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?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
180 comments Add your comment
Ted
September 15th, 2009
3:09 pm
Once again to you ignorant people, gt had their 3rd string qb play against gard webb. he had never played in this offense and had no clue what he was doing. fsu didn’t have a gard webb moment. they had an fsu is in a major decline and has major issues moment.
follow this…gt scores from both sides of the ball. when one of our defenders intercepts your almost rookie qb and takes it to the house, you will say oh wow they are good.
x cane you are not a cane fan. you’re the same schmuck on here from ugag. i can see it in your writing style. you were here during the clemson week saying the same thing. get a life loser.
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
3:22 pm
xCane4Lifex
Who are you responding to? Right now you just sound like a scared ibis.
xCane4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
3:26 pm
Incorrect Ted……how many defensive td’s did GT score against Clemson? 0, right? That would categorize both sides of the ball right?? I have never said I thought the canes would beat up on GA Tech, just thought you guys were dismissing this game a little too quickly. The logic you guys are coming with makes no sense.
FSU’s defense was terrible…..Miami didn’t have anything to do with that? Pretty sure they did. The OC exploited mismatch after mismatch. Which will probably happen again Thursday night….GA Tech’s defense didn’t look that hot against Clemson…..but wait, Clemson got lucky…right?
Louisiana Jacket
September 15th, 2009
3:27 pm
Yo Doug got a question for you, do we know why anthony allen was rotated out of kickoff return during the clemson game? Also do we know if that is going to continue?
xCane4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
3:27 pm
right at you GT quefe
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
3:37 pm
xCane4Lifex
Ok clown, where in my post did you see anything about FSU or Gardner Webb? If you are going to respond to just my post, then how about reading it first? Its a novel idea, I know.
GT Fans, look at this MIAMI fan challenging a GA TECH alum on ANY aspect of academic ability….HAHAHAHA….Sorry xCane4Lifex, GT may be in your league, but academically, you’re no where near our league
nuro
September 15th, 2009
3:42 pm
My brain hurts.GT not man enough.
xCanes4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
3:49 pm
Well you got me GT que……..I will burn my diploma from Miami because it is inferior to one from Tech. You obviously know nothing about the University of Miami as an academic institution.
GT Que
September 15th, 2009
3:51 pm
xCane4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Never said Paul Johnson wasn’t a good coach….do they teach you to read in Georgia?
You drew first blood with the literacy jab – I’m perfectly fine with keeping it strictly on football and the game on Thurs
Good luck to your boys
Big play Ray
September 15th, 2009
3:53 pm
The U is going to get the hammer dropped on them by Dwyer Nesbitt Jones and Allen. They cannot stop this foursome. GT wins this one easily.
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
3:56 pm
If were Thug U, then whats that make you?…Terrorist harboring Tech?
Miami has had no off the field trouble in 3 years, unlike many other top tier teams I can name…UGA, Florida, etc. Shannon is doing is part to clean up a mess Coker left. Thug U jokes are old.
Our D got embarrassed last year cause we were too young to play disciplined against the option. That wont be the case this yr. Just remember what we did to Nebraska’s option with a disciplined D. Totally diff team, I know, but our talent level from the past 2 classes has risen tremedously…you’ll see come Thurs. Also remember for the FSU game our 2 most expereinced D-lineman were not playing. They are back healthy now. The pressure will be there.
xCanes4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
3:57 pm
My only issue with the entire discussion is the logic used when a tech fan tells me why they’re going to beat up on Miami.
They may very well beat Miami, doesn’t make Miami a bad football team, and doesn’t make GA Tech the greatest football team. I truly think when these two teams play Thursday night, it is the two best teams I have seen in the conference year to date. That may change, but neither one has looked terrible….yet. Going to be a close one, and with all the talk about offensive firepower from both…it will end up being a 13-10 game. Good luck to the jackets.
