Georgia Tech wins, but this was nothing to celebrate
Josh Nesbitt had an early 4-yard touchdown run to get Georgia Tech going. Nesbitt ran for two scores and threw for two more, but it turned out to not be such an easy night.
NASHVILLE — When a team has won five straight, launched itself into the BCS bowl picture and generally has left the impression it will skate through the “Nerders Row” portion of its schedule — Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Duke — it doesn’t expect to have games like this.
Georgia Tech defeated Vanderbilt on Saturday night 56-31. Looks one-sided. It wasn’t. Nor should it have been this sloppy or this difficult.
Expectations on North Avenue suddenly are meteoric. Maybe the altitude got to be too much.
It’s all still sitting there for the Yellow Jackets, everything they could possibly have wanted when this season began. A double-digit win total. An ACC championship. A BCS bowl game. A top-10 ranking. A second season under Paul Johnson to reaffirm that the first season under Paul Johnson wasn’t nearly a fluke.
But this game was a not-so-subtle reminder that there’s still the possibility of the bottom falling out. Vanderbilt entered this game with a 2-6 record. Its only victories had come over Western Carolina and Rice — and they don’t really count.
But where was this game at halftime? Tied at 28-28. When the Commodores drove to a field goal on their first possession of the second half, they led 31-28.
How bad should the Jackets feel about that? Bad enough to inch toward the balcony and maybe seek therapy.
In Vandy’s six previous losses, the Commodores totaled 9, 3, 7, 13 (that against Army, and only because of a field goal in overtime), 10 and 10. One of those 10’s came against the Bulldogs. So you need not wonder why Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is as unpopular on The Flats as Willie Martinez is in Athens.
If the Jackets don’t want to concern themselves with impressing poll voters, that’s one thing. But they can’t give up an 80-yard kickoff return or a 62-yard touchdown run, as they did Saturday night, and expect to skate again. They can’t assume any of their remaining opponents will implode the way Vandy did.
Because there’s only one Vandy.
Jonathan Dwyer gave Tech a 35-31 lead late in the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run. Then Vanderbilt turned back into Vanderbilt.
On the ensuing possession, running back Jamie Graham fumbled on the Commodores’ 19-yard line. (It was one of three Vandy fumbles.) Two plays later, Dwyer was in the end zone again from 3 yards out and suddenly it was 42-31 after two touchdowns in a span of 40 seconds.
Early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Josh Nesbitt connected with Embry Peeples for an 87-yard score, and the game looked like a rout. But for most of the night, it wasn’t.
It would be overstating things to suggest this was an “escape.” It was more like a reminder.
After a string of impressive conference victories over Florida State, Virginia Tech and Virginia — two of those coming on the road — expectations surrounding this program skyrocketed. The Jackets had the look of a team that was together and focused, that was following their coach, that seemingly would not be derailed in this home stretch.
Even coach Paul Johnson, while stating he believed Vanderbilt was better than its record indicated, did not anticipate any sort of a letdown. When asked earlier in the week about playing a non-conference game against a lesser opponent, he said: “I think our football team, to be a special one, has to go out and want to win every game. … I’m not worried about [a letdown]. I hope our guys are mature enough to realize that Vanderbilt is a good football team. We’re playing against the SEC. We’re not supposed to be able to compete. It’s a chance for our guys to match up with [an SEC team] again.”
Except that when you think, hear and see Vanderbilt, you don’t think, hear or see SEC. You see a small stadium that’s one-third empty on a campus where football doesn’t matter
It matters again at Tech. When you stumble, everybody notices.
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
469 comments Add your comment
Steven
November 1st, 2009
5:06 am
Jeff, no offense, terrible article. What if the score had been 23-3? That was the score after halftime. We had a terrible first half. Our coach came in to halftime and made an adjustment (unlike the guy in Athens). And we destroyed them in the 2nd half. Look at the stats. Almost double the time of posession. 56 points and 597 total yards. How can we not celebrate this? Most yards for the Jackets under Paul Johnson. Please.
JacketFan
November 1st, 2009
5:56 am
Jeff,
You don’t think Bobby Johnson’s past experiences against Paul Johnson teams had anything to do with Vandy’s effort yesterday?
ChuckE
November 1st, 2009
5:59 am
1st half had me chewing my nails, too. But even more than that, looking ahead is giving me cause to fret a bit as well. Neither Duke nor Wake are going to be pushovers, and as clueless as the Dawgs look now, anything can – and usually does – happen on Thanksgiving weekend.
