Is Georgia Tech D ready for Duke’s Lewis, Cutcliffe?
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Is the Georgia Tech D ready for Thaddeus Lewis/David Cutcliffe? The way the Georgia Tech offense is playing, the No. 7 Yellow Jackets should be able to go up to Duke and take care of business. A win gives Georgia Tech the ACC Coastal Division championship. A loss would throw the division into chaos. Duke certainly has a shot in this game because the Blue Devils have Thaddeus Lewis, the ACC’s No. 2 passer with 2,428 yards (only five interceptions) and with David Cutcliffe calling the plays. Georgia Tech’s pass defense is ranked No. 68 nationally and 10th in the ACC (226.7 ypg). The Yellow Jackets have only eight interceptions (Clemson leads the league with 19) and is ninth in the ACC in quarterback sacks with 1.8 per game. If Tech doesn’t turn the ball over several times, the Jackets will be fine. But if they lay the ball on the ground this will be a 60-minute game.
2. Does the HBC have an upset left in him? South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, the Head Ball Coach, announced this week that he is going to start calling most of the plays again. They certainly need to do something up there because the losses to Tennessee (31-13) and Arkansas (33-16) were just downright ugly. No. 1 Florida comes to Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday looking to keep its undefeated record, its 19-game winning streak, and its No. 1 ranking intact. The South Carolina defense, the bedrock of the team, has struggled because four starters have been out with injuries. Florida’s offense is really not going to blow anybody out. But if South Carolina can just hang around and not turn the ball over, this one could least be interesting. We’ll see.
3. Can Jonathan Crompton keep it going? Early in the season Crompton couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean out of a boat. But in the past four games against Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Memphis Crompton has thrown for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdown passes with only two interceptions. Crompton has more touchdown passes (21) than any quarterback in the SEC. Nobody else in the league has more than 18. Three of those four games were in Knoxville. Now Tennessee goes back on the road to face Ole Miss. Tennessee (5-4) has a chance to play its way its way into a New Year’s Day Bowl (Outback) down the stretch.
4. How badly does Georgia need to beat Auburn? When you’re having a year like Georgia (5-4), you desperately need a signature win to hang your hat on. In 2006 it was a win at Auburn that set the stage for a good 2007. If the Bulldogs can find a way to win the next two games at home against Auburn and Kentucky, they’ll have a little momentum going into the regular-season finale at Georgia Tech on Nov. 28. Lose to Auburn and one has to wonder how ugly it will get in Atlanta on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Beating Auburn could mean the difference in a disappointing season and a really bad season for Georgia.
5. Is there any chance that Alabama comes out flat against Mississippi State? Trust me when I tell you that last week’s game between Alabama and LSU was for grown men only. It was one of the hardest hitting games I’ve seen in a while. Sometimes it takes more than a week to get over a game like that. Mississippi State, which played both LSU and Florida to the wire earlier this season, had last week off. The Bulldogs have been able to move the ball on just about everybody and the defense has been pretty respectable. Alabama’s offense, other than RB Mark Ingram and an all-too-infrequent passes to Julio Jones, has not set the world on fire lately. Keep an eye on this one.
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231 comments Add your comment
cal
November 12th, 2009
6:45 am
tebow’s penis is big.
Big time?? Not
November 12th, 2009
6:46 am
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes FIrst!
Thenumber34
November 12th, 2009
6:49 am
Georgia will win out and salvage some respect for the season. Lift your heads, Dawg fans! Changes in Athens will be made to right the ship. I know that for a fact.
Dawgs are Done
November 12th, 2009
6:54 am
GT wins easily. UGA loses it’s last 3 games.
Not Disappointed!
November 12th, 2009
6:58 am
Let’s go Jackets!
SatchelBuzz
November 12th, 2009
7:02 am
Hey 4,…old routine,..need to find some new material. Meanwhile,…we’ll just enjoy our time in the duly deserved spotlight. Makes my day knowing so many ugag fans are completely miserable. Great day to be a ‘Jacket.
Beat Duke!!
THWG!!!!
Chi Town is on the prowl ladies
November 12th, 2009
7:03 am
Piss State is a joke. Bama will destroy them Saturday.
richtisthenewfulmer
November 12th, 2009
7:15 am
If the dogs could hire Gruden tommorow would you fire Richt, I say yes
GaryDawgGoneit
November 12th, 2009
7:16 am
Barnhardt
I’m as big of a Georgia fan as anyone. But if you really think this team can beat Auburn and win out over Kentucky and Tech you’re out of your mind. We could EASILY lose all three! Please stop sipping the CMR kool-aid and start telling it like it is…it’s UGLY in Athens right now Barnhardt!
