3 points from Tech-Tech, which was decided by 3 points
This was one big play -- a fourth-quarter touchdown -- yielded by Rod Sweeting. (AP photo)
1. The Georgia Tech defense did its job — for 59 minutes and 16 seconds. Until Virginia Tech’s final drive, this had the makings of a night of deliverance for the besieged Al Groh. Instead the defensive coordinator will be asked how a unit that had made the Hokies work hard to achieve not very much allowed receiver Corey Fuller to run free twice in the final 44 seconds, the second time on fourth-and-4 from the Georgia Tech 47.
2. The Georgia Tech running game still isn’t what it was. Granted, Virginia Tech can play some D of its own. But the long gain was again missing. The most expansive gain by any of the three B-backs was for eight yards. (Remember when Jonathan Dwyer would take it 60?) The longest gain by an A-back was 13 yards. The longest gain by any Jacket, be it rushing or passing, was quarterback Tevin Washington’s 22-yard scramble in the third quarter. That’s not good enough.
3. The Georgia Tech kicking game was not at all terrible. Virginia Tech, which once prided itself on its special teams, saw its punter fumble a snap and its placekicker miss from 38 yards. The Jackets, by way of contrast, punted well enough — Sean Poole averaged 40 yards on seven kicks — and made every field goal. And even Paul Johnson felt relieved, albeit only momentarily, when David Scully kicked the ball out of the end zone after the Jackets had taken the lead with 44 seconds remaining. It was only two years ago that Georgia Tech lost here on a kickoff-return touchdown inside the final three minutes.
By Mark Bradley
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245 comments Add your comment
gt4ever
September 4th, 2012
10:49 am
Come on Pitbull…. Trying to make yourself feel better about what little ole Buffalo did to your defense.. I think Lou Holtz put it in perspective very well… All those returning starters on Defense, got burned by little Buffalo.. I would hold my tongue until after the Mizz game… But hey, right now, I would ask Mr Todd Grantham for some of my money back.
Tech Man
September 4th, 2012
10:51 am
Here we go again. We can’t win the games with tough opponents. Sure we will win our 7 games against lower level teams. But when it comes to playing the big boys we can’t compete. The high school offense has to go. Fire CPJ and get a real Division 1A coach. By the way what is his contract? If he gets fired will we still owe him for 5 years like all the other ex-coaches still on our payroll.
Seriously?
September 4th, 2012
10:51 am
Tech had decent pursuit on defense at times, but they just can’t tackle.
md
September 4th, 2012
10:52 am
“VA Tech isn’t “big boy” football. It only seems that way because GA Tech is High School football.”
Must explain why VT has only had 13 10 win seasons in the past 17 years………get a clue there fella, Foster always has a good defense……guys with bad defenses don’t make it for 26 years like he has….
jarvis
September 4th, 2012
10:52 am
gt4ever, then May put Holtz in his place. You can’t quote the number of returning starters at 10 when only 7 played.
Lou didn’t do his homework, and Mayday made him look foolish.
DedeJackets
September 4th, 2012
10:53 am
Erbody betta lay off my jackets, we had a great game, some plays diint go as planned, but u know wat? They still plaid they hearts out so letz look foreword to next week and keep our heads in da game!
GO JACKETS STING EM!!!!
DIT
September 4th, 2012
10:56 am
One game is not the season. Tech could run the table in the ACC!! VT has a good chance to lose 2 games or more. I’ve always hated 1st games. Now, it’s out of the way. If UGA can lose their 1st conference and come back to win their division, so can tech. This Dawg hopes y’all do it!
As for my fellow dawgs on this blog, don’t get so cocky on here, we just might not like the outcome of this Saturday nights game if that defense can’t do a complete reversal on how they played this past Saturday.
BravesFan79
September 4th, 2012
10:56 am
Really liked what i saw out of the defense last night! But gotta admit, the sooner we start a new QB the better off we will be. Washington just isnt D-1 material. And him not being that strong of a runner does hurt our offence.
Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
10:58 am
I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!! Great deals for the start of the football season!
collegeballfan
September 4th, 2012
10:59 am
“…agree the option offense looked tired…….no real explosiveness or power bursts…”
The problem is the blocking up front. This is the same OL Georgia Tech had last season. And they have not improved as physical blockers. They may know the assignment better, but lack the physical ability to block really good defenses.
7 maybe 8 wins this season.
1eyedJack
September 4th, 2012
10:59 am
“I’d fire the genius that did the scheduling…..”
As with all conferences you don’t have control over scheduling conference games.
Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
11:02 am
The Techies offensive linemen looked tiny compared to VTs, I laughed out loud and almost flipped out of my chair. Wait, was that the jv team>?
Rick James
September 4th, 2012
11:03 am
Dems Tec foozball team looks really goods lass nites
I betz daze win-zes natinal chumpionships dis year
DIT
September 4th, 2012
11:04 am
To my so-called fellow dawgs on here having a good time. Don’t get so cocky! We just might not like the outcome of this Saturday nights game. Dawgs can still be without several of thier starters and Mizzou has a very good offense.
