5 legit reasons Georgia Tech might disappoint in 2009
Jaybo Shaw with his collarbone intact. He'll be missed. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
1. Jaybo Shaw broke his collarbone in practice. Losing your backup quarterback is a big deal when you run the spread option. Josh Nesbitt is going to get hit 30 times a game, and Shaw — who started a game and won it in Nesbitt’s stead last season — is fully capable of doing it again. Or was capable. Now there’s no telling when he’ll be back.
2. The special teams aren’t exactly special. Georgia Tech missed eight of 20 field goals last season and two PATs. It lagged its opponents in punt return average, kickoff return average and net punting. The kicking game essentially lost the Chick-fil-A Bowl. A team that wants to play in a BCS game will have to make a big kick of some kind along the way.
3. There are trap games on the card. Tech plays at Miami on Thursday night a week after it plays host to Clemson on Thursday night, meaning the manufactured emotion inherent in any ESPN production will be on the other sideline. And Mississippi State and Vanderbilt might be the two worst teams in the SEC, but the Jackets must go on the road to meet both a week after major conference games (North Carolina before Mississippi State, Virginia before Vandy).
4. Nesbitt completed 43.9 percent of his passes in 2008. That’s not a good number for such a talented player, and it’s even worse because roughly half his throws had the element of surprise working for them. He has a great receiver in Demaryrius Thomas and an A-back capable of catching the deep ball in Roddy Jones. As we saw last season, Tech doesn’t need a slew of passess to keep moving — its only completion against Georgia came on the game’s first snap — but Nesbitt does need to be more precise.
5. Paul Johnson is so self-assured it could work against him. Nobody outsmarts everybody else forever. Johnson has a splendid system and is justifiably proud of it, but what if Tech loses a game it shouldn’t and the second-guessers emerge for the first time in his tenure here? Will he develop rabbit ears? Will he snap at the media? Or will he act presidential and simply keep coaching his men?
(For our companion list of 5 bogus reasons Tech will fall short in 2009, please click here. Finally, we present defensive end Derrick Morgan’s upbeat take on the Jackets.)
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150 comments Add your comment
Mac
August 26th, 2009
11:48 am
Yes, Paddy, you’re right. You could include two Florida coaches in that list, along with a couple of Auburn coaches, etc.
Moe Ronn
August 26th, 2009
11:48 am
All the mangy fleabags have is stadium size and hot dogs and cokes jokes. In other words, nothing about actually playing the game. That’s why they suck and are losers.
Brock
August 26th, 2009
11:49 am
….high school success doesn’t always translate to college success
That can be said for another quarterback as well. I think we all know who.
Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
11:50 am
In case anyone missed it, I’m on record as picking Tech to go 10-2, win the ACC Coastal and then beat FSU for the title. I’m also on record as picking Tech to beat UGA again.
jmc
August 26th, 2009
11:50 am
MB: (For 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 Jackets.)
Mark, you have a negative in there that should not be. That’s what EW was referring to earlier in the thread. “5 bogus reasons Tech won’t fall short”. The link is wrong, but the article says the right thing.
Brock
August 26th, 2009
11:54 am
Who Cares….yet you still posted. Irony or Stupidity? I’ll take the latter.
homer
August 26th, 2009
11:56 am
Why do doggie fans constantly harp on number of fans at GT games? What difference does that make? I don’t think they hand out any awards for which teams have the BIGGEST CROWD, or which fans can bark louder and drink more booze. I think it is about who wins the games. What good did dogs BIG CROWD do against Bama last year? What good did it do against GT? The dogs get half the BIG CROWD in Jax every year but what good does it do? Quit worrying about crowd size and worry about how many more decades before dogs ever win another national title.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
11:56 am
Oledawg sounds like Bobby Bowden in terms of senility.
“If you’re a high school player that knows he’s going to play in college, but has dreams of playing in the NFL, why would you want to play in a high school offense, that does nothing to prepare you for the pros?”
Are you not paying any attention to the press Dwyer is getting as the top RB pro prospect in college football right now? PJ also placed a lineman into the NFL last year at Tech. If you are an offensive lineman or a RB, there is no reason not to go to Tech.
