Better know a ’12 opponent: Georgia Tech
Today marks the start of the blog’s look at Virginia Tech’s opponents in 2012. I’ll take a two-day look at each team, doing an overview first before asking a beat writer for the other team five questions on the second day.
Up first, naturally, is the Hokies’ Labor Day opponent, Georgia Tech.
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Coach: Paul Johnson (33-19, 21-11 ACC, entering fifth season; 140-58 in 15 years at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech)
2011 record: 8-5 (5-3 ACC, t-2nd Coastal), lost 30-27 to Utah in Sun Bowl
Looking back: The Yellow Jackets started fast and finished slow, racing to a 6-0 start before losing five of their last seven. Georgia Tech hammered early-season patsies like Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee and Kansas before putting together league wins against North Carolina, N.C. State and Maryland to get as high as 12th in the national polls. Virginia ended Georgia Tech’s run in Charlottesville with a 24-21 win. Miami beat the Jackets the following week before they pulled off their signature win, building a 24-3 first-half lead and holding on late to beat No. 5 Clemson in Atlanta. They couldn’t sustain the success, though. Virginia Tech won a Thursday night game at Bobby Dodd Stadium 37-26, dashing the Jackets’ ACC title game hopes. The Jackets beat Duke but lost their final two games to rival Georgia and in the Sun Bowl against Utah, Georgia Tech’s fourth straight loss in a bowl game under Johnson.
2011 stats/rankings:
- Rushing offense: 316.46 ypg (2nd nationally, 1st ACC)
- Passing offense: 142.31 ypg (112th nationally, 12th ACC)
- Total offense: 458.77 ypg (18th nationally, 1st ACC)
- Scoring offense: 34.31 ppg (21st nationally, 1st ACC)
- Rushing defense: 161.46 ypg (66th nationally, 7th ACC)
- Passing defense: 197.85 ypg (28th nationally, 2nd ACC)
- Total defense: 359.31 ypg (44th nationally, 5th ACC)
- Scoring defense: 26.08 ypg (60th nationally, 8th ACC)
- Turnover margin: .15 (44th nationally, 6th ACC)
Offensive starters returning/lost: 7/4
Defensive starters returning/lost: 6/5
Losses: RB Embry Peeples (491 yards, 2 TD), RB Roddy Jones (458 yards, 3 TD), WR Stephen Hill (28 catches, 820 yards, 5 TD), WR Tyler Melton (17 catches, 263 yards), OT Phil Smith, DT Logan Walls (39 tackles, 2 sacks), DE Jason Peters (41 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks), LB Julian Burnett (2nd All-ACC, 120 tackles, 9.5 TFL), OLB Steven Sylvester (43 tackles, 5 TFL), S Rashaad Reid (51 tackles)
Returnees: QB Tevin Washington (986 rushing, 14 TD, 1,652 passing, 11 TD), RB Orwin Smith (615 rushing, 11TD, 306 receiving, TD), RB David Sims (698 yards, 7 TD), G Omoregie Uzzi (1st All-ACC, 2nd All-American SI), C Jay Finch, G Will Jackson, OT Ray Beno, DE Izaan Cross (32 tackles), DT T.J. Barnes (1.5 TFL), OLB Jeremiah Attaochu (11.5 TFL, 6 sacks), ILB Daniel Drummond (44 tackles), ILB Quayshawn Nealy (52 tackles, 2 INT), CB Rod Sweeting (HM All-ACC, 56 tackles, 3 INT), CB Louis Young (52 tackles, INT), S Isaiah Johnson (78 tackles, 3 INT), S Jemea Thomas (50 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT), K Justin Moore (11-17 FG), P Sean Poole (39.7 avg.).
2012 schedule:
- Sept. 3: at Virginia Tech
- Sept. 8: vs. Presbyterian
- Sept. 15: vs. Virginia
- Sept. 22: vs. Miami
- Sept. 29: vs. Middle Tennessee
- Oct. 6: at Clemson
- Oct. 20: vs. Boston College
- Oct. 27: vs. Brigham Young
- Nov. 3: at Maryland
- Nov. 10: at North Carolina
- Nov. 17: vs. Duke
- Nov. 24: at Georgia
Strengths: The heart of Georgia Tech’s spread option returns, with Washington directing things at quarterback for a second season and Smith and Sims running behind a solid offensive line, led by All-ACC pick Uzzi. The Jackets’ spread option offense is always a bear to prepare for, and with this many returning parts in the running game, it should again be something that gives opposing teams fits. The secondary should be the strength of the defense, led by returning starters Sweeting, Young and Johnson and a play-maker in Thomas. Attaochu, an outside linebacker, is the kind who can thrive in Al Groh‘s 3-4 defense. That group struggled some last year, but this is the third year in the scheme, which should help.
