Archive for September, 2010

Quotes from Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s weekly press conference:

After watching the tape, I was more disappointed than I was after the

game if that is possible. I was really frustrated and this is probably

the second or third time this year that we have played with little

emotion in the mental aspect. The physical aspect wasn’t great but it

was ok. The mental aspect of it was just out there. We have guys that

played for two or three years that are doing things that there is no

explanation for. Concentration, paying attention to detail, all of those

things, we just have to do a better job of getting through the basic

fundamentals. With some of the stuff that we busted in the game is

really unexplainable. They can’t explain it when you show it to them

on tape either. Take nothing away from North Carolina State, they played

hard and their quarterback had a great game, but we didn’t need to

help them as much as we did on both sides of the ball. Now we move on,

we see …

Continue reading Quotes from Johnson’s press conference »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson uttered the “p” word on Tuesday: panic.

But he didn’t use it as a sign of defeat. He quickly clarified what he meant, saying he wants his team to play with some urgency, like “their hair’s on fire” in Saturday’s game at Wake Forest.

Johnson seemed somewhat frustrated with his team at his weekly press conference, saying that he’s never coached a group that has played like this one: a decent win against S.C. State, followed by a surprisingly flat loss at Kansas, followed by an inspired win at North Carolina, followed by another surprisingly flat loss to N.C. State.

“If they haven’t figured out they can lose they aren’t very smart,” Johnson said.

He said he’s watched the tape of the 45-28 loss to N.C. State several times, starting at 4 a.m. Sunday morning.

He counted 43 mistakes made by one unit, and 42 by the other, though he couldn’t remember whether the offense or defense won that battle of the brains. When the team plays well, he said the …

Continue reading Johnson ready to see his team play with urgency »

Though Georgia Tech’s offensive line features three new starters, and may have four for Saturday’s 7 p.m. game at Wake Forest, it is performing (mostly) well.

With redshirt sophomore Omoregie Uzzi at one guard, redshirt freshman Will Jackson at the other and redshirt sophomore Phil Smith at a tackle, Tech’s rushing attack is averaging 320.5 yards per game this season. The glue to the line, center and senior Sean Bedford, may miss Saturday’s game after he was kicked in the shin in last week’s loss to N.C. State. He didn’t practice on Monday and won’t practice on Tuesday.

There’s a chance that another redshirt freshman, Ray Beno, could start in Bedford’s place against the Deacons.

Assistant coach Mike Sewak said you can see the progress the line is making, though the consistency is lacking.

“Watch the first snap [against N.C. State], Omoregie Uzzi knocks the heck out of his guy. He knocks him back,” Sewak said. “And then you see Will Jackson knocking his guy back.

“If we can …

Continue reading Line improving, but work to do »

Georgia Tech wide receivers Correy Earls and Tyler Melton provided two bright spots, as well as a reason for hope, in last week’s 45-28 loss to N.C. State.

With Stephen Hill showing the inconsistency that comes with being a sophomore, Earls and Melton had three receptions for 39 yards. There was also an important touchdown for Melton, a junior who struggled in games earlier this season with dropped passes.

“Hopefully, that’ll help his confidence,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

Earls, a redshirt senior, is working his way back into the rotation. After starting eight games as a wide receiver in 2007 and ‘08, he was moved to defensive back last season. He was moved back to his natural position during the spring, at Johnson’s suggestion. Earls said he was glad to be moved, culminating in his first reception in 20 games, a span stretching back to the win over Miami in 2008 when he caught one pass for 7 yards.

“It was great to have my hands on the ball for the first time in a …

Continue reading Earls, Melton provide a boost for Tech »

Georgia Tech is working Ray Beno and Zach Krish at center in case Sean Bedford, who has started the previous 18 games, can’t play against Wake Forest on Saturday.

Bedford left the N.C. State game in the first quarter after he was kicked in the shin. He wasn’t able to participate in practice on Monday. Jay Finch, the No. 2 center, wasn’t able to play on Saturday because of a hamstring and didn’t practice on Monday. Coach Paul Johnson said he’s not sure if Finch will be able to play against the Deacons.

Beno, a redshirt freshman who is naturally a guard, and Krish, a redshirt senior, played center in the 45-28 loss to the Wolfpack. Beno said that he didn’t change too many line calls against N.C. State, which held Tech to 247 yards rushing, 98 yards below its season average before that game.

Should Beno start, the interior of Tech’s line will feature a sophomore, guard Omoregie Uzzi and two redshirt freshmen, Beno and guard Will Jackson.

Continue reading Beno, Krish working at center »

Following up on Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s statement yesterday that his team has a Jekyll and Hyde personality, I thought it would be interesting to look at a few stats to see if there’s a consistent issue between the wins and the losses.

