Georgia Tech-Miami live blog
Three storylines
Can Georgia Tech take control early?
In losing the past three games to Miami, the Yellow Jackets have had first-half deficits of 17-3, 14-0 and 14-0, trouble for a team that doesn’t play its best from behind. A repeat of that scenario may not doom the Jackets, but it may signal to them and the Hurricanes that history may be repeating itself. Coach Paul Johnson has a knack for breaking big plays early, such as the 70-yard touchdown pass to B-back Zach Laskey on the Jackets’ first play from scrimmage last week. A repeat might encourage another frenzy.
What will the Tech defense throw at the Hurricanes?
Defensive coordinator Al Groh is wary of the damage that Miami true freshman running back Duke Johnson, one of the highest-rated prospects at his position last year, can cause to his unit. He’s averaging 9.2 yards per carry and has scored six of Miami’s 11 touchdowns this season. Wide receiver Allen Hurns, who sat out the Hurricanes’ win over Bethune-Cookman last Saturday with a concussion, is a playmaking threat. Tech’s improved defense will face its toughest test thus far.
How many yards will be the B-backs have at game’s end?
If B-backs Zach Laskey or David Sims pile up yards, the prognosis will be good for the Jackets. If they’re not, it probably means that the offensive line is getting backed up, which means the option plays aren’t working, which means a boatload of trouble for Tech. But if center Jay Finch and guards Omoregie Uzzi and Shaquille Mason move Miami off the line of scrimmage for dive plays for the B-backs, the game will swing in Tech’s favor.
A win for Georgia Tech would …
End its three-game losing streak to the Hurricanes and move the Jackets ahead of Miami in the Coastal Division standings.
A win for Miami would …
Go far to shut the door on Tech’s hopes of winning the ACC championships.
Matchup to watch
Georgia Tech wide receiver Darren Waller vs. Miami cornerback Thomas Finnie
At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Waller has seven inches and 43 pounds on Finnie and a matchup that physically he should be able to exploit, both downfield and as a run blocker. Still looking for his first career catch, Waller will have plenty of playing time along with Jeff Greene. The depth chart is thinner after starter Jeremy Moore left the team Tuesday for personal reasons.
The history book
Series record: Georgia Tech leads 10-7
Last meeting: With two costly turnovers in the first half, Tech fell behind 14-0 in the first half and lost 24-7 last October at Sun Life Stadium. The Jackets defense played strong, but did not get much help from an offense that generated 134 rushing yards.
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869 comments Add your comment
TexGT
September 22nd, 2012
7:07 pm
In the Urban dictionary, to do a “Georgia Tech” should me “to choke; to be utterly pathetic when it counts.” What a joke. I am tired of being a fan of this worthless team.
Glory between the hedges
September 22nd, 2012
7:07 pm
Lmao!!! This is why us Georgia fans laugh at some of you who troll our boards. Miami!!!!??? hahaha..How bad did k state beat them??? Come on tech! Your better than that.
Cats hav fleas 2
September 22nd, 2012
7:07 pm
Great team…I see vast improvements year over year. Blah, blah, blah…same ol story, same ol Tech, same ol result. Oh, and a great coach with a GENIUS offense and a defense that only shows up every now and then.
WnE
September 22nd, 2012
7:07 pm
re:
Big Crimson 75
September 22nd, 2012
7:03 pm
I’m officially with WnE.
Johnson can’t get it done in the world of big time College Football.
_______________
You know I actually made a screen capture of that post above, just in case you renege on your comments at a later time.
Golden ROD
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
IS jOHNSON GONE YET???????????
TexGT
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
should mean
Ghost
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
Kansas State beat this Miami team by 6 tds
Golden ROD
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
jOHNSON MUST GO!
GT Fan Since 56
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
This just in. Georgia Tech just announced that Al Groh’s contract has been extended for two more years. Immediately afterward, the ACC announced that Tech had been mathematically elinimated from the 2013 and 2014 Coastal Championship.
GT65
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
I’ve been a GT football fan since 65. I can’t believe I have watched the same stupid games (replays) in two games this season and we lose. Its time we get a new D coach and if Johnson can’t call better plays with one yard to go he needs to go. This season is now history. Go ahead and play Vad because we going no where. UGA will kill us with there passing. I’m taking all my GT flags etc down till something is done about fooball. Stupid is as stupid does.
