Georgia Tech performed very well - for their first game with a new coach, against the defending national champions. The defense had a clue, was aggressive, and with a few exceptions did a good job. The D made wunderkind Trevor Lawrence look human, intercepting two of his passes, and coming close on a couple of others.
Glad Tech played all three QB’s. Last season I was partial to young Tobias Oliver, who is said to be the best athlete on the team. The elusive Warner Robins native broke off several long runs, but had trouble with several handoffs against the aggressive Clemson defense. Quite evident Oliver doesn’t have the arm to keep a defense honest. The second string passing QB Johnson was worse, letting the play clock almost run out on every play. I was impressed by the freshman third stringer Graham (top), who appeared to be the best passer, as well as an above average runner. Smart for Coach Collins to not throw him to the Tigers too early in the game. The kid would’ve thrived in Paul Johnson’s offense.
Tech’s return man was atrocious. On kickoffs time after time he would catch the ball at the goal line, run ten yards, then stop. A kick returner has to be fearless, running full speed until someone makes contact. At least then his momentum would carry him forward for a few more yards. But with defenders bearing down on you, a returner could never stop, change direction, and get away in time. Then there was the fair catch fumble after the Tech D had stuffed Clemson on the first series of the game. Grade: F.
The Jackets’ new kicker Wells looked good, though several of his kickoffs failed to reach the end zone. Might’ve been orders from the coaches. Junior punter Pressley Harvin III had a great night, repeatedly pinning Clemson deep in their own territory. Without Harvin the Tigers might’ve scored 70.
Tech would’ve had to play perfect to make it a game. Take away the three turnovers GT gifted Clemson deep in their own territory and the score might’ve been 31-21, had the Jackets scored after the interception returned down to the two yard line.
Wonder if when Dabo shook hands with Collins before the game, if Swinney told the Tech coach to leave the gimmicky 404 cap in the locker room. For the game Collins changed to a nice old school cap with a T on it.
I thought Clemson might’ve pulled QB Lawrence and RB Etienne at halftime or sooner, to keep them from getting hurt. Can’t blame them for continuing to attack, but it looked like Dabo was trying to pad the stats of his bell cows. If Etienne keeps up this pace (and he might) and the Tigers win out, the back will be a Heisman finalist for sure.
Clemson appears to have their best kicker since Chris Gardocki. I didn’t mind Potter trying a 51 yard field goal to give their new kicker game experience, but when a fan boasts about it on social media, that’s not good sportsmanship. And when someone posts “Tech brought a knife to a gunfight” that tells me that person didn’t know much about the status of the GT and Clemson programs.
Question: since every player wears a big number on their jersey as well as their name, do they really need the first initial when there are more than one player with the same last name? At Alabama QB Tua’s long last name had already taken up all the space between each sleeve. Now with Tua’s brother also on the team, with a first name also starting with a T, Bama has added a TU. to the back of Tua’s jersey. Good thing one of them isn’t a junior.
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