AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USJackets Need to Finish Strong
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I expected a tough task in Chapel Hill this past Saturday. In my opinion, UNC is the toughest of our last three games and have been playing well.
In spite of extreme youth and troubling injuries, the Jackets were able to keep the game tight for quite awhile and the defense played well after the initial UNC possession.
The game turned on the fumbled punt really. The Heels took possession at the GT 30 yard line and prospered from a short field. Then they took over on the GT 32 following a Jaybo Shaw fumble and again prospered from a short field.
Immediately following this, Jonathan Dwyer rumbled 85 yards to make it 21-7 and avoid the shutout. At this point Paul Johnson made the first coaching decision that I’ve really questioned this season. With over 6 minutes left in the game I expected Tech to kick deep and go for a defensive stop with the hopes of another score before attempting the onside kick. But the Jackets tried an onside kick early, in my opinion, and UNC took over at the GT 39. This resulted in their third short field touchdown and the game was essentially over at that point.
That’s correct…UNC scored late off possessions that started at the GT 30, 32, and 39 yard lines.
Turnovers and that early onside kick sealed the Jackets’ doom effectively squandering a great effort during the first three quarters that had kept things close at 7-0.
Looking at the stats, GT had 20 first downs and a yardage advantage of over 100 yards on the Heels. The Jackets ran up 326 yards of offense on the ground but couldn’t get in the endzone except for Dwyers big run.
If you had told me that Tech would limit UNC to 128 yards passing while running for 326 I would have bet the mortgage on a GT win. It just goes to show you how turnovers can kill even the best offensive effort…
So now, the Jackets get a weekend off to heal up and prepare to host Miami on a Thursday night in Bobby Dodd. This will be a critical game as Jacket fans would like to break the seven win ceiling BEFORE playing UGA in Athens.
While I feel like UNC was the toughest of Tech’s last three games, Miami has even more critically become the must win game in order to set the stage for vaulting to nine wins with a drought breaker in Athens.
Lose against Miami next Thursday and the Jackets are staring down the barrel of the very real possibility of another 7-5 season. A 7-5 season culminating with a loss to their rival…which is exactly why Chan Gailey was fired and why Paul Johnson was hired…
So…focus Miami…Tech MUST continue to own the Hurricanes and control their own destiny en route to a finish that remains supportive of a strong 7-2 start.
Comments
By Jack
November 10, 2008 1:36 AM | Link to this
Regardless if we finish 7-5, this is a different program than Gailey’s junk. PJ has this team going in the right direction. 7-5 might be hard to swallow again, but the future is bright with PJ. I thought we were supposed to win 4 games this year, right?
By Sugar-3-k-lbs
November 10, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
I agree with Jack, if we stay at 7 wins, I would still consider it somewhat of a successful season…considering we have the youngest team in the ACC, 1st year coach and a brand new offensive system. Don’t get me wrong, I want MORE for this team than anyone else (especially after all the 7 win seasons under Gailey), but we need to keep things in perspective. Now with that said, there is NO reason why this team can’t get 10 wins THIS year. The jackets need rest. After getting an off week, I think the jackets will be ready to finish strong. After 6 weeks of games, especially the emotionally and physically draining FSU game, the jackets are beat. UNC had an extra week to rest and prepare for our offense, that was a huge advantage for them (not to take away from how good they are, b/c they did look strong). But rest up Jackets and let’s take down the “U”
By gtforever
November 10, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
No reason why GT can’t win 10 games this season!? I thought I was the biggest homer on these blogs…. I guess anything is possible. I think we have a good chance of beating Miami. UGAG on the other hand is a different nut. UGAG will be the best team we play all year, beating them will be about like me winning the lottery. It could happen but, well everyone knows the answer to that.
Coach needs time to RECRUIT. If he recruits GOOD players, we will compete. We don’t have the horses to compete every week with the top programs. Give the coach 2 to 3 years and we will see……
On a side note, I find it ABSURD that Jonathan Dwyer has not been named ACC player of the week. He is one of the BEST backs in the COUNTRY! Who are these MORONS that vote….
AS always, win or lose, GO JACKETS and THWG!
By GermanJacket
November 10, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this
Right on the money, Jack. CPJ is building a TEAM. With 16 of 22 starters either Freshmen or Sophomores, and a very good bunch of recruits on the way, the future looks bright for GT Football.
It’s disappointing they weren’t able to capitalize on an opportunity to stay in the lead for the ACC championship in CPJs first year, but I promise you, it bothers CPJ more than anyone. He’ll get it done at GT sooner rather than later.
By War Jacket
November 10, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
I don’t question the onside kick decision. With the new clock rules and Tech’s ground game, scoring twice more in six minutes after kicking deep would be nearly impossible. You would have to bet on NC turning the ball over, which they didn’t do all day.
By joe the plumber
November 10, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry but after all the build up I don’t see much difference in this team and all the rest!!!
By yellowblood
November 10, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
As you all know Tickle Piles are a part of Tech lore and tradition but frankly I didn’t know the they went back so far in our history. For a historic perspective go to www.ticklepile.com. I think you will be surprised.
By Too Easy
November 10, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
Boggs, you’re a hoot. You whine about how you lost the game only because you gave the other team easy field position, then you say UNC is the toughest of your last 3 games. Get a grip. tek’s injuries, turnovers and lack of depth - as always - will indeed provide another 7-5. You don’t own anyone - not even Gardner Webb.
