Tech goes for fourth game-opening TD
Greetings-
Sorry I haven’t had anything up . Friday’s kind of supposed to be my day off (not complaining) and I’ve got some projects I am trying to get to. (Anyone want to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Buckhead?)
Anyway, I hope you’ll accept this story about Georgia Tech’s streak of touchdowns on the first play of scrimmage as my blog for the day. It’s going in Saturday’s paper and will be up online before too long. Hopefully you also read a story posted Thursday about the Ramblin’ Wreck. (The newspaper’s style, I’ve learned, favors Wreck over Reck. My apologies to the Reck purists. I think history favors your spelling.) Another story should be coming up this afternoon about Paul Johnson’s practice of inserting three or four extra plays into the game plan designed to be momentum changers.
To put Georgia Tech’s first-play success into context, consider that Virginia Tech is the only other team in the ACC, SEC and Big 10 that has reached the end zone on its first play from scrimmage in any game this season, a combined 1-for-104.
The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, are 3-for-3. Tech will try to make it 4-for-4 against North Carolina Saturday. Tar Heels coach Everett Withers said he won’t be thinking about the streak. Defensive coordinator Art Kaufman said he wouldn’t approach it any differently than any other play. But Withers said he thought his players would be more heightened to avoid becoming the fourth consecutive victim.
“I don’t think you have to mention it” for them to be aware, Withers said.
The first score was a relative gimme, a 5-yard toss to A-back Orwin Smith after Tech had forced a turnover deep in Western Carolina territory. The second was designed with the intent to score, a 73-yard touchdown pass to A-back Tony Zenon against Middle Tennessee State. The third, a 95-yard run by Smith against Kansas that became the longest run from scrimmage in Tech history, was a good play call bolstered by superior execution.
“You always have an expectation (a play will break open),”coach Paul Johnson said. “Was I counting on it? No.”
Georgia Southern coach Jeff Monken, who was an assistant to Johnson for 13 years, thinks Johnson’s option-based spread offense might be more conducive to opening strikes. First, the offense has big-play capability and second, teams often aren’t prepared for the speed with which Tech runs it because it is difficult to simulate in practice.
It doesn’t hurt that Tech has home-run hitters like Smith, Zenon and wide receiver Stephen Hill.
“We’ve been fortunate in that we’ve hit some big plays,” Johnson said. “I think we all know that [streak] is probably coming to an end.”
Whatever the reason, it’s a curious and mind-boggling streak. Several FBS schools queried haven’t scored on the first play of a game in several years.
Asked Wednesday, Johnson said he already knew what play he was going to call first.
“You’ll be unimpressed,” he told reporters.
The more important opinion will be rendered by North Carolina’s defense.
What do you think? Does Tech go 4-for-4?
Thanks for reading. Please follow on Facebook and Twitter.
By Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech beat
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304 comments Add your comment
William Casey
September 23rd, 2011
3:51 pm
AMG called my play. I do agree with saving it for VT.
Black Jacket
September 23rd, 2011
3:51 pm
I don’t care how the score, just score. Go Jackets!!!!
Ken Sugiura
September 23rd, 2011
3:52 pm
the streak is first offensive play from scrimmage, so neither a pick-6 nor a punt return would count towards the streak, i’d say.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
September 23rd, 2011
3:52 pm
Correction Black Jacket score many times my friend!!!!!
Black Jacket
September 23rd, 2011
3:54 pm
Yes your right ATLER. Thanks for the correction. Score many, many TDs!!!!! LOL!!!!
Paddy
September 23rd, 2011
4:02 pm
Brent…..CPJ says you will be unimpressed. The reason; his first play will be a punt!!!
5150 UOAD
September 23rd, 2011
4:05 pm
A Pass is the easiest to stretch the D, but so many things can go wrong with a pass.
The EAGLES ran this fake pitch to the counter trap against the Falcons. It was good until the Falcons didn’t bite. I like that play but add the reverse part. It will look like the play O. Smith scored on and suck the D to the middle so the Sweep outside will run right by them.