GTfan11
September 15th, 2009
3:57 pm
I may be mistaken but I recall the secondary giving up some pretty big pass plays last week against Clemson and their freshman quaterback. If we can’t pressure the QB, They’ll burn us again. Also if Josh can’t throw the ball between the sidelines, then Miami can put 11 in the box if they want. I’m concerned about this game. Miami seemed to be pretty strong against the run against FSU. Let’s hope Tech won’t go to sleep again during the 2nd and 3rd quarters and put it to Miami again!
Ted
September 15th, 2009
3:59 pm
Yes x cane your defense is so great. So great in fact it’s half as good as jack states.
Our defense gave up a couple of big plays you dope. Which is uncharacteristic of them. Other than that, they played a good game. How many big plays did your team have against that crap fsu defense. Talking trash and you have nothing to back it up with. Four in a row over the U. Now that is funny.
YP
September 15th, 2009
4:04 pm
Nice logic cane. You’ve played one game against a crap fsu team that is riddened with chaos,that scored to go ahead with .45 left against jax state and you think you are superior because of this? Memo to you.FSU is HORRIBLE. You barely beat a horrible team. And you really should have lost.
Your going to face the best coach in the acc offensively. He knows how to win. Enjoy 5 in a row.
And I agree with the others on here. You’re a ugay fan who last week was doing the same thing with the clemson moniker. How pathetic you are.
xCanes4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
4:07 pm
Ted…you’re an idiot. Haven’t once said the Canes defense was going to dominate…just think they’re defense is better than Clemson’s.
GTJ
September 15th, 2009
4:08 pm
DaU…if you watched that LSU game you’d know that the final score was a result of Georgia Tech’s mistakes more than it was of LSU stopping Georgia Tech.
xCanes4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
4:09 pm
YP………Clemson is horrible…….so you barely beat a horrible team. Thursday should be a good game then. Two teams who barely beat horrible teams….can’t wait!!
Trade School Junkie
September 15th, 2009
4:10 pm
I’ll add this item to this discussion:
http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-09-14/conference-call-fsu-bottom-half-acc
Its an up-to-date ranking of the conferences, and teams within conferences.
Here it is for the ACC:
1. VT
2. GT
3. Miami
4. UNC
5. Clemson
6. NCSt
7. Wake
8. BC
9. FSU <—— Look WAY down here.
10. MD
11. Duke
12. UVA
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
4:11 pm
One more thing, bringing up what someone did to another school is completely useless. Its a different game, diff match ups, it proves nothing. On paper the Bills had no chance against the ALL KNOWING Tom Brady and his Patriots, but they came out and punched them in the mouth for 3 qts. Michigan lost to App St. Stuff happens to the best of them. You think you can beat UGA again only throwing the ball 7 times? I doubt it. You cant say since X beat Y, and Y beat Z, then X is better then Z. I know thats how the AP polls rank teams, but its just not accurate. Paper champions dont exsist.
However, Clemsons QB last Thurs was the worst Ive seen in a long time…maybe worse then our last savior Kyle Wright. He couldnt see the wide open spaces in front of him to run and instead threw a wildly inaccurate pass or got sacked. He got nervous as soon as the ball was snapped and started looking for ways out the pocket. Just horrible. The fact that they were able to get any deep balls on your secondary and make a come back in that game tells me there are weaknesses. Im not saying Miami doesnt have them too, but to declare your D as good is very optimistic this early in the season. CJ spiller is a fast special player…well, we have at least 3 playmakers on offense with his speed and ability. If Jacory has time, he’ll find them.
oronomus
September 15th, 2009
4:14 pm
Think Miami is fast? Spiller and Ford are much faster, probably one of the fastest combo’s ever. Don’t believe it? Check out this year’s NCAA 60-yard dash FINALS:
Men 60 Meter Dash
================================================================
Two heats. Winner plus the next six fastest advance to Final.
