The T-Day verdict: The O’s a given, but the D’s still a guess
Georgia Tech’s offense is going to be great. Not pretty good, not really good — flat-out great. But the same program had fabulous offenses under Ralph Friedgen a decade ago and never won as big as it should because the defense reeked. Will these defenders prove similarly odiferous?
Derrick Morgan thinks not. Morgan is the lone holdover along a star-spangled line, and before he’s done he could prove to be better than Michael Johnson or Darryl Richard or Vance Walker, all of whom should get drafted next weekend.
“I’ve definitely got to get better,” Morgan said Saturday, speaking after Tech’s spring game, “and the supporting cast has to step up. But I’m 100 percent confident we can.”
The T-Day final score was 31-28, which wouldn’t indicate much resistance. But it was worth noting that the Gold, which included Morgan and the first-string defense, beat the White, which included Jonathan Dwyer and the first-string offense (minus quarterback Josh Nesbitt).
Said Jaybo Shaw, who quarterbacked the White squad: “The [remade defensive line] can fly around. The whole defense — they can fly around.”
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Said linebacker Sedric Griffin, who induced a Shaw fumble on the game’s first snap: “We did fairly well. The D-line was great. They were getting double-teamed, which meant [fellow linebacker] Brad Jefferson and I could make plays.”
Indeed, Griffin made so many he felt moved to say he was sorry. “I apologized to Jaybo,” he said. “But I was trying to set the tone for the season. It’s going to be hit, hit, hit. We want people to know we’re here for the long haul. Not just the first half of the season — all 12 games.”
Surely there’ll be a 13th game for these Jackets, maybe even a 14th. Tech went 9-4 in its first season under Johnson and is dreaming way bigger this time around. “We’re trying to win an ACC championship,” said the fierce safety Morgan Burnett, and the Jackets missed playing in the 2008 conference title game only by weight of a tiebreaker.
There is, however, a key difference: Last year Tech surprised us by being so good; this year we all expect it to be better than 9-4. Ask that team from Athens if increased expectations can’t become a burden.
As spring games go, T-Day was more entertaining than most. For the second consecutive season, the Jackets fumbled on the first play, but this year they finished with only eight fumbles, as opposed to last year’s nine. Improvement! That said, the kicking game was so awful Paul Johnson yelled at Scott Blair for dropping a punt snap and staring at the loose ball. (Johnson: “I mean, show some urgency.”)
But the offense is close to being a given, and Johnson runs so many fake kicks Tech barely needs a punter. It will, however, need a defense, and for all its good work in 2008 it must be noted that Tech yielded 80 points over its final two games. And now three stalwarts are gone.
And Derrick Morgan is undeterred. “I definitely think we can win a championship — the ACC, the national,” he said.
If it can stop somebody when it matters, this team should play in a BCS game. Maybe even the BCS game.
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170 comments Add your comment
brewdawg
April 18th, 2009
4:45 pm
So mark, I’m assuming you see a CMR-type 2nd year for GT? 13-1? If that happens, I hope Tech is more fortunate than UGA was and gets into the BCS title game. (I still think UGA would have beaten either Miami or Ohio State that year. Nobody was playing better ball at the time.)
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
4:46 pm
Very good and interesting game. Tevin Washington looked promising as a back-up quarterback. Other than that, it’s kind of hard to tell if the defense was playing real good, or if the offensive line wasn’t that awesome. Maybe both?
And I honestly hope that Morgan keeps to his promises. We can’t just throw around phrases like “We can play for the NC” and not mean anything. We have to work up to that.
All in all, go Jackets!
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
4:48 pm
Brewdawg: I surely hope you’re right.
Act like you've been somebody
April 18th, 2009
4:53 pm
I understand the enthusiam and excitement of Tech fans. You want to believe that CPJ will make your program closer to that of CMR at UGA. After the win last season, your expectations have soared, and some of you have joined your coach in mocking and gloating about your program.
Why can’t some of you take the win for the miracle that it was? Now, if CPJ pulls off a multi-game winning streak versus Georgia, then that would be a different story. If CPJ can win over 80 games through eight seasons, actually sell out every home game along the way, while seriously upgrading facilities, get on tv because of your program rather than because of your opponent, then I can see some room for all of these wild expectations.
History says it wont happen. Prove it wrong and act like you’ve been anywhere near the top before.
Also, you need to put the robot stuff in check…you don’t need any more help looking like dorks who still play with dolls. I mean this with respect.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
5:02 pm
Act like you’ve been somebody:
I dont think scoring 26 points in the third quarter (or something like that) was a miracle. We didn’t throw a Hail Mary or anything. Are you disappointed that your spring game wasn’t as interesting as ours? Because you sure act like it.
