Thoughts on the Morning After
Well fellow Jacket fans…we played probably our worst game of the year on both offense and defense against our biggest rival and the team we want to beat the most. There’s not much more to it than that. And despite our miscues, injuries, and other flubs during the game we still had a chance to win it at the end, but couldn’t get it done.
Mourn the outcome today, shake it off tomorrow, and then lets focus on the ACC title game and the potential for a BCS bowl and a 12-2 record.
That said…
The Good
- Great weather and a great day for tailgating! For the first time all season I was able to have my wife and daughters come down.
- Great GT crowd at the start of the game. We showed up early and we won’t have to listen to the typical nonsense from UGA fans about taking up half the seats in Bobby Dodd.
- We still have a huge game to play this coming weekend against Clemson for a berth in the Orange Bowl. The seaason is not over.
- Despite what looked like dirty play from section 102, in the first half, Josh Nesbitt was able to return to the game and finish. He should be available for the Clemson game. I’m anxious to check the DVR replay tonight while the wife and girls are at the Hannah Montana concert.
The Bad
- Like I mentioned earlier…Nesbitt had his ankle wrenched early in the game. We could have very well lost him for the two remaining games of the schedule. I guess if you can’t stop someone, you hurt them…
- When Nesbitt got hurt it seemed to take the air out of the stadium. I’ll admit that I started worrying more about the ACC title game and BCS game at that point. Rumors in the stands that it was a high ankle sprain really made me nervous.
The Ugly
- We couldn’t stop the run to save our life last night. GT fans went into that game expecting the defense to play well at home, since they have all season. And we expected to take away the run and force Joe Cox to beat us with his arm. We just couldn’t stop the run…at all.
- To continue a trend…the GT defensive line and linebackers stunk up the joint last night and played probably their worst game since the Miami loss on the road. No excuse for that after an off week!
What was Paul Johnson Thinking?
When Jaybo came into the game, I expected us to keep running the ball on the edge with the option. Shaw has shown that he’s capable of making the reads and the pitches. I didn’t expect to see us throw the ball down field across the middle. The INT that resulted wound up leading to another UGA TD and may have ultimately been the final margin of victory for the dogs.
Then also on our final drive there at the end, why did we throw it deep three times before attempting the shorter sideline route to Thomas? We had about a minute and a half and we had timeouts in our pocket. We also didn’t want to score too fast there and give UGA the chance to have enough time to drive into field goal range. I expected us to grind it down to around the 25-30 yard line and use our timeouts to set up a few shots at the endzone from a more realistic range.
What was Mike Bobo Thinking?
I told my GT friends in the stands that Bobo was really risking things there on third and three late in the game when he lined UGA up in the shotgun and tried to get cute. That allowed the GT defense to make the only play they managed to get all night and allowed the Jackets to get the ball back with time on the clock.
If GT had won that game 31-30 in miraculous fashion it would have been that third and three play call that would have been the turning point.
UGA had been running the ball down our throat all night long…why didn’t they make it four down territory, run it two more times, pick up the first down, and prevent GT from ever getting the ball back. After a successful night of running the ball at will, I’m still scratching my head over that call.
What was Dave Wommack Thinking?
The recipe for success last night was to stop the run and make Joe Cox beat us with his arm and a wide receiver corps that lacked AJ Green.
I’m not sure if its the personnel or the scheme but our defensive line and our linebackers failed to make plays all night. The UGA backs were running into our secondary and downfield at will.
We allowed UGA to eat clock and keep our offense off the field…we couldn’t score enough to come back while Nesbitt and Thomas were sitting on the bench.
The Bottom Line
UGA beat us at our own game…they’ll get to bark and make general nuisances of themselves until we get a chance to recover bragging rights next season. I still wouldn’t trade places with them.
Right now, we need to focus on the next two games and finish 12-2 so that we can carry momentum into the off season and continue recruiting the defensive players needed to avoid games like we witnessed last night.
