AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOf leprechauns and four-leaf clovers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Georgia Tech eight days from playing Notre Dame, the notion of the “luck of the Irish” suggests we should consider “Murphy’s Law,” or at least a variant of it.
So our topic of today: What’s most likely to go wrong for Tech in the opener?
Here’s what I think, based on what I saw last year and what I know from preseason practice:
—Kickoff coverage gives Tech fits. The Yellow Jackets have struggled in this department for two consecutive years and now have to start 5 yards farther back because of a new NCAA rule.
—Notre Dame passes the ball effectively. OK, I know it won’t be Brady Quinn taking the center snap, and I know Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight are gone. But Charlie Weis figured out a way to get 246 passing yards and a completion percentage over 60 in last season’s game.
—Taylor Bennett has a difficult day. This is his first start in an opponent’s stadium, and there were no expectations in his first two starts; there are high expectations now.
I don’t think things will go wrong on Tech’s offensive line, despite the injuries in the preseason. I don’t think things will go wrong for Tashard Choice, who doesn’t fumble and does reliably get his yards game after game.
What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (41) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By ATL-Irish
August 24, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
What could go wrong? Bringing all of these nerds to South Bend is the first problem. Even though they will be few in number…but, one is too many. I just hope South Bend escapes without having any terrorist training camps set up. As for the game, starting a third string QB will be their biggest downfall.
By stinGTime
August 24, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
If TBen is allowed to hand the ball to a back of his choice until Tech has the upper hand…forget Murphy’s Law.
By arob
August 24, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
atl irish- You obviously don’t follow the Jackets very closely. We are ECSTATIC to have ANY QB start other than the one who played in last year’s game vs the Irish.
Mike- Tech has the talent advantage. Provided the kick coverages are better than last year, we should come out on top. Should be close, but Tech will win.
By golden domer
August 24, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this
Can you imagine these nerds coming to South Bend and thinking they can win. I hate to agree with all these UGA rednecks but you Tech Girlyman are totally delusional in you belief that you are relevant in the world of college football.
By Historian
August 24, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
UGA bloggers, don’t embarrass yourself and pretend you’re from Notre Dame. Also, for those short on memories, Tech is always a tough play for the Irish. The big question is the ability of the quarterback to find the open receivers. Notre Dame hasn’t had a good defense in a long time. If he does, the Irish will be watched mostly by their giant Catholic supporting hoards. Nobody else will care.
By Jake
August 24, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
don’t think they would be calling themselves rednecks Historian. I think they are ignorant ND fans.
By ContactBuzz
August 24, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this
A Notre Dame fan talking about relevance? 1990 > 1988
By John Bales
August 24, 2007 11:58 PM | Link to this
Ask Winklejohn if he has ever heard of Keith Brooking. Apparently he forgot him when he made out his list of top 25 Georgia pros.
By BH Dawg
August 25, 2007 8:00 AM | Link to this
Techies,
The series record against Notre Dame is 27-5-1. This means you have won just above 15% of the 33 games played against the Golden Domers. This is historical domination by anybody’s math. Don’t get me wrong, I think you will win a sixth game next Saturday t improve you winning percentage to around 18%. However, when your fan base talks about Tech’s history in this series, please quit acting like the series has been close. You guys are good at math. You have to admit that this W-L record in the series is borderline pathetic. You guys have a real bad habit of believing that, because you played a close game, it is a virtual win e.g.the last 5 years versus Georgia. You have to FINISH next Saturday to WIN the game. Good luck and see you in November.
By BUZZTRIP
August 25, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
All homerism aside, I expect both teams to be very well prepared, with few penalties - at least in the first half. These two teams are very evenly matched.
Both teams will stack their D for the run and force the other to pass. Both teams will try short passing to set up run yards after the catch. T Bennett has much less QB orientation than ND’s starter (which will more than offset the new kickoff rule changes, I hope). ND will make adjustments to Tech’s scheme at half time, and I hope Tech can counter. As usual, key turnovers determine who wins. If ND runs the option, Tech’s D should exploit the pitch for turnovers. Tech will run well against the 3-4, but may give up a couple of picks also.
I expect this to be the best game to watch opening weekend.
By BUZZTRIP
August 25, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
BTW, ND will leave the grass a litle high trying to slow down Tech’s speed. It won’t work. TECH WILL WIN!
By DirtyDawg
August 25, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Hi guys. Thought I’d come on over and give you a ‘head’s up’. Clearly I have no interest in disguising my allegiance, I am simply offering up a point.
Understand that Florida State - I assume you guys are playing them again this year - has hired the West Virginia offensive line coach…Be prepared for an entire afternoon/evening of holding like you’ve never seen. Don’t know if they’re gonna open up the OL spacing but a two or three count of ‘locking up’ your man is all they’ll need to ‘keep’ the hole open. You see you don’t have to be able to move your man, just to keep him from moving, and your back has room to run. Stunt, run-blitz, anything to deal with it…just thought I’d let you know.
