Big plays against big plays
It could be a real (cliche alert) barn-burner Thursday night at Land Shark Stadium when the Jackets take on the Hurricanes.
Why?
Because these two teams make big plays and a lot of them. Granted, the season is young.
But Miami quarterback Jacory Harris had nine pass plays of at least 20 yards in their win against Florida State. Nine.
In comparison, Josh Nesbitt hit his ninth play (running or passing), in the third quarter of the Virginia Tech game last season.
That in no way means Harris is better than Nesbitt. Different quarterbacks. Different systems. Different expectations. Different everything.
It’s just used to illustrate the big-play potential that Harris possesses.
Now, Tech knows a thing or two about big plays, having scored six touchdowns using them this season (and others that didn’t lead to TDs), and having made 67 of them last year.
So, it would be easy to say the team that makes the most big plays will win the game.
I’m not sure if it’ll be that easy.
Paraphrasing something coach Paul Johnson said on Monday, just because you do something good, or something bad, in football or life, it doesn’t mean that you were great and the other team bad. And vice versa. Sometimes you can both be good and things still happen.
So perhaps there won’t be that many big plays. Perhaps it’ll just come down to who does what they do the best. Tech running vs. Miami passing.
Of course, that means that there will be big plays.
I give up. (I know, some of you have been waiting on me to say that for a long time now.)
What do you think the key to the game will be?
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180 comments Add your comment
Tech82
September 15th, 2009
11:23 am
Futuro – Jax St. scored 10 points in the fourth quarter against our bench. By contrast, FSU had their starters in during the fourth quarter because they were LOSING. You need to make a better comparison than that.
SaintSimonsLover
September 15th, 2009
11:24 am
That Tech secondary didn’t look too good to me against Clemson. You guys are all delusional. Wake up because you will lose quite a few games this year. Paul Johnson is the savior though. Give me a break.
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
11:25 am
DamnGoodDawg
You are the epitome of a loser
Goodluck with your 1-2 record after your drubbing by Pig Sooee
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
11:29 am
SaintSimonsLover – They had 2 int’s and made plays when they needed it
Did they look like Deion (in his prime) and Champ Bailey? ofcourse not
Looked MUCH better than FSU’s and UGA’s though
m
September 15th, 2009
11:29 am
Ga Tech Insider….if it had been left up to FOOLS like you…we would still have chan gomer gailey.
Thank God and Greyhound that fools like you didn’t prevail….and that DRAD had the sense to get rid of the worst coach in the history of the world. Ga Tech Insider…you and every other Tech fan that ever supported chan gomer gailey or defended him in any way…you SUCK as bad as he STILL does. By the way…notice that KC Chiefs didn’t waste 6 long sorry years on gomer.
There is a new sheriff in town…his name is Paul Johnson…he is the real deal. In spite of IDIOTS like Ga Tech Insider.
Obama
September 15th, 2009
11:31 am
Ok.. Ok…. I watched the little yellar fellars for a couple of plays this year as Thursday night TV isn’t that great.
I have to be fair and admit that if you got Coach Peanutbutter and Jelly and all the other bugs in a room and asked them how many quarters in a football game…. At least a couple of them would answer 4
JEREMY CHANDLER
September 15th, 2009
11:39 am
NERD HERD!!!! TECH WILL ALWAYS BE A SECOND CLASS TEAM! NERD HERD!!!!!
CW
September 15th, 2009
11:41 am
Just like last week, there sure are a lot of smack talking Tech fans talking about blowing somebody out. Did you guys watch the same game that I did against Clemson?
Tech has a very talented backfield, receivers and secondary, but our O line, D line (D Morgan excluded) and linebackers did not have a great game last week. And, most importantly, the whole team has a problem with their on/off switch – as in they just shut down as a team for two quarters in both games this year.
The key to the game is can this team of mostly underclassmen, begin to play with a consistent effort for 60 minutes or will they only play hard and execute for half the game?
Tech has the talent and the capacity to beat every team on their schedule this year. But they’ve got to get mentally tougher and start hammering teams when they have the chance.
Johnny Test
September 15th, 2009
11:42 am
I love it, nobody likes M. He is a total goober.
Futuro
September 15th, 2009
11:43 am
As I watched GT play Clemson i hoped they would not lose. I thought to myself if GT looses they may be more motivated against Mia, but if they win then laurels. It all worked out, GT got the win and now you are all ridding so high, undefeated and going up against an inferior team you trounced last year. No worries your in control. The rest is obvious. Don’t get UPSET!
