AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe reasons for success
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have spent the last couple of days working on a mid-season evaluation of Georgia Tech’s football team, and it’s been a little harder than I thought.
What it comes down to is there are a lot of reasons Tech has done so well, and many of them are interrelated. Here are my top eight, in random order:
*The new offense.
*The new Reggie Ball.
*The secondary performing better than expected with three new starters.
*The defensive front seven shutting down the run and, with the exception of the a long stretch against Notre Dame, getting pressure on the quarterback.
*Calvin Johnson.
*Only two starters missing a game because of injury, and neither of them missing more than one game.
*Better play by the offensive line.
*A down year for three opponents — Virginia, Virginia Tech and Maryland.
What order would you put them in?
Comments
By steverino
October 9, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this
Just gotta share with Tech fans one of the most sublime pleasures in life: listening the Ga bulldog hotline show on AM750 after a UGA loss.
Caller:”I jus’luv the Dawgs, Coach, but I jus’ don’ unnerstan how we can lose to team like Vanderbilt, Coach. I think it’s time fo a NEW HEAD COACH!” CLICK
Goff:”…Well, thank you for the call, Cletus. I’m proud of our team and we gave a hunnert and ten percent an when we give a hunnert an ten percent, I’m proud of this team. Next caller, Larry”
Caller: :”I jus’luv the Dawgs, Coach, but, damn coach, when are we gonna get an offensive coordinator in here.
Donnen:”A Coordinator? A Coordinator? Cletus, why you don’t you stop by my office and tell me face to face why we need a Coordinator?” (I swear that happened)
Caller: :”I jus’luv the Dawgs, Coach, but when are we gonna jus’ run the ball? This is the ES EE CEE, Coach.
Richt:”Well, Cletus, thank you for your call and your support for the bulldogs. I could explain why we throw the ball, but you wouldn’t understand because you’re not an offensive genius from FSU like me and My Lord Jesus Christ didn’t give you enough brain cells to understand. Furthermore, those cells you do have are awash in alcohol and disappearing at an alarming rate, much like your soul will disappear into hell unless you repent. Next sinner, er, next caller, Larry.”
At times, it has been my only consolation, given the mediocre (at best) state of Tech football the last few years.
By savgt
October 9, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this
Right on. Go jackets!!!!!!!!!
By gtgirl25
October 9, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this
ITA, but there’s nothing like Vandy and Mississippi State to “get well on”.
Go Jackets……THWG!!!!
By GoJackets
October 9, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this
By CW
October 9, 2006 06:16 PM | Link to this
Hey guys, I’ll tell you just like I tell the dog fans that get on Tech blogs. If you want to talk about UGA, go somewhere else.
Yes, I watched the game Saturday night against Tennessee and I sure as hell rooted for that ugly team in orange. But before we all gloat about 51-33, let’s remember that we aren’t all that far away from a couple “half a hundred’s” ourselves. I’d love it if we could get excited about our team and let the Georgia fans worry about their team.
Having said that, Mike I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with this team. Reggie and Calvin are really working well together. Yes, Reggie still doesn’t have a 60% completion rate, but he sure is finding ways for Calvin to break huge plays.
And, minus the ND game, Coach Nix has done a fantastic job of mixing up the play calling. He seems to have zeroed in on getting the most out of Reggie Ball. By designing new running plays for Ball, he is absolutely terrorizing opposing defenses.
By GoJackets
October 9, 2006 06:23 PM | Link to this
CW what are you talking about we are on a tech blog why can’t we talk good about our team and bad about our biggest rival?We ain’t on a uga blog.
By Not Disappointed
October 9, 2006 06:37 PM | Link to this
Love those Ga Tech “Jackets!”
By GoJackets
October 9, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
I LIKE TO POUND MEN IN THE A$$!!!!!!!!
By Tracy
October 9, 2006 07:33 PM | Link to this
You have a good list going on there. The new offensive schemes have made a huge difference. The defense has been fairly impressive even with the new starters. I just have a couple more to add.
Punting has been great. It’s such a big improvement over last year and gives us an advantage in field postition.
Tashard Choice and the running game has kept the defenses honest. Over 290 rushing yards the last game. It was fantastic!
By Ralph
October 9, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this
As I tell the folks I sit near doing games, there is always one flaw in our game which can be exploited. Under O’Leary, it was the defense, under Gailey up to this year, it has been the offense. And now it has become special teams.
But in my time as a Tech fan, there have always been three critical success factors to success:
1-2 turnovers caused by our defense.
1-2 really big plays from the offense.
Not kicking the ball out of bounds on kickoffs.
I know this is probably true for all teams, but what scares me now is that we are better off kicking the ball out of bounds and leting teams start on the 35 vice kicking it deep.
As we saw Saturday, even kicking into the end zone does not always work. If we can get this one element of our game down, we are good to go.
By steverino
October 9, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this
Hey CW! Who appointed you blog sheriff? And since when is it not usual and customary for Tech fans to take delight at UGA’s travails. Hell, for too many years, it’s been all we had. Lighten up, Francis, I mean CW.
By BuzzFactor
October 10, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget the Chemistry. I know we’ve had teams with better chemistry, but not in recent years.
and… We have the toughest half of the season to come, so the Jackets need to stay hungry!
By GoJackets
October 10, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this
I just love it when dumb ugay fans have to steal names and say their own thoughts because they know they can’t say anything sane back.The bad thing is it was probably Joe T or somebody.
By JustMe
October 10, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this
Has anyone heard of the exact leg injury on Ball? Is is a simple muscle bruise or something worse?
Very little has been offically released - and that worries me.
By Reality
October 10, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this
Thanks for your thinly veiled insult Knobler….VA Tech is having a down year just because we beat them ? Go write about your Mutts !
By CW
October 10, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this
Steverino, I’m not the blog sheriff, but your first post right out of the gate had NOTHING to do with our team, Georgia Tech.
Just like I don’t understand why the puppies come over here and write a bunch of crap, I don’t understand why you’d post whatever goes on during the UGA call in shows.
I just think there is too much obsession with what the other team is doing and not enough focus on our team.
Our guys are 5-1 and finding ways to win. Reggie is still capable of an outburst to the refs, but is acting like and playing like a senior leader. Our O-line is doing a great job protecting the QB, and opening holes for the running game. And now Tashard is starting to really get ramped up. Our front 7 on D are absolute monsters— they are fast and hit like tanks. Our secondary is breaking in 3 new starters who are learning on the job. They’ve had their fare share of breakdowns but they haven’t lost us a game yet and I expect they will get better as the year progresses.
I’m as excited about the 2nd half of this season as I have been since George Godsey was QB. All I’m saying is, let’s focus on our guys and worry about the puppies once we’ve won our division of the ACC.
By BeeReady
October 10, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this
We are where we are because of: Stingy Defense new offense featuring: Reggie Calvin Tashard
By Play that funky music whiteboy
October 10, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this
Where is GREG???
By greg 2.0
October 15, 2006 10:27 PM | Link to this
IM BACK