Comforting thought.....

[drinkclearwiskey]

At least to me. Remember how last week we all said during the FSU game the best defense in that game for us was offense????

Why aren't more of you thinking that for this game? It was the case against UNC, MSU, and FSU. We killed both teams in TOP well not as much as UNC for FSU but it was definitely a margin in the second half at FSU.

Remember last year we were able to have sustaining drives in several games last year that would have been the factor in winning, the only problem was we turned it over way too many times. VT is the perfect example. We had a really long drive going right before they half, but we turned it over and VT took the lead before halftime. Late in the third quarter we have a drive going then the mesh got screwed up, cost us points. UVA last year two fumbles in the red zone.

I am not saying that we should have to depend on the offense for the defense every year. But this may be one year where we have too. If GT cannot stay on the field we will lose and it's as simple as that. However, if VT let's GT win the TOP by 10 or so minutes I think we win.

Next year we may be able to depend on the defense a little, but this year, I think Josh is running the mid-line so much because A) he is getting 4 or 5 yards at a time B) less of a chance of turning the ball over because there is not exchange, C) it chews up the clock, keeping our defense rested and the opposing teams gasping for air.

If we continue our trend on offense, and I really don't see why we couldn't, we should be fine. I mean, FSU knew Nesbitt was getting the ball all game, yet the O-line just did an outstanding job on their blocking.

Anyways, just a thought.

GO JACKETS!

 

[Enuratique]

At least to me. Remember how last week we all said during the FSU game the best defense in that game for us was offense????

Why aren't more of you thinking that for this game? It was the case against UNC, MSU, and FSU. We killed both teams in TOP well not as much as UNC for FSU but it was definitely a margin in the second half at FSU.

Remember last year we were able to have sustaining drives in several games last year that would have been the factor in winning, the only problem was we turned it over way too many times. VT is the perfect example. We had a really long drive going right before they half, but we turned it over and VT took the lead before halftime. Late in the third quarter we have a drive going then the mesh got screwed up, cost us points. UVA last year two fumbles in the red zone.

I am not saying that we should have to depend on the offense for the defense every year. But this may be one year where we have too. If GT cannot stay on the field we will lose and it's as simple as that. However, if VT let's GT win the TOP by 10 or so minutes I think we win.

Next year we may be able to depend on the defense a little, but this year, I think Josh is running the mid-line so much because A) he is getting 4 or 5 yards at a time B) less of a chance of turning the ball over because there is not exchange, C) it chews up the clock, keeping our defense rested and the opposing teams gasping for air.

If we continue our trend on offense, and I really don't see why we couldn't, we should be fine. I mean, FSU knew Nesbitt was getting the ball all game, yet the O-line just did an outstanding job on their blocking.

Anyways, just a thought.

GO JACKETS!

winnar winnar chicken dinnar

 

[GTLiebs]

Possible, we can rip off ridiculously long drives. We had a 9 minute one against FSU. That's almost a full effing quarter. If we can do that 4 times against VPI we put ourselves in a position to win.

 

[alpha]

It is easier said then done. You are assuming that our offense can have the ball at will. I think one of the things that VPI will try to do is to keep the ball away from our offense as much as possible.

 

[unforgiven108]

It is easier said then done. You are assuming that our offense can have the ball at will. I think one of the things that VPI will try to do is to keep the ball away from our offense as much as possible.

I was just thinking this...it would be nice to win the TOP, but VPI has more of an offense/defense set up to win TOP battles than we do.

I think our O if it's running smoothly can crank out a lot of minutes, but VPI also utilizes a strong run game and can crank out minutes. The difference is that VPI has a stronger defense to force us into getting off the field easier.

GT will HAVE to be able to stop the run game of VPI if we want to win this one...I think it can be done, it's just a matter of if it will or not.

 

[drinkclearwiskey]

Alpha, if we had done this for one game I'd say that. But we have put on similar performance on the O 3 games in a row. For 1/4 of our games this year the O and TOP stat has been consistent in that GT is winning by a pretty large margin.

I am saying I think GT has more of the advantage to keep the ball more over VT. GT isn't so bad against the run, and I don't think TT can beat us in the air.

 

[TechGator1066]

If we can get UNC-like TOP (40 minutes +), then I like our chances immensely. That's assuming our offense can cap all of those drives with touchdowns, and, perhaps, an occasional field goal.

 

[unforgiven108]

If we can get UNC-like TOP (40 minutes +), then I like our chances immensely. That's assuming our offense can cap all of those drives with touchdowns, and, perhaps, an occasional field goal.

This is what I'm hoping for too. I think we can manage it, with the simplified schemes on defense. Plus I think being at home makes a big difference for our D.

I think on the road they play scared. Scared to give up the big play on the road, so they were thinking instead of reacting. I think we'll see a game closer to the UNC/Clemson game on defense rather than the UM/MSU/FSU games.

 

[Allen Koholic]

I agree with everything except Johnson calling in plays to chew up clock. He'll keep something in his back pocket for when it is needed, but I don't think he would intentionally call plays that limited the offense's effectiveness on any given play. I think he's calling the mid-line option more and more because people are keying in on Dwyer and that play is wide open.

 

[Enuratique]

I was just thinking this...it would be nice to win the TOP, but VPI has more of an offense/defense set up to win TOP battles than we do.

I think our O if it's running smoothly can crank out a lot of minutes, but VPI also utilizes a strong run game and can crank out minutes. The difference is that VPI has a stronger defense to force us into getting off the field easier.

GT will HAVE to be able to stop the run game of VPI if we want to win this one...I think it can be done, it's just a matter of if it will or not.

Hmm, an angle I hadn't considered... I could definitely see them feeding us a healthy dose of RNW so much that they keep our O off the field. Especially if we prove we can move the ball on them for 9 minutes at a time. Gotta hope we can get some stops!

 

[mm42]

I mean, FSU knew Nesbitt was getting the ball all game, yet the O-line just did an outstanding job on their blocking.

FSU's defense is horrible compared to VPI's. VPI will be a lot harder to block.

Coach Johnson will do what he always does - he will run the offense, figure out what VPI is trying to do on defense, and then try to take advantage of it. He's not going to go into the game with a "grind it out on long drives no matter what" philosophy.

 

[cajunjacket]

Grinding it out against VT will put a huge amount of strain on our backs and linemen. I watched our game, the Florida LSU game (in picture and picture, using swap), and the VT game last week. The tackling collisions in the Florida-LSU game and by the VT defense in the VT-BC game were much more intense than in our game against FSU. It was like watching an NFL game vs. a college game.

Those guys hit really hard. This will be the hardest hitting defense we've faced all year. If we can grind it out against them and win, we should easily win the rest of our games.