Tech to finish third in the ACC Coastal? Sounds about right
Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett play on Sundays now. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I may be crazy — folks, there’s your opening — but on one issue I’m not alone in my nuttiness. Earlier this summer I picked Georgia Tech to finish third in the ACC Coastal Division. On Monday the conference media assembled in Greensboro picked Tech to finish …
Third in the ACC Coastal Division.
Like me, the ACC voters have Virginia Tech and Florida State winning the league’s divisions. Unlike me, the ACC voters had Miami finishing second in the Coastal, with North Carolina fourth. I had it the other way around. (Although Carolina now has agent issues, which is no small consideration.)
My rationale, such as it is, on the Jackets: They’ll be good, just not quite as good, and the Coastal will be better. (I see the Coastal as the roughest division in college football. This includes the SEC East and the SEC West.) Georgia Tech must visit North Carolina and Virginia Tech this fall, and those are two games the Jackets won at home en route to the 2009 ACC championship.
And the effect of the four juniors lost to the NFL cannot be overridden in one offseason. Tech was a fine team last season but not an especially deep one — except at running back; the Jackets have lots of those — and even if Anthony Allen is nearly as good as Jonathan Dwyer I see no one on this roster who can do as Derrick Morgan and Demaryius Thomas did.
But I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time. (That’s yet another opening, folks.) But at least on this issue I’m not the Lone Ranger. I find this oddly comforting.
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172 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
9:40 am
I yield to no one in my esteem for Joshua Nesbitt, Ralph.
CPJ Disciple
July 27th, 2010
9:41 am
Wrong again. Why does the media constantly underestimate CPJ and the difficulty in defending Tech’s offense? One week is not enough to prepare for Tech’s offense (4 is though, just ask LSU and Iowa), and no one has figured out how to stop Tech’s offense consistently. No staff has out coached CPJ twice since his arrival, and once is just lucky. VT will have an extra week of prep, and they could easily win the division. But Tech will not do worse than tied for second. The ACC media bandwagon will all get to congratulate each other one year in the future when Tech finally has a down year and they get it right after a few years of making the same predictions.
Jesse Stone
July 27th, 2010
9:42 am
Glory Glory- Todd whatshisname was fired by the CLEVELAND BROWNS. He tried to undercut the HC at the time thinking Crennel would get fired and he would get the HC job. He got found out and FIRED.
Heather Dinich
July 27th, 2010
9:43 am
GT will finish last in the Coastal.
PMC
July 27th, 2010
9:45 am
This is excellent for Paul Johnson I would guess. It’s so close in the ACC it’s anyone’s guess really.
I think GT’s defense is going to play better as a unit this year even if they aren’t as talented. They were disjointed quite a lot on different levels of the defense…Al Groh is going to fix that. I expect better execution on offense on balance. They have a lot of room to improve on the Offensive Line from last year.
As far as Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett. Derrick Morgan got whipped quite a bit last year and in the bowl game he can’t blame a double team. Brian Bulaga owned him. Morgan Burnett might have been a victim of some young players around him and other injuries costing him some more chances… but he’s a lot better player than he showed last year.
FSU needs to prove they have a good defense again. North Carolina needs to prove they can play offense. Miami…which QB is going to show up the Heisman Winning caliber guy or the average Chris Rix type?
Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech may well be the most consistant. Va Tech is probably the most talented in the conference. FSU is probably next.
It’s anyones guess though really.
Glory Glory
July 27th, 2010
9:46 am
Jesse Stone……
Cleveland Browns are a little better and more prestigious than, the UV cavaliers…….
anyway…….. UGA fans are on here because we HATE you Nerds….. no no, we don’t hate you…. it goes MUCH deeper than that!!
just like every article about UGA is invested with bees, every article about the Nerds will come with cheap chots from the superior football school in the state.
{{{{{30-24}}}}}
8-1
60-39-5
We Run This State
mountain_jim
July 27th, 2010
9:47 am
Here’s a repost of what I said in GT blog:
Well this GT alum still wishes he would develop better pass-blocking and a better passing game.
The last 2 bowl games show what a big Dline, talented defense with time to prepare can do to this one-sided offense. You need a competant passing game to go all the way, and GT has not had it last 2 years and I would be surprised if they do this year. The just throw it up and let Thomas come down with it option is not available now. Can our QB read defenses and throw accurately? I doubt it, particularly not the way this offense gets his shoulders and arms so beat up every play.
Lane
July 27th, 2010
9:47 am
Ted M
How well do you think you would do or for that matter anyone could do in an NFL combine with a broke big toe? Dwyer did a great job for GT and he will do well at the next level.
