AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLooking ahead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don’t know if you read today’s story reviewing the first half and previewing the second half, but there was one thing I didn’t include that I wanted to mention.
It’s been overlooked a little that kicker Scott Blair is on something of a roll. After starting out the season 1-for-5, he’s made five out of his last five. I don’t think we’re ready to call him the next Jan Stenerud, but it’s a good bit of progress considering all the hand-wringing after the way he (and snapper Bret White and holder Chandler Anderson) started.
The biggest reason it hasn’t gotten much notice, of course, is that he hasn’t had to make one with the game on the line. His only field goal against Virginia Tech was early, then came the Mississippi State and Duke blowouts, and then his field goal against Gardner-Webb (which proved to be the difference) was in the second quarter with the score 7-0.
I imagine Tech coaches would feel a little more comfortable if Blair had connected on something in the 40’s - his longest make this year is 32. Regardless, you have to think that, at some point, the Jackets are going to need him to come through with some points, and the team is more confident in him - and he in himself - than a month ago.
Said Blair last Saturday, “The chemistry has gotten a whole lot better, the timing is really good and I feel really confident.”
In your estimation, what player or unit has come the farthest thus far this season?
(this is totally unrelated, but i looked a little at that link about Jan Stenerud. I think I knew the story but it’s amazing to read again. He’s Norwegian and went to Montana State on a skiiing scholarship. The baseball coach happened to see him kicking a football and told the football coaches, and he went on to become the first pure kicker to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s a rather remarkable “What if?” story.)
Comments
By Buzz's Spoon Mate
October 16, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
When are the loyal fans going to wake up and start showing up at our “dinky” stadium? My gosh folks we can’t even fill a 55,000 seat stadium. We have to resort to ad’s in the paper to sell tic’s. There are a lot of schools that have waiting list to get in. Our fan base comes and goes just as our teams does.
By Wrecker1
October 16, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Ken I thought your review/preview was pretty good. One of the many things I like about Coach Johnson is that he pushes, pushes, pushes for perfection. His attitude of why would I settle for 5-1 is very refreshing and contagious. Along that same line I don’t like you just conceding that Ugag will beat us this year. Go ask Coach Johnson if Ugag is going to beat us. I think Michael Johnson and Josh Nesbitt are going to have really big 2nd halves of the season. I think Johnson is just getting better every game and those other 3 hosses up front are going to draw a lot of attention. For all the pub that Johnson and Morgan get the 2 guys in the middle are the key. It was a bad break for Nesbitt to get hurt (although it gave Shaw PT) but I think he’s getting more and more comfortable with the offense. One other player that is outstanding is Morgan Burnett. That guy is always around the ball and will eventually be an All-American.
By Old Gold
October 16, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Good job Scott. Calhoun and GT are proud of you.
By Buzziswiser
October 16, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
Was sitting in the endzone at BC (Not a bad angle to watch the triple option) when Blair missed a 43yd FG that hit the right upright as it was hooking back in. The same kick would have been good from 50yds. Scott will make a game winner before the year is out.
By Go Scott
October 16, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
I’ve seen Scott Blair kick and punt for years. He has such quick foot speed and kicks and punts the ball so high. After they settled on one holder he’s been doing great. And did you see those punts against GW? I mean wow. Soon Scott will line up with no time on the board and hit a 50 plus yarder to win the game.
By Calvin
October 16, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Since there’s no discussion on the starting QB story, I would just like to ask why isn’t Shaw starting? It seems to me that when he stepped up and did so well, he earned starting at Clemson. Nesbitt’s last game was a loss by 3 in which he turned the ball over
By I lived in Calhoun
October 16, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I remember Blairs first kick off against Notre Dame a year ago. It was long and high, and he even made the tackle…fast…yes…great kicker…yes. I hope he keeps it up.
