t see a blowout
By GTalum
September 13, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
Stafford suffers a dislocated shoulder in the 2nd half against UT - COX, COX, COX!!!
By GT
September 13, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this
Man this is why every game is a triller at Tech. Nobody in their right mind can feel safe with a team that loses to Duke, Utah….. On any given Saturday we might decide to play so conservative that not coming out of the lockeroom at all is one of the options. We will have a first class defense, but when your are forced to tap dance both shows, I don’t care how Irish you are those feet are going to fail you. Somewhere in the next couple of months the orthodox offense is going to get mugged, I just hope it is not against a college that advertises on bus stop benches.
By MCHammer
September 13, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this
By GTalum
September 13, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
Stafford suffers a dislocated shoulder in the 2nd half against UT - COX, COX, COX!!!
Reggie suffering that fate GTalum, would be a blessing for Tech. Of course you wouldn’t have a Joe Cox on YOUR bench would you Talum? LOLLOLLOLLOL!!!!
By GREG
September 13, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this
UGA OWNS THIS BLOG!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!
By DawgBite
September 13, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this
Don’t ya just love it when all the insecure techmites start getting their little old gold panties in a wad?
By GT90
September 13, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this
Maybe Reggie should have done what “Fatt Matt” Staford is doing………Set the bar low your first year! 45% 1 TD and 3 INTs.
If you listen closely you will hear the UGAY fans starting to say “Logan Gray will be the starter next year.”
By GREG
September 13, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this
WOW GT90,THAT REALLY WOKE SOME FANS UP!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!IT’S HARD TO HAVE GOOD COMEBACKS FOR TEAMS THAT OWN YOU!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!POOR STAFFORD IS SO FAT,HOW IN THE HELL DID HE HAVE ALL THOSE 3RD DOWNN RUNS FOR 1ST DOWNS!!!ONE MORE THANG A*****,WHO HOLDS THE NCAA RECORD FOR MOST WINS AS A QB????????GET BACK TO ME AFTER YOU GIVE DAVEY A REACHAROUND!!!!LOL!!!!!