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
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774 comments Add your comment
eeyore
September 29th, 2012
1:35 pm
RWIll ” 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.”
One would think that CPJ would have considered this last weekend when GT had the ball at their 48 on 4 and less than 1 with 2 minutes to play. Why would he punt the ball away when the D had allowed Miami to drive down the field on 3 consecutive drives in the 3rd and 4th quarters? PAUL JOHNSON HAS NO BALLS… his players sense it … this season is ovah
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
1:35 pm
Here is a blistering and I mean blistering thing to see. Most teams would just take a knee for the half. MT didn’t… They know that GT’s defense is so bad, they ran plays. This has to be a slap in the face to CAG.. CPJ has got to see how no one and I mean no one respects “no show”… They see GT on the schedule and the OC from the other team just starts licking his chops.. As a tech fan, you just feel like sticking your head in the sand. CPJ… I’m for hire.. I know defense.. I know the 3-4.. Although with the personnel, you should be running a 5-2 defense. But, please… fire “no show” do it and do it fast. Groh is a loser… plain and simple.
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:36 pm
Glad others are starting to see what I see everytime GT gets inside the opp’s 5 yd line …. TW calls his own #!
Can you believe it?
September 29th, 2012
1:36 pm
Tied with MTSU at the half…………….I may poke my eyes out before the start of the 3rd quarter.
TW has his eyes on that TD record more than he does on team play – JMHO.
I’d like to see more ( a lot more) of Vad Lee.
Ken Sugiura
September 29th, 2012
1:39 pm
logan kilgore – 14-17, 152 yards, 1 TD. gracious. tech d line losing.
eeyore
September 29th, 2012
1:39 pm
MTSU 6 of 8 on 3rd downs….. our D is making these guys look like an championship contender
DawgNole
September 29th, 2012
1:41 pm
Yeah, let’s talk about basketball instead.
Burdell
September 29th, 2012
1:43 pm
I don’t think it’s necessarily AG’s fault. He’s had guys in position but he can’t make them tackle. It’s real simple — we just don’t have the athletes, period! We can discuss the reasons forever, but no matter what the reason, we just don’t HAVE THE PLAYERS TO COMPETE !!!!!
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
1:43 pm
On a side note the Baylor / WVU is an offensive firecracker of a game.
Big Ol Stinger
September 29th, 2012
1:44 pm
Thank God for the Ryder Cup. Way more fun to watch than this edition of GT football.
I’m glad I gave my tickets away. I may have had an aneurism today.
wrecked
September 29th, 2012
1:44 pm
Gt offense on track to having the same numbers as FL. Atlantic had against MTSU. And defense is giving up more than Fl. Atlantic.
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
1:45 pm
@ Burdell… No… No he hasn’t had players in position. Do you even know the basics concepts of a 3-4 defense?? It’s a chaotic shamble. GT is athletic enough to make up for the mistakes made by lack of assignments.
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:45 pm
AG recruited these players and is getting seriously out coached by MT’s OC.
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:46 pm
VT 20 – GT 17
GT 56 – UVA 20
VT & UVA 20 pts each vs. GT’s D ……. how bad are those 2 Os!???
hedgetrimmers
September 29th, 2012
1:47 pm
You expect your QB to be the leader. When the leader’s hogging nearly all the glory (what little there is this year), I believe it affects the whole team psychologically. “But he scored!’ you say. Give somebody else a chance; they can score, too. I’ve been a Tech fan for as long as I’ve followed college football, and I don’t like what I’m seeing this year out of my Jackets – especially the HC (same ‘ol same ‘ol – hey, coach, it’s not against the rules to throw two forward passes in a row
), DC (no tackling, playing too far off the defenders), and QB (not an option quarterback; shouldn’t even be in there most of the time).
ATLJacket
September 29th, 2012
1:48 pm
If the D is missing tackles, it’s the coaches fault. They are not fundamentally sound. The players are simply not ready to play and it shows week in and week out. I’m on the get rid of Groh train.
22Jacket
September 29th, 2012
1:49 pm
It is truly a sad day when fans care more about TW keeping the ball around the goal line, more than we do our piss poor “D”. Atleast he is keeping us in the game, if Vad was in there we would probably be down. Vad looked as bad as the “D” did.
Stumpknocker
September 29th, 2012
1:50 pm
This has got to be the “pizz poorest non-tackling bunch I’ve ever seen”……. the first defender is going to miss the tackle 100% of the time!!!!
Big Ol Stinger
September 29th, 2012
1:50 pm
Hopefully Radakovich is watching this train wreck.
Better start working on a short list, Dan. This coaching staff is going nowhere fast.
lindseysnot
September 29th, 2012
1:50 pm
Here in Charleston (SC) we get the WFU v Duke game…DU is actually looking good and they are winning at WFU’s field. Sooo, looks like the DU game will not be a gimme either.
So, what’s the excuse THIS week?? Emotional letdown from the miami game? mLooking ahead to the CU game? Burdell; if we can’t get athletes to play D how is it that we do get athletes to play O? The offense is playing well enouigh to win every game that we play – the D is responsible for our 2 losses and our possible 3rd loss today (and our 4th loss next week). Enough excuses, Groh must GO! If he can’t get his kids to figure out how to play his scheme, then change the scheme or change the coach. Teams are passing on us at will, and appaently, from what I see right now, teams are running all over us too. FIX IT OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!
