5 reasons Georgia Tech is even worse off than you’d think
A happy Paul Johnson after the N.C. State game. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
1. Apparently B-backs aren’t interchangeable. Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 1,395 yards in both 2008 and 2009. Over the winter Paul Johnson said he’d be willing to bet his new B-back would gain 1,000 yards. Anthony Allen has rushed for 267 yards in four games, which would translate to 801 over a full regular season.
2. Apparently Bay-Bay was indispensable. Joshua Nesbitt passed for 1,701 yards last season, most of them to Demaryius Thomas. Nesbitt has thrown for 316 yards over four games, which projects to 948 over a full regular season. His completion percentage, which was 46.3 a year ago, is 32.6 now.
3. Apparently it wasn’t all about the defensive coordinator. Dave Wommack’s defense ranked 54th nationally last season, yielding an average of 360 yards per game. Al Groh’s defense ranks 71st, yielding 367 yards. In pass defense Tech was 45th last season; it’s 69th now.
4. Apparently “depth” isn’t synonymous with “talent.” Before the season, Johnson called this his deepest Tech team. After losing to N.C. State, Groh lamented that his defense had made but three significant plays in 81 snaps and that there was no “supermarket” where the Jackets could go buy better players.
5. Even with the ACC in retreat, four difficult games remain. Tech must play at Clemson, at Virginia Tech and at Georgia, and it will face Miami at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Given that the Jackets have already lost twice when favored and that their only victory of consequence came against depleted North Carolina, this team could wind up 7-5 — or worse.
Equal time (sort of): 5 reasons the Georgia Bulldogs are better than you’d think.
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356 comments Add your comment
45ACP
September 30th, 2010
7:58 pm
Looks like CPJ and the Trooper are heading to an all you can eat buffet.
. . . Grady Jackson . . . . *Barber Shop*
September 30th, 2010
8:00 pm
Georgia Tech has only played four games and it’s Dooms Day already.
Last year at this time GT was 3-1, barely beating Clemson and losing to Miami.
The Jackets then won eight games in a row.
Do not underestimate Coach Paul Johnson.
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2010
8:03 pm
45ACP – And not a very good one by the looks on their faces.
Liter Patrol
September 30th, 2010
8:04 pm
Did the Dawg fans trash the campus again after Bobby Petrino and Arkansas spanked their butt.
Rt in NC
September 30th, 2010
8:08 pm
GT51- You are dead on about the passing game. CPJ needs to tell Joshua that if the ball goes more than 15 yard past the line of scrimmage on a pass play he’ll toss him off the team. Every pass should not be a hail Mary. Even if we get NO YARDS on a second down, 8 yards and out pattern, the D will have to at least think about covering the recievers. I love watching the option, but you have to be able to pass every 5 or so plays. State had three guys in the backfield on the corner a number of times and shut down the option, a bubble screen or pass to the reverse side would have killed them and opened the option back up.
Rt in NC
September 30th, 2010
8:09 pm
Enter your comments here
Trip
September 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
Apparently, there are still games to be played…
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
You remember when you morons actually thought Nesbitt was Heisman Trophy material? HAHAHAHAHAHA….how’s that website workin’ out for you now?
justafan
September 30th, 2010
8:15 pm
Fair & balanced …right Mark? U catch my drift?
Paul Has A Small Johnson
September 30th, 2010
8:20 pm
I think it is fair and balanced
Everyone has now seen the middle school offense
This is not Div II football
Therefore get ready for 7 and 8 win seasons at best
SatchelBuzz
September 30th, 2010
8:42 pm
@Breaking news…get out from behind your computer,…come to Jasper, and I’ll be glad to discuss the Heisman Trophy.
THWG!!!
Paul Has A Small Johnson
September 30th, 2010
8:56 pm
SatchelBuzz
Come on did you really think Nesbitt would even be mentioned
steve
September 30th, 2010
9:13 pm
i wish the AJC would do us all a favor and can you and Schultz.
MalibuGT
September 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Ryder Cup breaking news – Kuchar and Cink paired tomorrow. A Ga Tech team against the Euros. Go Jackets!!
Just Saying:
September 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Paul Johnson has better control of his program at GT than Mark Richt has over his program at Georgia.
GT will not be a major player until they can put a good defense on the field and pass the football.
When a Head Coach like PJ and MR are offensive coaches all the Great athletes always end up on the offensive side of the ball.
HitaSingle
September 30th, 2010
9:18 pm
I am a UGA fan, but I can tell you Tech will be alright as long as Coach Johnson is at the helm. I still say UGA, GA Tech, GA Southern and Georgia State have outstanding coaches and men leading their programs.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
September 30th, 2010
9:29 pm
HitaSingle
Seriously did the fall ball bounce off your head
brokeback jacket
September 30th, 2010
10:02 pm
6. They still can’t sell out their tiny “stadium,” even with free hot dogs, Cokes, and anime porn.
brokeback jacket
September 30th, 2010
10:10 pm
Of course at least one positive thing that a Yellow Jacket can say is that he is not a miserable, pathetic Dawg like many of the losers on this blog. There’s nothing dumber than a University of Georgia Bulldog. So that is at least something Jacket fans can be proud of. THWG
Mel
September 30th, 2010
10:11 pm
Time for you to get off the UGA payroll, Mark Bradley.