Tech fans, don’t get down. I still see y’all winning the rest of your ACC games and winning the division. After that, just take care of FSU in the CG!
gt4ever
September 4th, 2012
11:05 am
Jarvis, Really… Ok they had seven returning starters.. along with a host of 4 and 5 star football players… Get some of your money back…. Todd Grantham is a JOKE.
GTBob
September 4th, 2012
11:08 am
The Techies offensive linemen looked tiny compared to VTs, I laughed out loud and almost flipped out of my chair. Wait, was that the jv team>?
The VT offensive line averages 305 lbs. GT averages 293. What an enormous difference.
GTBob
September 4th, 2012
11:10 am
7 maybe 8 wins this season.
Losing to a top 20 team in overtime on the road in the first game of the season leads you to believe we will be a 7 win team?
gt4ever
September 4th, 2012
11:10 am
Good observation GTBob…. It’s not the size difference… It’s the overall talent difference… We can’t do anything with good defensive lineman… We are not in the same league talent wise… Sorry to say.
GTRoberto
September 4th, 2012
11:12 am
If those two teams that played last night represent 2 of the top 3 ACC teams, then the conference is a whole lot worse than I thought.
Terrible football. Terrible…
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
11:14 am
GT Bob
Virginia Tech is a joke program they should never be ranked
They embarrass themselves every year like GT in a bowl game and their signature win comes once every 25 years
dawgfan
September 4th, 2012
11:15 am
Oh, so now preseason rankings mean something Techies? Just a couple of days ago you were mocking UGA’s preseason #6 ranking because it was “meaningless.” Now you lose to a “Top 20″ team and you’re claiming a moral victory because of it? Its a worthy accomplishment go on the road and take a supposed “Top 20″ team to the wire?
You clowns simply cannot get your stories straight can you? That tends to be the case when you are completely full of it and making it up as you go along.
Hilarious.
Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
11:15 am
@GTBob, wow I didn’t realize the difference, unreal! The Techies offense was, as another poster here put it “pathetic” I would even go as far as to say their offensive style is that of a high school style. Coach Johnson might have been able to get some early followers of his offensive style but as of now, it ain’t looking purdy! Let’s move back forward, not backwards.
Larry
September 4th, 2012
11:20 am
I have seem many a dumb pass in my time, but never one any more dumb and completely unnecessary as Washington’s desperation-like throw with a field goal in the bag.
You just can’t win with a QB with a room temperature IQ.
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:21 am
“UGA would beat VT by 28.”
What a lie.
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:22 am
For the delusional folks who think UGA would beat VT.
VT is a top 15 team. UGA hasn’t beat a top 15 team in over 3 years.
Pitbull
September 4th, 2012
11:23 am
Tech can feel much better and thump their chests after they beat up on Presbyterian College.
Of course beating up on Christians may hack off God and then who knows what will happen next to your program.
He could smite you with his wrath. Just saying…
BehindEnemyLines
September 4th, 2012
11:23 am
re: running game “That’s not good enough.” … neither are the options at RB. Without Orwin on the field there simply isn’t a legitimate threat to do anything substantial.
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:24 am
“HUH????? you are an idiot troll, UGA would not have lost to VT, and how can you be stupid enough to compare an ACC schedule to an SEC schedule”
No wonder UGA leads the nation in people who have to take remedial english. THEY CAN’T READ!!!!!
UGA would not beat VT. UGA is not capable of beating a top ranked team and history proves it. UGA plays ONE ranked team all year. ONE.
VT plays several.
Make sense, little girl?
gt4ever
September 4th, 2012
11:24 am
@Larry
It should earn him a seat on the bench…. But I will be very surprised if our starting QB doesn’t start against powerful Presbyterian…. When we score 50 points against this power house, TW will again have proven himself worthy…
Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
11:25 am
Huh????? You sound like you need one of my famous spray tans, come by and try it for yourself, also suggest a good eyebrow bleaching, free on the house. I do think the dawgs would give VT a run for their money. I don’t even want to say what they will do come November, sure hope Coach Johnson has some new tricks up his sleeve otherwise it’s gonna be same ole same ole if ya catch my drift!
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:25 am
“Why are you even commenting? Auburn is going to start 1-4 just like I told you. Pathetic”
DawgInLex is not only a liar, she is unemployed.
ReggieBall
September 4th, 2012
11:25 am
Miss me yet?
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:26 am
” I do think the dawgs would give VT a run for their money.”
Based on what? UGA has not beaten a top ranked team in 3 years.
DawgInLexIsAHypocrite
September 4th, 2012
11:28 am
REALITY
UGA hasn’t won a national title since Jimmy Carter was in office.
GT won a title in 1990.
GT has four national titles.
UGA has two.
UGA is little sister in the state of GA.
