pick six for Nate on page 6!

9/22/2010 12:24:34 PM

Quote :

"best start to the season in years and only 4 people want to attend the ACC opener against a good team? None of you bitches better ever call me a anti-State troll again, I'm going to the game, you arent. "

me and friend had a trip planned out and then i broke my arm
no $ until first of the month
was going to stay w/ my homie spooner
now im a sad panda

9/22/2010 12:27:09 PM

What? You give handjobs for a living?

Also, this:
Steve Zelnak: Tech's No. 1 fan in Raleigh
http://www.ajc.com/story-618625.html

9/22/2010 12:50:54 PM

I worry about what O'Brien talked about in that AJC article. With our offense sputtering like it can sometimes, I feel like our defense won't be able to get off the field. Our D is still young, and we're going to make mistakes and give up a few big runs. We'll get tired and worn out throughout the game.

I don't think our O-line is good enough yet to sustain long drives. We're lucky that we have a talented playmaker in "Moose" to bail us out sometimes. In the UCF game, I think Russell felt a lot of pressure in the 2nd half to keep the drive alive. It seemed like he panicked and the UCF defense noticed and took advantage and forced 3-and-outs.

I think our only chance at winning is if we do the following:

DEFENSE
- Play consistent and disciplined assignment football
- Keep Tech's 3rd down conversions at 50% or less
- Recover a fumble or two off a missed pitch
- Solid tackling; whatever it takes, shed blockers and get the ballcarrier on the ground
- Nate will be relied on to make smart reads and call audibles
- Coaches need to be careful about the timing of player substitutions. Sub out Nate for one play, our D lines up wrong, and before we know it, they've got 6 on the board.

OFFENSE
- Hold onto the ball! No fumbles this game
- Sustain long, time-consuming drives that end in points on the board
- O-line needs to keep penalties to a minimum. We can't afford to shoot ourselves in the foot.
- Points-off-turnovers. Take advantage of good field position.

I think the team that wins the time-of-possession battle will ultimately win the game. I think our defense will give a good effort, but won't be able to get off the field against the defending ACC Champs. I think when our offense will get the ball, they'll feel pressure to keep the drive alive and give their defense a rest.

That being said, I think PJ's option offense proves effective and wins the possession battle.

Tech: 24
Pack: 17

9/22/2010 1:01:46 PM

wolfpack 35
GT 27

thats what the score is gonna be.

9/22/2010 1:09:08 PM

Quote :

"Coaches need to be careful about the timing of player substitutions. Sub out Nate for one play, our D lines up wrong, and before we know it, they've got 6 on the board. "

This. The lone legitimate TD by Cinci was given up because Cinci lined up in 4 or 5 wide (I think it was 5) and we were in our base 4-3. Audi was out on one receiver and the other slot was uncovered. Obviously the coaches failed to substitute the right package.

Quote :

"Hold onto the ball! No fumbles this game "

Mustafa and Underwood will carry the load this game. Sorry Dean.

I also cringed when TOB said something about ball control. Yes, I would like the time of possession to be somewhat close, but I hope we control the clock through possession passes to Bryant and Jarvis. We still need to take our shots to O, Jarvis, Davis, and TJ.

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 1:18 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2010 1:17:28 PM

I will be in the house, fa' sho'. gunzz, so sad you'll be missing it, quit dunking on people.

Here's what I'm thinking:
State 38
Tech 31

Their defense didn't look near as strong as in previous years vs. Kansas and UNC, so I think we put up some points. Hopefully we'll continue our streak of getting a couple of turnovers, because I too am skeptical of our ability to consistently stop their ground game. Especially considering no one on our team has played against their offense before....

9/22/2010 1:21:38 PM

nevermind... bs ESPN

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 1:34 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2010 1:33:26 PM

GT Game Attendees
1. PACKhunt
2. Jaybee1200
3. Slave Famous
4. dweedle
5. 2009ncsu
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

9/22/2010 1:35:05 PM

Quote :

"Mustafa and Underwood will carry the load this game. Sorry Dean."

Dean is still listed as the starter on the depth chart. you gotta give the man time to make mistakes, every back fumbles EVENTUALLY. We'll just put some glue in his hands and it'll be off to the races.


The offense won't be totally run against GT, but scoring too quickly (as stuck up as that sounds, I don't mean it in the uppity way) can be a problem. GT will sustain drives enough to move the chains two or three times on some possessions, and we need to make sure our offense takes its time and lets them catch their breath between GT possessions.

9/22/2010 2:15:06 PM

GT Game Attendees
1. PACKhunt
2. Jaybee1200
3. Slave Famous
4. dweedle
5. 2009ncsu
6. kevmcd86
7.
8.
9.
10.

