A Big Two Weeks Ahead

[77GTFan]

6-6 seemed a reasonable goal for this season to build on the momentum we had under Key at the end of last year. For that to be attainable we need to be 3-2 after the first five games. That is both doable but certainly not easy. We really need a road win at Wake and then come home and take care of Bowling Green. Wake is down, as their ODU game today indicates. Bowling Green is no gimme, as their game at Michigan indicates. But, we really need these wins. The last seven games are tough. With Clemson, UGA, UNC, and Miami it is hard to envision anything better than 3-4. For Key to establish himself as a good head coach these next two weeks are huge.

 

[jts1207]

iiwii

 

[The Champ]

If we don’t commit penalties and don’t turn the ball over we will win these games.

 

[GTLiebs]

6-6 seemed a reasonable goal for this season to build on the momentum we had under Key at the end of last year. For that to be attainable we need to be 3-2 after the first five games. That is both doable but certainly not easy. We really need a road win at Wake and then come home and take care of Bowling Green. Wake is down, as their ODU game today indicates. Bowling Green is no gimme, as their game at Michigan indicates. But, we really need these wins. The last seven games are tough. With Clemson, UGA, UNC, and Miami it is hard to envision anything better than 3-4. For Key to establish himself as a good head coach these next two weeks are huge.

We also might only be favored in two more games this year. To get beyond that we'll need better defense and for the offense to actually score points.

If we don’t commit penalties and don’t turn the ball over we will win these games.

Which brings me to this part, we've demonstrated other ways of screwing ourselves out of games, which is what is implied with a line like that. We need better halftime adjustments by the defense and we need the offense to actually score points on its successful drives. We are doing very well in many offensive categories but we are 43rd in scoring offense and tied for 97th in redzone efficiency.

 

[The Champ]

We also might only be favored in two more games this year. To get beyond that we'll need better defense and for the offense to actually score points.



Which brings me to this part, we've demonstrated other ways of screwing ourselves out of games, which is what is implied with a line like that. We need better halftime adjustments by the defense and we need the offense to actually score points on its successful drives. We are doing very well in many offensive categories but we are 43rd in scoring offense and tied for 97th in redzone efficiency.

Our defense certainly needs to be better; hopefully they play better in games where there is less of a talent disparity.

Our offense has performed very well against superior talent. Do we need to convert FGs when we have a shot? Yes. But haven’t seen anything with the base O that makes me think we won’t continue to move the ball every Saturday.

 

[stinger78]

We also might only be favored in two more games this year. To get beyond that we'll need better defense and for the offense to actually score points.



Which brings me to this part, we've demonstrated other ways of screwing ourselves out of games, which is what is implied with a line like that. We need better halftime adjustments by the defense and we need the offense to actually score points on its successful drives. We are doing very well in many offensive categories but we are 43rd in scoring offense and tied for 97th in redzone efficiency.

Our RZ efficiency is currently at 75% (12 of 16). That is not a bad efficiency in itself, although this early in the season it rates pretty low. That is also hurt by not attempting FGs a couple of times in the RZ in the first 3 games due to the inconsistency of the FG unit. We've turned the ball over on downs inside the 20 a couple of times, IIRC, where we decided to go for it on 4th down.

 

[GTLiebs]

Our defense certainly needs to be better; hopefully they play better in games where there is less of a talent disparity.

Our offense has performed very well against superior talent. Do we need to convert FGs when we have a shot? Yes. But haven’t seen anything with the base O that makes me think we won’t continue to move the ball every Saturday.

I guess my point is moving the ball is great but scoring is what matters. The FG situation only exacerbates it. We can continue to move the ball every Saturday but if we don't go another step further and figure out how to punch it in, gonna be rough.

Wake is feeling like somewhat of a must-win game from a confidence standpoint, or at least for fan enthusiasm.

