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
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:29 pm
@Jason, again, good points. But first, Florida is already bowl eligible this year. Second, yeah, they have struggled on offense, but there is no way teams like UVA, Wake, NC State, Maryland, Duke, Boston College, and Miami beat Florida or Auburn. Heck, most of them would have trouble with Tennessee on a neutral field or especially in Knoxville. For proof of that, see last years bowl against a much tougher UNC team than this years.
Bobby Dodds Ghost
November 21st, 2011
2:30 pm
Jason, has Tech got anyone close to the talent of a Rainey, Demps or, Dyer, Tech record wise may be good , but 5 of those wins came against teams with 10 total wins. You assume Tech is better than Vandy, Florida, Miss. State and Auburn , they’re not.I would venture to say Tennessee with bray is better. This will be one of the least talented teams Georgia has faced.
crackbaby
November 21st, 2011
2:32 pm
@TampaDawg – FYI the best defense in the ACC is VA Tech’s, even with four starters out for the year with injuries. VA Tech would win the SEC east this if that was there Division. Don’t believe the media hype about FSU. They aren’t even in the top half of the ACC this year.
and, IMO, Tevin Washington has played much better that Relf this year.
Dawgs have improved steadily this year. Should be a helluva game at Grant Field on Saturday.
NiquePhotog
November 21st, 2011
2:32 pm
Bobby Dodd’s Ghost,
I’m quite certain all of UGA’s conference wins were over teams with a 10-30 conference record. Nice try though.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:33 pm
Tampa: Florida? Just gave up 32 to Furman? Come on. #78 in offense, #72 in defense. They are awful. Would lose to UVA and Wake.
And UNC beat Tenn last year. In fact, the ACC was 2-0 vs. SEC last year in bowl games. Not that it’s relevant to THIS year…
Jason
November 21st, 2011
2:34 pm
@The Institute – UGA’s defense is better than last years. Their players are getting more used to the 3-4. The question will be, how will this years team play against the triple option?
Tech’s offense seems to shift from unstoppable to unbearably bad from time to time regardless of the opponent. The NC State and VT games are prime examples of that. Tech’s O looked awful against UVA, Miami, and Marland. Then looked incredible against Clemson, North Carolina, and a few others.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:34 pm
LOL @ “The Institute” you can’t possibly tell someone else to wake up while you are trying to convince ANYONE that UVA would destroy UF and Auburn. How about we “sprinkle” in some Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee, Kansas, Duke and Maryland for you buddy?
Jason
November 21st, 2011
2:34 pm
Maryland
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:35 pm
Who IS the “decent” team that UGA beat this year? Just curious.
Bobby Dodds Ghost
November 21st, 2011
2:36 pm
Not hard to have 10 -30 conference record when facing 5 of the top 12 teams in nation.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:37 pm
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:33 pm
Tampa: Florida? Just gave up 32 to Furman? Come on. #78 in offense, #72 in defense. They are awful. Would lose to UVA and Wake.
———————–
Yeah, but your “signature win” just lost to NC State. How did that taste having the best team you beat lose to a 5-5 team?
And no, Florida would beat up UVA and Wake badly. Those two teams have never faced even down SEC teams with any consistent success so your speculating in a big way.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:37 pm
Who is the “decent” team that GT beat this year? Ask yourself that “Institute”
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:38 pm
Tampa, why do you think past history means so much? Do you not realize that every team is different EVERY YEAR?
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:39 pm
We beat #5 clemson at the time. In fact, dominated them. Is that “decent” enough?
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:39 pm
great points by crackbaby and Delbert. I think Relf has taken a bad rap because he has been lit up by great defenses all year.That will hurt any QBs rating.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:39 pm
ACC is 3-0 vs. SEC in the last 3 games.
gtfanfrom1951
November 21st, 2011
2:40 pm
When will Tech get a defense that can stop somebody? The defense is holding us back!
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:40 pm
If tech beats UGA, ACC could go 5-0 vs. the SEC this year.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:41 pm
Not when they nearly lose to SORRY Wake Forest and then lose to 5-5 NC State. Keep trying though.
yeller bug
November 21st, 2011
2:41 pm
Ken was I too harsh? My apologies.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:42 pm
Just to give you an idea of how bogus the UGA Defense ranking is:
VANDY is #20! What does that tell you? The offenses in the SEC Least are so inept that EVEN VANDY can put up top 20 numbers.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:45 pm
Okay Tampa. I guess a BCS #5 is not “decent”. So tell me, wise one, what team did UGA beat that is better than Clemson?
