5 reasons Georgia Tech will win at Miami
The nighttime zaniness will be on the other side. But that's OK. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
1. Paul Johnson coaches Georgia Tech. Randy Shannon coaches Miami. Mismatch.
2. Tech just got a crash course in how to handle a Thursday night game. The home team will be pumped and will start fast. The visitor must ride out the first quarter and stay close, which is doubly important if …
3. You’re a running team, which Tech is. The Jackets can’t get too far behind. But they won’t. Indeed, their capacity to control the ball and the clock will help douse Miami’s early fire. Which means …
4. It will come down to execution. That’s a mismatch, too. Miami beat Florida State because FSU is even sloppier than the U. Tech can get sloppy, but not when it matters. And, in case you haven’t noticed …
5. Tech owns Miami. Even Chan Gailey beat the Hurricanes. As Inspector Clouseau would say, “The case, she is sol-ved.”
(Or is it? Coming next: What ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc. thinks of this titanic Thursday tilt.)
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366 comments Add your comment
Charles Jackson
September 16th, 2009
11:51 am
Reading this stuff is better than The Vent.
Pat
September 16th, 2009
11:53 am
No brock it’s not almost. we have 5 wins over you. and this year will make 6. that will be double what your dawgs have done to fla over the same time. hardly almost the same.
Paul Johnson
September 16th, 2009
11:56 am
Miami has been the best program in CFB these past 30 years (modern football era)
Garret
September 16th, 2009
11:57 am
Only an ignorant person would make excuses for a team getting a special teams td. how many of those has ga gotten over the past decade? 30? 40? so when les miles does it, that’s a great team. when tech does it, it doesn’t count. you dawg fans are morons. i really hope arkansas beats the crap out of you. your team sucks now and all you have is bashing your in state rival. pathetic.
chuck allison
September 16th, 2009
11:59 am
Chan Gailey beat the Hurricanes thrice. (Thrice means three times, in case any Georgie fans are trying to read this)
Mutts-R-Stupid-especially-journalism-majors
September 16th, 2009
12:03 pm
I am very impressed that Tech handled those 300+ pound offensive linemen from Clemson, one at what 330 and another at 320 or so. Miami will not have all that extra beef on offense or defense.
Jack
September 16th, 2009
12:07 pm
Look at this. This just shows how white trash dawg fans are. This from their own blog. Not a surprise when you see the toothless lard butt rednecks who go support uga. This is who “fills” your stadium you dopes.
GSB: “Clean your crap up after you tailgate”
Posted by RSD on 09/15/2009
The Georgia Sports Blog has posted an article that every Dawg fan should read. If you tailgate on North Campus, clean up your mess afterwards!
The amount of trash tossed on the ground during and after UGA football games is disturbing. It’s not that hard to bring a trash bag and put your crap in it. UGA will pick them up later. As they mention, President Adams can and will crack down on tailgating if this continues.
While we are on the subject, always pick up your trash no matter where you are tailgating.
Jefferson
September 16th, 2009
12:07 pm
UGA fans (some) are having a hard time being the 2nd best major college team in the state. Some revert the name calling and childish remarks. Next time they beat GT, then they will be the best team in the state. Rankings hold some water, but the belts are won on the field.
Tech75
September 16th, 2009
12:15 pm
CPJ is a great coach, and cagey as well. You can bet your azz that he’ll have answers for what Clemson, LSU, and NC did. You can also bet that he’ll have some “guaranteed” plays in his back pocket to use during crunch time, if it gets to that.
For instance: if the DE starts crashing to eliminate the QB keeper option, we can let him crash and run inside him. Or, we can let the A back on that side chip him then proceed upfield for a short pass.
CPJ’s got lots of ways to react, depending on what the defense chooses to do. And he reacts pretty much real-time, as opposed to the other side trying to figure it out and make adjustments at half-time.
Advantage, Tech.
Barry U
September 16th, 2009
12:19 pm
Garret how is the comment about specialteams scoring an excuse. The triop scored 16 points correct? You guys are all about the offense being just dominant. Right? Just pointing out that they got points other ways and noone has brought that up. Will that happen again? Odds are against it. If you think that scoring from trick plays and special teams are a given maybe you are kinda ignorant. Not even VT which has best special teams in the country every year would argue that. FSU and Bowden love trick plays and are those things they count on to win every game? No! How about some comments on the D getting waxed by the baby QB? Any comment on the offense only getting 16 points? Anything about you supid coach crying about prep time? You went to GT? How did you get in?