I say enjoy this win, but get hard at work for next week. Rinse and repeat for the next three.
Go Jackets!
Bandwagon
November 1st, 2009
6:05 am
Another team schooled by Paul (high school offense) Johnson.
truth
November 1st, 2009
6:48 am
bring on Texas and GT wins 31-27
Alan
November 1st, 2009
6:49 am
Stiggywiggy:
I think the more appropriate color for UGAY would be PINK
81GTgrad
November 1st, 2009
7:07 am
Jeff – I have to agree completely with your comments. Vandy has a BAD offense. They could only muster one touchdown in 4 quarters against ARMY! We have struggled on defense and special teams all year. Our saving grace….CPJ’s halftime adjustments. With the exception of the Clemson game, we have proven to be one of the top 2nd half teams in the country.
Ben
November 1st, 2009
7:08 am
Folks, you have to admit that Vandy scored too many points for Tech to be considered a great team. The defense is not fast enough, and the kickoff team is poor. The offense might not click in one of these last three games, and can we count on the defense to save us? Remember that Wake lost by one to a team that defeated a (admittedly tired) Tech soundly. Tech can still lose any of the last three, and I don’t know it they would beat Clemson. We can only take it one game at a time and hope that Nesbitt always has at least a very good day. That’s hard to count on over three more games, a title game, and bowl.
JustCHIPPIN
November 1st, 2009
7:09 am
Jeff, this is not a surprise …. football teams get up about 4 or 5 times a year and you have a desperate Vandy team looking for a win and a tech team playing out of conference after that gauntlet stretch of games they are probably tired and while the def is rough this was going to be one of those games. Hell Jeff they covered 2x the spread!!!!! This game is the classic Tech game they would lose under Gailey,,,,
snapshot
November 1st, 2009
7:28 am
Terrible article. Tech gave up points but I believe they beat Vandy by more points than say LSU or the mutts.
The Real YellowJacket
November 1st, 2009
7:45 am
See he has to say something, anything that’s negative. It means he’s a journalist.
Scores off of fumbles. Did the players just drop the ball or did we play great defense in the second half?
It was VANDY. Yeah they don’t play football there, right?
Ignore us. Wouldn’t that be what you do already?
jacket3
November 1st, 2009
7:48 am
Can anyone say GT is getting better every game? Sure the’re holes on D and special teams. At least CPJ is a master craftsman at his job. We could put 7 more points on the board at the end of the game too but GT’s brain trust decided 8 was enough.
Love to see GT trounce big bad USC like Oregon did last night. Wake and Puke have good QB’s. But I certainly do not think they can handle GT’s grinding offense for 60 minutes. I looks now “no one can”.
Time for more “Bell”.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 1st, 2009
7:48 am
Drew … I agree, the Tech vs. Houston match-up would be entertaining, to say the least.
I’ve read many comments by people who are willing to throw Wommack under the bus, and who credit the defense’s 2nd half performance to the coaches’ half-time “adjustments”. However, the coaching staff said last night that they didn’t really MAKE any adjustments. They just “motivated” the guys to play better football. At this point, we’ve not heard CPJ make any disparaging remarks about the members of his staff … and that’s as it should be. Personnel decisions should be made privately after a time of quiet reflection and analysis. While I’m less than thrilled by our defensive performance at times, I know that injuries have contributed to their ineffectiveness. Rather than calling for someone’s head on a platter, I’m content to let CPJ make his own evaluation of the program. From what we’ve seen so far, I’m pretty sure that he will take the actions that he thinks are in the best interest of the team. In the meantime, let’s support the WHOLE team, including its coaching staff. No need to be like the Dawg family who wants to consume their own.
U-no
November 1st, 2009
7:56 am
Yep, the defense was asleep in the first half. Things looked much better in the second. Tech stumbled, but at least they won when they stumbled. I will take a stumbling win over a well executed loss any day of the week!
CornieBread
November 1st, 2009
7:57 am
Enter your comments here
gtne80
November 1st, 2009
7:59 am
How can anyone read this column and conclude that it is “gloomy” or otherwise biased? Mr. Shultz paints a very accurate picture of the game.
Any GT fan has to have a nervous feeling in the pit of their stomach about our defense going into the remaining three games. While we’ve seen this team will its way to wins against tougher opponents, the weakness is real and evident. I don’t know whether it’s the defensive scheme or a lack of talent, but something is not right.