American: A 6.39 3/3/2001 Maurice Green
NCAA Meet: M 6.51 3/15/2008 Richard THOMPSON, LSU
Facility: F 6.56 1/31/2009 Trindon HOLLIDAY, LSU
Collegiate: C 6.45 2/20/1999 Leonard MYLES-MILLS, BYU
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
Finals
1 Jacoby Ford SO Clemson 6.52F
2 Trindon Holliday JR LSU 6.55F
3 Terrell Wilks SO Florida 6.61
4 Adam Harris SR Michigan 6.62
5 Rondel Sorrillo JR Kentucky 6.63 [6.622]
6 Gerald Phiri SO Texas A&M 6.63 [6.625]
7 Michael Ray Garvin SR Fla St. 6.66
8 Teddy Williams JR Texas-San Anton 6.70
Ted
September 15th, 2009
4:16 pm
I never wrote you said they would dominate. Nice name calling too. What are you, 15?
You’re gloating about barely beating a crap FSU team. Clemson is hands down better than miami or fsu. You will see that when you play them.
Ted
September 15th, 2009
4:17 pm
Ford and Spiller are 10 x faster than any receiver on miami. These pretend cane fans are ignorant.
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
4:17 pm
What does that prove except that they also run track? You cant say they are faster then other players on ANY team if those players werent competing as well. Ya they’re fast…So was Devin Hester but you never saw him on a track team so you have nothing to compare.
Next…
Ted
September 15th, 2009
4:19 pm
Prediction
Next week after we beat Miami, xcane and his other aliases will be using something like heels stomp posting the same bs about gt. It’s the same loser who was posting crap last week before the clemson game. Same writing style. Notice they know nothing about UM except one player. It’s the same repetitive crap over and over. Someone has no life.
Ted
September 15th, 2009
4:22 pm
That’s funny T cause every sports radio guy here said that Clemson has a bright future with their qb and they all thought he played exceptional. This week you’re little man plays against an actual defense. Not a nuch of guys running around at the circus. Which the miami fsu game is anyway.
Kane337
September 15th, 2009
4:23 pm
Trade School Junkie, last year the Sporting News said the Falcons would go 1-15. Well they didn’t. Those ranking don’t mean squat. It’s just food for fodder like any other ranking. The rankings only matter after the regular season is over.
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
4:28 pm
Ted,
Ya, and Kyle Wright was the winner of the Elite 11 out of Cali and on EVERYONES wanted recruiting list. Robert Marve was Mr. Florida who beat all of Tebow’s records. Some people cant adjust to the college game, or just dont get the right coaching, o-coor, etc. Busts happen every year.
Maybe he does have a bright future…only time will tell. But would you be smiling after that performance? At least when Jacory came in for sessions last yr while Marve was starting he was an instant hit. Leading many game winning drives. Making big throws. I cant say that from what I saw in Clemson guy.
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
4:29 pm
Only stats you should look at are the betting lines in Vegas. They’ve been doing that for a LOOOOONG time and are right WAY more times then wrong.
IBIS
September 15th, 2009
4:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Mick
September 15th, 2009
4:37 pm
UM should be very scared. Dwyer has one big run all season. He is long due for a breakout game. And this is the kind of team it will happen against. Just like last year.
Ted
September 15th, 2009
4:39 pm
Yes I would be. Maybe you should read this. If you think that he played a bad game, then you know nothing about football.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-clemson-swinney&prov=ap&type=lgns
DawginLex
September 15th, 2009
4:41 pm
Are you Tech folks as embarrassed and annoyed by “yellow fuzz” as we are?
I have honestly tried to stop with the childish, idiotic comments on the blogs. I offered a suggestion to m and yellow fuzz that they should try it. Haven’t heard from m but yellow fuzz responds with his usual garbage.
Anybody know him? Is he around 12 years old?
