Couple Things

[GTland03]

We will run through Duke and GW with no problem.

We have a good coach.

 

[GTCrew]

I do like our chances of making a bowl. Before the season I only saw the 1AA and Duke as sure wins.

BC and Miss State were the next two easiest on paper.

Then to make a bowl we needed two of UNC, Miami, UVA, FSU and VT all of which I expected to be underdogs against.

Clemson and UGA looked near impossible.

Well obviously we are much better and UVA is much worse. The other guys are where I thought they would be. We will have played 5 of our six easiest games when we meet Clemson.

 

[gsu_paintballer]

I just hope we have a good season that culminates in an eastern bowl that I can attend.

 

[GTCrew]

We will run through Duke and GW with no problem.

We have a good coach.

Duke beat the top 1AA team 31-7. They were edged by an undefeated Northwestern team. They beat Navy and kept the score manageable.

I know PJ is awesome, but Duke is a decent Div 1 FB team.

 

[Wreck02]

Duke beat the top 1AA team 31-7. They were edged by an undefeated Northwestern team. They beat Navy and kept the score manageable.

I know PJ is awesome, but Duke is a decent Div 1 FB team.

James Madison is still an FCS team no matter how you look at it, Northwestern has played nobodies to reach 4-0, and Navy is NOT what they were with PJ.

Duke is decent but I fully believe that PJ will not let the guys overlook the game... that said: Georgia Tech will roll in this game. As we know, if BC, VT, and MSU can't stop GT running the option, neither can DUKE.

 

[WracerX]

James Madison is still an FCS team no matter how you look at it, Northwestern has played nobodies to reach 4-0, and Navy is NOT what they were with PJ.

Duke is decent but I fully believe that PJ will not let the guys overlook the game... that said: Georgia Tech will roll in this game. As we know, if BC, VT, and MSU can't stop GT running the option, neither can DUKE.

Navy put 30 on Duke's defense. We'll do at least that well. Navy's defense gave up 40 to Duke. Our defense will cut that in half. So I expect the game to be 30-20 for GT.

Duke will probably be 3-1 coming in. But it will be their FIRST road game.

It is a divisional game and we aren't out of the running for the ACCCG yet. CPJ will definitely have our team focused.

 

[hiveredtech]

1) Duke- bottom line is that David Cutcliffe has Duke putting points on the board with an excellent and efficient passing game....the thing our defense loves least. They are averaging 31 points per game...UNHEARD of at Duke. Remember...they are smart...and will understand assignment defense. However, out athleticism will win the one on one's. If our defense comes out and stuffs them early we will be ok....but if we let their passing game get in a rhythm, then Cutcliffe will take advantage of that.

2) LB's- Paul Johnson himself said that Sedric Griffin has been our most consistent LB. I would not cound him out. Jefferson will definitely return to the middle when he is 100%. Whereas the young man that has spelled him has made a lot of tackles..certain plays have caused him trouble and I am sure has shown on film. He will overcome with experience and strength....it is fixable.
Bottom line is that we have tons a great LB's....we are fortunate to have lots of depth there.

 

[WracerX]

1) Duke- bottom line is that David Cutcliffe has Duke putting points on the board with an excellent and efficient passing game....the thing our defense loves least. They are averaging 31 points per game...UNHEARD of at Duke. Remember...they are smart...and will understand assignment defense. However, out athleticism will win the one on one's. If our defense comes out and stuffs them early we will be ok....but if we let their passing game get in a rhythm, then Cutcliffe will take advantage of that.

Duke has faced exactly zero defensive lines like ours. Counting UVa, NW, JM, and Navy together and you have 0 potential All Americans and maybe 1 potential All ACC. We have been able to get good pressure by rushing 4. Although we did have to blitz more against BC in the second half to get pressure.

Tenuta's defense had trouble with efficient passing teams. Womack's problem seems to stem from slashing type running backs and scrambling QB's. That may be a problem with Clemson, but not Duke. Duke's QB is going to be looking at 7 men in coverage most of the game.

This will also be Duke's first road game. If the stadium is load (and it may be if Duke comes in at 3-1), we'll see how well their Oline handles the silent count.

 

[stinger78]

Anyone on our schedule except GW can beat us. Miss State despite the SEC hype is not good and has coaching on par with Miami but with far less talent. We barely beat a depleted BC team and lost to the worst Hokie squad in nearly 20 years.

This is a true statement, but it is also true for anyone on UGAG's schedule. They SHOULD win every game left. We SHOULD win just about every game left. Why do we insist on setting expectations low, and on belittling our wins? Are we insulating ourselves to the inevitable disappointment? This team is talented and the coaching is very good, having won well over 70% of it's games historically. This is not a lifetime 50% staff. It's time to toss out the negativism and allow yourself to be optimistic for once.

MSU is not a good team, but they do have a very good D. They have for several years now, and they do this year, and we simply shredded them Saturday. This O is for real, and is getting better.

UNC woulda beat VT bad if they hadn't lost their QB. They should have him back for our game plus perhaps an experienced second option at QB by then. Miami demolished a bad A&M team. They are getting better. Don't let the Alabama meltdown fool you, Clemson is very good. UGA is a juggernaut.

