Wednesday September 09, 2009

Georgia Tech Preview

Georgia Tech Preview
ESPN. Thursday night. Atlanta. Georgia Tech.

I have heard through the years about Clemson’s ESPN curse but a few wins put that one to rest. The Tigers don’t have the best record in Thursday night games. The games are usually very close when Clemson and Georgia Tech get together and finally, the Tigers have struggled in Atlanta.

In the end though, I am much more worried about the 2009 Yellow Jackets in this game and not the past Georgia Tech teams. Jonathan Dwyer concerns me more than what network is carrying the game.

So here are some things to watch for Thursday night:

*Here is a surprise….Tech will run the option. The will run the triple option, speed option, freeze option, lead option, a lease with an option to buy and will hand out stock options. Options and more options will be seen Thursday. The reason is simple. This is the greatest play in college football.

*Because Dwyer is so dangerous, Clemson will have to stop the dive first. If Dwyer has a big day between the tackles then the Tigers are done. He will be involved in the lead option as well but the first priority is to stop Dwyer between the tackles.

*Tech is not just a one man show. Josh Nesbitt is a threat because he is a big quarterback who is not afraid to get the hard-earned yardage. He is a tough runner who had 93 yards rushing last week in their opener.

*The A-Backs are talented weapons also. Roddy Jones comes back from an injury. Anthony Allen is a big back that transferred from Louisville and should also be considered a major threat.

*Demaryius Thomas might be the top wide out in the ACC and would have huge numbers in a different offense. He hurt the Tigers last season as much as any Yellow Jacket. Thomas caught four balls last week for 101 yards. The Tigers have to make sure big plays from Thomas are not the difference in the game again this season.

*Tech’s offensive line is the smallest in the ACC. Their tackles are 284 and 257 pounds. The guards are 280 and 304 and the starting center is 274 pounds. However, this unit plays hard and excels in cutting the opponent. The ankle bitters can frustrate defenders.

*The Yellow Jackets have had success driving the football on longer drives and wearing down defenses but they often times hit on big plays. Some mistake this scheme as one that only grinds out drives but they hit for as many big plays as any offense in the league.

*Paul Johnson has gotten a lot of press with this offense but the numbers sometimes tell a different story. Last year’s offense scored fewer points than Chan Gailey’s last two teams at Georgia Tech. They had more yards per game in Gailey’s last year than in Johnson’s first season. Also, some teams did shut down the offense including Gardner-Webb who held Tech to 10 points and 79 yards rushing a year ago. Tech scored less than 20 points in six of their 13 games last season.

*A major reason Tech won nine games last year was its defense. The Jackers were 6-1 last year because they held their first seven opponents under 21 points. A big reason they finished 3-2 was because they allowed over 21 points in each of their last five games.

*The Jackets return eight starters on their defense. They play a 4-2-5 with their nickel guy called a Wolf. Dominique Reese is a starter there. It was Reese who scored on the interception return last year in Death Valley.

*The strength of the defense is in the back seven including All-American candidate Morgan Burnett at rover. He had two interceptions against the Tigers a year ago.

*The defensive issues are with the front four where only Derrick Morgan returns. Morgan is one of the top defensive linemen in the ACC but the rest of the line is smaller and less experienced. Jason Peters, Ben Anderson and Robert Hall are the other three starters and they average about 270 pounds. Tech can go big with freshman T.J. Barnes (6-7, 341) at defensive tackle.

*The Jackets special teams were a mixed bag on their opener. They averaged 51 net yards per punt and their kickoff coverage was outstanding. Jerrod Tarrant had a 68 yard punt return also. However, Tech did miss an extra point and a field goal Saturday.

*Last year the Tigers turned it over six times in the loss to Tech. Obviously that number will have to change of Clemson wants a chance to win.

I have three keys for the defense. First, the Tigers have to stop the dive. Second, limit the big plays in the passing game. Finally, the defense needs to get off of the field on third down.

On offense, I think Clemson needs to establish the run. If the Tigers can run the football it will take a lot of pressure off of Kyle Parker in his first start on the road.

I also think it is important for the Tigers to get off to a good start. It seems like in some of the most recent road losses the Tigers have struggled right out of the gate. That was the case against Alabama, Wake Forest and Nebraska. The Tigers did start strong in the Maryland and Florida State losses last year but the Maryland loss was at home.

Thursday nights are tough on the road team but quieting a home crowd early would go a long way into securing an ACC win.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
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*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw.