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 29th, 2012
12:16 am
Bishop…..check out the French Market Grille (Cajun) and Calverts (very upscale)
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
12:18 am
75…..next time you’re here, we should meet for lunch or something. You’ve become one of the regulars on these blogs, and you’re not a troll. lol
Big Crimson 75
August 29th, 2012
12:27 am
Absolutely….I’ll let You know. Probably making one more trip this year!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
12:31 am
@ 75…..temporary email addy —- supersizeorder@yahoo.com. Drop me a note there sometime, and “prove” who you are, and I will give you my real one and we can stay in touch. That’s the way I have been able to meet a good many of the regular Tech posters here
Big Crimson 75
August 29th, 2012
12:37 am
supe – you should have an e-mail.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
12:38 am
ok, 75. let me check
Big Crimson 75
August 29th, 2012
12:39 am
See ya guys.
Later Supe, Bob & the rest.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
12:49 am
Night, 75. Check your email at some point
Pat
August 29th, 2012
8:50 am
Yuck two old men flirting with each other on a sports blog planning to meet for lunch. I’m gonna gag.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
8:56 am
Pat……maybe you should try developing some friendships, if anybody would want a jerk like you as a friend. That’s probably pretty doubtful
Birmingham Jacket
August 29th, 2012
8:58 am
GT 13 VT 31
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
9:01 am
well, that’s your opinion, bubba. But most of us don’t see it that way. GO JACKETS !!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
9:03 am
We scored 26 points on them last year, and our offense should definitely be better this year. No way we only score 13 points
Birmingham Jacket
August 29th, 2012
9:07 am
Keep drinking that cool-aide…
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
9:09 am
what are you going to say after the Jackets win Monday night? And don’t just say it won’t happen. If it does, what are you going to say?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
9:11 am
incidentally, you might try learning how to spell too. It’s KOOL-AID, not COOL-AIDE, If you’re going to make ignorant posts, at least spell the words correctly
Freddie Blassie
August 29th, 2012
9:13 am
Tenuta is a pox on any program. I believe that by the middle of the season, Al Groh will be praised as an important component in Tech’s winning season. Just my gut feeling and my gut is pretty impressive.
Namath said Billy Martin hit him harder than he had ever been hit. The person who said we should “gang tackle” the VPI quarterback seems to forget that five or six big ugly VPI offensive linemen make gang tackling extremely difficult. Especially since holding has been all but legalized. But I am all for gang tackling everyone: sort of like saying we should complete six or eight long touchdown passes and run the ball for another six or eight touchdowns.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
9:17 am
@ Freddie…..as long as we actually TACKLE, I don’t care how many are involved. Although 2011 was much better than 2010, Tech defenders still have a long way to go in knowing how to tackle and bring down the ball carrier on any kind of consistent basis
WnE
August 29th, 2012
9:54 am
re:
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.
________________
Sorry youngster but you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Many successful HCs even guys like your own Nick Satan have said that Recruiting is 70-80% of what makes a HC successful.
Other HCs like Mack Brown, Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer, have also made similar comments.
A HC can delegate player development to a conditioning guru, he can delegate Academic Development to someone else in the Athl. Dept. but if you recruit the WRONG PLAYERS then your chance of success on-field is greatly reduced.
If you claim to be the Bama fan that you are then you would know how serious CNS takes his player evaluation & recruiting, in fact USA today has a Special Kickoff Issue dedicated to Bama FB, read the article contained in it about how Saban Recruits, you can find it at news stands and at some Gas Stations (QT).
Sorry youngster but you are way off base MANY BCS HCs have said that Recruiting is 70-80% responsible for their success as HCs.
I know it is cute to try and fit in by disagreeing with WnE all the time, but sometimes when you do it, it only serves to make you look stupid.
This is one of those times.
HighTech
August 29th, 2012
10:12 am
Not nearly as stupid as some jackass who frequently refers to himself in the third person.
WnE
August 29th, 2012
10:26 am
re:
HighTech
August 29th, 2012
10:12 am
Not nearly as stupid as some jackass who frequently refers to himself in the third person.
