AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November
November 2008
Instant classic
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
To paraphrase the late, great announcer Jack Buck, do you believe what you just saw?
Down 28-12 at the half, Tech came out on fire, scoring three touchdowns in the first seven minutes.
Jonathan Dwyer went the distance on the first play from scrimmage. Roddy Jones dove for the pylon — and got it — on the next TD.
Tech converted both 2-point tries (pitch to Dwyer, Josh Nesbitt draw) and it was 28-28 with 8:11 left in the third.
After Michael Peterson ripped the ball loose on the kickoff return and Marcus Wright recovered, Dwyer scored again on the very first play.
Just like that it was 35-28 with 7:55 left.
The defense forced another punt.
Jones’ 62-yard run, on another perfect pitch by Nesbitt, put the Jackets in business again. Right tackle Austin Barrick (formerly a tight end) ran 11 yards on a lateral, and Scott Blair kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 38-28.
Tech ran for 201 yards in the third quarter alone.
Knowshon Moreno’s TD run cut it to 38-35 early in the fourth.
Then Nesbitt had to leave with an injury; Jaybo Shaw replaced him. The Jackets got a huge first down when Shaw tossed to Jones for a 7-yard gain on 3rd and 4. Nesbitt returned after missing three plays. With Georgia’s defense needing a third-down stop, Jones scooted 54 yards along the right sideline for a crushing TD.
But Matthew Stafford answered with a TD pass — his fifth of the day — to A.J. Green. It was 45-42 with 4:04 left.
Jones turned in yet another big play, returning the kickoff to Tech’s 44. Tech ate the rest of the clock, never giving Stafford another shot.
Tech 45, Georgia 42.
Where does this rank among Georgia Tech’s greatest wins?
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Bad news/good news
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a bad news/good news story for Tech at halftime.
The Jackets trail 28-12 in Athens and will get the ball to start the second half.
They can’t stop the Bulldogs, but Virginia is winning 14-7 in Blacksburg.
Offensively, Tech must get Jonathan Dwyer going. Georgia has done a nice job clogging the middle. Tech’s best plays have come on outside tosses.
Morgan Burnett’s pick-six got Tech on the board, but the banged-up secondary has been exposed. No Jahi Word-Daniels again because of the hamstring, and safety Dominique Reese, trying to come back from a knee injury, missed a tackle on Mohamed Massaquoi’s long TD.
Georgia is playing pitch and catch. Massaquoi has 3 TDs already.
Can Tech turn this around?
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Can Nesbitt take the next step?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’ve heard every coach say it: Turnovers are the key.
It’s especially true with this Georgia Tech team. The Jackets are good enough to beat almost anyone if they hold onto the ball. But they don’t have a lot of margin for error.
In Tech’s three losses (20-17 at Virginia Tech, 24-17 to Virginia, 28-7 at North Carolina), the Jackets forced three turnovers while committing nine.
In Tech’s eight wins, the Jackets are plus-10. They forced 24 turnovers while committing 14.
For the season, Tech is plus-4 (27-23). Georgia is minus-1 (14-15).
Georgia was plus-2 in last year’s 31-17 win over Tech.
It’s hard to see Tech winning Saturday if the Jackets don’t win the turnover battle.
So it probably comes down to Josh Nesbitt. On the plus side, Nesbitt is healthier than he has been in a few weeks. He made great reads against Miami and once again showed his toughness by executing the offense on a sprained ankle. And playing on the road hasn’t fazed him.
On the other hand, Nesbitt has yet to put two good games together.
The first-year starter has battled three separate injuries. Here’s what CPJ had to say about Nesbitt’s season:
“Every time that Josh really seemed to be making strides, something crazy would happen and he’s had some really strange injuries, or injuries you wouldn’t think. The very first one against Mississippi State, he’s running down the sideline with the ball and tweaks a hamstring.
“He comes back and plays pretty good, then he steps on somebody’s foot and rolls an ankle. Then the third play of the Carolina game, he stepped on another foot and rolled the other ankle.
“Mentally, he’s fought through it. And I think he’s got a better understanding of playing the quarterback position than he did when he started, but it’s still a work in progress. Hopefully he’ll continue to get better. He’s played, I think, six games as a quarterback? (7 1/2 actually). So I think the more he plays, the better he’s going to get.”
The question is, can Nesbitt perform Saturday like he did against Miami?
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Gladiator vs. Knowshon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, enjoy the day.
I’m thankful for many things. In relation to this blog, I’m grateful for the passionate fans who post insightful, respectful and funny comments. So thank you — you know who you are.
Brad Jefferson, the Tech middle linebacker known as Gladiator, appears to be rounding into form just in time. Wednesday, he said he felt “98 percent.”
Jefferson dislocated his left wrist in the season opener and didn’t make an impact until Nov. 8 at North Carolina, when he had six tackles, five solo.
Against Miami, Jefferson stuffed RB Graig Cooper on 3rd and 1, forcing a punt.
“It’s all about watching film and knowing their tendencies and what they like to do on what down and how far it is,” he said. “I made my fit, he was there, and it all worked out.”
Jefferson was more demonstrative after that play that he has been all season.
Coaches say Jefferson, one of Tech’s strongest players, missed so much time that he hasn’t mastered all the defenses. He doesn’t stay on the field on every down. He’s out there when Tech plays its base 4-3, and Kyle Jackson comes in when Tech plays two linebackers and five defensive backs.
Still, Jefferson will be critical to the Jackets’ hopes of containing Knowshon Moreno. Jefferson did not hesitate in calling Moreno (1,244 rushing yards, 15 TDs) the best running back Tech has faced.
