5 bogus reasons Georgia Tech will flop in 2009
I wouldn't read too much into one bowl loss, were I you. Just sayin'. (AJC photo by Ben Gray)
1. Opponents have caught up to Paul Johnson’s offense. Were that the case, wouldn’t Georgia Tech have struggled later in 2008 as more tape of the Jackets became available? Yet in their final two regular-season games against opponents of comparable if not superior talent (Miami and Georgia), they rushed for an aggregate 877 yards and scored 86 points.
2. LSU showed everyone else how to defend Johnson’s offense. What the Chick-fil-A Bowl showed was that if, in the course of one half, you boot the opening kickoff out of bounds and fail on an onside kick and whiff on a fake punt … well, you’re in trouble against a good team. The Jackets lost 38-3 but were only outgained by 10 yards.
3. The defense lost too many players. The D is missing four starters — defensive linemen Michael Johnson, Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, plus cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels. And technically (ha! pun!), Rashaad Reid, who’s back, started more games last season than did Word-Daniels. And the best of the defensive linemen, end Derrick Morgan, returns in all his glory.
4. Tech can’t throw and catch to save its life. There aren’t 10 better receivers in the land than Damaryius Thomas, known as Bay-Bay. He took in 39 of the Jackets’ 74 completions last season and had nine catches of 20-plus yards. He can get downfield, and he can go get the ball.
5. The rest of the ACC will be ready this time. In Johnson’s second season as head coach at Georgia Southern, his Eagles played nine teams they’d met in his first season. They were 8-1 against those nine in Year 1; they were 9-0 in Year 2. In his second season at Navy, his Midshipmen faced five teams against which they’d gone 1-4 in Year 1; they went 4-1 in Year 2.
(OK, Tech fans. That’s the good news. The bad news comes with our companion list: 5 legit reasons Georgia Tech could disappoint in 2009. Finally, defensive end Derrick Morgan tells us why the Jackets are the real deal.)
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126 comments Add your comment
Trade School Junkie
August 26th, 2009
8:58 am
Seems now that the OKST/GA game is getting closer, there’s lots more SportsTalk discussion about it.
So, lets put that game in perspective, with help from #1 uga-homer, Tony Barnahrt.
As Barnhart has been saying all this week, GA will need to score…and I quote…”at least 31+ pts to be able to beat OKST.”
This…from THE VERY SAME Tony Barnhart…who last year predcited in his Fearless Friday Forecast that GA would beat Bama 27-24. That game was O-V-E-R at halftime. LMAO.
And, the same TB (even AFTER the Alabama “funeral”) STILL predicted GA to beat Florida. ROTFLMAO.
Folks, when even Barnhart has to admit that GA will need to score 31+ to beat OKST…then you can take that as an IRON-CLAD GUARANTEE that Dagws are gonne get DESTROYED in Stillwater.
And, since the outcome of this game has HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE BCS implications for the Big 12 & SEC, I fully expect to see OKST run-up the score for “style points.”
It will be a TIVO CLASSIC !!!!!!!!!!!
Best day ever!!
August 26th, 2009
9:00 am
Tech finally got a blog on AJC. UGA gets 20 blogs to Tech’s 1 and this is the Atlanta Journal. What does that say about Tech? No one cares! And you Techies are kidding yourself. You’re own the UGA blawgs every day. Gimme a break!
T.O
August 26th, 2009
9:01 am
Melinda,
GO AWAY!!!
ticklepile
August 26th, 2009
9:02 am
Where’s St. Simons? My rim needs rimming.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 26th, 2009
9:02 am
As a Dawg fan its unfortunate that Johnson is at Tech b/c his brand of football is enjoyable to watch. It is with much regret that on these blogs many Tech fans embarass themselves and the University and makes it even more difficult to root for CPJ and his system.
ga_tech_92@yahoo.com
August 26th, 2009
9:02 am
Go Jackets!!
Dawgs Fan
August 26th, 2009
9:04 am
The score should have been about 54-3. LSU did not score several times when they could have easily done so. This was a whooping that will become very familiar to termite fans. Sure, every once in a while a team will sleep through a half or two but Johnson’s offense is a Div II offense and will lose more than he wins at Div I.
honest_abe
August 26th, 2009
9:05 am
TSJ: that might be the dumbest argument i have ever read. and i’ve seen quite a few from you techies.
first, name me one prognosticator that always get’s his picks right? better yet name me one who get’s close all the time? there isn’t a person you idiot or he’d be really rich.
