AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGetting busy on The Flats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Big weekend at Georgia Tech, and not just for the current football team. Lots of recruits coming to the Clemson game.
First, a look back at something I wrote earlier this week - a story about QB Taylor Bennett.
I saw a blog response somewhere, can’t remember if it was the AJC or not, where a writer moaned that if it had taken this long for OC John Bond to start working on Bennett’s footwork, the world is lost.
Get real! These guys, and every team/QB in the nation work on footwork from the get-go. The point is that Bennett’s footwork is still particularly problematic. They’ve worked on it since Bond arrived, and before that as well. The point is it’s still not what it needs to be, and it’s a consistent problem.
This didn’t fit in the story, but it was interesting that Bond noted that the clock in Bennett’s head may be a bit scrambled already because he faces so much blitzing in practice.
“It’s footwork for him, and in his defense, when you go up against the pressure that we go up against every day in practice … you would be a robot if the clock in your mind didn’t speed up,” Bond said.
Now, what about asking defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta to slow the blitzes down? Forget that.
“Oh, no. He’s not going to do that, and I wouldn’t ask him to do that,” Bond said. [Bennett’s] got to slow down the clock in his brain. When he does that, that’s when he’s at his best.”
Yeah, like the first few days of August practice, when Bennett was dead-on with almost every pass - before anybody put pads on.
Moving on …
Huge combination of players making official and unofficial visits to Tech, including (but not limited to) Thomasville defensive tackle Brandon Thompson (a tremendous player), Fresno safety Brandon Leslie, Miami linebacker Malcolm Munroe, Chamblee offensive lineman Omoregie Uzzi, and Columbia, S.C., offensive lineman Kenneth Page.
Also, a lot of players who’ve already committed will be at the game, including defensive backs Jon Lockhart and Kamaron Riley, running back Richard Watson, wide receiver Chris Jackson, linebackers T.J. Pridemore and Steven Sylvester, offensive lineman Nick McRae and safety/quarterback Cooper Taylor.
I think Buford defensive tackle Omar Hunter, who has committed to Notre Dame, will be at Tech as well. Washington County linebacker Brandon Watts, a junior, is going to be there too.
Speaking of recruiting, tough loss this week for the hoopsters, as forward Sylven Landsberg opted for Virginia. The Jackets are still in the running for Chicago shooting guard Iman Shumpert, one of the best in the nation at his position.
As for the game, I’m about out of ideas. If Tech can’t run the ball pretty darned well, though, I don’t like the Jackets’ chances. I think, though, that they’ll run better this week, especially if Choice stays healthy. Is Bennett going to improve in the passing game? Will his teammates improve in the passing game?
They’d better.
Tech wins, but oddly, 21-20.
Matt
Comments
By old gold engineer
September 28, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
So, if Taylor Bennett isn’t performing as required, why is he playing every down of the game? Would Spurrier put up with that? I think the best that Reggie Ball ever played was when he thought his job was in jeopardy. Put someone in who will play as required or change the scheme. Is that too simple?
By sam
September 28, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
correction, Tech loses 21-17….
typical season 7up and 5down all expense trip to the Emerald Bowl.
By jackets fan
September 28, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
I think it’s simple as to why GT’s defense is struggling. The guys they lost, one on each level, were huge contributors.
GT is not getting much pressure at all. People look at the production on the D-Line and wonder, why are the results poor. Well last year they had Joe Anoai in the middle, taking up multiple blockers, which freed up Adamm Oliver, Darrell Robertson and Michael Johnson. Now the double teams are on the DE’s instead of one of the DT’s. That has resulted in some nice stats for Vance Walker, but you don’t want your DT to lead your team in sacks. Plus the absence of Anoai has consequences in the run defense. In the LB corps you lose KaMichael Hall who was the leading tackler last season. They moved Guyton to his weakside spot, and he is a nice player, but is no Hall and Shane Bowen has not done much of anything and we’ll see if Anthony Barnes can step up now that Bowen is nicked up. So the second level of tackling has been suspect. And in the secondary they lost Kenny Scott, who Tenuta could put on an island most of the time and forget about it, especially with the kind of pressure the blitz used to create. Now that they have lost Scott (plus the depth that Laurence Marius provided) and are not getting the same pressure as before, our CB’s are exposed. Avery Roberson and Jahi Word-Daniels are decent players, but they can’t operate on islands and Pat Clark should be passing out towels instead of trying to cover anybody. The safeties are good as usual, including the surprise play of Morgan Burnett, but they can’t tackle the ball every play and expect to be effective for 4 quarters. Plus Burnett can lapse in his responsibilities at times, like not covering a TE against BC, when GT had them pinned deep against their own goalline. All that adds up to unrealized expectations on defense.