I’m only going to use the past three games against FBS opponents (formerly Division I-A), no offense to South Carolina State.

DEFENSE

Opponent……Points…..RYA….PYA….Total…TO created…..Sacks

Kansas…………….28………141…..179……320….. ……..1……………..4

UNC………………..24………143…..209……352…………..2…………….1

N.C. State………..45………159……368…..527…………..2……………..3

After starting off in the second week playing reasonably well against Kansas, the defense is getting progressively worse as the quality of the competition improves. Of course,that’s also to be expected when the opponents’ skill improves.

OFFENSE

Opponent….Points….RY….PY….Total…TO made…..Sacks allowed

Kansas……………25……291..116….407………..1…………………….1

UNC……………….30……372…76….448………..1…………………….0

N.C. …

Continue reading Tech as Jekyll and Tech as Hyde »

Georgia Tech’s game against Virginia will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPNU, according to the ACC office.

The Yellow Jackets (2-2, 1-1 in the ACC) will host the Cavaliers (2-1) on Oct. 9.

Tech is at Wake Forest for a 7 p.m. game this week and Virginia is hosting Florida State.

The rest of the Oct. 9 games:

Boston College at NC State, ACC Network, 12 p.m.

Central Michigan at Virginia Tech, ESPNU, 12 p.m.

Clemson at North Carolina, ABC/ESPN*, 3:30 p.m .

Virginia at Georgia Tech, ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.

Navy at Wake Forest, ESPN3.com, 6:30 p.m.

Florida State at Miami, ABC, 8 p.m.

ESPN3.com is ESPN’s video streaming platform

*Shown regionally on ABC and to the rest of the country on ESPN

Continue reading Tech-Virginia a 3:30 p.m. start »

Georgia Tech athletic events this week, courtesy of the sports information department:

Monday

Golf at Ping/Golfweek Preview Invitational, Stillwater, Okla. (all day)

Men’s Tennis at Southern Intercollegiate Championships, Athens, Ga., 11 a.m.

Tuesday

Weekly Paul Johnson Press Conference (Edge Center), 11:40 a.m.

Golf at Ping/Golfweek Preview Invitational, Stillwater, Okla. (all day)

Wednesday

Paul Johnson Radio Show (Fox Sports Grill), 7-8 p.m.

Thursday

no events scheduled

Friday

Volleyball at Virginia, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Men’s Tennis – Georgia Tech Fall Invitational (Bill Moore Tennis Center), all day

Football at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Volleyball at Virginia Tech, 6 p.m.

Women’s Tennis at ITA/Riviera All-American Championships (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), all day

Cross Country at Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, men 9:30 a.m., women 10:15 a.m.

Sunday

Men’s Tennis – Georgia Tech Fall Invitational (Bill Moore Tennis Center), all …

Continue reading Tech athletic events this week »

Wake Forest

Record: 2-2, 1-1 ACC

Last time played: Tech defeated Wake Forest 30-27 in overtime last season at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Wake Forest on offense: The Deacons are playing two quarterbacks, redshirt sophomore Ted Stachiatis and true freshman Tanner Price. Neither have been particularly effective. Price has passed for 305 yards and rushed for 154, while Stachiatis has passed for 131 and rushed for 164. They happen to be the team’s leading rushers, as well. Chris Givens has emerged as the go-to target, with nine reception for 212 yards.

Wake Forest on defense: The Deacons aren’t very effective at stopping opponents. They are giving up 40 points and 467.2 yards per game. Defensive end Kyle Wilber is the biggest threat; he has five sacks and 11 tackles for losses this season. He only weighs 235 pounds, but uses his speed to get around the edge. Tech hasn’t been very good at pass-blocking this season, so they may not ask Joshua Nesbitt to drop back too often.

Wake Forest on …

Continue reading A look at Wake Forest »

The game that was

A day later, and it’s still a 45-28 loss that could have been much worse if not for two missed field goals. Statistically, the offense is similar to last season, but something seems to be missing, whether it’s a big-play threat at wide receiver or the execution of bread-and-butter plays. Defensively, it’s too similar to last year. There aren’t enough big plays being made or turnovers created.

What we learned

1. Tech’s front seven on defense is having a hard time winning the man-on-man battles. The Yellow Jackets were able to sack N.C. State’s Russell Wilson three times, but only one of those, a sack byIzaan Cross, came from a player winning a one-on-one battle. The rest came from players coming untouched on blitzes. Johnson said they may rotate more players in on defense in an attempt to keep them fresh. He said the players get tired and they quit paying attention to detail.

2. Tech’s passing game remains inconsistent. Joshua Nesbitt was 5-for-18 against the …

Continue reading Reviewing the loss to N.C. State »