Barry U
September 16th, 2009
12:21 pm
Garret how is the comment about specialteams scoring an excuse. The triop scored 16 points correct? You guys are all about the offense being just dominant. Right? Just pointing out that they got points other ways and noone has brought that up. Will that happen again? Odds are against it. If you think that scoring from trick plays and special teams are a given maybe you are kinda ignorant. Not even VT which has best special teams in the country every year would argue that. FSU and Bowden love trick plays and are those things they count on to win every game? No! How about some comments on the D getting waxed by the baby QB? Any comment on the offense only getting 16 points? Anything about your stupid coach crying about prep time? You went to GT? How did you get in?
Ptjackets
September 16th, 2009
12:21 pm
all you guys on here need a life!
CanePhin-Royal Palm Beach
September 16th, 2009
12:33 pm
I just dont think that having 3 games in 12 days and only 4 days of practice to go on the road and face this Miami offense will be enough. I will say that yes we know what GT’s offense has done, but with only 4 days of practice AND rest against this version of The []_[]?
I dont think Tech gets it done!
go tech
September 16th, 2009
12:40 pm
Bradley,
You are en fuego!
“Even Chan Gailey beat the Hurricanes.” Love it!
Paul is a Johnson
September 16th, 2009
12:48 pm
Amazing how perception and reality can diverge the way they do.
In fact, after a 67 yard first drive, your team only managed about 250 yards the rest of the game and didn’t have a single drive over 40 yards. Tech had 5 drives of 40+.
The UNC perception of that game to this day amazes me. None of their fans remember that the game was tied 7-7 with 2 minutes left in the third. None of their fans remember that we missed two field goals and didn’t try another one from the unc 30 afterwards. None of the unc fans to remember that the turnover margin was 3-0 in favor of unc. No, they only seem to remember their dominating defense (gave up over 400 yards), their awe-inspiring offense (1 drive of over 40 yards), and their absolute destruction of GT (with a decent field goal kicker performance, GT is up 16-7 late in the third).
Nothing but a bunch of excuses. “Nobody remembers at the end of the day that it was tied 7-7 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd.” Nobody cares about that because people only worry about if they won or lost the game! I will play your game though and break down the Clemson game as you tried to break down the UNC game last year. Take away Tech’s 89 yard run on their second series of the game and your powerful running game only managed 212 yards the rest of the way. After that drive your running game averaged 53 yards per quarter. We wouldn’t have given up a TD if our placekicker would have kicked it out of bounds. You guys wouldn’t have scored a TD if we had a safe man back on your field goal attemp. “None of the UNC fans remember that we missed two field goals and didn’t try another one from the UNC 30 afterwards.” I guess CPJ is a genius because he knew the guy would likely miss a 3rd. I’m guessing you don’t care about these stats and excuses since you won the game. Just like UNC didn’t care about your stats and excuses above.
GWB
September 16th, 2009
12:50 pm
You have no pass rush. Period. Jacory Harris will light your D up like a Christmas tree. GT losses by 2 TDs. Maybe more.
GWB
September 16th, 2009
12:58 pm
“Miami has the weapons to exploit a Georgia Tech secondary that’s been vulnerable to the big play starting with slot WR Travis Benjamin (5-10, 175 pounds) who has world class speed and is capable of running by FS Cooper Taylor
Seems ESPN thinks like I do. Cooper Taylor is your weak link. Every fast team you play will kill the guy.
Mark Bradley
September 16th, 2009
12:59 pm
Yeah, that Derrick Morgan. He never rushed the passer in his life.
GWB
September 16th, 2009
1:00 pm
I can already see Branden Smith and A.J. Green going by Cooper Taylor like he’s stuck in a bucket of cement.
GWB
September 16th, 2009
1:02 pm
Morgan can rush the passer yes, put the rest of the D line is hapless. Jacory Harriss is a bit more mobile too don’t you think Mark?
macrotech
September 16th, 2009
1:08 pm
U tech fans are really stupid if you think GT is going to win VS Miami, what? Have you been sniffing the modeling glue you’re using to patch your girl friend?
That vaunted insect passing game is just scaring the ACC to death! Lol, and the high school option is just terrifying, ha ahah hahha hhah hahahah!
Miami by 30+
Go Gators!
September 16th, 2009
1:08 pm
Funny UGA fans don’t consider GT a rival anymore. We were all thinking the same exact thing about them.
macrotech
September 16th, 2009
1:10 pm
Mark Bradley; “Yeah, that Derrick Morgan. He never rushed the passer in his life.”
and he never took a play off did he mark? lol, what a crappy team!