Henry
November 12th, 2009
7:18 am
Georgia salvages the season.
UGA 31 Auburn 21
UGA 38 Kentucky 17
UGA 48 Tech 28
Then on to the Outback….and we are back on track for nine wins this year.
BW
November 12th, 2009
7:19 am
Georgia Tech will beat Duke no matter what the Duke QB does….they can’t hang with Georgia Tech’s offense…
Big time?? Not
November 12th, 2009
7:20 am
Black helmets, black pants, same results.
Thunderbolt Patterson
November 12th, 2009
7:22 am
Georgia Fans = Charlie Brown getting ready to kick the football. Georgia coaches = Lucy
GTville
November 12th, 2009
7:24 am
“Thats why they play the game”
Alex
November 12th, 2009
7:25 am
Jonathon Dwyer should be mentioned with the Heisman talk….it’s just stupid he’s not…same numbers as that Bama RB…..oh well.
Tech 42 Duke 28
Winning season?? Not
November 12th, 2009
7:36 am
Georgia goes 6-6 with a loss in the Carpets of Dalton Bowl to end it at 6-7.
Morning Headlines From Across The SEC | MrSEC.com
November 12th, 2009
7:36 am
[...] Tim Tebow.4. Tebow is still leading most of the Heisman polls.5. Tony Barnhart of The AJC has posted his burning questions for the weekend:* Does Spurrier have an upset left in him?* Can Jonathan Crompton keep it going?* [...]
Jerry Brown
November 12th, 2009
7:37 am
I have a burning question for you, Tony. Care to comment on the Clemson eye gouge incident, and why you are not calling for the school or the ACC to do something about it, like you did in criticizing Florida’s handling of the Spikes incident? Double standards and hypocrisy at it’s best, Tony. I expected more from you.
Fleischman in the ATL this weekend
November 12th, 2009
7:39 am
I am now 100% convinced TONY JABRONI is on the UGAy payroll. Does he type his article in his bulldawg jammies every morning? Well he does work for the AJC.. the most BIASED liberal rag in the USA.
m
November 12th, 2009
7:39 am
Last year, TECH beat dook 27-0 and Josh Nesbitt did not even play. This year, it is unlikely that dook will be able stop TECH at all. There is a strong likelihood that TECH will score 40-50 points on dook.
Cutcliffe has done a good job at dook, inheriting a much better caliber of athletes at dook than Ted Roof did. Cutcliffe was able to develop a QB and has done a great job at dook.
Bottom line, is even though that dook could beat most of teams in the weak sec, TECH will stomp a mudhole in them.
m
November 12th, 2009
7:46 am
Also Tony…it is hilarious that you are talking about miss st playing lsu and floriduh to the wire and maybe even upsetting alabammer…but you didn’t mention that TECH went to Starkville and stomped a mudhole in missy st and you don’t even mention it except that we beat a sec bottomfeeder.
The problem with the weak overhyped sec is that they are all bottom feeders. The reason you have two undefeated teams is not that alabammer and floriduh are great…it is the rest of the league sucks…really sucks.
Tech is undefeated in the sec and has won 4 of the last 5 games they have played in the sec. The ACC beat the sec 6 out of 10 last year and will beat them 4 out of 7 this year. The ACC is competitive top to bottom….the sec is not…it is two decent teams and a bunch of weak overhyped patsies.
Nachos
November 12th, 2009
7:49 am
Of course the mutts would love to see Bama lose to Siss State. They would call it revenge of the dawgs for the blackout of 2008. homos
Burdell
November 12th, 2009
7:51 am
Good one Thunderbolt!! I empathize with the fans…
GO JACKETS!!
Terrell T.O. Owens
November 12th, 2009
7:51 am
Enter your comments here
ACC outsider
November 12th, 2009
7:55 am
Jonathan Dwyer will rush for 200 yards against Duke.
N.C. State will upset Clemson and the Tigers will shut up for the rest of the season.
jambee
November 12th, 2009
7:56 am
Beating Auburn is a signature win? I think you have significantly lowered your standards and expectations.
Dream Weekend
November 12th, 2009
8:00 am
I want every team ranked above Georgia Tech to lose this week.
…………………….GO JACKETS……………………………………..
Sautee Dawg
November 12th, 2009
8:02 am
GA.Tech vs Duke???? Basketball conference!! who cares??
UGA vs Auburn = Tough game for the Dawgs, havent stopped a offense all season except our own,
Ala vs Miss. St. = upset
SC vs UF= Ball Coach gets maybe 2 first downs, and no points.