GT EE Class of '93
April 18th, 2009
5:03 pm
Mark,
Couldn’t make the game today. At work.
What specifically worried you about the defense?
I know in ‘01 and ‘02 lack of speed was a real problem.
Don’t tell me our D-line was getting pushed around by our O-line. That’s not good at all.
Thanks.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
5:04 pm
GT EE Class of 93
No, it was more like the D-line was pushing around the O-line
brewdawg
April 18th, 2009
5:07 pm
I for one would love an undefeated Tech playing an undefeated UGA at the end of the year (with UGA winning of course)! It looks like now that’s at least a possibility at some point.
Gordon
April 18th, 2009
5:08 pm
BCS? Why don’t we win our division first? And before we win our division, we have to beat Virginia Tech and North Carolina. I’ve seen this before. The LSU game is a perfect example of what happens when you think you are better than you are. Tech football has a bright future, but CPJ needs to get their heads out of the clouds first. Just play one game at a time like you did last year.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
5:14 pm
Gordon:
I agree. I’m starting to get worried about all the NC talk that’s going around. That only puts a bigger target on us.
GTchemE
April 18th, 2009
5:25 pm
Brewdawg: “I for one would love an undefeated Tech playing an undefeated UGA at the end of the year (with UGA winning of course)! It looks like now that’s at least a possibility at some point.”
Wow, wouldn’t that be something? That would probably be one of the biggest/most watched games of the year. Of course, I’d rather Tech win though.
GTman
April 18th, 2009
5:27 pm
brewdog,
Get Serious. UGA go undefeated?! Have you seen your schedule? You will be lucky to have less than 4 losses coming in to the GT game and FORGET about beating UF as long as Urban Meyer is there. UGA will play for second place in the SEC EAST and second place in the state of GA for a long long time.
45-42 in your house in CPJ’s first year! Get used to losing Mutts.
THWG!
Go gators
April 18th, 2009
5:30 pm
Ok Guys cool it with the NC stuff, I did go today as I needed a football fix
. I enjoy watching the Tech offense, overall I give C+ to B- but it is just spring, as long as you guys hammer the bull pups I’ll be happy.
brewdawg
April 18th, 2009
5:30 pm
GTchemE,
Hell, I’d settle for them both having one loss, making the game a sort of playoff to stay alive in the BCS title race. If Tech does as good as expected, and UGA is as good as I think they are going to be (despite all the down-year talk), then maybe, just maybe, it could happen as soon as this year.
hha
April 18th, 2009
5:34 pm
Enter your comments here
brewdawg
April 18th, 2009
5:36 pm
GTman,
We were all having a nice discussion, and then you come along with the immature, tired “let’s bash the rival team” banter. Sorry, it’s just not my thing. I prefer to keep things civil. And seeing as how UGA beat the great Urban Meyer 2 years ago, you’ll forgive me if I don’t concede the SEC until he’s gone. But good luck to Tech, I truly hope they become a powerhouse program, and that the UGA-Tech game becomes one of the biggest in the country in the next few years.
BILLY JACK
April 18th, 2009
5:46 pm
DID ANYBODY NOTICE THE PICTURE OF THAT EMPTY STADIUM AT TECHS SPRING GAME???DAMN THATS EMBARRASING.
BUZZTIME
April 18th, 2009
5:50 pm
The Good – We will have good depth in the backfield behind Jones & Dwyer. Anthony Allen & Embry Peeples looked good.
The Bad – The Offensive line looked like last spring.
The Ugly – If Nesbitt gets hurt the talent level & Arm Strenght falls off a cliff after him.
Big Al
April 18th, 2009
5:56 pm
Man, that’s a pathetic little stadium you nerds have, convenietely located in the hood. You have a great coach, but your program is a joke. You will never come close to the success of Georgis. Never. I try to keep it classy, but you dweebs keep talking smack. And it is laughable. Go Dawgs!
P.S. This is the first time I’ve ever posted on a Tech message board and I’m deeply embarrassed.
yellowblood
April 18th, 2009
5:59 pm
I see many great Tickle Piles in our future!!!
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
6:00 pm
Billy Jack:
DID ANYONE WATCH THAT EMBARRASSMENT OF THE SPRING GAME LAST WEEK AT GEORGIA?
But in all seriousness, one side of the stadium was closed due to construction.
Big Al: We have 4 NC’s. Want to compare our programs again?
NRBQ
April 18th, 2009
6:02 pm
14th game, Mark?
I suspect Tech will be better next year, but NC hopes – c’mon.
