3 thoughts about Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech
Less than a week to go to the start of the season. I, for one, am glad, because I’m not sure I am creative enough to come up with ways to re-phrase the same questions I’ve been asking about the depth chart. Anyway, three thoughts.
1. I believe one of the more intriguing matchups will be Georgia Tech’s wide receivers vs. Virginia Tech’s cornerbacks. Perhaps Georgia Tech’s most glaring weakness, or at least area of inexperience, is wide receiver. None of Tech’s receivers has played significant snaps there or has a catch, as I’ve written before. It doesn’t mean they can’t play, of course, just that they haven’t shown it on the field.
Virginia Tech has experience in cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum. However, Fuller could move to the whip linebacker spot, as he has done in the past for Georgia Tech. I’m told the Hokies won’t use Fuller at whip as much as they have in the past, although Fuller said at ACC Media Days that he expected to be there for Georgia Tech. Further, Exum moved to cornerback from safety in the spring. According to the depth chart, true freshman Donaldven Manning would be next up at the field corner position.
It would appear that Virginia Tech would have the edge on paper, especially if Fuller ends up at corner, but it’s hard to say how much. Starting a true freshman in the opener isn’t typically a move any coach wants to make. How much Jeremy Moore, Jeff Greene and their cohorts can work free to open up the passing game will be a factor, as will how well they can block to clear paths in the running game.
2. I’ve noticed a lot of handwringing about the B-back spot, with David Sims still apparently returning to full health and questions about how ready Zach Laskey, Broderick Snoddy or Charles Perkins will be to handle the load if Sims can’t. It’s a reasonable concern, although coaches have applauded Laskey and Snoddy in particular over the preseason. It sounds like Laskey has done the right things, play fast through the mesh and running hard.
It might be worth pointing out that Virginia Tech has some of the same issues. Michael Holmes, the likely starter at running back, is a redshirt freshman. His backup, J.C. Coleman, is a true freshman and the No. 3, Martin Scales, is a converted fullback who has mostly played special teams. Further, they’ll be playing behind an offensive line that’s considerably less experienced than Georgia Tech’s.
3. I had a note last night about Paul Johnson conceding the unlikelihood of playing in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game in the future because Tech will have 10 games locked in, only half of which will be home games. To get to seven home games, which is fairly standard, Tech would obviously need the two remaining non-conference games to be played at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Johnson dismissed playing in the game as “not a big deal to us” because of Tech’s location in Atlanta. However, the game brings national exposure, which has obvious value for recruiting. Tech had actually agreed to play USC in last year’s kickoff game before USC’s new athletic director (Pat Haden) put the plan on ice. The national platform is one benefit of Georgia Tech playing in Blacksburg on Monday. For teams coming to play in Atlanta, there’s the added advantage of playing in the heart of the state’s fertile recruiting grounds. Georgia Tech, in fact, will play against a Hokie (split end Christian Reeves from McDonough) who was influenced by Virginia Tech’s appearance in the 2009 kickoff game.
That said, adding another top-flight opponent and giving up a home game is a pretty big ask for Tech. I imagine the ACC moving to a nine-game schedule will make it tougher for the Chick-fil-A Bowl folks to bring ACC teams to the kickoff game, particularly Clemson and Florida State, who are in the same boat as Tech with annual games against South Carolina and Florida.
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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200 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
7:37 pm
awww, thanks, 1 4 GT
GTBob
August 28th, 2012
7:37 pm
I sure wish GT could have a “flawed” top-10 defense that had to play in the toughest conference in the country.
The SEC is the toughest conference in the country but they are also the worst offensive conference in the country. Its easy to pad your defensive stats in the SEC.
Jim 70
August 28th, 2012
7:43 pm
Does chick-filet have to be two different conference teams? How about Clemson vs GT in the game, or FSU the years we are schedule tp play them? Or even pitt or cuse?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
7:44 pm
@ Jim 70……I think they prefer games of more national, or at least inter-regional interest, so probably no same-conference games
Northern Neighbor
August 28th, 2012
7:47 pm
Given the size of the crowds at the early season non-conference home games, I think it would be a financial plus for Tech to play in the Georgia Dome for the Chick-Fil-A Kick-off game.
Personally, I’d rather see Tech play good teams and lose than play the likes of Presbyterian, Western Carolina and Samford.
While I’m on the topic, I hate this 12 game schedule. It’s nothing more than a 10 game schedule plus two scrimmages disguised as real games.
ToeMeetsLeather
August 28th, 2012
7:47 pm
I for one don’t give a “rats a**” about playing in the kick-off game. Football was designed to be played outside, not on fake turf with the air running.
Hopefully the Falcons will be back outside before long and the Dome will be history.
gt4ever
August 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
UGA played NOBODY last year… Great way to pad your D’s Stats… Your coach is and always will be a joke. Your defense is a JOKE until you play somebody and win… But hey, UGA is always the best team in the country before you play any games…
1 4 GT
August 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
Who’s gonna watch the RNC tonight. I’m not voting for either one of these jokers. I’ll write myself in if there is no other reasonable choice.
