Connect with your Facebook Account

• Contact

Football Articles

9

Random thoughts on Ga Tech-Notre Dame

Posted by HenryJames on September 3rd, 2007 under Football

The first game I watched on Saturday was Georgia Tech vs Notre Dame. Why? Two reasons. First, because I wanted to watch Jon Tenuta’s defense, and second because I wanted to see Notre Dame fail. I was not disappointed. The only thing that prevented this from being worse than it could have been was Georgia Tech’s poor offensive performance in the red zone.

Texas fans pay attention. Ga Tech’s defense is what a twisting, stunting and blitzing defense looks like. This is what you thought you were getting with Akina. Tenuta was able to get 2 and 3 guys free to the quarterback whenever he wanted. Blitz, delayed blitz, whatever. It didn’t matter. Nine different players had sacks.

On offense GT is led by RB Tashard Choice, WR James Johnson and their offensive line. Choice reminds me of Michigan’s Mike Hart, but I think he’s better. The guy is going to have to carry the ball 30 times a game this year though. Johnson is a good receiver who was wide open for at least 2-3 touchdowns, but the QB couldn’t deliver him the ball. They’ll have to get better QB play because teams will scheme to stop Choice.

Notre Dame is a bad football team. Really bad. No playmakers on either side of the ball. I would not be surprised to see them start the season1-7.

First, they have no QB. You got the wrong QB from Chicago, Charlie Weis. Illinois got the right one. ND tried to design running plays for Demetrius Jones, but the guy is hesitant and doesn’t protect the football. They replaced him with Evan Sharpley in the second quarter. Seriously Notre Dame? That’s your backup QB? But the play from the QBs didn’t really matter because they couldn’t protect them. Their offensive line had more holes in it than the Immaculate Conception.  Part of the problem is that Weis calls way too many deep routes. Ga Tech was able to get to him time and time again while he’s sitting back in the pocket waiting for the slow white guy to come free on the post. They need to call some plays that get the ball out of the QB’s hands quicker. And they need some playmakers at wide receiver. The problem with signing guys like Robby Paris is that eventually you have to play them.

The change from the 4-3 to 3-4 just means they have one less crappy defensive lineman and one more crappy linebacker on the field. Senior Justin Brown set the tone by getting ejected in the first quarter. Nice leadership there, Justin. The front 7 got gouged again and again on Ga Tech’s counter play. When Ga Tech decided to pass, there was no pressure and the receivers were generally running free.

Bright spots? There weren’t any.

Article Tags:

,

More from this Barker


Share This

  • StumbleUpon

9 Responses

  1. CrazyJoeDavola said:

    September 3rd, 2007 at 1:28 pm

    “Ga Tech’s defense is what a twisting, stunting and blitzing defense looks like. This is what you thought you were getting with Akina.”

    C’mon, be fair. This was Notre Dame’s offensive line they were going up against, not Arkansas State’s.

    You are a mean fan.

  2. TaylorTRoom said:

    September 3rd, 2007 at 2:49 pm

    Is ND’s OL bad? I ask because I know they had an amazing haul of blue chip OL in the 2006 recruiting class, by the rankings better than what Texas and OU pulled in combined that year. Are those guys not panning out?

  3. HenryJames said:

    September 3rd, 2007 at 3:21 pm

    They looked like they’d never seen a blitz before. Three of them are upperclassmen, and one of the underclassmen started last year. They should have had at least some idea what Georgia Tech would be doing. Both the starting LT and LG are from the 2006 class. The rest are backups. I think it’s premature to say they haven’t panned out. They still have more than enough time to become players.

  4. PB at BON said:

    September 3rd, 2007 at 6:27 pm

    I was actually -at- this game, HJ, and though your takes are all spot on, I’m not so sure that it’s not even worse than you suggest.

    This wasn’t just a case of Tech’s defense doing things Notre Dame wasn’t prepared for. This is a case of Notre Dame’s offensive line being atrocious. The upperclassmen have no business playing; in the NFL, the upperclassmen would have been cut at halftime.

    As for the quarterbacks for the Irish – they all looked terrible, but Vince Young would have looked bad with that little time, too. I’ve never seen a D-Line so thoroughly punish another offensive line.

    Just one other minor note, which you alluded to. Tech could have won by 50. Tashard Choice could have run for 300. Chan Gailey, who makes Greg Davis look imaginative, played that game so conservatively.

    The Irish were lucky not to have been almost as big a story as Michigan.