By BuzzFactor
November 10, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
a hard loss, but all things considered, youth, injuries, depth, I still love this team. we can beat Miami, and it will be tough, but we still might could pull one out against the dogs too.
By Yo
November 10, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Well beat Miami by a bunch and loose to UGA by a bunch. Our defense has yet to see skill players like theirs this year. I hate the fact the they will have a week off. Their defense is due to have one good game and I fear it will be against us.
Watch out for next year though!!
By GT45
November 10, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
All the oil in Texas for a kicker! Those points hurt, especially when we lacked the confidence to kick another, and did a fake kick through the endzone. We make those and it’s nine to seven. Oh well, we’ll beat Miami, and then Uga, and the world will be right.
By Dennis Green
November 10, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
The Jackets are who we thought they were.
By GT 90
November 10, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
the jackets are NOT who they thought they were. They are who they are NOW. They are not who YOU and MEDIA thought they’d be either. 4-8 season??? Well, I guess they are who they thought they were….winners.
Its the future folks. The future. If we run CPJ out of town too quickly, we’ll never find a coach b/c of a few fickle bandwagon fans.
On the bright side, we’re still the last team in Div 1 football to win a Nat Championship from the state of Gawga!! GO TECH!!
By Braindawg
November 11, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
OK lets get somethings straight, First off Tech has well this year with a new coach and new offense. And I give them credit for what theyve accomplished. They are lucky to play in the week ACC, they wont beat Miami, and they damn well wont beat a good UGA team. But they are on the right track.
By Buzz Belle
November 11, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
I still believe! Tech/Ga is always a coin toss - but this year will be different. Even dawg fans are starting to get nervous. Ga was darn lucky not to lose to Kentucky. Actually, luck has given Ga. alot of their wins. Could be their luck runs out this year. It would’nt surprise me if a bad Auburn team gives them fits - they have nothing else to lose. I wish our game this year would be on the flats but I’ll take a win between their beloved hedges also! We can do this Tech - you gotta believe! GO JACKETS and THWG!!!
By old Tech fan in NC
November 11, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Expect Tech to beat Mia and not let uGa hang half a hundred on them.
This vet had a happy vet day…hope you did!
By Tommy
November 11, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Buzz Belle must think Tech can beat Kentucky. LMAO!!!
By gtforever
November 11, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
All you UGAY fans SUCK! Just GO AWAY! The day is coming where we will wipe your arses off the football field! It may not be this year, but the clock is ticking! Your time of dominance is almost OVER!
By BE#3
November 11, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
gtforever,
you’ll never dominate the series against UGA as long as you’re running the triple option on offense. We’ll have 9 in the box with 2 deep.
By jacketsfan4life
November 12, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Really BE#3? That just shows the brilliance of a Uga fan right there. so your just going to not have corners to cover our receivers? My god do you think before you speak?
By addicted
November 12, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
That was a hard game. Tech played well, but the youth shone through. Having our 3rd string tackles start the game really hurt.
What you are missing Chris, are also all the stupid penalties we committed. The holding and hop one after the other lost us about 35-45 yards (1st and 35!). And that was an absolute sign of the youth.
If we lose all our remaining games (Miami, UGA, Bowl) we have still had a successful season. Remember, with the youth on this team, even CG would not have achieved more than 7 wins, especially with all the injuries. You cannot tell me his team would have beaten FSU in the last seconds like we did, or we would have pulled it out against BC away, or embarrassed Miss St. and Duke the way we did with him. Or even beaten Clemson away with all the energy they had, after firing their coach… This was the best Duke team in maybe a decade, and we shut them down, while CG managed to lose games to worse Duke teams, with far more experienced GT teams.
Braindawg… Lucky to play in the ‘week’ ACC? We beat Miss St. worse than any of the STRONG SEC teams did. We will find out how ‘week’ the ACC is over Thanksgiving anyways.
The SEC is stronger than the ACC at the top, about the same in the middle, and ‘weeker’ at the bottom. Its not “teh best conference evah” as some braindead folks would like to believe.
By Navigator
November 13, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
I’m certainly not a Chan Fan, being vocal about his hire and fire, but let’s be honest, he could recruit. The quality of this team is the excellent recruiting over the last two years. I was honest when I said Chan wasn’t the right hire, and I’ll be honest again, 7-5 is 7-5 whether it’s Chan or PJohnson. I don’t like the offense and never will, but if PJohnson can win consistently 8-10 games in the regular season, then I have no more negative things to say. However, if he wins 6-7 over the next few years, then he needs to get the same treatment Chan got. If that happens, maybe next time they’ll recruit a younger coach and not more of the old guys.
By AGTFan
November 14, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
At the start of the season most reasonable Tech fans felt 7-5 would be a decent year with a new coach, new system. I for one am satisfied with the direction and professionalism I see from CPJ. If we win one or 2 more games during the regular season, I’ll be thrilled.
Next year I won’t be close to satisfied with 7-5. I expect 9 or 10 wins next year. Anything less will be a disapointment.
By dawgthabootyhunter
November 15, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
I think Coach Johnson has Tech heading in the right direction. You guys are alot better than I thought you would be by this time. Good luck on an ACC title this year, and see you on Thanksgiving!! GO DAWGS!!
By A.S.
November 16, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
TECH needs this win vs. Miami. If we beat em we could potentially be playing in the ACC Championship game!
By buzzy buzz buzz
November 17, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Read it and weep Nerds” 7-5. Heading out West to the Blue Turf Bowl…. again.