Sunshine
September 16th, 2009
1:11 pm
a lot of these UM fans are big mouths thinking that the football world revolve around them. Heck look at all the ding dongs on the Miami Herald already callin this game over. They are in a rude suprise Thursday. That FSU game was a fluke, and we will expose it. GT by 10.
macrotech
September 16th, 2009
1:12 pm
UGA has won more than 1 in 7 vs the gayturds
macrotech
September 16th, 2009
1:15 pm
I am so lame, I hijack tech usernames in order to try to play down Tech’s success. I am such a UGA loser!
Juan Rodriguez
September 16th, 2009
1:27 pm
Don’t get too cocky. Miami’s defense is healthier, faster and more athletic than last year. And despite some sloppiness in pass coverage against FSU, the run defense and open field tackling were excellent. Now with experience of seeing option last season and 10 days to prepare, no chance of another 400+ yards rushing.
Miami’s new OC and QB also look more formidable than any offense Miami has had in years since Ken Dorsey left town. Play calling is less predictable and more aggressive. Jacory Harris also looked very accurate passing short and deep balls while willing to spread the ball among 8 different receivers. Not going to be easy to stop that attack.
Hey Dogtards
September 16th, 2009
1:34 pm
“Nothing but a bunch of excuses. “Nobody remembers at the end of the day that it was tied 7-7 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd.” Nobody cares about that because people only worry about if they won or lost the game! I will play your game though and break down the Clemson game as you tried to break down the UNC game last year. Take away Tech’s 89 yard run on their second series of the game and your powerful running game only managed 212 yards the rest of the way. After that drive your running game averaged 53 yards per quarter. We wouldn’t have given up a TD if our placekicker would have kicked it out of bounds. You guys wouldn’t have scored a TD if we had a safe man back on your field goal attemp. “None of the UNC fans remember that we missed two field goals and didn’t try another one from the UNC 30 afterwards.” I guess CPJ is a genius because he knew the guy would likely miss a 3rd. I’m guessing you don’t care about these stats and excuses since you won the game. Just like UNC didn’t care about your stats and excuses above.”
Look genius, UNC is the team claiming to have whooped Tech last year. There isn’t a single Tech fan on here who disagrees with your perception of the Clemson game.
It’s funny, your whole argument is that the Tech-Clemson game this year breaks down similarly to the UNC-Tech game last year, but you ignore that what spawned the whole thing is that – unlike Tech fans analyzing the win over Clemson – UNC fans think they walloped Tech. I agree that Tech got lucky to escape Clemson with a win and didn’t do a whole lot on offense except when they needed to in the fourth quarter. UNC fans, however, believe that they shut down Tech’s offense (which they didn’t), that they blew Tech out of their stadium, (which they didn’t), and that their offense blew up the whole game (which it didn’t).
Hence, Tech’s perception of the Clemson game is pretty accurate (ugly win), while UNC’s is not (blow out win when really much close).
Understand it now?
Juan Rodriguez
September 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
People trashing Miami’s defensive performance against FSU, lets look at it more closely.
Miami Defense vs run. EXCELLENT.
Save for a couple of 4th qtr runs Miami shut down FSU all game. Take away the one QB scamble for 30 yds and FSU had only 80 yd rest of game after they trashed Miami last season. Few option plays FSU ran all stuffed at line.
Miami Defense vs. Pass:
Very Poor.
Lack of pass rush. Too many coverage breakdowns. Pass rush hurt by loss of both starting DE’s to injury. One is back this week but unsure. how effective. Pass coverage hurt with two starters and a top backup out. 2 of 3 players back this week (possibly 3rd as well but unlikely). Maybe this improves maybe it doesn’t. One positive is CB Brandon Harris who blanketed whomever he was covering all game. He will shadow Demaryius Thomas all game and eliminate him as a threat.
Miami Tackling.
This was cited as a Miami weakness. If looking at tapes form last season I would agree. But new DC emphasized fundamental tackling all off-season. And after watching the entire FSU game I do not remember a single missed tackle. Many blown coverages but no missed tackles.
Miami defense needs some work. But their strength against run plays up in this game. Given Nesbitt’s poor accuracy as passer, not sure how well they can exploit the weaknesses in pass defense.
Gaytor Inferiority Complex - Trying To Reach 5 Natl. Championships
September 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
Mark Bradley AKA SUPER HOMER….dig a little deeper next time when you attempt to analyze a football game. Seriously?
How can you not even mention Jacory Harris and Miami’s offense??
Dwain Trent
September 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
I think you are crazy for underestimating the U this year Miami is going to come out play hard be focus pull out another big win, Georgia Tech hasnt prove anything to me they still cant win when it counts just like Virginia Tech watch Miami the U is back!!!