  5. CrazyJoeDavola said:

    September 3rd, 2007 at 6:35 pm

    Yeah, the Michigan game offered a number of teams hellacious cover. We weren’t the only beneficiary.

  6. Barfly said:

    September 4th, 2007 at 5:42 am

    Good thing Weis signed that huge contract extension when he had the chance.

  7. Sarge_n_NE said:

    September 4th, 2007 at 6:37 am

    Like they were saying last year… Charlie Weis is a f*cking genius! Why these writers talk up Notre Dame every year is a mystery to me.

  8. Crown & Coke said:

    September 4th, 2007 at 8:21 am

    I wholly agree with the reference made to Illinois’ Juice Williams. He’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Donovan McNabb since he left Syracuse. Damn shame he took that cheap shot in the Mizzou game Saturday because he was about to put on a helluva show.

  9. vvn8bs said:

    September 6th, 2007 at 8:37 am

    I agree it was a cheap shot.

    As a freshman, Donovan McNabb had the third highest passer rating in the nation at 162. Last year, Juice’s passer rating was last in the nation at 91. Yeah, they look really similar.

    Exactly what kind of show was Juice going to put on? A Stevie-Wonder-shooting-skeet show? A Tom Goodman three point contest show? Do tell.

Leave a Reply

Follow Us

Related Articles

Hot Forum Topics

Activity

  • Luke wrote a new blog post: BYU postgame   24 minutes ago

    http://nbcsportsmedia1.msnbc.com/j/apmegasports/201003202121769017659-pf.widec.jpg

    What a glorious, glorious day of basketball at the Ford Center Saturday.

    First, Ali Ali Farokhmanesh and all the other Panthers with cool names took down Kansas as Sherron Collins made his best effort to shed that “clutch” label on the last game of his collegiate career. Then of course, Kansas State waved goodbye to Jimmer

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Best Opening Round I Can Remember   1 hour ago

    Ali Farokhmanesh hitting the biggest shot of the season is the definition of March Madness.

    Ali Boma Ye!!!

  • skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem   2 hours, 21 minutes ago

    It is just amazing to me that most posters think that Jordan has improved so much in the last half of the season.
    The one thing I will say is that Jordan has just started to show his ability with a basketball. The reason that he did not show his talents is up to all the

  • Ag_in_TX wrote a new blog post: Purdue Pre-game   2 hours, 28 minutes ago

    Offense

    Both teams are unselfish and preach sharing the ball. A&M is a balanced scoring team. Sloan showed in the first round against Utah State, for example, that he can defer when his teammates have things going. Purdue once again will have to rely on JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore to produce, and hope

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post We Have Our Answer   2 hours, 44 minutes ago

    And yes, it appears JoPo wrote pretty much the same thing. It’s hard to believe with all the national talking heads, fans, and everyone in between saying otherwise, but I think it’s the only conclusion to draw for anyone that really watched this team.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post We Have Our Answer   2 hours, 44 minutes ago

    And yes, it appears JoPo wrote pretty much the same thing. It’s hard to believe with all the national talking heads, fans, and everyone in between saying otherwise, but I think it’s the only conclusion to draw for anyone that really watched this team.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Hiphopopotamus wrote a new blog post: We Have Our Answer   2 hours, 46 minutes ago

    Normally, after a big win or a crushing defeat, I don’t know what to think, say, or feel, because I can’t. And that what makes this one different; it’s just as painful, but I saw it coming. Instead of getting blindsided by the oncoming traffic, I was able to brace myself for the

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • whiskey commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour   3 hours, 5 minutes ago

    I’m with you the off season is already old. I’m ready for the season to start. NDS I am completely fascinated by the Tech vs. Lech business. I can’t believe they ran off the guy that put them on the map and subsequently ended up with an arguable upgrade in Tubs.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • whiskey commented on the blog post Spring Preview: Tech Offense   3 hours, 10 minutes ago

    Ded 9-12 wins is pretty optomistic. I like it. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Tubs can do with them this year especially on D. I’m surprised you think the QB battle between Sticks and Nick will be close. Interesting, I figured Sticks was a runaway. I hope Corndog

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • dedfischer wrote a new blog post: Spring Preview: Tech Offense   3 hours, 52 minutes ago

    Got a little time this morning and I’m rearing to talk some football.  Here’s what the depth chart looks like headed into spring and a few thoughts:

    Offense

    QB  Sr. Taylor Potts/Sr. Steven Sheffield – We’ve all annointed Sheffield as the starter, and I think that’s the case if we continue to run 99% of our snaps

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Black Scholes commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem   6 hours, 47 minutes ago

    lawdog – on the topic of regression, this crew can’t compare with the senior seasons Thomas and Atchley put up. Something ain’t right in this scenario. Mason topped out his sophomore year and Pittman last year.