Tenn. vs Ole Miss = Tenn defense beats Ole Miss, Crompton bootleggs without getting caught.
im4bama
November 12th, 2009
8:04 am
BREAKING NEWS:
TWO UT PLAYERS ARRESTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY- Nu’keese Richardson and Jantzeen Jackson. Way to pick’em UT and Kiffin
Morgan
November 12th, 2009
8:07 am
UGA vs. Auburn
Two teams that don’t matter…who cares?
Rushing Leaders
November 12th, 2009
8:07 am
Jonathan Dwyer should pass Heisman hopeful Mark Ingram in rushing yards this week.
If he does,
GIVE HIM SOME PRESS TONY !
GT Rich
November 12th, 2009
8:07 am
Miss State will challenge Bama to the end. Bama definitely won’t cover and might just lose outright. Florida has escaped over and over. With Spurrier calling some plays, it could get interesting in SC.
Tony,
Please comment on the fact that Nesbitt’s numbers are on par with Tebow’s and Dwyer’s stats are the same with Ingram. Neither Bama or UF has a combo as potent….just better defenses. Defenses can’t win a Heisman, so why no love for GT’s individual performances??
GTdays
November 12th, 2009
8:07 am
Georgia Tech rolls…
Tech 49 Duke 31
Ain't Competitive Conference
November 12th, 2009
8:09 am
Tony,
Duke versus Georgia Tech? Who the heck cares?
Huh?!
November 12th, 2009
8:11 am
Tony, regarding #3 “But in the past four games against Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Memphis…” I didn’t know Tennessee played Tennessee. Was it a repeat of their spring game?
Bocephus
November 12th, 2009
8:12 am
So Crompton played against his own team???
“But in the past four games against Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Memphis Crompton has thrown for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdown passes with only two interceptions.”
stay classy bama
November 12th, 2009
8:14 am
Im4Bama, I understand you’re now wanted for slander
Rushing Leaders
November 12th, 2009
8:14 am
By the way,
Auburn’s Ben Tate has been under the radar rushing for 1,142 yards.
big al
November 12th, 2009
8:15 am
I pulled up to the Waffle House with 2 tickets to the Auburn/Georgia game in my shirt pocket. I left the tickets on the dash of my pickup, locked the door, and went inside. When I returned, the side window of my truck had been broken out, and there were six tickes on the dash.
GTdays
November 12th, 2009
8:16 am
Ain’t Competitive Conference
You say Tech-Duke who cares? Everybody outside of redneck puppyville…that’s who cares. A game that matters…regional and national implications. You wouldn’t understand…because your sorry a$$ team is playing another sorry a$$ team.
Evan
November 12th, 2009
8:17 am
Too much Georgia talk for a losing program. Go away now pups.
im4bama
November 12th, 2009
8:17 am
Confirmed by UT baby! slander that.
Puffy
November 12th, 2009
8:18 am
Tony
Can’t get out of that SEC bias huh? The only time you act any different is when your around Wes Durham…although your true colors still shine through. What a joke.
BCS
November 12th, 2009
8:18 am
GEORGIA TECH is number 7 and moving up fast.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
UGA is number 69 and not even bowl eligible.
Joe Hamilton
November 12th, 2009
8:18 am
Georgia Tech fans have no clue how to act when they have a really good football team. You are all like a bunch of middle schoolers learning how to cuss for the first time. Go take your ritalin and go back to bed.
Jake
November 12th, 2009
8:19 am
Vols did good, playing their own Defense. They scored more points on their Defense than anyone has all year. That JC, guy seems to be getting better. Tony, your mistakes look like mine.
UT_Allan
November 12th, 2009
8:19 am
Funny…the Tech guys are right on this one. Georgia is a program on the down and they have no implications towards anything this year. Just quit talking about them Tech folks…I’m pretty sure ya’ll will roll them just like we did.
im4bama
November 12th, 2009
8:19 am
12, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: Nu’Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson arrested for armed robbery
Two UT football players are now facing charges of armed robbery.
Posted: 7:32 AM Nov 12, 2009
Story 0 Comments Font Size: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Two UT football players are now facing charges of armed robbery.
A member of the UT Sports Information Department confirmed to us that Nu’Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson were arrested about 2:00 o’clock Thursday morning.
The incident happened at the Pilot convenience store on Cumberland Avenue.
Police say the men were armed with a small semi automatic handgun and robbed a person in the parking lot.
Police arrested them a few minutes later.
Again, UT football players Nu’Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson are under arrest in connection with an early morning armed robbery.
Joe Cox
November 12th, 2009
8:20 am
My offensive line has no clue about the snap count.
The 12 interceptions are not my fault.
GatorDave
November 12th, 2009
8:21 am
Maybe if Paul Johnson stays at Tech for 20 years the UGA program can have a similar rivalry with Tech as to what Georgia has with us. 3 wins in 20 years….LOL.