Tech notes on Duke, bowls, UGA
Greetings-
Some notes and observations from Durham and a brief look ahead to Saturday’s game.
1. It was one of Tevin Washington’s best games this season. He made plays both running and passing and got the ball pitched to the A-backs for a few big plays. He had that 39-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter in which he shook off a couple tackles to get to the end zone.
I haven’t asked Paul Johnson or Brian Bohannon about this, and perhaps I should, but he’s shown a knack for getting off pitches at the very last instant, as he’s going down, to free up the A-backs.
“I think it was really Tevin reading,” Embry Peeples said, explaining the alleys he had for his runs. “They were trying to slow play him (force him to keep the ball), but he could kind of get close enough to them where they had to attack and he could just kick it out.”
A great stat from Tech sports information guru Dean Buchan: Washington’s 321 yards of total offense were the most by a Tech player since a 367-yard game in 2005 by Reggie Ball.
2. Duke quarterback Sean Renfree had season highs for a Georgia Tech opponent with 26 completions on 42 attempts and four touchdowns. His 250 yards were shy of Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd’s 295. Boyd was 23-for 40.
Tech did not sack Renfree, continuing a pattern of not getting consistent pass-rush pressure. Renfree made it hard by getting rid of the ball quickly, but there were instances when he took longer drops and had protection. He was hurried a few times and flushed from the pocket.
In the past four games, opponents have 121 pass attempts and have been sacked three times, a 40.3 pass-per-sack rate. In Tech’s first seven games, opponents threw 203 times and Tech had 16 sacks, or a sack for every 12.7 passes.
I realize the numbers don’t say everything. A quarterback pressure that leads to an interception is far more valuable than a sack, for instance. And Tech’s sack total through seven games is weighted with a seven-sack game against North Carolina. But, it says something.
3. Tech’s loss to Virginia looks a little better with the Cavaliers’ defeat of Florida State Saturday night in Tallahassee. Virginia will play for the Coastal title next Saturday against Virginia Tech. It’s funny; before the Tech-Virginia Tech game, everyone (and I include myself) basically said that the game was for the Coastal title, assuming Virginia was going to take a third conference loss at some point. It wouldn’t surprise me if Virginia were to win Saturday in Charlottesville. It’d be the first time the Coastal representative hasn’t been Tech or Virginia Tech in the game’s history, going back to 2006. Four schools (Boston College, Wake Forest, Florida State and Clemson) have come fro the Atlantic side.
Crazy ending to that game. After Virginia drove late to go up 17-16, Florida State got the ball back with a minute left. On the last possession, there was an injury to a Virginia player that required him to be taken off on a cart, a facemask penalty on fourth down that kept alive FSU’s drive, a pass completion that appeared to end the game but was judged an incompletion on replay, giving the Seminoles a chance to try a last-second field goal, a penalty on Virginia that moved the field-goal attempt five yards and then finally the field goal itself, which hooked left.
Mostly, I was thinking that I was glad I didn’t have to write that game story on deadline. That would have been brutal.
4. I think both Clemson and Florida State’s losses improve Tech’s chances of playing in either the Chick-fil-A or Champs Sports bowls. I think it goes without saying that any bowl wants to put the best game together that it can, because, among other things, it likely means better ratings and fan bases that are excited enough about their teams and their bowl game to buy tickets.
If the Tigers and Seminoles crash and burn next Saturday against South Carolina and Florida, respectively, and Tech pulls the upset of Georgia, I don’t know if it’d be probable that Tech would end up in one of those games, but I’d say at least their chances would be pretty good. If Clemson were to lose in the ACC title game, that’d be a three-game losing streak, the Tigers would be out of the polls and Tech would be the highest-ranked team of Tech, FSU and Clemson. It’s conceivable Virginia might be a more viable option for the bowls at that point.