“They’re a great team all the way and Knowshon Moreno, you can’t take nothing from him,” Jefferson said. “He runs the ball hard, he finds his holes, they block well. I mean, we’re just going to have to stop ‘em in their tracks.”
He added that he’s “looking forward to me and him introducing ourselves.”
Jefferson, a sophomore listed at 6-2, 227, said a few weeks ago he might not have been “physically capable” of tackling Moreno. Now, he feels he is.
Of course, it won’t come down to Jefferson alone. But there’s no minimizing the importance of a healthy Gladiator.
Tech also gets back DT Vance Walker, which means Elris Anyaibe goes back to his valuable role as the No. 1 backup in the D-line rotation.
On the season, Georgia averages 160.6 rushing yards, while Tech gives up 120.2.
How do you think Tech’s defense will fare against Moreno?
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Rivalry talk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CPJ spoke at his Tuesday press conference about preparing for a rivalry game:
“Our preparation has gone like any other game. Having had the opportunity to coach in another big rivalry [Navy vs. Army], it gives you some experience with this kind of thing. We have to do what we can do, go play the best game we can and let the chips fall where they may. If we’re good enough, then we’ll be good enough and if we’re not, then we won’t.”
He was asked (not by me) if he had been part of a one-sided rivalry.
“You bet - the one I just came from! It was pretty one-sided. It might have gotten in their (Army’s) heads, but I don’t know. I was on the other side. I know, for us, it was always a big game. People ask me what the comparison is. Picture for 364 days a year that is all you hear. It was no different there than it is here. Every weight in the weight room said ‘Beat Army.’ The fight song ended with ‘Beat Army.’ When the freshman squared the corners, it was ‘Beat Army.’
“At Army, it was the same way the other way. I understand rivalries, for sure. I know how important they are. If you said at the beginning of the year that this could be a close game, most people would have said you were nuts. I mean one team was picked to win three games and the other was preseason No. 1 in the country. Here we are and who knows. That’s why you don’t play the games on paper.
“Any time you coach at a certain place, you appreciate the rivalry. The people at Navy think the Army-Navy game is the biggest in the country. The people here like Georgia Tech and Georgia, while for the people at Georgia Southern the biggest rivalry is Georgia Southern and Furman, and then later Appalachian State. Every school has those games. You realize it’s important. I don’t think you try to minimize it, but when you walk away from it you want to know you did the best you could. There’s no magic that is going to happen because it’s Georgia and Georgia Tech. The team that plays the best on that Saturday in November is going to win the game.”
There are plenty of lists ranking college football’s top rivalries.
Here’s one from the Orlando Sentinel that I enjoyed. Tech-Georgia didn’t make the Top 10 but got honorable mention.
Three of the Top 10 are in-state rivalries: Auburn-Alabama, Florida-FSU, and South Carolina-Clemson.
Where do you think Tech-Georgia ranks among in-state rivalries, and why?
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The missing ingredient?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have the Jackets been too uptight in preparing for Georgia in recent years?
I bring this up because of Darryl Richard’s riff the other night after Tech carved up Miami:
“The thing about Georgia, we get so focused around here, and that’s the focus…Maybe this year we might want to try to go about things a little bit differently.
“If you keep trying to do the same thing and you get the same results, isn’t the definition of insanity to try to do the same thing and expect different results? So we might try to change some things, the way we go about preparing this week. It’s definitely going to be intense but focus on having fun…
“I think we dominated this game because we had fun. If you saw our team, we had guys who were excited to play football and I think we need to bring that excitement down the road.”
The fun started on Tech’s first play from scrimmage. WR Demaryius Thomas got the toss on an end-around, then threw back to A-back Lucas Cox. The play carried 22 yards and could have gone for more if the ball wasn’t underthrown. The Jackets threw quick passes on their next two plays. Three straight passes? Very surprising. It set a tone for the rest of the game.
CPJ tried an onside pooch kick in the second quarter. The opening was there because the Miami players took off early to block for a return, but the kick wasn’t executed and the Canes recovered.
Asked about it, CPJ pointed out that the gamble didn’t do any damage because Rashaad Reid came up with an interception. But he also said, “We’re not going to play scared.”
In the third quarter, it was 27-10 when Tech faced 4th-and-goal from the 1. Instead of kicking the field goal, the Jackets went for it and Josh Nesbitt scored to put the game away.
Tech is 9-for-18 on fourth downs this year. Only Boston College has gone for it more on fourth down. The 50 percent success rate is tied for third in the ACC.
There’s no question the Jackets have embraced CPJ’s bold mentality. Of course, it’s only fun when gambles and trick plays work.
Could CPJ’s daring approach be the key to ending the seven-game losing streak?
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No. 1 goal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three quick items today…
Here are the early Vegas lines for Saturday:
Georgia favored by 11 to 11.5 over Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech favored by 9 to 10 over Virginia
You surprised to see the lines so high on both games?
Georgia Tech improved its bowl standing with the big win on national TV last Thursday.
ESPN’s Bruce Feldman has the Jackets playing West Virginia in the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl, a rematch of the 38-35 loss from two years ago.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has Tech playing Iowa in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.
(Both have LSU-Boston College in the Chick-fil-A Bowl).
Scout.com projects the Jackets will go to the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl in Nashville and play Kentucky.
Of course, Tech still could make the Orange Bowl if things break right….
The Jackets set goals before the season and posted them in the locker room as daily reminders. Senior Darryl Richard talked about those goals after the 41-23 win over Miami.
