My take on our schedule

[33jacket]

Personally, I'm going to save the predictions until I have some idea of what to expect from the offense this season. Would anyone be surprised if we averaged 4-5 turnovers/game between weeks 2-4, when we play 3 straight solid FBS programs with us having very little experience in a new system?? I sure wouldn't after seeing the spring game. I know, I know...there are 100 reasons we looked so bad offensively on 4/19 (we have a bad-ass D-line, Nesbit's injury, injured Olinemen, etc, etc...), but its still unrealistic to expect this transition to not take a while (like at least most of this season). Also, I'd feel better if the problem was only turnovers...but it wasn't. If I'm correct, we didn't get a 1st down in the first 10 possessions. Now I've read many posts about how our defense can keep games close while our offense learns on the job...but if we turn the ball over and can't manage some 1st downs when we do hang on to the ball, then the defense doesn't stand a chance.

Don't get me wrong...I'm looking for great things from this team in the near future, but I'm thinking more along the lines of '09 or '10 instead of 2008.

I think after the first two weeks of fall practice beginning end of July early August, we will all have a better feel for this O and turnovers. The FACT remains before the spring game we weren't turning the ball over much in practice, and we WERE turning it over a decent amount in the beginning of practice. Secondly the turnovers in the scrimmage were only 2 or 3 from the first team, and Josh had been out for 2 weeks without any live action. Don't want to read TOO far into turnovers, this is one instant you read a statistic, but the stats don't break it down by unit.

Point -> In fall a few weeks in, with freshman on the team and a HEALTHY team, I will be willing to make a prediction. I DO agree we get better over time, but I think it happens around game 5. 09 obviously we will be much better than 08, but I see the big jump coming within this season not between the two seasons like with Navy. We have more athletes, a better defense and I expect quicker progress.

 

[Yukonwreck]

I like how you left off the 99 and later games. Real sharp.

Thank you. I try. Actually I just want to point out that our conference history with the Seminoles has been abysmal. I personally don't like losing 14-13 anymore than 38-zip, but I guess some of us find hope in the close losses. With arguably the best Tech QB of the last 40 years we still couldn't get it done. I know Paul Johnson inspires confidence. He does in me. But I just think it is a leap of faith to say we will beat FSU, something we have not done in a dozen or more tries with at BEST--at BEST, a first year starter at QB in a new offense, with a new staff, coaching a group of athletes that have been mediocre their entire career. At worst we could line up against FSU with a true freshman running the offense---perhaps in his first start, depending on how the season has evolved to that point. Somebody give me some FACTUAL points to make me feel like ya'll do.

 

[33jacket]

Thank you. I try. Actually I just want to point out that our conference history with the Seminoles has been abysmal. I personally don't like losing 14-13 anymore than 38-zip, but I guess some of us find hope in the close losses. With arguably the best Tech QB of the last 40 years we still couldn't get it done. I know Paul Johnson inspires confidence. He does in me. But I just think it is a leap of faith to say we will beat FSU, something we have not done in a dozen or more tries with at BEST--at BEST, a first year starter at QB in a new offense, with a new staff, coaching a group of athletes that have been mediocre their entire career. At worst we could line up against FSU with a true freshman running the offense---perhaps in his first start, depending on how the season has evolved to that point. Somebody give me some FACTUAL points to make me feel like ya'll do.

Well, factually FSU will have as many if not more questions on both sides of the ball as GT does!!!

We are at home.

FSU is essentially a .500 team the past 3 years and add in their losses etc. Our D line will absolutely abolish their young and from what I have been hearing out of spring...pathetic OL group.

We don't have Questions on DL, our LB group will be just fine, our DB's are a ? at two spots. OL we will have ?'s at 2 spots, the offense is a question mark due to lack of repetitions and newness not athletes or it fitting personal, much/most will be solved by the FSU game.

The closest team to GT in the ACC is wake, who has owned FSU of late.

And FSU post Richt/Amato is a shell of what it was pre. More specifically, FSU 2003ish and past has been pathetic.

I frankly see the FSU game as being easier than UNC, Miami and MSU. WOW:wow:

Obviously that is just preseason BS...but thats my take.

 

[Jacket59]

Thank you. I try. Actually I just want to point out that our conference history with the Seminoles has been abysmal. I personally don't like losing 14-13 anymore than 38-zip, but I guess some of us find hope in the close losses. With arguably the best Tech QB of the last 40 years we still couldn't get it done. I know Paul Johnson inspires confidence. He does in me. But I just think it is a leap of faith to say we will beat FSU, something we have not done in a dozen or more tries with at BEST--at BEST, a first year starter at QB in a new offense, with a new staff, coaching a group of athletes that have been mediocre their entire career. At worst we could line up against FSU with a true freshman running the offense---perhaps in his first start, depending on how the season has evolved to that point. Somebody give me some FACTUAL points to make me feel like ya'll do.

We've had a better team than FSU (without a doubt) the last two years. Anyone that has followed the ACC would believe this.