Richt's Tanning Salon
September 4th, 2012
11:30 am
Ya got me “huh????” I can’t answer that. Please, stop by for a spray tan. ReggieBall, I know they miss ya, just go read the stingtalk forum, they are crying like a bunch of babies over there!
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:31 am
“Ya got me “huh????” I can’t answer that.”
Of course not and neither can any other UGA fan.
GTBob
September 4th, 2012
11:31 am
Its a worthy accomplishment go on the road and take a supposed “Top 20″ team to the wire?
You seem to confuse accomplishment with not declaring the season over because of one loss to a good team. Apparently you think we should cancel the season, maybe close the school, and maybe all Tech fans should kill themselves because we lost a close game. Sorry for bringing a little reality into the conversation.
Seriously?
September 4th, 2012
11:31 am
““VA Tech isn’t “big boy” football. It only seems that way because GA Tech is High School football.”
Must explain why VT has only had 13 10 win seasons in the past 17 years………get a clue there fella, Foster always has a good defense……guys with bad defenses don’t make it for 26 years like he has….”
VA Tech’s 10 win seasons come from being a mediocre program in a pathetic joke of a football conference. They are never prepared for their opening games and they can’t compete out of conference.
DS CE'91
September 4th, 2012
11:32 am
Come on guys, back off the ledge. As noted by others previously, we lost in OT on the road to the #16 team in the country. Let’s see how we do over the next few weeks. If we are 2-3 at the end of September, then we can talk about a lost season.
I will keep hoping someone will rest the QB position from TW. Not fair to put it all on him, but the TO just seems “slower” when he runs it. We have to have someone capable of making the defenders pay for cheating up on the dive and pitch, and a big part of that is decision making in real-time.
Liked the “D,” overall. Wish they would have been able to muster just one more stop. Guess that “Rod Sweeting much improved” post from a few weeks back was a bit …. optimistic.
GO JACKETS!!
GTBob
September 4th, 2012
11:33 am
Virginia Tech is a joke program they should never be ranked
And why is that? Just because you said so? Who should be ranked? Only SEC teams and USC?
Gorilla Biscuit
September 4th, 2012
11:34 am
“You clowns simply cannot get your stories straight can you? That tends to be the case when you are completely full of it and making it up as you go along.
Hilarious.”
Are you talking about Tech’s fans or Democrats?
JetBuzz
September 4th, 2012
11:34 am
Though parts of the D showed much improvement, the D-backfield was again ineffective, albeit playing w/ handicap due to suspensions & injury. Sweeting got burned on a totally defensible TD pass (after hot-dog strutting around earlier), & lumbering not-sharp Logan Thomas was allowed several critical late-game completions to stage the come-from-behind “upset”.
Yes, the Jackets gave the victory away again. We are good at this.
And F Beamer is good at taking what’s given him…
Wasn’t this year’s objective to “finish strong” & “seal the deal”, learning from previous seasons?
And what about coaching? OT strategy, Puh-leeze!! TW did the only thing you absolutely DON’T DO in an OT scenario. And RB/WR blocking?
All around disappointing, but unfortunately too familiar
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
11:37 am
GT Bob
The reality is VT is a joke out of conference and GT is a worse joke for losing to them
But then again Tech cant seem to win a bowl game either and neither does the ACC show up in big bowl games
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:37 am
“Virginia Tech is a joke program they should never be ranked”
UGA is a joke of a program and they should never be ranked.
FYT
Reality Stinks
September 4th, 2012
11:38 am
Yea UGA is a joke program??
At least they win bowl games and beat the joke by the coke
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:39 am
“The reality is VT is a joke out of conference”
?????????????????????????????????
“But then again Tech cant seem to win a bowl game”
LOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When’s the last time UGA won a bowl game?
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:39 am
“At least they win bowl games ”
When’s the last time UGA won a bowl game?
HUH?????
September 4th, 2012
11:40 am
UGA fans should be getting ready for another cupcake team to play against this weekend. Can’t wait to read the comments about how much of a powerhouse Mizzou is.
GTBob
September 4th, 2012
11:42 am
The reality is VT is a joke out of conference and GT is a worse joke for losing to them
That isn’t reality at all. Its a horribly biased opinion of someone who obviously hates GT with a passion. VT has been a solid program for a while and will be a solid team this year.
smitty
September 4th, 2012
11:42 am
PJ’s potential fatal flaw ( its only the first game) is his absolute commitment to the option without a truly viable passing game to keep the defense honest or bail the team out if they fall behind…..superior, fast, aggressive defenses can shut down the option, unless tech’s O line is superior(it wasn’t) or you have tremendous talent at QB or RB……..but PJ thinks the “system” ( the option) will succeed regardless of talent differential…….maybe it can if executed perfectly, but GT had woeful blocking on the outside and the interior……tech was in the game at the end yesterday only because of great defensive play and/or a poor VT offense……you pick……..I like the option…..I like the breakaway runs and it can be an equalizer with great teams….but I think in today’s college football you need a little balance……like a passing game