Take Tech over Georgia right now in the long run
The Jackets have issues, but Jonathan Dwyer created positive foreshadowing in last game.
Sometime today, Mark Richt and Paul Johnson will speak at their weekly news conferences and assess for the world their respective football teams to this point. And if either has actually figured them out, that puts them ahead of the rest of us.
I’ve covered two Georgia games (Oklahoma State, Arizona State) and two Tech games (Clemson and Miami). I saw most or all of the other ones on TV. Both teams leave me thoroughly confused. Also somewhat dizzy.
Loading ...Tech has extended its personality changes from half to half (vs. Clemson) to game to game (awful vs. Miami; great vs. North Carolina). So I guess that’s progress. At least it leaves a week between games for therapy and makes for easier billing with the insurance company.
The Dogs can’t seem to figure out what they want to be: a solid defensive but offensively inept team (Oklahoma State, Arizona State), which makes it easy to dump on Mike Bobo or Joe Cox (or both). Or a relative video game (South Carolina, Arkansas), built for thrills and maybe the WAC, which makes it easy to dump on Willie Martinez.
Bottom line: Both have issues. Neither looks like a BCS bowl team. But if I had to take one over the other right now, I’ll take Tech. Here’s why:
♦ The Bulldogs are too erratic, too sloppy (minus-nine in turnovers) and still take too many penalties to lead me to believe they have any shot at beating No. 4 LSU this week, or certainly upsetting Florida. Two other games that once looked like gimmes — Tennessee on the road and Auburn at home — now look like potential landmines. And Tech has to be favored to win the last game of the season at Bobby Dodd.
♦ For Tech, I’m assuming the Jonathan Dwyer we saw before the North Carolina game was an aberration, and the one from last week is the norm. The defense is not great and probably won’t get a lot better. But if the Jackets run the ball, that keeps opposing offenses off the field. Further, Tech doesn’t have a can’t-win game on the schedule. The toughest opponent is No. 6 ranked Virginia Tech but that game is at home in a few weeks. The next most difficult game on the schedule is at Florida State, which just lost to South Florida.
The Jackets could always blame fatigue (three games in 13 days) on their worst performance of the season at Miami. I’m not sure what Georgia blames its worst moments on, other than just not being very good. (If Cox had the flu in Game 1, what did he have in Game 4?)
Right now, it’s looking like Tech will be the better team at season’s end. Agree or disagree? I’ve put up a poll if you want to vote, as well as comment.
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503 comments Add your comment
cdog
September 29th, 2009
5:25 pm
why are you bringing up georgia and georgia tech game?that game is a long ways off. each still have 7 weeks left. we are concentrating the upcoming week (lsu)
Ben Dover
September 29th, 2009
5:25 pm
Some of you clowns that are young dawg fans along with CMR needs to watch this and take notes! Pay attention to T O ’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvvcWadInCA&feature=related
Professor Phil Urchild
September 29th, 2009
5:34 pm
Thanks buzzie, bring some more young people for me, It is getting so tough for me to argue that point with the terrorists going to school here now. They don’t take to kindly to my kind of lifestyle.
By the way the US N&WR did not mention that us techie professor get free romps with all young children that you bring down here, as long as you don’t tell the Al Quaeda boys they don’t like us at all.
BuzztheKiller
September 29th, 2009
5:35 pm
Acedog- I don’t know that an option based team can win a NC either, but I wouldn’t say it can’t be done these days. It was not that long ago that Tommy Frazier and Nebreska made Spurrier and UF look like kids in a NC game.
Denver Dog
September 29th, 2009
5:42 pm
I would rather see Tech play for a NC, than a team like Boise, Utah or Hawaii. I think when those teams get into BCS bowls they get whipped. Oh, yeah, I forgot about Bama and Oklahoma.
Buzz, hope your team does well right up until we play, and then I hope that they are close, but not close enough. Touche”
GO DOGS
BuzztheKiller
September 29th, 2009
6:00 pm
Denver- I agree. Hate to see any of those teams in the NC. They would be under .500 in either the SEC or the ACC.
Also wish you well until end of Nov. I would rather Tech face a 8-3 UGA team so we when we make it two in row there is not doubt!
