Will Tech be ready for Virginia power game?
Georgia Tech outside linebacker Brandon Watts didn’t need any review of game video to recall last year’s loss to Virginia.
“They just beat us up front,” Watts said following Tech’s win over Presbyterian Saturday. “They beat us on the edges, on the perimeter, just ran the ball right down our throat.”
In case you don’t remember as well as Watts does, a refresher. Tech went to Charlottesville with a 6-0 record and No. 12 ranking. In defensive coordinator Al Groh’s first professional return to his alma mater since his firing after the 2009 season, the Cavaliers trampled the Yellow Jackets with 272 rushing yards in a 24-21 upset.
Virginia controlled the ball for 10:59 of the fourth quarter, including the final 5:58. In that final period, the Cavaliers running game was so commanding that their fans expressed their dismay (to put it gently) every time quarterback Michael Rocco dropped back to pass.
“Those tall guys, once they get a hold of you, it was pretty hard for you to get off,” defensive end Izaan Cross said that day.
That brings us to this week and an opportunity for Tech to reveal how far it has come. The Jackets looked considerably better against Virginia Tech, holding the Hokies to 17 points and 302 yards in regulation. For whatever it’s worth, they dominated Presbyterian. A cynic could discount the performance against the Hokies with the argument that they’re not a very good offensive team this season. Tech’s defensive effort against the Blue Hose was considerable, but it was a poor-to-average FCS team. One could also point out that Virginia may not actually be that good, requiring the aid of a remarkably errant placekicker to beat Penn State at home on Saturday.
All that to say, Saturday’s date with Virginia should reveal far more about the state of the Tech defense than we’ve learned to date. The Virginia offensive line has three returning starters from the unit that controlled the Tech defense with stretch plays and tosses last year. Running back Perry Jones is back, too. Tech should expect to face plenty of power football from coach Mike London’s bunch.
Said Watts, “I think we’re better prepared this year. We’ve got a whole lot better players. We’ll be better.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
216 comments Add your comment
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 10th, 2012
6:35 pm
Get Real = Mark Bradley
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
6:47 pm
Bobo….you are right….7 straight MNC’s for 4 SEC teams….LSU won 2….UFl won 2….UAl won 2….AuU won 1….8 (now 10) other SEC teams won 0….I’m sick of SEC dominates….when they cut all the crystal footballs into now 12 (now 14) pieces and rotate each piece thru each school once a month, then the mighty SEC<<<8 (now 10) can brag too. Until then, SHUT UP!! Only 4 schools have a valid reason to brag. Other than those 4, mostly 2 right now, not one other school can claim anything other than being pretty dang good. Just saying. IMNTBHO
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
6:49 pm
OSTF….do you Bark Mradley??
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
6:51 pm
He of the insufferable blog filters to protect his dwag sensibilities<<<<<Bark Mradley.
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 10th, 2012
6:53 pm
Mark Bradley is in love with UGA
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2012
7:02 pm
@ Get Real……when I said PARENT (singular), that is exactly what I meant, because I am sure when they saw what a disgusting little troll they had “hatched”, both of them wanted to leave you by the curb and head for the hills. One of them apparently succeeded while the other was stuck with you for life. And when I said you probably made that PARENT (singular) proud, that was sarcasm…..something apparently you are too stupid to realize. NEXT !!!!
230gr Full Metal Jacket
September 10th, 2012
7:12 pm
While I admire TW’s attitude and leadership, he simply is not a particularly good Div-1 QB. The fact that he is the best we have is quite disturbing to me, to be honest. While I agree that TW should remain our starter, I DO believe that CPJ needs to incrementally increase the amount of playing time Vad Lee gets each week — to the point that by the last 1/4 of the season VL is pretty much splitting time with TW (unless, of course, TW suddenly improves greatly). To do otherwise would greatly hurt us next season. Keep starting TW — as long as we are winning games. But lose to UVA and Miami? It’ll be time to make a change (several changes actually, and not only players). I have great faith in CPJ and his system, and absolute confidence that in the next 2 years you will see a transformation in on-the-field performance (especially with VL and JT taking snaps behind a OL that averages around 320 Lbs!). The defense seems stout so far, but the next 2 weekends will tell us a lot.