Last year, they beat Gardner-by-god-Webb, BC, UGA, and FSU by 3, and Climpson by 4.
Lost to VTech, UVA, to UNC by 21, and were shredded by LSU by 35, and failed to win a conference of weak sisters.
Not trash-talking, just saying.
Honest Lee
April 18th, 2009
6:04 pm
brewdawg, thanks for the comments and your good sportsmanship. We could use more of that around here.
I must agree with Mark. If the defensive line can improve and the skill players remain healthy, GT should have another great year.
Go Jackets!!
GT 79
April 18th, 2009
6:08 pm
All the talk of championships is way too early. You have to be very good, not get injuries and be very lucky. Remember that most of this team lost to UVA and UNC last year and almost lost to a Div 2 team.
That said, this team can grow and should win the ACC with a few breaks – mainly because most of the ACC is weak and doesn’t hold a candle to the SEC. But there is one other thing that GT has that many other schools don’t have and that is 5 National Championships. Plus with the recession and a real education counting for more GT will be able to recruit better.
But its got to be a game at a time for GT. The top tier – Texas, USC etc – are still a whole different league. Enjoy this while we can because GT seems to have long spells of sub par teams.
Jed Zeppelin
April 18th, 2009
6:09 pm
So, Big Al, Tech is conveniently “located in the hood”, huh? What are you trying to say?
Brewdawg, you’re right, it is tired. I enjoy the rivalry, but we should stay classy.
That said, I hope Cox gets one past Meyer or Saban. A victory against Georgie at home will be even more satisfying then. Love that high school offense.
fortebuna
April 18th, 2009
6:09 pm
Big Al I’m ashamed and embarrassed of you also.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
6:10 pm
NRBQ:
Weak sisters? During the regular season, we had more wins against the SEC. And please, take into account that GT lost some close games because of inexperience with the TO. If we could play those games again this year, we’d have a much better game (not saying that we’d win them, but it’s possible).
And Paul Johnson explained the LSU game. He didn’t prepare them at all. He was definitely not used to going to real bowl games, rather than ones at Navy. We were horrible, and we’ve said that over and over.
But I’m not trash-talking. I didn’t insult anyone, whereas you did.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
6:11 pm
GT 79:
5 championships?
Big Al
April 18th, 2009
6:16 pm
4 National championships before the facemask was invented. Congrats nerds. And I believe Colorado won the National Championship in 1990. I’m just trying to be realistic, guys. You are the Joke by Coke.
Justin
April 18th, 2009
6:17 pm
What NC talk? Tech fans are the most ignorant sports fans I have ever seen. The only National Championship GT will se is in the academic bowl. One good season out of 10 isnt cause for an eruption, one win means nothing, do it for say… 7 years then talk to me (us)…..
Alabama Jack
April 18th, 2009
6:20 pm
Hey act like you’ve been somebody. Lets play charades. Two words, first word one syllable, action word. Second word, one of the states of ON/OFF and it ain’t ON.
For you…..
PN
April 18th, 2009
6:25 pm
Big Al, thanks for dropping in. But before you leave, you mind trimming around the mailbox too? You always forget, silly pup!
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
6:26 pm
Big Al:
Yeah, well the NCAA doesn’t believe that. Sorry, but you’re biased.
Justin:
Try 8 years, then talk to me (us).
Jed Zeppelin
April 18th, 2009
6:27 pm
Hey Big(ot) Al,
Do you think Mark Richt would trade the remaining follicles on his joke of a haircut for a “share” of any National Championship 2001?
I think so. And I also think you’re a dawg turd.
Go gators
April 18th, 2009
6:27 pm
Big Al, and your program has done what? Bow before the Gator Glory you POS, as for the hood I visited today, the property value of that facility is worth more than the entire town of REDNECK athens, Ga…It amazes me how insecure the UGA fans are posting blogs after a spring game LOL how pathetic, just make me want to call another timeout…
Go gators
April 18th, 2009
6:27 pm
TIMEOUT…
fridge
April 18th, 2009
6:29 pm
does the gold team get a ring for the victory?
Link
April 18th, 2009
6:31 pm
I think anything less than winning the ACC will be considered a disappointment for the 2009 season. Expectations are insanely high. Still, if Paul Johnson’s record is any indication, our chances aren’t bad. Last year, the team’s supposed preseason goal was to “beat Georgia.” This year, it’s to “win championships.” Skeptics said our goal was out of reach last year. It could happen again.
Tech’s win in Athens last year was amazing, but for all the wrong reasons. No one thought Tech stood a chance against UGA. I hope UGA has another reasonably good season next year so that the game will mean more to both sides. The reason Tech fans are still talking about that win is because the rivalry is so one-sided. If both teams show up to the Flats in November with one loss or less, it would push the significance of our rivalry back towards the top for the other side too.