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:45 pm
Yeah, every team is different this year. But until some of them prove something, it really doesn’t matter now does it? In fact, you are contradicting yourself by that simple statement. You chanted about the 411 yards that GT put last year (while losing) on UGA, but yet Georgia’s defense couldn’t possibly be better this year? That doesn’t even make sense.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
Actually “institute” it shows more about how little you know about football. Anyone who is watching the games will tell you that Vandy’s defense is really really good this year.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
By the way, any defensive rankings for any team in the SEC should be ignored. The offenses are horrific in the SEC.
Tenn #98
Auburn #93
Fla #91
SC #80
Vandy #102
Ole Miss #114
Kentucky #118 (out of 120!)
MSU #87
Jason
November 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
TampaDawg -
No I do not believe the following teams would/could beat Auburn or Florida:
Wake
Duke
BC
NC State
Maryland
However, I do think that these teams could beat Auburn or Florida if they were to play this year:
Clemson (did beat Auburn)
North Carolina
Miami – wildly inconsistent, but capable
You seem to think that I’m saying that Tech has played a tougher schedule. I’m not. I’m just saying that both team’s records are indicative of the schedule that they’ve played. For Tech, we’ve seen that they are capable of beating top 15 type teams, but are not consistent in doing so (see Clemson and VT). For UGA, we only have 2 games to compare to top 15 type teams (South Carolina and Boise St.) and it hasn’t really panned out too well for them.
Bamajacket
November 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
Tampa, come on, that’s not like you. You guys need to dial it down a bit. I think UVA would compete very well with FLA or AU. “Destroy” them? Hardly. But I think it would be a good game. Hope to see a bowl matchup. As for Clemson, who knows? They beat VATech, and lose to NCST. Go figure…. They may have been at a fish fry last Sat. Games are different every week, except for LSU maybe. EXECUTION. If we do, we can beat the dawgs. If the team that played Miami shows up, I’m changing channels.
Deano
November 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
I am a Tech fan and I want them to win against Georgia, but I really like Murray as a Quarterback. He just make great throws at times. Anyway Tech just win Saturday O.K.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
Heck, I think UT could take Clumpson if NC State could .. they can’t overcome their own mistakes. They have to play at the height of their game to win against most teams. If they do, they can play. If they make some mistakes, they are finished.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:49 pm
Hey Tampa, way to hold Kentucky to 10 points. #118 out of 120 is tough to stop.
Now THAT’S SEC football!! yeehaw
BigTimeTechFan
November 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
GT killed Miss St on their home field the last time they played. They are nowhere close to GT
UGA won the SEC EAST, worst sub-conference of all the BCS conf’s
Everyone knows the only reason UGA won the east was because they didn’t play the only 3 good teams in the SEC this year. USCe went undefeated in SECe and still finished in 2nd, that’s messed up.
Delbert D.
November 21st, 2011
2:52 pm
@TampaDawg “Those two teams have never faced even down SEC teams with any consistent success so your speculating in a big way.”
You pointed out part of the problem with any kind of speculation. This year is what it is, it’s not last year, 2005, or 1990. Teams in every conference are losing when they “should have” won. Baylor was 0-30 against Oklahoma. Kansas St. is the only Big 12 team with a winning record vs. Texas.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:54 pm
UT over clemson? LOL. Clemson would pound UT AND UGA. UGA has beaten no one. Clemson has at least beaten VT (pounded them, actually).
Bamajacket
November 21st, 2011
2:54 pm
Tampa, you talking about Clempson or Tech there? LOL. Same story.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:54 pm
Bamajacket, I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. I just think that until teams like NC State, UVA, Miami prove they can beat out of conference teams from other big conferences on a consistent basis, it’s hard for me to acknowledge them beating teams like Florida or Auburn. As I said, when Clemson comes to play, they can play. But they are not capable of overcoming any adversity. Miami for crying out loud beat a bad USF team (and I get to see them play live, I know they are way down this year) 6-3. No chance they beat more than 2 or 3 SEC teams. UVA is about an average team at best and sure, if they play lights out, they can play too. Last I checked their kids earned scholarships like all the others. But to walk into an environment where SEC teams get tested week after week and win? I wouldn’t bet a buffalo nickel on them.