Anyway, my truce continues. And BTW, my predictions for the weekend
GT 42
UM 37
UGA 27
Ark 20
Buzzsaw
September 15th, 2009
4:43 pm
Da U – Are you serious? This is a D that gave up 34 to an FSU team that amass 19 points on Jax State (6 on a turnover with 20 seconds left). Please. These guys will not be disciplined enough to stop Tech’s O. Great athletes that don’t play assignment football against GT will look like a D-2 school. I do think that UM has great athletes on Offense and that they will score points. I do not feel as positive as some. This game could see a lot of points and the team with the last possesion becoming the winner.
IBIS
September 15th, 2009
4:44 pm
Last year’s game is history along with Robert Marve and PATRICK NIX. GT can run it’s offense all day, but expect this year for Maimi to return the scores. Much more player development for the Hurricanes on both sides of the ball for 2009. The Miami vs FSU game is not played like any other game those two programs play. There is plenty of written information to document that. The FSU game is just like the game between GA & Tech. GT will not see the same gameplan, trust me. Imagine if GA Tech played GA in it’s opening game, Everyone would think that you give up 40 points per game. After the seeing the Clemson game, maybe you do.
BIG BEE
September 15th, 2009
4:51 pm
To all above: What difference does it make what LSU did? TRhey are not playing Thursday evening. This is GT and UM.
Chris
September 15th, 2009
4:55 pm
Ga Tech is going to run over Thug U just like last year. Miami is an overrated joke. Shannon is a joke of a coach. And 75% of Miami fans didn’t even go to college there.
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
5:01 pm
Ted: what did that article tell me? That Clemson has a long way to go and got outfoxed by GT. I see nothing but quotes from the head coach. You think he’s going to bad mouth his QB? Fact is he was less then 50% completion percentage and threw 2 picks. He also has one of NCAA best running backs. No where do I see where this guy was SO good and thats why they put up a fight. The whole team put up a fight and he did just enough to make a comeback.
And thats besides the point. Hes a freshman. Whether hes great later or not has nothing to do with his performance against yall. Everyone has an opinion of what they saw. I saw a crappy QB who looked under pressure all game by GT’s line and made plenty of errors, yet was still able to make the game close.
If all these Tech fans are going to talk about how FSU is so bad and how Miami scored points on a weak D (of whom Mickie Andrews said was the fastest he’s ever coached) then the same can be said about what Clemson was able to do to yall. Ive heard plenty of sports talk people say Clemson is horrible, bottom tier. Im sure some others think theyre great. You QB Nesbett completed 3 passes and threw 2 INT. You better hope he does better against Miami.
But Im pretty sure 4 yrs down the rd, when we all look back, Ill bet Miami and FSU will put more players in the NFL then Tech and Clemson. So to say our Defense are weak is far fetched. These are the same guys you’ll be hoping the Falcons draft in 2 yrs.
Trade School Junkie
September 15th, 2009
5:06 pm
Kane337:
Those rankings from Matt Hayes at Sporting News are based on
THE GAMES THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYED SO FAR THIS SEASON, not some kind of “pre-season ranking/predcition system.” Read!
FSU-JaxSt game just leaves question marks about FSU. We’ll know about FSU for sure on saturday. IMHO, FSU is gonna get SLAUGHTERED by a BYU team playing with a SERIOUS “Mountain West” chip on their shoulder. Anyone esle notice that BYU “stayed on the gas” against Tulane.
VERY BAD SIGN for FSU.
I think the game will be close, made 4-5 pt difference.
Dawg in LaLa Land:
WTH? Coming to a GT blog telling GT fans theyre annoying and to go away.
Dude, seriously, HAUL AAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!!
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
5:08 pm
Chris: you’re a idiot. The same old, thug U, yall didnt even go to the school, comments. Ok, youre right. I give up. I since I didnt go there I switch my alligence from a team Ive liked since childhood growing up in Coral Gables and Kendall. I guess I cant like the Dolphins either since I dont play for them. Well I graduated from CCSU, who doesnt have a football team mind you, so tell me…who should I be allowed to root for? Were as much of thugs as you are terrorists. moron.