The Trojan Dynasty
September 16th, 2009
1:42 pm
Georgia Tech has a football team??
Paul is a Johnson
September 16th, 2009
1:45 pm
Hey Dogtards
“Understand it now?”
I understand your wasting a lot of time with what is still a loss at the end of the day.
Neal
September 16th, 2009
1:45 pm
what happens IF Miami wins and GT is exposed with this dynamic Offense you have…JUST A IF here you guys are the favorites…we are lucky to be on the same field as you!!
your last five games…YOU Beatdown Miami and played the best game under CPJ since he got here
in a dog fight with UGA
Got Embarrased ( worse then we did ) by LSU
beat a good JAx team they scored 17?? even that lousey FSU team held them to 9 lol
Clemson hung with you for 4qtrs..and outplayed you in the 2nd half 2-1…..
last year…NC shut you down
UVA ( still laughing) shut you down
Garnder webb shut you down
VT shut you down
YOu beat US and UGA and FSU ( fumble helped) those were quality wins and you should be proud…I am trying to look at the big picture and see some consistancy…here…good luck and GO CANES…
Hey Dogtards
September 16th, 2009
1:47 pm
“Miami has won 5 chips. Gtech:0″
Actually we’ve got 4 genius.
Tech75
September 16th, 2009
1:51 pm
Hey Dwain – Could your parents not spell “Dwayne”? From the rest of your post I would guess that’s the case.
Miami no longer lives on its reputation – they don’t intimidate anyone anymore. So all this woofing about “the U is back” is BS until you prove it on the field.
It’s going to be very difficult for you to win this game when time of possession is 65% in Tech’s favor, and your average drive start is the 25 yard line (after receiving a kick-off).
Believe me, CPJ’s got a plan, and it will be a good one. And this week, we won’t take our foot off the accelerator.
chris
September 16th, 2009
1:57 pm
1. Paul Johnson coaches Georgia Tech. Randy Shannon & Mark Whipple coach Miami. Advantage Miami. More NFL experience.
2. Tech just got a crash course in how to handle a Thursday night game … at home playing against a freshman quarterback. Jacory Harris has bowl game experience.
3. You’re a running team, which Tech is. The Jackets CAN get too far behind because Miami has players on defense this year who were injured in ‘08 — including Eric Moncur, Colin McCarthy, Randy Phillips and Vaughn Telemaque. That’s nearly half the defense.
4. It will come down to execution. So, how would you describe GT’s second-half execution against Clemson? Were they sloppier on defense or offense?
5. Tech owns Miami … when Larry Coker’s recruits dominated the roster. There are new horses in the Coral Gables stable. And as Detective Columbo would say, “I’ve got just one more question … how’s the triple option been working since the loss to LSU last year?”
Mark Bradley, your blog will make good fodder for the Canes’ locker room bulletin board.
I predict an offensive shoot out. Miami has an aerial attack and they will be unveiling more of their offense in their second game. Watch out for the bomb as well as boots on the ground with Miami’s depth at running back: Graig Cooper, Javarris James, Lee Chambers and Mike James.
Both teams have good field goal kickers.
May the best team win!
Eric
September 16th, 2009
2:00 pm
Next year Tech fans will be calling for Paul Johnsons head because the ACC has figured out his gimmick offense. Oh and the Canes aren’t cocky, they have their swagger back!!! LSU took it from them in the Peach Bowl a few years back, but its been found again. Look out GT.
Canes35-GT17
September 16th, 2009
2:01 pm
Miami-35 Georgia Tech-17// You cant stop this storm!!!
Tech75
September 16th, 2009
2:02 pm
Hey Canes supporters….
What’s going to happen to your psyche on the sidelines when we score on our first drive in about 2 minutes?
I think deja vu will set in… blood pressure will go up, pressure will build as you realize YOU WILL HAVE TO SCORE EVERY TIME YOU CAN GET THE BALL to win this game.
los
September 16th, 2009
2:03 pm
I don’t know if all of u Gtech fans saw what Clemson did to the option attack. We will be known as the OPTION STOPPERS. Miami will stop the option and Gtech will try and pass the ball and we all know that They can’t and thats when UM WILL TAKE OVER THE GAME. UM 40 LITTLE gt 21. Revenge Game. watch and weep !!!
Hey Dogtards
September 16th, 2009
2:04 pm
“I understand your wasting a lot of time with what is still a loss at the end of the day.”
I guess you didn’t go to unc. Your reading comprehension skills are waaayyyy too low.
