Can Georgia Tech even slow down Tyrod Taylor?
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Can Georgia Tech even slow down Tyrod Taylor? Cameron Newton is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, but if you’re looking for someone to challenge the Auburn quarterback for the prize, look no further than Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor. This guy is having an incredible season. He is second in the ACC in total offense behind N.C. State’s Russell Wilson (2,129 yards) but he leads the conference by averaging 8.48 yards per play. He is the most efficient passer in the ACC (and No. 4 nationally) with 15 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. He is responsible for 112 points, second only to Wilson. This is the guy Georgia Tech has to at least contain tonight in order to have a shot in Blacksburg.
2. How many running plays will be called for Cameron Newton on Saturday? No. 2 Auburn (9-0) faces Chattanooga at home where the No. 1 goal has to be fine tuning and getting ready for next week’s visit by Georgia. All I know is that when the Tigers played Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 2, offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn did not call a single running play for his talented quarterback. Despite rushing for “only” 45 yards last week against Ole Miss, Newton still leads the SEC in rushing with an average of 124.67 yards per game. That number will take a hit on Saturday because Auburn will sew up the game by halftime and get the big fella some rest.
3. Can LSU put the game on Greg McElroy’s right arm? There is no big secret about what No. 10 LSU (7-1) hopes to do when No. 6 Alabama (7-1) comes to Baton Rouge on Saturday. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is going to commit the necessary resources to keep Alabama’s running game–led by Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson–from wearing the Tigers down. He will force Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy to throw and bet that his best defensive player, cornerback Patrick Peterson, is good enough to keep wide receiver Julio Jones in check. If it comes down to that, watch the matchup between Peterson and Jones every chance you get. Those are two first-rounders who are going to be playing against each other on Sundays.
4. Can South Carolina slow down the Arkansas passing game? I’m probably going to pick South Carolina to beat Arkansas at home on Saturday but I don’t like the matchup for the Gamecocks. No. 1, Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who needs just 551 yards to reach 3,000 yards passing again, can put up big numbers on just about anybody. South Carolina is dead last in the SEC in pass defense (259.88 yards per game). The Gamecocks will be without starting cornerback Chris Culliver (shoulder) who has been lost for the season. Arkansas will be without Greg Childs, their leading receiver (46 catches, 659 yards), due to injury. Guess the Head Ball Coach had better give it to RB Marcus Lattimore a bunch and hope for the best. Also, by the time this game is kicked off (7 p.m.), South Carolina will know if Florida has beaten Vanderbilt. If the Gators win, South Carolina knows that even if it loses to Arkansas, it can earn a trip to the SEC championship game by winning next week at Florida. I’ve seen teams let down because of a lot less.
5. Will Miami go into the tank against Maryland? The Hurricanes lost QB Jacory Harris to injury (helmet to the chin) last week and fell at Virginia. It was a bad, bad loss for Miami. Still the Hurricanes (5-3, 3-2 ACC ) can win the ACC Coastal because they have Georgia Tech (Nov. 13 in Atlanta), and Virginia Tech (Nov. 20) to play. But this team had better not look ahead because on Saturday they host Maryland (6-2, 3-1) which has suddenly jumped up and become a contender in the ACC Atlantic. Ralph Friedgen’s Terps hung 62 points on Wake Forest last week. And it looks like the Fridge has found a quarterback in freshman Danny O’Brien (13 TD, 3 INT). I’m hearing from a lot of upset Miami fans about the direction of this program. Harris will not play nor will Miami’s best running back, Damien Berry (690 yards).
BONUS QUESTION
Whatever happened to Warren Morris? Warren Morris was Vince Dooley’s long time trainer at the University of Georgia and will be among those honored Saturday when Georgia recognizes the national championship team of 1980. Morris and his wife Debbie sold their home in Athens and have moved to Montana. Warren is technically retired but he has come up with a new invention, The Morris Boot, that can be used treat sprained ankles and foot injuries right on the sidelines. The Boot basically allows trainers to put the injured foot into a big, form fitting plastic bag, pack it in ice and seal it. In the past trainers have just taken an Ace bandage and wrapped a bag of ice around the foot, which was kinda messy and inefficient. This allows the player to keep his shoe on, if necessary, while getting ice immediately on the foot.