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
8:01 pm
Wow, the tone on these blogs are starting to sound like the upcoming Democratic convention—lots of raw emotion, bloviating, fake/misleading statistics, irrational claims, and false promises. Let’s hurry up and start playing the games.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
@ 1 4 GT……ANYBODY is better than what we have now. Don’t waste your vote
FL Jacket
August 28th, 2012
8:13 pm
Hey y’all…I don’t know how you stomached thru the JS piece earlier…
Not Disappointed!
August 28th, 2012
8:24 pm
Let’s play Football now! Ramblin Wreck!
gt4ever
August 28th, 2012
8:30 pm
Yeah, sorry for getting off task! Go Jackets
FL Jacket
August 28th, 2012
8:53 pm
gt4ever…thanks for your opinion
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
No apology necessary GT4ever, this election is far more important than GT football—our country needs a coaching change in the worst kind of way—hopefully enough American citizens recognize that…..even UGA fans. Fortunately many of us can multi-task and root the Jackets on to victory while providing keen political insight to the needs of the nation!
FL Jacket
August 28th, 2012
9:13 pm
Oh yeller…I don’t think we need a coaching change as much as we need more realistic expectations from fans
Paul in NH
August 28th, 2012
9:33 pm
sean jones
August 28th, 2012
3:00 pm
@supersize
his defense always stopped the run and i mean ALWAYZZZ!!! Groh’s d cant stop the scout team
———
Yep – Tenuta’s D ALWAYZZZ stopped the run.
Apart from the 321 yards Clemson had on the ground in 2006 (321 WTF)
Or the 311 yards WVU had on the ground in the Gator Bowl (311 WTDF)
Or the 185 yards VT had on the ground (to go with 296 passing) in 2007
And I don’t even want to think about the Fresno State game.
Of course, Tenuta only had 4 DL’s who are now in the NFL
Mike Bell 790
August 28th, 2012
9:38 pm
FIRST!
Paul in NH
August 28th, 2012
9:49 pm
atlxmen
August 28th, 2012
7:07 pm
tech will get more than 200 yards but if their ypc is over 3 and 1/2 i would be shocked.
—-
Looks like someone expects GT to have over 60 rushing attempts against UGA. Most GT fans would be happy with that.
WnE
August 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
re:
Paul in NH
August 28th, 2012
9:33 pm
Of course, Tenuta only had 4 DL’s who are now in the NFL
______________
According to other BCS level HCs Recruiting is 70-80% of your job as a BCS -level HC.
That being said, it is time for CPJ to go out and Recruit at a level where he can have 4 future NFL DLs on the same team in the line-up at the same time.
Your comments try to create some sort of Mulligan for CPJ for not having the same talent that Tenuta had, but it makes no sense since CPJ’s own POOR RECRUITING is what is causing him to NOT HAVE 4 future NFLers on the DL.
In trying to make an excuse for CPJ, instead you make him look even worse and exposes his horrible track record as a recruiter.
Big Crimson 75
August 28th, 2012
9:54 pm
The SEC is the toughest conference in the country but they are also the worst offensive conference in the country.
———————-
Bobby — This easily makes it into your top 5 flawed posts ever!!
The SEC is the NFL lite.
Great D’s will always trump great O’s.
The Conference currently features 6 future NFL QBs — AJ McCarron, Tyler Wilson, Tyler Bray, James Franklin, Aaron Murray & Zac Mettenberger.
The best collection of RBs & WRs in the Country — even after you filter out the suspended/kicked off their teams/jailed…
Football ain’t no beauty contest Bobby.
FL Jacket
August 28th, 2012
9:57 pm
“Your comments try to create some sort of Mulligan for CPJ for not having the same talent that Tenuta had, but it makes no sense since CPJ’s own POOR RECRUITING is what is causing him to NOT HAVE 4 future NFLers on the DL.”
WnE…you, like the AJC Editorial Staff, are really asking for the impossible from a coach who’s only had 2 recruiting classes eligible for the NFL Draft. Even Saban hasn’t done that in any of his 2-year stretches.
Big Crimson 75
August 28th, 2012
10:01 pm
According to other BCS level HCs Recruiting is 70-80% of your job as a BCS -level HC.
—————-
I’ll translate the madness from Loki.
First off, their isn’t one Coach in College Football surviving/thriving on 80% recruiting as their primary talent.
What a joke.
If recruiting was 80% of the job, We’d be hailing the likes of Jim Donnan & Ron “the” Zooker.
GTBob
August 28th, 2012
10:09 pm
Bobby — This easily makes it into your top 5 flawed posts ever!!
Lets look at the national offensive rankings for SEC teams last year:
29. Arkansas
31. Alabama
39. UGA
73. South Carolina
84. Miss St
86. LSU
98. Vandy
100. Auburn
104. Tennessee
105. Florida
114. Ole Miss
118. Kentucky
Yeah, great offensive league. 75% of the league was in the bottom half of the country in total offense.
