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
ThemJacketsBayBee
September 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
We do have some good athletes. That is a BS cop out. Some of them are not on the field.
GT is not prepared on either side of the ball in basic fundamental football. They don’t know where the first down sticks are? They don’t know more than one check down when they come to the line.
Coaching is the problem. An Offensive Coordinator is not a head coach. Just a really arrogant offensive coordinator with a head coach title and salary. (See Mike Martz NFL and June Jones). Great coordinators but not head coaches.
Cut the losses fire CPJ and AG and move on NOW! Even if they come back and win this game it doesn’t change the fundamental problems of; Poor Coaching (Preparation), Poor Recruiting and Arrogance!
dawg1
September 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
can’t stand Eliz on Braves are football.
MORGANTECH
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
People on here will blame BUZZ,before they blame CPJ for anything.
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
And they need the “D” to make a stop?? Like that will happen…. Have they even punted?
Frog hair
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
wish we could stop them but we can’t
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
The only reason Tech players don’t get arrested is because APD is worried more about the robberies that go on around that campus than they are what Tech players do.
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
GT, discuss football! You have no arguement there because your defense is atrocious and your offense isn’t much better. Talk that!
The Real Yellowjacket
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
MERCY RULE from UGA Again where is the top RB from GA playing now?
Not at UGA.
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
C’mon Blue Raiders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 50 plus please!!!!!!!!!!!
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
Ohhhh….here comes the dope smoking criminal comments….funny thing is you would take every one of them on your team….best player in tech history failed his drug test at the combine….that he knew was coming. So save the upstanding citizen bull. And one of your star b-ball players is going to prison for life for shooting a innocent citizen. I think I will take dope smoking teens any day over murder d-bag
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
WOW, our deffensive talent is not this bad. We have improved on our D’s speed. We are just plain out missing tackles.
Can you believe it?
September 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
Techies are so desperate they are now saying all UGA players are lawless – good grief. Next we will have to read about the academics – good grief. Truth is GT has limited talent and needs to drop down to the Sun Belt Conference or worse.
The Real Yellowjacket
September 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
kerryb Okay now the APD is in on it.
Again UGA whining. I have cheese to go with that.
Bobby
September 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
I’ve been a GT fan for many years now. And rarely do I consider Tech football disgusting. But even if Tech wins today which I still think they will, this is poor, poor, poor football. Ugh!
WTF????
September 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
Did you really just compare the UGA defense to that of Alabama, Mercy? That is a hilarious.
lindseysnot
September 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
GOOD FRICKIN” GRIEF!!! After the o puts 7 on the board the D gives up a 15 yard rush???
GROH MUST GO!!!
eeyore
September 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
@ajcgatech Washington ties school record with 4th TD of game. #GTMT12
You still suck TW…. 2 consecutive trips to Blackburg where GT’s last offensive play is an INT thrown by whom?
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
I would ask why the LB’s aren’t filling the gaps… But, I know the answer. CAP doesn’t know what that is. Having a bigger and faster team doesn’t do much when you have no gap assignment.
GT Fan
September 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
IDK what the heck #42 was doing the 75 MTSU TD pass ….(before snap) he kept creeping to the WR’s outside, giving him the EASIEST pass & catch play in the world … a WIDE OPEN slant.
I sure hope he wasn’t coached to play like that! Anybody interested in seeing that comedy go to ESPN gamecast and watch the hightlight.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
I don’t think any UGA athlete has ever murdered anyone.
The Real Yellowjacket
September 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
MERCY RULE from UGA You started the conversation on that road.
I see you’re ready for another tact.
Good choice.
The Real Yellowjacket
September 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
kerryb Love the bar you’ve set.
Any more great ideas?
WnE
September 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
GT is making Benny Cunningham look like Sam “Bam” Cunningham, USCw ‘71 or ‘70?
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
Georgia OWNS tech. And that’s the bottom line, cuz Mercy Rule SAID SOOOO!
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
Did you really just compare the UGA defense to that of Alabama, Mercy? That is a hilarious.
_______________________________________________________________
Yes I did and they won’t look so good when Murray and the Boys get a hold of them.
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
Again… 3rd and long… No blitz… How is this the players fault??? “no show” is a moron. They got lucky.
jdub
September 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
no haftime adjustments whatsoever. what did they go, go to the V?
Go Jackets
September 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
Comon Jacket fans, let the Dwaggie bloggers have their fun. We deserve it. Dont reduce yourselves to petty insults. Just stay away from the Flats till DRAD realises the mess we are in, fixes it and lets move on.
The Real Yellowjacket
September 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
I will admit the record. Glad to see you’re back to football.
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
What d has an LB matched up in single coverage on a slot receiver???????? Groh MUST GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
Yea, name one good passing team Bama has played so you can tell that their defense is that good. Their secondary has not been tested by anyone.
dawg1
September 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
No we not Alabama yet but working at it.
DawgNole
September 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
2:30 pm
There will be no room for the Gnats over on the UGA blog to troll after this one.
___________________
Should be plenty of room, actually; most of the usual trollers won’t be there after this feeble display.
81'IEFan
September 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
A d stop ONLY because of a bad throw, pitiful D play calling
WTF????
September 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
Aside from both playing the 3-4 in the SEC, there are no other similarities, Mercy. The results speak for themselves. And that;s not just because WTF???? said so, those are facts.
Go Jackets
September 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
BTW, tried 790 the zone and 106.7 online and neither has game…..guess I have to go sit in my car and listen……lool
dawglova
September 29th, 2012
2:49 pm
Enter your comments here
Rudy
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Good luck down the stretch here Bugs. I apologize for these trolls
trey
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
LMAO
Glory Between the Hedges
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
I might would feel a little sorry for Tech if they didn’t act like a bunch of idiots pretending to be alabama fans and making fun of who Georgia plays.
kerryb
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
jmonty0071
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Really??? Wide open… WTF??? Time to pull TW… Vad Lee time..
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Groh’s D has given up 400 plus yards to MTSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GROH MUST GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MERCY RULE from UGA
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Tevin Washington = Reggie Ball 2.0 hahahahahahahahahaha
Jacket Time
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Serioulsy uga trolls get a life and off the blog who cares which school has more criminals. Aren’ ur precious dogs playin tennessee… So obnoxious
81'IEFan
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
So badly underthrown!!! Get Wshington out!!!
hedgetrimmers
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
TD pass if it had been thrown far enough.
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Oh yea lets not put VAD in there he might throw an interception
lindseysnot
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
@dawg1…just keep workin’ buddy dwagz won’t be in the Tide’s neighborhood for a looooooooooong time…i doubt in your lifetime.
ok let’s tie this up so we can lose in OT again!
beanster
September 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Stupider is indeed a word. It doesn’t sound right, but it is the superlative of stupid.