Tech’s Morgan: “We want to win the ACC championship”
Derrick Morgan: Even if you hold him, you can't really stop him. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Most of the other Jackets trudged the two blocks from their practice field to the locker room, but Derrick Morgan, the splendid defensive end, rolled up in an SUV. A young woman had happened by and had offered Morgan and two Georgia Tech teammates a lift, and they weren’t inclined to say no.
“In the nick of time,” Morgan said, smiling. “That walk after practice feels long.”
What this tells us: Derrick Morgan is a pragmatist. He’s not one to traffic, so to speak, in posturing. Why walk when you can ride? Why jump up and down shouting, “Hey, look at us,” when you figure your team has the wherewithal to make people notice yet again?
Some Tech folks were disappointed the Jackets weren’t ranked higher than No. 15 in the coaches’ and Associated Press preseason poll. Morgan wasn’t among them. “I didn’t think we’d be that high,” he said. “We were embarrassed by LSU [in the Chick-fil-A Bowl]. I was expecting us to be lower.”
This isn’t to say Morgan expects Tech to underperform in Year 2 under Paul Johnson. “We want to win the ACC championship,” Morgan said, “and then we have to take it to the next level: We want to win a bowl game. We haven’t won one of those in I-don’t-know-how-long.” [Tech's last postseason victory: Dec. 21, 2004, over Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl.]
Morgan plays defense, but he also sees Tech’s stylized offense every day. A visitor posits the semi-popular notion that opponents will be better able to stop Johnson’s spread option in 2009 because they had a look at it in 2008. A valid point?
“Uh, no — just to be blunt,” Morgan said. “Seeing it can’t get you ready for everything. And how long are you really going to have to prepare for it? A week at the most.”
Morgan remembers the first time his defense went against the first-team offense in spring practice 2008: “We didn’t know what hit us. We knew what it looked like, but we saw its potential unleashed.”
And what’s it like to face that offense? “Not fun. You have to be really cognizant of cutback blocks and the blind side. You have to be really assignment-sound.”
As for Tech’s D: Much has been made over Morgan’s missing linemates — Michael Johnson, Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, all drafted by NFL teams — but it must be noted that the Jackets return a starter at every other defensive spot. It must also be noted that Morgan, whom Tech insiders considered the best of the linemen, believes he has improved.
“I was looking at some tape of last year,” he said, “and I think I’m a lot better now. I know there’s more attention on me, but we’ve still got a great defensive line.”
Loading ...So, if you’re planning to categorize Tech as a one-year wonder, you won’t find a willing audience wearing No. 91. “I would not agree with that,” Morgan said, smiling again. He also said this: “With the type of talent we have, we can compete with the best teams in the country. Our goal is to win every game.”
And this, remember, is a pragmatist speaking, not some dewy-eyed dreamer. But before we leave Derrick Morgan, we must present his one blue-sky dream. That long slog from the practice field? He sees a workaround.
“We need one of those things they have in airports,” he said. “A moving sidewalk.”
At last check, there are a few engineers on campus. Get moving, people!
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184 comments Add your comment
Saint Simmon's first day of school
August 26th, 2009
6:13 pm
NERRRRRRRRRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3njjD41f48&feature=PlayList&p=1EC4F3B6403CE8FE&index=0&playnext=1
Hi, I go to GT. WE NUMA WON
August 26th, 2009
6:19 pm
Betta grab a umbrera i make it rain…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCXRvbS8dJk
Green Tea
August 26th, 2009
6:22 pm
That video is awesome, did you film it in your dorm room at Tech???! That’s hilarious, I picture every GT poster on this blog is a nerd just like you. Do you all have the same calculators?? Those things are awesome.
John
August 26th, 2009
6:39 pm
JR u are an idiot. Navy is an academy. They don’t get players who go to the NFL. They go on to become outstanding businessmen and leaders. The fact he has a winning record is great and the record is very good. And navy’s schedule, being an independent, isn’t easy either. You ga fans make yourselves look dumber and dumber each passing day. All you have in life is your redneck football program. And you act like you’re some great program with all these nat titles. Sad.