… i just got lost on the rest of your ramble.
look, tech has a confusing offense. coach PJ is an innovative offensive coach. tech has one outstanding back and another very good one. they have a talented qb but he’s liable to get injured easily in that offense.
however you win with line play and i think tech’s lines are average at best. probably a little below average. sure it helps a lot to have great skill position players but the heart of the team is right there in the trenches and tech is sorely lacking in that department. tech will win a few games but they won’t be anything special… they’ll finish somewhere in the top 25, somewhere between 18 – 25. considering where tech’s program has been it’ll have been a good year.
Tech82
August 26th, 2009
9:06 am
GEORGIA97 – I find it curious that you would rail against Mark Bradley’s journalistic expertise, list all the moronic things you would rather do than be subjected to one of his columns and yet, you spend your time reading it (probably an inordinately long period of time given your apparent lack of education) and then several hours posting afterward. Has it occurred to you that your time may be better spent reading and responding to the want ads?
Ted Kennedy's liver
August 26th, 2009
9:11 am
Finally!! Someone get me out of here!!!!!!!
GEORGIA97
August 26th, 2009
9:12 am
Sounds like the natives are restless down at that trade school on North Avenue. Of course, that’s completely understandable when you have to stayed locked inside your dorm room because taking one step outside means getting shot at. You nerds be sure to check E-Bay for a stockpile of Kevlar vests before the season starts.
DawginLex
August 26th, 2009
9:13 am
Trade school junkie, you are still an idiot and dead wrong. 36-35 UGA
Now, in the spirit of keeping the Tech blogs going more than 5 minutes, I offer the following:
1.) The offense will be fine overall. Tech can win 7 games by just running the ball. The other 5 wins come with some semblance of balance. Can Nesbitt pass and does Tech have enough receivers to offer balance when needed?
2.) The defense. While the move to the 4-2-5 has been praised by a lot of the Tech people, the question is why make the change? The answer is it is to mask the lack of talent on the D line and to take advantage of the overall speed on the defense. Will it work against everyone?
3.) The health of the QB. Not much to worry in my opinion but the backup is unproven but still not much of a concern.
4.) The special teams and kicking game were horrid last year at times especially in the bowl game. That can lose 2 games for you along the way.
5.) Can Tech handle the hype? That comes down to coaching and history. The history is that high expectations at Tech in the past have not been met. 1991, 1999, 2000 and 2001-Tech was supposed to be world beaters yet those years resulted in no ACC titles.
I still see 10 wins but there are some concerns. Of course, one of the 2 losses will be to UGA.
Later
GEORGIA97
August 26th, 2009
9:15 am
Tech82 – I skip over what MB writes and go straight to the blog because I find it hilarious how simple it is to get under the skin of you nerds. You folks take this thing entirely too seriously and I just love poking the caged tiger with a stick. It’s a game, people. I also love how the Techies always accuse UGA fans of not having an education. I mean, we’re not snobs….we’re just better than you.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
9:16 am
Bulldog rate the dumbest breed by the AKC. The Bulldog is a breed that can’t do what it was intended to do. That is also from the AKC. Bulldogs are too short and too fat to do anything of importance. The Boxer or Pitbull is now the working breed of this line. The image of the Bulldog on your UGA logo looks like a boxer more than the fat, bad breathing, waddeling thing you guys put in a sweater to parade around the Septic Tank of the South on Saturdays. UGA VII will have to quit after this year with a 7-5 record in 09.
tech
August 26th, 2009
9:16 am
What does it say about Georgia when, as a Tech fan, if I could have any player on UGA’s team I can only think of two that would upgrade Tech’s team. (Curran and Green).
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 26th, 2009
9:19 am
Mark, if that’s the good news, I don’t want the bad.
J Dub
August 26th, 2009
9:19 am
Mark, It probably says that all the tech bloggers are over on the UGA board posting “45-42″ so they aren’t here to post on their own. It could also say that the 11 Tech fans have already posted so if you want your blog to have comments, Dawg fans have to pick up the slack.
DawginLex
August 26th, 2009
9:19 am
tech,
I GUARANTEE you that coach Johnson would take our entire DL and receiving corp over yours any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
9:22 am
“or it says that all the UGA grads are in management and can peruse the web while they bark orders to the Tech nerds out on the floor working for them.”