A lot is still up in the air, though. Virginia is finishing strong. Virginia Tech, if it beats Virginia but then loses to Clemson in the title game, is always a popular choice for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
At this point, I’d think the Sun Bowl is still the most likely destination, but a lot can and will change things.
5. Except for the kickoff return unit, special teams was pretty good. The kickoff cover team kept Duke inside the 30 four out of six times and David Scully had his fourth touchback of the season.
Justin Moore made his fourth consecutive field goal and continued his PAT streak to 52.
6. An encouraging effort by B-back Charles Perkins in his stint filling in for Preston Lyons, save the fourth-quarter fumble Didn’t break any big plays, but he got four first-down runs and looked like he was running hard. I’m not sure how to tease out the numbers, but I’ll give the principal B-backs 905 yards (the 794 that Sims and Lyons had going into the game plus the 111 Sims and Perkins gained Saturday) for the season. (That wouldn’t count yards gained by Perkins and Richard Watson previously. It’s kind of nebulous, I realize.) With two games remaining, it would appear that they’ll be able to clear 1,000 yards to continue the B-back 1,000-yard streak, perhaps with ease.
7. Tech benefited from a holding penalty against Duke on the Blue Devils’ final drive of the game. It was just the fourth time this season that a Tech opponent’s offense has been called for a hold this season.
8. Two important objectives for Tech this week.
a) Find a way to stop Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. If the pass rush doesn’t improve, the onus will be on Louis Young, Jemea Thomas and their cadre to deliver. Georgia tight end Orson Charles looks like a matchup challenge.
b) Punch up the B-back production some more. The 111 yards and two touchdowns Sims and Perkins gained were a good start. (The 25 carries, the most this season for the position by one, helped.) Against the No. 2 run defense in the country – 81.3 yards per game, 2.8 yards per carry – Tech will need as many viable options as it can have.
9. Condolences to the family of Larry Munson. He is a legend in this state and in college football and is an indelible part of the Tech-Georgia rivalry.
10. Tech and Georgia fans – let’s be civil this week. Good-natured ribbing is fine, but if you want to be obscene, disrespectful and generally unpleasant, you aren’t welcome to post and I’ll do my best to make sure you can’t. No tolerance this week. I’ll be busy this week, so it might take me a few hours to get to it, but I’ll ban with pleasure those who can’t play nice. “He started it” and “I couldn’t let those remarks go without a response” are not legitimate excuses.
Links
Durham Herald-Sun game story with sidebar on wide receiver Donovan Varner, another from the Raleigh News & Observer and the Associated Press.
Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph reports on Georgia turning its attention to Tech.
All of Chip Towers‘ excellent coverage of the Bulldogs here, including an obituary of Munson that’s definitely worth a read.
An old story but a good one. A 2008 Jeff Schultz column about how Johnson nearly became Georgia’s offensive coordinator.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the week.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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366 comments Add your comment
AGTFan53
November 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
I want to echo what GT93 said. Any true college football fan should be saddened by the passing of the great Larry Munson. He was truly a one of kind brodcaster. I frankly don’t know what to expect this weekend. I don’t think either team has beaten anyone of any real quality. Go Jackets!
True Dawg Fan
November 21st, 2011
1:15 pm
banned already hahahahhahaha your a clown Ken. Get a real school to write for. I know you will be reading these. Enjoy this week bc come saturday there will be nothing left for tech to enjoy
True Dawg Fan
November 21st, 2011
1:16 pm
Jason
November 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
Record wise, Georgia Tech is the toughest team UGA has had to play since the Boise and South Carolina games.
ahhahahahaha Record wise is your arguement? Talent wise we have played 11 teams better than tech
Jason
November 21st, 2011
1:19 pm
To be fair, here is how Tech’s schedule shaped up…
1) Western Carolina = 1-10 FCS Team
Duke = 3-8
2) Middle Tennessee = 2-8
3) Kansas = 2-9
4) North Carolina = 6-5
5) NC State = 6-5
6) Maryland = 2-9
7) Clemson = 9-2
Here is the list of Non-ACC Coastal Teams those teams have beaten:
(Not inlcuding Western Carolina’s wins because they are FCS)
Memphis
Florida Atlantic
McNeese St.
