Georgia Tech heads into N.C. State week
Greetings-
Hope you were able to watch the game Saturday. If not, you can catch the replay here on ESPN 3.
Anyway, I imagine you’ve re-hashed the game a good bit, so we’ll try to look forward here.
1. With North Carolina out of the way, it’s not difficult to imagine that the Yellow Jackets could be 7-0 in a month’s time. (Unless your imagination is not very good.) Obviously, if coaches and players start thinking along those lines, that’s probably not wise. But, as fans, I’d say you’re welcome to do so. Unless something drastic happens, Tech should be favored in each of the next three games against N.C. State, Maryland and Virginia.
If Tech can continue its improvement, execution and focus, I’d rate its chances of winning each fairly high. Certainly, weird things happen and counting on a group of 20-year-olds to stay consistent at most anything can be a foolish proposition. But, somebody’s got to win those games.
If you’re wondering, and I know you aren’t, my laborious research tells me that if Tech reaches 7-0, it can reasonably expect to be ranked somewhere between 10th and 20th in the country. I checked all the top-25 polls going into Week 8 through 2002 for the lowest-ranked undefeated BCS-conference team. The high was No. 8 and the low was No. 19. Most were No. 14-16. I suppose I could also look at the teams ahead of Tech and figure out how many head-to-head matchups there are that would drop the loser beneath the Jackets or see what teams have a tough schedule in the next four weeks, but there are limits to my laborious research.
While we’re on the topic of projections, you could make the case that in this 7-0 scenario, Tech might be a little high, as they would be 7-0 with (possibly) only one win over a “quality opponent.”
2. A troublesome number for the N.C. State. The offense is averaging 2.8 yards per carry. The N.C. State school paper pointed out that, if you take away wins over Liberty and South Alabama, the average is 1.5 yards per carry. Aiyee.
Wake Forest and Cincinnati’s passing numbers against N.C. State: 48-for-70, 600 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions.
One other factoid: The Wolfpack’s linebackers coach is … Jon Tenuta.
3. Hopefully you read the story I wrote for Monday’s paper about statistical differences between the 2010 team and the 2011 version after four games. As you might imagine, the most obvious difference is the passing game. Other facets of the offense, as well as the defense, are improved (penalties are down 38 percent, for example), but the efficiency of the passing game is what has improved the most.
I think one way to capture is that, last year, Tech had completed 33 percent of its passes through four games, on its way to finishing at 38 percent, lowest in FBS. This year, Tevin Washington’s completion rate is 64 percent. With one more completion, he’d be slightly ahead of the single-season school record for completion percentage (Joe Hamilton, 1999, 66.6 percent).
It’s easy to make this a Joshua Nesbitt vs. Washington matter and, obviously, some or maybe even a lot of the difference lies there. Protection, route running, catching efficiency (if such a thing exists) and the situations (throwing off of play action vs. throwing because the team is behind) all play a role.
I’d be curious for your thoughts.
4. Game time for the Maryland game at Bobby Dodd Stadium Oct. 8 should be announced Monday. I’ll have it up on a blog as soon as I find out.
5. Some links from Saturday’s game.
Charlotte Observer report from the UNC side, as well as Wilmington Star News.
Jon Cooper’s story about Stephen Hill’s efforts for Sting Daily.
Matt Winkeljohn’s game story and various pontifications for Sting Daily.
David Friedlander’s report for the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Stan Awtrey’s story in the Macon Telegraph.
6. I’ll have post-practice notes up 9-ish. My guesses for Tech players of the game: Jeremiah Attaochu, Darren Waller (special teams) and either Stephen Hill or Jay Finch.
Thanks for reading. Please follow on Facebook and Twitter.
By Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech beat
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276 comments Add your comment
Ol'JacketFan
September 26th, 2011
12:41 pm
Here’s one Tech fan that has no problem with DawginLex being in here. He’s a classy fan and always has good insight on both teams! Trolls I can do without but true fans are fun to interact with even if I don’t agree with who they root for
College Football Expert
September 26th, 2011
12:42 pm
uga fans posts always make me chuckle.