As a WR, I understand the initial fear that Tech won’t throw enough. First, Tech will throw more this year. Second, PJ’s system requires WRs to be physically dominant and block, as opposed to just pass-catchers. While it certainly won’t showcase front and center a WRs talents, Thomas did put up respectable numbers. NFL scouts don’t just look to yardage numbers when picking a receiver, they look to physical ability too. By requiring receivers to be physically strong, Tech nurtures some of that skill set better than other skills. Training wise, you are just as prepared, if not more so due to Tech’s first rate training facilities. The only thing you won’t have is gaudy receiving stats.
If you think the only thing NFL scouts look at are college statistics, then you are clearly delusional. Demarius will get drafted because he is a gifted athlete, not because he only puts up 750 yards receiving this year.
“If I’m playing high school football, then I’d want a pro type offense.”
Yeah if you are a pocket passer. We aren’t after that type of QB. We are after dual threat, athletic types. When Nesbitt puts up 1000 rushing and 2000 passing this year, we are going to get that type of player’s attention. Joe Cox’s 40 rushing yards won’t. Apples to Oranges.
“Rarely does any “wishbone” QB make it in the pros.”
It’s not a wishbone genius.
“This will hurt Tech in recruiting.I don’t want my son to play that offense.”
Well unless your son is a dual threat athlete (which I doubt) then we don’t want him either. Same thing as above, but for QBs who run Tech is one of the better systems in the Country. Probably Fla #1 and we’ll see what RR can do with Michigan, but for a QB who is not a traditional pocket passer (see Vick, Vince Young, Tim Tebow), Tech will certainly get a look. I’m sure a lot of guys won’t look at Tech because of the system, but a lot of those guys wouldn’t fit Tech’s system anyways.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
11:58 am
“Why do doggie fans constantly harp on number of fans at GT games? What difference does that make? I don’t think they hand out any awards for which teams have the BIGGEST CROWD, or which fans can bark louder and drink more booze. I think it is about who wins the games. What good did dogs BIG CROWD do against Bama last year? What good did it do against GT? The dogs get half the BIG CROWD in Jax every year but what good does it do? Quit worrying about crowd size and worry about how many more decades before dogs ever win another national title.”
To piggyback on this point, we donate less for better seats, we don’t have to worry as much about parking, its easier to exit and enter the stadium, and less lines for bathrooms and food. Why would you want 93k when you can have ~50k?
Jackets 84
August 26th, 2009
11:59 am
“The kicking game essentially lost the Chick-fil-A Bowl” ??? How do you get by with that statement? I was at the game, we were totally pushed around by a physically superior team.
chemdawg
August 26th, 2009
12:00 pm
And, as we all know, Bradley’s record is impeccable. ;p
ugafan
August 26th, 2009
12:00 pm
Mark Bradley: I strongly disagree with you
CairoBravesFan79
August 26th, 2009
12:01 pm
Bulldog fans appear to be a)Jealous, b)worried or c)both. I think C as they should be knowing that they will lose to Tech in back to back seasons. GO JACKETS!!!
ugafan
August 26th, 2009
12:02 pm
Jckets84 the kicking didnt lose the chickfila your players lost the game you choked in your hometown virtually right next to your stadium and not to mention LSU’s defense shut yall down
GT4Ever
August 26th, 2009
12:04 pm
Simpledog…5. The inability to pass effectively will be an albatross around the Tech offense. Nesbit isn’t a college passer….high school success doesn’t always translate to college success – especially in Nesbit’s case.
The same should be said about UGA’s Joe Cox. He didn’t lose a game in high school but will that tanslate into a good one year for him. Also, he hasn’t played more than a few snaps for 3 years. UGA fans think he’s going to take you to the NC, whatever!!!!
Nesbitt’s injuries were a spranged ankle and then a hamstring. He showed he could take it. I think the majority of the time last year he kept the ball himself due to inexperience in the offense. This year he’s more comfortable and will use the system fully by pitches and handoffs. He won’t try to carry the load himself. When you have an All-American back you use him and that’s what GT will do. We have many more legit players depth wise this year than ever before and PJ will have the offense hitting on all cylinders. The only thing that really bothers me is the kicking game as evident last year. GT will be much better, count on it!!! GO JACKETS
CairoBravesFan79
August 26th, 2009
12:05 pm
ugafan I think you misread jackets84 post…….