I’ll glady scream “To Hell With Georgia” until the day I die, but I want nothing more than for the Dawgs to go undefeated until we get the chance to shatter their hopes at the end of the season.
SugarHillDawg=Nerd Tormentor
April 18th, 2009
6:37 pm
By the looks of the crowd, those players felt like it was a REAL game. Your defense will SUCK and ours will throttle your offense. Prepare for the BEATDOWN NERDS!!!Oh yeah, Link, you are DELUSIONAL if you think the NERDS will snap a UGA win streak! We can beat Florida but not Tech–that’s RICH!!!
gold and white
April 18th, 2009
6:41 pm
Lets cut it with the NC talk for now guys. We have to win the coastal to have a shot at the ACC, then win the ACC to have a possible shot at the NC. We are definitely a program on the rise, but we are still learning how to completely utilize our skillset along with our offense. I’d love winning a national championship, but realistically don’t see that happening this year.
Lets just work hard, do what we can, and take one game at a time. We don’t want to turn into Clemson of last year (who had NC aspirations and then went 8-5 i believe). So let’s expect success but be realistic and know that an NC is a longshot and even an ACC championship could be tough.
Go gators
April 18th, 2009
6:46 pm
Go Gator=sugarhill’s king,
Go clean my stables you POS, and tell the rest of your pathetic people, TIMEOUT…
Sudheer
April 18th, 2009
7:01 pm
the first Defense was playing pretty well until the final few minutes or so, so it shouldn’t be that much of a cause for concern. Tevin Washington and Jaybo shaw looked really good, besides the fumble to start the game. Marcus Wright was kind of a disappointment, though. Also, UGA’s offense looked pretty bad in their spring game, so UGA fans really shouldn’t be commenting on this blog.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 18th, 2009
7:03 pm
The O-Line is a Joke for now. People playing out of place and we still don’t have a few good player in school yet, or Voss at Center. The O-Line did well but guards at center, Tackles at Guards, and trying to get comfortable learning all the O-Line positions. on the schedule: @ miami going for 5 in a row with a new OC will be a fun game. UNC @ home is a good thing we don’t play them well @ The HILL or UVa. in Charolettsville either. Beating FSU was a big step since we have not beat them they joined the ACC & Tally is a hard place to win no matter. Va. Tech here will be a GREAT game with many of their fans in the ATL, Show-up and cheer LOUD, but again UVa there is always a gimmie. Vandy will be a fun road trip for Dad and I, Mom might even go to that one. Wake I not “Skeered”, and Duke is still DUKE. No players are allowed to go home for Thanks Giving. You players get TURKEY after you pound UGA into the turf in Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field on the Flats. I know I didn’t say anything about CLEMSON. Well, I visited when Calvin was here, and I sat there as DEBO got his welcome but as it is said the Tigers are the UGLY and I will place that bet when I see our health and progress early in the season. We should win because THURSDAY NIGHTS are OUR, but only a 5 day rest and prepare time.
carober
April 18th, 2009
7:06 pm
calm down, folks. it was a SPRING game.
GT 4 LIFE
April 18th, 2009
7:12 pm
I think alot of UGA fans 4get that GT has more NATIONAL TITLES than they do and that GT has Won the most recent of TITLES between the 2. Although UGA had (keyword is had) a 7 game win streak on us but alot of those games could have went either way. this year is gonna be the stepping stone for paul johnson at GT. Remember when tech had 2 bobby’s ROSS/CREMINS and GT was a force in both sports now we have 2 PAUL’S (HEWITT/JOHNSON) so look out ACC foes the sting is back. GO YELLOW JACKETS.
Smells Like Victory
April 18th, 2009
7:23 pm
I think it would just satisfying crushing the dawgpiles at Bobby Dodd in 2009 in front of 50,000+; or the 2008 humiliation of the “pre-season #1″ in front 80,000 rednecks at The Cesspool of The South. Oh well, both are satisfying.
Oh Al
April 18th, 2009
7:27 pm
You could work a double shift at your Micky D’s job for 100 years and not afford a condo “in the hood” near Tech. When was the last time your left your trailer and came to Atlanta? 1980? You’re the guy who bashes Atlanta, then goes out of state, and tells everyone that’s where he’s from.
UGA fans,
Thank you for your concern. Good luck with Joe Tereshinski part deaux. See you in November.
SugarHillDawg=Nerd Tormentor
April 18th, 2009
7:29 pm
Go Gator=SugarHill’s QUEEN! Bring your mouth over here.