9/22/2010 2:24:06 PM

^^ Dean may "start" but Mustafa will get the majority of the carries. Obviously he is the best back we have and hasn't had any ball security issues. Underwood and Dean will split the rest.

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 2:27 PM. Reason : ^]

9/22/2010 2:27:35 PM

There's an all day festival for the Hillsborough St. reopening including the game broadcast.

more info here: http://hillsboroughstreet.org/event/

9/22/2010 2:37:06 PM

I really don't think we will win this game. I think our defense will perform admirably but eventually be worn down. I also think that our offense has another off day similar to the UCF game. I will provide no reasons for this because I have none haha.

GT-24
State-10

9/22/2010 2:46:47 PM

FEAR NOT


we're going to win this one big

9/22/2010 2:54:14 PM

not feeling good about this one

9/22/2010 2:58:41 PM

those of you projecting low scores on our part: what about georgia tech's defense did you see against unc or kansas that makes you believe they shut us down? there's no reason we shouldn't score at will. if we lose, it will be because they had the ball last.

9/22/2010 3:20:38 PM

I'm cautiously optimistic about our season, but I am not looking forward to see us defend that offense.

9/22/2010 3:29:49 PM

^^this

9/22/2010 3:42:11 PM

Quote :

"what about georgia tech's defense did you see against unc or kansas that makes you believe they shut us down"

GT did hold UNC to one score over the last 40 minutes of their game last weekend (which was a short field TD set up by an unforced fumble).

9/22/2010 3:42:35 PM

^ but UNC also fumbled twice after first downs (and were driving) and Johnny White and SD both ran roughshod over the GT D. Watching that game you could tell that GT looked like our D last year, thinking instead of reacting.

9/22/2010 3:44:31 PM

this game rests on the hands of our linebackers & russell wilson keeping the offense from feeling rushed to make the big scoring plays. got to play GT smart.

9/22/2010 3:46:36 PM

GT's defense is not great, but we are not going to just score at will on them. Our offensive line is simply not that good and our WRs are still prone to dropping passes. Plus our RBs are inexperienced and this will be their first ACC game, on the road, against talented/highly recruited defensive players.

We will need some sustained drives to help the defense and special teams will be important as we cannot have Ruiz giving GT great field position if/when the offense has a 3 and out.





[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 3:50 PM. Reason : as]

9/22/2010 3:49:47 PM

Quote :

"Watching that game you could tell that GT looked like our D last year, thinking instead of reacting. "

which makes sense, since they are moving to a new system...its good that we get em early in the year.

9/22/2010 3:50:02 PM

the reason i feel confident about this game is our running game. we have a better line that UNC-CH. Plus we have a mobile QB. GT has to play contain as well (against RW) and that opens up so many more opportunities.

I just have no idea how we'll respond to their rushing attack. I think our LB's will be fine. They have shown a lot of maturity so far. We are also tackling great in the open field.

9/22/2010 3:50:25 PM

the extra few days to prepare helps too.

Speaking of, anyone know how exactly they're preparing for the option? Do they have the scout team do their best to run it or what?

9/22/2010 3:52:38 PM

@izzy no, one fumble was immediately after GT turned it over on downs while driving into UNC territory. the other was on the 2nd play of a drive that had yet to even reach midfield.

the tech defense yielded 132 yards in the second half after giving up 229 on UNC's first 4 drives. or another way to look at it, GT gave up 3 first downs in the last 5 unc possessions

not saying the GT defense isn't maligned. but to say UNC walked all over them all game is a bit much

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 3:53 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2010 3:52:41 PM

maybe i'm getting the halves mixed up. there was the fumble by Pianalto that really sealed it and that was a first down catch. I also remember, at least i thought, that Yates fumbled while he was scrambling for a first down. I know they fumbled after the failed 4th down and then GT scored. True Carolina didn't dominate them or anything, but once they got behind, Groh just started blitzing and you know ol'Cement Shoes Yates isn't going to outrun anyone.

@wlb420 they've prepared by having Tobias Palmer and Bryan Underwood run GT's offense. Palmer isn't as big of course but he's faster.

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 3:57 PM. Reason : ]

9/22/2010 3:55:57 PM

don't get me wrong - I hope you're right. I just think GT has taken a severe beating in the minds of everyone after going to lawrence and laying an egg (while putting up 400+ yards of offense) and their defensive situation isn't quite as bad as some believe.

getting them early in the switch to the 3-4 is a big benefit for sure

9/22/2010 3:58:42 PM

the key to us is to score quick and score often. if we can get them down, they will be forced to throw the ball (which they arent good at). i think our offense can win the game for us this weekend even if our defense gives up some sustained drives on the ground. hopefully we can bend and not break.