He noted the No. 1 goal was to beat Georgia and break the seven-game losing streak. It had a higher priority than winning the ACC, than going undefeated at home.
What do you think of Tech’s order of priorities?
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ACC dominoes are falling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are you guys (and gals) watching what’s going on? Georgia Tech’s ACC title hopes are getting better by the minute.
North Carolina gets killed at home by N.C. State, 41-10. Virginia loses at home to Clemson, 13-3.
So UNC and UVA are out of it in the Coastal Division. Miami also was eliminated today.
Virginia Tech plays a bit later on, hosting Duke. For the sake of argument, let’s assume a Hokies win. (They’re 17-point favorites).
That puts Virginia Tech and Miami at 4-3, behind Georgia Tech’s 5-3.
The Jackets simply need Virginia to beat Virginia Tech in Blacksburg next week, and they’ll be division champions.
The Jackets cannot win a two-way tie with the Hokies (because of the 20-17 loss on Sept. 13) or a three-way tie. Here’s why: If Miami wins at N.C. State and Va. Tech beats Virginia, everyone would have a 1-1 record against the other two.
The next tiebreaker is division record. Georgia Tech finished 2-3 in the Coastal, Miami 3-2 and Va. Tech would be 4-1.
So the Hokies would get the nod.
Obviously, Virginia Tech will be favored at home against UVA. But as everyone has pointed out repeatedly about this year’s ACC, it’s not exactly predictable.
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Smackdown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A little rest did wonders.
In dismantling Miami 41-23 before a national TV audience, Tech looked like a totally different team than the one that lost at North Carolina 12 days ago.
Jonathan Dwyer, Roddy Jones and Lucas Cox ran wild. The 0-line, particularly the right side, opened up huge holes. And QB Josh Nesbitt gutted it out on a bad ankle. His third-quarter touchdown run — on 4th-and-1 — pretty much sealed the win at 34-10.
The defense, already without DT Vance Walker and CB Jahi Word-Daniels, lost LB Sedric Griffin and S Dominique Reese early to knee injuries. But the ACC’s stingiest unit played a terrific first half.
Michael Johnson’s interception return for a touchdown, on a short slant route, made it 10-0 Tech early in the second quarter. It was Johnson’s first career INT. Then Rashaad Reid picked off Jacory Harris.
Miami kicked a field goal with six minutes to go before halftime.
But on Tech’s next offensive play, Jonathan Dwyer took it the distance. He broke two tackles on the 58-yard TD. That put the ACC’s leading rusher over 100 yards for the 8th time this year.
Dwyer dragged defenders into the end zone on his next score. It was 24-3 at the half.
This emphatic win not only keeps Tech alive for the ACC title. It had to impress the reps from the Chick-fil-A, the Gator and the Champs Sports bowls.
And don’t you think it gives Tech a lot of momentum heading into Athens?
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View from Miami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Both teams enter tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ESPN game with a lot at stake.
Miami (7-3, 4-2) controls the Coastal Division. Beat Ga. Tech and N.C. State, and the Canes go to Tampa for the ACC Championship Game.
The Jackets (7-3, 4-3) need to win to keep their ACC hopes alive, and to earn a better bowl invitation.
No. 23 Miami enters on a five-game winning streak. But Tech, which has beaten Miami three straight times, is favored by 3 1/2 points.
Craig Handel, of The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., answered five questions about the matchup:
What are the biggest reasons for Miami’s five-game win streak?
The biggest reasons are great second-half defense and a little luck. Miami has outscored teams 87-38 in the third quarter this season and 37-7 during the streak. The luck comes from Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank not playing in a 16-10 Miami win, Virginia missing two field goals and Miami recovering two of its own fumbles and the Hokies dropping a long pass in the fourth quarter last week.
What makes Miami’s defense so good?
Defensive coordinator Bill Young came to Miami from Kansas and has done a great job. Players really like him. MLB Glenn Cook got his 6th season of eligibility and has been a great leader while making a couple of plays. Two years ago against GT, he returned a fumble for a TD. Freshman LB Sean Spence has made some big plays this season while freshman DE Marcus Robinson had his first three sacks of the season against Virginia Tech to earn ACC honors.
What concerns Miami most about playing Ga. Tech?
Miami coach Randy Shannon said Georgia Tech will get its yards, but that the defense can’t break. The Yellow Jackets’ defensive line impresses Shannon, who said he recruited some of those players. Miami’s offensive line gave up four sacks last week, but the Canes get back left tackle Jason Fox, who has made 33 starts. He’s been bothered by a sprained right ankle.
Tell us how the quarterbacks have developed this season and what we can expect in terms of a rotation.
Since Game 2, Robert Marve has started and Jacory Harris comes in on the 4th series. Who plays in the second half has been based on who is playing better. In the last four games, it’s been Harris, Marve, Harris, Marve alternating as having the big games.
Marve is a better runner, although Harris has had some big gains. Harris is a better touch passer while Marve has a stronger arm. Marve is more prone to mistakes, Harris a better game manager. It would seem this would be Harris’ turn to make the big plays for Miami’s offense.
Miami’s D-line was outstanding against Virginia Tech. What do you expect tonight?
Miami will play 10, 11 players along the defensive line. As a result, they’ve stayed fresh and are getting better. Last week, Miami had six sacks and allowed just 77 yards rushing, Va. Tech’s lowest output of the season. Players and coaches keep talking about needing to play assignment football to stop Ga. Tech.
With Miami rotating so many defensive linemen, it will be interesting to see if Tech’s O-line can perform better than it did against UNC. That will be one of the keys tonight.