Paul Johnson has our program headed in the right direction, make no mistake about that…we’re just not there yet.
Go Jackets!
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396 comments Add your comment
John
November 29th, 2009
1:22 pm
I’ll never understand why you teckies can’t just admit that you lost. ” I guess if you can’t stop someone, you hurt them…” Give me a break, you are absolutely pathetic.
Farsider
November 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
Outstanding comments. Your game summation was spot-on. Despite getting surprised by Georgia running attack, Tech rebounded and came close to pulling it out. The turn-overs were the difference, in the end. As a Georgia fan, I’m a little embarrassed by some of the comments I’m reading on message boards and blogs this morning. They said it was Tech who put the UGA game on a pedestal. Their comments indicate that Tech game obviously means more to them than they let on. This is still a very young GT team that will only get better. Good luck in the ACCCG and hopefully the Orange Bowl.
zino
November 29th, 2009
1:30 pm
Tech has it’s best team in a decade.
GA has it’s worst team in a decade.
Dawgs run the ball down Tech’s throat.
The dominance continues…………..
John
November 29th, 2009
1:31 pm
It’s just nice to give the teckies a little perspective. Maybe Saint Simons will stay off the UGA blogs for a while. If Teck fans weren’t so rude, maybe I wouldn’t be. Payback’s a bitch isn’t it?
Try to sound like a pup
November 29th, 2009
1:35 pm
“We won the second half”
MalibuGT
November 29th, 2009
1:37 pm
congrats to all the dog fans who will flock to the GT blogs to do their bragging. your team played its best and most inspired game of the year. very disappointing game for us. glad we still have some goals ahead of us to finish on a better note. see everyone in Tampa! Go jackets!!
RedGADAwg
November 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
Yella Bugs, the correct world order is here. Eight of nine years not bad for the Dawgs. You can try again next year. Funny thing happened on way to ACC champioship! Guess the Dr Pepper Chamionship should be renamed the Dr Pooper Loser Game, both teams playing lost to mid tier SEC teams. ACC can not even fill all their bowl tie ins! Best win of the year for the Red and Black, expect a crushing in Miami regardless of which team wins in Tampa.
beehead
November 29th, 2009
1:51 pm
this hurts, for 12 months. do you think coach johnson will take the ND job.
Metal Jacket
November 29th, 2009
1:52 pm
I’d like to hear CPJ comments on his boneheaded play calling at end of game. It made no sense at all.
bulldawghuff
November 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
hello you guys are the worst(tech fans)you say even after all the mistakes you still had a chance.well the truth is if wr dont miss one tackle last year you dont win that one,we missed you won.thid year we tackled and you lost,hell the only score you got last night that we didnt miss a tackle on was the qb sneak its as simple as that.hay saint simons can you spell a-z-z w-h-i-p-p-e-d heres how 30-24.oh and by the way to the man behind this article if you want to imply that the injury to nesbit caused you the game go back look at the replay and see if our star player dressed out,he didnt and we out coached yall and out played you.there is a word for what you have written today……..exscusses!!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS.
Metal Jacket
November 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
Good article, Chris, CPJ owes an explaination for being out coached in this game and for passing on final drive. No other coach in the nation would have abandoned the spread-option when you’re trying to score and run time off the clock. He showed he doesn’t understand the rivalry.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
John, you must be 12 yrs. old.
San Francisco Dawg
November 29th, 2009
2:00 pm
That’s pathetic to call a play “dirty” on Nesbit! I saw a dozen replays and there was no “dirty” on that play…so typical of a Tech Fan to make excuses for getting beat…
Tech cracks back on players on almost every play from scrimmage but you don’t see Georgia complaining. Tech simply got thier butt kicked on the line of scrimmage and that how a game is won or lost…
Go play a lousy Clemson team and act like you are world beaters then get beat again in your bowl game…but quit making excuses and claiming Georgia plays dirty..
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:01 pm
UGA fans. Still “NO” class.
