AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 19
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Rushing will determine Tech’s fate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, so it took a while, like two games and three quarters or so, but Georgia Tech’s offense finally began looking like it might make some sense to me roundabout the fourth quarter against Troy. That’s a good thing.
After a four-quarter lull that spanned parts of the Notre Dame and Samford games where Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant combined for 27 yards on 13 carries, the Jackets have figured out how to run the ball with somebody other than Reggie Ball, who’s obviously run the ball himself. These are good things. Jamaal Evans is no slouch, either, by the way.
I’m still not going to call this “the” spread. How about a thin spread? There’s not quite as much misdirection as in some acclaimed spread offenses, nor does Reggie roll out on as many run-pass option plays (which is not to say he doesn’t do that at all, just not as much as, say, West Virginia).
Anyway, bottom line, I think the running game will be the barometer for how good Tech’s season will turn out. Whether Reggie’s more in tune as a passer is not yet clear, in my opinion, so for working purposes here let’s assume he’s the same as in the past, or perhaps a little better.
So the defense sure looks capable of holding its own. If Patrick Nix keeps mixing in the run the way he did against Troy, especially with the occasional reverse, and keeping defenses off-guard while guessing what’s going on with the Grant matchup (my two cents: he’s the wildcard in all of this, whether he ends up with big stats or not in a given game because of the matchups he can create for himself and teammates), Tech’s chances are better.
Then, if those matchups continue to be there, and the run game continues to produce, the passing game has to improve almost by default, right?
I’ve said before, and I say again, Greg Smith is good. And he might one day be very good. James Johnson’s not bad. We know about Calvin. I think it’s much less about having very viable targets as it is finding them. That’s where Reggie comes in, of course, so long as he has protection enough to search. Sure, it’s a simplifcation, but if the running game’s clicking, the passing game had better as well because the opposing defenses is going to compromise itself trying to slow the run. Basic football there, huh? Ball needs to be da man.
Other thoughts: The ACC’s not as bad as everybody thinks, even if it’s not so great. Just wait.
—Michael Johnson’s a complete freak. Likely a legitimate difference maker. Better hope his groin doesn’t pop.
—Mike Cox is the most under-rated player on the team. He’s real, real good, diverse, and smart as a whip. Who knew how important a fullback could be to this offense? Strange, but true.
—The kickoff team remains in psychoanalysis. A change in method did not necessarily put the demons to rest.
—And lastly, I’m working on a story for next week about road trips from Hades, or to Hades, or, well, you get the picture - maybe you even have some! I’m going to talk to coaches and players, present and past, about road trips gone sour, you know, socked in by weather, bus broke down, stuck in a train station (old timey stuff there), plane’s A/C didn’t work, got lost on the way, racked by food poisoning, you name it. Bet some fans have some tales, too. If you’ve got a real good planes, trains, automobiles and rickshaw story about attending a Tech game on the road, let me know at mwinkeljohn@ajc.com. A few might fit in the paper.
—That’s going to be a fun story.