9/22/2010 4:06:48 PM

^ agreed.

N.C. State avgd 2.5min/drive last week (14 drives at almost 35 mins). Including some less than 1 min drives on fumbles.
Scoring Drive avg. 3min/drive (Inlcuding a 5:39 drive and a 1:23 after the blocked punt)

GT avg. 3.5min/drive (I didn't break down their scoring drives).

Not sure what all of that means, but I don't think we should change our offensive style for anyone. I think if we try to go to ground and pound it will be bad news. If anything run some west coast stuff to George Bryan/TJ/Jarvis and dump offs to Gentry/Mustafa

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 4:25 PM. Reason : min]

9/22/2010 4:25:04 PM

^they run the ball way more than we do. running the ball runs the clock!

9/22/2010 4:32:21 PM

Wilson is going to throw for 300 yards and scramble for 150 more.

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 4:34 PM. Reason : 35-31 State]

9/22/2010 4:33:55 PM

GT finished the 1st half at UNC with an 87 yard, 20 play, 10:32 drive that ended with a FG (including the half, GT's defense was off the field for almost an hour straight of real time between UNC's 3rd score and the GT fumble at the start of the 3rd quarter). The other two FG drives averaged 4 1/2 mins.

But their three TD drives averaged just 1 min and 57 seconds (with the longest being just 2:18).

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 5:02 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2010 5:00:48 PM

Their offense is one that we only get to play every so often so this game is almost impossible to predict. Methinks we score a ton of points but they run all over our defense.

9/22/2010 5:02:32 PM

anybody remember the colts/dolphins MNF game last season?

dolphins ran effectively and dominated TOP. colts responded with quick strike TDs and eventually went up 2 scores. miami wasn't built to mount a comeback.

i could see this happening.

9/22/2010 5:42:19 PM

I think this ultimately comes down to which defense bends but doesnt break.. whichever defense can stop some drives and hold the other team to FG tries will walk outta this one with the W. I dont expect our defense to shut them down but if we can force them into a few 3rd and 8 or so and force them to pick those up then I will be happy.

9/22/2010 6:09:21 PM

It will be big for us to recover our onside punt this week as well. We managed to recover it our first 2 weeks, but last week we failed to convert when the ball was loose and they were able to get on it before we were, which is a shame because it was perfectly executed and we would have had the ball inside the 10.

9/22/2010 6:15:16 PM

We will club these baby seals!!!!111

Us - 34
them - 21

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 6:18 PM. Reason : ]

9/22/2010 6:17:28 PM

we gonna lose by 17

9/22/2010 6:30:00 PM

if we're able to score more points than them, we've got this one in the bag. that's the key.

9/22/2010 7:24:14 PM

or we not allow them to score more points than us, those are the only two options i see

9/22/2010 7:31:58 PM

Quote :

"It will be big for us to recover our onside punt this week as well. We managed to recover it our first 2 weeks, but last week we failed to convert when the ball was loose and they were able to get on it before we were, which is a shame because it was perfectly executed and we would have had the ball inside the 10."

Ruiz for Groza

9/22/2010 8:00:07 PM

Terell Manning and Nate Irving eat the option for lunch Saturday.

9/22/2010 9:50:10 PM

Don't forget about Audie Cole. It sounds bad, but the less that guy thinks, the better he is. For instance, if Archer/Tenuta tell him "JUST GET THE QB" every play, I think he wipes 'em out.

Nate is going to be piling everything up, taking care of the dive guy (Anthony Allen). Manning and Cole will be handling the guys in space, whether it's Nesbit or one of the slot guys.

Defending the option isn't nearly as hard as people make it out to be; you just have to take care of your assignment and trust the other guys are taking care of theirs. GT just complicates it because they're awesome at the cut block.

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 10:41 PM. Reason : ]

9/22/2010 10:40:20 PM

GT Game Attendees
1. PACKhunt
2. Jaybee1200
3. Slave Famous
4. dweedle
5. 2009ncsu
6. kevmcd86
7. aaronburro
8.
9.
10.

9/22/2010 10:53:02 PM

O WE BACK

9/22/2010 10:54:50 PM

^ you buying them and having everyone pay you back?

9/22/2010 11:13:09 PM

im not lol

i thought whoever's idea it was at first was gonna deal w/ that

9/22/2010 11:13:51 PM

not sure if that was me, but if so, fuck that haha...

someone driving down needs to get them so they will definitely make the trip... you all know I am not backing out

[Edited on September 22, 2010 at 11:20 PM. Reason : d]

9/22/2010 11:17:29 PM