Live from Athens: Does anybody really think Tech can win?
A lovely day could become a long and gloomy night for the visiting Jackets. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Athens – The most intriguing part of what isn’t a very intriguing game — how riveting does it get when the teams have an aggregate record of 11-11? — is how few people are giving Georgia Tech a chance. And by people, I don’t just mean Georgia fans or Vegas neutrals. I mean Tech fans, too.
I haven’t yet met anybody who thinks the Jackets can keep this close, let alone win. Indeed, the consensus seems to be that the betting line — it’s at 14 points as I type — may actually flatter the visitors. And I wouldn’t disagree. I think this is at least a two-touchdown game.
Having said that, we must also note a couple of things. First, the Jackets enter as the team already bowl-eligible. Georgia, as we know, has to win tonight for the privilege, such as it is, of gracing a postseason game in either Memphis or (shudder) Birmingham. Which leads us to our second notation:
Georgia is, on the record, eminently beatable. Six teams have already done the deed. Every time Georgia has played a team that finished above .500, it has lost. (Kentucky lost to Tennessee on Saturday to fall to 6-6, and Kentucky represents Georgia’s best win.) That’s a pretty staggering statistic. But Tech, as we know, has been only slightly better in a demonstrably worse league.
Ergo, the team with the better record enters as a two-touchdown ‘dog. (Not to be confused with Dawg.)
The striking part of Tech’s season to date has been how almost nothing about it has struck you. There had been no rousing victory, unless you count winning in Chapel Hill over a North Carolina team missing 12 players due to investigations of some sort. There had been no blowout loss, unless you count the 34-10 defeat suffered against Miami in the Jackets’ first game without Joshua Nesbitt. The only real drama came in rallying against Wake Forest, and there should be no drama ascribed to any game involving Wake Forest.
Paul Johnson believed his stylized offense would keep on truckin’ without Jonathan Dwyer and Demaryius Thomas, and it has and hasn’t. Tech ranks first in the nation in rushing, next-to-last in passing. Anthony Allen hasn’t been quite as proficient as Dwyer, and all the Jackets’ receivers combined haven’t begun to match the departed Bay-Bay.
The defense was supposed to be better because of Al Groh and his 3-4, but it hasn’t been. It hasn’t gotten worse; it just hasn’t improved to any significant degree. Derrick Morgan, also gone to the NFL, had 12 1/2 sacks last season; through 11 games, Tech as a team has 16.
And here we pause to recall: This time a year ago, Tech was bound for the ACC championship game, which it would win, and then the Orange Bowl, where it would lose. If we cast our glance back 52 weeks, we see that the Jackets are 7-7 over their past 14 games. The upset loss to Georgia has sent the Jackets back to mediocrity.
Only that’s not quite true. It has been a long time since the Jackets had a six-loss regular season, which is what they’re facing if/when they lose tonight. The last time was in 2003, Chan Gailey’s second year. (Tech was also 7-6 in Gailey’s first and last season, but those involved bowl losses, and in 2007 Gailey had nothing to do with the sixth loss. He’d been fired.)
The promise inherent in Paul Johnson was that he, by force of both stylized offense and outsize personality, would prevent the Jackets from ever backsliding this far. But here Tech is, a middling 6-5 and facing a game in which it’s expected to get drubbed by a opponent carrying a losing record. Two years ago, when Johnson’s team stunned Georgia here, that wouldn’t have seemed possible. A year ago, when Tech entered this game ranked No. 7 in the land, it wouldn’t have seemed possible. But here the Jackets are, on a slippery slope that could get a lot more slippery before the night is through.
And with that, the floor is open for questions, comments and observations about the Jackets. (I’m not supposed to be discussing the Bulldogs, which I’m sure will make UGA backers shout, “Hallelujah!”) I welcome your figurative presence. And if you’d care to come up to the press box and sit beside me, please bring a space heater. Apparently the Sanford Stadium folks are conserving electrical energy. Brrr.
