If you watched the GT - NCSU game last night, I'm asking for an outsiders, objective take on the GT performance. I'll offer the why later, so as not to taint any comments, but if you saw the game and have any thoughts regarding GT I'd really appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

I watched the game... and I couldn't figure out how Ga Tech went into Auburn and came away with a win. They looked pretty good on defense, although the NC State offense isn't exactly USC. But the Yellow Jacket's QB seemed to miss alot of open receivers, and didn't look comfortable or confident out there.

Still, they had a chance to win it and a fluke interception cost them the game. Or, you could say the missed field goals cost them the game.

Ga Tech, to me, is at the level right now that they will always be. Middle of the pack ACC team, most years go to a minor bowl, but only once in a couple decades will they threated on a national level at the top of the rankings.

They had everything they wanted on that last play, except for the catch. Pretty amazing interception. You guys do have a very good defense, as Crazed says, but it looks like teams have figured out that you have to let Ball beat you with his arm as opposed to his legs.

The good news is, among your remaining opponents, only Miami and Georgia seem equipped enough on defense to make Tech one-dimensional. And Miami won't have the offense to necessarily get it done. It's possible to win at Miami if you play error-free. Heck, if not for the turnovers, USF actually would have been in it a week ago. Georgia will be tough, though. I don't think that'll happen.

Virginia Tech was just too much of a buzzsaw for Ball to come back to. They are the clear #2, although the polls say #3. Throw that one out IMO.

If I were you, I'd say 8-3 is doable.

I think the last two posts summed it up pretty well. The offense left much to be desired. After last night Tech is around 95th in the nation in scoring offense. They did however move the ball between the 20's much more than you would imagine if you just saw they were held to 14 points.

Looking at your schedule, barring a decent upset I'm seeing losses to Miami and UGA. Wins against Duke and WF. Obviously those aren't your next 4 games in order but those results would leave you at 5-4. I'm seeing 6-5 with a split of Clemson & @ UVA, however I don't think its a stretch to say you could easily go 2-0 or 0-2 in those.

I hadn't seen Tech on TV this year before last night but I was left wondering about UConn somewhat. We will see more so tonight but you guys beat UConn 28-13 without Ball, and to be honest I was left imagining how you guys drove the ball at at all without him. I now see from checking the game recap from last month that apparentely your D completely shut down the Huskies offense for the win so I guess that answers my question somewhat.

Offense:
The offesnive line needs to improve.
QB needs to be a little more mobile to gain more time.
Need to pass to the backs more.
Receivers must hang on to the ball.

Defense:
Pretty soild, EXCEPT, giving up the big plays.

Summary
You beat NC State if either of these two things happened:
1. your receivers hang on those catchable balls
2. your defense didn't give up a few big plays.

CollegeCard Wrote:I hadn't seen Tech on TV this year before last night but I was left wondering about UConn somewhat. We will see more so tonight but you guys beat UConn 28-13 without Ball, and to be honest I was left imagining how you guys drove the ball at at all without him. I now see from checking the game recap from last month that apparentely your D completely shut down the Huskies offense for the win so I guess that answers my question somewhat.

Tech beat UCONN because of turnovers on UCONN's part . UCONN D played very well against TECH and their QB (not Ball) couldn't make a throw all day. UCONN D gave up a huge TD to Calvin Johnson the first play of the game. After that, he only got 2 more catches and our DB Darius Butler did pretty well against him. TECH D pressured UCONN QB all day and forced him into throwing 3 INTs. One of the INT went for a TD and other were very damaging too since they are close to UCONN's goal line. Our very young OLINE was also missing a key starter.

GunnerFan Wrote:If you watched the GT - NCSU game last night, I'm asking for an outsiders, objective take on the GT performance. I'll offer the why later, so as not to taint any comments, but if you saw the game and have any thoughts regarding GT I'd really appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

I watched last night's game too. I think Ball sucked in the 1st half. I dont think Ball would have done any better against UCONN than your backup QB. Your D is solid. You guys gave the game away to NCST. However, I do think you guys go to Calvin Johnson way too much and Ball is not a very good thrower. By look of it, you guys are a better team than NCST but you choked in the end. If you made your FGs, you could have won also.

Thanks for the replys, guys. I've tried very hard not to be overly emotional this morning, but it's clear I bit hook, line and sinker, into the concept of this year being different. Visions of 9-2, per se. I have no delusions that GT is/will very soon be a world power or anything, but Tech certainly has reached a plateau and we're waiting to see where Gailey leads us from here.