What do you think will be the biggest factor?
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Backup Shaw can get it done
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I think everyone agrees that a healthy Josh Nesbitt is Tech’s best option at quarterback (no pun intended).
But Nesbitt is trying to come back from another sprained ankle, this time his left one. There’s a very real possibility we could see Jaybo Shaw.
I’ve heard some doom and gloom about whether the Jackets can win with Shaw. After outstanding performances against Mississippi State and Duke, the true freshman regressed against FSU.
Then came the North Carolina game.
Nesbitt was pulled after the first possession of the third quarter. Shaw came in and sparked the team. The Jackets were moving steadily until getting flagged for a chop block and holding on consecutive plays.
With the exception of Jonathan Dwyer’s 85-yard TD run with six minutes left, Shaw’s first drive was as good as the offense looked all day.
Here’s a recap of that drive, which started at Tech’s 20.
Dwyer 4-yard rush
Shaw 8-yard rush, first down
Shaw recovers his own fumble, no gain
Dwyer 2-yard rush
Shaw 9-yard rush on 3rd and 8, first down
Shaw 7-yard rush
Roddy Jones 21-yard rush on pitch from Shaw, first down at UNC 29
Dwyer 1-yard rush, chop block penalty on RG Joseph Gilbert
Dwyer 3-yard rush, holding penalty on WR Correy Earls
Shaw sacked for 5-yard loss
Roddy Jones 18-yard rush
Shaw 7-yard rush
Punt, touchback
We all know what happened next. The defense forces a punt, Roddy Jones fumbles it, and the Tar Heels score to make it 14-0. Shaw only got two more snaps. He was sacked on the first. On the second, he was hit from behind and fumbled. UNC recovered, scored again, and that was that.
Shaw is capable. He can get the ball to Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones when it needs to be dealt. He’s got to hold onto the ball (it should be noted the fumble against FSU wasn’t his fault). Tech can win on Thursday even if Nesbitt can’t go.
But it won’t matter who plays QB if the offensive line doesn’t block somebody. This is a banged-up, makeshift line playing without its starting tackles. The extra rest should help some, but how much?
Do you agree that Tech can beat Miami with Shaw?
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Does Tech have Miami’s number?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If past results mean anything, Georgia Tech is in good shape Thursday.
The Jackets have won three straight over the Hurricanes, seven of the last nine.
And as Craig Handel of The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., points out, the last three games have all been painful for Miami.
Tech’s 14-10 win in 2005 cost Miami a chance to reach the ACC title game.
Tech’s 30-23 win in 2006 started the Canes on a four-game skid that took them out of ACC contention.
Tech’s 17-14 win last year cost Miami a bowl game.
Now Miami comes to town controlling its own destiny in the Coastal Division.
CPJ was asked yesterday whether Tech’s recent success gives the Jackets an edge.
“I don’t know. I think that’s water under the bridge,” he said. “They have a lot of different players and we have a lot of different players. We have had success against them defensively for the last couple of years. Last year was a hard-fought game down there, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in that. Both teams are different this year in that they have a different defensive coach and we have a whole different staff.”
Tech ranks eighth nationally with 251 rushing yards per game. Miami ranks 19th nationally in rushing defense, allowing 107 yards per game.
Ranked No. 23, Miami is on a five-game winning streak. The Canes are healthier than Tech, despite the Jackets’ extra rest. And if the game comes down to a field goal, Miami probably has the edge there.
Sophomore Matt Bosher nailed three field goals last week against Virginia Tech and is 16-for-18 this season. He’s a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.
Tech’s three-game win streak over Miami might not be all that relevant on Thursday, but it has to give the Jackets confidence.
How much of a factor do you think it will be?
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Coastal craziness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s practice is a big one for Georgia Tech. QB Josh Nesbitt and DT Vance Walker have been resting their sprained ankles; if they practice today without any setbacks, they should be able to give it a go.
CB Jahi Word-Daniels was in a non-contact jersey on Saturday and CPJ said he might be a game-time decision.
Last week, CPJ called the ACC “a hodgepodge of parity.”
There’s no better way to describe it.
The Coastal Division free-for-all continued Saturday when North Carolina, which was in the driver’s seat, lost 17-15 to Maryland. The Tar Heels converted 1 of 11 third downs and were shut out in the second half.
UNC’s loss came after Virginia Tech, which also had controlled its own destiny, lost at Miami.
Ranked ACC teams are 3-9 over the past four weeks.
So now Miami comes to town controlling its own destiny. The Hurricanes are the only Coastal team with two conference losses.
If Georgia Tech can find a way to win to go 5-3, the Jackets will have a shot at winning the division. Tech’s chances of reaching Tampa have improved dramatically the past five days.
But even if Tech wins on Thursday, the Jackets still need North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Virginia to lose one more each. Here are their schedules:
UNC — N.C. State, at Duke
Va. Tech — Duke, Virginia
Virginia — Clemson, at Va. Tech
NC State is playing better, just beat Wake, and could beat UNC. But is it realistic to think UVA could lose to Clemson, then beat Va. Tech in Blacksburg?
In this year’s ACC, anything is possible.
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First impressions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There was no TV coverage of Tech’s basketball season opener. Here’s what you missed if you didn’t make it down to AMC.
Gani Lawal came out possessed: 18 points, 9 boards in the first half.
Moe Miller set a career high with 10 assists, really pushed the tempo and ended up with 17 points.
Freshman Iman Shumpert looked good until he cramped up in the second half. He might not be great at any one thing, yet, but he is really good at everything: ballhandling, passing, rebounding, shooting.