Slow your roll boys
September 26th, 2011
12:42 pm
Stay focused and humble. We haven’t won anything yet. Wolfpack will be eager to upset a 4-0 team. Take at a game a week. Clemson looks to be really tough and we all know UGA will be tough(even if they are 2-9 going into that game). Now let’s get a W in Raleigh.
GT Fan
September 26th, 2011
12:42 pm
It will NOT matter that they play in the ACC …. If GT goes 13-0, and nobody else is unbeaten, they WILL be one of the two teams in the BCS NC game. It’s just that simple.
Luke
September 26th, 2011
12:43 pm
@Slow your roll boys,
Agreed. The only thing we’ve done is managed to put a target on our backs. Each W from here on out will just make it bigger. Stay focused and work hard. Let’s keep rollin!
hey playsomebody
September 26th, 2011
12:45 pm
go back to your own blog until the dawgs ‘ actually beat a top ten opponent…’
not like the dawgs have been world beaters. AND your schedule is not exactly a world beater either.
Thanks, Ken...
September 26th, 2011
12:46 pm
I watched a LOT of games on Saturday, at least most of 5 different games after the GT game was over. Look, there are only 2 or 3 teams out there that are playing inspired football (actually, maybe only 2); in the so called big games that I watched, including ugag, there was a lot of crappy play. I’m being honest when I say that I didn’t really see a single team play, other than LSU, that didn’t look like a high school team several times during the games. The only thing that’s really killing us is the total lack of a kicking game. Can’t CPJ just go yank some kid off the soccer team that can at least kick the ball to the end zone, or make a 30 yrd FG?
Ol'JacketFan
September 26th, 2011
12:46 pm
I am really enjoying how this TEAM is performing. It sure looks like they are having fun out there and have a great chemistry. No cliques are apparent and, based on the player interviews, they are all taking pleasure in seeing the TEAM win.
Such a changes from some previous editions!
DawginLex
September 26th, 2011
12:47 pm
Just like to talk college football.
Later boys
Have a good one
Born2Buzz
September 26th, 2011
12:48 pm
I hate it when I make a witty erudite comment and it gets caught in the filters.
Just cause I said the rest of the ACC was god awful (I’m guessing..let’s see if this gets through).
Yes, the team should be looking only at the next game, but like Ken said, we fans can look ahead and hope for 7-0 or 8-0. Miami still worries me.
GT Fan
September 26th, 2011
12:48 pm
I hate seeing the early line …. GT minus 11.5 AT NCST. That will be used as bulletin board material.
Based on week 4 games, GT should run for days vs. NCST, but 10/1 is new game. Glennon has put up some good passing #s. Get a good rush … he aint no Russell Wilson …. and GT could see 7 sacks again.
I like the Jackets on 10/1.
1 4 GT
September 26th, 2011
12:49 pm
I think we have………….. I think Nesbitt was used, in certain game situations, by CPJ that way because of his strength & toughness……..he was a beastly warrior in crunch time
Luke
September 26th, 2011
12:49 pm
Thats the thing, Im not quite sure there wont be at least three unbeaten teams. Counting Boise State in (God knows they’ve deserved if they can finally go undefeated), you could probably look at Alabama or LSU to go undefeated, which leaves Tech the odd man out, even if they were to go undefeated.
hey luke
September 26th, 2011
12:51 pm
i dont disagree about his being a decent poster. i just dont want to here about how great the dawgs are. dont we get enough of that from the trolls.
as far as my relevant posts go. if you dont like em dont read them. simple.
additionally… if your a dawg lover i suggest you go to a blog where you will be appreciated. this is blog for gt fans and good ol fashioned hate rules here.
1 4 GT
September 26th, 2011
12:56 pm
OJL I completely agree with yo about the youth of this team. I recall the TV broadcasters saying we only had 5 seniors starting this year. That certainly bodes well for the future.
Birmingham Jacket
September 26th, 2011
1:04 pm
Per ESPN, UMD a 12PM kick on ESPNU
Booooo…..
hmmmmm
September 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
As I said before the season started. Washington will be a better qback than Nesbitt was. That was very obvious to me watching Washinton throw the ball at the end of last year. Last year he was already a better passer than Nesbitt.