______________
You’re focused on minor details…………..minutiae.
Is the overall THEME of what I wrote correct and unbiased?
That is what is important.
You guys with your ad hominem “anti WnE” drivel are starting to be recognized by “real CFB Fans” as being simple minded zealots that refuse to see the reality of what GT FB is becoming.
GSU2x4
August 29th, 2012
10:42 am
WnE,
Yeah, everybody else is wrong. Even a block of wood can figure that out.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
11:20 am
Does WnE still post on these blogs? I hadn’t noticed; I sure don’t read anything he says. Everybody else would be wise not to also
Hal
August 29th, 2012
1:01 pm
If there is a way to screw up scheduling of games which in any way would promote the ACC the commissioner will find it.
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
4:31 pm
Ahhhh….the sweet smell of preseason optimism….
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
4:34 pm
Wait a minute….that smell I mistook for optimism is….Bull S_ _t!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
4:38 pm
@ damngooddawg!…….Yeah, you dwag fans know all about that preseason Bull S__t, don’t you…..National Champions every August, and nobodies by the end of September. Same ole, same ole, year after year. YAWN!!!!!
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
Supersize, you’re right! All of us are in the same boat preseason. We just hope our team does their best and is as successful as possible with a minimum of injuries. I think you do overstate your case though. Most dawg fans are cautious about preseason ratings. We will do good to win 10 or 11 games this season. I don’t think anyone has high expectations beyond SEC East championship and that’s iffy.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
well, that IS a much better and more objective assessment, but I see y’all losing 3
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
Just a thought, though…if the dawgs are always “nobodies” by September….where dos that put you guys year end and year out, because whether you like it or don’t like it, we own Tech…learn to love it or be forever unhappy, my friend.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
And we OWNED UGA from the mid-40s to the mid 50s. Remember 8 in a row for the Jackets? Things change, my friend, things change.
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
Yes, things change…exactly when do you think that will happen? In the near future???
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
I pulled for Tech religiously when I was a kid in the Bobby Dodd era. Then the Bear brought big time football to the SEC and Tulane and Tech pulled out. I took such guff from my family members who were Alabama fans that I said, “To Hell With Tech” and I’ve never regretted it.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
I HATED when Dodd pulled us out of the SEC, but it wasn’t because Bear brought “big time football” to the SEC. Tech and Bama had one of the most storied rivalries in the south, and we held our own against them. It was only after we pulled out that Tech’s fortunes began to fizzle. That was the biggest mistake in Tech history. As far as when the change will happen, I think to some extent it already has. 2008 began it, and in spite of the pathetic way Tech played the second half last year, the games have all been close. Frankly, if the defense this year comes along like most Tech fans think it will, I think you will be in for a big shock come Thanksgiving weekend
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
5:17 pm
I remember the past much differently but that’s OK. I lived and died each Saturday with Tech and during the Bear Bryant era, it was rough I have a picture of the Bear walking with a helmet on in front of the Tech stands. I guess people have to have high expectations…hope….a wish…a prayer????
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
5:24 pm
Remember Billy Lothridge to Billy Martin???
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
5:36 pm
sure as hell do. I was there in 1962 for the famous 7-6 Tech win. Most intense game atmosphere I have ever encountered
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
5:37 pm
I also remember Joe Auer dropping the potential game-winning pass against LSU at Grant Field. I was a freshman at Tech that year.
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
5:39 pm
I remember the 7-6 game in 72. I agree. It was so intense that I remember it to this day. We’re gettin old dude!
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
5:41 pm
I mean, 62..See what I mean?
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
5:43 pm
LOL
Despite my initial impression of you, you actually seem like an ok dude……for a UGA fan….LOL
Can’t imagine why the hell you switched loyalties though
WnE
August 29th, 2012
5:56 pm
re: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.
___________
As soon as CPJ spouts this nonsense to the GT fanbase, we have yet another example of other Big Time Programs playing neutral site games .
Texas A&M & Arky have signed on for a 10-game series to be played at “Jerry World” in Arlington, Tx.
