AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September
September 2006
First time in Blacksburg
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s still September, and I haven’t been covering Georgia Tech long, but I bet there hasn’t been a game like the Virginia Tech contest in a while. The winner, after all, will be the only undefeated team left in the Coastal Division.
With six more ACC games to follow, it’s not like a Georgia Tech win would punch a ticket to Jacksonville. But it’d be one whale of a leg up as the only other team in the division I think might, and I stress might, have a shot at winning that side of the ACC besides the two Techs is Miami. That figures to make the homecoming game against the Hurricanes extra large, too, even if Virginia Tech wins tomorrow.
Otherwise, a few cerebral disturbances …
— If Calvin Johnson doesn’t play, I owe somebody something. I haven’t figured out what, but I bet whatever it is he plays unless he has an accident in the next 23 hours. He was a game-time decision nine days ago, and we saw how that went. It’s almost like Chan Gailey’s superstitious here, figuring it worked so well last time why not do it again? It’s not like Calvin needs practice, yet he practiced, although I’m not sure if he was limited or not as regular season practices are closed. Still, if he’s so beat up, if that thigh is so bad, would he practice? Does he really need to practice given his knowledge of how important he is balanced again the possibility practice could aggravate injury? That doesn’t seem like a tough balancing act to me. If it was really iffy, wouldn’t you give him every kind of physical rest you could? Remove as many possibilities of him aggravating the injury as possible? He practiced. He’s playing.
— Don’t plan on Jacksonville DL Jacoby Monroe being part of the Georgia Tech signing class in February. He’s not de-committing, per se, but while nobody’s saying it, I will: the Jackets aren’t recruiting him anymore, even though he committed in July. They practically can’t (more on that later). It was a surprise when he committed to Tech almost out of the blue, anyway, catching even some Tech staffers off-guard I think. He first committed to Florida. His academic issues are multi-layered. Solving one problem, like say core curriculum, would be one thing. But he has core, GPA and SAT/ACT issues, and in some cases the gaps between where he is and where he needs to be are too big to cover in the time he has left. Besides all this, since Tech has fewer slots for incoming freshmen because of NCAA sanctions, they have less luxury to hold a spot for a kid they can’t count on qualifying. Do that, and another talented kid (keep Derrick Morgan of Pa. foremost in mind as Tech sure is) decides to go elsewhere, and then Monroe doesn’t make it and suddenly you end up short one very high-quality D-lineman in the next signing class. That’d be a problem. It’s unfortunate, but Tech has less leeway than other years in this situation in terms of holding a spot for the kid (academic requirements don’t change in any years, but the program sometimes will honor a commitment from an academically-challenged kid longer if they have a signing class of, say, 25 or 26; Tech’s going to sign 16-18 this time around).
— Somewhat quietly, Jahi Word-Daniels moved into the starting CB spot last week, replacing Pat Clark. And Word-Daniels has played well all season. He’s tied for the ACC lead with seven pass breakups, and has a pick. If his knee holds up, he looks pretty good opposite Kenny Scott. Opponents are steering away from Scott to a great degree. “[Defensive coordinator] Jon Tenuta realizes that,” Gailey said. “[Opponents] just can’t lineup and say there’s one-on-one on both sides. We try to scheme so we take some pressure off [Word-Daniels] from time to time.”
Looking forward to tomorrow. I’ve been to Blacksburg twice, but not for a football game.
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Tech’s got more than a prayer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech is better prepared to play at Virginia Tech this season because the Yellow Jackets are better this year. Period. More talent. More experience in key spots, and youth that is diffused because of the talent around it in others (like wide receiver).
They’re a little faster, and they’re more in it together. By that, I mean Terry Moore’s column today was dead-on with regards to his quote from KaMichael Hall about chemistry. I quoted Hall in a similar way a few days ago for a story, and truly believe that chemistry and all related matters (many of which are difficult to really detail) matter a lot.