Nobody in here is saying GT has a miraculously awesome offense. The biggest adjustment year 1 to year 2 for defenses is learning a scheme to play against the TO (see Miami, uog). That doesn’t lessen the effectiveness of the offense, it will instead limit the number of massively large plays (i.e. 60 yard runs). Specifically, that means we’ll have to execute more consistently on offense, something we haven’t done yet.
I don’t think anyone is saying Miami’s offense is weak either. Y’all looked great against FSU. I’d like to think our defense is better than theirs, but your offense looked real good. Can’t wait to settle it on the field tomorrow.
“beat a good JAx team they scored 17?? even that lousey FSU team held them to 9 lol.” You do realize that, because we were up on them 31-7 at halftime we got to rotate a lot of our first team out. FSU played their first team the whole ways. Pretty poor way of measuring up each defense.
“Clemson hung with you for 4qtrs..and outplayed you in the 2nd half 2-1…..”
Fair enough. Learn and move on.
“NC shut you down”
See my post before. If you give me 324 yards rushing and 100+ yards passing I’ll take that stat line every time.
“Garnder webb shut you down”
Third string QB who is no longer on the team so irrelevant. How would you do against us with your third string QB?
“VT shut you down”
I should hope so, they had one of the best D’s in the country and we were under our third (or so) game in a new system with a new coach.
The U
September 16th, 2009
2:04 pm
5 Reasons Miami will Beat Ga Tech
1. Much improved offensive line compared to 2008. Couple that with losing Michael Johnson and GT will have trouble continuously pressuring Jacory Harris.
2. Although Tech will amass ~250 yards rushing, they will need to pass the ball effectively on 3rd downs to beat Miami and 3/14 by Nesbitt will not cut it two weeks in a row.
3. The Triple Option is extremely difficult to stop and replicate in practice, but two weeks of film and walks through will prepare them enough to get Tech into 3rd and longs, which will lead to trouble for Nesbitt. Look at what LSU did with a month of preparation, albeit with better athletes, but Miami will perform better than they did last year.
4. Off Coordinator- Mark Whipple will have a game plan that Tech has not seen the last four times that they beat Miami. It will include aggressive play calls mixed in with some trickeration, which may not work all of the time, but they will keep the DEs honest and punish them if they over committ.
5. Jacory Harris and the plethora of talented WRs. A much improved aerial attack will make it difficult for Techs offense to keep up.
I’m not an arrogant Cane fan, but feel that The U is on the cusp of putting together a great season. I believe it will be as good a game as the FSU/Miami game, but I’m sorry Tech fans all good things must come to an end. Miami 38, Tech 27
Neal
September 16th, 2009
2:05 pm
sad part…people that HATE US IN THE MEDIA are all picking us…wonder why?? and in vegas and they line keeps moving up…makes you say hmmmmmmmmmmm
Hey Dogtards
September 16th, 2009
2:05 pm
“don’t know if all of u Gtech fans saw what Clemson did to the option attack. We will be known as the OPTION STOPPERS.”
You may end up stopping us, but you don’t have near the big D linemen that Clemson had, although you do have some speed on the ends (although depth is not there). I also don’t think you will ever be known as the option stoppers after last year.
orion willis
September 16th, 2009
2:09 pm
Randy Shannon will bring his A game and will defend the pride of the U,I exspect a great game but lets see what the jackets can do once the canes defense takes out dwayer and nesbit and dares you to try to throw deep against the canes corners.
SWBUZZMAN
September 16th, 2009
2:09 pm
Hey dogtard.?, If any of our backs had Samuels numbers they would be on the practice squad.
Garret
September 16th, 2009
2:11 pm
Barry U
Nice double post. I’m Barry and so retarded, I don’t know how to let my browser reset after i hit submit.
Don’t ya think maybe when we got out to that big lead, we became complacent. Oh yeah that never happens. Football, like most sports, is all about runs and momo. We had it. Then lost it. How can our offense score when they aren’t ON THE FIELD, you dolt. Go back to your whiner ugay blog loser. 2 losses for your stink team after this week. Pathetic.
Garret
September 16th, 2009
2:13 pm
Neal the line has moved up 1/2 a point on one site and stayed the same on the others. don’t lie
jdhos
September 16th, 2009
2:14 pm
You ran a gimmick offense against a team of freshman last year. The U has more talent, and speed on both sides of the ball. Our D coordinator shut down that bullcrap offense last year at UNC with inferior players. It is going to be hilarious how stupid the Canes D will make Tech look, Im forecasting at least 3 Tech players will leave the field with injuries. Ill take studs Cooper, and James over that fat turd you have running your high school offense any day of the week.