LIVE: Jackets try to make it two straight (and should)
Georgia Tech players ran onto the field and right past their cheering section.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – This is all you need to know about the relative cushy start of Georgia Tech’s schedule: For the second straight week, the Jackets’ game is being broadcast on ESPN3.com.
But maybe this is a good thing. The Jackets, who crushed Western Carolina 63-21 last week in the season opener, take a slight step up tonight against Middle Tennessee State. It’s not another FCS opponent but it is a Sun Belt team.
Theoretically, in the college football food chain, the Blue Raiders should be lunch. But they have caused fits for ACC teams before – wins over Maryland in the last two years, a near-upset of Al Groh’s Virginia team in 2007 – and some have tabbed this as an upset special. I guess that’s possible, but if the Jackets (11-point favorites) blow this game, it doesn’t project well for the ACC season.
The first five games on the Jackets’ schedule represent a general tick upward in perceived strength of opponents: Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Kansas, North Carolina, North Carolina State. That’s probably good, given the Jackets’ youth. But personally, I like to see programs challenge itself a little more (while recognizing that others in the ACC and SEC do the same thing).
OK, a few items before turning it over to you:
• Tech quarterbacks Tevin Washington and Synjyn Days combined to throw for 365 yards and three touchdowns last week. Those numbers were a bit inflated. Two long Jackets touchdowns basically came when receivers stiff-armed defenders away and took off down the field. But it was still a positive sign for one of the nation’s worst passing offenses last season. Stephen Hill (four catches for 181 yards, two TDs) even was named ACC receiver of the week.
• Coach Paul Johnson has not yet pulled the redshirt off of touted freshman quarterback Vad Lee. If Washington and Days look strong today, the chances of Lee not playing this season go up significantly. So that’s something to watch.
• The Jackets had six fumbles (two lost) against Western Carolina. Five of those came on the quarterback-running back exchange. That’s one area Johnson has wanted to clean up after Tech ranked among the most fumbling teams in the nation last season.
That’s it for now. I say Tech wins this by two touchdowns. Back in a bit.
By Jeff Schultz
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293 comments Add your comment
GT
September 10th, 2011
6:21 pm
First!!!
GT
September 10th, 2011
6:22 pm
Always wanted to do that… Let’s go GT!!
Delbert D.
September 10th, 2011
6:27 pm
I say that whenever Lee looks ready, play him. Give him the experience, and he’s already 2 years behind Washington.
JSS
September 10th, 2011
6:42 pm
Jeff Schultz, why all of the disrespect for the mid-majors? There are only 5 lights out teams in that farce that is D-1 football. The rest can beat, that is especially true when they actually leave their safe havens (home field)… I just don’t get it… I know some teams in the MAC, WAC, and Conference USA that would take the lower two-thirds of the ACC, SEC, and especially the Big 10 to the woodshed if they played an honest away schedule.
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
6:49 pm
JSS — No disrespect for the mid-majors at all. But if you’re north of a mid-major, you should win the game. Otherwise, the opponent wouldn’t be a mid-major. Even an intellect like you knows that.
Outside Observer
September 10th, 2011
6:55 pm
The mid-majors have looked pretty good this year. So have the FCS teams. The only teams that are not meeting expectations are the BCS AQ teams. Look at Auburn, Clemson, VT, Ohio State, etc. All have looked really bad at some point these first two weeks.
Live from Murfreesboro… | Georgia Tech
September 10th, 2011
7:02 pm
[...] you all are well. A couple things to note. First, Jeff Schultz is going to be live blogging (or semi-live blogging, as he put it), so I’m not going to be redundant and will be [...]
JSS
September 10th, 2011
7:05 pm
Nope, a cartel tries to assure themselves of an advantage in either a marketplace or the playing field in this matter. I just know looking at the product on the field, there is not that much of a difference anymore… There are a few playmakers that is it… I just keep waiting for a kid to take a chance on a school like Troy or like Randy Moss was forced to do at Marshall. Then, some monster program is going to get Boised like Oregon did…
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:07 pm
WOW, what a start
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:07 pm
It’s Air Johnson!!! First play from scrimmage, Tevin Washington a 73-yard touchdown pass to Tony Zenon.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:07 pm
damn, thought we were done with those out-of-bounds kicks arggggggh
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:09 pm
where are all the Tech bloggers? I guess they can’t get the telecast and the blog at the same time
GT Alum
September 10th, 2011
7:10 pm
Tech opens the game with aTD pass. What a thing of beauty. Hope we can keep this up the rest of the year.