As for offense, it appears that Taylor Bennett really wasn’t much better than Reggie Ball, and without Calvin he is mediocre at best. I don’t weep for the days of Ball, but I am starting to wish for the future and seeing what Josh Nesbitt might do with a weeks worth of snaps in practice with the #1 team. And now the recruitment of another QB, Sean Renefree, makes more sense to me. Before I thought, wow, what are they going to do with all these QB’s for two more seasons with Bennett as the starter. It’s become evident that maybe the coaches weren’t as convinced that TB would be the starter beyond this season as the rest of us were. I think both of those guys will push and eventually overtake TB either this season with Nesbitt or next spring with both Nesbitt and Renefree getting a look. We need not to waste the talents we have at running back and offensive line by not competing at QB this season.
By GTBandit22
September 28, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
Big game this weekend. We’ll have to avoid to mental errors that cost us the Virginia game last week, to be in it. To WIN, the lines on both side of the ball have to control the game. We need have to eat up TOP. Taylor has to complete 60% and we must win the turnover battle….tall order, and that is just the offense. Defense has to turn in a mirror image of the Tiger’s last trip to the ATL. Another tall order. Hopefully, the Tigers come in overconfident and we bust em in the mouth. We may not be as good as we thought, but we can win this game. GT-23 Klem’s son-20 3 Taco Bell FG’s win it late
By braveswin
September 28, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
No,I’m sorry,but GT will not win.I know their backs are against the wall but Clemson is smelling the hope of a championship,the Jackets are just not playing good fundamental ball right now.I see Clem 31 GT 13.
By CW
September 28, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Jacketsfan, in addition to the skill and experience we lost with Anoai, Hall and Scott, I think we’re missing Big Joe and KaMichael’s leadership as well. Our D just hasn’t been quite as salty as last year’s edition. Looking back, the WV game was something of an indicator of things to come. Our QB was not the only senior to miss the Gator Bowl last year and our defense was torched because we didn’t have that reliable cover corner in Scott.
I think our D is still capable of playing very well and they’ll certainly have to if we’re going to make a game of it with Clemson. I’m just not sure that our offense is going to suddenly get better against a team that is much better on D than UVA.
However, using Bizarro World logic, Tech wins games they shouldn’t and Clemson is ALWAYS good for choking away two or three games every year. Let’s hope tomorrow is one of those games.
By GT
September 28, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this
The taste of football is better at 3:30 at Grant Field. I don’t feel like I am out at the regional mall shopping and a football game broke out. I most likely will have a few beers at a tailgate, the temperature will be San Diego style with the sunlight cutting across the historic Grant Field making the gold helmets look extra gold and the white jerseys look extra white. The Tech band will wake me up like a Pearl Harbor invasion and the sight of those orange lost souls in the stands looking to embarrass the city slickers of the uptown university will enhance my competitive nature. As the sun sets and our defense hold court and the wind is out of the orange sails I will once again look heavenly and say “ain’t it good to be a yellow jacket”. Take me home Moma.
By GTforever
September 28, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
Put a fork in them,there done!
By Ohio Jacket
September 29, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this
So I was wondering why there werent any doggie and tigger ppl spewing their verbal diarrhea here and then I looked at the time this blog was posted and now I know why…high school is out and these jokers dont have other computer access!
Golden Rule: I dont trash your blog, you dont trash mine
Go Tech! 31-10 (if Choice is playing, lol)
By fred
September 29, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Sorry,Matt,my view of the big picture is so blurred by reality—the lack of a fiercely competitive coach vs. father figure—-that, even a win over UCatC does not alter the horizon. People who play sports are “competitive”.The same must be true—outwardly/inside—by all coaches. NOT TRUE.
By GTwins
September 29, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Ohio Jacket, you are correct. This is the type of game that Chan wins. He is a pattern of consistent mediocrity. Win when few expect it, then lay a few eggs.
Go Jackets!!