John
August 26th, 2009
6:50 pm
Champaign
Oh really? So uga is one of the worst teams in your conference? How about florida with 2 acc games last season and ole miss which beat florida? Yeah those are some bad teams. Dumbass.
John
August 26th, 2009
6:53 pm
Oh and champaign. Alabama was another one. So out of the 10 games, half were against top 15 sec teams. So much for making the argument the top acc only played and won the weak sec. And of those games, the acc was 2-3. Yeah that sure makes your argument. Dumbass.
Green Tea
August 26th, 2009
7:11 pm
John, be honest, you are that gt student rapper that submitted his video a while ago. NERD
B'Ham Jacket
August 26th, 2009
7:32 pm
UGA fans must realy be worried about Tech.
So many of their putrid comments on a site they like to belittle.
Sounds like a lot of jealousy, paranoia, delusional thinking.
Quite revealing of their impotence.
Stinger
August 26th, 2009
7:40 pm
You dawgs try to act like you have rivals other than us. It’s no rival when you lose to Florida every single year for eternity. There is no other good team in the SEC other than Florida. We would tear LSU apart if we played them during the regular season. We were just getting ready for this year when we practiced for the bowl game last year. Our season was already made. We were projected to win 3 or 4 games and won 9 including stomping you in the second half and beating your AZZ. You were ranked number One and tanked it. You have no quarterback or running back this year so get ready now for another bashing in November I predict 56-6. You will never ever stop this offense even if you had 6 months to get ready for it. Your defense is pathetic. Your season will be over after Oklahoma State runs you out of the stadium. What did T.Boone predict? Wasn’t it 397 to 3 ?
45ACP
August 26th, 2009
7:54 pm
POAD, we all know or should know it’s all in fun. These are student athletes we are talking about. It’s not life and death we are discussing here. It’s more important than that. College Football.
Take a deep breath my fellow football friend. At the end of the day does all this rhetoric really matter?
Tide Rising
August 26th, 2009
8:26 pm
And to think I thought Bama-Auburn was hateful. I follow both the Georgia teams so I’m glad to see Tech is back. I think as long as Tech has Paul Johnston they and this series are from now on going to be competitive. Its good to see an intense rivalry reborn. Plus I love option football.
Mark Bradley
August 26th, 2009
9:03 pm
“All in fun”? Them’s fightin’ words, 45ACP. (We say that in Kentucky, where I did indeed go to school.)
CatsFly
August 26th, 2009
9:15 pm
“When they snap the ball, the ball is the issue. If you’ve got that we will come and get you, and if your mama got the ball we will come and get her too.” – Marvin Austin, UNC
Tide for spell champ
August 26th, 2009
9:36 pm
Who is Paul “Johnston”? Any kin to Sabo ofer thare in Alibamer?
King of Sandy Springs
August 26th, 2009
9:39 pm
This year, CPJ will probably win a Coach of the Year award, again. It feels good having a great coach on the sidelines. It’s not just his X’s and O’s, the guy flat out knows how to win and run a program. I expect the two biggest issues from last year will be non-issues this year, special teams and turnovers. Also, Tech fans don’t fret, the O-line and D-line will surprise many. The D will improve, just as much as the O will. Remember these guys were very young, learning a new D and O. This second year is going to be fun!
Steve
August 26th, 2009
9:39 pm
They still have a football team at that school downtown???? I thought that was a high school? Either that or everyone was mugged or killed by the thugs down there.