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:10 pm
JSS — Definitely not much of a difference in basketball, if any. Still a significant difference in football, though not as much as used to be.
GT Alum
September 10th, 2011
7:11 pm
That kickoff was a real stinker, though.
Ken Sugiura
September 10th, 2011
7:12 pm
better pass rush on third down, not so much on first three throws.
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:12 pm
Tevin Washington starts this drive averaging 73 yards per throw.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:14 pm
Run, Roddy, Run
JSS
September 10th, 2011
7:17 pm
If you say so… I just see SEC, ACC, and Big 10 bottom dwellers scheduling the same really bad programs and guaranteeing themselves at least 4 victories at home and praying that they win 2-4 more victories off the bottom dwellers in their own overinflated conferences…
I just see something as fixed as heavyweight boxing in mid 1970’s…
Ken Sugiura
September 10th, 2011
7:18 pm
great blocking by a-backs.
GT Alum
September 10th, 2011
7:18 pm
Wow, thoughts go out to Minnesita coach Jerry Kill. Hope this is not really serious.
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:19 pm
Jackets just blowing Middle Tennessee State off the line. If that continues, this one will get ugly early.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:19 pm
Ken, are you at the game or watching on ESPN3?
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:19 pm
GT Alum, what’s that???
Ken Sugiura
September 10th, 2011
7:19 pm
at the game
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:20 pm
Great, Ken. Glad we have double coverage
JSS
September 10th, 2011
7:20 pm
@ Ken S…
How are you liking the (semi) new beat?
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:25 pm
First Down !!!
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:25 pm
No surprise CPJ going for it here. It’s what he does, and probably what most coaches would do in this game.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:26 pm
TD !!!!!
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:26 pm
Two drives, two touchdowns. Anybody want to post an over/under on first Jackets’ punt?
GT Alum
September 10th, 2011
7:26 pm
He apparently had a seizure on the sideline at Minnesota’s game. Am watching Dawgs on TV while watching this on my computer, and ESPN did a quick report on it.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:27 pm
Just cover the kickoff return, and KEEP THE BALL IN BOUNDS !!!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:27 pm
Thanks, GT Alum. Sounds bad. Hope he’s ok
Ken Sugiura
September 10th, 2011
7:29 pm
JSS – i’m enjoying it. thanks for asking.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:29 pm
Why the hell can’t we find a kicker who can kick off the ball IN BOUNDS ???
GT Alum
September 10th, 2011
7:29 pm
Come on!!!!! 2 kickoffs out of bounds?!?!?!?!!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:33 pm
Good rush and good downfield coverage too
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:34 pm
OMG, Stephen Hill has become a MONSTER. I LOVE IT !!!
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:34 pm
They did it again. Washington 71 yard touchdown pass to Stephen Hill … 21-0. Their 2nd one play TD drive of game. Bombs away.
Ken Sugiura
September 10th, 2011
7:36 pm
this is an impressive performance.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:36 pm
Damn, we might as well have kicked it out of bounds. TERRIBLE kickoff return coverage
Will
September 10th, 2011
7:36 pm
as much as I like seeing Tech go big on these teams, is it really all that good for them? I mean we go up against easy teams then bam a bunch of hard teams. Hopefully Kansas will be a tougher more even match
JSS
September 10th, 2011
7:37 pm
We regulars on the Hawks blog are proud of you… Most of us have a special place in our laptops for Ken S. He’s a very talent guy…
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:38 pm
Tevin Washington now 2 for 2 for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:40 pm
Total yardage after one quarter: Jackets 242, Blue Raiders 45.
GT Alum
September 10th, 2011
7:41 pm
The extra focus on special teams seems to have had no impact whatsoever.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 10th, 2011
7:45 pm
FINALLY, an interception !!!
Buzz Aldrin
September 10th, 2011
7:48 pm
Oh no….Come on Stephen Hill. Another deep bomb but I don’t want any injuries in this blow out!
Jeff Schultz
September 10th, 2011
7:48 pm
Washington just completed a 43-yard pass to Stephen Hill. That’s actually going to bring down his average.