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
Stinger 2
September 26th, 2011
2:13 pm
Ken: I appreciate your informative blogs. However, the players (or at least some of them) follow your writings.
When they read the parts that are intended for the fans, I hope they do not get so giddy and full of themselves.
They need to think one game at a time any not get excited about what their record could be in the future
Jacket1985
September 26th, 2011
2:19 pm
Ken,
The board at Tech flashed a 3:30 start for the Maryland game sometime during the 3rd quarter. Not sure of the accuracy but I swear I saw it.
GTVegas
September 26th, 2011
2:25 pm
The season started today, GT is 0-0 this week and should strive to end this seven-day season at 1-0. There is no other game to focus on other than NCState. Focus and execution !!!
Ken Sugiura
September 26th, 2011
2:31 pm
1985 – you saw it correctly. it was a mistake by the game production staff. the game has been set for noon.
Stinger 2 – i imagine players don’t need my help to look at the schedule and draw the conclusion for themselves.
K
September 26th, 2011
2:31 pm
Ken, good information and nice covering of Ga Tech football.
Thanks for your insights.
how2fish
September 26th, 2011
2:33 pm
Well 4-0 and I have to admit as a UGA fan I am surprised but impressed. Best of luck vs NC ST this week but with the way CPJ has your team playing I think luck will have little to do with it.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
We saw the 3:30 time on the board at the game ,also.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
Ken, I don’t know if there is anything that you CAN do, but I sure wish you could and would do something about the guy who posted under my name at 11:30. He pops in here from time to time doing that, and although I can’t really recall him saying anything offensive, I would still prefer that opinions voiced in my name would actually be MY opinions, and not somebody else’s.
carolinajacket
September 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
Right on Vegas. I have a feeling the team knows this. There’s a reason the term Upset (named for whom?) is around.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:35 pm
how2fish, thanks for a classy remark
crackbaby
September 26th, 2011
2:39 pm
Jeez Y’all,
A little early to be talkin’ 7-0. Jackets could have lost to UNC despite dominating the offensive stats.
Can we just focus on NCSU? They pounded us last year. Fortunately Russell Wilson left for Wisconsin but I seem to remember a huge O line.
This is a for real road game. Not MTSU. Hope the Jackets aren’t day dreaming like y’all.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:41 pm
crackbaby, I think fans can be excused for a little optimistic enthusiasm, even if sometimes too much. But you are right, the team needs to stay focused—–one game at a time
Burdell 90
September 26th, 2011
2:41 pm
Ken, why does ESPN feel the need to keep us at 12:00 games at home. Execpt for the Thurs game, we are at 12:30 and noon. Do you know the logic…if there is one?
calvin
September 26th, 2011
2:41 pm
Sure 7-0 sounds great, but as long as we’re
hoping, let’s hope for 14-0.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
2:44 pm
Set it up like e-mails, don’t accept a dublicate after pairing e-mail with name. This would allow e-mails to use multiple names unless one has already been used and protect the original name.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
Give Me….., I have suggested that in the past, but nothing has been done so far
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:47 pm
I am off to the gym. Anybody posting under the name Supersize between now and about 4:30 will NOT BE ME!!!! And I will be proudly wearing my Ga Tech t-shirt at the gym, so all the dawg fans there today can cringe the way I do when I see them in their Georgia shirts. LOL
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
If anybody can do it , Ken can. When he gets a spare minute.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:49 pm
I don’t think Ken has any spare minutes. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Anyway, I am outta here for a while. Have fun, guys, and GO JACKETS !!!!
Not Hiring
September 26th, 2011
2:51 pm
I think games are staged on TV based on interest and Ad dollars. I’m a Dawg, but Tech is fun to watch, but the guys sit in a room a decide who and when based on selling the Ads. They pay big bucks for the rights to these games and if team A will bring 300,000 per ad vs team D bringing 200,000, then they get the nod in prime time. Prime time Saturday to me would be the 3 or so and after slot, after guys get off the golf course, yard work, or off a paying job. Early games are for hard core and relative to said team.
Supersize that order,
September 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
Enter your comments here
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 26th, 2011
2:53 pm
DUPLICATE. I hate it when I do that.
Full Metal
September 26th, 2011
2:53 pm
Ken, thanks for the speculation and the great coverage! Just as long as the team doesn’t drink that Kool Aid – it’s got to be one game at a time for them or the streak could end at four. Go Jackets!
kerryb
September 26th, 2011
2:53 pm
I can’t believe that Tech people are so obsessed with UGA that they talk about them on their own blog.
Dawgs_Win
September 26th, 2011
2:55 pm
kerryb -
shut it.
Dostoyevskiy
September 26th, 2011
2:55 pm
Tech should be optimistic, but not overconfident; they frustrated UNC, but got less than UNC’s best performance. Some Tech fans think Tech should have won by more than 7, but some UNC fans think UNC played way beneath their capability on Sat. I think this will be proven as the season proceeds.
kerryb
September 26th, 2011
2:55 pm
Clemson’s going to put 50 points on you guys. I’ve seen them in person and they are high octane. Too fast for you guys.
kerryb
September 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
Why is a guy named DAwgs-Win telling me to shut it. Traitor.