Nesbitt was a better running back but an aweful passer.
Washington is a very capable runner but an overall better qback and the offense will flourish under him as it already has. It will only get better.
ATL XMAN
September 26th, 2011
1:05 pm
13-0..now that is funny. guys..you were picked to win 6 or 7 games this year…your still in the hunt for that. you guys havent played anyone except UNC and they pretty much shot themselves in the foot all day. you guys couldnt run up the middle. the only thing that saved you guys was the long td to hill. tech did have a few pitches go right and made unc pay for being out of place. but if not for all the mistakes unc made tech has a L. your defense will not hold up. but congrats on the unc win and for hanging tough.
RT in NC
September 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
Nesbitt was a better athlete. It looks like Washington is a better QB. I love um both though.
ATL XMAN
September 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
by the end of the year all you guys that think washington is the better qb will be calling for a qb change as he wont come close to nesbitt win totals and his over all numbers on offense will be well off as well. he is just being helped by playing the weaker teams this year
reality
September 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
Hey ATL Xidiot….where are your dogs ranked? Who have you beaten….coastal highschool and an ole Miss team that Gt would have put 60 points on?
Casey
September 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
They could even start 8-0 had they opened the season against the Falcons..
Birmingham Jacket
September 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
ATL XMAN
You obviously didn’t watch the game. The score didn’t reflect how lopsided time of posession, total rushing and passing yards were.
If anyone shot themselves in the foot, it was us. Missed 30 field goal, dropped TD pass, allowing a late score on a big play run.
Otherwise, that score is a GT rout 45-21.
Ol'JacketFan
September 26th, 2011
1:13 pm
Uzzi, Attachou and I. Johnson named to the ACC players of the week list!
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
1:13 pm
I hope they change the time . Can’t stand noon games. Hard to eat a chili dog at 10am.
LP
September 26th, 2011
1:24 pm
Good win but it shoulda been easier and bigger. Hill has to make wide open catches. That is crazy to drop that ball. Looks like a 11 point fav over nc state. We usually have a tough game at uva and they are a lot like unc. Won’t be easy. With miami looking average, we could be 8-0 with clemson coming. I will be pulling for clemson though this weekend over VT.
rate it
September 26th, 2011
1:26 pm
The difference in passing is nesbitt wasn’t very accurate and rarely threw a spiral. Tevin is a better passer. That’s the difference and as long as our guys can catch the ball, we will beat anyone in this conference as well as ugag
rate it
September 26th, 2011
1:28 pm
ole miss is the worst team in the sec and not even a top 100 team and uga fans talk that up? pathetic
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
1:34 pm
Don’t knock DawginLex, no matter what he posts here. He is informed, intelligent, and classy. ATL XMAN, on the other hand, is a total doofus. We couldn’t run up the middle on UNC??? Then why did Sims have more yards against them than he has gotten against any other team so far this year. He runs up the middle, and he also assisted in opening a big hole for Roddy on the play when he ran up the middle. Watch the games, bubba, and talk about facts, not conjectures.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
1:36 pm
I would, however, question what DawginLex said about the dawg defense. Holding Ole Miss doesn’t prove anything at all, and if Choke Grantham’s NFL credentials are used as a standard for good defense, then why was he the 4th choice for that job last year?
Hoopster
September 26th, 2011
1:37 pm
yeah, ATL Xman, because B-Back David Sims running 13 times for 71 yds, averaging 5.5 a carry shows an inability to run the ball up the middle. put the pipe down. Tech rushed for a ton!
T3
September 26th, 2011
1:37 pm
The real surprise in the ACC this weekend is Clemson will beat VaTech.
Mike O
September 26th, 2011
1:38 pm
Miss ranked 89th. LMAO
Ga 31 Haha
Tech 16.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt11.htm
Flounder
September 26th, 2011
1:38 pm
… not to mention ATL XMAN (and others) clogging up the GT live blog on Saturday with play-by-play updates on the UGA game.