Steve
August 26th, 2009
9:42 pm
Stinger, you make me laugh. I would do anything to see the dorks play UGA’s schedule this year. I would bet 6-6 at the BEST. UGA will go 10-2 before their bowl game.
g8trb8
August 26th, 2009
10:10 pm
georgia does have one thing going for them if they hold up and stay healthy all season and that is their o line…give ANY quarterback enough time and they will make the right choice…we will see murray by the cocktail party, because cox may get his ballz rocked
“if you aint a gator, you’re gatorbait !
g8trb8
August 26th, 2009
10:12 pm
georgia is in alot of trouble this year…they really needed noodle arm stafford and moreno back, but who blames them for leaving
Pulpwood Smith
August 26th, 2009
10:50 pm
This blind Tech optimism is just comical. Sure, Tech had a good year by their standards, and did beat Georgia for the first time in 8 years (despite giving up 42 points). Despite this, Georgia had more wins than Tech, and won a New Year’s Day bowl game with relative ease (as opposed to Tech, who put up 3 points and got annihilated and completely embarrassed by an average LSU squad who Georgia handled easily in Baton Rouge). Pulpwood thinks Tech will not be as good as they were last year, will not win the ACC, and will lose 4 or more games. Look for opposing defensive coordinators to take a look at the Peach Bowl tape, oh, 1500 times, and mirror what LSU did….. 7-5 with a loss to Georgia and a trip to the Music City Bowl. The beatdown will begin with Clemson on Thursday evening, September 10. Back to reality for the North Avenue Irregulars, who can return to hiding.
heeldawg
August 26th, 2009
11:18 pm
Tech wants to win the ACC title. I want to be able to fly.
“If wishes were fishes…”
Limpbuzzkit
August 26th, 2009
11:20 pm
We will beat VT, we will beat UGA, we will win the ACC, heck we may just win them all. look out.
TechDan
August 27th, 2009
12:07 am
heel dawg, that’s really funny, cause it cost me more for my season tickets than it does to get a ride in a plane.
Paul Johnson
August 27th, 2009
12:26 am
TechDan – hell, let me know where you can get a plane ride for a hot dog and a coke. Thought us techies were rich?? Dang, I guess the joke is on my dumb country ass.
macrotech
August 27th, 2009
1:25 am
Timbo C., sorry the song hurts your feeling so bad, but it’s a tradition. Not to be confused with obsession. It’s true, that we’re not uga’s biggest fans….again, there’s a reason it’s called “Clean Old Fashioned Hate”.
Champaign Dawg, we just play the games that are scheduled…it IS the all mighty sec, afterall. I do know that one of those wins was against the preseason #1 team in the nation. (Sorry for the low blow….you seem like a reasonble Dawg fan)
macrotech
August 27th, 2009
1:28 am
Pulpwood Smith, thank you for your thoughts….I’d like to give you change for your two cents
macrotech
August 27th, 2009
1:34 am
Steve, how would the team WE beat do better in the sec? We were 2-1 against the sec… looking to go 3-0 THIS season!
macrotech
August 27th, 2009
1:37 am
Green Tea, you need more of yourself….still toxins in your system!
Not Disappointed
August 27th, 2009
5:39 am
Mark, great read on Morgan. I expect great things from him and others on the Defensive side this year. A lot of people seems to forget they only lost three people on defense last year. I do believe the defense will be pretty good. I like others feel this will be Morgan’s last year, but we shall see.
Let College Football start soon! Oy! “Ramblin Wreck!”
Archie Alexander
August 27th, 2009
6:48 am
All these comments simply prove the death of civilization comes through anonymity
Timbo C.
August 27th, 2009
10:43 am
macro – I’m not offended so much as I am amused that you dorks do that before every game. What a bunch of losers.
macrotech
August 28th, 2009
4:03 am
Timbo C., you’re sounding offended to me….no, we WON the last game!!! We’re a bunch of winners by default!
SWBUZZMAN
August 28th, 2009
10:32 am
HEY 12 WINS… Jokes on you 45-42, b-otch! THWG! Go Jackets!
Life coach
August 28th, 2009
3:20 pm
Here is five reasons UGA will flop this year:
1) Overated (See last year)
2) UF, LSU, USC & GT
3) Can’t win the big one (See 30 years and counting to a Nat Champ.)
4) Arrests of various players
5) History: Lot of wins but few against top talent See #1, 2 &3