Jughead Obama
September 30th, 2010
10:12 pm
Ted Striker, shouldn’t have axed that question. Expect tickets, DUI arrests, License Suspensions and other mischief. GSP=Revenue department for small counties without big sheriffs departments.
brokeback jacket
September 30th, 2010
10:13 pm
Can you imagine how miserable it would be to be an 0-3 cellar dweller like UGA? Count your blessings Jacket fans.
gcs
September 30th, 2010
10:24 pm
6. Paul Johnson’s cute little offense is not working the second time around.
.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:26 pm
Can you imagine how miserable it would be to lose to that cellar dweller team 9 out of 10 times…oh wait, you guys already know how that feels, right?
nesbitt 4 heisman, hahahahaha
Fact
September 30th, 2010
10:28 pm
Mark Bradley frequents Bulldogs on Peachtree St. He is a well-known midtown bend boy. He knows a lot about sports, especially the two-ball chin slap!
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:29 pm
Sorry SatchelBuzz, Jasper is just too far to drive for a tickle fight…thanks for the invite though. Just wait until tomorrow – you can probably find one on North Ave.
Waushan & Waxin Ealey
September 30th, 2010
10:30 pm
I heard them cowbells in the endzone last week when the ball got loose. It’s like I told Coach Richt, them cowbells was so loud I didn’t know where I was. Then them other bulldogs stole the ball from me. Honest, I didn’t do nothing wrong. So why they callin me Washout Early? I might not be a smart man but at least I KNOW I’m stupid, that’s how I got into Georgia.
mrb
September 30th, 2010
10:33 pm
Let’s clear a few things up here regarding recruiting, because there seems to be some revisionist history going on regarding ol’ Chan. Let me preference my comments by saying that I think recruiting rankings are, for the most part, useless. Our pal’s in Athens prove that yearly. But they do give some indicaton as to the raw talent your school is bringing in.
That said, by recruiting service standards, Tech didn’t recruit well during Gailey’s tenure. In seven years, from 2002 to 2008, Chan had 2 top 50 recruiting classes. 2007’s class was ranked 17th. We all know that was a very strong class. The other top 50 class checked in at 49! The remaining classes failed to make the top 50. Both of CPJ’s first two classes rank in the top 50 and 2011’s class is currently projected at 40. While lower tier top 50 classes aren’t anything to get fired up about, by any measure, Johnson is actually recruiting far better than Gailey, certainly when you compare their first 3 years. Tech will rarely score top 10 to 20 talent. I would argue we don’t need to, but that’s a n entirly different subject. Given time, there’s no doubt CPJ’s classes will get better and better.
Bottom line, this argument that Tech’s problem is recruiting is silly and uninformed. By the way, if you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself on the Rivals website.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:34 pm
It’s miserable to be a Georgia Bulldog; no wonder you Tech fans make fun of us.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:38 pm
Waushan, knowing that you’re stupid is half the problem. But don’t worry, you should have no problem getting your degree at the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:39 pm
Posting a comment using my user name is a very lame attempt at a comeback, keep trying though! You’ll eventually come up with something original….until then, feel free to pass the time by visiting http://www.nesbitt4heisman.com – I mean seriously, he really is the most interesting player in college football!
hey idiot gcs
September 30th, 2010
10:40 pm
Tech has scored 41, 25, 30, and 28 points in their first four games. CPJ’s “cute little offense” ain’t the problem.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:43 pm
At least Joshua is not miserable Dawg like many of the losers on this blog. Flush twice Jacket fans, it’s a long way to Athens.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:47 pm
Is it true that Athens has requested a name change to Losersville to reflect the current demise of the Dawg football program?
brokeback jacket
September 30th, 2010
10:49 pm
I guess not even ugly cheerleaders can inspire the tech nerd faithful to show up on game days.
But relocate Dragon Con there and suddenly there aren’t enough seats in that dump of a stadium for all the elves, dark magicians, and every other kind of virgin on that toilet of a campus.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:55 pm
Brokeback jacket – you’re right, the ugly UGA cheerleaders have not had any effect to get Jacket fans to attend the Dawg games in Sanford & Son stadium. What were you thinking silly pup?
HitaSingle
September 30th, 2010
10:55 pm
God you people are unbelievable! Let’s fire Richt and Johnson and if the Falcons lose to the 49′ers let’s fire Smith.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
10:58 pm
I didn’t know that Dragon Con was held in Athens, known everywhere as the Cesspool of the South.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
11:01 pm
Everyone knows that you go to Tech to get an education and you go to UGA if you only want a degree.
brokeback jacket
September 30th, 2010
11:10 pm
If there are still a few (thousand) empty seats at the next tech home game, they should consider giving them away to Varsity employees, bums, and tourists.