WnE
September 10th, 2012
7:12 pm
re:
MaconGTFan
September 10th, 2012
5:17 pm
@GT Joe Even though I agree with you on Vad starting over Tevin, low productivity at b-back is not Tevins fault. Its because of the drop off of talent there. Look at Dwyer and Allen when they were at that position. 1300 yards for three straight tears and then it’s Sims. Sims is the reason not Tevin. We have got to get someone in there that can pick up the slack Dwyer and Allen left there, cause Sims sure as hell can’t cut it.
______________
According to folks like SooperSize, Ol’ WnE is crazy as bat-sh!+, yet when I read the comments, I can easily see that there is a LOT of WnE simmering just beneath the surface of those GT fans that know a little bit about CFB .
I have seen many comments like those above being repeated by many other posters for this to be a coincidence.
CPJ’s seat is really warming up whe nthe GT fans like the one above makes the connection that it is CPJ that hasn’t RECRUITED similar talent to the players that were here when he arrived.
It is clear to me that the “Gospel of Wrecks” is growing rather quickly!
GT Lee
September 10th, 2012
7:12 pm
anyone else playing Sack Schultz?
MaconGTFan
September 10th, 2012
7:14 pm
Tech has got to get a better talent a b-back before this team goes anywhere. Hell I’d rather have Tevin at QB than Sims at b-back. Hopefully the 4* rb out of Florida last year can be that guy next year. If we at least had talent at b-back the Tevin vs Vad thing wouldn’t be that big of a deal. We have got to have more than one threat on this offense. That threat being Orwin with Bostic coming up strong. Agree with who ever said Bostic needs more touches.
yeller bug
September 10th, 2012
7:14 pm
@1 4 GT: I agree that platooning QBs is not typically successful,but I think we have a unique situation this year at Tech. We have a veteran QB who puts forth a journeyman effort, we have an excellent running QB who has trouble hanging onto the football and we have a newbie that has talent, a strong arm, but needs some breaking in. If that description is accurate, then how CPJ rotated the QBs against PC was IMO very effective. If Days can hang onto the ball, he is the better choice on the goal line or short yardage plays and Vad Lee was accurate on all 3 throws—the receivers dropped two of them and he needs some playing time. By all accounts, TW is still the most consistent in running the TO. So IMHO we have a scenario where rotating QBs would be more effective than sticking with just one QB.
An interesting point to ponder would be if as the season progressed Lee noticeably excelled at QB from the pistol formation running non-TO plays, would CPJ go with him and that formation or would he stick with the TO?
230gr Full Metal Jacket
September 10th, 2012
7:16 pm
Supersize, you KNOW dwags don’t get sarcasm — that requires intelligence — so you probably just went over his poor little head. Plus he’s probably upset because you very likely hit REAL close to home with that little jab, lol.
MaconGTFan
September 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
@WnE I’m not yelling for PJ’s job yet. Not even close to it. But do agree that he needs to pick up the slack on recruiting b-backs. I’m happy with him as coach minus that. Not to mention he has gotten better at recruiting since his first two classes.
FL Jacket
September 10th, 2012
7:17 pm
“It is clear to me that the “Gospel of Wrecks” is growing rather quickly!”
Kind of like the one that moved to Guyana…
230gr Full Metal Jacket
September 10th, 2012
7:21 pm
I am, GTLee. And I’m getting my rear end kicked so far!!
I love the dwags thought that CPJ could only win with Gaileys recruits. If that is the case, then what is CMR’s excuse? He did great with the previous coaches players, but in reality he hasn’t beat ANYONE of note since they left. Not saying there might be some validity to the point, but if there is it applies to BOTH coaches, so be careful throwing those stones!
yeller bug
September 10th, 2012
7:24 pm
Laskey’s TD run will not happen with true D1 schools—he’s not that fast. Snoddy is however….now that he got a little playing time, I hope he can pick up his game—learn how to block and be effective on the mesh handoff. He’s not a big back, but if he can squeeze through a crease and get past the LBs, he has the speed to go all the way. He’s not the “carry the mail” every play B-back so we’ll have to platoon the B-back spot this year again, but having him in there gives us that breakaway TD run that we miss from Dwyer and to some degree Allen.