By mts315
October 16, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Why does everyone keep saying that Jaybo protects the ball better than Josh. It is untrue. Jaybo has put the ball on the ground just as many times as Nesbitt it is just a matter of luck in that we recovered more of Jaybo’s than Josh’s. I like Jaybo and he is a very reliable back-up in our offense but he does not have the same big play potential that Nesbitt has.
By Harmon
October 16, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
I was at the spring scrimmage and I can tell you that the whole team has come along, but since the beginning of the season I would have to say that special teams has progressed the most. But all the guys have really come along a lot to do really well.
As for Buzz’s Spoon mate comment about filling the stadium, I just graduated and I know for a fact that tons of alumni don’t stay near Atlanta because engineers live where there is industry not commercial sales.
Go Jacket, THWG.
By GT
October 16, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
We didn’t even know we had a football team until half way through this year. The press understates our team and over hypes others, which is good for results, because we truly sneak up on people. I had no idea in anything I read that CPJ was as colorful a coach, we were left with this impression he was dull. He talks like Steve Spurrier in that matter of fact way on how he is not surprised at certain results in his team and in others like the SEC. He points out how a team like Georgia is talented year end year out but leaves something to be desired in image and results. I wish we had more of this honesty and intelligence in the press, but they do not respect seeing it in good coaches, and they seem to take honesty as a intrusion to their turf, like if they didn’t come up with the idea it is a joke. Point is CPJ will draw a crowd and you will either love him or hate him, but he will fill up that stadium at Grant Field as the facts come oh so slowly in about what they have there. I for one am glad he isn’t ranked or talked about, it will give us some cheap wins, but the truth is getting out of the pen and people are doing double takes.
By ken sugiura
October 16, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
a lot of support for Scott Blair out there. Interesting observation about his FG try at Boston College, Buzziswiser.
thanks, wrecker1, for the kind words about the review/preview. as far as me predicting a Tech loss to UGA, I’m not sure I’d call it “conceding” as it’s not my game to concede. It’s just my guess. I’m quite sure Paul Johnson has a very different prediction - but his job and mine are different.
Calvin, I think we may see Jaybo play some, but I don’t see Shaw starting. You could argue that Shaw is more proficient running the offense than Nesbitt. And if Nesbitt continues to fumble a lot, I suppose it’s possible Shaw will see more playing time.
But to say that Shaw should start because Tech lost in Nesbitt’s last full game (in which he had a crucial fumble) overstates the case for Shaw a bit, I think. Just because Shaw is more proficient at the triple option doesn’t mean that Nesbitt is bad at it. I side with mts315 - Nesbitt is more dangerous than Shaw.
By BuzzFactor
October 16, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
Special teams has shown the most improvement.
Jaybo is the back-up, and no he doesn’t protect the ball any better, but he does have better pitching skills and timing. But Nesbitt is still the man that brings more to the job as a whole. It’s his job, but I would expect we’ll see a little more of Jaybe. Maybe an occasional breather for Nesbitt to keep him fresh.
By jabster
October 16, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Buzz’s Spoon Mate:
You’re a troll. Nice try, peppering your post with “we” and “our”. Next time, choose a different handle.
Speaking of spooning: http://i12.tinypic.com/4vskpl5.jpg
Thanks for playing. Departing contestants receive a year’s supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat!
But you do have a point…
All you Jacket fans need to get down to The Flats. Get off your butt, turn off the Sony, and get your butt into BDS@HGF.
Moving on…
I STILL have UGA in the loss column for this year. No shame there—UGA started the season ranked #1, and we aren’t quite…there…yet with our new offense. Probably the best potential for an upset, though, than it has been in years. But it will be an upset and we won’t be favored.
Next year will be a different story, though—particularly if some UGA players go pro early.
I think 9-3 is a good prediction. We’ll drop another to either UNC or, more likely, FSU. UNC IMO has peaked because of injuries. Miami should be one of the “easier” games left on the sked—plus it’s Senior Day and an ESPN Thursday game.
I see us running the table in the rest of the ACC before beating UGA, though. A lot will depend on how FSU comes together over the next couple weeks.