POAD
July 27th, 2010
9:47 am
Mark can you file for the records of the Hall Arrest and the plea deal and sentencing? Maybe we can get more facts as to why Hall only received a 1 game suspension. From my understanding Hall was trying to leave and his girlfriend kept coming after him.
TECH should do well this year. My best hope is that we can tie for the Costal Champ. I think the wild card on the Atlantic side is Clemson. With Parker coming back Clemson could win the Division again. Tech should win the home games, but Tech has to win in LANE this year. That will be a Key.
George Stein
July 27th, 2010
9:47 am
“Invested” with bees? What does that even mean?
GSU Eagle 91
July 27th, 2010
9:48 am
As a Paul Johnson supporter from the early 1980’s at GSC, then GSU, I believe his team will be good..Not great this year, but good. The Away games GT had at home in 2009 are a big factor, and the improvement of NC, Miami and VT is apparent. I would be content with an 8-4 season this year, GT fans…
I love the way UGA fans weigh in on this, boasting about their “great” team..Right….8-4 my friends…with losses to Auburn, UF, USC at the minimum…
leeindc
July 27th, 2010
9:50 am
mark, I liked UNC too before I took a closer look at their schedule. starting with LSU and Tech is brutal, not to mention two trips to the state of Florida. Throw in a little Virginia Tech, Clemson and William and Mary and youre head starts to spin. Go Tribe!
Ted Striker
July 27th, 2010
9:54 am
You may well be correct about the ACC Coastal being the roughest division. However, division titles — no matter the conference — are frequently determined by conference games played outside the team’s division. Because of this, it’s overall conference strength (and more specifically) scheduling that’s a salient factor.
Chewbacca
July 27th, 2010
9:55 am
Disciple,
“4 is though, just ask LSU and Iowa”.
According to the scoreboard is didn’t look very tough.
FalconUGAFan
July 27th, 2010
9:55 am
Jesse Stone-Why are you on a GT blog discussing UGA?
mountain_jim I actually wanted to know the same thing. Granted, I don’t watch much GT ball but it does seem as though the passing game needs to be developed somewhat. Do you feel that this offense is based somewhat on the abilities on your current QB or is it a coaching philosophy?
POAD
July 27th, 2010
9:56 am
leindc good call on UNC. They have a real hard row to hoe for sure.
Damon
July 27th, 2010
9:58 am
yeah, you tell ‘em glory glory (hic). now where are those red panties?
It’s great, to be, a georgia bulldog, i say it’s great to be
82 Dawg
July 27th, 2010
10:01 am
Ralph …Tech was a BCS team last year remember…They lost to Iowa… I know it is not a very familiar place for them
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
i agree with the prediction, as i stated on other blogs, too much talent lost for GT plus tougher teams equals 3rd place finish.
CPJ Disciple
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
Chewy,
Like I said, once is luck. Let’s see Richt do it twice.
CPJ Disciple
July 27th, 2010
10:06 am
And UGA had 2 weeks last year, which may be enough.
F-105 Thunderchief
July 27th, 2010
10:12 am
“Do you feel that this offense is based somewhat on the abilities on your current QB or is it a coaching philosophy?”
Nesbitt has a lot to prove this year in the passing game. I went to Ga. Southern and have seen a lot of effective passing out of the Johnson triple option. In fact, back in the day, it was the passing of Tracy Ham that let the Eagles storm back and win their first title, beating Furman in Tacoma, Wash.
Hill Town
July 27th, 2010
10:13 am
Tech’s problem is:
1- They play in the ACC (becoming the best conference soon, maybe this year)
2- PJ has a .500 record against his 4 biggest rivals–they’re all tough
3- Ga Tech can’t pass, and they can’t play defense, and they’re special teams arn’t special, they run the ball extremely well, espcially against weaker teams, but that 1 dimension isn’t enough to beat the realy good teams
4- PJ’s not good in Bowl games, when folks have time to prepare for the triple option, PJ loses.
This year, Ga Tech is a clear #4 or #5.
You’d have to put V. Tech, Fla St., Miami above Ga Tech.
Then Tech will battle it out for 4th place in the ACC with Noth Carolina, who has a great defense, and not much else.
WonderDawg
July 27th, 2010
10:13 am
I agree, Mark. The ACC Coastal is at least the equal of any one division in any conference, including the SEC. I think it will come down to Tech or Miami winning the division, with either one taking the title.
As a Dawg, I for one hope it’s Tech, and eagerly await another “Clean, old fashioned, hate” season finale in Athens!