Bobby Dodds Ghost
November 21st, 2011
2:55 pm
western carolina -1-10 (last place southern conference)middle tennessee(last place sunbelt) 2-8, kansas 2-9(last place in big 12), maryland 2-9 (Last place in ACC atlantic), duke 3-8 last place in ACC coastal) , Tech would have a very similar results if they played Vandy, Florida, Miss State, Tennessee schedule and would have at best 4 wins playing Georgia schedule. Did tech play FSU or Wake this year?
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
Wake beat FSU (who will pound Florida). Also played Clemson and Notre Dame very close.
Wake probably would win the SEC Least. No BS.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
We shall see “institute” but we are talking about a UGA team that beat tech last year with a lesser defense and a lesser experienced Aaron Murray with less weapons. In all seriousness, good luck and let’s have a great game. You have my word, if it doesn’t go my way, I will be on here with a crow sandwich for lunch. But I think UGA wins and covers in the game.
Ken Sugiura
November 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
yeller bug – apology accepted. we can make our points without the tired name calling.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
Wake beat FSU (who will pound Florida). Also played Clemson and Notre Dame very close.
Wake probably would win the SEC Least. No BS.
————————-
You won’t be able to find anyone outside the ACC and not that many inside it that would agree with you on Wake. So yes, that’s BS.
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
2:58 pm
Tampa, you really have an overinflated view of the SEC. Aside from the big 3, there’s no one. Seriously.
We all know it’s a down year for the SEC, except you. Last year doesn’t count towards this year’s performances. Keep living in la la land, while the ACC goes 4-1 vs. SEC this year, if not 5-0.
Jason
November 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
TampaDawg -
Miami would beat:
Ole Miss
Miss St.
Kentucky
Vandy
Tennessee
Then who knows what they’d do against:
Auburn
Flordia
But they have the potenital to beat either of those teams.
Bamajacket
November 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
Point taken, Tampa. True that. Only the most delusional ACC fan can argue that the conference is on par with others. Until Miami, UVA, and NCST, hell, even (especially) Tech, can play and beat an Auburn, FLA, S Carolina in a bowl and beat them, we will be where we are: Ranking in the lower half of the BCS conferences. And, by the way, Vandy has a pretty good team. I have seen them. Just not enough studs to hang with the big boys yet. But, they play hard for 60 minutes. That’s all you can ask of your team.
gt dave
November 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
i wonder how much weed the ga players are smokin this week
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
3:04 pm
@BigTimeTechFan, first off, you stated that GT killed MSU last time they played so they aren’t even close to GT. Now that may make a little sense if not for the fact that was almost 3 years ago and Relf and Ballard were hardly part of the offense back then. Second, it’s easy to sit back and take shots at the SEC East, but outside of VTech and to a lessor degree Clemson, not much going on in the ACC either.
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
3:06 pm
gt dave
November 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
i wonder how much weed the ga players are smokin this week
——————–
Classy .. and I bet you had your buddies help you spell the words too didn’t ya?
TampaDawg
November 21st, 2011
3:09 pm
Jason, I don’t think Miami could beat Vandy. That’ #20 defense accumulated that ranking playing teams like SC (with Lattimore and Garcia), Bama, Arkansas and UGA. That defense is real and only those who have never seen them are thinking it’s the same old Vandy. I think Miss State and Tennessee are maybe’s at best. They ran up only 2 field goals against USF, a team that Cincinnati moved the ball at will against (at that game, that was hard to watch on defense). No way they beat Florida and Auburn. Even a bad Auburn defense can stop a Miami team that can’t put it in the end zone against USF this year.
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
3:09 pm
Vandy plays Wake this week so i guess one question will be answered
bruce
November 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
it sure was impressive watching fla struggle to beat furman and samford hang with auburn. that sec east is tough. lol
The Institute
November 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
LOL Tampa, you shot down BigTimeTech fan for bringing up a 3 year old game, yet all you do is bring up history yourself.