Also, 2 of my cousins who DID grad from UM are still paying student loans MANY yrs later. Why dont you research exactly how much it cost to go there before making asinine remarks. I have 2 friends who are die hard Tech fans…they didnt go to Tech. Ill tell them to quit following your team tough guy.
Im sure Tech would have no problems with me buying season tickets and merchandise from the stadium huh? Retard.
T in ATL
September 15th, 2009
5:19 pm
Ted: The “experts” aka sports writers, that you say think Clemson QB is so good also thinks Miami is better then Ga Tech. So tell me, which side are you on?
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=292602390
Da U
September 15th, 2009
5:25 pm
xCanes4Lifex – My only issue with the entire discussion is the logic used when a tech fan tells me why they’re going to beat up on Miami.
They are homers who make excuses for everything. GT was blow out by LSU, but it wasn’t LSU it was the GT turnovers? NC beat the heck out of them, but it was the GT turnovers? We played our 2nd string? Bla Bla Bla! Take it like a man, you lost!!!!! Take away the punt return and fake FG and GT would have lost to Clemson. The U has been crapy the last 4 years, I can admit it. We got our butts kick by not only GT but others. O’Well, that was the last 4 years. If GT kicks our butts Thursday, I will be the first one to admit it. I won’t blame the turnover or 2nd string. You all need to man up when you lose!
And heck no, I’m not a GA fan pretending to be a U fan, can’t stand the state! Have you ever been on 95, the place smells like a rat hole!
I’m sure after we kick GT’s butt you all will have homeritse!
GTSteve
September 15th, 2009
5:29 pm
Da U, make sure you stop back by Friday AM ok, don’t be hard to find now……
GTSteve
September 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
xCane4Lifex
September 15th, 2009
3:26 pm
Incorrect Ted……how many defensive td’s did GT score against Clemson? 0
Isn’t a punt return a defensive TD?
DawginLex
September 15th, 2009
5:33 pm
trade school junkie,
I guess the old adage applies to you as well.
When you try to reason with an idiot you come to understand why everyone thought he was an idiot to begin with.
Some of the Tech folks have appreciated the civility. You are too big of a tool to recognize it.
Nice prediction on that Okie state game. “66-13 and UGA won’t score until the 2nd half” Our QB plays with the flu and we hold them to the lowest points and yardage total since gundy arrived.
Nostradamus’ job is safe for another year.
Tech82
September 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
DawginLex – Yes, m is an embarrassment. There are several of those on both sides of the aisle in the Tech/UGA war. Fortunately, most of us on these blogs can exchange in civil discourse. Sadly, there are a few who make these blogs almost unreadable some days.
Johnson's Hive
September 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
The Thing about the U is that they are not discipline enough to have more big plays than TECH. Don’t get me wrong Miami will score some points, but like schultz said, Miami is taking the jackets lightly.
Da U
September 15th, 2009
5:41 pm
GTSteve – I’ll be easy to find. Like I said above, if we lose I will take it like a man and use notta 1 excuse. But, if we win make sure you and the others are on board, without excuses.
No Coulda – Shoulda or Wouldassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Just man up like a Cane fan!
Da U
September 15th, 2009
5:46 pm
Miami is taking the jackets lightly??? Don’t think so, just go to the Miami Herald and read the article! Don’t listen to this Schultz guy!
Tech82
September 15th, 2009
5:48 pm
DaU – I haven’t seen anybody dispute that we lost to LSU or UNC. The FACT is that LSU didn’t dominate us. In fact, they only outgained us by 10 yards. That’s not an opinion, it’s fact.
The FACT is that UNC didn’t dominate us either. They gave up more than 400 yards in offense.
Unfortunately, the last fact is that they both beat us on the scoreboard. They both had help from our turnovers and poor special teams play but they beat us nonetheless.
What I don’t understand is why you’re dwelling on what other schools have done against us. Is it because we’ve owned you guys for the past four years (another FACT)?