SugarHillDawg=Nerd Tormentor
April 18th, 2009
7:32 pm
Oh Al, why would you pay that much for a condo to live amongst CRIMINALS? Smart investment MORON!!!
John
April 18th, 2009
7:33 pm
Daily crap posted by trailer-trash redneck UGAg fans…….CHECK!!!
Willy
April 18th, 2009
7:39 pm
Big Al is just mad that UGA was the most overrated team in history last year. I would be depressed to if I was a trailer-trash redneck. Ha UGA freakin jokes. 4 National Championships>2 National Championships
moron
April 18th, 2009
7:41 pm
Do you f@ggots not have anything better to do on a beautiful saturday afternoon? I just dropped by to see what MB wrote, and here you queens are arguing on a BLOG all freakin day. Embarrassing.
SthrnSrvy
April 18th, 2009
7:42 pm
Good story, however, i don’t believe the hype. There is a long season and long time in between. Also, what a silly poll. “Will GT go to a BCS game?” That statement can be said over with any CFB team. Too many biased polls, and not enough intelligence put into them.
Act like you've been somebody
April 18th, 2009
7:44 pm
Delusional Tech Fans: Thank you for illustrating my point.
There is a natural progression to winning a national championship. First, you’ve got to win your division. Next, you’ve got to win your conference. Then, being from the ACC, you’ve got to pray that no team from the SEC, Big 12, Pac 10 or Big 10 is undefeated and that you are. Otherwise no ACC team will even sniff a national title. That’s the reality. ACC can’t even sell out their championship games of late.
So were there even a thousand heads in the stands today? No, looks like the majority of so called fans still don’t buy what CPJ is selling. None of the big three in merchandising are providing uniforms for your program. There are no tv deals on the horizon neither.
Job well done on catching the Bulldogs sleeping last season. Do yourselves a favor and stop with the rediculous predictions until it happens on a more frequent basis.
In the end, money and power talks, and in that regard you will never be first in the state.
rockharder
April 18th, 2009
7:46 pm
Face it dawg fans, you had your shot in 2008 with Stafford and Moreno. Deep down inside, you know it’s gonna be uglier this year. Both Tech’s programs (FBall, BBall) are on the rise, while the dawgnation rest their hopes on Joe Cox and Caleb King. Not gonna be pretty.
George P. Burdell
April 18th, 2009
7:48 pm
Big Al: “4 National championships before the facemask was invented.”
Sounds pretty tough to me. So what you’re saying is those championships are diminished due to the fact that fewer safety precautions were required when those games were played? You don’t have to be an engineer to see the stupidity in that statement. You might as well say that UGA’s 1980 championship didn’t count because the goal uprights were wider back then than they are now. Dumb dumb dumb.
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
7:48 pm
Going way back to BrewDawg’s first comment — you’ll have to forgive me, but I was watching the Angels rally from a four-run deficit to win in the bottom of the final inning in Upward Softball — I’ve often wondered what would have happened if, say, Ohio State had lost the regular-season finale in 2002 and Georgia would have played Miami for the BCS title. The way things were going for those Bulldogs, I think they’d have beaten the ‘Canes in the Fiesta Bowl, same as OSU did.
And to answer GT EE: I think the defensive backs will be quite good this year — Morgan Burnett is big-time — but anytime you lose three guys of the caliber of Johnson, Richard and Walker up front, you have to wonder. At the same time, I know people around the program who insist Derrick Morgan has always been the finest of the four.
jim n buckhead
April 18th, 2009
7:57 pm
LOL at GT 4 life….its good to support your team and a school but come on….Im sure Duke and UNC are worried about Paul Hewitt….thats just another easy conference W…..CPJ is a very good corch and he will do well at GT but they still lost 4 games last season….so slow down a little…and buy some tickets….GT doesnt make money in sports….even though they pimped out the tittie…..
Oh Al
April 18th, 2009
8:01 pm
Nice job “GT 79″. Put GT in your screen name and they will think your a Tech fan. You fooled everyone
SugarhillDawg= inbred,white trash, redneck Uga sidewalk alum. My buddies that actually graduated from Georgia hate guys like you for giving them a bad name.
NRBQ
April 18th, 2009
8:07 pm
PTC:
No insults, just facts.
I respect your right to pull for your team. Hell, my brother and two of my inlaws are Tech Grads (although I hate to admit it).
The ACC (weak sisters) went 2-6 in bowls, and 0-3 against the SEC.
The SEC? 6-2, and 3-0 vs the ACC. And the MNC (dammit).