Lance Storrs displayed a nice stroke, hitting 3 of 4 from behind the arc. (This after going 4 of 24 from distance as a freshman).
Brad Sheehan doubled his previous career high by going for 10 points.
Zack Peacock had a quiet 14, most coming late. He was one of three players with three turnovers (Alade Aminu, Miller).
Tech committed 13 turnovers. Because it was such a problem last year, the team has set a goal of 12 turnovers or less each game.
The defense held Winston-Salem State to 26 percent shooting.
One big change from last year — Lawal has put on 20 pounds, he’s 233. And his offensive game has expanded.
“He has been working on his ability to create easy baskets for himself instead of banging with people down low all of the time,” CPH said. “He is developing a nice jump hook and a real nice turnaround jump shot…He is also learning how to use the glass really well.”
He showed that early, banking one in from each side of the lane.
CPH on Storrs’ effort: “He’s been a very good player for a while, but last year may have struggled with the adjustment to the college game. He struggled with his confidence a little bit, but I can see it starting to come back up.”
And on Moe Miller: “In the first half, he was pressing a little bit offensively in terms of his shot. He did distribute the ball nicely. He did a nice job in the second half of attacking the high paint and getting those pull-up jump shots. Both he and Iman did a tremendous job in the first half of rebounding.”
It’s hard to read anything into a game like this. Winston-Salem State has some quickness and size, but the difference in skill level was dramatic. The Jackets did what they were supposed to do: blow the Rams out.
It was definitely a better night than last year’s opener, the 9-point loss to UNC-Greensboro.
One thing was clear: the Jackets are at their best when they’re rebounding and running. Miller and Shumpert both can push the ball, and the forwards can really fill the lanes.
What did you think of Tech’s performance in the opener?
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Canes do Tech a favor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did you catch Miami’s 16-14 win over Virginia Tech last night?
If you did, you saw a swarming Hurricanes defense Georgia Tech will have to deal with next Thursday. That defense, which ranked 15th nationally coming into the game, is the biggest reason Miami has won five straight.
But first things first. Miami’s win boosted Georgia Tech’s chances to win the ACC’s Coastal Division. A lot of things still have to happen, including Georgia Tech beating Miami next week. (And Miami is now 13-1 in Thursday night ESPN games).
Tech needs another domino to fall Saturday. If North Carolina loses at Maryland, Tech’s chances keep improving. It’s still a longshot, but hey, anything is possible in the ACC. As of now UNC controls its own destiny in the Coastal.
I was really impressed with the speed and discipline of the Miami defense, as were the ESPN announcers. Defensive end Marcus Robinson, one of 11 true freshmen on Miami’s two-deep, had three of the Canes’ six sacks. Allen Bailey got the last one, corraling Tyrod Taylor on 4th down to seal the win.
And the run defense? VT’s Darren Evans ran for a school-record 253 yards last week against Maryland. He gained 43 yards on 17 carries last night.
Virginia Tech wasted some chances, most notably when that freshman receiver got behind the secondary and dropped a sure touchdown. But overall the Hokies’ offense looked overmatched by Miami’s D.
To move the ball effectively next Thursday, the Jackets will have to be a lot sharper than they were at North Carolina.
Were you as impressed as I was by Miami’s D? Do you think Tech can make enough plays to win?
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Hoops recruits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With no football game this week, it’s a good time to check in with Bob Gibbons, the basketball recruiting guru.
Gibbons gives us his breakdown of the four players Georgia Tech will sign during the early signing period, which runs through next Wednesday. This is a top 20 recruiting class according to all the experts.
6-8 forward Kammeon Holsey: “He didn’t have a big reputation going into the summer but he sort of exploded onto the scene, and I can see what Paul (Hewitt) really liked with his athleticism. He’s got to get physically stronger. He’s thin right now. He’ll be a power forward who has the skill to go outside and shoot the ball. A multi-dimensional player.”
6-3 point guard Mfon Udofia: “He’s going to be an outstanding point guard. He plays at both ends of the court and is really one of the top defenders that I saw. And he can score.”
6-5 shooting guard Glen Rice Jr.: “He has the burden of being the son of a former NBA player. Has a great basketball background, a smart player, probably will be a big shooting guard.”
6-6 forward Brian Oliver: “He’s got a lot of talent but is not quite as athletic as I thought he might be. I think he’ll be a solid role player. He balances things out, can play small forward and big guard. He and Rice are almost interchangeable.”
Gibbons noted that the only thing missing is a post player, such as Derrick Favors. “Then they’d have a complete team.”
Summing up, Gibbons called all four unselfish guys who play both ends of the court. And none will jump to the NBA after one year.
“There’s not one among this four that you’ll have to worry about one and done. Favors would probably fall into that category,” he said. “These are really good high school players with the potential to be key contributors for Georgia Tech.”
So how do you like this recruiting class, with or without Favors?
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Film session
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Outside of gamedays, Tuesday was the most interesting day I’ve had on the Tech beat.
CPJ didn’t hold his normal press conference, but the AP’s Charles Odom and I interviewed him in his office.
Here’s what he had to say about how poorly Tech played Saturday:
“We probably played our worst game on Saturday, for whatever reason I don’t know. We had a lot riding on the game, we knew that, and I don’t want to take anything away from North Carolina, but we played horrendous in every facet, from the kicking game to canceling gaps on defense, to offensive execution.
