Georgia Tech at Notre Dame

September 1, 2007
Georgia Tech (0-0) at Notre Dame (0-0)

Last Week/Last Year
Notre Dame likewise opened with Georgia Tech in 2006, winning a 14-10 white-knuckler in Atlanta after spotting Tech a 10-0 lead late in the 2nd quarter. An 80 yard Irish drive late in the first half with no timeouts, capped by Quinn’s 7 yard QB draw TD with 0:11 left (gutsy call by Charlie), may have been the most important sequence of a tight, well-played game. No turnovers for either team in last year’s opener. The Jackets did not lose another home game all year, finished 9-5 overall, and first in the ACC Coastal division.

2006 highlights included wins at # 21 Virginia Tech on an ESPN Thursday nighter, at home vs. Maryland, and at home vs. Miami-FL. The year, however, will mostly be remembered by GT fans for tough losses early and late. Not unlike the Notre Dame game, Georgia Tech lost three consecutive three-point heartbreakers to finish the 2006 campaign; at home to cross-town rival Georgia in the regular season finale (15-12, same movie, different year, sixth straight GT loss to UGA), to Wake Forest in the ACC title game (9-6), and to West Virginia in the Gator Bowl (38-35).

Glass half full or a team that couldn’t close?

Georgia Tech Offense
Junior Taylor Bennett (6-3, 215) gets the nod at QB, replacing departing starter Reggie Ball who finally leaves after what seemed like an 8 or 9 year run for the Ramblin’ Wreck. Bennett, a southpaw from St. Louis, started the 2007 Gator Bowl for Georgia Tech (Ball ended his GT career as a suspended academic casualty) and threw for 523 yds and 5 TDs overall in 2006. The bulk of that total came vs. the ‘Neers in the Gator Bowl. So Wreck fans aren’t necessarily crying in their peach smoothies over Ball’s departure, as Bennett isn’t raw by any means, the rags suggest he has plus tools, had a good-to-great spring, is four inches taller than Ball, etc., etc. (why he never pushed turnover machine Ball for more PT remains an unsolved mystery).

Tech returns four starting offensive linemen including junior All ACC behemoth LT Andrew Gardner (6-6, 300). Offensive (and defensive) lines are likely GT strengths in 2007.

Georgia Tech likewise has depth at TB led by 1,400+ yard rusher Tashard Choice, an Oklahoma transfer in his final year of eligibility. Choice went over 100 yards rushing in 7 of Tech’s last 10 games in 2006 including a season/career high 169 yard effort in the Gator Bowl. He led the ACC in rushing last year.

Questions abound at WR, however, given the void left by All American/All NFL Combine Freak Calvin Johnson, the #2 overall pick in last April’s NFL draft (Detroit Lions). James Johnson, a 6-0, 190 junior, likely gets the nod as the #1 receiver out of the gate (39 catches, 608 yds, 7 TDs in 2006) despite missing spring ball with a pulled hammer. Red shirt freshman Demaryious Thomas (6-3, 220) is a likely starter on the other side. Thomas has been tagged as a Calvin Johnson-in-training. Time will tell.

Tech may, early-on and out of necessity, try to pound it more than air it out. How the Irish defend the run could go a long way toward deciding this one.

Georgia Tech Defense
GT returns 8 starters from a highly touted but statistically middle-of-the-road 2006 defense (respectable 18 points-per-game allowed despite being, per the numbers, the worst GT run defense in four years).

Tech should be strong up the middle with senior playmakers Philip Wheeler (6-2, 230, MLB) and All ACC Jamal Lewis (6-0, 200, SS), deep at defensive end with redshirt senior/second team All ACC Adamm Oliver returning, and solid at defensive tackle despite losing All ACC Joe Anoai, a three-year starter.

The Tech CBs, junior Jahi Word-Daniels and senior Avery Roberson, however, are experienced but not fabulous, off-the-chart, difference makers per a few sources. If the Tech D has a weak link, it might be their corner outfielders.

Georgia Tech Special Teams
Kicker Travis Bell had a so-so 2006 and has not lived up to the promise of his frosh debut. He is a senior now. Bell is inconsistent, at best, and not likely from beyond the 40 based on his body of work to date. He is 9 of 22 from “beyond the arc” during his Tech career.