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1,364 comments Add your comment
Glory Glory
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
FootballRules: don’t be bitter just because your preacher man will be wearing red and black, just like all the other WINNERS in this State.
42-34! Damn, that’s got to HURT!!
Dawg fan!!!
November 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
Marcus,
Guess Aaron Murray choked today against a team with a winning record, didn’t he? Idiot.
Laces Out Finkle
November 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
I want more tech trash talk that defies the reality of the scoreboard or the other 60 times we beat you
I laugh at your tears
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUHHHHHUWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAA
TheItalianDawg
November 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
stony,
drink your milk and go to sleep boy!! pathetic as always…we run this state!
What Now
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
Owned…..
CCCCRRRRROOOOOWWWWW and you can come work for me at my firm. I take mine with 1 sugar and cream.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
Marcus,
Give us Murray’s stats tonight since you are such an authority on the UGA QB. Tell us why UGA won again you angry loser.
Laces Out Finkle
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
Thanks son_sir
LOSER
BBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAA
Losing always sux
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
So how much money did THUGa pay to get their 50th choice for DC? And even with a week off you still couldn’t stop the TO. At least Tech got what we paid for in Al Groh, and with more experience I think Tech’s D is in much better shape for next year than the mutts’ D is. The mutts won, and as hard as it is to admit, they deserved the win. No cheap shots or bad calls; just clean ole fashioned hate and hard-nosed football. THWG
Owned???
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
Glory Glory is a cross dresser
Just saying
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
@son_sir
Good coaching by CPJ, except for the late game panic which showed up in the final minutes of last year’s game with UGA.
Good coaching EXCEPT…. that is total BS. How was it good coaching. UGA hasn’t played any defense all year. Your coach got away from his system when it counted this year and last. That is not good coaching. I don’t care what Bradley claims.
Just saying
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
@Losing always sux
At least Tech got what we paid for in Al Groh, and with more experience I think Tech’s D is in much better shape for next year than the mutts’ D is.
hahahahahah are you serious? You got what you paid for? UGA 3 turnovers, 41 points on 40 plays.
stony
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Kiss my a** itsalyingdog, if that’s the best you’ve got.
Laces Out Finkle
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
YES OWNED
61-39-5
BBBBBBBWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA
stendek
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Bulldogs worst 6-6 team in history! Watch out Toilet Bowl. Ruff ruff! That said…
http://stendec7.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/bulldogs-become-bowl-eligible-42-34-over-georgia-tech-in-athens/
Just saying
November 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
@What Now
… and you can come work for me at my firm. I take mine with 1 sugar and cream.
You will be deported when your student visa expires. And don’t shake your head from side to side when you say “Yes”. And leave the goats alone.
Losing always sux
November 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
With no timeouts left, and 80 yards to go in under 2 minutes, why was passing the ball on that final drive a sign of panic? Unless one of Tech’s backs had broken it for two long runs, it’s highly doubtful that we would have had time to reach the endzone.
crabapplejoe
November 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
@Just Saying who wrote: “Oregon gets a nod, but Wisconsin and Stanford would have 3 or 4 loses if they played in the SEC.”….among other the things. The Pac 10 has dominated the SEC in head-to-head competition over the last decade….do your homnework. Stanford would have won the SEC East easily this year (just ask your SEC Vol friends if they want anymore of the PAC 10…ROTFLMAO)….that’s why they will be ranked No. 5 tomorrow and the SEC East teams will be pulling for their women’s basketball teams to earn some sense of respectability for this year….LOL. Anyone with any football knowledge knows that Wisconsin can play with anyone in the SEC this year…that’s why they will be ranked No. 4 in the country tomorrow.
Dawg fan!!!
November 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
UGA’s defense still has a lot of work to do. They simply could not stop that damn triple option. If paul johnson would have stuck to his game plan on that last drive, we’d be watching overtime right now. So UGA did a good job but still have work to do on defense,
Laces Out Finkle
November 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
TOILET BOWL?