I pretty much equate FSU with Miami. For me, beating Miami 3IAR is pretty much the same as we would've done agains FSU had they been on our schedule.

But, this year is totally up in the air in all phases, so I agree with you Yukon, I will not have the expectation that we will beat FSU going into the season. I'm trying not to have ANY preseason expectations, although I am very excited and optimistic about the future. I also wouldn't disagree with your hunch that we lose to FSU and BC and beat the dirty dogs. ANYTHING could happen this year.

 

[Yukonwreck]

Well, factually FSU will have as many if not more questions on both sides of the ball as GT does!!!

We are at home.

FSU is essentially a .500 team the past 3 years and add in their losses etc. Our D line will absolutely abolish their young and from what I have been hearing out of spring...pathetic OL group.

We don't have Questions on DL, our LB group will be just fine, our DB's are a ? at two spots. OL we will have ?'s at 2 spots, the offense is a question mark due to lack of repetitions and newness not athletes or it fitting personal, much/most will be solved by the FSU game.

The closest team to GT in the ACC is wake, who has owned FSU of late.

And FSU post Richt/Amato is a shell of what it was pre. More specifically, FSU 2003ish and past has been pathetic.

I frankly see the FSU game as being easier than UNC, Miami and MSU. WOW:wow:

Obviously that is just preseason BS...but thats my take.

And it makes sense. All of this is little more than verbal masturbation at this point, but everyone has to admit that the coming year is being viewed with more interest than in the past several off-seasons. I'll say it again--and you all can crucify me in December if I am wrong ---but if Paul Johnson wins six games this fall he should be coach of the year.

 

[beej67]

Actually I just want to point out that our conference history with the Seminoles has been abysmal. I personally don't like losing 14-13 anymore than 38-zip, but I guess some of us find hope in the close losses. With arguably the best Tech QB of the last 40 years we still couldn't get it done.

Agree, and agree, and agree, but recall that was also our worst defense in the last 40 years, vs a much better FSU team than they have now.

(baseless?) Rumor has it that Bowden wanted Tech off his schedule during the conference realignment, because of those close losses. I take solace in that, and I also feel that we'da spanked FSU every year since we stopped playing them. And that's under Gailey. This go round should be fun.

 

[samsgt02]

1. FSU has not been that bad since 2003. They have an ACC championship.

2. FSU has not been that good since 2003, compared to the previous 15-20 years.

3. I see beating FSU, will be just as hard as beating Miami. It ain't easy, but you know we can do it.

4. I don't think PJ, the staff, and the rest of the team give two sh!ts we haven't beaten them since the 70's (?). I'm not positive, but I don't think there's a whole lot of the same staff or players that were here in 2003.

5. I don't like FSU, I hate them. I still have very strong feelings about all the late hits they gave smokey Joe. When FSU looses I love it, except when its to Florida or Miami.

 

[BarrelORum]

Ah yes--cold gin time again.

here is the truth according to me:

Jax State--win
Boston College--in Boston-loss
VPI-loss
Miss State--Croom adding athletes each year--loss
Duke--we win, maybe
Gardner-Webb--win
Clempsen--loss, steamrolled, an annihilation
UVA-maybe a win
FSU-loss....old memories begin to haunt Tech Nation
UNC-loss Butch Davis has them playing adequately
Miami--loss, hard to beat even Duke four straight
Georgia--maybe a win--it will be close.

This fall will be a "period of adjustment" all the way around.

I wouldn't expect you to see it any differently. Our defense will be very good this year and we should be fine because of that. Remember, according to you we are "de-emphasizing football when we hired PJ". you won't ever live that down with me.

But here are my far too early predictions. I'll compare them to what I think the day after Jax St. game.

Jax St. We win this one easily.

BC - We Win it as they adjust to life without the #3 pick Ryan. Our defense slays them.

VT - loss.

Miss St. - Win. Their offense won't score more than 10 on us. I expect that PJ can at least put up 13.

Duke- Win

Gardner Webb - Win

Clemson - Loss, but I haven't looked at their schedule. If they have a couple of tough games before our game, I think we could pull it out. Besides, this is THE game where our offense should officially start producing good results.

UVA- This could go either way, but I'll say win because again, our offense should start coming together by then and PJ's teams get stronger as the season progresses.

FSU- Not the same FSU, our guys will be more ready for this game than any other. We Win and we win big.

UNC- could go either way. But I'll chalk this one up as a loss for the disappointing crowd.

Miami- See Patrick Nix. Win

Georgia- Loss. Their just too strong this year. But it is a close game and this game will have UGA sweating the future.

Record 8-4.

Yukon, when I'm right, I expect you to show up to the UGA tailgate and serve me beer from your cooler. :laugher:

 

[odw]

Clemson - Loss, but I haven't looked at their schedule. If they have a couple of tough games before our game, I think we could pull it out. Besides, this is THE game where our offense should officially start producing good results.

