It’s hard to see Georgia’s defense stopping Tech
Any chance Willie Martinez comes up with a game plan to upset Tech?
In 2006, when a 7-4 and unranked Georgia team defeated a 9-2 and 16th ranked Georgia Tech team, it wasn’t difficult to figure out why. The Dogs’ defense rattled Reggie Ball, the oft-rattled quarterback, who went 6-for-22 with two interceptions and a fumble.
“That was our goal from Day 1,” defensive tackle Ray Gant said afterward. “As soon as we started game-planning Tech, shake Reggie.”
The biggest reason not to expect an upset next Saturday when Georgia goes to North Ave? The Dogs’ defense seldom rattles anybody any more.
If this is another indictment of defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, so be it. We watched Kentucky score four second-half touchdowns Saturday night, and even though two of those scores were set up by turnovers, the game illustrated Georgia’s lack of ability to make a play when it matters.
Question: Do you see Martinez putting together a game plan and inspiring a defense to the point that the Dogs can either: 1) rattle Jackets quarterback Josh Nesbitt into making mistakes, or, 2) slow an offense that is among the nation’s per-game leaders in yardage (449.6) and points (36)? I don’t.
Here’s a stat for you: If you throw out the Vanderbilt and Tennessee Tech games, Georgia has allowed an average of 31.4 points in its other nine games. Martinez might want to keep that off his resume.
Can Georgia put up points against Tech? Yes. But as much as the Jackets’ defense has struggled this season, it also has shown an ability to make adjustments and make plays when it has had to. (Another stat: The Jackets have allowed only one second-half touchdown in the last four games). The Dogs probably had a better defense a year ago, when Tech torched them for 409 rushing yards and five offensive TDs.
I suppose there’s something to be said for this being a rivalry game and Georgia players wanting to finish the season (pre-bowl) on a high note. But it’s hard to imagine any breakthrough coming now.
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678 comments Add your comment
Spencer
November 23rd, 2009
3:42 pm
LOL, it seems I have a fan.
Spencer
November 23rd, 2009
3:45 pm
dawgfan, yes of course GT has played a soft schedule. After all, they’ve only played 4 ranked teams and beaten 3 of them.
Meanwhile UGA plays in the Sun Belt… I mean SEC East. The king of mediocre football.
Golden Tornado
November 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Dawg Fan, didn’t mean to offend you, by making fun of UGGA VII’s death.
It was tragic. But, when they said, “let the big dog eat,” we thought they said, “let’s eat the big dog,” so we did. He was really tasty – made good gravy.
Mayretta_Dawg
November 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
Yeah Spencer, I got my Red Man chew plug in but the darn library where I use their computers and bathrooms with running water won’t allow me to bring in my spit bottle.
Typical Techie, trying to grasp at straws when they know they fit the stereotype of being socially awkward and in most instances the UGA redneck stereotype doesn’t fit. Just compare student sections!!!
Stat Man
November 23rd, 2009
3:58 pm
I’d be interested in knowing how long it’s been since Tech has entered the game a touchdown favorite.
Mayretta_Dawg
November 23rd, 2009
3:59 pm
Thanks for proving my point Golden Tornado. You Techies just don’t know how to act properly while out in public. BTW, do you know of any UGA students convicted of terrorism? Just sayin….
Furman Bisher
November 23rd, 2009
4:13 pm
What are you thankful for, this Thanksgiving?
I’m thankful that:
UGA was mostly mediocre, getting “glory” only a couple of times before
1960;
Tech has won 15 conference championships to UGA’s 13;
Tech has won 4 national championships to UGA’s 1;
Tech’s Coach Heisman’s winning pct. was .779, to Dooley’s .715;
Tech has had 8 unbeaten seasons, to UGA’s 4 (Tech first was in 1901);
Tech’s post-1960, self-inflicted “disaster” was limited: 34 UGA wins, 15 Tech wins.
Mayretta_Dawg
November 23rd, 2009
4:22 pm
I appreciate the history lesson Furman Bisher. Seems like everything is working out for Tech except the most important stat: SERIES RECORD
VegasGT
November 23rd, 2009
4:22 pm
Mayretta Dawg – Did you go to UGA or have you actually compared the student sections at the games? They really don’t look that dissimilar, GT’s is just smaller. The student population, in general, is very different demographically, but not the students who actually attend games. Not trying to be harsh or critical, just realistic.
Now, back to the topic at hand. Who will win the game? Well, that will be decided on the field and I make no claim to be able to predict the future. Now, who do I think should win, GT of course. Anyone can make their predictions based on recent history and more often than not, GT would be that prediction. But that is why they play the games. Either team could win.
I think both teams have proven that they are not perfect. Turnovers and untimely penalties could be the story in this one. Let’s just hope for all involved that injuries are not a factor. These are just kids playing a game for our enjoyment and don’t deserve to have injuries that could change their future.
My prediction, GT 49 UGA 31 with the halftime score being GT 21 UGA 24.
It’s a rivalry game and anything can happen. I just hope it’s fun to watch and that the better team, GT, comes out on top.
As for Clemson, we’ll worry about them starting on the 29th.
FOCUS on UGA. GO JACKETS !!!
Golden Tornado
November 23rd, 2009
4:23 pm
Mayretta_Dawg, I must admit, I don’t know of any UGA student having been convicted of terrorism. All I know, is what you say to a UGA football player, when he’s wearing a three-piece suit: “The defendant will please rise.”
Flexbone Fan
November 23rd, 2009
4:32 pm
Everyone knows that UGA died from heart failure, but not many know the real truth. As most dogs do, he was digging in the yard and dug into a nest of yellow jackets. They swarmed him and stung him into anaphlylactic shock killing him in a slow agonizing death…..just like what is going to happen Saturday night
.