I’d wish you luck this year, but… ah…. well, you understand.
honesty
April 18th, 2009
8:11 pm
If we go by the standard that Tech is measuring National Championships, then Tech actually has 6 titles. However, UGA has 5 of its own by the same standard. Tech has 15 conference titles and UGA has 12. UGA has the best program win record, and they have the overall head-to-head record. The series was 27-27-5 after 1964. UGA has dominated 32-12 starting in 1965.
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
8:12 pm
Having lived in Atlanta 25 years, I have come to the following conclusion: When Georgia is beating Tech, Georgia fans simply point to the scoreboard. When Tech starts beating Georgia, Georgia fans fall back on making fun of Tech’s stadium and its attendance.
And that, I submit, is when you know Georgia fans are concerned. Not worried sick, but definitely concerned.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
8:14 pm
NRBQ:
No insults? I think the ACC and others would consider calling the ACC “weak sisters” as an insult. Go get some common sense.
I said during the REGULAR season, ACC had more wins against SEC. Looks like you have to learn how to read too.
BS Patrol
April 18th, 2009
8:19 pm
Act like somebody, Tech has ” been there” more than GA by far & more recently. Ga has never been NC material & never will be. Tech wants to be like GA & MR? Now that’s funny.
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
8:19 pm
And these national championships in football? I swear it seems like each side adds one every other month.
Iceman
April 18th, 2009
8:21 pm
Good to see that delusions at Tech are still alive and well.
BS Patrol
April 18th, 2009
8:21 pm
Furthermore, a real miracle fluke was the 7 game win streak. You won’t see that again in this lifetime.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
8:23 pm
Mark Bradley:
I agree. At first, I thought it was 4 for Tech (according to NCAA) and 1 for UGA, but then I saw 5 for Tech and 2 for UGA. Who knows.
jj
April 18th, 2009
8:27 pm
We are gonna beat the ever loving snot out of UGA this year.
Chipper "DL" Jones
April 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
Mark, I hope your prediction on Tech is better than your one for the Braves. Chipper hurts himself everytime he picks his nose and the bullpen would struggle against Tech or Georgia this year. Unfortunately we all know that Tech loses one or two games every year that they shouldn’t. With Tech baseball and football, you can always be assured of a let down once the team starts playing great and getting your hopes up for the post season. At least Hewitt never gets our hopes up since he doesn’t get to the post season because he doesn’t have to with his contract.
son_sir
April 18th, 2009
8:33 pm
Just returned from the ATL and BDS. This year’s spring game sure was better on the eyes than last year’s, but still a little sloppy as most spring games are. The ball was rolling around on the ground a little too much. Some of that was due to some big pops from the ‘D’, like on play #1. Still, the Jackets need to secure the ball better. Tech really has a TON of depth at the RB position. We all know what Dwyer and Jones can do, but Allen looked good at ‘A and ‘B back positions. Peebles can go, Watson’s a bruiser, and Wright can scat like a waterbug. Cox will be back also. Would have loved to have seen Nesbitt with this crew, but fall will be here soon enough.
Love the idea of throwing more to the ‘A backs and I hope the Jackets can improve the accuracy to get the ball to Thomas, Melton, and ‘A backs more through the air. If Tech can improve in the passing game, this is going to be one extremely tough offense to defend for anybody.
Despite the loses on the DL I think the ‘D will be better overall. DE and LB play will remain solid. Is T.J Barnes a mammoth or what ? Burnett should be a pre-season All-American and hopefully can anchor some consistent secondary play.
As for special teams. In a word…miserable. And the sad thing is, it wasn’t even live. Boy, A LOT of work is needed there.
As for predictions… Geez, Give it a break. There’s some great potential, but it’s April. There is reason for optimism, but the one week at a time strategy is the only tried and true measure. Didn’t we learn anything from all the pre-season hype coming out of Athens last year ? Focusing on Jacksonville State should be the one and only concern now. Sure, it would make for a boring summer, but of course, football writers have the have something to write about and fans have to argue. When September rolls around you can take all the wasted print and paper, wipe, and flush. As always……. PS..Don’t buy into Bradley’s hype. He’s brewing up a batch of overconfidence that he thinks will poison us like it did a certain school of his favor last year.
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
8:38 pm
SthrnSrvy is right: The poll is a little silly. (I can say that since I’m the one who created it.) But it’s also kind of fun.
And you know me: I am ALL ABOUT FUN.
Go gators
April 18th, 2009
8:38 pm
Sugarhill=idiot
ATL original
April 18th, 2009
8:40 pm
MAN, I LOVE THESE JACKETS!!!!! I’M HOPING AND TRUSTING FOR A GREAT YEAR!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Tom
April 18th, 2009
8:43 pm
Since we (as usual) have so many dawgs here in a Tech-topic MB blog, here’s a friendly dawg-related poll for them…..
