My (Belated) Take

[Deano]

Send this post to the Coach's show tomorrow night.

 

[Lou_C]

Wow, that's some write-up.

Keep in mind, while GT has had a "disappointing" year, keep in mind that it's still the team that was expected to contend in the Coastal. Going into the game, their three losses were to teams within the best 20 or so in the country, while two of yours were to teams worse than 40. It was probably a tougher matchup than most people thought. Miami and VT are a lot more highly regarded than they were when GT dropped those games.

That said it isn't a 56 pt talent differential. But that's GT for you. Different scheme obviously, but they are similar to Oregon and Baylor in that small advantages get blown into a point differential that doesn't realistically measure the difference in talent. That's why GT is so frustrating to watch...they look totally unstoppable in one game, and then totally inept to a team that by all accounts isn't more than marginally better.

At least as far as the GT offense, I'm pretty positive that they aren't 56 points more talented than your defense, but just being a little better in a few key matchups lead to that. That doesn't explain the defense because I don't know their defense that well, but it does tend to be the same boom or bust.

Just got to move on, keep the faith, and frustratingly, probably watch GT put up 13 points against Virginia or something equally inexplicable. It's just what they do.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Wow, that's some write-up.

Keep in mind, while GT has had a "disappointing" year, keep in mind that it's still the team that was expected to contend in the Coastal. Going into the game, their three losses were to teams within the best 20 or so in the country, while two of yours were to teams worse than 40. It was probably a tougher matchup than most people thought. Miami and VT are a lot more highly regarded than they were when GT dropped those games.

That said it isn't a 56 pt talent differential. But that's GT for you. Different scheme obviously, but they are similar to Oregon and Baylor in that small advantages get blown into a point differential that doesn't realistically measure the difference in talent. That's why GT is so frustrating to watch...they look totally unstoppable in one game, and then totally inept to a team that by all accounts isn't more than marginally better.

At least as far as the GT offense, I'm pretty positive that they aren't 56 points more talented than your defense, but just being a little better in a few key matchups lead to that. That doesn't explain the defense because I don't know their defense that well, but it does tend to be the same boom or bust.

Just got to move on, keep the faith, and frustratingly, probably watch GT put up 13 points against Virginia or something equally inexplicable. It's just what they do.

So this type of outcome is pretty similar to other games/seasons for Ga Tech? I see a lot of fans of other ACC schools keep saying this-- they'll blow a team out and then lay an egg the next game.

 

[Lou_C]

So this type of outcome is pretty similar to other games/seasons for Ga Tech? I see a lot of fans of other ACC schools keep saying this-- they'll blow a team out and then lay an egg the next game.

I mean 56-0 is an extreme outcome, can't spin it. But you have things historically with GT like putting up 34 in a loss to UGA, and then putting up 7 in a bowl loss to Air Force. Or put up 45 on a 8 win NC St. team, and then 21 pts on a 2-win Maryland team the next week, 7pts on a 6 win Miami team in a loss, and then beating a 10th ranked Clemson.

Point is not that you guys are right there with them, only that by their history, this game probably could have been 24-10 GT about as likely at 56-0 GT. You can only take so much out of a GT game. And also to forewarn you not to lose your minds when you see them win 13-10 or lose outright to a Virginia team that's probably worse than you guys. It's what they do.

 

[OrangePA]

I just don't believe this to be true.

Agree with you about Hunt. It's simple minded to think he's to blame for everything. At the same time he needs to start making progress, starting with Wake. But it's too early to give up on him.

Ga Tech certainly seemed tougher and faster than we were.

You don't lose 56-0 simply because of a game plan.

Ga Tech has been a solid team for a number of years - we are still getting there.

Tech had the better athletes on Saturday.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Looking at their athletic ability and speed, I don't think we could have stopped them 12 on 11.