Apparently Georgia97 has a GREAT job, since his understanding of “management” is someone who can peruse the web all day while barking orders at people working on the “floor.”
What are you, a lowly factory floor manager
“crazy_4_GT: I prefer the term jacka$s over idiot. Thank you very little.”
Well you do deserve both.
“And you Techies are kidding yourself. You’re own the UGA blawgs every day. Gimme a break!”
1) Speak English. 2) I think you are confusing St. Simons with real Tech fans. Instead of trolling, why don’t you try to add to an intelligent discussion?
“It is with much regret that on these blogs many Tech fans embarass themselves and the University and makes it even more difficult to root for CPJ and his system.”
Yes, because clearly its only Tech fans that are classless on these comments.
“The score should have been about 54-3. LSU did not score several times when they could have easily done so. This was a whooping that will become very familiar to termite fans.”
You obviously didn’t watch the game. Les was trying to run up the score to the best of his ability.
“Sure, every once in a while a team will sleep through a half or two but Johnson’s offense is a Div II offense and will lose more than he wins at Div I.”
LOL. When was the last time uga gave up 400 yards to a division II offense?
“however you win with line play and i think tech’s lines are average at best. probably a little below average. sure it helps a lot to have great skill position players but the heart of the team is right there in the trenches and tech is sorely lacking in that department. tech will win a few games but they won’t be anything special… they’ll finish somewhere in the top 25, somewhere between 18 – 25.”
Finally a uga fan who actually tries to be intelligent. I agree that we are lacking along the line, but its better than it was last year. The problem is the guys are trying to unlearn Gailey’s blocking system and learn CPJs at the same time. They are getting better and Tech will be deeper on the line this year (they lost Andrew Garner, who was hurt at the end of the year last year and didn’t play in the final few games, but I think was drafted in the 6th or 7th round).
“Has it occurred to you that your time may be better spent reading and responding to the want ads?”
That’s assuming Ga97 has a brain and can use it. More than likely, he’s banging his head against a wall trying to come up with more GT insults. Keep banging!!
J Dub
August 26th, 2009
9:23 am
Tech, you don’t think Jeff Owens would be an upgrade? How about Kade Weston? How about Joe Cox? How about any of our tight ends? How about Darryl Gamble? DeMarcus Dobbs? Marcus Washington? Our entire offensive line? Should I keep going? I really am not on here to bash you tech fans and I agree with Mark’s article but let’s not jump overboard here with this kind of talk.
aztec
August 26th, 2009
9:25 am
im 62 years old now and i hope before i die the good lord will let me understand what the hangup is with dawg fans about ga tech smaller stadium and lower attendance is.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
9:30 am
Lex –
“While the move to the 4-2-5 has been praised by a lot of the Tech people, the question is why make the change? The answer is it is to mask the lack of talent on the D line and to take advantage of the overall speed on the defense.”
Your logic is flawed. A switch to a 4-2-5 offense actually does the opposite. Moving a linebacker further away from the line will not do anything to help an inexperienced defensive line. In fact, if Tech were trying to mask a lack of D-line talent it would move to a 3-4 (so it would be able to start less D-linemen), or move eight guys into the box (either a 5-3 or 4-4) to try to stuff the run. Instead, Tech has taken someone out of the box and is left to defend the run mostly with 6 men.
Other than that you make good points. Thanks for a good post.
“I GUARANTEE you that coach Johnson would take our entire DL and receiving corp over yours any day of the week and twice on Sunday.”
Really? Because there are two WRs that were common offered by both Tech and uga that chose Tech. I think PJ is happy with his receiving core. I’d rather have two really good ones than one really great one too. I probably would take a couple of your linemen though.
Tech82
August 26th, 2009
9:31 am
GEORGIA97 – Please keep in mind that it was a UGA professor that recently murdered three people. So, I guess you speak from experience when counseling us on the need for kevlar vests. Thanks for the advice.
GEORGIA97
August 26th, 2009
9:34 am
Hey Dogtards: Thank you for proving my point while also showing that you apparently consider anyone who has a blue-collar job to be “lowly”. Who do you think built that chair your fat keester is sitting in while you talk down to people who put in hard day’s work for a pay check? Choose your words cautiously.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
9:36 am
Tech, you don’t think Jeff Owens would be an upgrade? How about Kade Weston? How about Joe Cox? How about any of our tight ends? How about Darryl Gamble? DeMarcus Dobbs? Marcus Washington? Our entire offensive line?