A lot of it was mental stuff, it wasn’t physical…
We didn’t give ourselves a chance. Having said all that, we still could have won the game if we made a couple of plays. We can play better than that. Even though we had a lot of new players, a lot of assignment busts, those kind of things, we still could have won…
I had no idea after the game that it was as bad as it was. When I watched the tape, just from a mental aspect, I knew we’d missed a lot of stuff, but it was pretty bad. I knew we’d missed a lot of reads, but it was worse than I thought.”
Without the time constraints and pressure of a game week, CPJ graciously offered to walk us through the tape of the 28-7 loss.
He said it would be educational for us. That turned out to be an understatement.
He broke down almost every offensive play. It was fascinating.
The first thing that struck me was how widespread the problems were. It wasn’t just a couple players screwing up.
We saw players missing blocks, blocking the wrong guys, blocking with the wrong technique, running the wrong routes, taking the wrong angles, turning the wrong way. Those kinds of things happen every game — especially when you’re starting 16 freshmen and sophomores — but on Saturday it seemed like they were happening on every play.
And still, there were a ton of big plays to be made. That’s the thing that had to drive coaches crazy when they watched the tape.
At least three times CPJ said something to the effect of, That should be a touchdown. The scheme had worked, the opening was there, and then the runner takes a bad angle or a blocker hits the wrong guy. Touchdowns turn into 8-yard gains. Eight-yard gains turn into 2-yard gains.
That’s why I think the off week will benefit the Jackets mentally as much as physically. A lot of guys are playing too many snaps. When you get tired, you get sloppy.
Here’s the flip side to all this: When CPJ gets his own players in here, guys who fit the system, look out. When Tech has enough depth to give players some rest, look out.
One of his last comments before the film session summed it up best.
“We’re awful on offense, for my expectation level,” he said. “I promise you we can be a lot better and we will get a lot better.”
Tech ranks second in the ACC in total offense (358.2 yards per game), but eighth in scoring (22.8 points per game).
How long do you think it will take CPJ to build the kind of offense he wants?
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Bowl talk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and Bruce Feldman each had Georgia Tech going to the Orange Bowl to play West Virginia out of the Big East.
The 28-7 loss at North Carolina knocked the Jackets down a few pegs. Now Feldman projects Tech will play Notre Dame in the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl, which is No. 3 on the nine ACC-affiliated bowls.
Schlabach dropped Tech further. He projects the Jackets will face Kentucky in the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl, No. 5 in the pecking order.
Scout.com says Tech will be going to Charlotte for the Dec. 27 Meineke Car Care Bowl, to play Cincinnati. In other words, Tech would be the 6th ACC team selected.
Finally, cbssportsline.com has the Jackets going to San Francisco to play Arizona in the Dec. 27 Emerald Bowl, No. 7 on the list.
Where do you think Tech will end up? Which bowls would excite the fan base, and which wouldn’t?
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Goal adjustment?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All things seemed possible until Saturday. The division title, the ACC crown, the Orange Bowl.
Now what?
Georgia Tech still has an outside shot at winning the Coastal Division — the Jackets must beat Miami while Virginia Tech and North Carolina each lose two of their final three games. Virginia also must lose one of its last two.
Conceivable? Yes. Likely? No.
It looked to me like North Carolina and Georgia Tech had comparable talent. The Tar Heels were just crisper in most facets of the game. Blame it on injuries, the rest factor, homefield advantage, whatever.
Tech was about to get the ball back down 7-0 when Roddy Jones fumbled the punt. Shocking, because Jones had been so dependable on returns and was playing another fine game (6 carries, 56 yards; 2 catches, 20 yards). The redshirt freshman has really come on the past few weeks.
In any case, Tech wasn’t good enough to overcome it. As to why the offense never really got going until Dwyer’s long TD run, Luke Decock of The News & Observer offered an interesting perspective. Check out his column.
My question is, have you adjusted your thoughts on what will constitute a great season? Have you written off the ACC title as a pipe dream?
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Offensive woes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The first game of the post-Andrew Gardner era wasn’t pretty.
Tech hasn’t been shut out since 1997, a stretch of 142 games. Thanks to Jonathan Dwyer’s 85-yard touchdown run with six minutes left, Tech kept that streak alive. The final was UNC 28, Tech 7.
Looking for a spark, Tech replaced QB Josh Nesbitt with Jaybo Shaw early in the third quarter. Nesbitt returned early in the fourth. But the offense never clicked consistently.
The game started badly for Tech.
On 3rd-and-26, UNC’s Cameron Sexton made a pinpoint sideline throw to Brooks Foster. The play went for 25 yards, then the Tar Heels easily converted 4th-and-inches. UNC moved right down the field after that, and it was 7-0 less than four minutes in.
On Tech’s second drive, CPJ went for it on 4th-and-3 from the UNC 46. Dwyer was stuffed after a 1-yard gain and the Tar Heels took over.
But Tech stopped UNC on 4th-and-4 from the Jackets’ 33, Darryl Richard sacking Sexton. We saw three fourth-down tries in the first quarter alone.
Early in the second quarter, Tech went for it again on 4th-and-1 from the UNC 38, and this time Dwyer went nowhere. That made Tech 8 of 16 on 4th-down tries this season.
The defense kept giving the offense more chances. Derrick Morgan batted down a Sexton pass to force one of UNC’s three first-half punts.l
Finally, Tech’s offense got moving. Josh Nesbitt found Demaryius Thomas for 14 yards, and Nesbitt scrambled for 14 more. Nesbitt hit Zach Fisher for 8 yards on 3rd-and-6. But the drive ended with Scott Blair pushing a 40-yard field-goal try wide right.
