Will Georgia Tech be a Top 25 team in 2012? Some say yes
Here's how it ended for Georgia Tech in 2011: Utah scores to win in overtime. (AP photo)
The belief here is that Georgia Tech got good value from its season. No, 8-5 didn’t seem all that great when you consider the Jackets started 6-0, but 8-5 beat the heck out of 6-7, which is what Tech was in 2010. And now we turn to 2012, and some expect even bigger and better from the men of PJ.
Andy Staples of SI.com tabs Tech No. 25 in his lookahead, while Dave Miller of the National Football Post puts the Jackets at No. 20. That’s the good news. The bad: Similar early rankings from ESPN, CBS Sports and Yahoo! Sports do not include Georgia Tech in the Top 25.
I can see both sides. If guard Omoregie Uzzi chooses not to leave for the NFL, the Jackets will return 15 starters on offense and defense. That’s a goodly number. At the same time, I’m not sure how good those starters are. We take B-back David Sims as an example. He rushed for 698 yards in 2011. In both 2008 and 2008, B-back Jonathan Dwyer gained almost exactly twice that number of yards.
In Tech’s favor: The ACC, which had its usual dismal bowl showing, doesn’t look terribly imposing. (In a move not unlike the one made by Paul Johnson in January 2010, league champion Clemson just dumped its defensive coordinator.) That said, the Jackets have to play Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia on the road.
My early guess: Tech will be a better team, but the record might not reflect it. I can see the Jackets winning nine regular-season games in 2012. I’m not sure they can get to 10.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
266 comments Add your comment
collegeballfan
January 13th, 2012
9:21 am
Technically Correct is correct. The play of the OL and DL will determine how next season will go for GT.
Tech has been saying since Johnson’s arrival that they needed a certain type to play the OL. They now alledgedly have those types. But they are young in age and young in body. Next year may be a year to soon for the OL to gel. I would say the 2013 season would be the season they will make a move. That is also a favorable year on the schedule.
I see no hope for the DL. Just to small and to slow.
UGA = Yawn
January 13th, 2012
9:26 am
The problem with Johnson is, in his very first year, he went to Athens and punched Georgia in the face and won! We all got excited and expected great things. But alas, we have come back down to reality. He was(is) okay for GT but it is time to look for new direction.
Coach Gregory is doing wonders with his team. When we open the new arena next year, make sure to go out and support him and GT.
BigTimeTechFan
January 13th, 2012
9:26 am
Tech plays in ACC, it hard to have good year in ACC because all the teams are so good they beat each other up and by the last 3 games of the year they are beat up so bad they have hard time winning rival games and bowl games at end of the year.
SEC is different, it’s easy to go undefeated, seems like a team does it every year. If SEC is so good why do they have teams go undefeated all the time
Gorilla Biscuit
January 13th, 2012
9:26 am
“Tech will never matter! Besdies that fluke season in 1990, what have they done?”
I’ve often wondered what the time-sharing arrangements are for that trophy. Do you alternate years or do you get it for six months out of the year?
GT = Dumpster Fire
January 13th, 2012
9:27 am
Consistently attracting top tier talent, coaching it up and winning is not sustainable at the crime infested campus in downtown atlanta. Second rate coaching, second rate facilities, second rate conference = results that will land you in the range of being ranked somewhere between 25 and 75. Every once in a while climb up and sniff the top 10 when you play Western Carolina, MTSU, Kansas, and the ACC dregs such as NC State, Maryland, Duke, Virginia. Then get thumped when you play the “cream of the ACC” such as Clemson and VA Tech (who in turn get dismantled when they play real teams from other conferences). Drop back down to the 25 to 75 range.
peacengrits75
January 13th, 2012
9:27 am
Hey Bamaguy! Tech ain’t California!
Steve
January 13th, 2012
9:31 am
“BigTimeTechFan” I really hope you are joking! All the ACC teams are so good? The SEC is easy? I think even your nerd friends would disagree with you. The ACC is crap. Do you know their record in BCS Bowls? Also, what SEC team went undefeated this year?
Ted M
January 13th, 2012
9:33 am
Mark – Has CPJ mentioned anything about his special teams since the end of the season? Thanks, Ted
burmashave
January 13th, 2012
9:36 am
The men of Johnson in 2012 are an enigma we read,
Will PJ throw it when the Jackets lead,
As well as when trailing and there is great need?
Is the option a big boy’s offense or merely a gimmick,
To make Dawg and SEC fans laugh to the limit?
Can Al’s men stop an offense from the ACC,
Or only make FCS teams weak in the knees.
We do not know at this point in the rhyme,
But 2012 will be Paul’s crunch time.
juvenal
January 13th, 2012
9:40 am
gorilla, that means lsu not a champ cuz they split with usc?-ap bunch of lefty media types, crystal ball looks good at the Edge….biggest problem? SI & MB saying nice things, heather agrees & we are doomed……rotate 4 DL’s like Utah, go shotgun or pistol every once in a while, maybe, but this is CPJ’s fish or cut bait year……
Southern football fan
January 13th, 2012
9:46 am
@UGA=Yawn. The last time Ga Tech played Alabama the score was Alabama 45 Ga Tech 7 on 9-11-82. I was there.