Buzzfan
September 29th, 2009
6:04 pm
You knew you would stir up a “beehive” and a ton of posts with that topic, Jeff. Pretty smart. I, for one, am proud that the state of Georgia has two such fine football programs with such long, rich traditions that can be matched by very few other states. I can think of Alabama, Michigan, Texas [huge state], California [huge state], and Florida [since the 1960's]. I root for both teams to win until they play each other.
GR82BAG8R
September 29th, 2009
6:13 pm
It really depends on which Tech team shows up. They have been embarrassed by Miami. They have also handled UNC. Last year they were embarrassed by UNC. If the prepared team shows up, it will be a good game, since Georgia still has the superior talent. Tech’s coaching makes the game interesting and a toss up.
Either would lose to Florida.
Josh
September 29th, 2009
6:13 pm
Schultz’ writing is atrocious. You arem’t supposed to be blindly loyal to a school and then when you notice they are playing well you tell everyone how good they are. I’m sick of North Avenue Homers.
Josh
September 29th, 2009
6:14 pm
aren’t*
professor
September 29th, 2009
6:23 pm
I can’t believe you dawg fans took Shultz’ bait. Don’t you guys see he was deliberately trying to stir up SH* to create blog hits? Blog hits=AJC revenue.
If Shultz and the Bugs want to believe that GT win over Jacksonville St (LMAO), squeak by win over Clemson (LMAO) and win over lowly NC (LMAO) means GT will be the “best team” at the end of year, then whoopee. Let him and the 4 GT fans stay on this blog and discuss it.
I challenge all of you dawg fans to pull back, leave this trash blog, and let them have it to themselves. If you’re going to support an AJC blog, then support one of the official UGA blogs, and quit giving energy to a stupid fight with a bunch of middle school kids and Shultz sitting at his desk laughing over how angry you all have gotten.
killerJ
September 29th, 2009
6:48 pm
Same Old Wine & Dine Mutts,Were The Greatest & Your Not.Lets Put It Simple,4 To 1 Baby!!!!! It,s What We Play For & You Can,t Buy One Like That Interferance Call That Always Comes Out Of The Blue With S.E.C. Refs.Cry Some More Flee Bags,This Is Enjoyable!!!!THWG.
BS Patrol
September 29th, 2009
7:14 pm
You doggies like Dawginlex are the biggest IFFERS. IF not for a little static the Hindenburg would have been a swell ride.
Recruitnik
September 29th, 2009
7:20 pm
Jeff you are an idiot..
Dawg 1
September 29th, 2009
7:29 pm
Well this one has been sitting in the coffers. Slow week, not getting the number of hits required – time to play the trump card.
All the trash talking this starts up is laughable. And you know who is laughing loudest? Jeff Schultz..
Enjoy your golf game Jeff – I’m sure this will cover the quota for the week…
BS Patrol
September 29th, 2009
7:31 pm
Denver Dog,
Wrong on all points. Tech is superior in every single field of endeavor. Academics & athletics.
gojackets
September 29th, 2009
7:51 pm
face it, gt is just a better program
gojackets
September 29th, 2009
7:54 pm
uga squeeking a win out against a below par arizona st team and a highly overated ok. st team is good then? you gotta be kidding me fleabags. we have played a much tougher schedule then your lonely bullpuppies
gojackets
September 29th, 2009
7:55 pm
#22 unc a better then avg clem team and #20 miami
gojackets
September 29th, 2009
7:55 pm
the easiest game we have left is on thanksgiving vs uga
joseph
September 29th, 2009
8:08 pm
if uga coaching improves gt could’nt win if you spotted them 14 points. if coaching does not improve gt wins.
DawginLex
September 29th, 2009
8:12 pm
Yeah BS patrol,
I’m an iffer alright. If you had a brain, you wouldn’t post some of the inane drivel that you type on the blogs.
Midnight Rambler
September 29th, 2009
8:29 pm
A key factor, as someone said, will be injuries – how many, any to key players, and whether the subs can step up. Tech had 3 starters out on defense against UNC and it didn’t hurt them. This is a tribute to the players and coaching. If Nesbitt got hurt, however, there might be a problerm for Tech even though Jaybo is coming back.