Yes, you’ve got to have a certain amount of talent, scheme’s important, and breaks within a game help. But if you’ve got a bunch of guys who go their separate ways after every practice, you’ve got problems even if you have all the above and more.
I think Tech’s got “it” this season, although I’ve seen “it” fall apart before on the NFL level while covering the Falcons (like last year, when it was like somebody threw a bomb in the meeting room at midseason; still can’t quite explain all of what happened as I’ve never figured out what splintered that team’s psychology).
Anyway, this doesn’t mean I’m saying the Yellow Jackets will win. But I darned sure won’t be surprised if they do.
Assuming they don’t have special teams and psychological meltdowns, like last year (when one precipitated the other, with a large assist from a frenzied crowd, from what I’ve come to understand), it’ll be about the running game. Period.
Yes, big pass plays can make a difference, and might, but if one team has a crappy day running the ball, that team’s not going to win if the other runs it well. Period — unless there’s a turnover differential of two or more in favor of the team that can’t run.
The gospel, according to me.
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Do graduation rates matter?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The NCAA released another batch of graduation success rate data on Wednesday. The news was better for Georgia Tech, which showed improvement over last year’s figures in men’s basketball, football and baseball and continued to do well in other sports. I’m working now on analyzing the numbers and seeing where Tech ranks in comparison with other ACC schools.
The lowlight is a nine percent graduation rate for UGA men’s basketball players who enrolled between 1996-99. The Dogs also had lower grad rates in football and baseball than Tech.
What I wonder:
A) How many people care?
B) Do the people who care stop to think about what the numbers mean?
It doesn’t take a scientific study to tell you that fans devote a lot more energy to discussing and worrying about recruiting ratings than they do to comparing and analyzing graduation rates. I used to see that as an indictment of fans. I’m not so sure, anymore.
After all, what graduation rate do you want for your team? The assumption is the higher the better, but at some point doesn’t a very high graduation rate for a given school or team raise the question of whether graduation from that school means anything? If one school is demanding, and another is less demanding, how do you compare their graduation rates?
My answer has been to look for outliers and to look for trends and to ask people at the schools for explanations. Unfortunately, when it comes to academic integrity, there’s no standings and no scoreboard that provide a definitive measurement of how your school is really doing.
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Something to shout about
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech players say Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium is one of the loudest stadiums in which they’ve played. That’s not my memory of it, but I had a much different vantage point, in a press box high above the end zone (not midfield, as it is in most stadiums).
The loudest stadiums I’ve been to: —Texas A&M (the press box rocked as if in an earthquake) —LSU (night games there are something special) —Clemson —Tennessee —Auburn —Florida —Florida State
This list reflects the games I’ve covered there, too. I’ve been to some stadiums that can be loud but weren’t because the game wasn’t good. What’s the loudest stadium you’ve experienced?
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Meat of schedule is here
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Four home games, three victories. That’s where I expected Georgia Tech to be at this stage of the season.
Now, the Yellow Jackets hit the middle four games, their toughest stretch of the schedule, including trips to Virginia Tech and Clemson and a home game against Miami. (There’s a home game against Maryland thrown in there, too.) Before the season, I would have said Georgia Tech would do well to win two of those four. Now that I’ve seen the Yellow Jackets in person and the Tigers and Hurricanes on TV, I’d say 2-2 is still possible, maybe even probable.
I think 3-1 is as likely as 1-3. 4-0? I don’t see that, but I also didn’t see last season’s Miami game coming.
Have you re-evaluated, or are things going the way you expected?
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How does this defense stack up?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maybe you were wondering just how good Georgia Tech’s defense has been. I sure was after watching Thursday night’s 24-7 victory over Virginia. So I looked it up.
Through four games, Tech has allowed 47 points, or just under 12 a game. The last time the Yellow Jackets got off to such a good start defensively: 1990, the national championship year, when Tech allowed 31 points through its first four games against N.C. State, Tennessee-Chattanooga, South Carolina and Maryland. The only other Yellow Jackets defense since 1970 that got off to a four-game start as good as this year’s was the 1985 team that finished 9-2-1.