AustinJacket
August 26th, 2009
12:09 pm
#1) I was not that impressed with Shaw last year — he had good games against Duke and Miss St (neither of these teams are very good), but when he came in during FSU the mo shifted immediately and dramatically in their favor. But now that he’s out, I’m a little worried. It puts more pressure on Nesbit to stay healthy. This offense will be great if we have a healthy Nesbit and Dwyer.
#2) Agreed, and amen. We are going to lose a game because the kicking game sucks. Bank on it. I had hoped to read that special teams were looking better in camp, but instead I read about PJ dressing them down for being lacksidazical.
#3) If there are trap games they will all be in Nov when we will be tempted to take Wake/Duke/Vandy for granted. I think if we go into Nov w/ fewer than 2 losses and in position to win the coastal we will not blow it against those teams. If we go in w/ 3-4 losses, we’ll be in the same place UGA was last year – disappointed and nothing to play for. Then we could drop another.
I think the bigger deal is 11-straight w/o a week off. Last year we were pretty beat up and it showed at UNC. They had a week off, and we had to play dinged up and worn out. That’s going to come calling again right around the FSU / VT / UVA stretch.
#4) I’m undecided how much tech has to throw. If we can move the ball on the ground, I think we’ll keep the ball on the ground. But it would be nice to have the pass if needed. Plus the necessity of passing to open up the run. Still – I wonder how critical it’s going to be.
#5) hope not. Time will tell. PJ’s rep for being a great “Xs & Os” guy, and his ability to coach up a team like Navy to win would seem to suggest he’s truly a great motivator and a great leader and a great coach. On the other hand from last season you have Gardner Webb and LSU which leave you scratchjing your head. If PJ is as great as we all hope, he’ll take the Jackets to a new level which means 10 wins, a BCS bowl and another win over UGA. If we slip back into 7 wins it will be hugely disappointing.
Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
12:20 pm
Thanks, JMC. I’ve corrected it.
As a negative person, I get negative for no real reason. As you doubtless know.
Green Tea
August 26th, 2009
12:24 pm
Saint Simmons and every other NERD on this blogs first day of college…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3njjD41f48&feature=PlayList&p=1EC4F3B6403CE8FE&index=0&playnext=1
TechDan
August 26th, 2009
12:37 pm
ugafan, remember that time last year, when you got outscored by us in your HOME stadium?
That was great.
StingerSplash
August 26th, 2009
12:38 pm
Mr. Bradley,
Can’t wait for the next time you get one on one with PJ. The man does read everything. Very little escapes his notice.
But if you get him talking about basketball first, you might be all right.
Special teams is a concern but the return game ought to be better. Hopefully, they won’t need to kick field goals to win.
Good point about the trap games, especially the back to back Thursday night ACC tilts. The SEC road games … Missy State might be better with Mullen, but I think people are overlooking Tech’s talent level now. It’s as good, if not better, than the 90-91 team, on a pro rata basis.
Losing Shaw hurts, but Tevin Washington can play. He had a year to redshirt (which ordinarily means you run the scout team and somebody else’s offense all fall long), but he’s gotten snaps in spring and summer.
Nesbitt’s completion percentage will be higher. The play action package will be in place.
I think this Tech team is even better than its most optimistic fans realize.
rlinaug
August 26th, 2009
12:40 pm
“act presidential…” ??? Depends on the president… I mean, Coach Johnson could continue to coach his men, or he could stand up and talk about the mess he inherited from Chan Gailey or how the other team didn’t just roll over and let his team win.
Okefenokee Dawg
August 26th, 2009
12:41 pm
If I were a Tech fan , what would worry me is – How can CPJ recruit? At Southern he had football players as good or better than the competition and he prospered. At Navy he did not, but still had some success – although not against top flight ompetition. Tech fans make fun of 4 and 5 star recruits, but CPJ better start getting some, and get some that can play his system. He no longer has the luxury of the better players and weak competition if he wants to play with the BCS big boys. Can he recruit? I think the jury is still out, but so far he has done fairly well.
Born2Buzz
August 26th, 2009
12:59 pm
Green Tea, that’s funny, but as you might recall, the Nerds had the last laugh. That being said, Saint Simons, you are an embarassment. Stop it already. It’s a new year so focus on what’s in front of you.