George Stein
July 27th, 2010
10:13 am
The additional time thing is completely overblown. UGA won the year it had one week to prepare and lost the year it had two weeks to prepare. Ohio St had all summer to prepare and still couldn’t stop Navy.
There are other variables. Time is not the determining factor.
Hill Town
July 27th, 2010
10:22 am
Phil Steele ranks Ga Tech #33 in the country.
He puts ahead of them:
Miami #9
North Carolina #12
Virginia Tech #13
Florida St. #20
Boston College #30
Why does he rank them #6 in the ACC?
Schedule. They play 4 top 25 teams and get Clemson, VT, NC & Georgia on the road and Miami.
Steele says Ga Tech has excellent O-Line, QB, RB’s, and defense will improve, but won’t get to 11 wins like last season.
WonderDawg
July 27th, 2010
10:23 am
F-105 Thunderchief, that ‘Ham-bone” was something to see, wasn’t it. I remember thinking when Erk took the GA Southern job, that he would have a, Dooley-type, ultra-conservative offense.
Man, was I fooled. All of that motion – you really had to see it in person to appreciate it fully. I still wish today Erk woulda replaced Dooley when he retired, just to see what he could have done on the highest level . . . But, I guess we’re seeing it with PJ, though.
I’ve posted several times Nesbitt is the best option (running) QB I’ve seen since Tracy Ham. Ham had a cannon of an arm, though. There was really no defense for Tracy Ham.
F-105 Thunderchief
July 27th, 2010
10:26 am
I tell younger Eagles who didn’t get a chance to see him play, that Ham could take over a football game the way Jordan could take over a basketball game. Google his CFL stats sometime. Unbelievably good football player.
YELLOW HEADED YOGURT SLINGER
July 27th, 2010
10:26 am
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Old Timer
July 27th, 2010
10:27 am
Ham was fun to watch as is Nesbitt, who is as tough as a Waffle House steak. But the best option QB I ever saw was Jack Mildren at OU.
Hill Town
July 27th, 2010
10:28 am
Athlon sports has bene the most accurate.
They have Ga Tech not ranked in top 25.
Ahead of Ga Tech is:
VT #10
FL ST #13
Miami #14
nc #19
Clemson #25
So, the 2 most accurate, have Ga Tech finishing #6 in ACC sorry Mark!
In a related story...
July 27th, 2010
10:29 am
The AJC is also picked to finish third in the ranking of best newspapers in the City of Atlanta.
George Stein
July 27th, 2010
10:30 am
Then why even play the games, Hill Town?
old hooker
July 27th, 2010
10:32 am
I expect to see (a) Tech in Charlotte.
ormewood
July 27th, 2010
10:32 am
I don’t get all the love for Miami. Their QB has talent, but in some games last season (UNC, Va Tech) he was absolutely terrible. They make mental mistakes, turn the ball over all the time. Their head coach has not proven that he can do the job. I see the Canes finishing 4th in their division.
HugoStiglitz
July 27th, 2010
10:32 am
I think third is spot on. If you look at what was lost and the unknowns on defense, third sounds about right. I think GT has a great chance to improve on that prediction though. Nesbitt will be healthy and even better then before. We have a brand new defense. Yes we lost the Morgans but lets face it, we couldnt stop anybody on defense last year. You would think we will get better with a proven leader like Groh running the defense. Anthony Allen should be pretty good. The better he is the more the rest of the offense opens up. There are several unknowns and we play a pretty tough schedule. If we win the ACC this year then we earned it.
T3
July 27th, 2010
10:38 am
The ACC “Media” is one of the biggest
collection of idiots in recent memory.
Lets review the recent track record of the so-called ACC “Media.”
In 2008, AAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of the so-called ACC “Media”
picked Clemson to EASILY win the ACC and…would contend for a NC.
Remember that Top 10 ranking for Clemson?
Remeber Clemson QB Cullen Harper picked as
the pre-season ACC Player of the Year?
Clemson finished 4-4 in conference and 7-6 overall.
AT THAT TIME…I said that Clemson was the MOST over-rated
team in the ACC, and they had ZEEEEE-RO chance of winning the ACC.
As I called the ACC Media at the time, the Orange “Kool-Aid” Parade.
The ACC “Media” seemed to overlook one of MANY “minor” details,
such as Clemson starting an ALL FRESHMAN Offensive Line. He-llooooo?!
Result:
Clemson HC Tommy Bowden was fired just a few weeks into the season.
In 2009, VT was the OVERWHELMING favorite to win the Coastal, and the ACC-CG. VT finished 6-2 in conference with losses to GT and UNC.