By gtg
October 16, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Scott and the rest for improving over the season. At the start it was looking a little rough, but CPJ doesn’t stand for it.
Small detail: The kickers and punters head out very early into half time to practice. Almost sometimes hitting the marching band with footballs! Just one of the small details CPJ puts into the team that I think makes a world of difference. Later on in the season all those little practices could mean a W in our column.
By Mr. G.
October 16, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
I am proud that our fanbase isn’t a bunch of rabid, deluded, country bumpkins like many other schools in the south. The fact is the TECH faithful - while enjoying football, etc.. realize there is life outside of the gridiron. If TECH was in Valdosta Georgia - it would sell out 55,000 no problem - but, in Atlanta, a city of 4 millions it can’t sell out. Why? 90% of Atlantans don’t care!!! These are the facts.
By BuzzFactor
October 16, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
But things will change with tickets. Tech will be better year after year, pulling in more fans. Yes we need the bandwagon fans, too. But you’re right, Atlanta is a fair weather sports town. As proven with all of the pro teams, if they’re not a contender, nobody comes. That is changing for the Jackets, look for season ticket sales to show significant growth next year, especially with the great home schedule.
By Zach
October 16, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t read too much into our failure to sell out the Gardner Webb game. I was at Jacksonville State and Duke, and both games had more attendees and the attendees were more amped than they have been in previous seasons. The fact that our weak home schedule sold more season tickets this year than the strong home schedule of last year is a testament to the program moving in the right direction. By the way, we’re stuck with it now, but whoever aligned our two biggest rivals (Clemson, U[sic]Ga) to be home in the same year was an IDIOT.
By DMC
October 16, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Before the season started, I predicted a 5-1 start, with the loss to BC, not VT. I also predicted 2nd half losses to Clemson, UNC, and Georgia for an 8-4 record and a decent bowl.
I’m revising the 2nd half predictions based upon what I’ve seen in the 1st half of the season… I don’t see another loss!
Clemson is going through too big a transition to be able to defend the Spread Option after only a few days of prep. Virginia has shown signs of life, but they’re still not very good. FSU hasn’t really beaten a good team. UNC is without their QB and big-play receiver. Miami is not all that good this year, and Georgia’s O-Line looks suspect against a good D-Line.
IF GT continues to improve ball security, everything seems to be breaking in our favor, and I happen to agree with Michael Johnson… Don’t be surprised by 11-1!
By GT76
October 16, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
With the QB position taking a beating with this offense it’s great to know we have 2 guys who are almost interchangeable. If Nesbitt is taking a lot of hits and running a lot he can get a breather from Shaw without the offense missing a beat. I think this will prove very valuable late in the season.
As for Blair, I think he will prove to be another in a good line of kickers for GT.
The punting has been excellent by the way.
By BuzzFactor
October 16, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
I don’t want to think about 11-1, I want to think about Clemson. Anything is possible with this team right now, but things do look good. Still being under the radar right now has helped, but if we win at Clemson, and BC helps us out a bit, we’ll be right in the center of everyone’s radar and how we respond to that pressure will be key.
By MIKE
October 16, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
woooooooo! Tech’s on fire! 10-7 over Gardner Webb! woooooooooo!
By BuzzFactor
October 16, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
get it while you can Mike, get it while you can.
By jabster
October 16, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Buzzfactor:
Right on. 11-1 doesn’t happen without 6-1.
By Buzz's Spoon Mate
October 16, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Folks we are talking about only 55,000. A majority of the ACC & SEC schools carry around 70,000 + and they have no problem selling out. I hear of people travel hundreds of miles each week to see their team. With Atlanta being a central hub for transportation it is easy to get here. There is no excuse for that!
By GT
October 16, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
Tell it BuzzFactor
By DB
October 16, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Once Nesbitt throws a few interceptions and fumbles and loses a game or 2 (possibly Clemson and FSU??)— Shaw will take the job and will end the season by beating Georgia and winning a decent bowl.