    Wangmene is ‘Manos de Piedra’ redux, so that was really never going to work out.

  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Top Ten Reasons Why Cal Can Beat Duke   8 hours, 47 minutes ago

    This would probably go a bit better if you read it in your Bobby Knight voice and it had two decades worth of goodwill built up from its gratuitous appearance on a popular late night television show. But oh well.

    1) Interior Worries. As in the Bears shouldn’t have any defensively

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Round 2 Saturday Recaps   9 hours, 44 minutes ago

    We talked about the upset of the decade in this post, but I watched some other great basketball today I’d like to comment on.

    For me, the theme of the day was well-played basketball. I’m not only talking about what Northern Iowa did, I’m talking about the other seven games being really well

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas   9 hours, 57 minutes ago

    Just a phenomenal game.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Recapping The South   10 hours, 8 minutes ago

    Udoh was a fargging beast in that game. Very athletic player.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   10 hours, 32 minutes ago

    Jesus. I think I see four horseman on the horizon.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas   10 hours, 36 minutes ago

    Today reminded me why I love this tournament so much. A good friend of mine mentioned to me that college basketball is the great equalizer of all athletic endeavors. At least of the sports we care about. He’s right.

    For instance, you can have a 40 inch vertical, be Iverson quick,

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   10 hours, 40 minutes ago

    Patrick,

    Unless you’re completely retarded, you know precisely what I meant. The closest any Big 12 team has gotten to winning the infamous Fuller Cup is the 2007 Texas squad. I can’t remember a team being that horribly undisciplined as a whole aside from the insane OU teams of the 80’s. That’s not

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   10 hours, 40 minutes ago

    Patrick,

    Unless you’re completely retarded, you know precisely what I meant. The closest any Big 12 team has gotten to winning the infamous Fulmer Cup is the 2007 Texas squad. I can’t remember a team being that horribly undisciplined as a whole aside from the insane OU teams of the 80’s. That’s not

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Sailor Ripley wrote a new blog post: This Is Sparta!   10 hours, 52 minutes ago

    Please make yourself welcome and Adam will be by shortly to keep you up to date on all Michigan State Spartan happenings.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   10 hours, 57 minutes ago

    I suppose anyone could be your “favorite Longhorn basketball player” but Ford did more than just about anyone…although Durant is clearly better. Ford’s supporting cast was better than Durant’s in his sophomore year. Durant’s had more talent (Augustin, James, Abrams) but Ford’s was more developed (Boddicker, Ivey, Mouton, Thomas) and had worked with him for

  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton?   11 hours, 3 minutes ago

    Crazy Joe, your thoughts intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton?   11 hours, 6 minutes ago

    This notion of Hamilton as being a disaster area on defense is all a bit much. He rebounds extremely well which, if it wasn’t obvious, is extremely important in this game since it secures possession of the basketball. Winning in basketball is achieved through the scoring of baskets and it’s necessary to possess the basketball

  • Ojnab Bob commented on the blog post Best Opening Round I Can Remember   11 hours, 17 minutes ago

    I posted earlier about how Collins’ effort just crippled Kansas today, but what amazed me the most was his complete inability to stay in front of his man on defense. UNI got a LOT of good looks out of penetration/pass after one of UNI’s modestly gifted athletes blew right by Sherron. The best

  • Scipio Tex wrote a new blog post: Best Opening Round I Can Remember   12 hours, 28 minutes ago

    At least it’s shaping up that way if Sunday delivers.

    As disappointed as I was in last year’s opening weekend of March Madness, this one is exceeding all expectations. Putting aside the fact that my bracket now resembles Kabul after the Taliban rolled through in ‘96 – a map of ordered failure –

  • J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   12 hours, 56 minutes ago

    Thanks for the kind words, Trips.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   12 hours, 56 minutes ago

    You know who’s bitter and angry as fuck? This guy —> ME.

    I can only hope our returning players (whoever that may be) remember this and realize they need to play motivated EVERY FUCKING GAME and put forward 40 MINUTES of effort each game.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Rumor Alert–TMG   13 hours, 27 minutes ago

    Kid seems like a fantastic collegiate player. I haven’t seen any NBA info. Is he a legit prospect?

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   13 hours, 34 minutes ago

    Tough day for Sherron on O and D.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton?   14 hours, 18 minutes ago

    To leave or stay?