AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 01
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Notre Dame’s not so hot; Tech is
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was going to wait until there were just a couple minutes left to blog on this debacle, but there’s no point in that any more. Plus, this way, I can get downstairs sooner to position myself to see if anybody goes after Charlie Weis. Of if he explodes.
Why did he wait to pull Demetrius Jones? I’ve seen that kind of quarterback play before. I’d rather not watch it again. He’s no Tony Rice.
But onto much better things, like Tech.
Tashard Choice is quite special, and I imagine that as I blog the talking heads on ESPN are inserting him legitimately — rather than as an aside — into official Heisman Trophy chatter.
Anybody opposed to that? I didn’t think so.
It’s been 48 years since Tech won here, back when the Yellow Jackets were in the SEC. Imagine that. In moving to 6-27-1 against Notre Dame, Tech surpassed its largest margin of victory over the Irish by a whopping 17 points (assuming this 33-3 score holds). The Jackets beat Notre Dame 13-0 in 1928, the same season they went 10-0, 7-0 in the Southern Conference, and capped it all with their only Rose Bowl win, 8-7 over Cal. Their biggest win that season was 51-0 over Auburn, and they beat Oglethorpe 32-7. Oh, and they were named co-national champions.
Back from the twilight zone, or back into it, this mess could’ve been a good bit worse. The Jackets bogged down in the red zone twice in the first half, had a field goal blocked (that one was Travis Bell’s fault; the ball might never have cleared 10 feet in heighth even if it cleared the line).
And in sum, Taylor Bennett wasn’t very good today. He looked very little like the quarterback who shredded West Virginia in the first half of the Gator Bowl.
From my vantage point, up out of the sun, Taylor rarely appeared comfortable when dropping back, save a handful of throws. He seemed out of rhythm.
All this said, Taylor wasn’t terrible. Just not sharp.
But the defense did what it should have done, menace the Notre Dame quarterback, ride Choice, and oh yeah, the D’ really clamped down on the Irish running game as well.
I’ve been a bit perplexed as to why Tech wasn’t ranked given all the experience they have back, and the nature of that experience (Choice, four O-line starters, a ton on defense).
That won’t be a problem, the rankings business, come Monday.
Eight true freshmen played today, and Morgan Burnett was the best, although that touchdown run a few minutes ago by Jonathan Dwyer was a glimpse of the future.
In garbage time now, Nesbitt at QB, Donley and Earls at WR, and even David Brown at LT. That may be a sign, especially since Brown worked much more at guard in camp, that coaches will try not to burn a redshirt on Clyde Yandell unless there is a long-term injury at tackle (like A.J. Smith re-injuring his elbow in this game, which happened)?
Notre Dame is not very good, and in my opinion may have a hard time winning five games (the front half of the Irish schedule is stout, the back half much less so), but nothing should take away from what happened here.
Tech is a good football team, and if Taylor Bennett finds a rhythm in the passing game (beginning next week against Samford?), the Jackets can be better than last year.
Matt