It sounds really simple and looks really simple. Some of the best inventions are. Anyway, having had my fair share of sprained ankles I thought it was cool.
If you’re interested in that sort of thing go to his website at www.morristechnologies.com.
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487 comments Add your comment
What dawg?
November 4th, 2010
7:46 am
It’s hard to slow anyone down if their name is a car part.
Saint Simons
November 4th, 2010
7:46 am
(((( 34 – 31 ))))
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
7:51 am
S.Carolina will put pressure on Mallet all day long.I see Carolina getting a couple of interceptions and Spurrier pounding Lattimore all day. I say Carolina by 6.
LSU loses to Bama-No offense-No Q.B for the tigers. Bama-24 LSU-12
Watched the replay of Auburn/Ole Miss last night. The catch Cam made on the first touchdown was un-believable. This guy is insane-great athelete.Hope he holds it together to win the Heisman.
Realistic Fan
November 4th, 2010
7:52 am
C’mon Tony! I know you need something to fill this space but Tyrod Taylor for Heisman? Be serious. It’s a little late to push hard for a guy who’s SECOND in the laughable ACC in these major stat categories.
pws
November 4th, 2010
7:59 am
I got tired of reading about all the dawgs that disagreed with your article yesterday about Todd. It amazes me that the dawg fans want to oust Urban for using his “thug”, when UGA was playing a whole group of thugs, including their defensive coordinator! It was the Thug bowl, and Florida came out on top. The whole season has been an embarrassment to the university, and I’m not talking about the win/loss record. It’s not the good research that UGA is now known for, it’s the thugs they have as student athletes.
ATL is TigerTown
November 4th, 2010
7:59 am
This is the first I’ve heard about Tyrod being in the running for the Heisman.
War Cam Eagle!
As much as I dislike Mister Leslie and LXYOO, I can’t help pulling for them this week. I know I should want UAT to win, but I just cannot lower myself to that level.
Pigs at Chickens is a tossup for me.
ACC again? Why?
War Eagle!
pws
November 4th, 2010
7:59 am
and now you can include their coaches!
MrSpill94
November 4th, 2010
8:02 am
Tony, any prediction on GT-VT tonight?
reebok
November 4th, 2010
8:03 am
I’m picking V-Tech over G-Tech by 4 tonite. 4 touchdowns, not 4 points.
Charlie Bama
November 4th, 2010
8:03 am
FYI Tony — LSU may be able to rattle Greg McElroy, but if it comes down to a full through-the-air attack, Bama will bring in AJ McCarron, known as Mr. Laser by the receivers. I’m not making this up — McCarron will be an option for LSU this Saturday, and they won’t like what happen after that. You heard it here first. Big Question? Can LSU score more than 17 on Bama? I’m betting Bama can score one more touchdown than the Tigers.
reebok
November 4th, 2010
8:04 am
tony, thanks for the tip on that ice-boot thing. going to go on line & check it out.
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:04 am
pws,
Over 1800 people discussed this issue yesterday.Please dont bring this back up.Enough already-let’s move on.
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:06 am
Charlie Bama,
My dad was saying the same thing last night.Is McCarron from Texas?
Charlie Bama
November 4th, 2010
8:06 am
Tyrod Taylor? Seriously? Maybe GATech can’t stop him (they can’t stop a lot of runninbacks these days), but most fair to defenses can cantain him. Tyrod? Special?
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:07 am
I think GT can beat VPI tonight in Lane Stadium. I don’t know if Tech can stop Tyrod, but maybe slow down the running game down and GT does have a shot to win.
Cam Newton will be out of the game at half time.