Have fun in the San Fran Bowl
You and your fanbase will fit in well there
LOSER
BBBWWWAAAAHHHHAAAA
Losing always sux
November 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Just saying, you think that giving up almost 500 yards to Tech (mostly on the ground) indicates the mutts got what they paid for? Are YOU serious???
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 27th, 2010
11:59 pm
Dawg fan!!!
That’s what I thought also. Johnson could have tied it at the end with the power sweep but instead went to the air. Unbelievable.
What Now
November 28th, 2010
12:00 am
ccccrrrroooowwwww do the math, 496 yards = UGA still wins
Laces Out Finkle
November 28th, 2010
12:01 am
The only thing that matters is the SCOREBOARD
BBBBBBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA
42-34 all year long
Losing always sux
November 28th, 2010
12:02 am
Still waiting for one of you mutts (or Tech doubters) to explain how you could realistically think that Tech could have driven 80 yards in less than 2 minutes and with no timeouts without passing. The only way that could have happened is if one of Tech’s backs could have broken a long one, maybe two. That COULD have happened, but nobody in their right mind would put any money on it.
Just saying
November 28th, 2010
12:02 am
@crabapplejoe
The Pac 10 has dominated the SEC in head-to-head competition over the last decade.
What is the Pac 10 record against AL, FL, LSU, UGA, TN?
Stanford would have won the SEC East easily this year (just ask your SEC Vol friends if they want anymore of the PAC 10…ROTFLMAO)
The vols finished 5th in the east. About where Stanford would finish in the West.
….that’s why they will be ranked No. 5 tomorrow and the SEC East teams will be pulling for their women’s basketball teams to earn some sense of respectability for this year….LOL.
Weird how you leave out the AU, AL, ARK…you so funny.
Anyone with any football knowledge knows that Wisconsin can play with anyone in the SEC this year…that’s why they will be ranked No. 4 in the country tomorrow.
And yet Wisconsin’s head to head and the Big 10 versus SEC results do not reflect your argument.
Other than being wrong, you make a good point.
Owned???
November 28th, 2010
12:04 am
496 yards = UGA still sucks
Just saying
November 28th, 2010
12:05 am
Losing always sux
November 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
Just saying, you think that giving up almost 500 yards to Tech (mostly on the ground) indicates the mutts got what they paid for? Are YOU serious???
No. UGA’s defense sucks and has all year. But you lost to a UGA team with the worst defense in 20 years…
And Big Al’s D gave up 42 points on 40 plays….ROTFLMAO…
spike
November 28th, 2010
12:05 am
YellowFuzz.. You idiot! We own your arses! Is the honeymoon over for the “new sheriff in town”?
TX Dawg
November 28th, 2010
12:06 am
Geezzz, it must suck to be a GT fan….Go Dawgs, 9 for 10!
Losing always sux
November 28th, 2010
12:07 am
Just Saying, I didn’t say Tech had the better defense tonight, although considering the offenses, that’s like comparing apples and oranges. What I said was that Groh’s defense is probably in better shape for next year than Choke’s is. That man obviously knows nothing about coaching defense.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
12:08 am
Losing always sux,
How do you go to the air when, realistically GT has no passing game? No knock on the QB because he played hard, but it was obvious he couldn’t get it done through the air.
Just saying
November 28th, 2010
12:08 am
@crabapplejoe we saw how well Masoli did at Ole Miss. Remember he was the stud on Oregan’s team last year. The Heisman candidate. He came to the SEC and suddenly lost a step. Didn’t run wild on the SEC defenses like he did against the PAC 10 defenses.
spike
November 28th, 2010
12:08 am
Priceless! Watching the “perfect option” trying to pass with no time outs! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA!!
Losing always sux
November 28th, 2010
12:09 am
Just Saying, at the risk of repeating myself, because my most recent post didn’t go through for some reason—-What I said was that Groh’s defense is probably in better shape for next year than your lousy DC’s is. That man obviously can’t coach defense at all.
spike
November 28th, 2010
12:10 am
Saint Simons…. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA you stupid jerk!!
crabapplejoe
November 28th, 2010
12:10 am
@Just Saying who wrote: “Other than being wrong, you make a good point.”