JEREMY CHANDLER
September 15th, 2009
11:47 am
DAWGS RULE 4872280677
JEREMY CHANDLER
September 15th, 2009
11:47 am
4782280677 GO DAWGS
Luerich
September 15th, 2009
11:49 am
NCAAF Odds listed them Tech as a 3.5 point underdog citing Tech will have problems on the road.
I think they are wrong, if the offense stays focused for 4 quarters and the defensive line steps up, Tech wins big +14 points!!
Chris
September 15th, 2009
11:52 am
Harris looked pretty good against FSU, but he’s still got to prove he can do it against a not-horrible secondary. Miami’s OL isn’t as good as Clemson’s and Harris won’t have the time Parker did in the second half. That’s the ONLY reason Parker put up 261 passing on Tech. They double-teamed Derrick Morgan from the late-second quarter on and our pass rush magically evaporated, so all Parker had to do was wait till Spiller or Ford got open.
If Tech can generate some semblance of a consistent pass rush, Harris won’t pick us apart.
The other part is how Tech’s OL got dominated by the Clemson DL after they started attacking Nesbitt with the DEs on every play. Again, I don’t think Miami has the DEs that Clemson does. If Nesbitt can be better passing than he was against Clemson (he HAS to be…can’t get worse than 3-14 83yds 1 int) the offense will work just fine.
There is no “silver bullet” to defend the triple option. Can you “figure out” the West Coast offense or a Pro-style set? Shouldn’t the SEC have “figured out” Florida’s Spread option? How about West Virginia under Rodriguez? Say it with me: ANY OFFENSE, WHEN WELL EXECUTED, IS DIFFICULT TO DEFEND.
Hayseed Dixie
September 15th, 2009
11:57 am
Most of the Tech players grew up watching Miami, so they don’t have to be motivated for this game.
If Tech keeps its foot on the gas pedal the whole time, Miami doesn’t stand a chance.
Shannon is so outclassed here, it’s not funny.
Born a Hurricane Fan
September 15th, 2009
12:11 pm
Say what you want…and I’m not coming back here regardless a win or lost. But if you think it’s going to be the same result as last year, you’re either dumb, deaf or blind. And sidenote….the problem will playing a big game so early in the season is that exposes your team weakness for everybody else to see. Dam..Sucks Clemson played you guys so tough, while we had 10 days to iron out our wrinkles.
Sidenote: A total of 6 new starters are on D compared to last year team, and those 6 starters weree supppose to start last year, if not for season ending injuries. Just wanted to throw that little tidbit for anybody that thinks they’re going to see the same Miami D from last year.
Da U
September 15th, 2009
12:14 pm
A few of your comments/concerns will be answered.
1) Q – This is the same defense that got shredded last year, I mean shredded.
A – AAAAAAAAAA, no it’s not! 2 new starting LB’s, DB’s and 3 DL. Plus, much more depth. And a
DQ that was at Carolina last year. And they wooped that butt.
2) Q – They almost got beat by Jacksonville St!
A – Who cars about Jax ST, we did not play them!
3) Q – Miami’s D line rarely got any pressure to Ponder.
A – That was the game plan, to rush only 4 to stop the run! Which we did!
I think it is going to be a great game, but stop being such a homer and take a look at the big picture. Were bigger, faster, and have more depth. You will score, maybe alot. But……..I think we will score more.
And yes, if we lose I will be the 1st person on this thread to admit GT is better.
It’s all in fun! Makes the game that much better!
bb
September 15th, 2009
12:16 pm
LOL, Miami’s DC came from UNC and that’s why you think Miami will shut down GT. FYI, GT rushed for 326 yds against the Tar Heels and had 423 total yds offense in that game. So, holding a team to 423 yds is shutting them down??? GT lost that game because of TOs and ST play, NOT because their offense was shut down.
I keep seeing that Clemson showed, again, how to stop the Jackets. So, holding GT to 300+ yds rushing and 400+ total yds is now considered a success? The only team that can stop the Jackets is the Jackets (with TOs, penalties). LSU has done the best and GT had 300+ total yds in that game (again TOs and ST play was what sank the Jackets in that game).
The key for GT is not turning the ball over.
Gt4ever
September 15th, 2009
12:20 pm
The offense better show up, because this Miami’s offense is the best we have seen yet… It will most likely burn us several times. I could be wrong, but I see this as a high scoring event… Time will tell.