McElroy will not use his are too much to beat LSU.
USC and Garcia just have to not lose the game. If Garcia just makes smart passes the USC Defense will take care of the rest.
I think Harris is still a lil urt’n and Maryland needs to hit him a few times and then the Terps can win.
Charlie Bama
November 4th, 2010
8:07 am
McCarron is from LA (known to us as Lowerr Alabama -Mobile). He’s gonna be one to watch next year.
tc
November 4th, 2010
8:08 am
Smart move by changing the subject Tony
Beast from the East
November 4th, 2010
8:09 am
1…Any stats compiled in the ACC should only be given half credit. LOL!
2…I’m sure they’ll rest Cam after the first half for the big showdown w/ Bama.
3…Expect a tight game with Bama coming out on top late in the 4th. LSU’s defense is a test for anyone not named Cam.
4…As much as I hate to say it, I expect Arkansas to beat USC. The East is a notch below the West this year from top to bottom.
5…Once again, it’s the ACC. Who really cares? They’re all waiting for the first tip-off. That conference needs to forfeit their automatic BCS bid until they can put a team (any team) in the top 10 at the end of the season. ONE TEAM RANKED 22nd IN THE BCS DOES NOT MERIT A BCS BID!
Too Easy
November 4th, 2010
8:09 am
Charlie: Didn’t think USCe could score as many as they did against UA, either. But they did.
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:10 am
5150 POAD,
The Tech Defense-The D-Line? Any Seniors?
Nathan Deal
November 4th, 2010
8:10 am
So how will Josh Nesbitt use his Tech degree???
A) Play in the NFL? (LOL)
B) Become a world renowned Engineer (LOL)
C) Become a Math Professor) (LOL)
D) Go back to Greene County, GA and teach High School P.E. and coach JV Football (Most likely)
If you chose the only logical answer, D, just keep in mind, that it’s those kind of stories that you Techies make fun of UGA grads for doing. But when your “boy” is about to do it, you’ll call it “making a difference in the community and shaping young people into young adults”.
Hypocrites
TO HELL WITH GEORGIA TECH!!!
Cannot wait to watch you get blown out on your typical Thursday Night JV timeslot. LOSERS.
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:10 am
Charlie Bama,
What High School?
Charlie Bama
November 4th, 2010
8:12 am
Too Easy — Good Point, but USC’s offense is not LSU’s offense. In fact, has anybody even seen LSU ‘offense’ this year? They’re not exactly turbos.
Charlie Bama
November 4th, 2010
8:13 am
Murphy – St, Paul’s –a spiffy private school.
Charlie Bama
November 4th, 2010
8:14 am
Nathan Deal — Please, act like a Governor. Chill.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:15 am
Murphy just Robert Hall
JOD
November 4th, 2010
8:16 am
Yes, cause Thursday night is so JV NATHAN DEAL, even those guys from South Carolina play on it…. Whoops, they beat the 9th grade squad from GA.
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:17 am
Charlie,
Remember seeing him play in the Spring Game-Had a rocket for an arm. LSU wont beat Bama-No Offense!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2010
8:17 am
Saint Simons
“30-24″
“60-39″
BLAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:17 am
5150,
The whole Tech D is young-correct?
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:20 am
Nathan Deal should you be making a plan to rob the state of Georgia? How are your Mercer Bears doing this year? What are Zier, Greene, Cox, and Stafford doing with their UGA degrees?
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 4th, 2010
8:20 am
Get ready for the show haters!
GaDawg
November 4th, 2010
8:21 am
pws, and what classy univ. do you represent. UGA is a great university and is not an embarrassment to anyone. We’ve had our issues but we are not in this boat alone, as was pointed out yesterday by all the baggage at other universities everywhere including yours. So drop the sanctimonious crap comments unless you want to throw out the name of the univ. you represent an let the facts come forward. And TB, what do you have to say about the on field taunting by the fla. players an CTG. You see, when it all comes out it’s nothing more than the excitement and love of the game of the game for both sides. UGA fans are waiting on your apology
Gold Helmets
November 4th, 2010
8:21 am
Tony, thank you for mentioning Georgia Tech. Seems like most football coverage this week has been about a UGA assistant coach and a Florida kicker. Tonight is a huge game for GT. Even though UGA has more fans statewide, there are many GT fans interested in this game.