Al Bundy
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
You could see it coming a mile away! Coaching lost this game and you can give Sweeting some credit too! For all of you who continue to defend this coaching staff and drink the CPJ Koolaide give me one good reason to support this coaching staff. I feel sorry for our players they deserve better.
rivercard
September 22nd, 2012
7:08 pm
how about an overhaul of the entire Athletic department(admin and coaches) from Dan Rad on down. Is there anything positive that has happened since he has been there?
High Yeller
September 22nd, 2012
7:09 pm
We suck
Two Words
September 22nd, 2012
7:09 pm
Good Grief……………………….
TexGT
September 22nd, 2012
7:09 pm
GT is an utter joke. If we were even a decent team, we would have steamrolled Miami, who was utter destroyed by K.State. This is a fireable game. Fire the whole staff, they embarrass the school.
georgia tech breakin neckz
September 22nd, 2012
7:10 pm
two minutes and forty three seconds between two games FINISH FINISH FINISH
Ghost
September 22nd, 2012
7:10 pm
Tech can do better than PJ.
GTVegas
September 22nd, 2012
7:10 pm
This is on Groh, both Miami and VT. The only thing CPJ has to do with this is that Groh is his guy. CPJ’s offense did plenty, certainly enough to win. Groh and his defense need to be history, and they probably will after this season.
I am beyond upset with this result. Losing one game you had in the bag was bad enough, now two.
Groh should just resign.
JustinSyder
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
That was absolutely pathetic. Why we took our foot off the gas, I will never understand. You would think Groh would have learned his lesson after VT but no, let’s just let them give 10 yards every play, and hope the clock runs out before they score. Putting up 36 points should win a game. That being said, CPJ does deserve some blaim for the offense not producing after getting up big. UGA trolls have at it. We deserve to be made fun of and trolled after that.
TexGT
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
UGA will beat us by 50.
lindseysnot
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
the great experiment is OVER…the offense is good enough, the defense is pathetic…Groh must go and if CPJ doesn’t agree, then it’s time for him to go too. sorry, just sayin’…the prevent D doesen’t work in the NFL and it doesn’t work in CFB. If Groh don’t go, I will.
JettBuzz
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Definitely problems on The Flats. Unacceptable repeat of Labor Day in Blacksburg for O, D, and ’sidelines’. Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice, shame on me.
OldGold1964
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Yo, hey Hurricane defender #44: check your mail box at that athletic department. I’ll be letting you know when I will be in Miami (within 30 days), and I want a one-on-one meeting with you. Let’s see just how tough you are. {and 48 hours after I’m through with you, bring on teammate, #2}
DumpedOnAgain
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Fire Groh on the spot. He’s worthless. I hated Gailey. He was so weak. I’m seeing Johnson is no different. When it gets tight, he reverts back to his same plays that everyone know is coming. He’s too stubborn to be successful at this level. Get him out of there!
Tech Fan For Life
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Okay Genius Fans who got on me for saying I refuse to go to a game to punish Ga Tech Financially.
1. I cancelled my 8 season tickets for the first time since 1990 – WHY?
a. Paul Johnson is a good man and a good coach.
b. His system is great for Ga Southern – he could have stayed there and been an Erk Russel type.
c. His system has lost 90% of big games since coming to Tech.
d. You educated fools and the foolish Athletic Director keep him on.
e. The only way to get their attention is to hurt them financially.
f. I am not hateful against the players – they deserve better.
g. So I refuse to come to games until he is fired – thankful I was not there today.
h. So now you can see not going to games will ultimately help our student athletes who deserve better – the only way to get change is by cutting off their money.
i. Please, Please and again PLEASE stop going, cut off the money, send PJ back to GSU and help our kids – he would be a great assistant for Jeff Monken.
j. Our kids deserve better.
k. If you have any love in your heart toward the student athletes who have to constantly lose to Georgia, loose against good opponents, lose bowl games, lose close games, and be labeled as losers please again PLEASE STOP GOING CUT OFF THE MONEY FOR THE KIDS!
L. LOSERS – please stop the bleeding, the treatment will be painful, but it is so much better than living with the sickness.
UGABob
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Everyone does realize its not just Tech that chokes in crunch time but all the Georgia teams.
KillerBee
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Al Groh’s defense is exposed yet again. Whether pass rush, pass coverage, or run defense the players were never in position to make plays.
Order your Great Idaho Potato Bowl tix now ….
GT-UT
September 22nd, 2012
7:11 pm
Defense can’t stop them…no warrior QB to win the game. Coaching got them in position to win…
Not a good season
Golden ROD
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
I am officially no longer a tech fan…done with the bs…thank god my grandfather was not around to see this BS…unless the rest of you enjoy the “gsu” offense…I REALLY MISS CHAN GAILEY!