 

[anomander]

That shouldn't have been the case. Based on comments from players and the staff, the team has spent time preparing for the triple option since last spring. I think the preparations were bad and the staff needs to spend some time visiting schools that have defended this offense with success in the past. But bottom line, I think to stop this offense, the defense needs to be extremely disciplined. Everyone needs to know their role and execute it perfectly. When you give your front 7 new, completely different roles to play, you are setting yourself up for failure. Heck, the fourth LB was a true frosh. Don't want to single him out; he played very hard, made a ton of tackles and is going to be a fine player for us down the road.


.

Pretty sure they did do this. Not sure who exactly it was, but whoever it was failed miserably. Should have got beat with our own stuff, just like leading up to the Clemson game when they said they weren't going to change for anybody.

 

[syr02esq]

I think we are dangerously close to ruining Hunt's psyche like what we did to Andrew Robinson. We have to be very careful here.

 

[CuseOnly]

Ga Tech certainly seemed tougher and faster than we were.

You don't lose 56-0 simply because of a game plan.

Ga Tech has been a solid team for a number of years - we are still getting there.

Tech had the better athletes on Saturday.

Key word in your post is "seemed". When LB's and DL get cut blocked early and often, they tend to slow down and get tentative. Combine that with the fact that the offense knows the play and where they are running to adn they will seem much faster.

We lost that bad because we were out-schemed and out coached. Should have stayed true to our defense and just run blitzed or zone/gap blitzed every play to attack the option instead of letting it attack you. If you sit back, read and watch the play develop against that offense with that level of execution and scheme you are dead when the ball is snapped. You might give up a big play or 2 but you won't get chunk yardaged to death.

 

[orangenirvana]

Key word in your post is "seemed". When LB's and DL get cut blocked early and often, they tend to slow down and get tentative. Combine that with the fact that the offense knows the play and where they are running to adn they will seem much faster.

We lost that bad because we were out-schemed and out coached. Should have stayed true to our defense and just run blitzed or zone/gap blitzed every play to attack the option instead of letting it attack you. If you sit back, read and watch the play develop against that offense with that level of execution and scheme you are dead when the ball is snapped. You might give up a big play or 2 but you won't get chunk yardaged to death.

Agreed.

More "we just have inferior talent" excuses. We have more than enough players with the physical ability to hang with Georgia Tech.

Florida State is obviously another story.

 

[OrangeMojo]

it seems a little weird to blame the line for not giving him more time while blaming hunt for not being more patient in the pocket.

i don't think the line is that bad.

They were bad on run blocking, but I thought Hunt often had lots of time to work through his progressions. I didn't necessarily see any of those further progressions open either, nor was I impressed with his escapability when he decided to run - but thought the oline did a good job pass blocking for the most part.

 

[sutomcat]

I believe three things by being at the game and seeing both teams up close. GT is definitely bigger, faster and more athletic than SU. GT has consistency in their coaching staff for the past 4-5 years which helps tremendously, GT isn't great but they are much much better than people are giving them credit for which includes before and after the game. They execute on offense very well and they had the right D plan and better athletes that destroyed us on offense.

They have lost to Miami, VT, and BYU. No shame in any of that. BYU tough place to play as well

I haven't seen everyone in the ACC yet this year but I suspect G Tech is the 5th best team in the conference.

Wow. That is very different than the story told in Atlanta.

I know 3 different people who gave up their season tix until paul johnson is fired.

And they think he is the worst recruiter in college football.

Wow. That is very different than the story told in Atlanta.

I know 3 different people who gave up their season tix until paul johnson is fired.

And they think he is the worst recruiter in college football.

I am not a G Tech historian, but according to this web site, Johnson is 26-14 during his time at G Tech. That 65% winning percentage is the best for a G Tech HC since Bobby Dodd, who started coaching there in 1945.

Maybe some G Tech fans need a reality check regarding their place in the world of college football.

 

[CusefanATL]

I am not a G Tech historian, but according to this web site, Johnson is 26-14 during his time at G Tech. That 65% winning percentage is the best for a G Tech HC since Bobby Dodd, who started coaching there in 1945.