So it’s safe to say it’s a good sign.
One game into the ACC schedule is way too early to know for sure how good this defense will wind up being, and offenses as pitiful as Virginia’s don’t provide a very good yardstick. I’ve seen a couple of things that could come back to bite the Yellow Jackets against better teams — key personal foul penalties in three games, and some wide-open receivers Thursday night, including on the Cavaliers’ touchdown play. Those kinds of things remind me how inexperienced a lot of Tech’s key defensive players are. The good news: Those players should get even better with each game. We’ll learn a lot more when Georgia Tech plays Virginia Tech eight days from now.
Where do you think this defense will stack up, and which teams ahead on the schedule do you fear the most?
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A few pre-game hunches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Less than four hours from kickoff, and I have a hunch …
Tech’s offense will take yet another unmistakable step tonight. Not saying they’re going to score 34 again, but I think the playbook will grow even more against Virginia. Say what you want, but the offense has looked like a flower each of the first three games - unfolding a little more with the passing of each day. That’s a good sign, as long as Patrick Nix doesn’t keep going too far. At some point, you gotta say, ‘OK, lets be real good at these plays and dial in on them,’ without getting stale or predictable. That’s doable without limiting oneself to a smallish play list.
— Reggie Ball completes 55 percent or better. Again, got a feeling.
— A tight end gets a pass thrown his way tonight. It’s gotta happen sooner or later.
— Michael Johnson goes nuts.
— Tech’s kickoff team buttons it down, except for maybe one exception, possibly two.
— The Cavs’ 3-4 defenses causes some problems, but not for long and not all night.
— Somebody not on the star list stars tonight (my top candidates: Greg Smith, Jamaal Evans).
— This game has NOTHING to do with sending messages to Virginia Tech. It’s about beating Virginia, period.
— Virginia changes quarterbacks, at least once.
— On related matters, if Tech’s going to get any verbal commitments soon, and I’m not saying the Jackets are for sure or are not for sure, OT Clyde Yandell of Jacksonville’s your man. Cedric Everson’s fiddling around, driving people nuts.
— Doubt it’s serious, but WR James Johnson may have a leg or groin ailment. If his playing time’s limited tonight, that’s probably why.
— On hoops matters, G Anthony Morrow’s going to be ready in advance of the season. His absence from early practices will afford more room for some young guys to work, but not take his position. If that happens, it won’t be because of time missed. It’ll be because some of the newcomers (Thaddeus Young ring a bell?) are real good. Young’s more athletic than Morrow, not the shooter he is, and more of a defensive threat. It’s going to be interesting.
Later.
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Who’s your favorite throwback player?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In honor of Georgia Tech’s ACC opener against Virginia being on Throwback Thursday, I think it would be fun to think about which players from the 1970s you’d want on this season’s team.
Most of them would be too small, probably, but several might have been able to help this year’s Yellow Jackets. I’m thinking Eddie Lee Ivery’s talent would stand the test of a quarter-century of change in the game of college football. Put him in the backfield and give him the ball. Kent Hill would strengthen the offensive line. I remember watching Drew Hill play for the L.A. Rams and Steve Raible play for the Seattle Seahawks and think these Jackets could use another receiver like them, even though in Pepper Rodgers’ system Hill never caught more than four touchdown passes in a season and Raible caught just 13 passes when he led Tech in 1975.
I never got to see Rock Perdoni or Randy Rhino play. Was Perdoni big enough to be able to play today? Would Rhino’s All-America skills make him as effective today as he was then? Who else from the 1970s would you want to go back in a time machine and fetch for this season’s roster?
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Some questions answered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One-fourth the way through the season and some of my questions are answered. To review:
What’s wrong with Tech’s offense? Nothing. It’s just taking longer to gel than I expected. Patrick Nix is adding creativity to the personnel, play calls, and formations. 500 total yards is great no matter who you’re playing.