Owens yes. Weston yes. Although you are comparing a freshman and a sophomore (I think) to two seniors.
Cox, definitely not. I’d have no desire to let a slow ginger lead my offense, particularly a run based one.
We don’t have TEs in our offense genius.
Gamble, no. Dobbs only opposite Derrick Morgan (not as a replacement for him). Ditto for Washington. I’d probably take 2 or 3 off your offensive line too.
So what’s that, 6 out of 22?
GTMike
August 26th, 2009
9:36 am
aztec….forget about understanding Dawg fans like many of those on this blog. Unless you can become an expert in immature adults and the repressed anger that many Dawg fans display, since their attitudes are neither coherent nor rational.
I respect UGa and their football program, but the jerks like many of those who post on these blogs do Georgia a disservice. Many of those seem type folks have helped create the resentment that Tech fans feel towards UGa fans, as i have witnessed many an episode of rudeness in person by UGa fans. Tech fans aren’t perfect either, and are wrong to ‘play the same game’ just because they get pissed, but UGa fans take the cake this way.
Oh, and I don’t measure myself by how nasty or cruel my comments in a public blog can be. I don’t consider it “witty” or “smart” to be name-calling in such forums.
GEORGIA97
August 26th, 2009
9:36 am
Tech82: An excellent point; however, said crime was not committed anywhere in the vacinity of the campus. Let us not forget that a couple of Tech’s finest were recently convicted as being terrorists who supported Al Qaeda.
the real Old Gold
August 26th, 2009
9:36 am
Let’s play the games. Talk is cheap.
Trade School Junkie
August 26th, 2009
9:37 am
honest_abe:
When the #1 uga “cheerleader” Barnhart has THIS MUCH concern for the dawgs against OKST, then you can take it to the bank that its gonna go very badly for ga in Stillwater.
Oh, and for the record, here’s MY 2009 predcition: GT 12-0.
Dawg in LaLa Land:
It’ll be a hard landing when your Kool-Aid runs out.
Buster
August 26th, 2009
9:38 am
Abe ain’t very honest, is he? Or, maybe he’s just delusional.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 26th, 2009
9:39 am
CUZ i just read your vents on the Stafford blog and you are freaking too funny. I hope Baylie is recovering well and with you as her dad I know you keep her spirits up. Damn Bill King blocked me from the Dawg Blog. If you will leave him a message to let me back in thanks. Prayers and best wishes CUZ.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
9:40 am
“Thank you for proving my point while also showing that you apparently consider anyone who has a blue-collar job to be “lowly”.”
No Ga97, I was actually making fun of your “blue collar” work ethic, not your blue collar job. You claimed that “all the UGA grads are in management and can peruse the web while they bark orders to the Tech nerds out on the floor working for them.” That doesn’t sound so blue collar to me. Moreover, any job where you can peruse the web all day either i) can’t be rewarding; ii) can’t be very hard; or iii) can’t be very valuable to your company. Either that or iv) you do a terrible job at work shirking your responsibilities. Excuse me while I actually get to work. Keep perusing the web you blue collar worker you.
Sting 'em Buzz
August 26th, 2009
9:43 am
there’s a lot of love between the fans of the two schools
Trade School Junkie
August 26th, 2009
9:43 am
Oh, and BTW dawg in LaLa Land:
“Can Tech handle the hype?” WTH ?!?!
1. It aint no hype.
2. dawgs already P-R-O-V-E-D…THEY…cant handle the hype.
And..YES…it was ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL hype for ga in 2008. LOL
Tech82
August 26th, 2009
9:44 am
GEORGIA97 – Touche’. I say we call that point a draw.
DawginLex
August 26th, 2009
9:45 am
trade school flunkie,
12-0?
Who is drinking the kool aid?
aztec
August 26th, 2009
9:45 am
i agree gtmike, both schools have there bad fans on the blogs, heck at SDSU we dont even have a real football rivalry where we can get on each others case, in fact i would say most people in san diego dont even know we have a football team..lol
Trade School Junkie
August 26th, 2009
9:51 am
dawg in lala land:
go ahead and share YOUR predition for the overall ga seasont, W-L.
Also, why dont you go ahead and share your okst/ga prediction.
I say something like: okst:49 ga:23
Of course, i dont think ga will score until second half.
GEORGIA97
August 26th, 2009
9:54 am
Tech82: Agreed.