Alabama Jack
September 15th, 2009
12:30 pm
If Miami could play with their mouths, I would be quite worried.
dcp
September 15th, 2009
12:31 pm
Born
Fair points, but understand that if you think Miami will roll, you are in for a surprise. I hope for your sake that the U fans show up. That Land Shark Stadium is even less imposing than the way folks poke fun at Bobby Dodd. The Orange Bowl was a rowdy building – but Land Shark on a Thursday night,do you think people will show? Miami had to lower their season ticket price in 24 sections just to get interest going again. I just checked and there were tickets available at the 30 yd line – section 116. Hopefully for your sake Miami fans will show and your team can step up – I need to see it though. Both teams have playmakers and both teams gave up big points last time out. I don’t think 10 days to prepare sets up a win for Miami. You do have a ton of good recruits and returning talent but Tech will only lose if they turn the ball over (and believe me we can fumble the ball). Tech’s secondary is good – Burnett went for the ball on the long TD to Ford for Clemson – he should have knocked the ball down. He is a future pro, though, and Tarrant, Reese, Butler and Taylor are a good secondary. Now, if you can block the D line (very possible) than Harris or any QB will start to get comfortable back there. Good luck.
chemdawg
September 15th, 2009
12:37 pm
Tech had to cheat to beat Clemson. They used an illegal substitution on the fake field goal that resulted in a TD but didn’t get flagged for it. The ACC reviewed the tape and admitted the refs screwed up.
murfdawg
September 15th, 2009
12:54 pm
Tech will win because they can’t lose.
Miami cannot tackle.
Nesbitt will make just enough good plays at the right time to hold them in the game.
Johnson will dial up a gimmick play at the right time and make it work.
And when all else fails, the refs will make a game saving call for Tech.
I look for GT to play Fla for the MNC.
You heard it here first!!
superDawg
September 15th, 2009
1:00 pm
tek will be in a state of shock thursday night Miami will put a full force wind on the jackets and blow them back in their hole.teks D is not up to the task.
superDawg
September 15th, 2009
1:08 pm
I like guys!
Techster 0239432
September 15th, 2009
1:09 pm
We need a QB that can throw the ball, we look like a bunch of clowns out there running into each other juggling the football.
NCAAStatKeeper
September 15th, 2009
1:14 pm
Sorry Tech fans but the Canes prevail this year…BIG! As a nuetral observer but an NCAA football fanatic, I watched the TECH/Clemson game and the Miami/FSU game and the big difference is that the fast FSU defense could not stop a fast Miami offense. The FSU secondary certainly appeared no worse than the GT secondary I saw against Clemson. But Tech looked mostly inept offensively. Take away the punt return and the fake FG and Clemson wins that game by two touchdowns or more. Thus, I predict Miami 37 GT 10. Techs offense just will not be able to move the ball unless Nesbitt learns to hit his receivers.
Joe Schmoe
September 15th, 2009
1:17 pm
NCAAStatKeeper, I guess we only play 30 minutes now, or at least to you. That would be like me saying if we take away those two lucky bombs clemson threw blah blah blah… You get the point, or do you???
prowl103
September 15th, 2009
1:26 pm
Go Tech!
GT4Ever
September 15th, 2009
1:30 pm
Da U
September 15th, 2009
9:42 am
Coaching issues?????? Just remember, our new D-cord. was the mastermind of last years UNC vs GT blowout. Now, he is coaching a D that is bigger, faster, and now deeper. Just make sure to bring your NECK braces, wouldn’t want you to pull a muscle turning your head side to side watching Miami drop 50!
A lot of talk from a UM team that gave up 34 and 400 yards to an overated FSU team. Your new DC was not the master mind at UNC last year. Get your facts straight. He was the special teams coordinator for UNC. He’s doing a real good job so far. Did you guys even watch the game? FSU offense was all over you guys. Now you expect the same “D” to totally shut down our “O”, you must be crazy. FSU’s “D” stunk it up in your game and now your proclaiming your UM is BACK!!! HA HA HA Granted Harris is going to be a good but one game doesn’t make him a superstar no matter how you spin it. We have our own problems though and CPJ has had enough. Watch out because he will take out his anger on your beloved UM. GO JACKETS!!!!
Burdell
September 15th, 2009
1:31 pm
ChemDawg-
Clemson also should have been flagged for a substitution violation in the 3rd quarter on a 37 yard pass play on the drive that tied it up. Look it up. Get your facts straight. Both teams got a beneficial “no-call”.
