Live from Tech-UNC: Will first-play lightning strike yet again?
Exhibit C: Tech's first snap last week. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I’m not in the habit of constructing game plans — I would never ever venture to give highly paid coaches any advice, heh heh — but I offer one piece of advice for North Carolina’s Everett Withers:
On the first Georgia Tech snap, have your men back up 30 yards.
The way I see it, it’s better to yield a chunk of yardage that a touchdown.
As we know, Tech has scored on its first play of every game this season, which is about to conclude its first month. Against Western Carolina, it was a 5-yard toss sweep. (Turnover set it up.) Against Middle Tennessee, it was a 73-yard touchdown pass. Against Kansas, it was the 95-yard counter by Orwin Smith.
Aggregate time of possession on Tech’s first series of Games 1-3: Thirty-four seconds.
Aggregate number of points on Tech’s first series of Games 1-3: Twenty-one.
Today’s titanic tilt comes billed as Tech’s first test, which it is, kind of. But Carolina isn’t exactly a convincing 3-0. It overrode five turnovers in Week 2 to beat Rutgers, and in Week 3 it was outgained by Virginia, which has won one conference game in two seasons. (Both games were in Chapel Hill, FYI.)
I like Tech by at least 10 points today — the Vegas line is GT by a TD — but I offer this caveat: Even if the Tar Heels win on the scoreboard, there’s no guarantee it’ll stick. As you’ve doubtless heard, Carolina is in the habit of forfeiting victories.
On that cheery note, the floor is again open for questions, comments and thoughts on the choking Braves. (What’s that? They’re three games up? Never mind.) I’ll be here until the last touchdown is scored, and I welcome your company. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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810 comments Add your comment
Groh(n)
September 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
Looks like last years’ team is back…doing EVERYTHING wrong. Throwing away chance after chance to put this game away. What is going on?
Fred
September 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
Unc def has the momemtun now even behind by 7
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
Yeah, really loving that decision not to go for it on 4th down…
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Tied. Assuming Carolina makes the point after
Fred
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Only GT gives up 15 yard pass plays from the opponent 15 in a critical time in the game
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
GT-UT
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
God help us!!
Paul Johnson
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
My defense su##s!
jb
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Thanks again Hill
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
Tied at 28-all, 7:22 left.
Terrible defense on that drive.
Groh(n)
September 24th, 2011
2:43 pm
We’re up by 7 and we play like we’re down by 7. Our team is losing it mentally…
Fred
September 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
Nice defense. Looks like the naysayers were spot on on this joke of a team.
J.J.M.
September 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
like i said tech d is slow and horrible the int they got was because unc qb just threw a dumb pass
jb
September 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
Just lost alot of Faith in Johnson…..
techfan
September 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
We are giving this game away. We can’t tackle to force 3rd down or catch a wide open pass. Good going guys.
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
Here is where we see what we are. Brand new game, 7 and change left….
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:45 pm
How do you catch a ball 10 feet in the air and drop one in your gut with no one on you?
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
2:45 pm
Nice return Orwin
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
Time for a fumble and another choke
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
Let’s go Jackets. Time to play big-boy football
Groh(n)
September 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
The season turns on this drive…will our guys develop the mental toughness it takes to make plays and win at the big level? or will they fade like last year?
Praying for some toughness…
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
Shades of UGA 2008. Roddy Jones down the sideline.
To the 9.
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
Yesssss!!!
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
Problem is we are scoring too fast. The d is done and they havent even been on the field.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
Great pitch and run!!!!!!!
J.J.M.
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
roddy jones from chableee uzzi from chambleee
jb
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
something bad will happen……….
GT-UT
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
Go Triple Option. I love that pitch!
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
Roddy scores on that 2 years ago
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
Gotta have a TD here….
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
Washington keeper TD.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
TD Tevin!!!!
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
GO JACKETS!!!!!!
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
Should we let them score to get the ball back and not have overtime? haha
Groh(n)
September 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
Great drive! Scary pitch..but good catch. Now – let’s put some pressure on this QB and stop arm tackling. End it here D.
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
Now, a defensive stop is a must!!
GT-UT
September 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
I love how Tevin uses his head and manages the O.
Btw. Davie is doing a great job coloring the game on ESPN.
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:49 pm
Seriously just let them score if there is 2 minutes left to give us time to do what we just did.
macrotech
September 24th, 2011
2:49 pm
Come on D….let’s do THIS!!!
jb
September 24th, 2011
2:49 pm
Now kick the ball out of the park…and play D dame it!
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
Mark aren’t you glad you are home and not in oxford like your coworker?
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
Somebody find us a kicker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
And covering a meaningful game to btw.
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
C’mon, D!!!!
DIAL UP THE PRESSURE!!
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
0 yards
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
Why can’t we tackle??
Justin
September 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
I want the BLACKWATCH D. Come on. SWARM
GT-UT
September 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
Can we tackle. I don’t think we teach that at GT. Unlike an integral
DS_CE91
September 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
8 in the box, pin your ears back, go after the QB, and shadow the RB…..
macrotech
September 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
That little booger is tough to find!