Only other note I would make is that the offensive line is better overall as a unit, and I think it’s going to get a lot better throughout the year and on into the Johnson era. Guys look more like they know exactly what it being asked of them. The body language before and after the play is the best I’ve seen to date. You can tell a lot about an offensive line by watching the huddle and how they break it. On television you can sometimes even see their faces. This line is less “deer in the headlights” and more “hungry like a wolf.” I like that!

Looking forward to Saturday as the physical match-up will be more even.

And of course To Hell With Georgia (0-2)!

UGA Football Team Picture Featured

What was your take away?

The Wreckbone’s base alignment is straight, normal splits at three feet, with a three point stance.  B-Backs heels are 5 yards behind ball directly behind QB in a 3 point stance.  A-Backs line up with 3 foot split from the tackle and 1.5 feet behind heels of the tackle.  A staggered 2 point stance with inside foot back.  Wide receivers line up on the proximity of the numbers depending on where ball is located and play call.

Hole Number System: Even-right: 0,2,4,6,8 ; Odd-left: 1,3,5,7,9

Approximately 12 Formations.  Countless amount of plays, but again I think some of the plays do indeed get drawn up during the game as small adjustments.  I’m not sure how many plays PJ would say are possible out of The Wreckbone. Actually he would probably says something like “awe, there isn’t that many plays, we just do the same thing and adjust a little if we have to.”

Here comes optimism. New faces, boys turning into men, the sights, sounds, and tastes of football are in the slightly cooler air of north Georgia. Much rides again on the defense, yes the defense. Logan Wall and T.J. Barnes need to be solid in the middle, end play looks better, our linebackers look 2-deep solid, secondary may have our best athletes. O-line is young and thin but have to be better. QB situation is solid on the surface, fluid underneath. Tevin is the man, but I imagine the leash is short, and I would not be surprised to see three QB’s play and contribute significantly. I would fear that in most situations, but for some reason I’m comforted that we have three guys, odds in our favor. A and B backs are deep, look forward to seeing #9 with the ball. Obviously Tech must pass more efficiently. Defenses are cheating up and who can blame them, I would force Tech to beat me with the pass, this year we do.

Go Jackets!

Game versus UVA: With a fight song like au lang syne it isn’t any wonder the football at UVA is so sleepy. Tech seems to intent on PROVING ME WRONG again as they actually showed up and played much better in all facets.  Tech put up a rushing record and should of put up a scoring record, but Tech remains at times it’s own worst enemy with fumbles and poor execution at critical times. Grade: A

Offense: The story here was Tech found an offensive line combo that worked.  Jay Finch moved from backup center to guard in one week and made a difference.  Hopefully more competition on the line will breed a better overall line.  We didn’t have to pass versus UVA so the question marks are still there.  Thank you Stephen Hill for catching the ball on the first play of the game, that set up the entire offense for the rest of the game.  I’ve said before, you don’t have to pass a lot, you just have to have a threat of it.

Also, I’d still like to see this offense in a no-huddle besides in crisis moments.  I say if you get 5 yards a running play, you keep no-huddle running it until they stop it.  This offense is death by daggers, pull it out and quickly stab again until the victim is dead. I often remember as an offensive lineman desiring to run the same play again, assignment is fresh, you saw how the defender reacted to the play, now you can block them even better.  And STOP FUMBLING.  Grade: A-

Defense: Playing better. OLB’s are in better position and when #45 matures even more, look out, he’s the real deal.  It is good to see improvement.  Talent may be slim in some positions but that can be fixed too, just takes a little longer.  Grade: B+

Special Teams: I don’t have any memorable special team’s play which I guess is a good thing.    Grade: B+

Week 7: Middle Tenn. St.

Dasher needs to be contained, make somebody else beat us.  This is not the MTSU team that went bowling last year.  Tech should win but we all know our tendency to play to the level of our opponent.  They need to understand the intensity and urgency of these games and that no one rolls over when Tech sprints out of the locker room.  We’re just not that good.  So go out and defeat them in every area.  Nessy needs 150 to break the ACC record for QB rushing, held by Clemson’s Woodrow Dantzler. I remember seeing Woodrow sprint what seemed to be 100 yards to the northeast endzone for a touchdown as the halftime horn sounded. Joshua doesn’t get it this week, but saves a few yards for Clemson next week just for the sake of reminding them how superior Tech is to Klimpson year after year.

Go Jackets!

Here are some obvious problems:

1. Too much relies upon #9, and as important as the QB is in the college game, he can’t do it all.  #9 has a skill set and he has a warrior’s heart but asking him to be the hero every play is just too much.  Somebody else at a skill position has to step up if we’re to get better. I like B.J. Bostic and his speed, perhaps we can develop a package with him at receiver so we can get him the ball more in space.  Not sure if he has hands, for that matter, who does?  Bostic is a Freshman, but there is no time like the present to become the next great Tech player.