MB, if your #1 reason is because Shaw got hurt, then I’m not worried. Washington was passing him on the depth chart anyway. Jaybo did well when pressed into duty but it was obvious that he was not a D1 QB.
As others mentioned, I’m more worried about the schedule and the fact that we have no bye week until before the UGA game. 11 straight weeks of playing ball is going to wear them down. Got to hope the injuries are minimal and not serious.
dawgkicker
August 26th, 2009
1:02 pm
oh wow Mark Bradley saying something negative about tech? who woulda thunk it…… Thanks mark once again for your extremely unfounded lame bias column on Tech….. Kepp up the sub-par work….
hailstate
August 26th, 2009
1:04 pm
“Miss St and Vandy on the road are definitely trap games – both have smaller stadiums and empty seats”
Not only is MSU’s Davis Wade stadium the exact same size as Bobby Dodd, MSU has outpaced Ga. Tech in season ticket sales. So get off your high horse.
Big Bob
August 26th, 2009
1:06 pm
Fumble Baby! Fumble Baby! Fumble Baby! The triple fumble option. Seven losses in eight years is not a winning percentage. Remember 51-7, thought you would.
Born2Buzz
August 26th, 2009
1:18 pm
Big Bob, Chan was 0-7 vs UGA and responsible for the 51-7 embarassement. He also holds the record for the worst loss ever against our other main rival, Clemson. Those are primary reasons why Chan is no longer our coach and why we prefer not to look back on that sad period of our history.
CPJ is 1-0. We will see how he does in year 2.
dap01
August 26th, 2009
1:24 pm
Another possibility is that BP may discontinue the promotion of free tickets with a fill up.
That may make the ACTUAL attendance for home games to drop below the attendance for Atlanta Hawks games.
GTPUG
August 26th, 2009
1:25 pm
Everyone give MB a break – - if you read the 5 points again you will see that this could fit for any team
#1 point from MB – - with Shaw out for about 6 weeks hurts but we really do not know about Tevin – we will learn a lot during the first game – - I believe we will are going to be very happy
#2 point from MB – - special teams will be better than last year – remember there is only 1 way up from the bottom plus CPJ is demanding special teams to be better
#3 point from MB – - every game is a trap game – that is why you practice – - every team has the same thing to worry about – remember MB is on record saying Tech will be 10/2 and the best beating the flea infested dogs
#4 point from MB – - Nesbitt is going to have a break out year – period
#5 point from MB – - the high road
and as always – “TO HELL WITH GEORGIA”
ArkyTech
August 26th, 2009
1:30 pm
So, Mark, you apparently could only come up with 4 legits, so you just wrote a bunch of crap down for #5 because that was the assignment?
5 legit reasons Georgia Tech might disappoint in 2009 | Mark Bradley | Georgia realestate live today
August 26th, 2009
1:35 pm
[...] lists fivesome reasons Colony Tech strength indeed spoil in 2009. See the example place here: 5 legit reasons Colony Tech strength spoil in 2009 | Mark Bradley Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ajc, Art, august, events, lengthy-and, mark-the, [...]
Deerfield
August 26th, 2009
1:38 pm
Hey Jared, everyone in Rabun is pullin for you. Get better soon. We need you back.
Doggie dog
August 26th, 2009
1:45 pm
How will tech respond after loseing to clemson????????????
Tide Rising
August 26th, 2009
1:47 pm
Don’t know if its true or not but someone pointed out that Tech plays 11 straight games without a break. If this is true then that is a big deal. Its hard to sustain emotionally and physically for 11 straight weeks. Eventually you will have a letdown. Surprised you didn’t list this if its true.
Having Shaw out for awhile is a really big deal, especially if your qb is getting hit every other play. Not good.
Special teams are critical, especially in the biggest games where the margin of victory is narrow. More than likely this alone will cost Tech a game, possibly 2.
Trap games are something everyone has to deal with and as I noted in my first point trap games are more likely if you have to play 11 straight weeks without a break.
If and when you pass 43% is simply unacceptable. Tech has to improve here.
I’m probably one of the few souls that thinks that with some luck Tech could be a team that could run the table. Every single game is winnable for Tech but more than likely they will probably drop 2 of them somewhere along the line. Still, I think Tech wins not only their division but the ACC. As a big fan of option football I’m pulling for them.