Cautiously Optimistic
September 29th, 2009
8:31 pm
Who know’s? yeck is always so wishey washey and my Dawgs………….well I just dont know what to think? But there is a long time til then so it’s anybody’s guess as far as I’m concerned, at the moment. But the closer it get the better idea I will have. Lets Go Dawgs!!!!!!!
go jack it, what a joke, better program? Quit buying that crappy weed from n. ave. Yeck might win again this year, but that by far does not mean ya’ll have a better program. WE OWN YOU!!!!!! We will have our down years, every team does. The bad thing is your team is at there peak and are still average. Tech will NEVER have the program UGA does! I will give you one top award though, for the biggest BS’er. Yep you win that trophy, congrats!
Dave In Tampa
September 29th, 2009
8:37 pm
Hate to say this, but I agree with Jeff. Until we(Dawgs) stop the stupid turnovers and penalties we will not be favored to win any games. The defense looked much better, but if you turn the ball over 3 times in any of the up coming games and comitt 10+ penalties we are going to be embarrassed. Step it up in those areas it can still be a special team.
Tech has a good team. They play a softer schedule so they do have the advantage. I don’r mean this as a knock. It’s just the truth.
Atlanta Jacket
September 29th, 2009
8:50 pm
GT will finish the season either 9-3 or 11-1
Uga will finish the season 7-5 or 8-4
GT has better coaching, an offense that works and by end of the year (barring an injury) will be running on all cylinders.
UGA will be coming off a disappointing loss to Auburn and will be repaid for 51-7 a few years back.
Dumb A$$ Dawg
September 29th, 2009
8:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Hey…. all you yeller jackets are going to be crying in November when we whip your a$$!
Tony
September 29th, 2009
9:15 pm
Both teams have been inconsistent and have been fortunate to have some games that could have gone the other way. I don’t blame each fan base declaring that their team is the bette team. The bottom line is that each team will have to take care of business one week at a time and then get it on in November and then we will see who the better team is on that day. Good luck to both. Go Jackets!
DAWGHATER:
September 29th, 2009
9:16 pm
Dawgs suck azz! LSU, UF, GT and Auburn are all losses. Throw in a UT defeat and the lucky dawgs are 6-6 and hurtin fer certin. Joe Cox sucks, as does the school, team and willie boy. THWG!
DAWGHATER:
September 29th, 2009
9:19 pm
Hey UGA Fans: What happened to your beloved fans. You didn’t sell out the game against ASU. I thought your beloved pups sell out every game. Quit whining about GT fans and our stadium and start selling out your redneck sanford crap hole. THWG!
Cautiously Optimistic
September 29th, 2009
9:35 pm
The game was sold out, I guess the weather kept people from coming. But believe me, even though we are struggling, I was there cheering on my team in the rain.
Atl jacket, you predict 7-5 or 8-4. May be true but put tech in the same schedule and you will have the same result, I promise you that.
Cautiously Optimistic
September 29th, 2009
9:36 pm
If not worse that is.
Mountaineer78
September 29th, 2009
9:51 pm
Impartial comments:
UGA – quit the SEC rules, SoS crap. After UF and Bama it’s an ordinary conference and last I checked, UGA isn’t playing Bama this year. UGA beat a way overrated OSU and barely got by a second tier ASU.
GT – You’ve got to get something going in the air to move up and your DB’s are really, really bad.
Just two decent but not great teams. Should be no bragging this year.
Pooh Bear
September 29th, 2009
9:53 pm
Dawghater- you are so angry for a twelve year old. Did your parents just get divorced, and you are letting your rage out on an AJC blog? I’m sorry for you, lil’ fella, but your parent’s break up will be a good learning moment for the further disappointments you will experience after high school.
Mountaineer78
September 29th, 2009
9:55 pm
Make that “got beat by a way overrated OSU”
DAWGBONE
September 29th, 2009
9:57 pm
Spartabama…I have one word for you….UTES. Talk about a cream puff schedule…Louisiana seems to have a small college team for every corner of the compass and bama plays ‘em all. Guess their not man enough to play a high profile team from another BCS conference!