Blair missed a 52-yarder wide right just before halftime. It would have been a 47-yard try, but, inexcusably, Tech was flagged for 12 men on the field. UNC led 7-0 at halftime.
Tech gained 175 yards in the first half but had nothing to show for it. Second-half fumbles, by Roddy Jones and Shaw, sealed Tech’s fate. Tech tried a bunch of combinations on the O-line, and the tinkering probably will continue.
Tech has extra time to get ready for Miami on Nov. 20. The banged-up Jackets could use it.
Tech’s ACC title hopes are just about gone now. Do you think this team can bounce back and finish strong against Miami and UGA?
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View from Chapel Hill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The ACC’s highest-ranked teams clash at noon Saturday in Chapel Hill.
Georgia Tech leads the Coastal Division at 4-2. At 2-2, UNC is one of four other teams in the division with a realistic shot of winning it.
The Tar Heels are a 4-point favorite.
Bill Cole, of the Winston-Salem Journal, answered six questions in advance of Saturday’s game.
How beneficial was the off week to UNC, in terms of injuries and preparing for the triple option?
Butch Davis and his players said the week off worked wonders for them. Davis was happy that quarterback T.J. Yates, coming back from a fractured left ankle, and tight end Zack Pianalto, out for two games because of a sprained ankle, had time for light work last week before trying full practice this week. Davis also said that UNC began work on Georgia Tech’s offense last week because it’s so unusual and difficult to defend. He believes the head start will help but we’ll see on Saturday. He is confident UNC accomplished everything it wanted in the off week.
Has UNC been able to overcome the loss of its electric return man, Brandon Tate?
Not even close. The kickoff returns are not bad but the returners do not have the play-breaking ability Tate had any time that his legs started churning. Punts are now being handled by Trase Jones, a walkon sophomore. UNC hasn’t had a big return of any description since Tate was hurt.
Tell us about the O-line and whether it can hold up against Tech’s D-line.
The offensive line has improved but isn’t great. Garrett Reynolds, a senior right tackle, is the key player up front and the unit’s leader. Alan Pelc, Aaron Stahl and Lowell Dyer have been playing musical chairs at center and the guard positions. Dyer is a walkon but is a pretty good center. Georgia Tech’s defensive line has a definite edge.
UNC is 4-1 with QB Cameron Sexton. What has he done well and in what situations has he struggled?
Cameron Sexton is this team’s most valuable player. He had two awful interceptions at Virginia but has played with confidence and poise in every game. Two weeks ago he did something that he hasn’t done regularly: he threw the ball away every time he had no receiver or the pass rush closed in on him. He’s gotten a lot smarter. He has played amazingly well for someone who hadn’t been on the field since the fourth quarter of the 2007 season opener and who started this season No. 3 on the depth chart. If not for him, UNC isn’t 6-2. Davis said Sexton will stay the starter even when Yates returns.
Tech just lost its best offensive lineman, LT Andrew Gardner, for the season. Is UNC’s D-line capable of exploiting that?
Capable, yes. Whether it will remains to be seen. The linemen are young. Sometimes they go on tears and sometimes they can’t apply pressure. One of the line’s top players is Robert Quinn, a freshman who earned a starting job in the second game of the season. He underwent an operation last year as a high-school senior for a benign brain tumor. The linebackers will be the key. Mark Paschal, Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant are some of the defense’s best athletes. They can get pressure on the quarterback and hit Jonathan Dwyer early. They can pack enough wallop to bring him down. It’s a compelling matchup that could decide the outcome.
To what extent has Butch Davis energized the fan base?
The fans are treating Butch as if he’s a basketball coach. There hasn’t been this much excitement for UNC football since 1996 and ’97 when Mack Brown had his great teams before leaving for Texas. Everyone is convinced UNC will be playing for an ACC title in the near future. The crowds are noisy and are staying for the ends of all games. The atmosphere in Kenan has improved dramatically. These folks are dang near bloodthirsty now.
Your thoughts?
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Can Nicks be contained?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The one Tar Heel who should concern Georgia Tech most is Hakeem Nicks.
A 6-1, 210-pound junior, he’s the ACC’s best wide receiver. He leads the conference in catches (47), TD catches (7), and receiving yards (782). He’s averaging 98 receiving yards per game, and the next highest is Tech’s Demaryius Thomas at 66 yards per game.
Last time out, Nicks caught eight balls for 139 yards and a TD.
“I’m not an English major but I think the word ‘fantastic’ maybe describes (his performance),” UNC coach Butch Davis said. “He is one of the unique, special guys that I’ve seen that the bigger the moment and the bigger the stage, the better he plays.
“He is such a fierce warrior. He catches the ball so well. He’s got great concentration. He is just a very, very, very good football player.”
Here’s what CPJ had to say when I asked how Nicks compares to the top receivers Tech has faced this year: “Nicks is a great player. He’s a big, physical receiver. When you watch the tape, he makes some highlight catches, some one-handed grabs, and he’s been consistent. To me, when you look at receivers like that, he’s been consistent in every game. It’s not 12 catches one game and then he disappears, so he’s been really consistent.”
UNC’s other starting wideout is senior Brooks Foster. (The explosive Brandon Tate is out for the season). Foster (6-3, 205) is more of a possession type. He averages 9.7 yards per catch, while Nicks averages 16.6.
Tech’s secondary gets a lift from the return of safety Dominique Reese, but corner Jahi Word-Daniels will miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury.
Nicks is going to get his catches. He’s averaging six a game.
The question is, can this secondary (corners Mario Butler, Rashaad Reid and Michael Peterson and safeties Morgan Burnett, Cooper Taylor and Reese) at least contain him?