John
November 29th, 2009
2:01 pm
What goal would that be, MailbuGT? To go and beat an awful Clemson team that just lost to a mediocre SC team? Or the goal of going to the Orange Bowl and getting killed by Cincy? Be more specific as to which “goal” you are talking about.
John
November 29th, 2009
2:02 pm
I agree San Francisco Dawg, there was absolutely nothing “dirty” about what happened to Nesbitt. It’s just a tough game and he got a little dinged up. It’s sad that they resort to calling plays “dirty” when scrambling for excuses.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
You still lost to mighty “KENTUCKY.” Now what do you do with MARK, BOBO, WILLIE?
John
November 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
Nope, not 12. Just a Tech graduate. Seriously.
John
November 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
And you lost to mighty “Georgia”
P. Bull Terrier
November 29th, 2009
2:05 pm
Just wondering if you’ve had time to review “dirty play” on Nesbitt yet. I didn’t see anything at all that would lead me to conclude it was a dirty play. It just looked like Nesbitt got his leg stuck under one guy at the bottom of the pile while the rest of the pile was moving a different direction. Did it look like a dirty play from the stands because a Tech player got hurt, or because you saw something that TV didn’t show?
Jon
November 29th, 2009
2:05 pm
No matter how you dress it up, the ACC was exposed this weekend. GT and everyone they beat in their weak conference shows that the wins are from subpar teams/talent. Yes, the sun did rise this morning, but there’s no doubt in anyone mind that the ACC is not a credible conference, and beating Vandy once a year doesn’t change that. Pull the blinders off your eyes and see the ACC as it is, not what you want it to be.
Athens Police
November 29th, 2009
2:07 pm
Thank goodness the game was in Atlanta. We had the fewest DUI’s we’ve had all year.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:10 pm
We’ll see if this takes the heat off of Richt. Beat Tech and play crappy the rest of the year. Can you say lowered expectations?
John
November 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
I know Tech fans can say “lowered expectations”
Metal Jacket
November 29th, 2009
2:13 pm
We beat UGA at home and they returned the favor. That’s called a rivalry. It’ll happen again next year.
Atlanta Police
November 29th, 2009
2:15 pm
DUI’s??? Ha Ha Ha! Here in the big city we don’t have time for DUI’s. If it’s not a murder, it’s not worth our time.
TheDream
November 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Oh shut up Give Me a Break. No Class? You guys have won ONE time in the last what, eight years now and the filth that we put up with from you tech fans for the last year. Classy? STFU and get a life. Tech is lucky they play in the lame ACC and generally have a weak schedule.
Metal Jacket
November 29th, 2009
2:17 pm
UGA will be happy to go to ” WAY OUTBACK BOWL.” Willie can show his stuff again.
Dawgfan
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
As a bulldawg fan, I’m ecstatic. Great game, but it does make me wonder what coach Johnson was thinking with 4 passing plays with plenty of time left. Our defense was, well, our usual defense where and the Jackets could virtually run through at will. It was Tech’s game to lose. I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again. Good luck in the championship game Techies, I look forward to seeing you in a BCS bowl.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:19 pm
UGA gets to play Tenn. Tech in TOILET BOWL.
John
November 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
GT gets to lose to Georgia another 7 years in a row.
DawginLex
November 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
So the only reason Tech lost is because they played bad?
You must have watched a different game.
It should be no surprise who won this game. Your signature win down the stretch was Wake Forest. We hurt Nesbitt on purpose? It’s football and the last time I checked, it’s tackle football.
Why don’t you man up and just admit that UGA finally played a full 4 quarter game and the team with the most talent won?
GT Mom
November 29th, 2009
2:22 pm
The Dawgs did play a very good game but they were only able to squeak out a win with Nesbitt out and playing hurt Also check the replays on the Nesbitt injury.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
Too bad uga can’t get up for every game like they do for #7 GEORGIA TECH. Sunday, back to mediore for uga.
DAWG in TN
November 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
We’ve all checked the replays GT Mom. He was at the bottom of a pile and hurt his ankle. I guess in the ACC it’s a “dirty” play to tackle someone.