Not Hiring
September 26th, 2011
1:39 pm
This is setting up nicely for a good drama. Tech playing Dawgs at 11-0 in the top 10 and Richt, who has owned them, lame duck coaching his last Georgia game. Hollywood couldn’t come up with a better script.
Gorilla Biscuit
September 26th, 2011
1:39 pm
If you could just get Mohammet, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton to buy a ticket you might have something there.
Clemson, VT and Georgia are going to make Al swallow his Super Bowl ring.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
1:41 pm
Sounds like Gorilla is a racist
Golden Tornado
September 26th, 2011
1:42 pm
Ted M, I agree with you completely: “As is GT will lose a game solely because of special teams.”
I go a step further: That loss will occur in one of the next three games, against a so-called, gimme. Maybe the offense can make up for the Big Error when it happens, but “that’s why they play the games.”
reality
September 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
Kansas is ranked higher than Ole Miss in Sagerin’s ratings.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
1:48 pm
Just don’t let officials decide the outcome of the game. What a mess for Toledo and Syracuse. Someone should be dismissed.
reality
September 26th, 2011
1:50 pm
You are funny Gorilla. UGA is not in the same league as VT and Clemson. GT rolls over UGA in November.
Ken Sugiura
September 26th, 2011
1:52 pm
sorry about the filters. i’ve asked the blog guru to take a look at the comments in the filter – and there’s a bunch – and see if he has any explanation.
Flounder
September 26th, 2011
1:54 pm
… now that was actually very funny “Gorilla”. Hey Supersize … you may or may not know, but he was quoting Nerd character names from the movie “Animal House”.
As “Larry the Cable Guy” would say (who is also prototype for a UGA fan btw): “I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there!”
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
1:54 pm
Gorilla, I can assure you I am not a democrat. But even if I were, so what? ALL classes, beliefs, races, and nationalities are welcome at Tech. That apparently is something a racist like you cannot understand.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
1:56 pm
Flounder, actually I did not realize that, but it doesn’t matter. What he implied was that Tech draws on people of different nationalities and races for its fans and players—–clearly racist and xenophobic
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
1:58 pm
Ken, do you know how Hill is doing?
Buzz63/64
September 26th, 2011
2:04 pm
Probably need a new thread on this but here goes. Why doesn’t Coach post an open try out for some one that can kick the ball into the end zone on kick offs. Surely, there is someone on campus that could do that.
Ramblin Recluse Road
September 26th, 2011
2:05 pm
If the players can continue the pace w/o getting upset by their first test scores the profs gave them, and w/o getting upset by anything else others connected with Tech are establisng for themselves, then they could go 7-0. They cannot protest about others by not playing well, like they might have done with Nezbitt’s play after Demariyus Thomas left. Nezbitt passed well enough to Thomas that an NFL job was offered to him thanks to Nez. People use Tech to create future careers in many fields, including grad school, and the players have to realize that everybody at Tech is for themselves and their own education, not each other as some sort of interdependent team all that much.
Ramblin Recluse Road
September 26th, 2011
2:08 pm
the players need to disregard any other’s participation with Tech, or non-participation such as in my name as a Tech grad of ‘73, and continue to perform for the others; I have payed my alum assn dues this year, and I appreciate the entertainment the players are providing
Ken Sugiura
September 26th, 2011
2:11 pm
good posts here. i’m not a fan of either team, but reality gets a +1 for the kansas/ole miss tidbit.
give me a break – i don’t know if espn is contractually allowed to break a kickoff time once set.
about O’Brien chasing off Russell Wilson, it wouldn’t surprise me if CPJ would do something similar, although i don’t know if he’d draw the line where O’Brien did (Wilson’s minor-league baseball got in the way of participating in offseason workouts).
Remember, CPJ cut loose a high schooler who, after committing, took a visit elsewhere (which he tells commits they can’t do). obviously, stakes are different, but he was at that point risking becoming “the guy who didn’t let the eventual All-American take another visit after committing.” He’s a “you’re either with us or you’re not” kind of guy.
p.s. as it turns out, the prospect kind of fizzled, but the point is the same.
gorilla biscuit – let’s avoid politics. and name calling, for that matter. let’s try to contribute to and elevation the discussion, not detract from it.