Weaknesses: Georgia Tech doesn’t have much of a passing game, but whatever it had is gone from last season. Hill, who wowed scouts in the NFL Combine and was taken in the second round by the New York Jets, is gone, as is No. 2 receiver Melton. The fear for Georgia Tech fans is that their offense can become too one-dimensional at times. With those two out of the equation, teams will be able to load up against the run even more. Defensively, the Jackets lost five starters in the front seven, including Burnett, who suffered a career-ending neck injury in the Sun Bowl. He was the heart and soul of the defense, in addition to being the leading tackler. Replacing him won’t be easy.
Fun fact: (Via Wikipedia) ”The University of Georgia’s literary magazine proclaimed UGA’s colors to be ‘old gold, black, and crimson.’ Dr. Charles H. Herty, the first UGA football coach, felt that old gold was too similar to yellow and that it ‘symbolized cowardice.’ After the 1893 football game against Tech, Herty removed old gold as an official color. Tech would first use old gold for their uniforms, as a proverbial slap in the face to UGA, in their first unofficial football game against Auburn in 1891. Georgia Tech’s school colors would henceforth be old gold and white.”
Series with VT: Virginia Tech leads 6-3
In the last 10 years:
- 2011: No. 10 Virginia Tech 37, No. 20 Georgia Tech 26, in Atlanta
- 2010: No. 20 Virginia Tech 28, Georgia Tech 21, in Blacksburg
- 2009: No. 19 Georgia Tech 28, No. 4 Virginia Tech 23, in Atlanta
- 2008: Virginia Tech 20, Georgia Tech 17, in Blacksburg
- 2007: No. 11 Virginia Tech 27, Georgia Tech 3, in Atlanta
- 2006: No. 24 Georgia Tech 38, No. 11 Virginia Tech 27, in Blacksburg
- 2005: No. 4 Virginia Tech 51, No. 15 Georgia Tech 7, in Blacksburg
- 2004: No. 22 Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 20, in Atlanta
May 16, 2012 - 9:02 AM
As the beat writer for Virginia Tech, you should know better than to refer to any other team as “Tech.” Please refer to the Yellow Jackets by some other name.
I still refuse to accept Georgia Tech runs a spread option offense since they line up in the flexbone formation nearly 90% of their possession, but hey, if the Bumble Bees want to call it spread option, then I guess they can call it that.
And looky, Johnson actually have a bad bowl record, and geez, how does that old codger still coach in Atlanta? Are the Bumble Bees that deseparate to be relevant?
We’ll be seeing the Bees in Blacksburg, and hope that Bud Foster’s D-line absolutely squash the Bees.
In their loss to “Tech” last year, GT seemed too one dimensional and couldn’t pass when they needed too. With a stout front 7 I’m cautiously optimistic VT can again handle their O. They’ll certainly have enough time to prepare for them. Johnson is a good coach and with him GT has and should always be one of the most competitive teams in the conference.
What is “Presbyterian” (other than a protestant denomination)? No one ever should make fun of our schedule again.
I play fantasy football with a Ramblin’ Wreck and I cannot wait to tease him about that team on his schedule. What if their prayers are answered and Presby wins?
git won’t know what hit them. GO TECH!
Presbyterian went 4-7 last year, 3-3 in the Big South.
Austin Peay went 3-8 last year, 2-7 in the Ohio Valley.
Might want to hold off on ribbing your GT friend.
Andy – so they’re tough huh?
62-12 loss ot Cal
63-21 loss to Furman
Their big game is against Brevard. They also catch Coastal Carolina (which wouldn;t be a joke in baseball) and Davidson ( a noted footbal…. I mean basketball school).
AP lost 70-10 against Cincinatti (roughly equivalent to Cal) – BUT:
They won big against powerhouse teams like Central State, Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky. The AP losses were flukes and they were obviously much much better than their record indicates.
Even though PC (great initials for a religious school) had some guy drafted in the 6th round (bet they’ll have a tough time replacing their losses on D).
Geeeez luoise do we have to schedule turkeys? Really? Can’t we beat up on Akron some more? How about Appalachian State (although no one probably wants to see them since they took Big Blue a few years ago).
And I never ever hold back. Especially with that guy.