Yes, it appears they would have, but they lost their QB. He will either be just back or not back for us, too. If he is back, he will be rusty and out of synch. Depending upon the reports you believe, he may not even be back. But it will still be a game, and we will have to go up there with focus to beat them. I have confidence that PJ will have us there.

Why do you give more credence to Miami demolishing a bad A&M team than us demolishing a bad MSU team? We certainly have a better O than Miami, a nearly as good a D.

CU is soft across both lines. Their OL has 2 FR to go with 2 JR's and 1 SR. I think our senior-laden DL will manhandle them. They don't pass real well. Their DL has a FR, a SO and SR starting, and FR Brandon Thompson is backup for the SR NT. Their LB's are 2 JR's, a FR and a SO. I think our O by that time will manhandle them, too.

Overall, that's 4 FR, 2 SO, 4 JR's and 2 SR along the OL and defensive front 7, with the main backup at NT being another FR. Alabama blew both of those units off the field. That unit is certainly no better than BC, VT or MSU, and we got progresively better against each of those week to week. We have as good, if not better O than Alabama.

Duke and UVA do look beatable, but if we lay an egg with turnovers we will lose.

This is true, but why the qualifier? That is always true. Low expectations again. This is not Gailey-ball.

Cold water:
Our D is young and is giving up a lot of yards against horrible offenses.
We don't have the depth to absorb many injuries.
The PJ O neutralizes great DL more than the other D positions. We will see better back 7 groups than we have seen so far.

This is true, too. However a qualifier to your qualifier: Our D is young in the secondary and is vulnerable to the pass, but has a SR and a future All-American anchoring it. Our D has the most experienced DL in the ACC, with 4 seniors on the depth chart, to go with a future All-Amercan. Our LB's are young and need to continue to improve.

I am very excited. If we stay healthy and we get a bunch of good bounces this season could be special. However GREAT teams struggle to go 10-1. We are a LONG way from being good enough to talk like 10-1 is more than a longshot IMHO.

I'm excited, too, but we look at things differently here. Great teams always work hard and just go 10-1 or better normally. Good teams work hard too and often overachieve. This is a good team that is getting better, and that will work hard to get there, and has a good shot at it. This O is starting to gel very nicely, and will only get better. This is the key, and we have 4 data points showing marked improvement against better D's than almost any one else has played. We have good reason to be very optimistic.

Our O is good right now, but IMO will be great by the end of the season. They may not get to 10-1, but we should be favored in every conference game from here on out, with the exception of the CU game and mabe the Miami game. Win the ones we're supposed to, and one of those and we're 9-2. Win both and we're 10-1.

If we (the team, not us fans) are looking ahead to Clemson we will be lucky not to lose to Duke. They are Div 1 athletes with a good coach and they have been practicing for the triple O and have played against it. They are also smarter than many and should be able to play their assignments.

This is all one fan's speculation. If fans look ahead it means nothing. PJ will not let our team look ahead. He was miffed with a 21-0 halftime lead last week. He sees enough bad to keep them focused, and they have all bought into his system.

 

[00Burdell]

1) [Duke] is averaging 31 points per game...UNHEARD of at Duke.

Man, I remember when Spurrier was there back in the big 80s. Duke would go up and down the field and there was nothing anybody could do to stop them.

If you couldn't put up 30+ on Duke then, in the words of Warner Wolf,
... you LOST.:D

I didn't think Ben Bennett was ever going to graduate.

I hope we aren't headed for a return of Duke's unstoppable air game.

 

[stinger78]

Are we really fretting over Duke? We're talking about a program that's won 8 games over the last 5 years, and 17 over the last 10. No one is going to step in and immediately make them into what Spurrier had them in 1989. Spurrier had 2-3 good recruiting years behind him when he took them to an amazing 8-4 record (sarcasm) and the ACC championship in the old ACC.

Duke is not an issue this year. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

[hiveredtech]

Duke has faced exactly zero defensive lines like ours. Counting UVa, NW, JM, and Navy together and you have 0 potential All Americans and maybe 1 potential All ACC. We have been able to get good pressure by rushing 4. Although we did have to blitz more against BC in the second half to get pressure.

Tenuta's defense had trouble with efficient passing teams. Womack's problem seems to stem from slashing type running backs and scrambling QB's. That may be a problem with Clemson, but not Duke. Duke's QB is going to be looking at 7 men in coverage most of the game.

This will also be Duke's first road game. If the stadium is load (and it may be if Duke comes in at 3-1), we'll see how well their Oline handles the silent count.

As I said...we should not have a problem beating Duke...but if we let their short passing game get in a rhythm we could have problems.

You state that they have not faced a defense like ours...but Mississippi State had...by far...their best offensive performance against us. We were essentially tied in yardage at halftime....and they had 400 yards for the game. They simply made stupid turnovers...a couple of which were not forced. Mississippi State, like VaTech, had success with quick hitters up the middle...and with the short outs...even getting YAC.