230gr Full Metal Jacket
September 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
Recruiting has been fine for the last 2 classes (actually much better than fine, imho). Hopefully Marcus Allen will be the answer for us at B-back next year, but we DEFINITELY need to recruit a feature back for that position in EVERY class. Recruiting QB’s is fine, but at some point you must get a good BIG fast RB for that position or this offense won’t work very well.
MaconGTFan
September 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
@yeller bug Agree 100% with you on Snoddy. Hopefully he can step up and get some significant playing time this year so Tech finally has another threat at b-back.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2012
7:35 pm
@ 230gr…….He probably had to look up the word sarcasm in a dictionary…..assuming he has a dictionary or even knows what one is.
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
7:51 pm
dang….y’all sure are on the poor little dwag!!
Yellow Jackett
September 10th, 2012
8:00 pm
@YELLER BUG…Laskey is faster you give him credit for. Snoddy will never get significant carries because he is way too small to run between that tackles. Hell he could’t even bust one on Presby and your acting like he is the second coming of Dwyer.
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
YJ….you must not watch the Falcon little guy Jaquizz run. Makes 15-20 yard runs up the middle from time to time. Only 5′6″ 190 lbs. Not comparing. Just saying. Wouldn’t be the first little guy to do good, real good.
yeller bug
September 10th, 2012
8:13 pm
@YJ: On Laskey…uhhhh maybe….the PC coach described us as being fast…I do not think we’re faster than Miami, UGA, Clemson or VT…so we’ll see. As for Snoddy—no he’s not Dwyer—different type of runner—Dwyer was a diesel and ran over people, but Snoddy is the fastest guy on the team—faster than Dwyer—I agree at 5′ 9″ and 190 lbs is a small for B-back and thus not an every down B-back as I pointed out, but if we can spring a quick trap or get a hole on the dive, he has the big play ability to really scoot in open field. He gives us a different threat from the B-back spot that I don’t think we have in Sims, Laskey or Perkins.
Big Crimson 75
September 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
Good news for the Jackets, that game against the U doesn’t look quite so daunting since they got pistol whipped by K-State!!
Bill Snyder looks like a corpse roaming the sidelines!!
UVA has not been terribly impressive this year either.
GT should be looking at 2 fairly easy wins in a row.
Play Vad!!
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
8:21 pm
Oh yeah….Quiz had about a 85 or 90 yd KO return against the KC Chiefs yesterday.
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
8:23 pm
I imagine we will see VL some, unless the score is really tight.
fuzzybee78
September 10th, 2012
8:29 pm
BC75, you on the VL bandwagon too? You balin on your boy JT?:)
Long Beach Jacket
September 10th, 2012
8:29 pm
Re QB situation: Paul Johnson has 32 years of experience coaching college football (which is about 32 years more college coaching experience than all of us on this blog). CPJ knows what he is doing. He will play the best QB based on mutiple factors: experience, game situation, development, etc. Tevin Washington has done a fine job as QB given his skill set. He is a great representative of what Ga Tech student athletes should be. He’s got his degree and his play on the field merits his role as the #1 QB on the depth chart. No he is not Tom Brady and no he is not Cam Newton. Duh!!! Vad Lee is still young. Also, the coach can put a QB in the best situation possible but he cannot “make the play on the field”. Patience Jacket Nation. Patience. The QB situation is in relatively good shape. It will all work out. GO JACKETS!!!!
Big Crimson 75
September 10th, 2012
8:32 pm
Penn st gift-wrapped that victory Saturday.
Who knew?? Of all the players that jumped ship on the Nittany Lions, they’d miss the kicker more than anyone!!
The Wahoos got a QB problem…both of em suck!
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
8:39 pm
BiCri….I heard on the radio PennSU PK missed 5 field goals. The 5th at the end of the game that would have a game winner. Pretty pitiful.
Big Crimson 75
September 10th, 2012
8:40 pm
Fuzzy — I’ve seen enough Tevin Washington for 2 years.
I thought the Reggie Ball era was over!!
Although TW has way more heart than Ball.
He cares about his Team, butt the results have to Improve.