Southern football fan
January 13th, 2012
9:48 am
@UGA=Yawn. I meant the last time Ga Tech went against Bryant.Ray Perkins coached the 1984 Alabaam “team”.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 13th, 2012
9:51 am
I like to talk football with Tech and UGA fans but can you tell me when you guys plan to start the team?
Buckeye fan…Tell Urban Nick asked about his health. Nick made his ash quit at UF and he’s coming for him at Tattoo U. So you get the northern media bias going full throttle and Bama will come stop that ash…again. Please get Notre Dame in the mix as well.Perhaps another Heisman great like Troy whatever his name!!! When time allows go to the Rose Bowl records site and checkout how many times your little 10 beat the Pac 10 from 1960 until last year!!! You will learn what everyone else knows is that old Bo and Woodie sucked like Linda Lovelace. Getting beat 65% of the time isn’t something you wish to mention but when the old suckup media protect the product (see obama) you got it made. Got to run for the glass ball is at Walmart(again) so all us redneck Bama fans have to go get our picture made!!! I will send you UGA fans a shot for that is the only way you will see the glass football!!!! Ring Team….LOL only UGA the fans !! Then again we didn’t know the preachers man’s missing man formation was actually true with Crowell did we…have you guys found him yet? Look on the sideline for he’s standing behind someone chewing on his mouthpiece! Speaking of mouthpiece what about those Dog fans?
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
9:52 am
Tech a top 25 team next year?
It could happen
I also could convince my wife that I got an autographed copy of 9 1/2 Weeks signed by Kim Basinger ONLY because I admired her acting ability………………………..
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
9:54 am
SEC is different, it’s easy to go undefeated
LSU 13-1
Bama 12-1
?????????????
Shug
January 13th, 2012
9:58 am
“Tech will be a better team, but the record might not reflect it.”
Huh? If their a better team, how can they possibly not improve on 8-5?
go42
January 13th, 2012
9:59 am
Next season is make or break time for Tech. This season turned out to be an oops or mulligan season. Should have been significantly better than ‘10 but wasn’t at all except for record. The line play on both sides and special teams must improve dramatically in 2012. The margin for error is all used up.
Duke Fan
January 13th, 2012
10:00 am
Mark: Eight wins in football? Man we would take that record in a minute. Probably give Coach Cutcliffe a ten year extension and gold medal for eight wins.
UGA = Yawn
January 13th, 2012
10:00 am
It’s easy for UGA who didn’t have to play Bama, LSU or Arkansas during the regular season! The three best teams in the SEC. And, next year, UGA doesn’t play them again either!
UGA = Yawn
January 13th, 2012
10:01 am
…my comment was to DawginLex
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
10:03 am
This really depends on our QB play and special teams play. If we upgrade both of those to a reasonable level then Top 25 is not impossible. Who really cares about the Top 25 these days though? The Top 25 is basically a bunch of Coaches and Writers throwing darts at a dart board.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:04 am
Nice to see most UGA fans are not acting like clowns here. Interesting though, I see none on the usual Techies that show up on every UGA article and spout their nonsence.
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
10:08 am
Going to SC=easy?
going to Mizzou=Easy?
Going to Auburn=Easy?
Going to jacksonville with countless demons still lurking=Easy?
Nope
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:08 am
Nice to see most UGA fans are not acting like clowns posting nonsense on this article. However, I do find it interesting that most of the Techies that show up on almost every UGA article are non-existant on one of their own……
JB
January 13th, 2012
10:11 am
Looking at Johnson’s scowl and listening to his gruff ” just punch’em in the mouth Talk…..10-2, 11-1.
Put that same 15 returning starters in pads back on the field and the reality of playing football sets in, 8-4 and another bowl loss.
Steve
January 13th, 2012
10:11 am
UGA = YAWN guess what? UGA has no control over their SEC schedule. Sorry you don’t understand college football.
Techster
January 13th, 2012
10:11 am
Don’t you love it when dog fans say that Tech’s schedule is weak? I mean how many weak opponents did they play in 2011? ‘Bout half their schedule was cupcakes.
Next year’s schedule is the same–cupcake city.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:16 am
GTBob,
This article posted at 7:56 and you only posted 1 comment ? If this were a UGA article you would have been on 15 times by now.
JB
January 13th, 2012
10:16 am
Techster, the most fun was last year when Tech was at 6-0 and had beat a few girl schools and reading the Tech blogs about making reservations in New Orleans….LOL…… go read them…..Very entertaining…..
ty webb
January 13th, 2012
10:17 am
‘Bout half their schedule was cupcakes.”
right, especially that last regular season game? It’s uga’s responsibility to make sure that the teams they play can field competitive teams? Seems some schools aren’t holding up their end of the bargain.
Paul in NH
January 13th, 2012
10:18 am
Right now I expect somewhere between 7-5 and 9-3 for GT in 2012 with 4-4 to 6-2 in the ACC.
