Archive for December, 2010

Georgia Tech (6-6) will play Air Force (8-4) in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27. The game, located in Shreveport, La., will kick off at 5 p.m. and be televised on ESPN2.

The Yellow Jackets run option offenses that are somewhat similar in style and very similar in results:

Category
Georgia Tech
Air Force

Points per game
27.6
32.2

Rushing per game
327
317.9

Average per rush
5.6
5.5

Passing per game
87.5
119.5

Average per catch
17.8
18.6

Total offense per game
414.5
437.4

Fumbles-lost
33-17
21-11

Time of possession
32:06:00
30:29:00

3rd-down conv. %
40
52

4th-down conv. %
54
64

TDs scored
41
54

FG attempts
15 of 17
5 of 10

Red zone scores %
77
85

Red zone TD %
58
74

Continue reading How does Tech’s offense compare with Air Force’s? »

Georgia Tech will play Air Force in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. on Dec. 27.

Other than taking time to mock Georgia for its appearance in last year’s game, some Yellow Jackets’ fans may not know a lot about, “The next great city of the South.”

Here are a few facts:

• Shreveport is located in the Northwestern corner of Louisiana.
• It is a nine-hour drive from Atlanta, right down I-20.
• Or, you can fly into Shreveport Downtown Airport.
• There are many, many casinos located on the Red River, which separates Shreveport from Bossier City.
• If you like to shop, there are numerous malls and a Riverwalk near the stadium.
• It was the capital of Louisiana for a brief time during the Civil War.
• It was named after Captain Henry Miller Shreve, an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who removed a logjam on the Red River that was blocking trading on the river (according to wikipedia).
• It was once home to a branch of Standard Oil.

Here is a bit more from the bowl’s executive …

Continue reading So, um, where is Shreveport? »

It has been a while since Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has had a chance to watch Air Force, the Yellow Jackets’ opponent in the Independence Bowl.

But he said that if his players don’t come prepared, “Air Force will embarrass us.”

The game will be played at 5 p.m. on Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La. It will be televised by ESPN2.

There are many sub-plot to this game:

• Johnson is familiar with the Falcons (8-4) from his time at Navy. He led the Midshipmen to a 5-1 record against Air Force, with the lone loss coming his first season at Annapolis.
• Like the Jackets (6-6), the Falcons run an option-based offense. They average 317.9 rushing yards per game, compared to Tech’s FBS-leading 327 per-game average. Johnson said unless they’ve changed a lot, there aren’t many differences between the two offenses, other than both of them like to keep the ball. “There might not be any TV breaks,” Johnson said. “It might be a fast game.”
• This will also be a brother vs. brother match-up. Tech …

Continue reading Johnson says Tech had better be ready for Air Force »

Yesterday, we gave you a reason to be optimistic.

Today, we give you a reason to worry.

Many of you touched on it in your comments: the defense.

Specifically that it hasn’t shown much improvement from last season. A look:

Category
2010
2009

Points per game
26.2
24.8

Average per rush
4.6
4.9

Average per game
169.7
151.6

Rushing TDs allowed
24
17

Average per pass
7.3
7.3

Average per game
209
208.6

Passing TDs allowed
14
23

Average per play
5.8
6.1

Average per game
378.7
360.3

Interceptions
6
12

3rd down conv. %
40
41

Sacks
15
25

Red zone-scores %
78
83

Red zone-TD %
61
53

Factor in that three starters in the secondary will be gone, as well as two linebackers, and it will be interesting to see who next year’s starters will be and if there will be improvement.

The transition in the secondary may be smooth because true freshman Isaiah Johnson played a lot this season at safety, where Mario Edwards has used up his eligibility. Jemea Thomas will be …

Continue reading A reason for Tech fans to be worried »

The difference between Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen being named the ACC’s coach of the year and Miami’s Randy Shannon being fired may be why Tech fans should smile a little bit when considering next year’s possibilities.

Friedgen took a team that was 2-10 last season and had him on the unemployment doorstep to 8-4 this season largely because he had a quarterback, Danny O’Brien, who could manage a game. He averaged 188.1 yards per game, with 21 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. He kept the Terps in games and also took home the conference’s rookie of the year award.

Shannon’s quarterbacks, Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris, were the opposite. Harris negated his 14 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Morris had five touchdowns with eight interceptions. They cost the Hurricanes some games.

That’s why Tech fans should be happy. The injury to Joshua Nesbitt, while cruel because it robbed him of his last few games and the Yellow Jackets a slim chance at winning the Coastal …

Continue reading A reason for Tech fans to be optimistic »

It appears the stars, and by stars I mean bowl forecasters, have slotted Tech into either the Military Bowl in Washington D.C. against East Carolina, or the Independence Bowl against Air Force.

The opponents couldn’t be more different. One likes to run, the other pass. One is good at defending the option, the other not so much.

 A online survey of six different popular sites provided the results.

The most interesting matchup would be the Yellow Jackets vs. the Falcons (Scout.com, Rivals.com, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach) in Shreveport, La. for a few reasons:

1. It could be the fastest game in college football history. Because both teams run option-based offenses, the clock will keep on moving.

2. Roddy Jones’ younger brother, Darius, attends the Academy, so we will have a brother vs. brother matchup.

3. The Falcons have some unfinished business with Tech coach Paul Johnson. While at Navy (2002-07), his teams beat Air Force six times.

4. The Falcons have had some success defending …

Continue reading Who will Tech play in a bowl? »