But I can “take it” too.
Don’t Presbyterian have one of the worse nicknames in the nation? They are called “Blue Hoses” or something like that and that just make me want to giggle.
Let’s just say neither team is a world beater. And honestly, if you’re scheduling somebody five days after what should be an exhausting opener, you have every right to pick a team that should be an easy matchup.
You may be right about A-P, Andy, but you forgot to acknowledge the fact that we were “forced” to schedule them because another team pulled out and we had little to choose from at such a late date.
Well, sort of. The East Carolina home-and-home set to start next year was moved back to ’16 and ’17 to accommodate the Alabama game in 2013. That required Tech to add a team to the schedule late in the game. Austin Peay became that team.
George, what team pulled out to “force” vt to schedule A-P? No one force Coach Beamer to schedule them, there are always other options, some of the options might not be what Coach Beamer wants, but no one was “forced”.
Z-Man, PC’s big game is not against Brevard, they are a D2 team in the SAC. PC’s likes to think that they are Furman’s rival, but in reality, that is not true either. Also, Z-Man, you should watch what you say about vt’s schedule, they have a team on their schedule that hasn’t even played a football game yet…Charlotte
Andy,
I can’t believe that GT and Coach Johnson would go along with this schedule, this clearly sets up in VT’s favor. They will be able to spend all summer camp working against GT’s option offense. VT will be a 4.5 point favorite because of this. Especially since you guys claim Bud Foster invented defensive, this game should be a breeze in the park???
The only reason this game is happening on Labor Day is because of Austin Peay and Presbyterian. If either Tech had to play a top 25 FCS team on 5 days rest the game would not be on Monday night. The Hokies are especially fine since they get to stay at home and sleep in their own bed before and after the game. The Jackets practically lose Tuesday since they have to travel back to ATL in the wee hours of the morning.
The teams that play a Thursday night game have a similar problem if they also play the preceding Saturday. But it seems that half way into the season it’s not as big a deal as the opening two weekends. The Hokies have figured it out by playing back to back Thursdays. They take 12 days off before the first game, then play a week later, then get 9 days off before the next weekend game. A few extra days off twice is better than a whole week off once.
Hmm, I seem to recall VT recently losing to a “soft” team after a short week after playing a tough opener. I’m pretty sure that scenario will not be repeated. But I’m much like everyone else, why play these games? To me they’re lose-lose situations. JMU is somewhat of a stretch and I can see some of the benefits there but Austin Peay? I don’t even want to know where they’re from…
It’s a tough call on Ga Tech as the opener. On one hand, you have all summer to prepare for the option. At the same time your defense is unproven and facing a team that can really put up some points. Last year, Ga Tech started strong and finished weak. In past years, Ga tech has started weak and finished strong. Va Tech usually plays them well. With the game being in Blacksburg, I would probably give Va Tech the edge.
Hey Stack – don’t you pick on Charlotte now. Great ballplayers come from that town and Cronbread Maxwell hit the hoops scene and nearly took Al McGwire’s much favored Butch Lee team in the dance. They could be hiding something down there. Anytime we look past an opponent – no matter “fluffy” they look – we lose.
Plus, I was an adjunct professor there in the 70′s at UNCC and have a soft spot for them.
Andy, have you heard anything about us not playing Ohio State since the conference is expanding and there are the PAC/Big 10 games ?? sounds like a BAD deal for the season ticket holders, and I guess Beamer and Weaver want to make sure we win 10 + games. I told people when this was scheduled that it would NEVER be played, hope I am wrong.
My understanding is that Virginia Tech will ask East Carolina to push back its series that starts in 2014 to accommodate the 9-game schedule. (The Akron game listed on the website for 2015 is no longer taking place, apparently.)
Now, that might change. I’m not sure. It’d be a shame to lose that Ohio State matchup. I know a lot of folks are looking forward to it.
Stack: Given that VT is 6-2 against GT since joining the conference, including the last 2, and last year VT dashed any hopes GT might have of winning the division, do you not think that perhaps they might also need some time to prepare for VT? Same last year and the year before, each team had equal time to prepare for the other. GT lost ‘em both. GT is a good team but clearly they need more time to prepare for VT and not the other way around. You’ve made that silly observation before and as usual it defies the facts.
Trevor: You were very close on the name of PC. There is only one Presbyterain, the name is Blue Hose. Another SC school with an odd name is the Erskine College Flying Fleet.
Andy, good job on the writeup. looking forward to seeing the rest of them.