Go Jackets! Sooooooweeeeeee!
Burdell
September 15th, 2009
1:33 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/3589/both-clemson-gt-used-illegal-plays
There’s the link….
GT4Ever
September 15th, 2009
1:34 pm
superDawg
September 15th, 2009
1:00 pm
tek will be in a state of shock thursday night Miami will put a full force wind on the jackets and blow them back in their hole.teks D is not up to the task.
HA HA HA Some talk from a team that gave up 37 points and 427 yards to a sorry USCe team. Go back to your UGAy blog and bash WM and Cox!!!!!
the real Old Gold
September 15th, 2009
1:38 pm
Tech has to protect the pass. They fell off a bit in the 3rd quarter of the Clemson game, but have done a pretty good job overall so far. Terrant helps a lot, and the Butler-Burnett combo with Taylor and Reese to boot… if they have their A or even B game on, we’ll be fine. Otherwise.. we better score 45!
GT4Ever
September 15th, 2009
1:39 pm
db
September 15th, 2009
10:42 am
Is it true that UNC’s def coordinator is now at Miami? If so, that concerns me as we only scored 7 off UNC last year.
NO!!! He was UNC’s special teams coordinator. So what, UM’s “D” didn’t look all that good against a sorry FSU team.
Louisiana Jacket
September 15th, 2009
1:41 pm
Also UNC’s D didn’t look that good when we played them unless you consider 2 bad pitches, and miserable special teams “a great D”
GT4Ever
September 15th, 2009
1:51 pm
chemdawg
September 15th, 2009
12:37 pm
Tech had to cheat to beat Clemson. They used an illegal substitution on the fake field goal that resulted in a TD but didn’t get flagged for it. The ACC reviewed the tape and admitted the refs screwed up.
Get you facts straight first before you write. Clemson did the same time on their drive to tie the score.
Heather Dinich: ACC officials reviewed it this week, and determined that two plays should have been flagged for violating a rule prohibiting substitution tactics that may confuse opponents. As it turns out, Georgia Tech wasn’t the only guilty party.
The play everyone is talking about resulted in a 34-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal for the Jackets in the first quarter; the other resulted in a 37-yard pass for Clemson late in the third quarter that got the ball inside the red zone on a drive that ultimately tied the score.
According to NCAA rule 9-2-2-b: “No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents. No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confuse opponents.”
wreckmaniac
September 15th, 2009
1:56 pm
I was quite impressed with Miami’s finish against FSU. I think Tech will win but it will be close and our D line must put pressure on their
QB in order to do it.
xCane4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
2:02 pm
Nobody from the UM team has run their mouth leading up to this game. And why exactly is FSU overrated? Because they had a tough time in a monsoon against Jax St?? Sounds like your Gardner Webb last year. FSU is not world beaters, but they are not bottom of the ACC either.
Beating Clemson is nothing special………..but since Tech beat them in a close one they are a good team this year…..totally understand your logic on that one.
Just enjoy your last year of Paul Johnson…….cause when Weiss gets fired, they are going to come calling.
GT
September 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
Consistence, it is something that is missing in most of college football now days. In Tech’s game plan it has to be there every play because they count of the other team’s defense making one or two mistakes a game. If Tech is not performing on those one or two mistakes made by Miami, it won’t have a good night, so they have to play ever play like it is the game winning play. The most consistent team on both sides that makes the least mistakes wins.
BuzztheKiller
September 15th, 2009
2:23 pm
Both teams have good atheletes and will make big plays. It will come down to who makes the least mistakes on turnovers. Coaching edge goes to Johnson. Randy Shannon looks lost half the time.
Frank
September 15th, 2009
2:27 pm
Ga fans on here masquerdaing as cane fans. too funny
if tech doesn’t have costly turnovers, we win. it’s that simple. miami beating fsu is nothing to gloat about. fsu’s def is awful and there off is pretty lethargic too. if gt plays sound football, we win and won’t break a sweat.
miami like fsu and ga play undisciplined defense. the option works easily against this. one thing pj needs to do is more short passes to the rb’s. i saw allen and dwyer open many times after the ball was snapped. they were standing there watching nesbitt on the keeper. if he turns and throws the ball back across, they can run for 20 yards. i hope the off coord saw that on the tapes.
BuzztheKiller
September 15th, 2009
2:29 pm
I just love the fact that when Miami came into the ACC they thought they were going to run the table every year straight to a BCS game- how is that working out for you Canes??