Giving up the TD on a kickoff return was an arrow into the heart. We had just taken a 2 TD lead and looked to be ready to put the game away but that one play put life back into Vandy.
This should be a wakeup call. CPJ needs only to show the team that Wake came within a whisker of beating UM yesterday and that Duke beat UVa to remind the team that the conclusion of this season is far from being reached. And it should not be lost on this team that UGA DOMINATED Vandy from start to finish. A loss against any of these teams would put a different feeling on this season.
CornieBread
November 1st, 2009
8:00 am
THANK GOODNESS THE VANDY qb PULLED A HAMMY!!! The score probably would have been a lot closer and the way the game was going…who knows.
Gary
November 1st, 2009
8:05 am
The point with this team is the halftime adjustments. We know what the defense is. We’d all love it if they came out with more fire early, but with the adjustments these coaches continue to make at halftime, this team is always in it.
To get down on the team after that first half is ridiculous, because time after time, the coaches and players show that they can adjust and they’re a completely different team in the second half. And as long as they keep winning going away, the first halves don’t really matter that much.
collegeballfan
November 1st, 2009
8:06 am
As I said in your pre game post – “I am always concerned about a letdown taking place in the players between the ears. I am an old guy & have seen it happen many dozen times.”
But apparently I was wrong. The offense played exceptional. The defense & spec teams stunk. I do not see how one part of the team is ready to play & the other not ready. My conclusion. The GT defense just does not have many good players. GT will be damn lucky to beat both Wake & Duke. Not a prayer against UGA.
Paddy
November 1st, 2009
8:06 am
Eric L….you sort of missed the whole theme of what a blog is supposed to accomplish. Had you been drinking young man????? Shame on you!
BraveJacket
November 1st, 2009
8:07 am
At first, I thought this column was unnecessarily harsh, but upon further review, I can’t discount anything Schultz is saying. Its a good analysis and points out the things the Jackets need to fix to continue this run. Lets hope for more consistent D and more stops against Wake and Duke.
Hal
November 1st, 2009
8:11 am
I have seen great Tech teams and because of the defense and special teams this is not one of them.
GA Tech Insider
November 1st, 2009
8:17 am
Jeff,
If I recall correctly, there were several pundits out there reminding all of us that Vanderbilt played LSU and South Carolina, both Top 25 Teams, and both away games, very close. GA Tech played Vanderbilt on the road. LSU only scored 23 points on them, and gave up 9, and South Carolina scored 14, and gave up 10.
Take away the kickoff return, and then we see that GA Tech’s defense gave up a total of 24 points.This is less than stellar, and I’ll be the first to admit that GA Tech’s defense looked pedestrian the first half of the game, but they only gave up 3 points the entire second half, once they settled things down; more in line with both of the SEC ranked teams I just mentioned.
On the other hand, GA Tech’s offense scored more points against Vanderbilt’s well respected defense than any other team they faced this season, including both of those ranked teams I just mentioned. In fact, The Jacket’s offense scored 22 MORE points than any other offense the Commodores defense has played all season, and that was the Georgia Bulldogs a couple of weeks ago.
Why isn’t it a bigger deal when Florida barely escapes Arkansas, and gives up 20 points, just 4 more points that GA Tech would have given up to Vanderbilt with out the kickoff return, than when GA Tech was playing on the road while Florida was playing at home?
How about when Florida gave up 17 points to UGA and they only scored 10 at Oklahoma State, or 13 at LSU, or 19 at Tennessee? Isn’t ANY defense entitled to have an off day without the entire team being driven off the cliff on a bus?
Like I said, at least GA Tech’s defense woke up and played tough the second half of the game, only giving up 3 points after Vanderbilt’s opening drive, which was aided by a tipped ball I might add.
The bottom line? GA Tech won on the road against an SEC team which everyone had been saying had one of the better defenses out there because they played LSU and South Carolina tough on the road. GA Tech put up a ton more points on them than any other team than they have faced all season and they ended up winning the game handily.
The Jackets are now 8 – 1 (2 – 0 against the SEC); Jonathan Dwyer is just starting to heal and run like he did last season; Josh Nesbitt and GA Tech’s passing attack is starting to come around; the defense is staring to show signs of life; and Wake Forest is coming to Bobby Dodd Stadium next Saturday afternoon for the Jacket’s next step towards Tampa.
So far, so good if you ask me.
mowreck
November 1st, 2009
8:19 am
Definitely not satisfied with the D. I flicked between the commercials to the Miami/Wake game CPJ will tell the truth when he tells you Wake has a better team than their record. They game Miami all they wanted and would have won except for the punt fumble (with little over minute left). Very glad we have Wake at home.
