AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPunting game is truly special
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maybe it’s the performance of the secondary with three new starters. Maybe it’s the steadyness of Reggie Ball, who has upped his pass efficiency rating 30 points this season over his junior year number. Maybe it’s an offense that finally manages to get the ball to Calvin Johnson on a consistent basis, or isn’t afraid to throw it over the middle, or doesn’t stop scoring once the point total reaches the 20s.
Those have all been pleasant surprises for Georgia Tech this season, and here’s another one: Durant Brooks. The Yellow Jackets have the best punting game in the ACC. Not only do they lead the league in net average at 39.4 yards per kick, but 17 of Brooks’ 31 punts have pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line. That has tremendous implications for field position. Not many offenses are going to drive the ball 80 yards or more against the Yellow Jackets, and a lot of them are going to go three-and-out inside their 20, with Georgia Tech’s offense starting on the opponent’s side of the field. The punting game has become a major asset for the Jackets.
Comments
By Burdell's Brother
October 4, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this
Excellent point. Thanks to some of the kicks against Va Tech, it put them behind the eight ball and NO ONE is likely to go the length of the field against our defense. Plus, lets be realistice, the shorter the offense has to go the better, but they are improving, this just helps. Go Jackets!
By DoN
October 4, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Mike. The kicking game has been outstanding. Our defense has been outstanding other then we have been a little weak against the deep ball. Things seem to be getting better every week though. I was very pleased to see several kickoffs last week go out of the endzone or end up as touchbacks. Way to go guys, keep up the good work. Make us proud. Go Jackets!
By bigpimpin'
October 4, 2006 06:06 PM | Link to this
The spacial teams are getting yellow jacket stickers for their excellent work on spacial team work this year.
By Not Disappointed
October 4, 2006 06:16 PM | Link to this
Keep up the good work. Ramblin Wreck!
By savGT
October 4, 2006 06:29 PM | Link to this
They really are looking good and now with the special teams playing solid along with the defense and usually the offense. This could be a great year.
By cynthia mckinneys hair dresser
October 4, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this
Insane!!!!Durant Brooks is babbba Bad
GO JACKETS!!!!!3:30 SAT. BE THERE!!!!!
By old gold engineer
October 4, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this
Not only has the punting team performed well, but the punt return team is also looking good. Smith has really added an air of excitement to the return game and is a major reason the offense has been able to start a few drives on the opponent’s side of the field. Keep it up this Saturday against Maryland.
By Davey
October 4, 2006 11:28 PM | Link to this
Is Durant a senior?
By Glenn
October 5, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this
Davey, Durant Brooks (P 6-0 198) is a Junior transfer and hails from Macon, GA.
By Techster
October 5, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
AMEN - back to “Dodd-Ball” at last
Bobby Dodd always considered the punting game so important he personally coached the kickers. Field position in football is everything - let’s see a quick kick or punt on third down if Dodd-Ball is really back!
By godawg
October 5, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this
This from the UGA blog:
By GREG October 4, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this i think our wr’s will be fine and the rest of the team sat night….GO DAWGS!!!!i got blocked from the tech blog for disrupting there blog with my all cap letter thing!!!
That’s HILARIOUS!!!! Good for ya’ll. I know he won’t be missed…of course now we’re stuck…I know, I know…hilarious…not.
By JustMe
October 5, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this
godawy -
My sympathy goes out to the uga bloggers. However, we will not miss him.
Good luck.
By Ramble ON!
October 5, 2006 02:16 PM | Link to this
GLENN…I’m Jealous; you know more about GT football than I do. We had a great punter last year too; it’s our kick off coverage that scares me to death. I thought that was going to be our doom against VT, but gladly, I was wrong. Durant has been AWESOME. Speaking of punters…WF punter from last year has to be punting for some NFL team, anyone know who and how well he’s doing? I’ve never seen so many punts kicked so far, so consistently. I think he broke every stat in the NCAA for punting.
By Glenn
October 5, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this
Ramble ON! The punter from Wake Forest you are referring to is Ryan Plackemeier, and he is on the roster with the Seattle Seahawks (Jersey # 1).
By Glenn
October 5, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this
godawg, thanks for the great sense of humor…hang in there and wait him out. Eventually he will get blocked out of all blogs.
By Another Jacket
October 5, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this
Give Chan Gailey credit. When he turned the offense over Nix, he turned his attention to special teams. They have looked much better. Punting has been outstanding, but the kickoff team is finally kicking the ball into the end zone for touchbacks. Looking much, much better.
By Darren
October 5, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this
I have to say I have been very pleased overall. I still follow the Jackets even though I am in the military and have been all over. Right now I am in Colorado, and to get my fix I got season tikets to the Air Force Academy (home of the dreaded triple option). I dont get to watch too many games but listen to all of them on the Zone. While you guys are having fun at Grant field I will be watching Air Force play Navy. Get loud and GO JACKETS!!!
By TechGirl
October 6, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this
godawg, It wasn’t necessarily his CAPS that made everyone on here mad…it was more his disgusting comments that were posted repeatedly in caps. Thanks for coming over and being respectful and passing along the message from Greg. Nice to know that we won’t have to worry about him for a day or two.
Can’t wait for Saturday!