That will be a big key on Saturday. Based on what you’ve seen so far, what’s your view?
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Devastating loss?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Andrew Gardner will undergo surgery tomorrow on his torn labrum. Next time he plays, it will be in the NFL.
It would be hard to overstate Gardner’s importance to this team.
He’s not only Tech’s best and most experienced offensive lineman, he mentors the younger players.
That’s what I heard Tuesday from Austin Barrick and Nick Claytor, two guys who suddenly have become critical players.
Earlier this season, DE Michael Johnson said Gardner is the best tackle he’s faced in his career. (They go up against each other in practice). He also said Gardner set an example for the team when he embraced the new offensive system and blocking techniques CPJ brought in.
Now Barrick, a converted tight end, will be asked to step in at left tackle for Gardner. At 270 pounds he’ll be one of the lighter tackles around. Claytor is expected to start again at right tackle for the injured David Brown, who could return for the Miami game.
Claytor (6-6, 304), a redshirt freshman, and Barrick (6-3, 270), a redshirt sophomore, acquitted themselves well against FSU as they basically shared the right tackle spot. Can they keep it up playing the whole game as bookends?
Can this offensive line withstand Gardner’s loss?
It’s a huge question as we hit the homestretch. What do you think?
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Where’s the love?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tech hasn’t been shown much love this week.
First, ABC chose Clemson-FSU (not even a Bowden Bowl anymore) for its 3:30 p.m. regional telecast over Tech-UNC, a game matching the ACC’s highest-ranked teams. (B.C.-Notre Dame previously had been set for Sat. night). I’m assuming FSU equals higher ratings in the Southeast.
So Tech, which just beat FSU and Clemson, plays at noon for the fifth time this season and is on Raycom again.
Then on Monday, Jonathan Dwyer fails to win the ACC’s offensive back of the week award. It went to C.J. Spiller, who definitely was deserving. But it’s hard to believe that Dwyer — who has six 100-yard rushing games and 8 TDs — has not won once this season. All he did Saturday was run for 145 yards and two scores on just 13 carries.
Dwyer leads the ACC in yards per carry (6.5) and ranks second in yards per game (99.9), just behind Maryland’s Da’Rel Scott (102.6). Dwyer has 899 rushing yards.
Voting is done by 12 media members, one covering each team, after the schools send nominations to the ACC office. (The AJC is not among those 12 voters).
So what’s going on here?
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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….
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Taylor, Reid save the day
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech played without three starters (RT David Brown, CB Jahi Word-Daniels and S Dominique Reese), then lost QB Josh Nesbitt to an ankle injury in the third quarter.
But the Jackets came up big all day long. Especially at the very end.
Cooper Taylor jarred the ball loose from FSU’s Marcus Sims as he ran toward the goal line, and Rashaad Reid recovered in the end zone for a game-saving touchback.
The final was Tech 31, FSU 28.
How about Jonathan Dwyer, running for 36- and 66-yard touchdowns?
How about freshman Nick Claytor? He made his first start filling in for Brown and cleared some big holes.
How about Roddy Jones? His 46-yard kickoff return got Tech going and he went over 100 all-purpose yards early in the second quarter.
How about Morgan Burnett? Four pass breakups. Did you see the hit he put on Greg Carr in the third quarter? Carr couldn’t hang on to a third-down catch, forcing an FSU punt.
How about Nesbitt? Zero turnovers, good reads, great command of the offense. The best he has looked all year.
What a wild first half: 422 yards of offense (222 by FSU, 200 by Tech).
FSU opened with an impressive drive. It was 3rd-and-8 from the Tech 9 when cornerback Michael Peterson, a redshirt freshman who hadn’t played much, shoved Greg Carr in the end zone and got called for pass interference.
The defense stood tall on first and second down, but on 3rd down from the 3, QB Christian Ponder scooted in for a touchdown.
It was the first time all season Tech had given up a first-quarter touchdown.
Roddy Jones jolted FSU with a 46-yard kickoff return, and Josh Nesbitt’s 30-yard strike to Jonathan Dwyer put the Jackets at the FSU 16. But Tech had to settle for a Scott Blair field goal.
It was 10-3 when CPJ went for it on 4th-and-1 from the FSU 33. Nesbitt got just enough for the first down.
Then A-back Marcus Wright showed his burst, taking an option toss 29 yards. Lucas Cox’s 1-yard run made it 10-10 early in the second.
After burning the Seminoles on the outside, Tech sent Dwyer up the middle. He ran untouched for 36 yards and the go-ahead TD.
The defense quickly got the ball back. Peterson tipped a slant route, and Cooper Taylor picked it off. His 28-yard return set up Greg Smith’s 4-yard TD run. Just like that it was 24-10.
Jermaine Thomas’ 62-yard run revived the Seminoles, who scored on Ponder’s 4-yard pass to Seddrick Holloway.
FSU added a 45-yard field goal before halftime, and it was 24-20.
Dwyer’s 66-yard TD run put the Jackets up 31-20, and Tech was driving again when Nesbitt got hurt.
Preston Parker’s 39-yard TD catch, and Carr’s 2-point conversion catch, made it 31-28 with 6:04 left. When Jaybo Shaw was intercepted, FSU had the ball at its own 41.
On 4th and 6 from the 45, the Seminoles converted with a 9-yard completion. Soon they were inside Tech’s 5.
Then Taylor and Reid saved the day.
As an added bonus for Tech, UVA lost earlier in the day. So the Jackets lead the Coastal Division at 4-2.
Who gets your game ball today?
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