Hence my question regarding last night's performance. Tech had over 440 plus yards on offense. Missed two chip-shot field goals that could've won the game. Turned the ball over at a couple of inopportune times, and was in position to win at the end of the game.

Then again, they did end up losing, settling for field goal attempts instead of touchdowns, and failing to outscore an opponent that had only 206 yards apart from their 80 yard TD catch. More importantly, Tech's offense once again failed to maximize the volume of weapons in the arsenal, showing a gameplan than appeared forced, one-dimensional and ill-conceived for the opponent. So, did Tech lose mostly because of errors on the field, which almost everybody has, or something else.

Gailey's a nice guy, the players love him but his game preparation and gameday adjustments appear lacking and, quite frankly, I think it's time to go. I've called into a local radio show today and voiced my displeasure at Gailey's seeming inability to escape this level of performance, and barring a miraculous finish that expunges UGA yet still finds Gailey hiring an offensive coordinator for next season, I'm fully prepared to watch the program start over. Tech has lost for too many games that it clearly shouldn't, especially at home. Sadly it appears the offensive efficiency displayed against Auburn was a mirage and not some harbringer of what's to come. Last night 51,000 fans found that out, but it appears the one, most important figure in all this, hasn't.

Thanks for helping me see this out, guys. Good luck to your teams this weekend, and if you happen to know of a worthy candidate who's looking for a head coaching gig, let me know, okay?

For offense none other then UofL O-Coordinator Paul Petrino and if you are looking for a defense guy Randy Shannon at Miami.

GT should have won that game, two missed FGs and the dropped TD at the end. However, GT's looked like an up and down team. At times, they looked as if they could man-handle NC State, at other times GT looked like Pitt.

That was a tough loss... reminds me of the game against Miami at home when they blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown to win the game late in the 4th quarter.. i think that was 1996?

Or the VPI game last year, for that matter... we are kicking a field goal at the end of the first half, they block it and return it for a touchdown. 10 point swing... the deciding factor in a 19-13 game.

These kind of losses happen... don't let one game effect your outlook of the entire season/team/coaching staff. Ga Tech still has the ability to have an oustanding season.

USFBullSpit Wrote:GT should have won that game, two missed FGs and the dropped TD at the end. However, GT's looked like an up and down team. At times, they looked as if they could man-handle NC State, at other times GT looked like Pitt.

I think GT can play well but they can suck too. They have the talent, but I think their play calling is pretty bad. That points to coaching. That being said, they will be a middle of the pack team in the ACC like always. There is the big 3 (Miami, Va Tech and FSU) and everyone else. Everyone else will never get a sniff of the BCS bowl. Thats life.

SF Husky Wrote:

USFBullSpit Wrote:GT should have won that game, two missed FGs and the dropped TD at the end.  However, GT's looked like an up and down team.  At times, they looked as if they could man-handle NC State, at other times GT looked like Pitt.

I think GT can play well but they can suck too. They have the talent, but I think their play calling is pretty bad. That points to coaching. That being said, they will be a middle of the pack team in the ACC like always. There is the big 3 (Miami, Va Tech and FSU) and everyone else. Everyone else will never get a sniff of the BCS bowl. Thats life.

you are 100% correct. i think maybe 2 or 3 times out of every decade you *might* see a Clemson, NC State, Ga Tech or Maryland sneak into a BCS bowl, but I would guess at least 7 or 8 times out of every decade it will be Miami, FSU or VPI coming out of the ACC

wvucrazed Wrote:Or the VPI game last year, for that matter... we are kicking a field goal at the end of the first half, they block it and return it for a touchdown. 10 point swing... the deciding factor in a 19-13 game.

I also seem to remember a WR dropping a ball inside the 5 right before the FG attempt. 14 point swing perhaps?

Lemmiwinks Wrote:

wvucrazed Wrote:Or the VPI game last year, for that matter... we are kicking a field goal at the end of the first half, they block it and return it for a touchdown.  10 point swing... the deciding factor in a 19-13 game.

I also seem to remember a WR dropping a ball inside the 5 right before the FG attempt. 14 point swing perhaps?

You are correct.

As Don Nehlan used to say, "football is a funny game." And there's the other cliche, "football is a game of inches" - but it is true.

Sometimes the bounces go your way, and sometimes they don't.