GT '02
September 23rd, 2011
4:10 pm
I’m sure someone has compiled a list, but it would be interesting to see how many times Tech has scored on the first play of a series so far this year. That number must be pretty high too…
RT in NC
September 23rd, 2011
4:10 pm
Did you guys make up the term “Death March”. I’ve not heard it before. I love it!
5150 UOAD
September 23rd, 2011
4:15 pm
RT in NC
It is one of those 20 play 12min eating Drives that just wears a D down both mentally and physically.
Maybe we should call it the Bataan Drive.
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
4:17 pm
@RT, It was going around in Murfreesboro at the MTSU game. Some of their fan were beside themselves at the length of our drives.
T3
September 23rd, 2011
4:21 pm
I’ll take CPJ’s comment as a sign he feels like the team is…well-prepared
for what I think cold be a VERY tough and close game. But, thats no guarantee of a W.
GT Offense is healthy, and playing well.
GT Defense is healthy and playing much better than the past 2 years.
Give UNC some credit, they’re better now than past 2 years.
Maybe: GT:33 UNC:30
1Jacket7
September 23rd, 2011
4:35 pm
I would say we are already 4-4, being we scored on the first play from scrimmage in the second half of the Kansas game.
I believe we will score on the first play but there is a twist. 85 yard kick return after UNC wins the toss and chooses to kick rather than defend.
GT Lady
September 23rd, 2011
4:36 pm
If they score on the 1st play, great….if not, just beat UNC and be undefeated and 4 – 0.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 23rd, 2011
4:36 pm
I first saw that term on the blog here during the MTSU game. I love it too
GT93
September 23rd, 2011
5:18 pm
Pepper Rogers once said: “there are 3 things that can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad”.
I have a hunch CPJ is gonna call run plays all day. Time for GT to concentrate, focus on the fundamentals and great team dynamic that has gotten them 3 victories so far … and control the clock. UNC can’t score very much if their offense isn’t on the field and we have the ball for 40+ minutes.
Strange Murphy
September 23rd, 2011
5:19 pm
Only a Nerd from Tech would open a blog with “Greetings”
Gorilla Biscuit
September 23rd, 2011
5:21 pm
First real defense they’ve faced.
#14 should be retired
September 23rd, 2011
5:21 pm
That trailer is awesome.
Flounder
September 23rd, 2011
5:22 pm
Only a stupid ignorant leghumper would try to criticize someone for opening with a standard salutation of American English.
Strange Murphy
September 23rd, 2011
5:24 pm
“there are 3 things that can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad”+
Woody Hayes said that. Dang! You nerds can’t even come up with your own quotes.
5150 UOAD
September 23rd, 2011
5:24 pm
Shift Change at McD I see. Strange Murphy & Gorilla Biscuit what time are y’all getting together for the CJ & bong hits
Strange Murphy
September 23rd, 2011
5:25 pm
Only a stupid ignorant nerd would be bothered by that.
Not Disappointed
September 23rd, 2011
5:28 pm
Just WIN!!!
Go Jackets!
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
5:33 pm
trolls, trolls, trolls…………………sheesh. the quote is originally attributed to Gen Robert Neyland at Univ of TN. Learn your history before spouting off……………..
Flounder
September 23rd, 2011
5:36 pm
@Strange Murphy: well which is it big fella? If I’m stupid and ignorant, then I can’t be a Nerd because Nerds are smart. And if I’m a Nerd, I must not be stupid and ignorant. Did I make your little brain hurt??
GTWreckball
September 23rd, 2011
5:41 pm
I’m curious as to what Tech players are doing when they celebrate at the end of a big play. Watch the highlight videos and you’ll know what I mean.
