AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 03
Monday, November 3, 2008
BCS/High Noon/Positive sign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three quick topics today:
Tech is now 20th in the BCS rankings, one spot behind North Carolina. The winner of Saturday’s game figures to make a solid move upward.
All four ACC teams in the BCS rankings are in the same range; FSU fell to 22nd, Maryland is 23rd.
The Seminoles host Clemson Saturday in what will not be a Bowden Bowl. Maryland goes to Va. Tech with a chance to help the Jackets in the wild Coastal Division race.
Georgia Tech probably didn’t mind hearing Sunday that the North Carolina game will start at noon. Tech is 4-0 in noon games (B.C., Clemson, Miss St., Duke).
Raycom is doing the game and it will air on CW 69, WUPA TV in Atlanta.
Here’s what CPJ said about the ACC race and the Tar Heels, who were resting while the Jackets edged the Seminoles:
“I felt all along that we’ve just got to take care of our business and let it work out. If we can finish with only two losses in the ACC, I feel good about our chances. And we’ve got a huge game next week, a road game and possibly, in my mind, from what I’ve seen on film, they may be the best team in the league all around, so it will be a big challenge for us.”
Finally, I talked to co-offensive line coach Mike Sewak after the game b/c it looked to me like the O-Line took a big step forward.
Nick Claytor and Austin Barrick filled in well for the injured David Brown at right tackle, and Andrew Gardner “sucked it up” for his 48th straight start at left tackle, Sewak said. Gardner has been dealing with a shoulder injury. Center Dan Voss and guards Cord Howard and Joseph Gilbert all had their moments, and A.J. Smith took some snaps at guard.
This is what Sewak had to say after Tech ran for 288 yards, averaging 6.4 yards a carry, against the ACC’s top rush defense:
“We hit a couple of creases. We didn’t block everybody like they needed to be blocked and sometimes the linebacker overran the plays, but one thing is, we were in position sometimes to force the angles a little bit. Maybe we didn’t block ‘em all the time, but we were down the field, we were coming off the ball and we could force the angles and when the backs got it, we had an opportunity to hit it.”
Sewak noted that the linemen still aren’t doing a good job of picking up the backside linebacker.
“But (overall) I think we’ve done a better job as the year has gone on and we’re getting more conscious of where our mistakes are and we’re not making them as frequently.”
Sewak said the O-Line is progressing in small steps, not long strides.
“Obviously, in the fourth quarter we would have liked to have run the clock out and run the ball down the field and finished it off, and we will get to that point.
“But we’re not there yet.”
Look forward to hearing your thoughts….