Sour grapes from the Sugar Bowl a couple of year’s back? Maybe, but it was clearly the difference in a three-point game.
By GTFan
August 25, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Dirty-
No FSU this year…
By DirtyDawg
August 25, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
GTFan…Nevermind.
By ForensicBuzz
August 25, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
GTFan, DirtyDawg was referring to the first week in December. I’m not sure they’ll be there, but I like our chances.
Thanks
By yellowblood
August 25, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
Golden Homer: Get your head out of the Studebaker era and realize your best days are over. Tech is not a great team but can handle the university of Notre Media. You had better hope you don’t have to endure another bowl game.
By Superchill
August 25, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
Wreck-fans - Please - be willing to admit defeat this year IF you lose in South Bend. No whines about the refs, no whines about the coach, no whines about the calls. GT should win this game……runner-ups in one of the nation’s major confferences returning many starters vs. a team plugging in 14 untested players on offense and defense…….GT should win.
OK - so - IF YOU SHOULD LOSE - can we agree that you will not cry like 2-yr olds about it?
By Whatever happened to...
August 25, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this
What happened to Play That Funky Music White Boy? He promised a couple of weeks ago to talk smack all the way until the game, but he hasn’t bothered to grace us with his presence lately.
By TheHiveVoice
August 25, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
It is a fact that there are secret lurkers (ND and UGA) on the Hive looking for information about injuries and offensive strategy. Lurkers have been counted in the past. We, as Tech fans, don’t need to know about injuries or the nuances of the new offense. We will get what we need when it is appropriate. Otherwise, giving out too much information is detrimental to the team and CCG and could result in a negative outcome. Let’s not jeopardize this victory.
By Charlie Weis
August 25, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
Shucks Hive-Voice
You got me!
By Davey
August 26, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Whitey got scared of me.
By mark
August 26, 2007 2:39 AM | Link to this
kickoff cov. has sucked because of scholarships sanctions…now since thats done with—their special teams will do fine.
By LJP
August 26, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
Wow! What a great blog by Mike and a bunch of non-related responses.
Mike, Thank you for a solid blog and good points. I’m sensing that we Tech backers are a bit overconfident seeing that ND has a new QB and, overall, unproven skill players.
Yes, yikes on the kick-off coverage. However, I have a good feeling that Michael Johnson will not let the same thing happen as last year seeing that he is extremely talented, he’s a winner, hasn’t proven anything to himself, and has taken ownership of at least the kick-off coverage. We’ll still have fits against ND, but they won’t be as bad as last season, overall. Nowhere to go but up.
No doubt that Weiss will fit his QB with a good gameplan. However, I have the feeling that Tenuta is already in the offensive coaches heads. Come quickly during the game, he will be in the offensive players heads. I think we might see some over-scheming combined with some pressure mismanagement by the ND offense. This is not to say that they won’t have any success, I just think that this will manifest itself especially in their OLine towards the ends of the 1st & 2nd halves.
Also, I don’t think ND will be relying on the pass. They had success against us with the run last year (along with Clemson), and they’re going to be hammering this all day.
I agree with Bennett being a big question mark. I’m confident in and excited about seeing him. However, this is his first game, IMHO. Forget games against UConn, WVa, and his mop-up duty. They don’t matter now and we cannot forecast any future performance from them. I don’t know how he’ll do and I’m not going to predict. Same with ND, I don’t think the QB situation matters much because we’ll be running running running.
Get ready for a hard fought battle in the trenches on September 1 in South Bend. I’ll be there, will you “ATL-Irish” & “gold domer”. I appreciate your alma mater inviting us to visit your hallowed campus. I can’t wait to take the tour!
-LJP
By yellowblood
August 26, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Last year Tech was quite passive on offense against ND obviously determined to keep the game close. We need to open it up this year under the concept that since we are no longer playing Reggie-ball we should be able to avoid turnovers.
By TechWreck
August 26, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
I figure if we didn’t have an extraordinary number of altar boys getting raped last year, y’all won’t have any terrorist camps set up.
Enjoy the game!
By Irishcane
August 26, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
Traveled to ATL last year and will be up to South Bend next week. I was over-confidant last year and expected a big Irish win. Obviously, I was wrong. This year I see pretty even teams with ND having more talent but less experience. Having said that, I think the home field will be the tipping point and the Irish will win. On to the road at Penn St. at 1-0.
By TO BHDAWG
August 26, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
To BDAWG:
Yeah, we don’t have a great record against ND, but at least we have a record to speak of with them. The inbreeders (that’s you) have played the Irish ONE TIME.
Was it Buck Belue who was ripping on the mutts today (imagine that), saying that in the last 40 years the mutts have never played a regular season game out of the Southeast. Must feel good to know your team are such p_ussies when it comes to OOC scheduling…
Yeah, now it’s time to hear all the “But we play in the SEC!?!?!” bs that you inbreeders like to say.
