Live blog: Georgia Tech-Middle Tennessee State
Is there a hangover?
Georgia Tech has more margin for error against Middle Tennessee State than it would against an ACC opponent, but not so much that it can sleepwalk through Bobby Dodd Stadium and count on winning. A week after a crushing loss to Miami, the Yellow Jackets can show they’ve put it behind them and are ready to play their final eight regular-season games with a dominating effort against MTSU. A-back Orwin Smith said the team has finished its moping and is moving forward.
How does the defense handle the Blue Raiders?
After Miami played the Tech defense like a fiddle, the Jackets will play an offense of a different stripe. The Blue Raiders operate a spread offense that stretches defenses sideline to sideline. They also work without a huddle, which Miami used to give the Jackets problems last week. With MTSU quarterback Logan Kilgore often throwing short routes, it may be difficult for Tech to pressure him, so effective coverage and good tackling will be essential.
Will the backups get playing time?
Given that Tech was a 27.5-point favorite on Thursday and has beaten MTSU by a combined 56 points in the past two seasons, there is some expectation that the Jackets will win, and possibly handily. Should that prove to be the case, coach Paul Johnson will have the opportunity to stretch the legs of some second- and third-teamers for possibly the last time this season. Defensive linemen Anthony Williams and Adam Gotsis, inside linebacker Anthony Harrell, quarterback Vad Lee and guard Trey Braun could make cases for more playing time.
A win for Georgia Tech would …
Improve its record against teams with “Blue” in their nickname (Duke Blue Devils, Presbyterian Blue Hose and MTSU Blue Raiders) to 55-30-1.
A win for Middle Tennessee State would …
Be the third win this season for a Sun Belt Conference team against a BCS conference team (Louisiana-Monroe over Arkansas, Western Kentucky over Kentucky).
Matchup to watch
MTSU wide receiver Anthony Amos vs. Tech cornerback Rod Sweeting
Amos, a former walk-on, has caught 21 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns in three games this season. He was added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top wide receiver. Sweeting had a tough game against the Hurricanes and will have another challenge when lined up across from Amos.
The history book
Series record: Georgia Tech leads 2-0
Last meeting: Last September in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Jackets scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 73-yard touchdown pass to Tony Zenon and led 28-0 in the second quarter on their way to a 49-21 win. Quarterback Tevin Washington completed five of eight passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
Tweet of the week
If Tech loses I’m transferring
@yaboynewt
Newt Clark, Tech student
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
774 comments Add your comment
MORGANTECH
September 29th, 2012
1:15 pm
I dont even know what to say aaaahhhhh
Fan-Man
September 29th, 2012
1:15 pm
goodbye johnson
TXJacket
September 29th, 2012
1:15 pm
Lack of Defense is Killing us again. The offense can score all the points it wants, but no defense negates points.
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:16 pm
Nearly 300 yards offense already for MTSU. What’s Clemson going to do to us?
billyho55
September 29th, 2012
1:16 pm
MERCY,
DO YOU ALSO GO BY MATT “CHOKE” RYAN? STYLES ARE EERILY FAMILIAR!
Bobby Dodd Jr.
September 29th, 2012
1:16 pm
MERCY RULE, how old are you, 10? Grow up and get off the Tech blog.
Gtjohn
September 29th, 2012
1:17 pm
Next week will be awesome for Clemson.
billyho55
September 29th, 2012
1:18 pm
JUST PUT VAD IN THE DAMN GAME! WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE RIGHT NOW?
Honestly
September 29th, 2012
1:18 pm
“Will the backups get playing time?”
Maybe they should… Couldn’t be any worse than the starters.
Paul in Nh
September 29th, 2012
1:18 pm
Does MTSU have a punter?
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:19 pm
Guys (billyho55 & BDjr) …. don’t engage Mercy, that what he wants you to do!!! You’re playing into his hands, and he’s loving it. Just skip over his posts, or else it’ll only get worse.
GT Realist
September 29th, 2012
1:19 pm
Quit blaming Groh all the time!!! Johnson is the one that hired him!! Fire CPJ!!!
WnE
September 29th, 2012
1:19 pm
Win or lose , what you are seeing from GT is because of what happens in Feb.
If you start beating out MTSU for Recruits, then you’ll find yourself playing close games with MTSU during the season.
RECRUITING is 75-80% of what is responsible for the ultimate success of a BCS-level HC, those are Urban Meyer’s own words.
Ergo, guys that are “tireless Recruiters” tend to have the better teams, even Oregon found themselves a “tireless Recruiter” and look at what has happened to their FB program.
GT should never be neck-and-neck with MTSU for half of a game.
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
1:20 pm
GT can’t throw the ball either! You see that “floater” Tevin just put in the air! Do that against UGA and it’s pick 6!
Paul in Nh
September 29th, 2012
1:20 pm
Did GT look at any film of MTSU before this game?
DawgNole
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
Not what you’d call a tight spiral there, but hey, got the job done. Even the pretense of a passing game would be a big shot in the arm for this offense–if Johnson would just do it.