Northern Illinois
James Madison
Rutgers
East Carolina
Louisville
Wake Forest
Liberty
South Alabama
Central Michigan
Clemson
Towson
Troy
Wofford
Auburn
Florida State
Boston College
Maryland
Tulane
FIU
Headliners = Auburn, FL State, Clemson
Overall, its just about the same story as UGA. Tech played a couple more really bad teams, but also had a signature win over Clemson.
Frankly
November 21st, 2011
1:21 pm
Swat the yellow jackets!!!!!!
GATA!!!
Tech Troll 13
November 21st, 2011
1:21 pm
Stopping the run is the key. I like our chances more if IC doesn’t play. Our biggest weakness is stopping a power running game. Murray likes to throw the ball downsield – not the quick short passes that Duke used to give us trouble. The more passes Murray throws the better our chances.
BTW – I guess our normal trolls from the Land of MUtt were wrong about the point spread.
Sorry to hear about Munson. Makes me think of Al Ciraldo and “Toe Meets Leather”.
M. B.
November 21st, 2011
1:23 pm
There is no “good-natured ribbing” when it comes to this game.
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
1:24 pm
biggest factor for this week:
1.) Adequate practice time to prepare for the TO
That is the great equalizer IMO.
Close game IMO
Jason
November 21st, 2011
1:26 pm
True Dawg Fan,
Which 11 teams on that list would you include?
Ole Miss, Missippi St, Kentucky, Vandy, Tennessee, New Mexico St, and Coastal Carolina are all really more talented than Tech?
I’d say Tech is more in line with the talent on the Auburn and Florida teams.
The national polls would seem to agree considering that Tech is currently ranked higher than any teams that UGA has beaten this year. They also were at one point higher in the polls than any of those teams made it at any point this year.
1 4 GT
November 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
How does one know if he has been banned?? Just asking.
Brad in Jasper
November 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
Dawg here headed to the confines of Grant Field with my Tech buddies kind enough to provide tickets. Yes the Dawgs are indeed an enigma, thrashing a decent Auburn team and looking pedestrian against supposedly pedestrian opponents. Perhaps the most telling game was the USC loss. UGA outplayed USC (as sayeth the HBC), but the miscues turned into a bucketload of 7s for the Cocks. I believe that same formula will be GT’s chance to win. If we cough the ball up, make ST miscues and don’t play assignment D (a la second half of 2008) then all bets are off and Tech could win handily. Pound for pound though, UGA should take this one.
1 4 GT
November 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
I really would like to know what the puppy trolls have to say about my 12:56 pm post. And Tech guys as well.
Technically Correct
November 21st, 2011
1:31 pm
As usual, it will depend on which Tech team shows up – the good Tech or the bad Tech. That, of couse, means good Tevin or bad Tevin, good Stephen Hill or bad Stephen Hill, good blocking or bad blocking, good coverage or bad coverage, good punting or bad punting…
For Tech to win, Tech must play like it played against Clemson and Georgia must play like it played against Kentucky.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
1:33 pm
Crowell
November 21st, 2011
1:22 pm
I toed you i’s gon be back fo gtek. I don smoke dis bud an reddy fo you jacketz. I gon pass thru yo d line like hot knife thro butta fo sho. Enjoy turkey week yo.
————————–
Yeah, that’s not racist at all. Way to keep the football conversation going.
A.Bishop
November 21st, 2011
1:34 pm
Tech’s signature win over Clemson? The same Clemson that got destroyed by NC State. Can you say overrated?
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
1:34 pm
1 4 Gt
If you can get past calling me a puppy, I will tell you that I have described that scenario over here on this blog. I actually said that if it had happened, we would have multiple BCS titles by now because the TO with UGA talent=Oklahoma/Nebraska of the 1980’s.
