Archive for October, 2011

Georgia Tech defensive back Jemea Thomas was named the ACC defensive back of the week Monday for his leading role in the Yellow Jackets’ 31-17 win over Clemson Saturday.

Thomas had two interceptions, both in the fourth quarter, one in the Tech end zone and the other to end the Tigers’ final drive. He also broke up two passes, made five tackles (one for loss) and forced a fumble.

Thomas, who made his first career start, recorded the first two interceptions of his career en route to arguably Georgia Tech’s top individual defensive performance of the season. Thomas had five tackles, a tackle for loss, forced a fumble, broke up two passes and was the first Tech player in more than a year to pick off two passes in a game. Both of his INTs came in the fourth quarter – the first one in the end zone that foiled Clemson’s chance to pull within a touchdown.

He also played an integral role on special teams.

“I got winded a little bit, but I knew I had to come through for my team,” …

Continue reading Jemea Thomas named ACC DB of week »

Greetings-

Funny the difference a week makes and some kudos to BigTimeTechFan, who last Monday predicted “Yellow Jackets in a blowout.” He was a little more on the ball than Dawgfan, who prophesied that “CLAMPSUN WILL DESTROY THAT STUPID YOUTH FOOTBALL OFFENSE.”

A couple thoughts and I’ve got to get moving.

1. After taking a lot of heat, special teams gets a pretty big assist for its role in Saturday’s win. Clemson’s starting field position on its seven kickoff returns – the 28, 26, 50, 28, 30 and 11. Considering Sammy Watkins had been averaging 28.9 yards per return (24.6 if you factor out his 89-yard return) and Tech’s kickoffs were landing around the 10, that’s pretty good work. Jemea Thomas had one good stop and I think wasn’t credited for another. Watkins also ran into one of his own players and was downed on another. When that happened, it made me kind of think it was going to be Tech’s night.

Sean Poole and the punt team netted 44.0 yards on three punts. Tech had to, at …

Continue reading Thumbs-up for Georgia Tech special teams »

The ACC confirmed Sunday that Clemson defensive tackle Rennie Moore was offsides on a goal-line play in the third quarter of Georgia Tech’s 31-17 win over the Tigers Saturday. On the play, Moore split two Tech linemen and forced and recovered a fumble of quarterback Tevin Washington, ending the Yellow Jackets’ drive at the Clemson 3-yard line.

Replays indicated that Moore had entered the neutral zone prior to the snap, but no call was made on the play. Tech coach Paul Johnson said “I can’t wait to see the film because I’m pretty sure the guy was offsides down on the goal line when we fumbled the ball.”

An offsides could would have permitted Tech to repeat third down inside the 1-yard line. A touchdown would have given the Jackets a 38-10 lead with about 3:20 to play in the third quarter. Instead, Clemson took the next possession 97 yards for a touchdown to draw the score to 31-17, which held up as the final score.

Washington said it was an offsides call in his opinion.

In the …

Continue reading ACC confirms offsides penalty »

After dropping out of both polls following its loss to Miami last Saturday, Georgia Tech re-appeared Sunday. Following their upset of No. 5 Clemson Saturday night, the Yellow Jackets were ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press writers poll and No. 23 in the USA Today coaches poll.

By dropping their first game of the season, the Tigers fell from No. 6 to No. 11 in the AP poll and from No. 6 to No. 12 in the coaches poll. Virginia Tech, which Tech will play next in two Thursdays at Bobby Dodd Stadium is No. 12 in the writers poll and No. 11 in the coaches poll.

Continue reading Georgia Tech back in polls »

CineSport post-game report with post-game soundbites.

Continue reading Video: Georgia Tech 31, Clemson 17 »

TEVIN WASHINGTON

On his two long runs:

Both of them came off draw plays. The line did a good job. I can’t even give enough credit to the offensive line. The offensive line did a great job opening up the holes. I just ran through it and tried to do my best.

On persevering:

With adversity you’ve got to either stand up or lay down. I think we’ve got the type of team that stands up and comes back and just fight no matter what the situation may be.

How he felt after Jemea Thomas‘ interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter:

I was the happiest man out there on the field.

JEMEA THOMAS

On the interception in the end zone:

We watched film all week watching film on it. As soon as they get in the red zone, their No. 2 (Sammy Watkins) on the backside, they’re going to throw the fade, so I was kind of waiting on it.

PRESTON LYONS

On rotating with and sharing information with David Sims:

David and I, we do a lot of that. When one guy’s in, he tells the other guy on the sidlines …

Continue reading Georgia Tech quoteboard »

Initial comments:

It’s a great win. I know that lot of guys are disappointed that wrote us off, but we got a chance to play again next week. Like I said, earlier, just let us finish the season before you do our tombstone. I’m really proud of our guys. I couldn’t be prouder.

On Clemson:

I tell you they’ve got a really, really good football team. Brandon Thompson is a heck of a football player, the defensive tackle. We had a hard time blocking him so we just kind of started reading him.

On why the team played so differently than it had the past two weeks:

We played with some emotion and some intensity and we played better. They’re 18 to 21 year olds. Like I said, we’ve got a young football team. I keep telling people who don’t want to listen. Coach (Dabo) Swinney and I were talking about it before the game. We’ve got a bunch of sophomores and redshirt freshmen playing on the line of scrimmage most of the time and sometimes they’ve played better than the others. We just executed …

Continue reading Paul Johnson quotes »

Greetings-

Just getting back to the press box. Just like we all thought, eh? A few points and I’ll give up the floor.

1.With its back against the wall, Georgia Tech played the best game of its season. Long drives (Tech had the ball 39 minutes), a smattering of big plays, four forced turnovers, clean special teams.

2. Tevin Washington delivered. He busted runs of 46 and 56 yards, set the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback (176), ran the option effectively and quieted more than a few doubters. Also, Jemea Thomas played out of his mind. Two crucial interceptions, two pass break-ups of long balls, a forced fumble and at least two special teams tackles.

3. Defensive coordinator Al Groh put his trust in his young secondary. Cornerback Louis Young said the Jackets blitzed more than they had in any game previously, putting the secondary in one-on-one situations against Clemson’s fleet wide receivers. It worked, as quarterback Tajh Boyd often got rushed in his throws or …

Continue reading Georgia Tech 31, Clemson 17 »

Greetings-

Just wanted to let you know I’ll be over on Jeff Schultz’s live blog here.

Some things I’ll be looking for:

1) Matchup of guards Omoregie Uzzi and Will Jackson and center Nick McRae vs. Clemson nose guard Brandon Thompson. (I realize it won’t be 3 vs. 1, but they’ll all have their chances, I imagine.)

2) Can Georgia Tech’s special teams rise up and produce consistent kicks and punts and perhaps a big play?

3) Will the Jackets grab early momentum and avoid playing catch-up as they have the past two weeks?

4) Is that guy who dressed up as a referee at the UCLA-Arizona guy and took off his clothes going to show up?

5) Can Tech’s defense contain Clemson and make the Tigers work for their points?

6) Can Tevin Washington get off the schneid?

Continue reading Georgia Tech-Clemson … »

Interview with CineSport’s Brian Clark about the Georgia Tech-Clemson game.

Continue reading Video: Georgia Tech-Clemson game »