Demosthenes
September 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
PJ is an excellent offensive coordinator. He is a poor head coach. He’s made poor decision after poor decision on DC. He needs a recruiting coordinator. He needs a special teams coordinator. His offense is nearly flawless with the right QB, but he has nothing else.
Want to tick of UGA and make some immediate inroads into recruiting and QB development? Hire Mike Bobo.
Jp
September 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
Maybe Tech can pull a Notre Dame and play all sports in the ACC except football. I think they would be a football powerhouse at the D II level. They would have similar, heck maybe even superior, talent as every school they play. Then Paul Johnson could be the greatest coach every…make every Tech fan happy! This is pathetic…can’t even block or stop MTSU…by the way, great pass rush by the D today…love their aggressiveness.
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
@GT They aren’t that great… VT loss to a lowly Pitt team.. UVA barely won against a depleted Penn St. I don’t put much stake into that. The issue is CAG doesn’t know the first thing about the 3-4. No blitzes, no zone blitzes, not even running a LB into the 2 or gaps. Oh and the gap assignments are not even there. No gap assignment will pretty much kill the 3-4 scheme. This has to be coaching. If the basics of the 3-4 can’t be put in to the game plan, they whole thing will fail. Groh is a failure, he is a loser and the sooner he is gone the better.
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
Oh that’s gonna help!
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:53 pm
6 of 8 3rd downs for MTSU.
1st TD results from a 3rd&4 at GT’s 25 … 21 yd pass to GT 4. TD on next play
2nd TD…3rd&4 from own 40 … 60yd TD run
3rd TD … 3rd&8 from own 25 … 18 yd run keeps MTSU drive alive. Blue Raiders score TD a few plays later.
3rd down D … gotta love it!
Big Ol Stinger
September 29th, 2012
1:53 pm
There are no gimme games for this team lindseysnot.
Tire of This
September 29th, 2012
1:54 pm
Its time for Paul Johnson to go. I have been a Tech fan since I was a little boy. I rooted for Tech when they won a national championship, suffered through Bill Lewis and everyting in between. I’m tired of seeing Tech continue the mediocrity. Since Paul Johnson became head coach Tech is 1-4 against VT, 1-4 against Miami, 1-3 against UGA and 0-4 in bowls. HE NEEDS TO GO!!!!!!
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
1:54 pm
That’s two supremely idiotic actions by Smith in two games
Chaps
September 29th, 2012
1:55 pm
This rule about helmets is really bad. Refs never see the rip that takes one off but they sure hear the complaint and through the flag.
D.J.
September 29th, 2012
1:56 pm
Get Washington out…he is not leading the team…just going through the motions…sad to see this!
BehindEnemyLines
September 29th, 2012
1:56 pm
Can’t recruit, can’t coach up. This is absurd.
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:56 pm
Orwin Smith … that’s TWO 15yd penalties!
Thought he was going to lead the nation in all purpose yds this season!?
Chaps
September 29th, 2012
1:56 pm
That’s “throw.”
Burdell
September 29th, 2012
1:57 pm
jmonty, Thanks for the 3-4 lesson! I had NO idea how it works. If you think we have the athletes to compete with the big boys you’re smoking something. We’ve missed so many tackles today and every week for the last 3 years, I don’t care what scheme you run, you ain’t gonna win. Maybe AG isn’t the answer, but until we get better players, JC his own self couldn’t win the way we all want.
hedgetrimmers
September 29th, 2012
1:57 pm
No, what’s so sad is that GT seems overmatched against a lower-division opponent.
Wal-Mart Retards
September 29th, 2012
1:57 pm
Is Al Groh on the sideline?
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:58 pm
What was OS’s UC penalty for?
Chaps
September 29th, 2012
1:59 pm
MTSU’s offense scheme is much better than ours.
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
1:59 pm
Notice how their linemen were 5 yards past the line of scrimmage before they even saw one Tech defender. ??? That is an issue.. Why is it GT seems always play against Heisman hopefuls?? Oh never mind.. Tech just makes them look like one.
alpha male
September 29th, 2012
1:59 pm
Meanwhile, Tottenham leads ManU @ Old Trafford 3-2 with less than 20 minutes remaining…
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
1:59 pm
9 yd pass followed by a 19 yd run…..I think we’re watching GT give up …
Chaps
September 29th, 2012
2:00 pm
Penalties indicate poor discipline.
Painful
September 29th, 2012
2:00 pm
Groh in booth. Maybe move him across the street and we’ll improve.
OS mouthed off to the official after the play, got 15 yards.
This is sad.
Woofy One
September 29th, 2012
2:00 pm
Put Jon Dewitt in the game !
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
2:01 pm
PJ usually makes adjustments at 1/2time, and GT’s first drives are much better than today’s.
Has PJ given-up too??
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
2:01 pm
Really??? No talent no tackling no coaching…
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
2:02 pm
23 yd TD run …… PJ’s lost his team!
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
2:02 pm
Wow. Bring back Presbyterian. These guys are too manly for us.
Burdell
September 29th, 2012
2:02 pm
UNBELIEVABLE, JUST UN F’N BELIEVABLE!!!
billyho55
September 29th, 2012
2:03 pm
OH THE WORDS I WISH I COULD POST RIGHT NOW!