The school made a huge mistake. But then again, the GA Southern dynasty would have never happened.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 21st, 2011
1:37 pm
Jason, you omitted UVA and VT from your list. Including them, Tech has played 5 teams with winning records, and won 3. UGA has played 4 teams with winning records and won 2.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 21st, 2011
1:38 pm
1 4 GT, I didn’t read the link you posted, but I have seen that before. Most dawgs won’t admit that though
Supersize that order, mutt
November 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
1 4 GT, I think if somebody is banned, the next time he tries to post under that name, it won’t be accepted. Of course, they can, and usually do, just change names and start all over again. Unless, Ken is actually banning an email or IP address, bans are only temporary
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
1:41 pm
@Jason, I would hardly believe that TALENT wise, tech is on par with Auburn and Florida. The polls indicate nothing as they continually put teams up there that play out of conference albeit come bowl season or rivalry week and tend to get beat up. I wouldn’t even put tech’s backfield talent up there with Chris Relf and Vick Ballard of MSU. Like I said, the polls are absolutely the most worthless part of college football. I think your initial research has turned up some good facts on both teams but until conferences like the Big 10 and ACC start producing more in the bowl season, I can’t see putting them up with the SEC in terms of comparing teams based on records alone.
All this being said, I am hoping for a good game, a clean game, a fun game. I think UGA wins in fairly close game (adjusted score from earlier today) 24-17… Good luck (sort of) Jacket fans and lets attempt to keep these teams healthy in the process.
JB
November 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
UGA strength of schedule 43rd. Yech 70th.
Not too mention that Yech could have easily lost to Md, NC St, Duke and NC. All studly squads.
Yech’s D is horrid, so if we have any kind of running game, we win by 17-20.
BTW, 1 of your last 11 is nothing but a matter of days now and we pretty much all know and accept this.
Just is what it is.
1 4 GT
November 21st, 2011
1:44 pm
DawginLex. You are 1 of the good guys from UGA who make good commom sense comments here. I would hope that guys like yourself know you aren’t included in the “nick names”, that they are intended for the folks who have nothing to write but stupid junk. I posted on Chip’s blog and here last night my condolences, as have a few other Tech guys, for the passing of Mr. Munson. I look forward to a GOOD game come the 26th, in our favor of course. Happy Turkey Day and don’t over eat too much.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 21st, 2011
1:44 pm
JB, I might remind you that UGA could easily have lost to Vandy (probably should have lost to them) and KY.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 21st, 2011
1:45 pm
Lex, I concur with what 1 4 GT just said to you
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
The banning thing is trying to change a flat tire with the car still moving.
The idiots just go get another name and e-mail.
You ban an IP, they change library computers.
We need registration with 1 e-mail and 1 blog name.
We also need an IGNORE button so you don’t even have to read some of the crap
Supersize that order, mutt
November 21st, 2011
1:51 pm
Lex, I definitely like the IGNORE button idea
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
1:52 pm
Most of us Dawgs also understand that the SEC was a vastly different league back then where running the ball 2.5 times more than passing it was the norm. Now it’s a different story. Defenses have shored up the front lines and work towards stopping the run a lot more. Now, as for 1 4 GT’s statement about Ray Goff. I COULDN’T POSSIBLY AGREE MORE. That hire was doomed from the start. I wasn’t exactly fired up about replacing him with Jim Donnan either but they never asked me. Heck, Dooley’s offense back then was Herschel left, Herschel right, Herschel up the middle, Belue 3 yards across the middle. CPJ’s offense back then may have caused some migraines.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
1:54 pm
IGNORE button, that’s classic. Yeah, changing an IP usually requires changing physical locations since a location’s firewall is geared to take large batches of internal IPs and funnel them into one external internet IP. That’s the IP that the blogosphere sees.