Now Duke, I been worried about because of our pass defense … their QB completed 30 of 40 against some team earlier and doesn’t matter who the team was. We don’t get some kind of pass rush they will shred us to death.
As of the Vandy game, A WIN IS A WIN. GOOOOOO JACKETS!
not so fast
November 1st, 2009
8:19 am
# 9 LSU led Vandy 13-7 at halftime.
# 21 South Carolina and Vandy were tied 7-7 at halftime.Give Vandy a littke credit,
The Jackets are really a second half team anyway if you look at the games against FSU, Virginia Tech, and Virginia.
8-1 Paul Johnson usually makes good halftime adjustments.
mowreck
November 1st, 2009
8:22 am
Let me re-do the first paragraph (starting to type like Schultz).
Definitely not satisfied with the D. I flicked between the commercials to the Miami/Wake game. CPJ is telling the truth when he says that Wake has a better team than their record. The gave Miami all they wanted and would have won except for the punt fumble (with little over a minute left in). Very glad to have Wake at home.
not so fast
November 1st, 2009
8:25 am
Georgia Tech out-scored Vanderbilt 28-3 in the second half and won by 25.
The first half was painful for a Tech fan.
……..GO JACKETS!
Tampa Wreck
November 1st, 2009
8:26 am
collegeballfan,
“Not a prayer against UGA.”??? Give me a break. That’s just stupid. Have you seen UGA’s defense?? I’ll admit we may need to score 60 that afternoon, but “not a prayer???” that’s giving the dogs way too much credit, and being way to negative on this team..
One thing you can say about this team.. They don’t give up and they find ways to win. I’m not crazy enough to say the next three are in the bag. I think we should be solid favorites every remaining game, but we “could” lose any of them. But no way the dawgs are the better team this year.
bb
November 1st, 2009
8:28 am
Actually, last night’s game should be taken as a corner turned; as a good sign; as a sign that GT has really arrived. When was the last time you can remember GT playing a sub-par game (really a bad game) and still winning by 25 points? In the past (read Chan Gailey years or even O’Leary years), this is a game GT losses. This is the loss to an obviously less talented team that reminds us that GT has not turned the corner. This is UVA in 2001, this is WF in 2002, this is Duke in 2003, UNC in 2004, NC State and UVA again in 2005, UGA and WF in 2006.
CPJ and the Jackets have one last streak to break this year. Every year since 1990, 18 years, GT has lost to at least one unranked team. In years past, last night would have been that game.
How is the GT/Vandy game any different than Iowa/Indiana (Iowa trailed by 10 in the 4th qtr) or Penn State/Northwestern (Penn State and NW were tied in the 4th qtr)? Or Fla/Tenn or Fla/Ark or Fla/MissSt or Ala/Tenn or Ala/SC for that matter??? Great teams win even when they don’t play well.
not so fast TYPO
November 1st, 2009
8:28 am
Give Vandy a “LITTLE” credit.
yellowjacket82
November 1st, 2009
8:28 am
Outscoring Vandy 28-3 in the 2nd half and winning by 25? On the road? Why wouldn’t we celebrate? We could have hung 60 on them.
not so fast
November 1st, 2009
8:36 am
—bb is right.—We can CELEBRATE just as much as Bama celebrated their bogus 12-10 win over UT and FLA celebrated their bogus narrow win over Arkansas.
Booger
November 1st, 2009
8:38 am
But georgia played before a bigger crowd. And florida is ranked number one. And vandy, well they’re a crappy team. And even if tebow did surpass herchael it was in four years. And why did you even write an article about tech? This is the ajc and you’re supposed to just write about uga. But at least you made it so pessimistic that maybe we can still beat the nerds on the 28th (please lord).Sorry bout the great win nerds.
Navigator
November 1st, 2009
8:38 am
Before a hoard of UGA fans wake up from their another horrible Halloween, I’ll get to the obvious. Tech’s defense is weak in the middle, and forcing the safeties to come in close has killed their deep pass defense. All said, two weeks in a row the defense did some major corrections and played a better second half. Let’s not leave out the sorry play of the special teams, that refuses to stay in their lanes, and more than once over running the cut back and allowing the other team big plays. But, all said they beaten some good teams and are 8-1 with Wake coming in next, and folks the wins and losses overwhelm anybody that wants to show a bunch of losers statistics.
