3 steps Tech says it’ll take
Because of the weather, the team did its Monday conditioning and walk-thrus at the Georgia Dome.
As I wrote in the notebook already online (which is also linked to from my facebook GT page), Cooper Taylor was able to practice for the first time leaving the Miami game.
Coach Paul Johnson said “we’ll see” about the possibility of Taylor playing on Saturday against Virginia Tech.
Based upon the fact that Roddy Jones was held out a week after he was cleared, and that Jaybo Shaw didn’t return the week of the Mississippi State game when he was cleared, I would be surprised if Taylor played this week. But, what the heck do I know?
————–
Some of you wrote on the facebook page that you would like to see Taylor back because GT will need all the speed it can get going against VT’s offense.
I don’t think speed’s been the issue. This is my rudimentary take on what I saw against FSU: GT tried to blitz but really could never get to Ponder in the first half. When coaches started moving Derrick Morgan around and changing looks it seemed to have some effect on FSU’s offense.
However, showing all the different looks again would seem to run counter to Johnson’s desire to simplify the defense.
Here’s a radical thought I had on the drive back to Tallahassee: go to a 3-4, instead of a 4-3, and zone blitz. Of course, that’s a lot simpler to write than to do.
So, what does Tech need to do to improve its pass defense:
Simplifying would be where Johnson wants to start;
Brad Jefferson said they need to keep to their assignments, and play with some more urgency;
Charles Kelly wants the dbs to take advantage of the plays that are there;
So there are three places.
A couple more thoughts: getting Egbuniwe back on the field would be a good start. FSU’s offense was tailor-made for his pass-rushing skills. Tongo was able to take advantage when he got in there.
But pinning their ears back and rushing up field will lead to big trouble against Virginia Tech, which can actually run the ball effectively.
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65 comments Add your comment
GTSteve
October 13th, 2009
3:26 pm
I agree Tech should not be able to win this week, but CPJ seems to find a way to win….so who knows, right
GT45
October 13th, 2009
4:17 pm
Tech wins-
GTSteve
October 13th, 2009
4:21 pm
And win or lose, it will be nice playing a team that doesnt start playing dirty when they get behind
GTSteve
October 13th, 2009
4:21 pm
Bowden’s thugs got a little chippy at the end of the game
GT For You and Me
October 13th, 2009
5:26 pm
Corners on the line is the answer for T. Taylor!
StingDoc
October 13th, 2009
5:55 pm
Moses McCray, FSU #90 @ 8:17 of the 4th Qtr. deliberately tried to injure ACC 2008 Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer by picking his leg up high and twisting it trying to cause a groin injury after the play was over & Dwyer was just standing there. McCray should have been ejected esp. after Head Referee Ron Cherry had already thrown a flag for helmet-to-helmet against FSU when Nesbitt’s helmet was knocked off. Also, there was helmet-to-helmet contact by FSU against Wright when he was going for the loose ball pitched by Nesbitt which FSU recovered, but no flag. Dirty play has been a hallmark of Mickey Andrews ever since they went after Gators Wuerfle’s knees and announced to an ESPN sideline walker they were going to knock Tech’s Joe Hamilton out and did so with numerous late hits, most not called by the refs.
GTSteve
October 13th, 2009
6:00 pm
Thats what I am talking about, Roddy Jones helmet was ripped off another time, a player pushed Nesbitt as he was getting up, on and on, and nobody does anything, no flags at all. But trued character from Tech players in not responding and GETTING a flag. My favorite new alltime play is Nesbitt taking the ball back after they recovered the fumble. And thanks to ESPN for having a camera at the perfect angle to get a great shot of it…..
GTSteve
October 13th, 2009
6:01 pm
FSU=THUGS=LOSERS
GTSteve
October 13th, 2009
6:02 pm
true character…sorry, it is time to go
StingDoc
October 13th, 2009
7:04 pm
Sea Island said “Glorified high school stadium ….[etc.]”
