AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTaking on the Tar Heels
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Tar Heels are 3-7 on the season with wins over James Madison, Miami, and Maryland. Their losses are to East Carolina, Virginia, South Florida, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, and NC State.
What does this tell us?
Well … not a whole lot. The Heels beat a Maryland team that GT narrowly lost to. They played Virginia about as close as we did. They got stomped badly by Wake Forest … but also beat Miami and played Virginia Tech a lot closer than the Jackets did.
The UNC offense is ranked #102 nationally behind a woeful running game and marginal passing game. Defensively they aren’t horrible … ranking #33 in total defense and #50 in scoring defense. They seem to defense both the pass and rush similarly. This isn’t a team you obviously run or pass against.
Looking a little deeper, they have a tendency to turn the ball over and give up sacks. So I would expect that Tech’s defense will blitz early and often and try to force mistakes or turnovers.
UNC only averages 20 points a game over the course of the season … no reason to expect they’ll surpass that against the Tech defense. Still … we have to remember that Duke put up points on the board off Tech mistakes and miscues.
Tech
Speaking of mistakes and miscues … GT can’t allow anything like a big kick return, fumble, INT, or stupid penalty to derail what should be the 7th victory of the season.
Tech’s total offense is ranked #63 based largely on the running game. The scoring offense is ranked #63 as well … at 27 points per game. Combined with a #6 ranked total defense and a #14 ranked scoring defense … there’s no excuse to see UNC put alot of offense.
The Jackets are #1 in the country in sacks and tackles for loss. The D needs to keep that pressure up and eliminate the big play, which has been the Achilles Heel of the defensive backfield this season.
Morgan Burnett
There’d been rumors within Tech circles for a few weeks that Morgan Burnett was pushing for playing time and it appears those rumors have born fruit this week as Burnett has been named as one of the starting corners against UNC this weekend.
Avery Roberson has played excellent in run support this season but has been burned a few times in coverage. I’m hoping that this move allows Tech to play a little tighter with the UNC receivers on Burnett’s side of the field.
Burnett is a big time player and will likely hold down his corner for the remainder of his career at GT … now that he’s stepped up and been tapped as a starter.
Tashard
I hope Choice wraps that hamstring up this Saturday. We need him in the game early but I’d rather not see him break a run and pull up lame. And we certainly need him 100% against UGA next weekend.
I’m seriously looking forward to watching Choice and Moreno go at it. I’m a bit biased … obviously … but I think Choice is the better runner of the two. Moreno is good, no doubt, but he’s no Deuce.
Hoops
By the time anyone reads this blog, our game against Charlotte will likely have already been decided. Miller got dinged up in practice yesterday and Matt Causey is playing through pain in his knee. That means that Bell will get some minutes as the #3 point guard. With Dickey and Peacock out we’re limping through the early season here a bit. We are going to need to get healthy quick despite playing four games in four days while down in the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam.
Bowl Odds
Insiders on various GT boards seem to think that a win over UNC would put Tech in very good shape for the Music City Bowl against an SEC team … potentially Alabama. I’m not sure about everyone else … but I’d take that bowl in a heartbeat. Nashville is a close drive and a really fun town … and ‘Bama would be a great opponent. GT fans would show up in good numbers for that game.
Chan
No excuses … take care of business … no letdown against the Heels!
Go Jackets!
THWG!
Comments
By yellowblood
November 16, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Sooooo, when exactly does the tickle pile start tomorrow? I just need to make sure that I get oiled up in time for it.
By nashville
November 16, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t count on the Music City Bowl. We thought we were for sure going to Nashville in ‘05 and we got skipped and ended up in the Emerald Bowl.
By yellowblood
November 16, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Gosh darn it guys, I want to know about the tickle pile! Somebody tell me where we’re all meeting for the dang tickle pile! I got this neat little candyland game we can play after the tickle pile. Ok guys, i’ll be the little skinny guy in the tighty whities and black sox. I could bring some chocolate syrup with me to pour all over myself….let me know what you think!
By GT96
November 16, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
Let’s face it and be honest, Choice is good, but he is no Moreno. I have watched both play in person and Moreno is the real deal.
By Chris
November 16, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
Choice’s best attributes aren’t speed or power, but rather his vision and ability to read his blocks. He’s almost never going to get dropped for a loss and he’s not going to try to bounce something outside when there’s nothing to gain out there. He’s not spectacular or electrifying by any means, but he’s the most reliable runner in the country (when he’s not hurt…)
By reebok
November 16, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
A couple of thoughts…the Music city bowl against ‘Bama would be awesome…an EZ drive, a good city, an opponent with a huge national presence. A healthy Tashard is far better than Moreno right now, but Moreno is a stud who will be a great back for UGA if he avoids injuries. And Tech should walk right through UNC and get immediately their game faces on for Georgia - in that order. If Tech looks past UNC, they will lose. Next week…UGA is going to kill us by 25-30 points. At least that will get rid of Chan!!