Big Crimson 75
August 28th, 2012
10:12 pm
Damn, We were 31st in the Country in Offense last Year?
Thanks Trent!
Paul in NH
August 28th, 2012
10:14 pm
After reading WnE’s comments addressed to me I had to go back and read my post I thought that perhaps I was having hallucinations about what I had posted and maybe I had made some kind of comments about Paul Johnson, his recruiting, Al Groh, GT’s record, etc.
I was happy to see that unlike WnE I am neither listening to strange voices in my head nor seeing letters on my computer screen that no-one else can see.
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
10:33 pm
No FLJ. I already have low expectations but we do NEED a coaching change in Washington. The performance stats demand it.
As for GT coaches, I’m content with CPJ and I think he will do well for us over the long haul. I’d give CAG a couple more years….many on this blog have been wanting Tenuta back—he ran a high risk/high reward D and sometimes we got burned. However, I do hope that CAG will take more chances with blitzing this year. If we have a strong secondary that can play man-to-man, then we need to release the hounds of the LB corps and let them headhunt QBs. We’ve got to do a better job in getting stops on 3rd down.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
10:49 pm
@ yeller bug……I am with you on all counts
fan
August 28th, 2012
11:05 pm
Virginia Tech 42-14.
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
11:08 pm
Well thanks Super, I guess those of us who understand E = mc**2 truly see the light! : )
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
fan ye be disillusioned and in darkness
gt40pinhd
August 28th, 2012
11:12 pm
i’m hoping that now we have a little more size on the DL, we will not have to blitz as much.
Big Crimson 75
August 28th, 2012
11:19 pm
Tough game to call.
GTs season will show more than just about any other team after their 1st game.
Pressure, Pressure!!! It’s how you respond than counts.
I seem to recall a few of these from Coach Saban — Clemson in ‘08 & VT in ‘09 — both victorious!!
I’m pulling for the Jackets.
BigTimeTECHFan
August 28th, 2012
11:23 pm
Recruiting is 80% of coaching, lol.
wrecked
August 28th, 2012
11:38 pm
GtBob.Yeah, great offensive league. 75% of the league was in the bottom half of the country in total offense. Strange that ACC offenses couldn’t score of SEC defenses , but with the exception of UF SEC had no problem with weak ACC defenses.
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
11:39 pm
Roll Tide Big Crimson! I hope we do as well against VT as y’all did in ‘09.
Hope to see ya in the BCS championship game….it’s pre-season so we can at least dream the dream!
yeller bug
August 28th, 2012
11:41 pm
I think the ACC takes 2 of 3 in the UF-FSU, GT-UGA & SC-Clemson match-ups this year.
Big Crimson 75
August 28th, 2012
11:43 pm
bug — I’ve already called Bama-GT in South Beach for the big Trophy!!
We’ve both got big games this weekend.
When you win em early, things can happen!!
A. Bishop
August 28th, 2012
11:48 pm
I wish we had a “Ken” over on the UGA blogs. That being said I am so glad it is football week. Even as a UGA alumni, I am more excited to watch GT/VT than I am UGA/ Buffalo.
Big Crimson 75
August 28th, 2012
11:49 pm
I think the ACC takes 2 of 3 in the UF-FSU, GT-UGA & SC-Clemson match-ups this year.
——
I’m in agreement here also.
I’ll take S.C. over Clemson & the ACC in the other two.
An ACC Team is playing for the Nat’l Title this year.
It’s either VT, GT or FSU.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
11:51 pm
Hey, A.Bishop……you asked me a few weeks ago about restaurants, I think in the Atlanta area. Since I live in Augusta, I couldn’t answer that. Did you find anything yet?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
11:54 pm
@ 75……Damn, I like the sound of that
A. Bishop
August 28th, 2012
11:54 pm
I found one in Athens that would be ideal since my fiancee is still at UGA, but there are a couple in Atlanta that are also good options. I leave for Disney World for a six month stint at Coral Reef restaurant.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 28th, 2012
11:58 pm
@ Bishop….that sounds pretty cool. I was going to suggest you check out some in Augusta. Not many really good ones here, but there are a few, other than your standard franchise places
A. Bishop
August 29th, 2012
12:03 am
I refuse franchise lol.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
12:05 am
Don’t blame you there. Don’t know if you have ever been to Augusta, but we have one very good locally-owned Cajun restaurant, and 2 or 3 locally owned restaurants that I would say are very upscale and high class. Plus your usual assortment of locally owned bistros, some of which are pretty damn good.
Big Crimson 75
August 29th, 2012
12:07 am
Supe — My brother lives in Martinez.
Augusta has some nice spots.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
12:09 am
well. damn, 75…..do you ever visit him?
A. Bishop
August 29th, 2012
12:15 am
I’ve been to augusta once but it was for a concert and i didn’t stay but one night. I’ll definitely look into it though.
Big Crimson 75
August 29th, 2012
12:16 am
Supe — Absolutely. Few times a year.
We live on opposite sides of the State, so it’s not so easy!!