Miami marches up to Atlanta this Saturday to face the Rambling Wreck of Georgia Tech. Lets see what the Yellow Jackets have in store for us.
Miami hasn't lost a football game to Georgia Tech since 2008 on a Thursday night. Back then guys like Sean Spence and Jacory Harris were just true freshman. It was Miami's 4th straight loss to Georgia Tech, so the circle is now complete. Now nobody on Georgia Tech's team knows what it feels like to beat Miami in a game, which is how it's supposed to be.
1. Where they are in the standings/rankings:
It's still early, but if anyone told you before the season that Georgia Tech would be in 1st place at the end of September you would have laughed at them. They've only played 1 good team though. Wofford, Tulane, and Georgia Southern all gave them competitive games. Then the Jackets went on the road and got a big win in Blacksburg. However, Virginia Tech doesn't look to be all that great this year...which is the norm for them really. The Yellow Jackets are coming off of a bye week, but before that was their 27-24 win over Virginia Tech via a last second field goal by Harrison Butker. Here's what Virginia Tech people are saying about them:
From: The Key Play
Oh those wacky nerds. What will they come up with next? That post makes it appear as if Georgia Tech's run D isn't all that great. That's because it isn't. They're currently 94th in the nation in rushing defense giving up 777 on the ground in just 4 games (194.25 per game). In case you were wondering, we're 52nd in the country with 135.2 per game. It's important to keep in mind though that both Wofford and Georgia Southern are triple-option teams, so these numbers could all just be skewed. Here's what the Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech game looked like:
[video=youtube;-1lf5Z60tvE]www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1lf5Z60tvE[/video]
I hate Virginia Tech.
2. What happened the last time Miami played Georgia Tech?
tjl1388/TK Photography
From: Last year's recap
Georgia Tech led for almost all of the 1st half that day. It was the 1st time that season that Miami seemed to play down to it's opponent. It wasn't the last.
3. Who to be scared of:
Austin Foote
Justin Thomas
Thomas is what makes Georgia Tech's offense go. If you've ever seen this negged gif that decleated made, then you already know who Justin Thomas is.
He's not all that scary passing the ball. He's got a completion percentage below 50% and averages just 152.5 yards per game. He does however do a good job of protecting the football, sporting a 7 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio. When you're averaging 6.8 yards per carry and 110.75 yards per game on the ground you don't have to be all that great of a passer. He leads the Yellow Jackets in both carries (65) and yards (443) too. Here are some highlights from last year to get an idea of what he's capable of.
[video=youtube;o4x8jVqWlKE]www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4x8jVqWlKE[/video]
He's a lot better than the guy who started last year.
4. Player that will score against us:
David Tulis/Associated Press
DeAndre Smelter
Smelter came to Georgia Tech on a baseball scholarship, and now he's pretty much their entire passing game. Over the years since Paul Johnson got to Georgia Tech, be it Demaryius Thomas or Stephen Hill, they've always had 1 solid receiver that got the bulk of the catches. Smelter is now that guy. He leads the team in receptions with 14 (next highest is 4), yards with 339 (next highest is 70), and TD's with 4 (next highest is 1). Just when defenses get tired of being run over in the ground game, they start to cheat and peak into the backfield to get a head start. That's when the QB drops back and throws a duck over your head for a long TD. If/when that happens this weekend, Smelter will be the one in the endzone. This was him bullying some poor guys from Wofford.
[video=youtube;LqUxk7F6c5A]www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqUxk7F6c5A[/video]
He's pretty good.
5. Person that will **** you off:
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Paul Johnson
This makes 2 years in a row. I think he truly believes he invented football. This guy had 2 good seasons about 5 years ago and that's his justification for keeping with his high school offense. I hate his face too, especially when he's crying about something. His O-line dives head first into the knees of defensive linemen all game, so they're bound to end up being called for a chop block eventually. And when they do, he gets all apoplectic, as if the rules don't apply to his uber-genius offense.
Learn the rules, dummy. You'd be hard pressed to find a more annoying football coach who is constantly crying about stuff.
6. Some guy:
Daniel Shirey/USA Today
Quayshawn Nealy
As a senior, Nealy is the captain of Georgia Tech's defense. His 6'1 235 lbs. frame roams the middle of the field for them. That has allowed him to lead the team in both solo tackles (20) and total tackles (26), while also being second in tackles for loss. You might remember him from last year's game as the guy who picked off Stephen Morris right when we got into the redzone.
Before the season started The ACC's official site came up with a list of the top 25 players to watch for this season. Nealy checked in at #16 in their eyes. This was the video they made about him.
[video=youtube;Sb59vwIrTmA]www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb59vwIrTmA[/video]
He's ok.
7. If Georgia Tech was a recurring SNL skit, they would be:
The Killer Bees
This really doesn't require a whole lot of set up. It was really just an excuse to post a link to this old skit.
8. Official Internet meme for this game:
Not The Bees!
[video=youtube;pele5vptVgc]www.youtube.com/watch?v=pele5vptVgc[/video]
Miami hasn't lost a football game to Georgia Tech since 2008 on a Thursday night. Back then guys like Sean Spence and Jacory Harris were just true freshman. It was Miami's 4th straight loss to Georgia Tech, so the circle is now complete. Now nobody on Georgia Tech's team knows what it feels like to beat Miami in a game, which is how it's supposed to be.