Punter and former JUCO transfer Durant Brooks, however, has a seriously big leg and the stats to back it up (45.5 yards per punt in 2006 and second-in-the-country 40.8 yards net). Brooks will likely be the best punter in the ACC this year could very well show up on more than one All-American list, depending on how his season goes.

Georgia Tech Coaches
Former Dallas Cowboy Head Coach Chan Gailey enters his fifth season at Georgia Tech. Rumors about flirtations with NFL gigs swirled after last year, but Gailey stayed put. In-roads on the recruiting front are reportedly being made, even in state, where the recruiting battle vs. the Big Dawg in Athens wages for all eternity. Some suggest Tech’s incoming freshman class is one of if not the best in the ACC. A Gailey-led Georgia Tech squad has never missed the post-season. The flip-side, however, is every Gailey-led Georgia Tech team has lost at least 5 games. Good but not great? And while it has no bearing on Saturday’s game, it is interesting to note (to me anyway) that Gailey has never beaten Georgia, which, fair or not, is the measuring stick for GT head coaches. Gailey is under contract through 2010.

Defensive Coordinator Jon Tenuta continues to get loads of accolades as one of the best coordinators in the country -- you would think the guy would be a head coach by now given how long he has been touted in this manner. Tenuta is known as a blitz schemer and is considered an innovator among his peers. He has been at Georgia Tech for five years.

Offensive Coordinator John Bond is the new addition, moving to Atlanta from Dekalb (Northern Illinois) via West Point (Army) to fill the spot vacated by last year’s play caller, Patrick Nix. Nix moves up the coaching food chain this year, taking a spot on Randy Shannon’s inaugural Miami-FL staff. A more involved passing game, under Bond’s tutelage, is rumored (translation: more backs-as-receivers and medium routes, less “Chuck it up there, Reggie, and hope Calvin makes a play”). The new guy is always supposed to be smarter and better, right?

Worth Noting
Georgia Tech has won its road opener the last three years, all vs. ranked opponents.

Vegas
ND opened as a (-2.5) favorite. ND (-3) as of Wednesday morning.

Summary/Prediction
Tech brings 17 of 22 players who started in the 2007 Gator Bowl to South Bend for this one. And while the national press and national poles are interestingly silent about this Ga Tech team (no Top 25 love, etc.) suggesting they might be an “on paper” tiger, only, you have to consider the possibility that Georgia Tech is sleeper given all their returning experience, the fact that they seem to travel well, solid coaching, etc. And it is not a reach to suggest that this Georgia Tech team is going to be better than average if not outright strong where it matters most, along the offensive and defensive lines.

It is the first road start for QB Bennett, however, and I don’t care how you spin it, Calvin Johnson’s departure leaves a gaping crater in Georgia Tech’s offensive production from a year ago. I am not buying the “could be better offensively, even without Johnson” line I’ve heard/read --- not early in the season anyway. Johnson was, arguably, the best college football player in the United States last year. You don’t lose that kind of talent and not feel it.

My gut says this one will be extremely tight, just like last year. The first of multiple Maalox jobs for the ’07 Irish? My heart says 20-17, Notre Dame. My head, however, can envision a 20-17 Georgia Tech scenario. I’m nervous, gang. I see a FG job looming.

Notre Dame Opponents Schedule – September 1, 2007
Georgia Tech at NOTRE DAME
Penn State vs. Florida International
Michigan vs. Appalachian State (you’ve got to be kidding)
Michigan State vs. Alabama-Birmingham
Purdue at Toledo
UCLA at Stanford (the Jim Harbaugh era begins on The Farm, 0-1)
Boston College vs. Wake Forest
USC vs. Idaho (tough spot for Spuds)
Navy at Temple (Friday 8/31)
Air Force vs. South Carolina State
Duke vs. Connecticut (Devils snap losing streak vs. Big East’s least?)

Other Games of Interest – September 1, 2007
Tennessee at Cal (Bears and Pac10 embarrassed by UT in Knoxville last yr)
OK State at Georgia (UGA tough on non-SEC foes, Pokes = Big12 dark horse)
FSU at Clemson (Bobby and ‘Noles only 2-3 in Bowden Bowls)
Indiana vs. Indiana State
Illinois vs. Missouri (in St. Louis)
Ball State vs. Miami OH (Thursday 8/30)
Butler vs. Albion
Rose-Hulman at Earlham College