Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Part 6 of the 12 part 2014 Miami Hurricane Opponent Video Series - @GT 10/4

2014 Georgia Tech Football Preview

We’re halfway home, in Part 6 of the 2014 12 part opponent video series. I’m going to talk a little about the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, our opponent on Oct 4th at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, GA. 

Lets first look at their Talent:

Just when people think GT takes that next step, they find a way to get back in the hole they’ve been in for the last couple of years. They don’t have the best talent out there, but when you add poor recruiting classes to the mix, it’s a recipe for disaster. GT’s classes in both 2010 and 2011 were ranked in the low 40s, which is so-so. However, the last three classes in Atlanta dropped to  No. 51 (2014), 71 (2013) and 56 (2012). Look for them to be on the bottom half of the talent pool in the ACC in 2014.  Its nothing out of the ordinary here, but look closer and you see that the pressure to win, gets more intense. Scratching out a chance to be bowl eligible will be tough. When you add the fact that they only have back 51 percent of their defensive production from a year ago, that’s trouble. The up side here is that they do return three starters on the O-Line and 74 percent of their offensive output. Look for shootouts early in the year.

Next, I want to talk about the Coaching:

When you look at Paul Johnson, he was the hottest coach in the league early in his tenure, but things have dropped off the last few years in Atlanta. The heat is on Johnson this year to get back to where they were early in his GT tenure. If they have another subpar year in Atlanta, the calls for Johnson’s ouster will grow louder.

Now, to their 2014 Schedule:


Off a 7-6 record in 2013, the Yellow Jackets will have another brutal schedule in 2014 Let’s break the Jackets schedule down.
In their opener, 8/30 vs. Wofford: W

The Jackets opening against an FCS opponent at home in Wofford. This team needs confidence, especially with a New QB at the helm in Justin Thomas. GT wins this one big here.

In Week 2, 9/6 at Tulane: W

Even though, they go down to New Orleans, this is a game GT should and I predict, will win. They just need Thomas to make some plays with his arm, but not too much though.  GT’s triple-option should be humming here and they leave the Bayou with a victory to go to 2-0 in this projection

In week 3, 9/13 vs. Georgia Southern: W

This is a game Johnson’s boys should win, but they should tread lightly here. They’d better get any kinks they might have offensively out of their system here, because after this game, the road gets much tougher. GT to a projected 3-0 after this one.

In week 4, 9/20 at Virginia Tech: L

VT have beaten the Yellow Jackets four straight times and after this one, look for it to be 5 in a row. Even though Bud Foster, doesn’t have the best personnel on D in comparison to recent years, his D’s has had success against the option offense and I see him defeating it again in 2014. VT beats the Jackets to drop them to a projected 3-1.


In week 5, they have a BYE

In Week 6 off the BYE, 10/4 vs. Miami (Fla.): L
Miami comes calling on Atlanta to take on the Jackets. The Hurricanes have had their way with the Jackets the last few years, and with a healthy Johnson back at RB, look for the dominance over the Jackets to continue. CANES over GT to drop the Jackets to a projected 3-2.
In Week 7, 10/11 vs. Duke: L

This game won’t be close at all. While Duke isn’t known for D, it won’t be the replay of last year up in Durham where GT just demolished Duke. Look for a big game out of Jamison Crowder for Duke. Duke too strong here, and they get their payback with a road win over the Jackets to drop GT to a projected 3-3.


In Week 8, 10/18 at North Carolina: L

GT makes the trip up to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels, who could very well be a force to deal with in the Coastal this year. It’s going to be difficult to go into Chapel Hill and come out with a victory, and when you factor in their QB Marquise Williams being one that can put up points very quickly and a porous Tech D, UNC wins this one handily over the Jackets to drop them to a projected 3-4.


In Week 9, 10/25 at Pittsburgh: W

If GT is going to start getting off the mat and get back in the win column, this would be the game to do it here. Pitt lost Aaron Donald to the NFL and their D-Line is weak depth wise. Look for Johnson’s triple option offense to have a field day against that weakened Pitt D up front. Look for a good game out of Thomas, especially when he doesn’t have to throw the ball too much in this one. GT gets the win to get back to a projected 4-4.


In Week 10 11/1 vs. Virginia: W

The Jackets are back home to take on a dreadful Cavalier team, whose coach has a hot seat that will be on fire at this point. It won’t cool after this one either. This is going to be the easiest win of the season for GT here. GT improves to a projected 5-4.


In Week 11, 11/8 at NC State: W

NC State were ranked last in the ACC against the run in 2013, so if there’s another huge game on the ground for the Jackets, this game is it. You’ll see in this one, the classic Paul Johnson M.O., time of possession, long drives, and a punishing triple-option attack here, with their D getting off the field quickly. GT wins this one to improve to a projected 6-4.


In Week 12, 11/15 vs. Clemson: L

It gets tough for the Jackets, with Clemson coming to town. Clemson just has too many weapons for GT in this one. Clemson has a great defense, who is led by All-American DE Vic Beasley, who will have a field day in the GT backfield. Clemson just has way too many weapons here, and a coach in Dabo that knows how to use them. Clemson big here to drop the Jackets to a projected 6-5.  


In Week 13, they have a BYE

In the season finale, 11/29 vs. Georgia: L
 

While this is a rivalry game, this won’t be a rout. Besides, GT got off  to a 20-point lead last season in Athens, before eventually losing in overtime. While the Bulldogs don’t have Aaron Murray under center anymore, their defense should be more than enough to handle the option attack.
UGa wins this one to end GT’s regular season at 6-.

My prediction on the Game vs. CANES:

We’ve beaten the Jackets 5 straight times, and I see nothing different after this one. Look for Duke to have a monster game on the ground, and the D shutting down the Triple Option of theirs. This is a game we win and win easily in Atlanta.
 
In Part 7 of the 2014 series, I will talk about the Cincinnati Bearcats, our opponent on October 11th at Sun Life Stadium.

No comments:

Post a Comment