Ramblin' On

By GTGreg

September 26, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

Yes.

Maybe not a big win, but a win.

By Tom

September 26, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this

It is about 5 things

1) Reggie playing mistake free football

2) The OL must get a push to give us some type of running game

3) No mishaps on special teams

4) Get CJ the damn ball

5) Secondary needs to step up

We have done each of these in the first four games, but have not put it together in specific game. To win in Blacksburg, which we can do, we need to put it all together.

By GTNE80

September 26, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this

No….sorry.

Check the record. Outside of a Division 1AA school or a Div 1A bottom-dweller the Gailey-Nix offensive juggernaut has a hard time putting more than 17 points on the board.

UVA was pitiful and we only scored 24.

Virginia Tech will score 7 points on special teams, 7 points on defense and 14 on offense. Georgia Tech will score a field goal early and a cheap touchdown late.

Final score: Hokies 28 - Jackets 10

Bring on the Terps!

By Geoff

September 26, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry Tom but the prospect of Reggie playing mistake free football is akin to Chan leading the jackets to a BCS berth. Both are technically possible but highly unlikely.

By Davey

September 26, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this

Maybe we can………………

By Bob Gunn

September 26, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this

I like the way Reggie is throwing it. For the most part, and there are exeptions, this season receivers are dropping the ball. I like our matchups across the board except for unSpecial Teams: Our D will rattle VT’s young QB and our O will be solid enough to squeeze out a Victory.

By Not Disappointed

September 26, 2006 05:45 PM | Link to this

The Jackets in a close one!!!

By toemeetsleather

September 26, 2006 06:37 PM | Link to this

gobble gobble you turkeys…chan’s troops will march all over you…A NEW DAY HAS DAWNED and this is the year of the JACKET….REGGIE-BALL RULES!!!

By Patrick

September 26, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

GTNE80 You should check your records. Tech is averaging about 27 points per game. And in college football, there is a thing called class, and Chan Gailey has it. He’s not going to blow out a friend (He and Al Groh coached together at Air Force I believe).

On a different note, Nix is being a little less conservative, and I like it. The reverses with Grant, using grant as a reciever, passing to Ball, it’s all working pretty well.

My pick is that my Yellow Jackets will pull through, but on a close margin.

Gatech: 21 VaTech: 17

By Ralph

September 26, 2006 06:56 PM | Link to this

I live in Northern Virginia. Last year, we drove down to Blacksburg; a four-hour trip. We showed up, but Tech didn’t.

But this year, we will show up. This is a manhood issue and though I don’t know if we are a better team, we are a smarter team.

Reggie is not coming off a bout of meningitis and VT has not shown much this year against lighter competition.

So as long as we show up, we can do this.

By GT Guy

September 26, 2006 07:30 PM | Link to this

Nope!

Chan and Nix’s offense is pathetic. And Reggie is…. Well Reggie is Reggie.

We couldn’t muster more than 24 against a pitiful UVA team.

Even if we get a lead, Chan and Nix will camp on it, until VT comes back to win.

D. can only do so much.

VT 24 Tech 10

By Ty

September 26, 2006 08:42 PM | Link to this

I’ll not venture a guess, since the Jacket team is still essentially untested (BUT, they have not stumbled in the three ‘expected’ wins…which is a new trend in the Gailey era).

I’ll stick with my “open minded” view adopted in August….. IF the Jackets play as they are capable and pull a victory in Blacksburg, the ‘trends of the past’ may finally be reversed….another loss in Virginia and I’m afraid it’s time to start looking for West Coast airfares in December…..

By gtne80

September 26, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Patrick, read the quote closely before you dismiss it. I said outside of 1AA opponents and bottom-dwelling 1A opponents. That means that you have to throw out the likes of Samford, UConn, Troy, and Duke, et. al. Throw out those games and see how quickly your 27 points per game average plummets. If you throw out Troy and Samford, this year we’ve averaged a staggering 17 points per game. Our big wins over the past couple of years against Auburn and Miami have only happened when our defense absolutely shut down the other team’s Offense. Trust me….it will take more than 17 points to beat VT this weekend.

By Surfrider

September 26, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

It will come down to can we move the ball and score on the vaunted VT defense that is stout every year. Of course that is question every year since the Gailey era began and we have descended or stayed in medoicreland. Beat VT and this season could start to look like 1990 light. The one loss will hurt us but veat VT, Clemson, Maryland, Miami, UGA, other divison leader and the others and we are right in the running….but we have to get an offense that can score against good defenses first and foremosst.