By David
August 26, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this
BHDAWG or whoever you are….I believe this is a Tech blog. Who cares about what you just said? Go to a Georgia blog and say that. We like to keep some class on our posts. Thanks
By SmartExperience
August 26, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this
The prospects of this Tech Team are the best of many of my 40 years.
I predict an 11-1 regular season with our only loss to Duke.
Call me
By King of Sandy Springs
August 27, 2007 12:17 AM | Link to this
ATL-Irish, I’m glad my group isn’t bringing any little boys with us to South Bend. We know how much your type have wandering hands in the company of the prepubescent. What’s Notre Dame’s bowl record the last ten years? Luck of the Irish? Try eating more potatos.
By Hick from the sticks
August 27, 2007 8:00 AM | Link to this
Good morning, all…
I suppose I have lurked for long enough.
I’ve heard it all throughout the training camps.
“Rebuilding”.
“May God strike me dead if I use the word ‘Rebuilding’ “.
Bone spur surgery for Clausen’s arm, my SEC compatriots sighing with utter disdain that the apparent second coming of Ron Powlus carries the Clausen tag after watching the first two versions of the family being masive busts with their respected teams, et. al.
“Growing the grass higher to slow Tech’s speed”, however, is a completely new one on me.
Jackets—be not fooled. You have an incredible running back in Tashard Choice. Completely stunning, and a huge shock to most Irish fans last year during the game. (Myself included—I was at the game) Choice will more than likely accumulate 100+ yards in the game this Saturday.
Unless you know something that I have clearly overlooked here, the growing of the grass (if you will recall) was for the USC/ND game.
A look at that roster showed one of the most unholiest of trinities during that era:
Leinart. White. Bush.
Let us also not forget Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarret at WR, respectively.
No offense, Tech, but I’m just not seeing that type of depth and five-man threat on your offense.
I have been known to be wrong in the past, however.
Looking forward to Saturday.
May God bless and keep Irish football.
By Chris
August 27, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Growing the grass long to hurt our “speed” won’t do a damn thing to hurt us. Maybe nobody noticed last year, but Tashard doesn’t exactly have Reggie Bush speed. He’s a powerful bruiser of a back with good but not outstanding speed. He’s not a breakaway threat, but he is a threat to break some tackles.
By NDYankee
August 27, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
Unlike the fans at Georgia Tech, we welcome the Yellow jackets to our campus. You won’t be cussed at, called names or have fish thrown at you. The fans at ND are all class. There is an old saying “if you lie down with dogs, you’re gonna get fleas”… there is no fleas at ND. We look forward to seeing there for a great game.
By ZGOLDATOWN
August 27, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
Yeah right NDYankee, Nd fans are all class. I had one suck his middle finger at me for celebrating a first down at last years game. He got stomped, but thats football games in the South. As i can see by the yankee in your name, you are not used to that. Anyways, Tech is too strong, fast, physical, and hungry to lose this game. Tech is angry at the way the year finished last year and is ready to come out and pop ND in the mouth. Last year we seemed to be so shocked that we had a chance to win that we didn’t jump on it. (or maybe it was just that we had Nix/Ball) This year Tech is gonna come out like we did in Blacksburg last year. The difference is that ND isn’t as good as Va Tech so the score will be even more lopsided. Techs offensive line is gonna bust holes through the 3-4 Northern style defense of ND. Tashard is gonna truck. Bennett is the question mark for me. I am not worried about the recievers, and certainly not worried about one of the best defenses in the country. At least Techs front 7 defensively and the depth we have at DL is hard to match. Georgia Tech 31 Notre Damn- 15 as they score a late touchdown on techs 2nd team. A-Town is gonna run up on touchdown jesus.
By Buzzer
August 27, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
“The fans at ND are all class.”
I disagree. The last time I was at a game at South Bend, the score was 31-0, and it wasn’t an ND win. Needless to say, although I enjoyed it immensely, it wasn’t a pretty night.
I like our chances this weekend, but I’m not talking trash until the game is over.
By wes
August 27, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
ABOUT THE TOPIC:
I’m worried about ND stacking the LOS early and making TB beat them through the air.
ND did a great job of neutralizing Choice in last year’s matchup. Although, PNix did bail on TC all but completely in the second half.
i can’t stand the waiting.
By Liam Gallagher
August 27, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
The Rednecks come to Notre Dame…and take a massive whoopin behind the woodshed. GT = irrelevant.
By gtNC
August 27, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
ND home loss to GT = relevant ND football = less relevant with every passing year
By weareND
August 27, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this
somebodys gonna lose but i think its gonna be a close one til the late in the 4th quarter. the lots of adjustments way before halftime on both sides we dont have the experience with our young players but we have plenty of talent plaing at nd will make the differance irish 24 gt17
By Snapshot
September 2, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Re-vamp your article? mutt posters, will a little worry set in? Yea, I believe it will.
By Jeff
September 4, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this
Hey “golden domer” how does it feel to get spanked like that after all your mouth running? It looks like someone else was a little full of themselves huh? Good luck winning a game period.