Gtjohn
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
TW again – geeeeees
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
MERCY RULE…. show some class… get off the blog if you can’t….
billyho55
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
I AGREE GT FAN! CURIOUSITY GOT THE BETTER OF ME!
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
Great, I think, but maybe not. If GT ties it at 21 then MTSU gets another shot at AG’s D!
Ben
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
GT is awful!! I would like them to play GA State. I think we could win that one!
TXJacket
September 29th, 2012
1:21 pm
Fan-Man, Johnson isn’t going anywhere! GT can’t afford to pay his buyout and Hewitt’s. Besides who else are you going to get. The offense isn’t the problem. No “D” will lose the game every time.
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
1:22 pm
Happy about being tied 21-21 with MTSU at halftime. What a shame
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:22 pm
1:06. Leaving too much time for MTSU
eeyore
September 29th, 2012
1:22 pm
way to spread the ball around there Tevin
Fan-Man
September 29th, 2012
1:22 pm
ok mt your turn
MORGANTECH
September 29th, 2012
1:23 pm
We look like we are in a noodle fight.
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:23 pm
Let me guess …. GT got inside the 5, and Tevin called HIS OWN # …. AGAIN!??
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
1:23 pm
I’m a Dawg fan, and I’m just tired of Tech trolling our blogs. So how do you like it? Hmmmm? Too bad, I’m gonna be here all day. You get off the blog if ya don’t like it!
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
1:24 pm
Power Ranking teams in the state of Georgia:
1) Georgia
Georgia Tech
2) Georgia Southern
3) Georgia State
4) Tucker High School
5) Mays High School
6) Cedar Shoals High School
7) Athens Tech
hedgetrimmers
September 29th, 2012
1:24 pm
Is it just me, or is TW just not a team player? Come on, a good QB shares the opportunities near the goal line with other backs. Nobody else touches the ball once they get inside the five-yard-line.
Burdell
September 29th, 2012
1:25 pm
It’ll be interesting to see what PJ has to say to his team at half. It better be good because if we lose this game we might not win again this season.
81'IEFan
September 29th, 2012
1:25 pm
why cant our kicker put the ball in the endzone, everytime!
eeyore
September 29th, 2012
1:26 pm
“@GTAthletics Tevin Washington rushes for his 3rd TD of the day, his 9th of the season, his 28th career.”
But 0-2 in Blackburg VA because he’s a dumb as Reggie Ball ever was
lxUn1c0
September 29th, 2012
1:26 pm
That’s a nice talking point, WnE, a long as you don’t let the truth get in the way. Our average recruiting class is better under CPJ than it was under Gailey.
TXJacket
September 29th, 2012
1:26 pm
Mercy Rule – You left your mop bucket in the girls restroom!
BobDawg
September 29th, 2012
1:27 pm
MERCY… yeah, I know GTBob gets old on our site… but you don’t have to act the same way… just saying…
RWill
September 29th, 2012
1:27 pm
So Paul Johnson banished Al Groh to the booth. That’s one step closer to being fired. Probably so he didn’t cuss him out and yell at him on the sideline. The pass breakup where two GT defenders were behind the WR yet broke up the pass due to it being thrown short was a perfect example of what is wrong on defense. Two defenders, essentially blocking themselves while a WR has a step on them both.
You CANNOT blame the offense. It’s deflating when the defense is giving up long drive after long drive. It rests opposing defenses. It gives opponents confidence. Look at how Johnson is tightening up late in games. His playcalling is being affected by a lack of confidence in his defense. Likewise, other teams’ defenses can take chances against our offense, have some confidence (while being rested), knowing they can bank on their offense putting up points. The complete lack of defense is not only outright losing us games, it’s also hampering the effectiveness of our offense.
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
1:28 pm
GT’s defense is awful… Oh wait!! What defense???
sting_em
September 29th, 2012
1:28 pm
We have two pretty good starters out. I agree with “WnE.” We have to start doing a better job recruiting. Their players look comparable to ours. I wish Tech would pass more. I love watching the pistol.
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:29 pm
3rd down D????
81'IEFan
September 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
patsy tackling!!
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
3rd down D fails …. yet AGAIN!
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
http://247sports.com/Article/Todd-Gurley-is-247Sports-National-True-Freshman-of-the-Week-92268
Better watch out for this guy!
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
Hey a stop!
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
Ha
billyho55
September 29th, 2012
1:31 pm
I WILL BE A DIE HARD TECH FAN TIL THE DAY I DIE! BUT, IT’S DAYS LIKE THIS WHERE IT MAKES YOU WONDER!
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:32 pm
I think MTSU was just playing with GT right there …. They would have scored if they really wanted to.
PJ shouldn’t let AG into the 1/2time locker room! Fire him now!
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:34 pm
Gamecast has MTSU’s total yds at 285 through 2 qtrs. GT is 180 on 32 plays but has equalled MTSU on the scoreboard.
285 yds!?
It ain’t the O, AG’s gotta go!
Old Dog
September 29th, 2012
1:34 pm
To Hell with Tek today, tomorrow and every other day!