1 4 GT
November 21st, 2011
1:56 pm
I’ll say one more thing, then I gotta go do some shopping. Boy, it sure is good to be able to get around again and not hurt! I had never heard any of that about VD, Erk, PJ & UGA. My job kept me away so much, I was pretty much out of touch with local doings. I “kinda” would have liked to have seen that scenario come to pass. I tend to think DawginLex would have been right about multiple BCS titles. I think, based on what I read in the story, that Vince wanted it to happen in a big way. We’ll never know, unless CPJ has so much success at GT that some school with the record of a ND or A Bamalamadingdong knocked on his door, or he succeeds st winning a few BCS titles at GT.
Technically Correct
November 21st, 2011
1:56 pm
Remember this: When you see a guy in a Tech cap this week, he went to Tech. When you see a guy in a UGA cap this week, he went to Walmart…
Jason
November 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
Supersize – I did not omit VT and UVA. GT did not beat either of them. I did not include Boise St or South Carolina on UGA’s list because they didn’t beat them.
Its one thing to play a tougher schedule. It’s another thing to beat the teams on a tougher schedule. Something which GT only did once, and UGA did not do at all.
UGA tough games = Boise St. & South Carolina
Tech tough games = Clemson, Virginia Tech
I’d put Auburn and Florida on par with North Carolina, Miami and Virginia this year. (Many may disagree about UVA, but they’re a much better team than they have been in years past and they are getting better)
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:06 pm
Technically Correct
November 21st, 2011
1:56 pm
Remember this: When you see a guy in a Tech cap this week, he went to Tech. When you see a guy in a UGA cap this week, he went to Walmart…
————————–
Wow, you must have worked long and hard to think that one up. Got any other old, tired, lame insults we can shake our heads at?
Ben Dover
November 21st, 2011
2:07 pm
To Cotter, learn your football. Paul Johnson has never taught and does not endorse the Chop Block. Learn the difference between the cut block and the chop block. Also, he does not “worry”, “plan”, nor “focus” 365 days a year over the uga dogs. As a GT fan, I do not worry or focus on uga the whole year, I just support my team like all fans should.
ramblingbuzz
November 21st, 2011
2:08 pm
GO JACKETS!!! And condolences to Mr. Munson’s family. I enjoyed his movie reviews more than his football broadcasts b/c he was such a UGA homer.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:10 pm
@Jason … you keep saying that UGA hasn’t beaten anyone, but that’s still based solely on records I am assuming. You mentioned the polls but the Auburn team that UGA beat is STILL in the BCS polls (even I don’t know how). Not for me to figure out how, but they are. Again, this is really a moot point until we start seeing more out of conference wins for the ACC teams
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:11 pm
Jason: Auburn was horrific this year.
Florida is the worst UF team in 30 years.
UVA destroys both. As does UNC and Miami. Wake Forest competes well with Auburn and Florida this year.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:13 pm
Tampa: ACC vs. SEC, 5-5 in the past 10.
ACC probably goes 5-0 this year, look at the matchups. FSU-UF, Clemson beat Auburn, etc.
Jason Jacket
November 21st, 2011
2:13 pm
Remember this GT fans, Tech has not faced a defense like UGA’S. Very fast, good tackler’s and the run is stuffed!! Tech better hope Tevin can throw or it will be a long night!! Tech loses big, Bees lose all the stingers and the wings get plucked!!!
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:15 pm
UGA defense is great…against the SEC Least. Worst division of all AQ conference divisions.
SC is terrible. How they are ranked is a mystery. Actually, it’s not. Check out that sorry schedule.
Clemson DESTROYS SC. SC tumbles out of the top 25. Quick.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:17 pm
Wake Forest will expose Vandy this weekend (and expose the SEC Least while doing so).
Jason
November 21st, 2011
2:17 pm
TampaDawg – Comparing TALENT is awfully hard since the talent of a team running a system is different than the talent of individuals abilities. Do I believe that Auburn probably has better athletes? Sure. But you have to be able to utilize those abilities in your system. Auburn’s talent was pretty much summed up in two players last year – Cam and Nick Fairly. Can Auburn get the athletes to get back to where they’ve been, or will they go back to being like they were in the pre-Gene Chizk era? Its awfully hard to say.