When will we run a reverse to Calvin? Last Saturday! Good job, Patrick! A 21-yard gain at that!
Will we run other reverses to anyone else? Yes, we will. Grant added 51 yards on 2 carries.
Why don’t we throw the ball to Calvin? OK, maybe this one’s not completely answered, but to be honest, I didn’t want Calvin catching 10 passes for 150 yards against Troy. That would mean we didn’t run the ball effectively.
Who is going to emerge as the second receiver? James Johnson is becoming the go-to guy. He’s looking more and more comfortable in the offense. Although I think Greg Smith could be the real gem. He’s very physical as demonstrated by the catch over the middle where several Troy defenders couldn’t bring him down.
What’s up with these personal foul calls? Every game this year, we’ve gotten flagged with questionable personal foul calls. Surely, I’m not the only Tech fan who thinks these are bogus calls. When a quarterback is running for yardage, clearly we need to bring him down.
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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.
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ACC looks inviting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The preliminaries are over. Now is when the games start to count.
Thursday night’s game against Virginia is the first of eight consecutive ACC games for Georgia Tech (with one open date thrown in). The beginning of the ACC schedule didn’t carry as much weight in years when Georgia Tech didn’t have much chance to compete. This season looks different, not only because Tech looks a little better than usual, but because the competition looks a lot worse.
It’s still early, with plenty of football to play, but the Yellow Jackets just might have found the right time to have one of their better teams. Most of the teams on the ACC schedule, with the possible exception of Virginia Tech, look to be having off years. It might be hard for Georgia Tech to find a better chance to compete for an ACC title.
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How/when will Jackets ‘arrive’?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I get the sense from talking to a variety of Tech fans that there’s a mix of folks in two camps.
One group is saying, “There’s no way Troy is going to beat us; tell the overconfident Trojans fans they’re nuts.” The other is saying, “I sure hope we don’t play sloppy,” or “We can’t afford to get slack,” or “An upset would be a disaster.”
Should this program get to where it needs to be, EVERYBODY would be in the first category here, like they are at the big-shot programs.
Question, then: What would constitute arrival at this point, meaning where the only talk of an upset against this kind of team is nothing more than fodder for laughter? Consecutive nine-win seasons? One ACC championship?
Talk among yourselves.
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Tech’s AD not playing softball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, so it was only softball, but what do you think of Dan Radakovich making his first head coaching hire a Georgia assistant coach?
I think it’s brilliant, provided the coach is the best person for the job in all other respects. Hiring a key assistant coach from your rival: —Weakens your rival. —Gives you someone who already understands recruiting in your area. —Provides you instant insight into the way your rival thinks.
If I were an athletics director, I wouldn’t hesitate to hire a head coach who worked as an assistant for my rival OR a head coach whose alma mater was my rival. Anybody worried about divided loyalties is kidding themselves. Coaches are loyal to their job, first and foremost.
I grew up in L.A., where Henry Bibby played for UCLA and later coached USC’s men’s basketball team into the NCAA tournament Elite Eight. I worked in Mississippi, where Mississippi State grad Van Chancellor became a legend (or as close as a women’s basketball coach can get to that) at Ole Miss before becoming a multi-time WNBA coach of the year in Houston, and where Joe Lee Dunn went from interim head coach at Ole Miss to defensive coordinator for a Mississippi State team that played in the SEC football championship game. And, of course, I work in a state where some Auburn grad named Vince had a bit of success as a football coach at one of Auburn’s rivals. Then there’s Dick Bestwick, an assistant at Tech from 1967-75 and a longtime athletics administrator at a certain school in Athens.
I’m sure I’m leaving out a lot of the best examples, but you get the idea.