Hey Dogtards
August 26th, 2009
1:48 pm
“He no longer has the luxury of the better players and weak competition if he wants to play with the BCS big boys.”
Hey genius, Navy rarely played “better players” and their competition isn’t as weak as you think. First, obviously, they play ND every year. Other notables include NC St., Northwestern, BC, Connecticut, Wake, Rutgers, Texas Tech, Vandy, Duke, TCU, New Mexico, Maryland, Stanford, East Carolina, Pitt, and Utah. Many of those teams matched up against Navy several times. In fact, he lost to Utah while at Navy by three points in December of 2007 – almost exactly a year before Utah embarrassed Alabama in a BCS bowl. You know Alabama, that team thank monkey stomped your puppies hopes for a national championship last year. Does Utah count as a “BCS big boy?”
“Remember 51-7, thought you would.”
Are we talking history here? That was what, 2002? Even true freshmen who were redshirted that year graduated after the 2006-2007 season. If we are talking history I might as well ask if you remember 1990, Bobby Dodd, or Joe Heisman. Keep hanging your hat on a game that was seven years ago.
Innocent Bystander
August 26th, 2009
1:57 pm
I truly am concerned about Vandy. They always seem to give UGA a run for its money. Just because we aren’t their homecoming doesn’t mean they won’t want to beat us, especially if we are still ranked high going into Halloween (a very good possibility, seeing as we have VT and UVA the weeks prior). Sure, a trip to FSU will be tough, but we mustn’t overlook the Commodores. We can overlook Duke and Miss St all we want.
Lee`
August 26th, 2009
1:58 pm
why is this f++k nut writing negative posts about our team in our paper we should do top 50 reasons why MB is a douche bag
Lee`
August 26th, 2009
2:01 pm
but its like CPJ said “SHUT EM UP OR LISTEN TO IT” i hope that this guy looks stupid early an throughout the season
Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
2:02 pm
Yeah, it’s evident I’m biased against the team I’ve forecast to play in the Orange Bowl.
CairoBravesFan79
August 26th, 2009
2:03 pm
The Bulldog fans really are jealous and worried. HAHA They are bringing up games from Chan’s teams. That’s desparation, you “DAWG” fans come back after the GT-UGA game and we will talk, until then all that matters is ya got beat last year. Deal with it.
GT45
August 26th, 2009
2:03 pm
When we beat UGtArd this year, they’ll still be talking next year. It will never end. Mark, I think you really had to struggle to come up with these five reasons, but the scenario could play out. I just think this team, now, carries too much confidence to fail. They believe in the system and the coach, but more importantly, they believe in each other.
Truth
August 26th, 2009
2:09 pm
The real 5 true statements:
1) Mark Bradley=Village Idiot
2) Dawg fans are obnoxious
3) Mark Bradley doesn’t know Jack S.
4) Dawg fans are jerks
5) FLA 59 UGA 0
Dawgs Fan
August 26th, 2009
2:09 pm
Whaa Whaa (Thumb in mouth) So why did you make a list about why the jackets will flop,,,man you tech fans have real chip on your shoulder. You just need to get over it and get used to be the lesser talked about team in Georgia. The Dawgs will always be Number 1!
Tom
August 26th, 2009
2:11 pm
45-42!!!!! Suck it, mutts!
Urban
August 26th, 2009
2:13 pm
You thought 49-10 was bad?
Green Tea
August 26th, 2009
2:15 pm
Mark, you forgot #6.
#6 This guy goes to Tech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCXRvbS8dJk
-AMG
August 26th, 2009
2:16 pm
Alot of people are looking for reasons Tech will go 9-3 or 10-2, just like 3-9 last year. No one wants to be the one to state that with a little luck Tech could go 12-0 this year. Look for FSU to flounder, same with UGA and Miami (who lost two of there QBs yesterday). Who is the real danger VT? No, we will beat them handily, so barring serious injuries to multiple key starters, I do not see a real threat.
JacketMan
August 26th, 2009
2:17 pm
Mark, you forgot #6
#6 Green Tea is a teabagger
Green Tea
August 26th, 2009
2:22 pm
Jacketman do you have a cool calculator like that NERD in that video he filmed in his dorm room at Tech? I bet you do and I also bet you tuck it in your belt like he does. NERD!