1. Where they are in the standings/rankings:
It's still early, but if anyone told you before the season that Georgia Tech would be in 1st place at the end of September you would have laughed at them. They've only played 1 good team though. Wofford, Tulane, and Georgia Southern all gave them competitive games. Then the Jackets went on the road and got a big win in Blacksburg. However, Virginia Tech doesn't look to be all that great this year...which is the norm for them really. The Yellow Jackets are coming off of a bye week, but before that was their 27-24 win over Virginia Tech via a last second field goal by Harrison Butker. Here's what Virginia Tech people are saying about them:
From: The Key Play
Joe Lanza said:Georgia Tech Steals a 'T' and 'W'
Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay
...Thus far this season, the short passing game has picked up the slack for the struggling run game, but Georgia Tech trotted out the worst defensive front the Hokies have faced all season. I loved the way Tech opened the game: rush, rush to setup a manageable third-and-six 17-yard completion to Rogers out of the backfield. I thought the would signal the Hokies leaning on the run in early downs more often, but that wasn't the case...
Oh those wacky nerds. What will they come up with next? That post makes it appear as if Georgia Tech's run D isn't all that great. That's because it isn't. They're currently 94th in the nation in rushing defense giving up 777 on the ground in just 4 games (194.25 per game). In case you were wondering, we're 52nd in the country with 135.2 per game. It's important to keep in mind though that both Wofford and Georgia Southern are triple-option teams, so these numbers could all just be skewed. Here's what the Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech game looked like:
[video=youtube;-1lf5Z60tvE]www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1lf5Z60tvE[/video]
I hate Virginia Tech.
2. What happened the last time Miami played Georgia Tech?
tjl1388/TK Photography
From: Last year's recap
We said:...With the game basically over GT puts backup QB Justin Thomas back in the game. UM responds by putting their backups into the game too. The problem for GT is that Alquadin Muhammad andTyriq McCord had been on the bench all game and were probably pretty ****ed about it. On 1st down Thomas sees Quan coming from his left and steps to his right in response...right into McCord.
It causes a fumble that GT recovers. On the very next play Quan and McCord beat their man again and force Thomas into an ill-advised throw. Gunter jumps it and takes it home for 6.
45-23 UM...
Georgia Tech led for almost all of the 1st half that day. It was the 1st time that season that Miami seemed to play down to it's opponent. It wasn't the last.
3. Who to be scared of:
Austin Foote
Justin Thomas
Thomas is what makes Georgia Tech's offense go. If you've ever seen this negged gif that decleated made, then you already know who Justin Thomas is.
He's not all that scary passing the ball. He's got a completion percentage below 50% and averages just 152.5 yards per game. He does however do a good job of protecting the football, sporting a 7 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio. When you're averaging 6.8 yards per carry and 110.75 yards per game on the ground you don't have to be all that great of a passer. He leads the Yellow Jackets in both carries (65) and yards (443) too. Here are some highlights from last year to get an idea of what he's capable of.
[video=youtube;o4x8jVqWlKE]www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4x8jVqWlKE[/video]
He's a lot better than the guy who started last year.
4. Player that will score against us:
David Tulis/Associated Press
DeAndre Smelter
Smelter came to Georgia Tech on a baseball scholarship, and now he's pretty much their entire passing game. Over the years since Paul Johnson got to Georgia Tech, be it Demaryius Thomas or Stephen Hill, they've always had 1 solid receiver that got the bulk of the catches. Smelter is now that guy. He leads the team in receptions with 14 (next highest is 4), yards with 339 (next highest is 70), and TD's with 4 (next highest is 1). Just when defenses get tired of being run over in the ground game, they start to cheat and peak into the backfield to get a head start. That's when the QB drops back and throws a duck over your head for a long TD. If/when that happens this weekend, Smelter will be the one in the endzone. This was him bullying some poor guys from Wofford.
[video=youtube;LqUxk7F6c5A]www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqUxk7F6c5A[/video]
He's pretty good.
5. Person that will **** you off:
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Paul Johnson
This makes 2 years in a row. I think he truly believes he invented football. This guy had 2 good seasons about 5 years ago and that's his justification for keeping with his high school offense. I hate his face too, especially when he's crying about something. His O-line dives head first into the knees of defensive linemen all game, so they're bound to end up being called for a chop block eventually. And when they do, he gets all apoplectic, as if the rules don't apply to his uber-genius offense.
Learn the rules, dummy. You'd be hard pressed to find a more annoying football coach who is constantly crying about stuff.
6. Some guy:
Daniel Shirey/USA Today
Quayshawn Nealy
As a senior, Nealy is the captain of Georgia Tech's defense. His 6'1 235 lbs. frame roams the middle of the field for them. That has allowed him to lead the team in both solo tackles (20) and total tackles (26), while also being second in tackles for loss. You might remember him from last year's game as the guy who picked off Stephen Morris right when we got into the redzone.
Before the season started The ACC's official site came up with a list of the top 25 players to watch for this season. Nealy checked in at #16 in their eyes. This was the video they made about him.
[video=youtube;Sb59vwIrTmA]www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb59vwIrTmA[/video]
He's ok.
7. If Georgia Tech was a recurring SNL skit, they would be:
The Killer Bees
This really doesn't require a whole lot of set up. It was really just an excuse to post a link to this old skit.
8. Official Internet meme for this game:
Not The Bees!
[video=youtube;pele5vptVgc]www.youtube.com/watch?v=pele5vptVgc[/video]