I am not saying our defense is bad...quite the opposite....it is a strong point. I am just saying there are certain things we have struggled with and Cutcliffe will have a game plan to exploit that.

Offensively we should be ok because of athleticism in the one on ones PJ creates. They will be more disciplined defensively than Miss St which essentially gave up at one point in the game and did not even attempt to maintain their assignments. It was pathetic.

It is an ACC game...you have to show up...and Duke is better than years past....because in years past it did not matter how easy their schedule was...they still lost.

 

[GEETEELEE]

They will be more disciplined defensively than Miss St which essentially gave up at one point in the game and did not even attempt to maintain their assignments. It was pathetic.

Yes, not long after the start of the 3rd quarter I remarked to SWMBO: "You are seeing a completely demoralized defense."

I love it!

 

[LongforDodd]

- ...
- ...Jonathan Davis is very close his father seemed excited about GT. The commits that were present had a great time and seem very excited about the future of the program.

JD would be one of the best athletes to ever step foot on Grant Field. It's a shame he's no taller than he is. But if he was, he'd be one of the top five recruits at least in the state if not nationally.

Dems...is Luallen firm in his committment?

 

[WracerX]

Well, in fairness, we were tied in yardage at halftime because the endzones kept stopping our progress. MSU's defensive philosophy is to attack the ball. That is why they had so much trouble with our offense.

Our weakness is the youth at LB. Cutcliff will certainly scheme to attack us there. But what we don't know is how Duke's QB will do under pressure. Especially if they pressure is coming from a 4 man rush.

 

[kirbee]

Win that one and we roll into Athens at 10-1, with a skinny 3-point loss between that and undefeated.

Settle down. Clemson and UNC are going to be very very tough road games. Even with the big production last week, we are still putting the ball on the ground too much. We were just lucky not to lose any against MSU. This is still a very young team at many key positions.

What you say is possible, but its nowhere near likely. I would put 10-1 down as having the same chances as we lose to Duke or UVA.

 

[gtmg]

I am sure that Duke will be exposed this weekend against UVA who is not very good. Never been a fan of Cutcliffe and was elated that he was not in the running here. He has built his whole career around the Manning boys. PJ knows how to win the games he should. I don't expect anything different at GT.

Like some here I am quietly optimistic. It will require some luck but this season could be something special and it will definitely be better than the last few. I fully expect to be bowling on the east coast this year with a good match up.

 

[hiveredtech]

Well, in fairness, we were tied in yardage at halftime because the endzones kept stopping our progress. MSU's defensive philosophy is to attack the ball. That is why they had so much trouble with our offense.

Our weakness is the youth at LB. Cutcliff will certainly scheme to attack us there. But what we don't know is how Duke's QB will do under pressure. Especially if they pressure is coming from a 4 man rush.

Agreed on the LB youth.

In the end...there is no way we should lose this game. We do have to come to win and put them away early. We cannot just show up...which I know we all agree on.

As information....
Thaddeus Lewis (a junior) is 3rd in the ACC in pass efficiency (among those that have played every game) with a 63% passes completed, 5 TD's to zero INT's...passer rating of 136. He is also Duke's second leading rusher with 130 yards on 29 carries and 1 TD.

 

[Ish]

CU is soft across both lines. Their OL has 2 FR to go with 2 JR's and 1 SR. I think our senior-laden DL will manhandle them. They don't pass real well. Their DL has a FR, a SO and SR starting, and FR Brandon Thompson is backup for the SR NT. Their LB's are 2 JR's, a FR and a SO. I think our O by that time will manhandle them, too.

Overall, that's 4 FR, 2 SO, 4 JR's and 2 SR along the OL and defensive front 7, with the main backup at NT being another FR. Alabama blew both of those units off the field. That unit is certainly no better than BC, VT or MSU, and we got progresively better against each of those week to week. We have as good, if not better O than Alabama.

Hey I'm as excited as you are, but Clemson will not be easy. Yeah their starting DL is young, but that freshman DE is DaQuan Bowers, the #2 recruit in the country last year...right behind Terrel Pryor. Let's not act as if they're not talented on that side of the line.

 

[stinger78]

Settle down. Clemson and UNC are going to be very very tough road games. Even with the big production last week, we are still putting the ball on the ground too much. We were just lucky not to lose any against MSU. This is still a very young team at many key positions.

What you say is possible, but its nowhere near likely. I would put 10-1 down as having the same chances as we lose to Duke or UVA.

Yes they will be very tough games, but they are games we can win.

I never said it was likely, just very possible. And I do believe with the progress our O is making that it is more possible each passing week.

We just disagree on the odds, and that's OK. I put losing to Duke or UVA at less than 5% with our current coaching, the progress this O is making, and their D's. I'd put our odds of going into the UGAG game at 10-1 at near 25%. When you consider that we only have to hold serve on the teams we are better than (DU, GW, UVA, FSU and UNC), and beat a very suspect (at this time) Clemson team and a Miami team with a Nix-led offense.

Now CU, FSU and Miami can get better, for sure. We are also very conditinoed to expect the head-scratcher. This is not Gailey-ball.