Yep, me and the BCS rankings will be so wrong tomorrow…..let’s go over it one more time…..Oregon #1, TCU #3, Wisconsin #4, Stanford #5……I know you hate the facts and want to go “hahaaahahaaa”….but those are the facts…..you can wake up at four in the morning and scream “Go Dawgs, Stick ‘em”….but UGA is still going to the Charlie Chan Chinese Buffet Bowl in Des Moines….meanwhile the only SEC team south of Auburn will come in much later in the polls….by the way the Vols lost to a Pac 10 school in the last few years when they were in the top ten…..view reality dude…..its an inspirational experience.
Losing always sux
November 28th, 2010
12:11 am
Coffee, Washington had several good passes during the game (more than Nesbitt ever did this year). Like I said twice already, there wasn’t enough time left to do anything other than pass.
TX Dawg
November 28th, 2010
12:11 am
@ Just saying…Are you a disillusioned GT fan? you lost MAN! We are better than you. Learn to live with it!!!!! HAHA…
What Now
November 28th, 2010
12:11 am
We have sucked all year and you still lost. What does that say. I know what you will say, “We have higher GPA’s”. Best come back ever. You guys say the same thing year after year. If your so smart come up with a formula to beat UGA consistently. Until then except the truth.
spike
November 28th, 2010
12:13 am
Marcus.. Suck it!! from Aaron Murray.
that was some ugly ass football
November 28th, 2010
12:13 am
if fans from UGA come on this board and gloat – they are idiots. both of these teams suck. i don’t support either team, and it was nearly unbearable to watch. I do think GT would’ve won if they’d had nesbitt, though.
hope both programs can find some improvement in 2011.
crabapplejoe
November 28th, 2010
12:13 am
@Just Saying who wrote: “we saw how well Masoli did at Ole Miss”….dude, never been a Masoli fan….and he plays for “New Miss”…..geez that’s like taking Aaron Murray and putting him in at QB at Tennessee this year….not much room to work there.
Man Enough is Enough
November 28th, 2010
12:13 am
We kick it in this state!
Losing always sux
November 28th, 2010
12:13 am
What Now, and you’re going to suck again next year too. You have a potentially great QB, but no receivers will be left, and you still won’t have a defense.
Just saying
November 28th, 2010
12:14 am
@Losing always sux
Actually UGA has two really good linebackers that transfered in and will be eligible. If UGA can sign a couple of big nose guards, they might be ok. The schemes were not bad, but the our defensive backs/safeties are just not very good. They are in position to make plays but just don’t get it done. Maybe 2nd year in new scheme will help.
And AL defense with Smart and Saban didn’t look much different than UGA’s against AU yesterday.
I don’t know about GT. They seemed to do ok against ACC teams, but against a wide open offense with speed, they looked a bit slow.
thUGA injuneerin skule
November 28th, 2010
12:14 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. In all fairness though, most of your grads wear a tool belt every day.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
12:15 am
Losing always sux,
It’s apparent that UGA has holes in the D that will need to be replaced through recruiting. Houston will go early to the NFL, which will hurt the most.
Secondary is decent but there are big holes at DE and LB for 2011.
TX Dawg
November 28th, 2010
12:16 am
It was great football for me we won!!!!Sux to be you!
What Now
November 28th, 2010
12:16 am
that was some ugly ass football…
If you don’t like it don’t read it. This is between GT and Tech fans. State bragging rights.
So your input is unwarrented or needed. But thanks for just trying to put your 2 cents in.
Just saying
November 28th, 2010
12:17 am
@crabapplejoe you keep referring to TN and the last time I checked they were next to last in a weak SEC east. Just look at AU’s schedule and tell me Wisconsin or Stanford would have beaten AL, FL, USC, LSU… Not just one game, but go back to back to back….From what I’ve seen of OR, I think they would have a couple of losses.