By ACC Basketblog

September 27, 2006 06:51 AM | Link to this

We’re Blogging about Georgia Tech on the ACC Basketblog.Get over there

By Senior Citizen

September 27, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this

Professional sports has had a bad influence on college sports. Years ago Grantland Rice wrote that “It’s not whether you win or lose, It’s how you play the game”.He was referring to college sports.Baseball was then the only significant pro sport.Then along came TV and Vince Lombardi, who said “Winning isn’t the best thing it’s the only thing”,This philosophy has c arried over to amatuer sports down to the Little League level.Accompanying this has come the silly-looking dances by football players in the end-zone and the fist- pumping braggadocio by the tennis and golf players and others including darters.

By theedge56

September 27, 2006 08:09 AM | Link to this

Regardless of Nix calling the plays or Gailey this is still an extremely conservative team. They did not score more than 24 against Virginia because they didn’t try to. Calvin was on the sideline alot which is ok with the injury. However, I feel before you go putting in 2nd string and calling conservative plays you had better make sure the offense is hitting on all cylinders something they have not done this year. You cannot simulate the game in practice as well as they could have worked on they offensive continuity in the end of that UVA game. It was a lost oppourtunity to work as a unit. A once great Duke football coach said “It is the other teams job to stop me from scoring”

By Senior Citizen

September 27, 2006 08:21 AM | Link to this

Continuing… coaches learned to run up the score to impress the media wizards,who picked the ‘best’ teams .Fortunately there are still some gentlemen in the game who don’t do that. Chan Gailey is one. Thank you Chan.

WKM IE 59

By GTNE80

September 27, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this

Another touchdown or two against UVA (if we were capable of scoring them) could hardly have been seen as “running up the score.”

I was at the game and I can tell you that there were some nervous looks when UVA scored their TD. We’ve all seen the disastrous results when a team that is dominating an opponent early in a game calls off the dogs too early and begins playing conservatively. It’s easier to downshift than to get back in gear if the opponent scores a couple of quick TDs.

We are supposing Gailey’s motivation for the obvious change in the conduct of the offense. It may have been to avoid embarrassing an old friend, or it may have been reverting to his conservative style of play.

As was noted in the post by “theedge56” pulling Calvin was a good move to protect him from further injury (most of us didn’t know that he was hurt until after the game). But was that the motivation? Seems to me that after UVA scored, Gailey reinserted him. That’s not consistent with protecting an injured player.

Gailey is obviously a gentleman. I have no quarrels with the man as an individual. I think that he represents my alma mater in a dignified manner. I do not fear that there will be anything in his personal life that will surface to embarrass Georgia Tech.

That said, I have some serious reservations in the way that he has run the program and the team since his arrival. Maybe he is on the learning curve. The ESPN announcers talked about how he admitted that it was hard to turn over the reins of the offense to Patrick Nix. Consistent with his character, he reportedly said that he would not go back on his commitment in the middle of a game and take control away from Nix. He said that he expected his players and coaches to live up to their commitments and he expected the same of himself.

Let’s hope this evolution of the head coach continues.

However, back to the overall theme of the blog, I still think that we have not arrived at a level to go to Blacksburg and pull out a win against Virginia Tech on September 30, 2006.

I hope that I’m wrong.

By Mark

September 27, 2006 08:56 AM | Link to this

I think if there’s ever a year for GT to win in Blacksburg, it’s this year. Our OL is inexperienced along with our QB, and, our defense is not as deep compared to year’s past. It is truly a rebuilding year for VT. I don’t see a whole lot of points scored (maybe 25 to 30 points total) and if GT can avoid turnovers and special teams problems, it should be a nail biter.

By Mike

September 27, 2006 09:03 AM | Link to this

Chan has proven to be extremely conservative in big games, and while that may be a fine tactic in the NFL, or if you are Ohio State or Texas with the better athletes, it has always been true in college football that if you are the underdog, you must innovate and take chances to pull off the upset. Notre Dame came from 10 down to beat us, in some part due to a conservative set of plays when we were in the red zone and settled for the FG, and then the failure to even try on 4th and 1. I would rather try and lose than not try, sit on the lead, and watch it slip away as our defense wears down from fatigue. I am not sure Chan shares that view. I expect VT to come from behind to win a close one.

I sure hope I eat these words on Saturday evening.

By Sleepyfan

September 27, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

Tech’s offense will be lucky to score 17 on VT, so lets hope the defense holds (as usual). I think Tech has a slim chance in Blacksburg if they get a few lucky breaks and no blocked kicks by “Beamerball”. I will say that this is probably a must win if Tech has any chance to make the ACC championship game. A loss here and Tech has to win out and hope VT loses twice.

I will be watching so I hope I’m wrong. Go Jackets.

Oh yeah, key to the victory - THROW IT TO Calvin! <—— does anyone else ever scream this at their TV? I am beginning to think that Tech is saving him for the NFL.