I was at Bobby Dodd the first year they came into the league and seeing the Miami fans with t-shirts that said “We may have joined your league but that doesn’t mean you are in ours”. Tech is 4-1 since then they came in, so yep, those shirts were right. Tech is in a different league than Thug U.
Kane337
September 15th, 2009
2:30 pm
Jacory Harris is a rising star. He is a future Heisman candidate. Can’t wait to see how he will do against the Jackets secondary after what Clemson exposed.
If the Canes do not give up too many big plays from GT’s ground game then I think this is the Canes game to win. If they can’t stop the run like last year then GT will win.
Just my take.
GT
September 15th, 2009
2:31 pm
xCane4Lifex you phew on one side about no one runs their mouths, from your camp,then you buck up FSU because weather caused them to look like they were even in ability with Jacksonville State, like the same weather wasn’t on both sides of the field and the old FSU would not have won this game by 60 points. Then you lambaste Clemson who will beat both Miami and FSU this year and then you credit Johnson with being a great coach too great to be kept by this team that hasn’t beaten anybody special. Are all the sunshine boys as bright as you or have most of the smarter ones left and become half backs and now are living in Georgia among many southern states like refugees from New Orleans.
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
2:32 pm
Bearing Down On Hurricanes
Nesbitt, Jackets working to improve passing game
by Matt Winkeljohn, Managing Editor
ATLANTA – Josh Nesbitt had a rough go last Thursday night, completing just three of 14 passes, throwing two interceptions and missing badly on a few other attempts.
But Georgia Tech’s quarterback also threw a couple passes that were dropped, and coach Paul Johnson said that as the Yellow Jackets prepare to play at Miami Thursday, the coaching staff is looking for ways to help Nesbitt out with schematic adjustments.
“We made some bad decisions and we probably put him in a couple bad spots,” Johnson said. “The first play of the game was open if we throw the ball. He said he didn’t see the safety [and a long pass was intercepted]. I don’t think you will ever see him do that again. He will learn to keep the ball back down where he needs to throw it.”
Nesbitt sounds plenty determined.
“I had a bad game,” he said. “I knock the dust off my shoulders and keep working on the things I need to be working on in order to beat Miami.”
Johnson doesn’t see this as a trend.
“The thing that made me proud of Josh was, when we had to have it in the fourth quarter, he completed the big third down throw to get us in position to tie the game and eventually win the game,” the coach said. “Historically for Josh, when he’s played a game that maybe wasn’t quite up to his standards or where he wants to be, he usually bounces back with a pretty good one. I’ m expecting that from him.”
dawgfan
September 15th, 2009
2:33 pm
as a uga fan sitting in the stands at the clemson/tech game, i can say that tech has some good players that can break open a game at any point. anthony allen flew down the sideline after he broke on that first TD and no one was gonna stop him. that being said, tech’s offensive line seemed to struggle later on in the game against the DL crashing down on that inside counter play that tech ran all night.
really, i can see either team winning this one. miami looked pretty good at times against fsu and tech looked pretty good at times against clemson. i think this one will come down to a few special teams plays and costly turnovers. im looking forward to a solid thursday night game
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
2:34 pm
If you Mia fans think you will see the same mistakes again that GT made against Clem, then you are sadly mistaken
I’m not claiming we are going to blow out Mia, but you will see a much improved GT on Thursday – CPJ is great at making game-to-game adjustments
Rebel Fan
September 15th, 2009
2:43 pm
I can sum up the key for Tech in one word – BALANCE !!! Ga. Tech is goingto have to throw the football to be successful. As we all saw last week, If you stack 7, 8 or 9 guys on the line, you can stop the run, even the Triple Option. Nesbitt is going to have to prove that he can complete a pass so Miami’s D will back off the line of scrimmage and allow Dwyer and Co. to wreak havoc with the option.
With all that said, I still think Tech finds a way to win the game. When the chips were down against Clemson, Tech found a way to win the game. It was not pretty but a W is a W, it does not matter if the score was 3-0.
xCane4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Never said Paul Johnson wasn’t a good coach….do they teach you to read in Georgia? I merely said you guys are trying to be more comfortable about this game using the rationale that FSU isn’t that good….and stated they had a GA Tech / Gardner Webb type moment….sounds like you’re a few fries short of a happy meal. Miami scores against FSU, and your argument is that FSU’s defense is terrible. GA Tech puts up 16 offensive points against Clemson and their defense is awesome…..I’m following your logic here.