By old n gold
November 16, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
will someone please tell me what a TICKLE PILE is? I’ve always wanted to know.
By ME
November 16, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this
old n gold ask yellowblood, it appears he is the only one who knows. I did read on the UGA Blog that the ticklefile started at UGA and the students/fans are working hard to spread it to the cleaner schools of higher learning. Like a UGA Virus…
By TDone
November 16, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Muttland has their own problems with UK tomorrow. I think Lou Holtz said it best; that there are only about 4 times during the season when a coach can really motivate his players. Richt used them all up last week with all that gangster rap stuff. I think Richt has turned Muttland into a cross between Miami and FSU.
We have to TCB with North Carolina, but I give us a good chance of beating the Mutts. The Reggie Bowl years are over. Everyone knows we should have won the game the past three years and if Choice is healthy, the offense will be fine. In spite of the turnovers and dropped passes last week, I thought the offense performed pretty well.
As for the defense, Muttland has scored in the past three years only 19, 14, and 15 points against our defense. So since Reggie is gone and if the referees don’t swallow their whistles like they did last year with that fumble, we’ll be fine.
As for Chan, when I got the message from Dan Radakovich yesterday, it came to me that Chan will be back unless there is a total collapse agains UNC or Muttland. In spite of his coaching decisions and Reggie, we were paddling with a short oar with the probation. 6 scholarships a year cost us depth, so Gailey did not have a complete plate to do things. We still should have won more games, but the lack of depth is the truth.
All I ask is for our folks not to root against us, just to get rid of Gailey. Remember VA Tech and Beamer? Besides being wrong, it makes us sound like Democrats who want us to lose the war to get at Bush.
But first things first. Let’s take care of business tomorrow.
Go Jackets!!!
By Chan Gailey's Designated Driver
November 16, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
ME:
You can see right HERE that the Tickle Pile started at UGA:
http://i12.tinypic.com/4vskpl5.jpg
By Chris
November 16, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
I think Tech beats UNC, UGA, wins the Music City Bowl and Gailey gets a raise. He’s due to beat someone (UGA) that he’s not supposed to. You can moan about poor quarterback play all you want, but our recievers are dropping balls. Last week was a good example. Bennett was 11 for 23, but there were 4 or 5 balls that should have been caught. If those are catches, he’s 15 or 16 of 23. Those are good numbers. Gotta be patient. We have young recievers and a new OC. Personally, I like the fact that we are winning every year (with limited scholarships). I don’t think JOE FAN understands how detrimental this is to a football team.
By firechangailey.com
November 16, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
http://www.firechangailey.com
By TDone
November 16, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this
Years ago, I heard someone say that no matter what, at once a year in football, Tech will do something, which will make you proud.
It’s time for the 2007 edition.
Go Jackets!!!
By Tech fan AND a democrat!
November 16, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
t-done may know something about football…and this is a football blog…but please…that crap about the war was just bush!
By AlabamaRamblinwreck
November 17, 2007 1:26 AM | Link to this
I will never root against my team. I am GT tried and true!!
But I still have to say, CHAN MUST GO!!
Our team will always underachieve with him as coach. He is not a risk-taker, and he is certainly not an innovator or a great motivator.
We deserve better, and Chan must go!!
By Kendall
November 17, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
Never seen a UGA player with a garbage bag full of pot. Also, wasnt it CJ that admitted smoking dope at the combine? And we are the thugs, how funny. Nerds wouldnt know a thug if he stole their slide rule. You guys get excited about the Music City Bowl, we are working to play our way into a major bowl. Have fun with that, geeks.
By GT88
November 17, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
No doubt that Choice is a good back, but to say that he is better that Moreno is definitely a bit biased. He is more explosive, energetic, and creates big plays. TC is dependable, consistent, but not a better back than Knowshon. Just looking at it objectively. I just hope Choice is healthy Nov 24th, or it will be a long day with Tinky Winky at QB.
Go jackets!!!
By Reuban Houston
November 17, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
Anybody want to buy some dope?
By gtbaltfan
November 17, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
If that Music City line-up were to happen, I’d be there in a heartbeat. My old man took me to the Tech-Alabama game in 1962 when Bama had a 26 game winning streak and was #1 and had won the National Championship the year before. Tech beat ‘em 7-6. It was a great moment in GT football history and I’ve never forgotten it. (Kind of like the 1990 41-38 victory over then #1 UVA in Charlottesville which I was also fortunate enough to attend.) Obviously a music city match-up wouldn’t be very important but it would be great to play the tide again.
On a different topic, is there some freakin’ way you can block yellowblood from blogging on these Tech blogs. I am so weary of seeing his irrelevant crap. It’s just stupid and distracting. He needs to get a life — somewhere else.
By Cuz
November 17, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
C’mon bugs suk it up and beat those heels.