BobbyCael – just more baseless nerd talk. ACC sports Dook, Wake me up Forrest and Mary Land who are losing to teams I didn’t know still fielded football teams. What a joke the ACC is – they should have their BCS bid rescinded and give it to the WAC.
Even Martinez will be able to devise a plan to shut down that high school option you run this year. We’ll stack the box and force your qb to throw (which he can’t) and it will be another Dawg victory at Sanford West. Every time I’m there I feel like it’s another Georgia home game….
Go Dawgs!
Atlien
September 29th, 2009
10:01 pm
Don’t over analyze it people. Neither team will be able to stop the other one, the game between Tech and Georgia will be a complete toss-up.
Take Take over Georgia right now in the long run | Jeff Schultz | Georgia realestate live today
September 29th, 2009
10:17 pm
[...] to go to a brawny structure mettlesome than Colony after quaternary games. See example here: Take Take over Colony correct today in the daylong separate | Jeff Schultz Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: a-much-better, a-strong-bowl, after-four, games, like-it-has, [...]
REDNECKS ARE JOKES
September 29th, 2009
10:28 pm
Let’s take a closer look here. Ugay got blasted by a team that got manhandled by HOUSTON, and what conference are they in?? If acc is so weak, then why did the acc whip their butt during the regular season last year? South carolina beat nc state by 4 points an and both scores came off the two turnovers inside their own 20. Those teams are very much even. Tech has beaten the 19th ranked tarheels, and lost to a team the popped in the top 10 on the road. Let me know when ugay beats a team worth a flip or even RANKED for that matter! Last year you only beat 1 ranked team all year that finished in the top 25 and that was the terrible spartans who got murdered by ohio state and penn state. You guys were #1 in the nation but finished second in the state! I love it
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
meansonny
September 29th, 2009
10:53 pm
The honeymoon is over on the flats. CPJ will never top 9 wins again. It took 2 Division ii schools last season to get 9 victories. They don’t have that cushion this year.
Reason 1)
Good defenses are catching up to Paul Johnson’s style of play. He adjusts his blocking schemes based on what the defenses are doing. But players have good film on these adjustments and can be ready for them in game situations.
Reason 2)
Good defenses will be able to disrupt the rhythm of the option attack. Taking the action into the backfield forces quicker pitches. Eliminating the options faster allows the rest of the defense to react to the final ballcarrier and begin gang tackling (tough to do, but teams that can stop a dive play and pressure with DE’s will have success, here).
Reason 3:
CPJ cannot recruit. He can do more with average OL than other coaches. But why would a top RB, top QB, or top WR want to play in this system. It has been said by talent scouts that Dwyer’s stats and accomplishments are deemed as skewed. He is considered a 50/50 shot by the experts (not a can’t miss back). Nesbit was recruited as a passing QB. And this is what he’s able to accomplish in this system.
4) He had a losing record against BCS opponents before he came to Tech. This system is not for the big boys. There’s a reason that his option attack isn’t utilized by the NFL.
The honeymoon is over. Let the big Dawg eat.
wreckmaniac
September 29th, 2009
10:54 pm
dawgvent: Cesspool known as downtown Atlanta ? You would crawl across broken glass to see your dawgs in the SEC champ game at the dome. You are invited to not show up at the Tech game this year. Do us a favor.
meansonny
September 29th, 2009
11:00 pm
Rednecks are jokes,
I wouldn’t poke fun at Houston too much. They’ve won at OSU & beat Texas Tech.
Their resume is more impressive than most teams in the country right now.
Couple that with the #6 scoring offense and #2 passing offense in the nation.
And you have a team that will be able to make a little noise this season.
wreckmaniac
September 29th, 2009
11:05 pm
If Tech were to win the Orange Bowl, would we then be HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ? I think I’ll take it. Paul Johnson could be high
school national coach of the year and a degree from Tech would be recognized as a high school degree. We could be named Tech High.
Then UGA would be known as UGA-Elementary. Thats where this idiot process is going.
Was UGA the only preseason #1 in history to lose to a high school offense ? I think it was. Oh, how bitter we can become. That FACT even
makes me sad.