Who will be the next UGA player to have his number retired for scoring a TD in a regular-season game?
Thanks for playing.
shelden
April 18th, 2009
8:45 pm
the defense was pretty good i was their and that blitzin punished jaybo and i think techs better both sides of the ball
Tradeschoolonnorthave
April 18th, 2009
8:49 pm
get ready for the that beatdown nerds…1-7 over the last 8..You’ve got along way to go to catch us, GEEKS!!! 3 BCS games in the BCS ERA to your 0..2 Conf titles to your 0..get lost terds!!
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
8:53 pm
Tradeschoolonnorthave:
Why don’t you try to catch us on the 8-win streak? Since you’re going to go back in time, let’s mention that Tech has 4 NC’s and UGA has….1. We have the most recent one too.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
8:54 pm
Also, do you really think that “tradeschoolonnorthave” is an insult to us? Hell, I have a shirt that says “North Avenue Trade School.” Lol, you’re a moron.
GHOST
April 18th, 2009
8:56 pm
MIGHTY G DAWG DYNASTY JOKE BY COKE RICHT DA MAN TIGHT END U OL WAR DADDIES YEAR OF THE DAWG BIG SAWG EAT TIME FOR LITHIUM OUT
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
9:00 pm
Appropos of nothing, I should tell you that I asked Paul Johnson if starting every spring game with a fumble on the first play is now a Tech tradition. “Could be,” he said. “I hadn’t thought of that.” But he didn’t laugh. He didn’t even smile.
Memo to self: Trying to get Paul Johnson to laugh about a fumble is like trying to get me to chuckle when somebody mentions my column after Game 2 of the 1996 World Series.
NRBQ
April 18th, 2009
9:00 pm
Okay, PTC.
I yield to your blind homerism.
The ACC is teh awsome!
CJP is da man!
Tech will dominate their schedule!
You kicked UGA all over the field (by 3 points after 8 years)!
I can’t read!
See you in Novemeber.
PTC Jacket
April 18th, 2009
9:02 pm
Lol, the more you post, the more you look like an idiot. So now go get common sense, reading lessons, and spelling lessons. See you in November.
IE'66
April 18th, 2009
9:19 pm
Great piece, Mark. Have you heard anything about Morgan’s grades being borderline?
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
9:24 pm
Thanks, IE. And I haven’t heard a word.
Chris Brooks
April 18th, 2009
9:36 pm
By the way. What I would like to see is the fumbles minimized. Yes, the Defense needs an upgrade, but stop the fumbles, and they are contenders. It will be very hard to stop the offense!
Tom
April 18th, 2009
9:39 pm
Ah, good ol’ GT66 (now IE’66…..both being lies, btw) with another player rumor. Morgan, now?
Go away, nadlicker.
Mark Bradley
April 18th, 2009
9:43 pm
Actually, Chris, Tech managed one regular-season win in 2008 per spring-game fumble. So maybe the Jackets would have been better served fumbling 12 times today, as opposed to eight.
Joe Schmoe
April 18th, 2009
9:43 pm
I was at the game today, and from my observations the first string d was pretty good. The first string offense was mediocre under Jaybo. I feel Tevin will be the back up to Nesbitt at the start of the season. I also think it is crazy if TJ Barnes is not starting. That baby hueghy was having his way all day with anyone.
the real OLD GOLD
April 18th, 2009
9:45 pm
Just wanted to show my self.. nothing to say really….
Chris Brooks
April 18th, 2009
9:46 pm
Unfortuantely, my anti-UGAy comments were not posted. But, the physically challenged, groupie UGAy fan needs to get a grip. First of all, we won last year!!! Secondly, we won a national championship in 1990, you won one in 1980!!! Yeah, we’ll never fill up the stadium like the tractor owners will, but we’ll do our best. Don’t be afraid of the whippings that are upon you in the future years, just accept it!!
Chris Brooks
April 18th, 2009
9:47 pm
Most of the idiots have never even been on a field before!!!
Tyler Brown
April 18th, 2009
9:48 pm
Listen all you UGA fans… we get it that you have been better than Tech for awhile. We also get it that you havent sniffed a national title since 1980, so please quit lecturing us on the right mindset for a national championship. Leave that to USC, Texas, LSU, Florida, and so on(teams who have won national titles). You dont know!!! We have more national titles and a more recent one to boot.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
April 18th, 2009
9:50 pm
The defense really is going to be the difference between another good year and a great year. If the defense plays well and keeps our offense on the field with the ball, the sky is the limit. Of course, our offense needs to protect the ball and not place our defense in short-field situations.