But FSU, (Yes, of course, FSU) was picked to win the Atlantic. And for those who have forgotten, FSU finished 4-4 in conference, 7-6 overall, and ANOTHER Bowden was sent packing.
Remember all that “FSU is back, baby!!” talk after the FSU-Miami game?
So, here we are “again” with VT picked “again” to win the Coastal. And, of course, FSU is picked “again” to win the ACC-CG.
In reality, FSU just migh have a shot this year.
The ACC Division Champs will be decided on Nov 13th. On Nov 13th,
GT plays Miami in Atlanta, and FSU plays Clemson in Tallahassee.
The winner of each game will be the ACC Division Champs.
I’ll go ahead and give the early benefit of that doubt to Miami.
GT has more rookies starting this year than Miami.
I see GT finishing second in ACC-Coastal at 10-2, with an early season “stumble” at UNC, and a loss to Miami. GT WILL BEAT VT in Blacksburg. At 10-2, I see GT likely going to the Chik-Fil-A bowl and defeating South Carolina.
I agree with CPJ that GT’s Offense will be as productive as last year.
The GT O-Line will actually be better than last year. As for the GT Defense, hard to see it how it could be WORSE than last year. Al Groh brings one hell-uva lot of knowledge and experience about GT’s ACC opponenets to the table. That should not be under-estimated. At all.
GT will win in Athens.
As I said before, a GREAT storyline for the ACC could be:
GT vs FSU in the ACC-CG.
FSU QB Christian Ponder vs GT QB Joshua Nesbitt…
…for the Heisman Trophy.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
10:39 am
As noted, ormewood, I’m not a Miami advocate.
Time Out
July 27th, 2010
10:42 am
WE RUN THIS STATE – CK4 – TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time Out
July 27th, 2010
10:43 am
MarK: In all seriousness, no more joking at the NERDS’ expense, are you picking NERDS over UGA again this year? Take your medicine, boy.
NO WAY
July 27th, 2010
10:44 am
I bet you 5 to 1 that the winner of the coastal division can not beat the winner of the SEC East or SEC West! I will even spot you a touchdown! SEC Champion equals National Champion.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2010
10:46 am
I picked UGA to beat Tech in 2010, Time Out. It’s in the predictions column linked above.
Paddy
July 27th, 2010
10:47 am
matthew H…Bobby B did little or no game-day coaching the last couple of years at FSU. FSU is finally going to have a team like the’90’s. Just not as dominating on defense. They will score a ton of points with Ponder at QB. They and Tech could have similar type seasons. If both teams manage a good defense then look out because predictions won’t mean a thing. Tech and FSU should both be in the top 5 in points scored. That will win you some games right there.
ArkyTech
July 27th, 2010
10:49 am
Everyone focuses on what we lost. No one looking at what we are bringing back. That’s fine. Right where we need to be.
David Granger
July 27th, 2010
10:50 am
A reasonable pick, based on Tech’s personnel losses. Great thing about college football is that a team always gets the chance to PROVE whether a preseason pick is too low, too high, or about right.
mountain_jim
July 27th, 2010
10:50 am
I appreciate hearing that Johnson had a good passing game with Ham, so maybe it’s somewhat on Nesbitt, not all coaching.
George Stein
July 27th, 2010
10:51 am
I’ll take that bet, NO WAY.
POAD
July 27th, 2010
10:54 am
Just heard Randy McMichael former Dawg and his wife were arrested for Battery. She is Pregnant and hit him. He Hit her back. I guess Robert Hall ain’t so bad after all. Women are not always Innocent victems and after the court records are released maybe we will know why it was a 1 game suspension.
ArfArf
July 27th, 2010
10:54 am
I love the Bulldog fans venting their inferiority. Less confidence, less understanding of football, and, as a result, less championship hardware. I think the Jackets may surprise some folks this year. One thing I do know, whereas since our Championship 20 years ago we would measure ourselves by beating our in-state rival, we now measure ourselves by much more. Our friends in Athens (and parts throughout) now have to measure themselves by beating a team that was obviously way out of their league. Should be an interesting season in both camps. Good luck to all.
Oh yeah, people need to stop pointing fingers at legal transgressions. Rocks and glass houses make not fine bedfellows.
Ted M
July 27th, 2010
10:56 am
Lane – Big toe can’t account for just 16 reps on the bench. There were running backs 40 lbs lighter who did more reps on the bench. That’s why he was 286th player drafted. I’ll be rooting for him with the Steelers tho.
Expect big things from Anthony Allen