Freddie(Gibson)inaTrailer
September 29th, 2009
11:08 pm
FreddieinDunwoody: What do you know ??
CJ Dawg
September 29th, 2009
11:16 pm
AZ JACKET… Funny… playing in the SEC East makes us an elite team in the COUNTRY… YEAR AFTER YEAR… EVEN WHEN WE IN DAWG COUNTRY, DON’T THINK AS MUCH OF OUR TEAM…… SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT THE COACHING… BUT!!!! SINCE CMR CAME TO GAWJA…. ALMOST ALWAYS SEEM TO FINISH IN THE TOP TEN…. ONLY THING U YECKSTERS GOT GOING IS WE DON’T LIKE OR SEE THE OPTION, SO WE DON’T DEFEND IT WELL…. BUT YOU HAVE NO ONE WHO WILL GUARD #8, #7, #12, #82, #81, #22, #4…. I LIKE OUR ATHLETES BY TURKEY DAY!!!!
Wreckmaniac
September 29th, 2009
11:20 pm
Jeff, you can urinate on General Lee’s or Lester Maddox’s or Sonny Purdue’s grave, but do not EVER say that Tech is the equivalent of UGA. That’s just heresy in this state. Remember, Athens(Clark County) is 25 sq miles surrounded by reality.
heeldawg
September 29th, 2009
11:56 pm
AZ Jacket: Thanks for the kudos on the prior post. I’ll try to keep this one shorter, to match your attention span.
You say I shouldn’t comment about Tech, but you don’t offer any rational commentary as to why I should not. I think my assessment of them is a fair one. Tech’s defense, as one might expect from the losses incurred from last year’s DL, is suspect (so is Georgia’s, by the way, but we’re not talking about them right now). Tech’s passing offense doesn’t exactly strike fear into opposing defensive coordinators. Would you say that is a fair assessment? And, yes, Tech’s offense is predicated upon quick strike capability from the running game–but you can’t stop the clock with an “incomplete run.” Everyone who knows anything about football knows that having the ability to pass in the clutch is the best way to milk the clock in an attempted comeback. Tech’s offense, while capable of “quick strikes,” is predicated upon misdirection and precision execution. You make a few defensive guys muff their assignments and it’s off to the races, like the Goergia game last season. Moreover, the Jackets have quite a number of talented backs. But the offense’s flaw is its lack of balance. It is limited when the passing game needs to be used (i.e. when the clock is winding down). That’s why I said that the offense works well when Tech is ahead–or when there is plenty of time (i.e. a half of football) for a comeback. And it works well if there are no turnovers; turnovers are why Tech lost to UNC last season (I stand by that statement, as well). But you and your fellow Jacket brethren are delusional if you think this Tech team will win the ACC–or even your division. They are not as deeply flawed in execution as Georgia has been this season, but there is, quite simply, a talent deficit that the Jackets cannot surmount that will allow them to beat the Virginia Techs of the world just yet. Paul Johnson is a great coach–not just good, but great–and he knows how to win. But he doesn’t have the horses to challenge for a national title this season, or even to be a major player on the national scene. If Georgia played Tech right now, I’ll admit that the Jackets would probably win. But Richt’s younger teams have this history of starting slowly. There’s no telling where the two teams will be by the end of the season, when the COFH game will be played. THAT was my point. And I think I make more tangible arguments about Tech’s immediate football futures than you do–seeing as yours are rooted in emotion, not fact. We’ll find out where the two squads are in November. Tech could be the better team then–but Georgia’s young talent could begin to gel by then, as well. It’s happened before–quite recently, in fact.
Sorry if the truth hurts. Real men just deal with it.
Wreckmaniac
September 29th, 2009
11:57 pm
AZ Jacket: I agree. UGA really belongs in another conference. Maybe
the All-Georgia Conference with Ga State and Ga Southern,etc
heeldawg
September 30th, 2009
12:00 am
Well it is shorter…but not by much…
Wreckmaniac
September 30th, 2009
12:03 am
Best word to describe UGA ? SMUG The UGA Smugdawgs
A few will know what I mean