2 SEC programs are giving up a 5 CONFERENCE home games each to play in a big-time atmosphere in hopes of drawing more recruits, and making their fanbases happier.
GT fans love to wax poetic about their big-brains and their academic eliteness, but our GTAA never does anything, unique, or “outside-the-box”, instead it comes from other colleges where we GT folks laugh at their Academics and laugh at their FB Programs.
The Ga. Dome has been open for 20 years and even before the CFA-kickoff classic we never played a GT Game in the dome, now other programs are coming into the dome on a regular basis and relegating our FB program to 5th tier in our own city and using the Ga. Dome in our city to ENHANCE THEIR RECRUITING.
GT FB stays “small” because we think small!
CPJ is perfect fit for the GT fanbase because he makes excuses, and delivers very little results ,something we have become accustomed to.
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
6:37 pm
Supersize. I went to collete in Nashville and got hooked on Larry Munson’s Vandy broadcasts. Then When he started doing UGA games, I started following the dawgs and never looked back. Hope you guys have a good season. Stay healthy. See ya Thanksgiving.
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
6:37 pm
COLLEGE!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
August 29th, 2012
6:57 pm
That’s another thing I don’t understand—–why anybody would have liked Munson’s broadcasts. After hearing Ed Thellinius do UGA broadcasts in my younger days, Munson was nothing but a hack.
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
10:11 pm
Whoaaah. Every time UGA played on TV the network broadcasters would cut into Munson’s broadcasts and praise him as a great broadcaster. Lewis Grizzard said it best. “Listening to Munson on the radio is better than being there.” Munson lived and breathed Georgia football. If you can’t get goose bumps on your spine listening to Munson’s greatest calls, you are…..wow! I need to be nice. But…Ed Thellinius??? Good God!
damngooddawg!
August 29th, 2012
10:15 pm
Anyway, I’ll bet the Tech fans deep in their hearts would have traded three Al Saraldo’s (sp) for Munson to broadcast Tech games. Besides, don’t speak ill of the dead.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
August 29th, 2012
11:42 pm
8/29/2012 Success Tip 7: Remember the Basics Defense: 1. Get to the Ball and Tackle. Get to the ball and intercept it. Get to the ball and knock it down. Simply get to the ball. Relentless pursuit to the ball yields tremendous results in your favor. 2. Get your head in the game. A smart defensive players is the most aggressive and effective. You must understand your opponent better then they know themselves.Instincts are predicated on intelligence. 3. Understand your advantages. Defense has 13 players and Offense has 11. Did you know this? if not. you are not taking time to understand your advantages. The offense can only advance the ball in-bounds. Using the sidelines as your 12th and 13th man can be quite beneficial. 4. Your plan B should be better than your A plan. This has been labelled as Technique or the RB button in XBOX, or what makes you the difference maker. The chance to make a play only ends once the whistle blows. 5. When you have a chance to intercept the ball or recover a fumble. Do it. Drives end with turnovers. But, games have been won on second chances. Don’t give the offense a second chance to beat you. 6. Never underestimate your opponent. Play at the same level of intensity always. What difference does it make whether they are FCS or #1 in the country. Kick their butts. 7. Forgive but never forget. Forgive yourself for mistakes but never make the same mistake twice. 8. Work on your weaknesses as much as your strengths, balance is key. Can’t be balances with the same number of weaknesses as strengths. Weaknesses don’t counter your strengths they make your strengths weaker. ie. A QB that never looks off the receiver becomes a great armed QB with a ton of interceptions. What good is that?
9. Stay emotional stable. Proving your right may be wrong for the team and your championship aspirations. 10. Most Important!!! Play every down like its your last. It just may be.
Nativebird
August 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
My jackets if only they had a coach worth spit. Once you start changing the uniforms to gin up excitement about your program you know you’ve hit rock bottom.
WHITEandGOLD
August 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
headley lamar… do you ever post anything else… I see you post the same thing on every Tech blog. nobody cares about you, so just quit posting and using up bandwith.