Our legendary, historic stadium is well-attended by fans whose necks are not red, who can read & write, and who do not run away like rats from a sinking ship when our team is 3-3. Many Tech grads leave the state so our away games are also well-attended unlike redneck U fans most of whom have never been out of the state in their pick-up trucks.
45-42! Bwahahahahaha!
TRASH TALKING DAWGS WHO TRY TO MOCK
WILL BE STUNG BY ME, STINGDOC!!
DatabaseEngineer in NYC
October 14th, 2009
12:06 am
Sting Doc, it is a glorified high school stadium. The field is legendary. The stadium does enough to get by. Not that I’d want it bigger, because we’d never sell it out anyways. I am very worried about this game coming up. Our offense has done terribly against a good defense and a decent defense, and our defense, well… VPI wins with mediocre teams every year and you want to know why? Because they have Ninety Thousand fans, all wearing the same color, all standing and screaming, for sixty minutes. Where to start? First, there will be more blue in the stadium than white and gold combined. There will be more maroon and orange than white, I bet. Second, all of those old people with the good seats just sit there with their hands folded. It’s the same for basketball. Tech’s fans love their team, but they don’t cheer for crap, and it’s going to show this weekend. I almost wish we did have uncomfortable bleachers and concrete everywhere. VPI has none of those problems, and I know from 51 to 7 experience in 2005. While I think it’s certain that we will score more this weekend than that one, I think VPI has a good chance to, as well.
Scrap
October 14th, 2009
11:55 am
This is a really tough game. Yes, the defense needs to show improvement for the entire game, along the lines of the second half against FSU. I believe however, the key to our success will be our ability to control the ball and the clock on offense. The more our offense is on the field, the less Taylor is out there wreaking the havoc you would expect. I don’t expect a shootout, but I expect our finest offensive effort yet.
Buzzfan
October 14th, 2009
1:50 pm
3 plays profoundly affected the outcome of the FSU-GT game.
1. Opening kick-off, should have been GT’s ball deep in FSU territory. How so many officials could miss such a critical call and why there was no official review when millions of fans saw the play on ESPN2 is a mystery. Had Tech scored the 1st TD which should have happened since they scored on every possession the 1st half, ESPN guys said FSU might have come unglued because of the controversy & Tech would have won big..
2. Score FSU 7 GT 0, Tech’s ball 4th & 3 on Tech’s side of the 50; if Tech had not made it, then FSU probably would have scored making it 14-0 & probably won the game.
3. Score FSU 38 GT 35, Tech’s ball around FSU 30, appeared to make 1st down on both 2nd & 3rd downs, BUT THE LINESMAN SPOTTED THE BALL BADLY A YARD SHORT BOH TIMES MAKING IT 4TH & 1. HAD TECH NOT MADE IT, FSU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE WON THE GAME. Who was this Linesman & why did he do that?
Otherwise, I thought Ron Cherry & most of the officials did a good job for most of the game. They flagged FSU doe dirty late hits, altho they missed some, & FSU had more penalties than Tech.
I agree with Database – too many old Tech fans with the good seats sit on their hands and regard it as “ungentlemanly” to cheer loudly. I am also old, but I yell when I am there.
StingDoc
October 14th, 2009
2:32 pm
The Jackets should win if we get decent officiating & don’t turn the ball over. When we played Miami, it was our 3rd game in 12 days. This plus classes & exams – the guys were tired, VT played them in a downpour which was to their advantage. Our D has played OK at times – UNC, the 2nd 1/2 against FSU – FSU was fired up on emotion the 1st 1/2 & beat BYU when they were in the Top 10. Miss. State nearly beat #4 LSU. Our offense is superb. This is the biggest game in awhile.
GO JACKETS!!
gtduck
October 14th, 2009
10:09 pm
we only have one problem on defense .where in”"”"” is the defensive coach at?don ‘t tell me he is pressbox.paul should have him on the side lines with him so thy both can get up in their players faces when they screw up