Gorilla Biscuit
September 26th, 2011
3:00 pm
Supersize, only Al Sharpton would have found that racist.
Corvette offense, Pinto defense, and a stadium half full. 4-0 and you still get no respect. 12 o’clock games on ESPN3.
Dawgs_Win
September 26th, 2011
3:01 pm
kerryb -
Have you not noticed you moron that even the others on the Dawg blogs are tired of your antics? Just shut your pie-hole and root for someone else outside of this state you sap-tuck.
Trent
September 26th, 2011
3:03 pm
kerry b,
If Clemson puts 50 up on us that mean’s we’ll hang 80 on them. But keep dreaming. Your turn is coming.
Razed
September 26th, 2011
3:04 pm
LOL. I Love how the idiot UGAG fans are fighting amongst themselves now. Kerryb and Dawgs_win you guys are complete baboons.
yellowcat
September 26th, 2011
3:05 pm
kerryb uga has not shown anything, also clemson losses to us far more than it wins
Dawgs_Win
September 26th, 2011
3:06 pm
Razed -
Dude, i’m not an idiot. Just had enough of that little fairy kerryb. His annoying over on the UGA threads too, dude.
kerryb
September 26th, 2011
3:06 pm
Hey Dawgs_Win i’m a princess, not a fairy.
Telling_Gold
September 26th, 2011
3:07 pm
The mutts are all idiots.
beebee
September 26th, 2011
3:14 pm
Keep it up, Jackets!
bee
GssiT
September 26th, 2011
3:15 pm
A lost to VT would kill us. Who, in our division, is going to beat them? Ken, see your influnce. The only game that matters is Sat @ NCState, and they are wounded. One at a time. Ken, if you want to do something, research these noon kick-offs. This is 3 out of 4 already this season. What is going on????????? Go, Jackets!
GTVegas
September 26th, 2011
3:16 pm
Easy now, there are just as many classy UGA promoters as there are classless GT ones. It goes both ways.
We all can tell quite clearly which ones know what they are talking about, which ones are trolls and which ones are just plain ignorant.
LkB
September 26th, 2011
3:16 pm
Pretty easy to start 7-0 when you play absolutely NO ONE.
fan of shorter passes & longer runs
September 26th, 2011
3:30 pm
re Sims up the middle. In the first half, to me Johnson did not seem to attempt as many “middles” as usual and UNC seemingly did sort-of shut it down. Start the second half and boom…Sims successfully up the middle a few times. Sounds like great coaching to me. One of the best Sims runs was not up the middle but a pitch to the left…for a TD.
Hope Clemson beats VPI Sat and Tech plays Clemson in the Charlotte champ game.
Ramblin Man
September 26th, 2011
3:35 pm
Kerryb,
Not making a prediction on Clemson, as I like the players and coaches will focus on NC State, but Clemson just like GT still has some things to prove. They look great but have they really been tested? Auburn never deserved the ranking they had and thier D is awful and FSU was playing with a depleted team. Not taking anything away from Clemson I am just not completely sold yet and no real test is left in thier division.
BuzzBeater
September 26th, 2011
3:41 pm
do you think if we beat UGA again we can rings made up again?
Supersize that order, mutt
September 26th, 2011
3:47 pm
Wow….” A week after the ACC finally showed life, with Miami upsetting Ohio State 24-6 and Clemson knocking off Auburn, the league suffered another embarrassing Saturday. ACC teams lost to opponents from the Big East, Big 12, Conference USA and Mid-American Conference.”
Flounder
September 26th, 2011
3:48 pm
@BuzzBeater … OH MY GOD THAT IS FUNNY!!!!! Typical delusion-oid who hears a rumor and believes it to be the gospel. Those rings were awarded to GT players and coaches to commemorate a great SEASON, not just one game. It was the GT players, when asked, who decided to inscribe the rings with the 45-42 score … that victory was the culmination of a good season for GT … it was not the sole reason the rings were made.
Ramblnwrek
September 26th, 2011
4:01 pm
Question for the group: Doesn’t ESPN/USA Today own or run the Coaches Poll? UNC was ranked 25th in that one and we were 24th. I am surprised that ESPN was not touting this game as 24 vs 25. I mean it is their poll and they were the ones broadcasting it. Just wondering if anyone knows why the powers that be wouldn’t try to capitalize on that. I mean, isn’t the reason the BCS was created in the first place was because they would NOT get rid of the Coaches Poll?
BuzzBeater
September 26th, 2011
4:04 pm
Flounder, I was just thinking that maybe we could get new rings made since we had to give the ones back from the ACC title since we got caught cheating…..
oh brother!
September 26th, 2011
4:07 pm
NERDS!!!
Tech Rocks
September 26th, 2011
4:08 pm
Tech wins big 49-24
Georgia by a point 24-23