Go Jackets!!
Tom
April 18th, 2009
9:57 pm
Having to replace three starters on the DL is obviously the biggest challenge, defensively, but having talented depth at the 2nd level will help counter this challenge, imo. Barnes is definitely an athletic man-child, but he’s in a learning curve….especially on counters.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 18th, 2009
10:12 pm
Ok, Mark, and others, here are the “official” national championship records. The first is a list of every possibly considered champion in every year since 1869. If you read all the way through it, you will find Tech has 6, and UGA has 5.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I-A_national_football_championship
And here is the list of apparently NCAA-recognized champions, in which Tech appears 3 times (in spite of Tech going 12-0 in 1952, a 9-0 Michigan State team is recognized) and UGA only 1 time
http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/football/college/collegechampionship.htm
Big Al, the crystal trophy that Tech has in its trophy case on campus is the SAME crystal trophy now awarded to the BCS champion. I would say that’s pretty good evidence that Tech won it in 1990, and that a Colorado team with one loss and one tie and one win given them by a referre who couldn’t count downs shared the championship with Tech. If you don’t think a shared championship means anything, then tell that to the other schools who have shared championships in the past—like Bama, USC, Michigan, Nebraska, LSU, and so forth. You’re just like the UGAG fans who discount 2 games in the 40s because Tech had V-12 players on the team. I figure if it’s good enough for the NCAA and every other team we played and every other school who had V-12 players, then it SHOULD be good enough for the mutts. But NOOOO, you got to cling to silly excuses whenever you lose.
Jethro Tull
April 18th, 2009
10:15 pm
Wow, all the mutts on here are just hilarious. You guys are really showing how scared you are of CPJ and what’s coming in the future. You really want to have us believe 45-42 was a fluke but NOBODY, including yourself is buying it.
The mutts will be hard pressed to win 8 games in ‘09. Auburn, Tenn, LSU, GT, and of course Florida will be potential losses for you. Then throw in Okie ST and USC-e and it could be a dismal season for you. You have no chance of winning your division again, making it 4 years in a row. Not talking trash here boys, just being realistic.
But hey, I saw you won another NC. Congrats to the gym dawgs. Sure would like to bop a few of them but that would just be Knoshow’s sloppy seconds, LOL.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 18th, 2009
10:20 pm
Mark, here’s another expert telling you “Derrick Morgan is the best of the four”. But, I’m struggling on who the best defensive player is between him and Burnett. I think Sedric Griffin is 3rd.
It’s a shame really, that UGAg get credit for it’s one and only NC. That was at the height of the largest proven cheating scandal in the history of the NCAA with Jan Kemp. Today’s standards, they would have forfeited, lord knows how many games/years.…but I digress.
Best play of the day was CPJ knocking the ball out of the punters hands. I wish I could have heard what he was saying.
Supersize that order, mutt
April 18th, 2009
10:21 pm
Isn’t it funny how a 3 point win by Tech IN Athens is considered a fluke and totally insignificant when talking about the future, but 6 point, 7 point, and 3 point wins by the mutts in 2004, 2005, and 2006 meant they were world-beaters. Hell, if you hadn’t had Reggie Ball playing QB for us, Tech would have won all 3 of those probably.
Dannyboy
April 18th, 2009
10:26 pm
I’m really not that concerned with our defense. You have to remember the only time they will face the spread-option offense is during practice. CPJ likes to use first team offense vs first team defense to replicate game speed for the offense. In a real game, the defense doesn’t have to worry about the other team cut blocking at every angle imaginable. When player has to look out for people diving at their knees, they play a heck of a lot slower. If you took a poll of the defensive players, I bet that would be the number one thing they say they like about playing a real game. That’s also why you see all those defensive players with knees braces on.
On the offensive side, our offense will be devastating…even more so in the future. People need to realize that all those nice bells and whistles that make Paul Johnson’s version of the spread offense was never used last season. If you want to see a nice approximation of how devastating our offense can be, search for the GaSouthern highlight video of their championship game against Youngstown…the Youngstown that was coached by Jim Tressel. Tressel had a powerhouse program at Youngstown for many years before he left to coach Ohio State and CPJ’s team made them look like a JV team. The beauty of this offense is that by the time the opponent’s defense can catch their bearings, our team already has 30 points on the board. Look up the stats on CPJ’s GaSouthern teams…they look like Playstation stats. The scarier part is if CPJ makes good on his promise to incorporate the run and shoot into our offense (and if you know anything about CPJ you know he will).
Fellow Tech fans, as excited as we all are right now, the best days are not even here yet…