Itching for ACC action
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I dunno about others, but I’m ready for Tech to dive into the ACC. Maybe it was all the buzz that came with a season-opening game against Notre Dame that’s warped my vantage point, but back to back weeks of Samford and Troy in the wake of that game has made it tough to get into.
In the long run, it’s probably a good thing all the way around. Starting the season off with excitement, then having two games to tweak things in before the conference schedule, but I wish Tech was playing an ACC game this week. Silly me.
It would be a surprise if the Jackets play as many this Saturday as last. I don’t think Troy’s going to allow that to happen. Then again, with the next game being just five days later, the urge to pull some starters a little earlier than usual might be there.
Getting Michael Johnson back in time for him to get a game’s worth of work before the ACC schedule is a good thing. With him, Tech has three DEs Tenuta can be comfortable rotating in on a regular basis, while leaving Anoai in the DT rotation (which is a solid four strong, at least). At least that’s what I think the Jackets will do. Reminds me of the Dallas Cowboys’ D-line of the mid-1990s, when they played eight, and they were almost all monsters (Lett, Maryland, Haley, Jeffcoat, et al).
Someone asked Chan Gailey yesterday why he chose to hook up new punt returner Andrew Smith for counseling with former Tech PR Kelley Rhino when there are so many PRs available.
Don’t know where all these PRs are available for a chat with Andrew, maybe there’s a hotline or something, but doesn’t that seem kind of obvious? Rhino was at Tech just a few years ago, he wasn’t real big, and more importantly, according to Gailey, they’re similar in skill sets. “They share the same speed,” he said, which means not a whole heck of a lot. But they’re both quick, which is critical in returning punts if one’s savvy enough to get upfield right away rather than dancing around and hoping the first tackler or two or three happen to miss so one can take off in a full sprint.
Doubt, say, Deion Sanders, would be able to advise Smith as well.
Big fan of PRs who go straight forward immediately, unless they’re about to get crushed, and then worry about making a move or two.
About a month or so ‘til hoops begin to crank it up; looking forward to that.
Can 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.
Good omen for Saturday’s game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Troy’s strong showing against Florida State on Saturday was the best thing that could have happened for Georgia Tech.
No matter what the Trojans said about building on that outcome in their upcoming game against the Yellow Jackets, college football history suggests teams that play over their heads one week don’t often repeat the feat the next.
And the Tech game isn’t Troy’s last chance at a big victory, either. Troy plays at Nebraska the following week and at in-state opponent UAB the week after that. You can’t be sky high four consecutive weeks, and Troy was against FSU.
Will a blowout matter?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not genius, but I’m smart enough to know there are plenty of Tech fans who’d love to see the Yellow Jackets blow out Samford Saturday.
It may happen, it may not, but coach Chan Gailey sure didn’t sound like he’ll play for that. I asked him if a lopsided win would be particularly beneficial to the psyche of this team, and he said, “I think more for outside the team it would than inside the team. Inside the team, we understand that wins are wins and losses are losses. You don’t get to add up the points during the course of the season.”
I took a different approach, and asked if it would be more important to win big with first stringers and a few second teamers or play a lot of guys for sake of experience (and win, of course). He said, “We want to play well, whatever that takes. If it takes the same number to win, that’s what we’ll do.”
Other day-before-the-game thoughts:
*If you’re a Tech fan, you’re loving the fact Greene County QB Josh Nesbitt committed. He actually called Gailey Thursday night. I wonder, though, about fitting he and Steven Threet into the same offense. I don’t mean for a moment that it’s sure to be a problem, but they’re two entirely different types of QB. One’s a dropback guy who can move a little, the other a guy who can move a ton, no less, and probably even more, than Reggie Ball. Yet his passing numbers were nearly insane last season.
For all the talk about a QB transferring away from the other D1 program in the state, the same chatter will start now on The Flats. Every reserve QB is an underclassmen: Bennett, Garner, Manley and Ingram. If they all stay, that’d be six QBs next year. Hey, better to have too many than not enough, but I have a hunch the number won’t be six one way or another.
