AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 19
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Jackets better have heads on straight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today, how about we chat about what we’ve learned about Tech and what we’re about to learn — or what I think we’ve learned and what we’re about to learn.
Against B.C., we learned that Tech is not going to overpower the ACC, not that many suspected that was going to happen. Clearly, though, some expectations were inflated by two lopsided wins over vastly inferior opponents.
Still, Tech has the potential to have a very good season. You don’t return that many players from a good team, add a couple very talented young players, and get measurably worse even if one of those losses was Calvin Johnson. That makes the barometer on Tech this season more mental and physical, more about chemistry and less about manpower. There should be few if any manpower excuses used this year. Tech has the players to be a nine- or 10-win team, maybe better than that.
But where Tech’s chemistry was very good last year, even through the miserable three-game losing streak at the end of the season when the great bulk of blame could be heaped at the feet of a suddenly inept offense and a completely ineffective quarterback, chemistry did not wane. Perhaps some confidence slipped, but not chemistry.
Still gauging chemistry on this team, but I think with Tech’s youngish passing attack not yet able to win games when forced to if the run game is shut down, EVERYBODY is going to try to make Taylor Bennett beat them for the time being. Notre Dame tried that, too, but they stunk at it. B.C did not. So Tech is not yet nearly balanced enough offensively.
What we’re about to learn: whether Tech has the wherewithal to bow up under duress. I would make the case that going to Virginia Tech last year the Jackets didn’t have much pressure. They weren’t expected to win. They had supreme confidence, very good game plans, the right amount of attitude, and kicked butt. They were on the wrong end of the same combination against B.C.
So they know they’re in for a dogfight next week with Clemson. Will they make the mistake of taking Virginia too lightly? Coming off a bad loss would seem to make it less likely, but who knows? Even if Virginia is not one of the ACC’s strongest teams (on paper), Tech has struggled terribly there, losing seven straight. These players have had little or nothing to do with that, but they’re aware of it. Does that affect them in any way?
This week’s test is more mental than physical, by far, I think. And I don’t by that mean that Tech can merely show up with confidence and win. But I hope you get my drift.
Matt