Maybe some G Tech fans need a reality check regarding their place in the world of college football.

While Chan Gailey was a bad coach, their talent was 10x better 5 years ago than it is now. He was certainly a heckuva recruiter.

I think their belief is that PJ was the beneficiary of Chan's talent in his 1st 2 years. And since the talent level has dropped so significantly (in a hotbed) they have stopped winning.

 

[SWC75]

Pretty sure they did do this. Not sure who exactly it was, but whoever it was failed miserably. Should have got beat with our own stuff, just like leading up to the Clemson game when they said they weren't going to change for anybody.

It was like Joe Frazier trying to "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee".

 

[SWC75]

This year's disappointments, so far:

1) I assumed that between Allen and Hunt, we'd have a good BCS-level QB. We don't.

2) I thought with three veteran players in Lyn, Anderson and Wilkes and four players noted for speed and athleticism behind them, (Eskridge, Reddish, Morgan and Whigham), our secondary would be a strength of the team. Instead, they are the major weakness.

3) I had hoped somebody would emerge as a threat at wide receivers.

4) We don't "control the controlables"- too many ill-timed penalties and turnovers. It was tough watch a team play flawlessly while we recorded 9 penalties, 3 turnovers, and a blocked kick.

5) The coaching staff spent months planning for the Georgia Tech game and had no idea what they were doing.

The quesition is: how many of these are fixable and how many are fixable this year?

 

[CusefanATL]

This year's disappointments, so far:

1) I assumed that between Allen and Hunt, we'd have a good BCS-level QB. We don't.

2) I thought with three veteran players in Lyn, Anderson and Wilkes and four players noted for speed and athleticism behind them, (Eskridge, Reddish, Morgan and Whigham), our secondary would be a strength of the team. Instead, they are the major weakness.

3) I had hoped somebody would emerge as a threat at wide receivers.

4) We don't "control the controlables"- too many ill-timed penalties and turnovers. It was tough watch a team play flawlessly while we recorded 9 penalties, 3 turnovers, and a blocked kick.

5) The coaching staff spent months planning for the Georgia Tech game and had no idea what they were doing.

The quesition is: how many of these are fixable and how many are fixable this year?

1. no
2. i think so
3. no *where the hell is funderburke?*
4. maybe
5. no

 

[SoBeCuse]

I was thinking more along the lines of Tomcat. I felt that we would lose something like 35-14. Unfamiliar team with OBVIOUSLY better athletes and more physicality. A blind man can see that. The coaching just turned this into a nightmare. When you're overmatched, even a little bit physically, you don't need to make wholesale changes to the defensive scheme. Players have to think too much and can't play up to game speed properly. If our WR cannot make plays against WF then it's going to be a long rest of the season. Hunt is what he is but he needs more help out there from everyone.

 

[im4cuse]

Teams that have not played against the triple option look like hoop teams against our 2-3 zone for the first time. Confused, and then beaten. But as teams play us repeatedly like in Big East conference, they get better. Same here. Only way to get better defending it is to play against it. Which is why we should schedule Army or Navy EVERY year in the OOC schedule. And yes I know they aren't as good as GT. (BTW, the point is for us also to win the game). But the scheme is the same; produces great tape to break down and teach assignments. Great road trips, in our recruiting areas. Stop with the directional Michigan school or other MAC teams.

 

[SWC75]

Teams that have not played against the triple option look like hoop teams against our 2-3 zone for the first time. Confused, and then beaten. But as teams play us repeatedly like in Big East conference, they get better. Same here. Only way to get better defending it is to play against it. Which is why we should schedule Army or Navy EVERY year in the OOC schedule. And yes I know they aren't as good as GT. (BTW, the point is for us also to win the game). But the scheme is the same; produces great tape to break down and teach assignments. Great road trips, in our recruiting areas. Stop with the directional Michigan school or other MAC teams.

Also, maybe when we look at what other schools are doing, we should look at what other ACC schools who have to play Georgia Tech are doing.