Alabama Jack
November 23rd, 2009
4:34 pm
Respect all, fear none, particularly low life trash talkin’ dawg fans who are only 6 plays, and 6 penalties and 6 turnovers away from being 7-5 instead of 6-6. I just hope most of the dawg faithful stay home and trash their trailer parks instead of our campus. At least, one thing, we know they will leave the stadium early, very early.
Hack bowl
November 23rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Tucker T take a show of hands and tell me who you would have rather quarterbacked your team Saturday night, Nesbitt or Cox?
WoodstockGT
November 23rd, 2009
5:18 pm
This is a big game but I like Tech’s chances this year. Was at the game last year and saw Tech make adjustments and never give up and come out a winner. The funniest thing about being there and really every team Tech plays is it has to drive the other teams nuts knowing what Tech is going to do. I went with my neighbor who was a UGA grad and he was perplexed why teams have a tough time stopping it. Teams know Tech will run 8 out 10 offensive plays ( thats 40 runs and 10 passes a game) yet they can’t stop it. Its fundimentals and discipline football and if you don’t have that, you won’t beat Tech. Go Jackets.
RealDawg
November 23rd, 2009
6:17 pm
VegasGT – I have sat in both sections and the student pops that go to game are not even close. Especially those of the female persuasion.
jondy
November 23rd, 2009
8:02 pm
1985PHONEMAN! THAT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING I’VE READ IN A WHILE! THANKYOU
jondy
November 23rd, 2009
8:09 pm
Maryettadoggie, You are a fine example of a bitter ga fan. Please continue. I am LOL reading y’all nonsense…..
GA = JOKE!
HAH AHAHAHA!!!!
please respond ga fans. we are honestly better than you guys in every facet of the game currently…. all day. all day long. ha ha. eat’m! or sick’m…. whatever you bozo’s say!
FreeCollegeDiplomaAtGT
November 23rd, 2009
11:40 pm
Are you kidding me… If GT does beat the DAWGS this year, I guess all 10 Nerd fans that pack themselves into Booby Dud Stadium at Pathetic Grunt Field will get to see it live. That is if their Mommy lets them stay up that late…. Pathetic Joke, Wow, isn’t that what you call your coach (PJ)?
UGA was murdered
November 24th, 2009
3:23 am
Willie Martinez killed UGA , UGA seen Willies game plan and went in cardiac arrest.
G Tech–ever how many they want to score
UGA–just hopes they can score
GT-53
UGA-17
Old Gold Britches
November 24th, 2009
7:47 am
All the excuses. All the complaining. All the insults. If a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his azz!
You mutts need to just admit it ….your team is one sandwich short of a picnic. Somebody shoot in here among us ! Give somebody some relief!!!!!!
Let the game begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO JACKETS
95,000 Fans - Every Game!
November 24th, 2009
8:07 am
How could UGA have had a better defense last season with all the people they had injured? Schultz – maybe you should just stick to politics? You seem to make sense in that arena!!
Also to the frustated fan right above me – did you not give kudos to our team for not “packing it in” against Auburn just the week before? The coaches said Ealey was too “down hill” at the time of the pitch – that means he was too close to Cox when the pitch was made – would you expect Cox to stand there and hold the ball until Ealey got farther away? Joe should get some of the blame but not all, but he should get credit for the great throws he made as well.
DawgVoiceofReason
November 24th, 2009
10:17 pm
Snoop,
Your comments about Bryan Evans are disgraceful. You are no Dawg fan and you are a contemptible human being.
DawgVoiceofReason
November 24th, 2009
10:29 pm
Too many here seem to have very little balance and very little perspective and very little knowledge of the ups and downs of college football. This is strange given the long histories of both UGA and Tech. You would think both teams’ fans would display more knowledge. To those who see what has happened this year with Georgia as something that will take years to recover from, I say you are ignoring an awful lot of evidence to the contrary. Yes, corrective action is needed and it will happen and Coach Richt will be the one to make it happen.
killerJ
November 25th, 2009
10:11 am
To Mayretta Dog,Wow I Love It When Georgia Loses,They Throw Their Flags & Plates In The Trash Can And Cry Like Little Kids Having Temper Tantrums ,Fire All The Coaches And Just Like My Next Door Neighbor Hide In The House And Say Wait Till Next Year! 4 to 1 Cry Baby! Series Record Dosn,t Mean S@#$it,This Is What You Play For. THWG,THWC, FROM NORTH AVENUE,KICK SOME MAMMAL A!@#$%SS!!!!
About georgia tech coach paul johnson, tech game, green, atlanta | Find me About
November 25th, 2009
12:44 pm
[...] In 2006, when a 7-4 and unranked Georgia team defeated a 9-2 and 16 th ranked Georgia Tech team, it wasn’t difficult to figure out why. The Dogs’ defense rattled Reggie Ball, the oft-rattled quarterback, who went 6-for-22 with two interceptions and a …Read Original Story: It's hard to see Georgia's defense stopping Tech – Atlanta Journa… [...]
Yellow Fuzz
November 28th, 2009
6:43 am
To borrow a phrase from former coach Pat Dye-
GEORGIA IS NOT MAN ENOUGH to beat Georgia Tech this year.
and
THE DOG NATION FANS are not man enough to sit through an entire azz whoopin.
Please use the trash receptacles that we have provided for you and support your team until the final buzzer. And STFU when walking back to your truck!
Blah
November 28th, 2009
11:32 pm
ACC sux!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paperless in Atlanta
November 29th, 2009
9:24 am
After reading this garbage online, I remember why I cancelled my AJC subscription.