The ACC powers that be made sure to give Clemson a bye week after a Thursday night game so they could the maximum amount of time to get ready for our offense.

 

[33jacket]

And it makes sense. All of this is little more than verbal masturbation at this point, but everyone has to admit that the coming year is being viewed with more interest than in the past several off-seasons. I'll say it again--and you all can crucify me in December if I am wrong ---but if Paul Johnson wins six games this fall he should be coach of the year.

wow...6 wins? I say our bar for this team is 7 wins....below and to me we underachieved and above and we probably overachieved.

Make no mistakes, this team has talent, we don't have depth and we are young...7 wins is my bar....8-4 is a very reasonable goal.

6 wins...I mean we have two gimmies; so really you are saying 4 wins, but one of those is Duke. So REALLY you are saying this team can only achieve 3 decent wins all year???? Nah....more than that. UVA lost alot, BC lost a ton, MSU isn't that great, Miami, FSU are winnable and home, UNC is a ? and VT is tough. UGA we all know them. To me, between BC, Miami, FSU, MSU and UVA...we should be like 3-2 vs them.

 

[BarrelORum]

33, don't try to make any sense to Yukon. He's gonna act like he knows what he's talking about until he's proven wrong, and when that happens, he'll change his tune and act like that's what he believed all along.

 

[GT_LUVER]

My take:

Jax State: Win easily

BC: Win

VT: Surprise the nation and Win

Miss State: In top 25 now and we Win

Duke: Win

Gardner Webb: 2nd team plays most of the game Win

Clem: Everybody looking for a let down but we Win

UVA: No chanesque game Win

FSU: Finally beat em Win

UNC: Win but they play us close

UM: Were ranked in top 10 now and Win again

UGA: They cant stop the 3O and we Win

ACC Championship: Rematch with either Clem or FSU but we prevail Win

Nat Championship: We play OSU and they get blown out again.

 

[gt7282c@prism]

Nat Championship: We play OSU and they get blown out again.

I like your predictions, except I don't think this will happen. Instead the NC will be an undefeated OSU against an undefeated USC. Due to ranking bias, we get no higher than 4th. But instead of getting to play 3rd ranked UF, they play the 5th ranked Big XII team and we get stuck with 8th ranked BSU (but at least it won't be on blue astroturf.)

 

[samsgt02]

My take:


UM: Were ranked in top 10 now and Win again

Trust me, if Tech comes out 4-0, they'd be ranked in the top 10 before Duke. Sports writers would be all over PJ and his system. It would be too obvious to ignore at that point. You would have started the season beating both teams in the last ACC championship.

 

[Yukonwreck]

I wouldn't expect you to see it any differently. Our defense will be very good this year and we should be fine because of that. Remember, according to you we are "de-emphasizing football when we hired PJ". you won't ever live that down with me.

But here are my far too early predictions. I'll compare them to what I think the day after Jax St. game.

Jax St. We win this one easily.

BC - We Win it as they adjust to life without the #3 pick Ryan. Our defense slays them.

VT - loss.

Miss St. - Win. Their offense won't score more than 10 on us. I expect that PJ can at least put up 13.

Duke- Win

Gardner Webb - Win

Clemson - Loss, but I haven't looked at their schedule. If they have a couple of tough games before our game, I think we could pull it out. Besides, this is THE game where our offense should officially start producing good results.

UVA- This could go either way, but I'll say win because again, our offense should start coming together by then and PJ's teams get stronger as the season progresses.

FSU- Not the same FSU, our guys will be more ready for this game than any other. We Win and we win big.

UNC- could go either way. But I'll chalk this one up as a loss for the disappointing crowd.

Miami- See Patrick Nix. Win

Georgia- Loss. Their just too strong this year. But it is a close game and this game will have UGA sweating the future.

Record 8-4.

Yukon, when I'm right, I expect you to show up to the UGA tailgate and serve me beer from your cooler. :laugher:

....and people in hell want ice water.

 

[Yukonwreck]

Trust me, if Tech comes out 4-0, they'd be ranked in the top 10 before Duke. Sports writers would be all over PJ and his system. It would be too obvious to ignore at that point. You would have started the season beating both teams in the last ACC championship.

Dare to dream. Now is the time for it. We are still undefeated as of today.

 

[AlaGold]

Here it is.
We start out slow and improve through the yr BUT will be VERY hard to beat 6-6.More probable a 5-7 result since we have new FG kicker.
Reality bites.

 

[odw]

My thing is, outside of Clemson and Uga, can any of you guys name me one team on our schedule what will without a doubt have an offense that executes better than ours when we face them? If that is the case, how is year different then our last 7 or so, with a strong defense and on offense that struggles to get by? If anyone knows how to win with little to zero offense, its us.

Another 7-5 year. Book it.

 

[gt23eric]

I say we lose to uga clemson vt and maybe msu. I just dont see us losing to bc.i cant name 3 players on there whole roster. There whole team is new starters.