Slick Jim
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
Look on the bright side, girls.
You beat Presbyterian and Virginia.
Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
Buzzman
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
Here is Paul Johnson inteview after the game….Well coach what happened? ( I will take the blame for this loss, my players played hard and I was out coach). What about the defense not holding up their end. ( Well they have some great players, we were not reading their plays correct. Again I take the blame. We have a bunch of good kids. I guess we will have to wait until next year. We will be better then). Gee Coach I thought you already said that we had a better team…. Well I was wrong, maybe next year……I believe in this triple option, it will work “Someday”. end of interview.
son_sir
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
Missed tackles, terrible coverage, no pressure on the QB, no run defense … Giving up 600 yds. … Clemson and UGA could get very ugly.
MORGANTECH
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
I THINK IM GOING TO GO THROW UP SICK,SICK,SICK ITS HARD TO BE A TECH FAN ,BUT IT IS SOMETHING YOUR BORN WITH,GO JACKETS NO MATTER WHAT.
Davedawg
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
All I can say…… just Damn…..finish the bottle of Gentleman Jack and call it a day
FIREPJ
September 22nd, 2012
7:12 pm
Tech will never be relevant in college football as long as PJ is here! At least the new basketball arena looks AMAZING!
bigeasy830
September 22nd, 2012
7:13 pm
GT’s talent has gone down since CPJ became coach, those first couple of success was due to the talent that Chan Gailey left. No top talent wants to go the GT and play in that high school offense. GT is done stick a fork in them. The ACC is weak this was GT’s chance to win the conference. Get a new coach and then they may be able to run with the big dogs, or just continue to sit on the porch.
Georgian by birth, Bulldog by the Grace…
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 22nd, 2012
7:13 pm
rivercard I agree D-Rad should go. We should have gotten Mark Price as our Basketball coach. GET RID OF D-RAD nad CPJ
wilbs
September 22nd, 2012
7:13 pm
It’s time for Johnson and the entire coaching staff to go. We will never win a national championship with this offense because all the top prospects you need to run this offense will not come to GT.
GT-UT
September 22nd, 2012
7:13 pm
For all you CPJ haters on this blog…the points the Offense puts up is amazing. Face facts…tired of you haters out there. I’m a UT fan and GT will out score them this year…yet no on calls for Mack Brown’s head over the “experiment” in Texas…whatever
Fan-Man
September 22nd, 2012
7:14 pm
boy we just gave that one away did we not?
Fire CPJ
September 22nd, 2012
7:14 pm
Al Groh sucks Wang and CPj gotta go!
SpazGT
September 22nd, 2012
7:14 pm
This one is totally on Groh. I’ve been skeptical about CPJ after last season but his offense is doing great. Up 17 points going into the 4th quarter and the D can’t stop ONE Miami drive!!! The offense ran about 5 minutes off the clock, a good punt, and the D can’t keep a team from going 90 yards in under 2 minutes? What a joke. The offense puts up almost 500 yds of offense and people want to blame the system. Its all Groh, and it’ll cost CPJ his job if he doesn’t dump him.
Al Bundy
September 22nd, 2012
7:14 pm
6-6 with a trip to the Toilet Bowl to lose to some other 6-6 team. Johnson and Groh should do the honorable thing and resign!
GT = 10 time loser to Mark Richt
September 22nd, 2012
7:14 pm
Keep ya heads up, Jackets. Still a lot of season left to go.
This may be
September 22nd, 2012
7:15 pm
my best team ever (CPJ talking to the media)
This is a VERY young Miami team – it doesn’t look good for GT in the Coastal Div for the foreseeable future.
One stinking foot for a first down and the unstoppable offense gets stuffed…………………yeah keep on thinking CPJ is a genius.
OkieDawg
September 22nd, 2012
7:15 pm
Lock up the Beluga tank. CPJ refused to talk to the press and was seen headed in the direction of the Aquarium… with his fry daddy.
GT Fan Since 56
September 22nd, 2012
7:15 pm
Guys, posting on the web is not the answer. Use this address to find Dan’s e-mail address and phone number. Send your thoughts to him.
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/staffdir/geot-staffdir.html
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 22nd, 2012
7:15 pm
GT-UT how many games has TW won when the game is on the line ???
smittyderf
September 22nd, 2012
7:16 pm
I have no problem with Johnson’s philosophy. Just once Tonight I hope to hear him blame this loss not on poor execution by his players but on poor decision making by him and by groh in the 4th qtr..
Bet that doesnt happen
Fan-Man
September 22nd, 2012
7:16 pm
braves win.