By Red Dawg
October 16, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
DB must stand for douche bag…GT could have Tebow at QB and not have a shot in hell of beating UGA this year!
By ATL JACKET
October 16, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I am as excited as anyone about our fast start. But lets get real…we are not going to win out! I do think we can finish 9-3 which is way better than anyone would have guessed before the season started. PJ is doing a great job but we simply do not have the horses run the table. I hate the thugs at UGA but that game just is not winable this year. Go Jackets!
By surfrider
October 16, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Yes the kicking game is looking pretty good right now. It’s just an observation but Blair seems to have some real strength in his kick, not compare him to the last years punter and some of the previous Tech kickers but this is an area of promise. He and the others just need some experience which hopefully they are getting. As for the fans coming out, it’s the economy that is holding many back. It use to be one could go to the Falcons, Tech and the Braves, and even Hawks on some games now even on one if one is not a corporation then it’s an economic matter as well as time. Now TV is also effecting this since many games are on TV now, but my opinion is once people see the program competitive and their cash flow is there then it will be an extremely hard ticket to get.
By reasonablefan
October 16, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
It is simply amazing how sports writers and fans can overhype a team because of the schedule. Tech has yet to beat a decent team yet it seems the fans and media want to crown CPJ and the team as ACC and National champions. Even Reggie whatshisname predicted this team to go 11-1. Obviously he did not learn from Reggie Balls bloviating. Tech has a nice team and makings of a future very nice team but come on and get realistic till Tech plays a few good teams. Not that there are many on their schedule.
By Alabama Jack
October 16, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Us old timers remember another pair of Tech QB’s who played together to great advantage - Kim King and Larry Goode.
By ugahatr
October 16, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
who has uga beat that is “decent”
By BuzzFactor
October 16, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
Well I’m not predicting 11-1, all I’m saying is we’re going to grab the Tiger by the tail on Saturday. 1 week at a time. Lots of things can happen, between now and the end of November.
Unreasonablefan, we’re just getting excited at the promise the future holds for the Jackets! From my perspective the media has not “over-hyped” Tech at all, in fact we have been off the radar. This team has only exceded expectations at this point. No biggie. And yes the chance to really prove something or go back to “off the radar” is coming. Until then we’ll take a win over whomever, close or blowout, and UGA fans can keep peeking in on the blog all they want.
By CW
October 16, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Enough hand-wringing on filling the stadium. Complaining about it won’t get more people out. Give Coach Johnson and this program some time and the fans will come back. Attendance was much better before our last coach developed several Jekyl and Hyde teams that made coming to games painful at times. That didn’t happen overnight and neither will rebuilding confidence with the fans. However, it will happen.
As for why Jaybo Shaw shouldn’t start, he has played extremely well for a true freshman and will likely contribute a great deal more during the next 7 games, however he just doesn’t present as many problems for opposing defenses as Josh Nesbitt does.
Nesbitt is a big, durable QB who can run through arm tackles and get loose in the secondary. I didn’t see the MS St game, but during the Duke game, Jaybo was getting knocked around by the D-line and linebackers. He’s going to have a great career at Tech, but right now, Nesbitt is clearly more dangerous running this offense.
By Kicking and punting
October 16, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
I kick for an SEC school. Scott and I both went to the Ray Guy (remember him) kicking school. Scott was the best kicker and punter in the camp. He has such leg strength even I’ve been impressed. I remember Mr. Guy telling Scott he had an NFL leg in both kicking and punting. Go Scott go. But if we meet in a bowl game I will outkick you.
By GT90
October 16, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
O’line will do better against Clemson but Nesbitt’s rust will be the key. 3 or 4 turn overs will not get it done against a very emotional Clemson team. This is a trap game for us. I am taking this season one game at a time. please, please stop this 11-1 garbage. When we are 10-1, then we can dedicate a blog about going 11-1. But always not matter what, GO TECH! KICK SOME FAWKING A*!!