Are they playing air guitar or reeling in a big fish? lol, Ken maybe you need to ask them when you get a chance. Either way, they can crank dat thang all they want as long as they get in the endzone…
GT93
September 23rd, 2011
5:41 pm
got it. Was just passing down some quotes that were passed down to me from my Dad (GT57).
http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/three_things_can_happen_when_you_throw_the_football_and_two_of_them_are_bad/
Mr. Webster
September 23rd, 2011
5:43 pm
More importantly….what does Heather Dinich think about the game?
Gorilla Biscuit
September 23rd, 2011
5:46 pm
If ya’ll are through patting each other on the back wake up Al and tell him to polish his Superbowl ring.
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
5:49 pm
@ Mr. Webster, believe or not H.Dinich has picked Tech to win
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
5:50 pm
Further, the quote has, at times, be attributed to Hayes, Darrel Royal, Duffy Daughtery and others but most football historians credit the quote to R. Neyland.
19
September 23rd, 2011
5:52 pm
First real test. UNC is the best we’ve played this year. I’d rather not predict the score. I believe we win.
Stranger Murphy’s have happened!
Go Yellow Jackets!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 23rd, 2011
5:55 pm
Strange, only a stupid redneck mutt would try to correct somebody with the WRONG INFORMATION. General Neyland said it.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 23rd, 2011
5:55 pm
Gorilla Biscuit, if you are finished trolling for the day, why don’t you tell Grantham to choke
Supersize that order, mutt
September 23rd, 2011
5:57 pm
Oh, wait, I forgot. Grantham has choked against every team he has coached against.
superDawg
September 23rd, 2011
5:57 pm
tek fumbles and UNC scores.
GT93
September 23rd, 2011
5:58 pm
since Ol’JacketFan corrected me (and thanks) I found some other great quotes:
http://www.coachkrause.de/quotes.php
Scrap
September 23rd, 2011
6:01 pm
If I must say, I would say the streak ends. I really don’t care as long as they score often. I’ve seen Carolina at Grant Field several times, and can’t remember attending a GT loss to Carolina. I look forward to seeing the guys in the blue shirts left in the dust again tomorrow. Does anyone know, are the Jackets wearing white shirts?
Butch Davis
September 23rd, 2011
6:02 pm
I’m just glad I dont have to suffer the humilitation of another loss at the hands of Paul Johnson and his Jackets. I hope they do score on the first play! Serves those Tarheel jack-holes right to get whooped again by GaTech.
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
6:02 pm
Speaking of Coach Rogers
“My only friend was my dog, and I told my wife a man should have at least two friends. So she bought me another dog.”
Loved his sense of humor LOL!
Butch Davis
September 23rd, 2011
6:03 pm
and btw, ol’ Butch is going on the record — Tech wins 52-28
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
6:11 pm
Or who can forget when Coach John Mckay was asked by a reporter about his team’s execution and he replied “I’m in favor of it”
5150 UOAD
September 23rd, 2011
6:20 pm
Chan Gailey on the radio today on the POLLS. He said the SID or PR guys asks him, “Coach who do you think is #1?” Chan says a name then they fill out the rest. the POLLS are a joke until the 5th week.
Roswell Jacket
September 23rd, 2011
6:27 pm
Ken, it’s an intriguing question that you raise – will Tech score the first time we touch the ball? But the question only invites overconfidence. Guys, wake up. UNC is going to beat us. That’s the bottom line.
RT in NC
September 23rd, 2011
6:29 pm
I heard that quote in the early 70’s and it was attributed to Bear Bryant.
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
6:30 pm
@ Roswell, I respectfully disagree. Tech is the better team. If they play with emotion and execute as they’ve been doing tech will win.
5150 UOAD
September 23rd, 2011
6:30 pm
Roswell Jacket?
You must be a Roswell high school Hornet!
Ol'JacketFan
September 23rd, 2011
6:35 pm
@ Roswell, I would be interested in your rationale though.
5150 UOAD
September 23rd, 2011
6:35 pm
Super 225 26 1-2 right?
See you there or at the bus.