DawginLex
August 26th, 2009
9:55 am
Now you have changed your mind. It was 66-13. i am not stupid enough to predict 12-0 for UGA. And yes, the hype for GT those years I mentioned was real and Tech didn’t perform. I say 36-35 UGA in a great football game, probably a better game than the VT/Bama game which is the highlight game of the weekend.
I believe UGA will win 9 or 10 games. The Florida game and the trip to Arkiesaw scare me more than OSU. I believe UGA will beat OSU. I also believe UGA will beat Tech.
Bash away oh delusional one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawginLex
August 26th, 2009
9:57 am
Junkie,
If i don’t respond for awhile, it’s because I have an all day meeting to attend. I ain’t running…………………
GEORGIA97
August 26th, 2009
9:57 am
Hey Dogtards: You keep proving my point that you take this thing entirely too seriously when I’m clearing just having fun with the blog. I’m not a blue-collar worker and obviously don’t spend all day on the web as I would get canned. It was a JOKE. My God man, grab a Xanax and enhance your calm before your ticker explodes.
dagnabit
August 26th, 2009
9:59 am
bulldog is so close to bullshi$. like 45-42
teed
August 26th, 2009
9:59 am
ACC 6-4 vs sec 2008 season
Tampa Wreck
August 26th, 2009
10:03 am
Have to agree with most of “Hey Dogtards” 8:01 AM post. Pretty good analysis of where this team is. I would prefer that we skip the unnecessary name calling.
I too think that the concern regarding the defense and the defensive line is legit. While I think our secondary will be improved, lets’s not forget that Matthew Stafford carved them up like a Thanksgiving Turkey last November even with our 3 NFL draftees in place. We were very lucky to overcome some very poor defensive play that game. Even Miami started moving the all after changing their quarterbacks last fall. Yes, it was mop-up time and the game was out of reach, but they did it none the less.
I’m also still concerned with the passing game. A single receiver does not makea viable passing attack, and even Bay Bay dropped a few last year. It all starts with the offensive line and giving Josh time to set and throw. We need to improve dramatically this year on the line for the passing game to take off. Will it be better.. Likely, can’t get much worse than what we saw last year.
However, even with the issues, I’m still optimistic regarding this team. We will move the ball and score, regardless of whether we have a passing game, and I’m hopeful that some young men will step up on defense and we can improve on that side as well.
Go Jackets. Looking forward to an exciting year.
5 legit reasons Georgia Tech might disappoint in 2009 | Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
10:04 am
[...] our companion list of 5 bogus reasons Tech won’t fall short in 2009, please click here. And coming later today, we present defensive end Derrick Morgan’s upbeat take on the [...]
AtlantaTruth
August 26th, 2009
10:04 am
When most of the comments on the Tech blog come from Georgia fans that says. what goes around comes around! Tech fans need to grow up. Come talk to us when you consistently beat the Dawgs, consistently post double digit win seasons and consistently go to bowl games that mean something and aren’t played on a blue field in Idaho. Also, try winning the ACC, something you won’t be doing for a long time. Grow up Tech fans. Act like you have a little class and at least put your money where your mouth is and support your team by buying tickets and attending your home games. Unless you do nobody will ever take your football team and program seriously.
Gerbil in Lex's Bunghole
August 26th, 2009
10:07 am
HELP ME!
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 26th, 2009
10:14 am
I’m a homo
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
10:15 am
“Hey Dogtards: You keep proving my point that you take this thing entirely too seriously when I’m clearing just having fun with the blog. I’m not a blue-collar worker and obviously don’t spend all day on the web as I would get canned. It was a JOKE. My God man, grab a Xanax and enhance your calm before your ticker explodes.”
Sounds to me like a uga troll got the smack down and is desperately trying to get out of it. I’m just having fun too man. You did claim to be a blue collar worker who spends all day on the internet, I’m just pointing out the contradiction to the masses. Hope you guys are 11-0 come Thanksgiving.
“When most of the comments on the Tech blog come from Georgia fans that says. what goes around comes around! Tech fans need to grow up.”
I’m pretty sure that actually says that uga fans need to grow up, or at least stop trolling their rival’s blogs.
“Act like you have a little class and at least put your money where your mouth is and support your team by buying tickets and attending your home games.”
Nice redefinition of what “class” is. Class is more like not trolling on other team’s blogs, but if that were the definition you wouldn’t have any. Well played sir.