To make the top 25 at the end of the season, GT will need to be at least 9-3, with 6-2 in conference.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
10:21 am
This article posted at 7:56 and you only posted 1 comment ? If this were a UGA article you would have been on 15 times by now.
Sorry, i’m a little delayed this morning. Ill try to catch up. There isn’t much to say here though. Mark is basically saying Tech could be decent. Well, yeah so could any other team. It’s much more fun to post in a blog where Mark is predicting UGA to win the SEC.
reebok
January 13th, 2012
10:22 am
Tech will be a better team next year because our young guys have another year to get bigger, stronger and faster. Also, we will have a true option QB running the offense next season, probably Vad Lee. Still, with the tougher schedule, I can easily see the Jackets going 8-4 again. Happy Friday, all.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:22 am
JB,
I went to UGA. Please do not act like a loser fan and post nonsense on a GT article. What’s the point ?
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
10:27 am
I just cant see it. Regardless of what we want to say, the ACC is just not that strong. Yes we can compete with each other, but we gotta get better as a confrence and individually to compete nationally and get the ranking recognitions. This has been the case for a while but has gotten even more obvious in recent years.
Look, Our confrence winner ends the season #22! Lets step it up ACC.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:27 am
GTBob,
No it’s on every UGA article. My guess is you are a kid with nothing better to do. Tech alums, I’m sure, are sick of you too…
Fire Al Groh
January 13th, 2012
10:28 am
Birmingham Jacket said it best. Great Post by the way!
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
10:29 am
GTBob=Pavlov’s dogs
Mention UGA and you get the same responses over and over
At least a dog can go get my paper.
awead
January 13th, 2012
10:32 am
Will Georgia Tech be a Top 25 team in 2012?
no. they suck.
JB
January 13th, 2012
10:33 am
The Factor……………I went to UGA…….And the Vile on our blogs is relentless…..and at 58 and owning my own company, Lectures are something I don’t need on a OPEN blog. Thanks
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
10:34 am
GT Bob says…. Who really cares about the Top 25 these days though? The Top 25 is basically a bunch of Coaches and Writers throwing darts at a dart board.
Well if we dont care about the top 25, then what do we strive for? Just winning the ACC or beating UGA?
Listen, the rankings are somewhat subjective but our confrence champ is only ranked 22. So maybe this is a few spots off, but I want our confrence champ with a chance to be in the NC hunt and without high rankings, we wont get there.
Dont want to argue with a fellow fan, but we need to have higher expectations and the rankings are the measuring stick. We gotta accept it.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:36 am
@JB,
If you don’t stop, you think they will? and you say you are 58????
JB
January 13th, 2012
10:37 am
And you think they will play nice and stop…..And you’re 12?
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
10:39 am
Well if we dont care about the top 25, then what do we strive for? Just winning the ACC or beating UGA?
Winning games, and winning the conference. It’s the only thing in our power. The rankings throughout the year are basically just a reshuffling of teams based on their win loss record. What is the point in worrying about that?
GT Engineer
January 13th, 2012
10:41 am
Dog Fans: I can’t believe you folks openly admit that you even attended U of Ga. I would think you would hide such an embarrassing fact.
JB
January 13th, 2012
10:45 am
The Factor……….see post @10:41………………Like the Taliban, they hate you with every ounce of their body and soul…..and having a civil conversation with them about their team will get you nowhere. They HATE the University of Georgia. There is no back peddling for them. Sorry you haven’t lived on the blogs for a couple of years and experienced it.
Sean
January 13th, 2012
10:46 am
Hey steve that finish is pretty pathetic when you are the only school over the past decade to have 10 top 10 recruiting classes each year.
Veteran Fan
January 13th, 2012
10:46 am
Birmingham Jacket, please ask Alabama, Boise State, UGA, Oklahoma State and many others if top 25 teams have consistent kickers. All lost games they should have won with very makeable field goal attempts. Also, while you are at it ask Clemson if our defense could make a stop. As a graduate, I am very pleased with the season and the coach. Do you really want to sell out and bring in the type of student-athlete that the football factories and plantations do? Do I want to beat UGA and win a bowl game sure! But I will take a winning season and a competitive team any day of the week! The value of our diploma and our honor has not been compromised and I am not sure the same can be said of many other schools that compete at our level! Go Jackets forever!!!!
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
10:49 am
Winning the ACC is not going to get us to the NC game. Look at this year.
Honestly I wish our AD had lobbyed for one of the SEC spots this year. Based on location alone and history with UGA and AU and past member of the SEC, we could have been a better choice than Missouri or A&M.
Id rather us be a low tier SEC team with a chance to play for the NC than a mid tier ACC team looking up at our confrence champ at #22.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:51 am
JB, I agree but I always figured most most of the Tech fans that posted garbage on our articles never spent a qtr or semester hour in class on their campus with the exception of 5150UOAD who is an idiot. Perhaps I am wrong. Have a good one and defend on…Go Dawgs