Tech is my Bee-Otch
November 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
Tech, you are my BEE-Otch…all that smack talking before the game from the Tech fans and their players….and remember CPJ sayinglast year that it would happen again this year? Now, Who’s your daddy? Us again…Just like the last 8 out of 9 times….Hey, Put 24-30 on your rings….
Jon
November 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
How is it that you can make a accusation of dirty play, then say that you need to check your DVR replay later to substantiate your claim? Are you not sure of your accusation? Just throwing accusations against the wall to see what sticks? Also, could it be that GT was manhandled by the better team? They were pushed around for 4 quarters, why do consider it just a fluke? Are you in denial? Do you really believe if Georgia would’ve played Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, Boston College they wouldn’t have the same identical record GT has? GT is the higher ranked team because of who they play, it’s cheap wine however you pour it fella.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
Anyone that watched uga play all year will agree that uga played way over their heads. They’re just not that good. Ask KENTUCKY.
always4thejackets
November 29th, 2009
2:28 pm
I called this one. I told people before the game that my biggest worry was Georgia hurting our players and knocking them out of the game. They’re known for being dirty players; just look at their 15-yard penalty stats. And voila, we have three players hurt, including Nesbitt, right off the bat. NOT a coincidence.
carrolltondawg
November 29th, 2009
2:30 pm
hey GIVE ME A BREAK and all you other dumb tech fans we were missing our best player and you still got beat and everyone knows who watched the game we should have won by more i hope you lose next week and end up in the gator bowl and we go to the peach and beat another acc team
ACC CHAMPS 2009
DAWG in TN
November 29th, 2009
2:30 pm
WOW, maybe if GT players weren’t such pu$$ies, they wouldn’t have been knocked out of the game. I guess anytime anybody gets injured it’s automatically a “dirty”play. It looks like we’ll have to hear that excuse for a whole year.
CPJ
November 29th, 2009
2:31 pm
I wish we had Tenn. Tech on our schedule.
Bob
November 29th, 2009
2:31 pm
If you can’t win, make baseless allegations of the other team cheating. Like any good Techie, Boggs has absolutely ZERO evidence of Georgia trying to hurt Tech players. Of course this doesn’t stop him from running his big fat mouth about it. What a laughably pathetic disgrace Tech fans are. I wouldn’t trade places with you either Boggs. In fact, I’d rather jump off a bridge than be a crybaby Tech fan. What a bunch of worthless panty wastes.
You lost the game Tech fans. Please grow a set and admit you lost the damn game. You are an absolute embarrassment to all college football fans.
8 out of 9 losers. Cry me a river. Good luck in the ACC title game. Will it be on television? Raycom Sports perhaps? I might watch it if I’m not washing my hair or something.
animaldr
November 29th, 2009
2:31 pm
Where is the blogger st simons? Where is the 45-42 garbage of the last 365 days? Oh, that tune has changed to 30-24! Funny that the hit on nesbitt is the call for gt fans about dirty play but not the cut blocks gt practices all year. great to see uga dominate in the trenches.
DAWG in TN
November 29th, 2009
2:32 pm
University of Georgia, 2009 ACC Champs!
DAWG in TN
November 29th, 2009
2:33 pm
I wish we had Duke, Wake Forest, Clemson, Jacksonville State on our schedule.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 29th, 2009
2:33 pm
UGA, one of the most penalized team in the nation. No “CLASS.”
Jon
November 29th, 2009
2:34 pm
GT Mom, says the dogs where able to squeak out a win with Nesbitt out and playing hurt….
C’mon, you’re ranked #7, playing at home to a unranked team! What does the unranked team beating a ranked team at home really say about your team?
O V E R R A T E D!!!
AJC
November 29th, 2009
2:36 pm
UGA will play GRIFFIN in “HAS BEEN BOWL.”
John
November 29th, 2009
2:37 pm
How does jumping offsides equal no class? Explain that to me.