2. We don’t have much talent at DL or LB.  I was doubtful about the DL from the start of the season, I’m not that surprised but I am surprised at just how easy they get blocked and pushed around.  That’s a lot of lack of heart and lack of technique rather than talent.  Even untalented players can be taught to plug and play. I am a little suprised by the LB corp.  I thought we would be pretty good there, especially with ACC Freshman of the Year Jackson coming back, but he’s been non-existent and Jefferson has been underwhelming.  I like what I see in Watts, Attachou, and J.Burnett but they are young and they’ve got to get better at making plays and getting off blocks.   I’m willing to give Al Groh every benefit of the doubt this year, Tech’s defense was awful last year and we lost the 2 best players. I understand what he’s working with and I’ll be generous this year, but if we don’t see a noticable difference next year in both execution and overall talent level, we’ve got bigger problems to address. It would be great for my confidence in Groh to at least see some improvement week to week.

3. Special teams continues to stink.  Minus the FG’s by Blair who is playing great, and kickoff coverage which has improved a bit over last year, the rest is flat out pathetic.  We can’t punt.  I understand that last year we didn’t have the need to punt very often but good grief this is beyond pathetic.  It’s not that hard and lot of it is coaching, the staff has to do a better job getting them ready.  The punt return team isn’t much better either.  Granted the other teams haven’t had to punt all that often against our D. Special teams is perhaps the easiest fix of all Tech’s problems right now.  Stop beating yourself with special teams and we are perhaps undefeated despite how lousy we’ve played.

Ok, so this was suppose to review of Wake and a preview of Virginia.  I’m still trying to forget everything about that Wake game execept the W.  We should of been beat by 3 touchdowns, but thank goodness they didn’t have a QB ahead of the 4th string or we probably would’ve been beat before the middle of the fourth when we finally woke up. Offensive line play was just plain embarrassing. At times it looked as if no one knew who to block so they just didn’t block anyone.  There is no excuse for that, even if you forget your assignment go and hit somebody with the opposite jersey, don’t just stand there and watch the play.  MADDENING! Pass blocking isn’t just “not good” it’s laughable.

Now on to Virgina.  Virginia is always a Jekyl and Hyde team.  They played USC tight and it’s not like we ever really dominate Virginia.  In fact if memory serves me right they embarrassed us the last time we played at The Dodd.  Offense has to play better for Tech to win this game.  We can’t continually rely on our D to make stops, and we’re not playing a 4th string QB this week.  Tech ranks No. 8 in the ACC in total yards allowed (347.8 per game) and No. 10 in points allowed (25.4 per game). I don’t need to remind you this is the ACC.  Hands are full again this week, let’s avoid the the Groh subplot and get the W, even if it’s ugly.   The tailgate should be great and stop by if you can.  Go Jackets!

I welcomed my son, Judson, into the world Thursday, September 23 at 7:29, just in time to watch Thursday night football.  Having my first son during the Fall football season seems fitting. What was not fitting was how the Yellow Jackets played on Saturday.  I’m glad Judson won’t be able to remember his first Saturday of Tech football, and wish I could forget as quickly.  Embarrassing effort, embarrassing execution. My goodness, how can you go to Tech and miss that many blocks and assignments? Tech should look out for the NCAA Inquisition Unit, the program must be doing something wrong if they can get these guys into Tech but yet can’t block, can’t cover, can’t tackle, and can’t get into the proper position.

Yeah I know it’s uncool to blame the players but if the shoe fits wear it; grow up, you are getting a free education by the way.  Coaches are responsible for not getting them ready, and the track record is there and this will be added to it.  Now it’s time to man up, everyone in the program must look in the mirror and face reality.  We’re not that good right now, plain and simple.  Now go out and change that.  Fans can’t do it, tradition can’t do it, only the players and coaches can do it.  We’re watching and waiting, and while my newborn son got a healthy dose of yelling “to Hell with Georgia” like his daddy this past weekend, now it’s time to bring the next lesson of “what is Georgia Tech football.”  Let’s start that lesson at Wake Forest this Saturday and let’s start building a new foundation.  Go Jackets!

Game vs UNC: Times of brilliance, times of lack of focus.  Effort was much better, but needs to be more consistent, unrelenting! Overall Grade: B

Offense: Blocking, both inside and on the perimeter was much improved.  Must finish drives and avoid those turnovers.  Nessy sometimes appears to be trying  to do too much, especially when it’s a crucial point, continue to make the read and run the offense. Will Jackson is real good, we need him healthy.  Grade: B-

Defense:  Intensity was much better and Cross, Barnes, and Watts are all good players who made some crucial plays at crucial times.  Need improvement at point of attack, too many times getting sucked into a block and unable to get off of it. Avoid it by blowing it up the block at the point of attack.  A lot of missed tackles are a result of not being in position to make the tackle, lunging and off balance because they’re getting blocked.  Blow up the block and then make the play.  It’s technique and power. #45, Attaochu, looks like he’s going to be real player too, he was an animal at the end of the game.  Grade: C

Special Teams: What has happened to Scott Blair?  Wow, that was impressive.  Grade: A