As for Florida, I don’t dispute that they have better athletes either. However, Florida seems to really struggle on offense, and hasn’t really seemed to be able to translate that athleticism into a system that works well. Will Florida even be bowl eligible this year?
So, my point is that Tech is better at utilizing its talent than those two teams, and are therefore more talented TEAMS. Not a more talented collection of individual athletes, but a more talented team. (And of course, I’m only talking about this year.)
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:18 pm
Jason: Tevin helped GT roll up 411 yards rushing last year on Grantham’s defense.
Do you honestly think CPJ won’t outthink Grantham? Grantham’s IQ is about 80.
Ramblnwrek
November 21st, 2011
2:19 pm
I personally think that the best thing for UGA is to get beat by GT. It will piss them off so much that they may just beat LSU the next week.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:20 pm
I love the “Florida is the worst UF team in 30 years” line. That comes from someone who knows nothing about Florida football or the rivalry itself. That’s still a top defense with great speed. I didn’t think the Muschamp and Weiss hirings would pan out at all but then again the Florida faithful thought I was nuts.
And Auburn, their defense is bad, but no way could any defense outside of FSU in the ACC stop Dyer and McCalebb. Barrett Trotter was the best player for Clemson when they played Auburn. Unfortunately, Barrett Trotter actually plays for Auburn.
Now, as for “The Institute’s” notion that UVA would destroy Florida and Auburn as well as UNC and Miami, if that nonsense makes you feel better then keep running it. But it never gets proven come bowl season now does it? UVA? Florida would beat UVA by 2 TDs based solely on defense alone.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:22 pm
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:18 pm
Jason: Tevin helped GT roll up 411 yards rushing last year on Grantham’s defense.
Do you honestly think CPJ won’t outthink Grantham? Grantham’s IQ is about 80.
————-
Really paid off in the win column didn’t it? Nooooo it didn’t. And this year’s Grantham defense is waaaay beyond last years and the only way you can’t recognize that is if you just flatly refuse to.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
Florida? Defense? LOL. Did they just give up 32 points to FURMAN?
As for UVA, you clearly haven’t watched any UVA games. Which doesn’t surprise me, mutt fans don’t realize there is football outside the SEC.
Bamajacket
November 21st, 2011
2:25 pm
Institute, CPJ isn’t playing Grantham. The question is will we execute or not? If we do, we win. If we make boneheaded plays and commit fouls, we don’t. Also, I haven’t gotten over the trauma of our special teams yet. Better lately…..I’m hopeful but wary.
Delbert D.
November 21st, 2011
2:26 pm
@TampaDawg “I wouldn’t even put tech’s backfield talent up there with Chris Relf and Vick Ballard of MSU.”
Hard to say. I like Ballard a lot, but Tech plays with 4 guys in the backfield. Chris Relf has been a disappointment this year. His QB rating is 83rd out of 114 QBs that had enough pass attempts.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:27 pm
Yeah, the defense for UGA is waay better than last year. Because the SEC Least is horrible compared to last year. And so is Auburn.
Sprinkle in some Coastal Carolina and NMSU, and you have a great defense. Wake up.
Jason
November 21st, 2011
2:27 pm
TampaDawg – I’m not saying that UGA hasn’t beaten a decent team. I’m just saying that they haven’t beaten any really good teams.
I’m not saying that UGA is a bad team. They could very well be deserving of their current record. I also believe that UGA has shown good improvement over last year. The stupid penalities and critical turnovers have decreased.
What I am saying is that it is really too early to tell where UGA really stands based on their schedule. We should find out really quickly based on the Tech, SEC Champ. Game, and Bowl game as UGA’s schedule is about to get much harder than it has been for the last 9 weeks.