Nathan Deal
November 4th, 2010
8:22 am
Nesbitt & Allen LLP
Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Can any of you imagine their Ebonics being used in a Board Room???
Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:23 am
only 5 seniors and not all start. So it was a good time to go to the 3-4 because most of the players didn’t have to forget what they had already learned. We just don’t have a great NoseGuard. TJ BARNES is big but just hasn’t played up to expactations and Walls is not as big as he needs to be. Walls playes more but Barnes comes in on certain packages.
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:26 am
5150,
Sounds like us at UGA. Good luck tonight-hope Tech can play ball control and keep T-Rod off the field.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2010
8:26 am
Tech
Get ready to join UGA tonight with another loss
17 of 20
November 4th, 2010
8:26 am
That Georgia quarterback is a turnover machine, I like him a lot.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:26 am
Nathan Nesbitt doesn’t talk much to reporters or anybody. How do you know what he sounds like? Allen spoke at the ACC media days and what are you talking about? Allen speaks very well.
delusional dawgs
November 4th, 2010
8:27 am
nathan, i think Josh will get hired by the athens police. seems like they would be hiring, given all the work their with the football team.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:28 am
Flat tire and 17 of 20
Who is the qb at Florida?
john b
November 4th, 2010
8:29 am
Tj needs to be in the game…. Walls blows..
SimpleDawg
November 4th, 2010
8:32 am
Finally….a headline with GIT as the lead.
Congratulations.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 4th, 2010
8:33 am
john b
Walls has more of a motor. TJ can’t play the whole game jet. His conditioning is bad. They have worked with him a lot and he just doesn’t have the stanima for the whole game. TJ’s foot work isn’t as good as Walls either.
damon evans
November 4th, 2010
8:35 am
hey Nathan…if you know of some jobs for Josh, maybe you could help me out as well?
3rdN8
November 4th, 2010
8:36 am
MURPHY
AJ McCarron is a big-time prospect…..but so far, he is only that. He hasn’t played any meaningful minutes against top tier teams to date. He reminds me a lot of Brody Croyle (size, arm, and playmaking).
If McElroy stuggles on Saturday, I wouldn’t fall out of my chair to see McCarron come off of the bench.
David
November 4th, 2010
8:38 am
I don’t have any respect for TONY BARNHART anymore, and as a Georgia graduate, I’m extremely disappointed in his judgement, which is far worse than TODD GRANTHAM’S. Anytime a commentator writes “that is so far over the line that it can’t even be debated”, that is HIS OPINION, and where does get get off telling me that what HE said cannont be debated. How ELITE Tony has become after going “national” and it seems that political correctness comes with more than one trip to New York City, and moreso if the visit is to CBS. Barnhart the AJC have “always been separated at the hip” — but not anymore. He fits right in with the POLITICAL CORRECTNESS oozing out of that place, usually from Jeff Shultz — and NOW FROM TONY BARNHART. GATA Todd Grantham. (Incidently, I don’t read Tony anymore, so the placement of this comment may or may not “fit”. But surely that is debatable, too).
MURPHY
November 4th, 2010
8:41 am
3rdN8,
My dad is a huge Bama guy. He says McCarron might end up being the best Q.B Bama has had in a while. I dont McElroy struggling on Sat. He has lead this team for 2 years,I dont see him getting pulled.Of course you Bama fan’s know more than me though.
bo
November 4th, 2010
8:41 am
c’mom, I was hoping for a week long expose on the choke hold! this is very disappointing we are moving on to another subject.