*There’s no question more players will see action Saturday, including freshman RB Jamaal Evans, in my opinion. It’s hard to know now that practice is closed who exactly is injured, or, for that matter, sick. Gailey did say all starters will start, and he anticipates OT Cord Howard - who missed a ton of summer camp with an injury - playing.
“He has worked some with the second team because we’ve had some guys who’ve been sick,” the coach said. “This week … I think he may get an opportunity to play.”
*Backup OG/OT Jacob Lonowski (shoulder) may be ready as well.
*Don’t be shocked if someone other than Pat Clark returns a punt. Now’s the time. Freshman CB Laurence Marius is just one possibility.
*My two cents say the offense looks considerably different against Samford. Patrick Nix has a better idea what his chaps can and can’t do, the Bulldogs are not nearly as likely to pressure the passer as Notre Dame was, and a simple review of the passing game last week suggests expansion is essential.
Sure, they had only one three-and-out against the Irish (when Calvin’s catch was overturned on third down), and there was extra emphasis on not allowing sacks (two) and not turning the ball over (zero), but this offense is probably not built to play smash-mouth, uber-ball control past a certain point. What college offense is? Even though the Jackets could probably take that tack against Samford and win, it stands to reason that players and coaches need to work on expanding and refining their repertoire as much or more than honing their bread-and-butter stuff.
*On the baseball front, CF Danny Payne, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury about six weeks before the end of last spring, is likely to be limited in fall workouts, which begin soon. I’m told he’s fine, but he’s the type who might over-do it if not closely monitored. That was a huge loss to the Jackets last season; he might’ve ended up ACC Player of the Year. Jackets need to come up with some pitching, a third baseman and another outfielder. Bet Danny Hall’s got a plan.
*Those of you who predicted that Paul Hewitt’s trio of verbal commitments will be the limit are correct. The Jackets are not seeking to add to the next signing class; three is it. Someone made an interesting point to me the other day, though, when he said it will be curious to see whether PG Maurice Miller signs this fall or waits until the late spring signing period. Why? To see if freshman PG Javaris Crittenton goes pro.
If he stays, this fellow suggested, Miller could change his mind. I have NO information that leads me to think that way, and from talking to Miller a few days ago, I don’t think he’s worried about being a backup for at least one year. He’d probably play plenty anyway, as the team’s only other PG this coming season, senior Mario West, will be gone by the time Miller arrives. The odds on Crit leaving early seem very, very slim, as PGs are not typically well-advised to leave after just one year of college no matter how good. Thaddeus Young on the other hand …
*Looking forward to Ohio State-Texas. I grew up in Columbus, and still follow the Buckeyes. My greatest concern is obvious: nine new starters on defense. They’re very athletic and fast, but very inexperienced.
Peppering you with opinions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A compilation of thoughts, some here, some there, some neither …
In my humble, age-addled estimation (turned 43 Wednesday), it’s quite possible Tech has its best football team in quite some time.
Don’t want to get into more second-guessing this call or that call from last Saturday as that’s been done over and over, and we’re four or five days out anyway, but from my vantage point the defense is going to be tight, especially when the D-line rotation grows with the return of Michael Johnson (groin, I think, but don’t know for sure). They clearly tired late the other day, in part because Notre Dame kept converting third downs. The Irish had an edge in time of possession in every quarter, a huge differential in the fourth.
— The secondary looks better than anybody had a right to expect. Pat Clark’s a tough cuss, Scott’s the real deal, and the safeties weren’t bad but need to be a little quicker in run support than they were against ND.
— Philip Wheeler’s a freak. ‘Nuff said.
— The kickoff team had better improve, and fast. At least three true freshmen, and I’m not sure but possibly a fourth, played there last Saturday. That may explain part of what happened, but only part. Gailey’s all over that this week.