 

[WracerX]

Our RZ efficiency is currently at 75% (12 of 16). That is not a bad efficiency in itself, although this early in the season it rates pretty low. That is also hurt by not attempting FGs a couple of times in the RZ in the first 3 games due to the inconsistency of the FG unit. We've turned the ball over on downs inside the 20 a couple of times, IIRC, where we decided to go for it on 4th down.

Our RZ woes are due to the fact that our OL cannot get much push and our RB are light. However, our OL are good at holding blocks and or RB have good vision. So our run game consists of the OL locking people in place while the RB look for seams. It works well until the field gets compressed in the RZ.

 

[stinger78]

Our RZ woes are due to the fact that our OL cannot get much push and our RB are light. However, our OL are good at holding blocks and or RB have good vision. So our run game consists of the OL locking people in place while the RB look for seams. It works well until the field gets compressed in the RZ.

We don't see eye to eye on the term "red zone woes." When you're scoring at a 75% rate (12 of 16), and that includes (IIRC) 2 missed 4th down plays, instead of kicking the chip shot FG which would make it 14 of 16 (88%), then I don't really think you've got too much of a problem. I do agree that we need to develop the OL to be able to blow a DL off the ball in short yardage situations, but that's a function of a large, powerful OL the likes of which we've seldom seen at GA Tech. Still, it would be nice.

 

[GoldenIsle]

We need a horse at RB ie… Jonathan Dwyer, Tony Hollins, David Sims … I’d even take another Eddie Lee Ivery or Lenny Snow.

 

[WracerX]

We don't see eye to eye on the term "red zone woes." When you're scoring at a 75% rate (12 of 16), and that includes (IIRC) 2 missed 4th down plays, instead of kicking the chip shot FG which would make it 14 of 16 (88%), then I don't really think you've got too much of a problem. I do agree that we need to develop the OL to be able to blow a DL off the ball in short yardage situations, but that's a function of a large, powerful OL the likes of which we've seldom seen at GA Tech. Still, it would be nice.

Our RZ woes are FG attempts because we aren’t scoring TDs. And that is happening because our running game is based on having space.

 

[LaFlavor]

We need a horse at RB ie… Jonathan Dwyer, Tony Hollins, David Sims … I’d even take another Eddie Lee Ivery or Lenny Snow.

Shoot, a Zach Laskey would do it. Nothing flashy, just a dude who never gets less than 2 or 3 yards.

 

[stinger78]

Our RZ woes are FG attempts because we aren’t scoring TDs. And that is happening because our running game is based on having space.

It's really too early in the season to be discussing this, but...

Some of the top RZ offenses this season are:
Bama - 8 RZ att/ 6 TD/ 2 FG/ 1.000
Colorado - 13 RZ att/ 8 TD/ 5 FG/ 1.000
Oregon - 17 RZ att/ 12 TD/ 4 FG/ .941
tOSU - 9 RZ att/ 6 TD/ 2 FG/ .889
UGA - 16 RZ att/ 9 TD/ 4 FG/ .812
GA Tech - 16 RZ att/ 10 TD/ 2 FG/ .750

Can we use a bruiser RB and OL who can drive block? Sure. But the scope of this is not huge at this point, IMPO.

 

[GoldenIsle]

6-6 seemed a reasonable goal for this season to build on the momentum we had under Key at the end of last year. For that to be attainable we need to be 3-2 after the first five games. That is both doable but certainly not easy. We really need a road win at Wake and then come home and take care of Bowling Green. Wake is down, as their ODU game today indicates. Bowling Green is no gimme, as their game at Michigan indicates. But, we really need these wins. The last seven games are tough. With Clemson, UGA, UNC, and Miami it is hard to envision anything better than 3-4. For Key to establish himself as a good head coach these next two weeks are huge.

Normally I would say our best chance of an upset from the games with Clem, UGA, UNC, and Miami would be against UNC or Miami, but I think Clemson may be beatable. Beating UGA is a stretch but if they don’t show up and we get on a roll I think it’s doable, the last three seasons we had no chance.