TW was Johnson’s only option in Blacksburg. Now, it may be time to see what else is on the roster.
Big Crimson 75
September 10th, 2012
8:43 pm
This week is personal for Groh!!
The Wahoos were talking to London behind Al’s back — Peteino style!!
GTGirl
September 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
Big Crimson-for an Alabama fan, you have good insight on GT!
Did i see where your #1 RB is outforthe season?
BLT
September 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
Folks, please remember that tomorrow is the eleventh year since 9/11. Please remember those that passed that day. Please remember those that service this country and have made the ultimate sacrifice. God bless them and may this country forever serve as a beacon for the rest of the world.
The French did not give us that “statue” because we are the best at “bickering”.
Don’t forget, please…we forget too easily!
Good luck to Georgia, Georgia Tech and the rest of the finest education in the free world!
Go Jackets!
yeller bug
September 10th, 2012
8:50 pm
I agree with LBJ—not the dead president, but the blogger above—we’re OK at QB and being situational with playing the QBs is currently Best Practice (to use a consulting term). We should be 4-1 when we play Clemson and hopefully all our QBs as well as other players will develop better skills and comfort level with the game by then. We’re going to need all our weapons to beat the tiggers this year…I predict we hold serve on all our home games this year.
Big Crimson 75
September 10th, 2012
8:55 pm
GTGirl — I wouldn’t call him our #1 RB.
Although, the way Eddie Lacy has slugged through 2 games this season that might be debatable.
I root for Tech in the ACC.
Luv those Jackets
September 10th, 2012
9:07 pm
BOOK THIS – Jackets will not lose again and will crush Bama in the NC game. Our time has come white and gold brethren! So hold your pocket protector high!
Goooooo Jackets!
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
9:09 pm
SO RIGHT BLT!!!!
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
9:13 pm
Luv those Jackets….While I am enthusiastic about GT this season, I can’t quite reach your level of confidence, but I hope you are right.
yeller bug
September 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
@Luv: Hanging out in the Chem lab inhaling too many toxic vapors eh? Luv your enthusiasm, but too much probability/statistics and calculus courses prevent me from agreeing–10 – 2 with a win over UGA would be an extremely successful year!
1 4 GT
September 10th, 2012
9:20 pm
yeller bug….I would take that today. But we gotta earn it.
Ol'JacketFan
September 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
Amen BLT very well stated!
Ol'JacketFan
September 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
It looks like CPJ is going to lean out the reins bit by bit with Vad until he feels Vad’s ready to run free!
BLT
September 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
“Luvvy” your post is dripping with sarcasm. You are such a sweet heart…how about refilling my coconut you “god forsaken nut”. After that please rub my feet…they are so sore from walking. Thanks “Luv those Jackets”.
I’m glad my original post missed it’s mark with you. Can you possibly keep a “handle” or will it change all the time…punkin?
Ol'JacketFan
September 10th, 2012
9:29 pm
I couldn’t help with the horse racing analogy, Vad is a thoroughbred!
Ol'JacketFan
September 10th, 2012
9:31 pm
Looks like the LBs are taking the game as a personal challenge. I am eager to see JHD put a licking on those VA backs as he on Logan Thomas once or twice.
fuzzybee78
September 10th, 2012
9:43 pm
@OlJacket-
I think youre right about the LB’s. Nealy and JHD are starting to look like DSmith and KFox. They are both big and athletic. Going to fun to watch if they stay focused and listen to CAG.
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
September 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
OJF – I liked what JH Days showed too. I expect he will be on the Hunt against the Cavs. I don’t see the Cavs racing out against us like they did last year. Question is, will we score points or struggle on O. If I recall, Tevin played fairly well in last year’s game, except for like the entire 4th Qtr when we had ample opportunities to take control.
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
September 10th, 2012
9:47 pm
While I would like to see more of Vad, I would much rather see him in mop up duty after we dominate early as opposed to being the relief pitcher for an ineffective TW. I think Tevin will get her done this time.
fuzzybee78
September 10th, 2012
9:51 pm
Gr8 2B-
Tevin had a pick early that lead to a TD. They ran over us and we gift wrapped it too. Im looking forward to seeing more progress on both sides of the ball.