AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 15
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Bottom falls out; Ryan rocks Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry for the delay in blogging folks, but deadline circumstances were beyond brutal tonight and I had to hack regular copy first. Let me stress the word, “hack.”
This was a thrashing. The score could have been much worse. Any time you give up 527 yards of offense, and the running attack your offense is built around rings in at 261 yards below its average, you got crushed no matter the final score.
I’m surprised. I figured Matt Ryan, the BC QB, would be good. I didn’t think he’d have all day to throw almost every time he went to throw.
Tech’s game plans were bad.
DC Jon Tenuta is not one to call off the blitz, but when it’s not working at all (or almost never), and a guy who throws like that is picking you apart, why not drop into a coverage-centered scheme? Tech was getting no more pressure from its blitz packages than it might have from a straight rush plan (which is to say almost none) so why not sacrifice the hells bells approach in order to better cover receivers, or try to better cover receivers?
We didn’t get to talk to Tenuta afterward, or if he showed up — and I don’t believe that he did — so I can’t give you his take on that. To be fair, he was not requested by any media that I know of, but then again we were humping so hard on deadline when we were asked for interview requests, most writers I was near said something like, “I don’t care who you get.” We couldn’t stop to make requests because the game took forever and blew up all deadlines.
Sorry to make excuses, but that’s my reality.
Anyway, I don’t know if Tech was ready for what it faced. BC was dialed in all night. The Eagles were really, really good.
I still believe Tech is a very solid team, and the Jackets never folded despite getting kicked in the gut over and over. Tech did hurt itself badly with penalties that wiped out four or five pretty good plays, but generally they were manhandled.
Did the Jackets give up on the run too early? Six of their first eight plays from scrimmage were pass plays. Then, Tech went three-and-punt five straight times to close the first half.
To be accurate, Ryan is really, really good. He looked like an NFL quarterback tonight — like a quarterback who’s already in the NFL. He was superb.
Other than Tech P Durant Brooks, who had one crummy punt in 10, no Jackets were superb that I noticed.
Folks, that was ugly.
Better get back on the horse quick. Clemson’s not going to come in here to play patsy next week.
Matt