— Contrary to what Gailey said last week, Tech didn’t sub in O-linemen and that hurt some. He suggested Tuesday that some of the reserves weren’t ready yet, physically, and I suspect that pertains mostly to Jacob Lonowski, who missed much of summer camp mending his repaired shoulder. Ultimately, I think Tech will be comfortable with seven O-linemen, perhaps including G LeShawn Newberry.
— Nix might wanna think about throwing not only to a tight end now and then, but more to running backs. Zero receptions by TEs, and 1 for 1 yard by a back (Choice)? Talk all you want about searching for balance between Calvin and the other WRs, but for my two cents you gotta throw to the under guys, too. This might help on third downs, too, where Tech converted two of the first five and then failed on the final five. That hurt, especially since Notre Dame starting converting them.
— Speaking of depth at WR, my opinion is that Greg Smith may be considerably better than many of you might think. Gotta find out.
— Reggie’s going to be better this year. Again, it’s my opinion, but I didn’t think he was a problem against the Irish. Sure, he failed to see some open receivers, but so did Quinn. I think he’s more measured by far with his emotions than in his first three years, more likely to remain on an even keel. He hasn’t always been that way, you know. I reserve the right to admit there’s room for error in this prediction.
— On punt returns, I know Tech nearly got a couple punts and chances of blocking one improve when you have 10 guys up and just one back. If it were me, depending on the punter and situation, I’d drop an up back in front of Clark. A couple ND punts coulda been fielded short if there was an upback, but instead bounced for big extra yards.
— Samford’s going to try to wing it all over the place. It’ll be interesting to see how Tenuta structures his blitzes because he’ll have no choice but to have more people back in coverage than against Notre Dame. Bet freshman Laurence Marius sees his first action on defense in this one.
— Getting a big lead and then playing a lot of people would be nice, but I wonder if this team might benefit psychologically more than most from kicking the snot out of Samford, no matter what it takes? Surely, fans would warm to that kind of result.
— On the recruiting front, Tech eagerly awaits the decision of Greene County QB Josh Nesbitt, who I believe will pledge to the Jackets Thursday or more likely Friday. Also, CB/WR Cedric Everson of Detroit is a candidate to commit any day, or, then again, he could wait and wait. Don’t have a strong feeling whether he’s going to pick Tech or UCLA.
— On the basketball scene, I wrote the other day Tech’s been recruiting PG Chris Wright of Washington, D.C. That’s over, and it’s been over, I’ve learned. The Jackets stopped chasing him even before Maurice Miller committed.
Later.
Tech must stay grounded
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The next two games, against Samford and Troy, give Georgia Tech a chance to prepare for the ACC schedule. Tech has a lot to work on: kickoff coverage and returns, pass protection, the running game, etc.
I’d put the running game at the top of that list. I know fans spend more time talking about the passing game. You can’t ever get the ball to Calvin Johnson enough, and why don’t you throw over the middle, and to the tight ends?
But championship teams eventually have to prove they can run the ball. Tech isn’t going to win any championships with Reggie Ball as its leading rusher, as he was against Notre Dame. And Tech isn’t going to win any championships when it’s no better than 50 percent on third-and-1.
Time to second-guess Nix?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember those “You Make the Call” commercials? They’d show a highlight clip and stop the video at a key moment in the game and ask what you’d do. You figure it out, then, after a commercial, get to see what happened. A situation like that came up during Saturday’s game between Georgia Tech and Notre Dame.
Tech faced fourth-and-1 at the Notre Dame 49 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter of a game the Jackets trailed by four points. Tashard Choice had just lost a foot on third-and-1. Up in the press box, we played our own version of “You Make the Call.” “You’ve got to punt here,” I said. “Go for it,” the reporter next to me said.
Tech punted, got only a touchback, and Notre Dame drove down the field and missed a field goal. The Jackets did get back into Irish territory midway through the fourth quarter, though, so it’s not like that fourth-and-1 situation was a last chance.
What were you saying on fourth-and-1? Go for it, or punt?
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