By CW

September 27, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

I think it is a lot easier for us to yell, “throw it to Calvin” than it is to actually get it to him. R. Ball is trying not to key on Calvin EVERY play so the entire secondary doesn’t tilt the field looking for a pickoff. In the last few games I think Nix has also tried to develop other facets of the offense so opposing teams can’t shut down Calvin and then shut down our whole O, which is essentially what Notre Dame did. I think we all agree that Calvin needs to get his 8-10 touches a game, but with a short QB whose running skills far outweigh his passing skills, it just isn’t realistic to think that our passing game and CJ are going to feast on every team they play.

The best way to open up the secondary for Calvin to run free is for Choice and Grant to effectively run the ball and Johnson, Dunlop and our other receivers to become threats for more than just 6-yard out patterns. If and when our running game and other receivers really become successful, CJ will become an even greater headache for opposing defenses than he already is.

Yes Gailey and Nix play conservative football, but when you have a guy like Tenuta and a front seven like we’ve got, that is a smart play. I have no problem letting our defense win ball games.

By jackets fan

September 27, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

Everyone who thinks VaTech is the same juggernaut they were last year has obviously not been paying attention to VaTech’s games and Sean Glennon’s stats. His completion % has dropped off from 83.3 in game one to 47.8 last weekend. None of the teams that VaTech has played are any good. The collective record of VaTech’s 4 opponents is 3-12 compared to 7-9 of GT’s 4 opponents. You can harp on points scored all you want, but teams don’t score points in a vacuum. Scores are a function of the game situation. GT doesn’t necessarily have to score 40 to beat VaTech if GT’s defense plays the way we know they can. And if GT puts a couple scores on the board early, the whole complexion of the game changes. You’d think by reading some of this stuff that few of you even watch the games.

By jackets fan

September 27, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

In my opinion GT is an underdog in ranking only. As far as players on the field I think GT has a more talented defense and a more experienced offense. Remember last year Reggie Ball was coming off a short week of practice due to the illness that kept him out of the UConn game. And they had Marcus Vick who could dance around and keep plays alive (much like Marques Hagans-UVA and DJ Shockley-UGA last year). GT eats pocket passers alive, see Auburn/Miami/ND. Glennon will be under duress all day and GT will capitalize on that. And CJ will have a big game because they don’t have Jimmy Williams anymore, and he put up some yards and a TD against him anyway last year.

By Blacksburger

September 27, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

I’m hoping GT gives us a game. Ya’ll def. have all the pieces to “spring the upset”, but I don’t know how much of an upset it is. VT hasn’t played ANYONE. Our combined 4 opponents have an 0-9 record against 1-A schools.

GT on the other hand has played ND pretty well, and then had creampuffs as well. I’m sorry, Troy almost beating FSU shows how bad FSU is, not how good Troy is. The Dumbest Coach in America beat them 56-0 this past week.

Obviously, winner of this game has the inside track of our division. The winner could still lose an ACC game, but beat Miami and the division is yours.

I hope all you Jackets making the trip travel safely and enjoy the game. I’m hoping for a close one.

By ZGOLDATOWN

September 27, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this

This is certainly the year. We are deeper than we have ever been in the Chan era on both sides of the ball. We have a great team attitude. The game is so much about motivation and momentum, and we seem to be great at grabbing those this year. Virginia Tech is not half the team it was last year. Last week they were trailing cincinati at home at ahlf time. They left the field to boos. A lackluster 29-13 victory against nobody doesnt impress me. Georgia Tech will be so fired up because of last year. We will start good, Reggie will get in the D-lines face, and we will slowly wear them down on both sides of the ball. We are truly just as good at every position. Every Georgia Tech player knows that. A big win for the institute.

Georgia Tech-24 Virginia Tech-14

By Ramblin Wreck 2006

September 27, 2006 05:11 PM | Link to this

Some of you guys should give the Jackets a chance. This is a new season. Lets try backing our team for a change. If we win this weekend it just makes you guys look like idiots. Give the Jackets a chance.

By frankfromthe 'v'

September 27, 2006 06:18 PM | Link to this

i like our chances…they will be recalling how easy it was last year…A NEW DAY HAS DAWNED….hokies go down as chan comes up with another brilliant game plan and reggie shines again…..ROLL JACKETS!!!

By reese

September 27, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this

To Blacksburger - Now I see why the AJC wanted Va Tech, class. A definite welcome break from the folks over at redneck U! Best of luck to you and here’s hoping for a competitive game. I like the Jackets in a squeaker…

By Fan of Chan

September 28, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this

Frank, I just don’t understand your love affair with Reggie. Stop being an apologist and face the facts. He is an average QB at best. Tech’s offense is better when he is just an extra running back and not having to throw the ball. Tech will be better next year without him, mark it down. They will never win a division crown with him or play in a major bowl