AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMichael Tauiliili
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Aside from being someone with a startling number of i’s in his name, Tauiliili is a big concern for Tech this Saturday. Tauiliili is Duke’s middle linebacker and runs 5-11, 235. I spoke with center Dan Voss yesterday and he suspected he’s much heavier than that.
But anyway, he’s the leading tackler in the ACC and last week was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after Duke beat Navy and he had 16 tackles, an interception, a caused fumble and a forced fumble.
Paul Johnson brought him up, along with fellow linebackers Vincent Rey and Marcus Jones, as three of Duke’s most impressive players at Tuesday’s press conference. All three of them started last year, also. They certainly seem like Duke’s strength; they might be the best linebacker group the in conference.
Which brings me to my question. You could argue that Tech’s linebackers, particularly because of their depth issues - notably Brad Jefferson being out since the opener - have been, if not a weakness, a place that the Jackets could use help.
If you could pick any player off any D-I roster to join Tech, who would it be? Personally, I think I might go with USC linebacker Rey Maualaga. Fast, hits hard and a playmaker.
Comments
By GT45
October 1, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
I really like that Curan kid at that other school in GA. He has a great motor and hits hard-
By ga_tech_92
October 1, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
I would pick our current guys. They want to be a Tech, which makes them perfect for our system. Go get ‘em men! Go Jackets!! THWG!!!
By ChattHills Jacket
October 1, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
I would pick no other players! I would expect our coaches to prepare our boys to play and be prepared. It does open up recruiting in the LB position to tell a great kid that he will get playing time next year. D-line get to the QB, LBs stop the run and drop into coverage, and DBs cover and make the picks when they are there. JUST PLAY SOLID D and we will be ok. If our O runs like it should Duke will have less touches and time to score. If we run 5 minutes off the clock and score points each time we have the ball then we will have no problems. A FRESH RESTED D is the best situation for any team.
By GT Rich
October 1, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Knowshon Moreno in the A-back spot would be a nice addition opposite of Roddy Jones in the other A spot, to go with Dwyer at B-back and Nesbitt under center…
By ArkyTech
October 1, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
C’mon, Ken. I’ll give you a mulligan if you want to start a new topic. This is one of the dumbest I’ve seen yet.
By Harmon
October 1, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Does Philip Wheeler have a brother? I like our guys they play hard and they get the job done. Go jackets. THWG
By Dawgy Hater
October 1, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
WE DO NOT NEED KNOWSHON MORENO.
C’MON….
By PB
October 1, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Give me mount Cody… with all due respect to Vance.
By chipLJ
October 1, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Tech is on upset alert this weekend. Be very careful and prepared for another team in the ACC that is better than advertised. This is no time to assume, with a very good season looming just over the horizon.
By GT82
October 1, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Rennie Curan.
By Tech75
October 1, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Better questions are:
What did Duke do to stop the Navy offense, and if (and I imagine we do) we have film of that game, how will CPJ adjust?
Can Cutcliff et al come up with yet another set of adjustments to stop this offense?
My opinion? I think Tech rolls this weekend…
By ATLien1917285290
October 1, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
COME ONNN!!!!!
are yall really gonna keep bringing up Rennie curan…HES OUR ENEMY!!!! my choice…Aaron Curry from wake forest. HEs smart and he gets the job done…even in their latest L- to navy …homeboy had 10 tackles..2 for loss! ACC yall…ACC
By Stingem05
October 1, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Come on guys, it’s a hypothetical question. No one is saying that the players on our team our bad or need to be upgraded. It is just a fun question the think about on a day where there is little news.
I think the linebacker from USC would help the team the most, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Michael Oher from Ole Miss added to our line. Another guy would be Percy Harvin at the A-back.
By PhotoBuzz
October 1, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Curran would flunk out of Tech in about 2 weeks.
I’d take a few of Ohio State’s O-Linemen.
By George P. Burdell
October 1, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
That middle linebacker from BC is pretty darn good too. We got nothing up the middle on them because he got to the point of attack every time.
By CW
October 1, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Andre Smith, left tackle from Alabama. He’s started for the Tide since the day he got to Tuscaloosa. I’m pretty happy with our skill position players, but another big, athletic hoss up front would make this offense click even better.
BTW Tech75, Duke didn’t exactly stop Navy, they simply outscored them 41-31. I certainly agree with some of the comments above about Tech not losing their focus or intensity just because we’re playing Duke, but the fact that they beat Navy really should not mean that much for Duke playing Tech. Everyone agrees that Tech’s offense has far superior athletes to Navy who scored 31 on Duke. And Tech’s D far outranks Navy and should certainly hold Duke to substantially fewer than the 41 the blue devils scored.
The games aren’t played on paper so anything can happen, but if the same team that beat BC and blasted MS St shows up at noon on Saturday, Duke will need to really play well if they hope to stay within two touchdowns of Georgia Tech.
By T-Bone
October 1, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
Ken, surely you could find something at practice to write about. This is the stuff of bad sports talk radio, when they are looking for a topic of the day. We expect more from a beat writer.
This is our week to shine at the AJC, with no game being played by the other state school. Do us proud.
By TechCrybaby
October 1, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Maualaga would be good for us, but the problem with this fantasy is, it’s only three days before the game, and to fly him over from California, enroll him in school, and let him practice with the team on Friday - - how rested is he going to be on Saturday? I guess we’d better stick with our own guys.
By Tech beats Duke
October 1, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
My prior post didn’t make it through …
But I was responding to Tech75 from 10:45am. (because the topic of this article is kinda stupid).
Yes, Duke won vs. Navy (41-31), and had a defensive TD on a fumble return. Navy had 357 total yards. 207 rushing, and 150 passing. Navy passed 10 times, completing 8. Navy had a 68-yard TD pass, and a 73-yard TD run. I’m sure we’d ALL agree that Tech has much better atheletes at all positions than Navy. And I’m probably with everyone else when I think this will be, by far, the best defense Duke has faced to this point.
Although I’m sure Navy runs this O with better precision than Tech, I don’t believe Duke has the defensive strength of a BC, VT, or Miss St, and when they are on the field they [Duke’s D] will definitely have their hands full dealing with Tech’s speed compared to Navy’s.
Reading Paul Johnson’s quotes from an article on 9/30/08, he knows Duke’s tendencies/weaknesses against this O, and he’ll have the Jackets ready to roll on gameday.
My prediction is with Tech75 … A long as Tech stays healthy, and protects the ball, I see a blowout for the home team.
By Malone
October 1, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Anybody hearing anything on Favors?
Tech beats Duke by at least 21.
By GT82
October 1, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
Curran (kid is everywhere..don’t care who he plays for), Mt. Cody, and Duke Robinson