Then again, can tech football tickets even be given away? Probably not. Everyone on campus is busy getting an education in everything except sex with another human. Sorry, nerds, but Japanese comics and bunking up with your roommates doesn’t count, not that it’s stopped you up to now.
dawgmatic
September 30th, 2010
11:14 pm
6. 30-24!!! SUCK IT, NERDS!!!
wesleywhatwhat
September 30th, 2010
11:24 pm
http://keepmarkricht.com/
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
11:29 pm
brokeback jacket – you seem particularly threatened by intelligent people, which explains your jealousy and hatred in your posts. It must be miserable being a dumb Dawg.
BreakingNews
September 30th, 2010
11:34 pm
Dawgmatic – you seem sexually frustrated in your post; that’s common for Dawg fans that live in poverty and delusion after graduation. Get help while you can.
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September 30th, 2010
11:44 pm
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TechRedNeck
October 1st, 2010
12:11 am
I could not agree more. Tech has no bench. The defense has NEVER been a high priority at Tech. Why? I will never know. Whatever the reasons, or excuses may be. But if I were a UGA fan I would not worry about Tech. You guys play in a much tougher conferance and have problems also. I don’t see UGA beating Auburn, Tenn, and NOT Fla. Kentucky may be tougher than you think. You should handle the Jackets but I hope they sting you butts.
surfrider
October 1st, 2010
12:36 am
Time to add two cents….First, Offense Tech’s supposedly strength. We are two predictable up the middle pitch left and right eventhough we are getting yards. Maybe we need to be more balanced and unpredictable with the run and then add in the run and shoot with controlled diversified passing with occasional long passes…80 plays run 50, pass 30…it will help with recruiting too…Get Bostic, Sims, Watson, Earls in on some reps…maybe move Allen back to A-back and Bostic, Earls to wR (2nd or 1st). Forget about turnovers at first in terms we will get better each play..Defense..since speed at outside is a problem maybe use one of the outside Lb’s more in down DE position a sort of hybrid 4/3, 3/4…Might as well blitz because can’t stop anyone…But Johnson is 22-9 in his third season and he first of all will do what is necessary..
Justin
October 1st, 2010
12:41 am
First of all…to MR. MB…its funny how at the beginning of the season you had a much better opinion of UGA than you did Tech, with, if memory serves, UGA winning 3 to 4 more games than Tech…and now you are writing articles about how Tech may be worse than you think and UGA may be better than you think. Yeah….REAL objective journalism. ABSOLUTELY and EXTREMELY impressive. Seriously dude, it makes me want to puke.
Secondly…UGA fans. Calm down. The season is not lost. And you know what…i hate the dawgs…but they are pretty good. They should have beat Arkansas. USC could have gone either way. Miss ST….its a very good team, but when you continually shoot yourself in the foot, over and over and over again, eventually you cant run anymore and you bleed to death. Turn Aaron Murray loose, and allow Grantham the time he needs to get his defense set up. Dont fire Bobo, amazing QB and good coach, but quit coaching scared. Turn it loose and turn it up. You guys are IDIOTS if you get rid of CMR.
Now, bout the Jackets….yeah yeah, shoulda coulda woulda, but they could be 4-0. Lack of communication and lack of EXECUTION have cost them games on both sides of the ball. To put it plainer….get your heads out of your rears and PLAY THE GAME. Full speed, smash mouth, put your guy on the ground and handle your responsibility and the game will take care of yourself. Stop it with the big throw and worry about your 7-12 yard throws, the defense backs up, and the option opens up. This garbage about CPJ’s middle school offense got old years ago folks, enough already. Being mentally flat and acting like you dont care….a coach can only do so much, eventually it comes down to the players on the field, and if you would give it 110 percent EVERY play, then Nesbitt would be a Heisman contender and Allen would be outpacing Dwyer. Put your money where your mouth is and PLAY the game. Play your game, and play it with everything you have.
speech over.
lester maddox
October 1st, 2010
1:35 am
Number 6 – PJ’s not the coach everybody thought he was.
Thoughts from a Real GT Fan
October 1st, 2010
1:43 am
For those who think they prefer Gailey, I ask that you remember 2 games: the ACC Championship game against Wake (the so-called “worst football game ever played”) which we lost 9-6, and the Thursday night game against Maryland which we won 7-3. Those were the epitome of the Gailey era. No offense whatsoever; games of no national consequence (the announcers talked about other games during the entirety of the Maryland game); and a winning percentage around .500. Have some faith in this year’s Jackets and CPJ. It’s obvious they aren’t the 2009 Jackets (although I wouldn’t be shocked if they won the ACC because it sucks), but they also aren’t a Gailey team.
For those who hate on Nesbitt, remember Reggie Ball. He could throw better. But God, he stepped on his own endline against VT on a Thursday night to take us out of an important game; and threw it away on 4th down @ UGA. IQ lower than room temp. In Celcius.
On a less upbeat note, something that is worse than Gailey’s era: punting. It’s appalling. 30.9 yds on average for the team. Yes, I typed that correctly. We’ve gotta do something there to give our defense a CHANCE to stop them. Oh and blocks don’t help.