What's scary is...
November 1st, 2009
8:40 am
…we could have scored another TD on them in the end if we wanted to. IMHO, you couldn’t have asked for a better result leading up to our next couple of games. PJ will be busting @(#&s this week…stay grounded and humble…
BuzzMan
November 1st, 2009
8:41 am
I hope the players understand that they still have Wake and Duke left in the ACC, if they lose any of these games and Miami doesn’t lose anymore in the ACC, they win the ACC Division by head to head. If the DEFENSE doesn’t get reborn next week, we are in trouble.
Tate
November 1st, 2009
8:43 am
I believe the season average for Tech would be 49 points per game against the SEC. The BIG BAD SEC.
Mike
November 1st, 2009
8:44 am
Gee guys. It was a good win on the road. Johnson made defensive adjustments at the half and Vandy got three points in the second half. Take a look at seceral other games like Virginia. The same thing happened. It wasn’t that long ago, we didn’t know what a half time adjustment was. We have had a winner two years in a row and getting stronger. We are playing a lot of young guys and more on the way. Johnson took a team built for one office and made them play in another scheme. Sure, we need to fix the first half defence, but that is better than fixing the whole game.
Booger
November 1st, 2009
8:45 am
read what insider said. much better insight than the crap that was paid for by the subscribers and advertisers.
not so fast
November 1st, 2009
8:46 am
Bob Stoops or Frank Beamer would have added another TD to make the score
TECH 63 – VANDY 31.
But Paul Johnson has class.
greg
November 1st, 2009
8:50 am
Bottom Line: GT ain’t that good.
Booger
November 1st, 2009
8:52 am
november 28th. we see how bad the black helmet boys are.
not so fast jeff
November 1st, 2009
8:53 am
The spread was 12 and a half and TECH won by 25.
………..Why not CELEBRATE Jeff !
GR82BAG8R
November 1st, 2009
8:54 am
You Tech fans need to lighten up. You are only two years into a new coach’s run and you are complaining about everyone noticing shortfalls in your defense. The first half was appalling, considering what Vandy had done up to then. You made adjustments at halftime and blasted them off the field. Accept the criticism for what it’s worth. Schultz implied you aren’t impressing the pundits with your performance, but why do you care? Surely you don’t expect to play in the BCS NC game. Keep winning and you will be in a BCS game. Would you have been happy with that two years ago? Last year?
Coach Johnson will be able to recruit good players and fill the gaps. Until then, you are not quite ready for the upper echelons. Congratulations on another impressive win.
Booger
November 1st, 2009
8:55 am
enjoy your run gator. don’t think we have a dog in the fight. oh thats right we do. thanks!
dgroy
November 1st, 2009
8:55 am
Nesbitt, Dwyer, Jones et al are sure fun to watch running the ball; however, let’s give a little credit to the OLine. Weekend after weekend they do a great job blocking for these backs…..way to go guys.
JS Mirror
November 1st, 2009
8:56 am
Pretty good article my man! Have another scotch. Should have praised the offense a lot more because they were awesome. The defense and special teams have real issues. The Defensive Backs looked lost and one in particular is afraid to hit someone. He could have stopped the TD if he would have just hit the runner head on at the 2 yard line, but he tackled him to the side allowing him to score. Then on the Vandy break away run he caught him at the 10 yard line and just followed him into the endzone and didn’t even attempt to tackle him. Tech needs to shake of some positions.
» SEC links: Black works for Tennessee, not for Georgia John Clay’s Sidelines
November 1st, 2009
8:58 am
[...] Jeff Schultz of the AJC thinks the Tech win was nothing to celebrate. [...]
Old Gold
November 1st, 2009
8:59 am
Jeff, no problem with your article at all. And for Tech fans who think Jeff is biased, that’s ridiculous – he calls ‘em like he seems ‘em. My favorite Schultz column is the one you wrote following the Jasper Sanks “fumble.” Tech fans, read that one if you want to see how a great writer can take out-of-line, whining fans to the woodshed.
I think we’ve got some issues with our defense – some of which can be corrected now, some that can be addressed only with time and recruiting, to strengthen depth and talent – but overall, we’re a good team that survived a bad first half. I’d much rather learn a tough lesson with a win that after suffering a loss.
white water
November 1st, 2009
8:59 am
I think that Jeff was being fair. Our D and special teams needs to improve if we are to run the table. Any team with a good passing QB or with a large, quick D line will us fits.