This week we're doing something new around here. I've exchanged questions and answers pertaining to Thursday night's game with our friend Bird of the Georgia Tech blog From The Rumble Seat. Here are Bird's answers to my questions. Be gentle to him. I hope you find his answers to be as fun and informative as I did. Everyone say thank you Bird.
1. Last year the Perfect Option averaged 422.1 yards per game and 33.8 points per game compared to 402.1 yards per game and 29.5 points per game this season. Why has the offense taken a step back?
The biggest downgrade at any individual position from 2009 to 2010 was at wide receiver. We lost an NFL first round receiver and replaced him with young or untested receivers. Stephen Hill has had a tough season particularly in the recent historical comparisons department.
Nesbitt doesn't deliver an easy-to-catch ball and his receivers appear to have gloves made of concrete. Simply put, the passing game is doing us in. We can't stretch the field vertically. Defensive backs can play the pitch rather than having to worry about a deep bomb.
Besides passing we can't execute to save our lives. We are fumbling all the effin' time. In 2009, the fullbacks only fumbled three times in 14 games. This season our fullbacks have fumbled 7 times in 8 games. It's a debacle. The slotbacks are even worse...it's utter chaos on offense.
2. What are three adjectives to describe Chan Gailey?
Chan Gailey is grandfatherly, patient, and mostly harmless.
3. What are three things the Hokies will have to do on defense in order to stop your option attack? Aside from the obvious, number of points scored, what are some indicators that things are going good/bad for the Reck on offense?
The biggest problem we've had this season is turnovers. Not just the basic interceptions or fumbles. We've turned the ball over an ACC-leading 11 times on failed 4th down conversions. And it's typically bad center-QB exchanges, bad handoffs, or dropped passes that have led to these failed 4th downs.
Another indicator that things are totally effed in the A are when we start calling trick plays. This means that CPJ is out of his game and knows he can't beat your D with his conventional offense (has happened a couple times this season). Our OL is getting blown up every week and it's taken some incredibly ballsy calls to get wins this season. If you see Tom Foolery from the Georgia Tech sidelines, then you know you're in a good spot.
4. The Al Groh questions. In year one has Al Groh's 3-4 defense: a) fallen below your preseason expectations b) met your preseason expectations or c) exceded your preseason expectations? If Groh hasn't exceded your preseason expectations would you trade him right now for Dave Wommack? Have you come to terms with the fact that if CPJ decides to leave Georgia Tech Al Groh would be a top candidate to replace him?
What is "met expectations" for 200? Seriously, Groh has done an okay job. Our defense isn't godawful and it certainly isn't good. The biggest difference between this year and last is that guys are playing fundamental football, blitzes are actually landing home, and we've seen sparks of greatness. I think the 3-4 is here to stay for at least 2-3 years unless Groh gets another HC gig.
And I doubt Tech fans would want Groh to replace a fired/departed/separated CPJ. I think Tech fans will want a repreve from the run-first offense so by 2030 or so when CPJ retires with 3 National Titles and 15 conference titles, we'll probably move to a quadruple option attack from the gatling formation. Footballs will have GPS chips in them and there won't be referees. Offensive and defensive lineman will play with large boxing gloves, which completely removes holding penalties and defensive facemasks from the line. Coaches will have digital HUDs embedded in their eyeballs (like fighter planes). The HUDs will display multiple in house camera angles for home games so a coach on the sideline can literally watch the entire play develop from 5 angles simultaneously. It's the future. Bank on it.
5. I've asserted that playing in thsh e rain would be an overall advantage for Virginia Tech. Do you agree or disagree?
According to Weather Underground data, y'all had 0.46 inches of rain on September 11, 2010. The day the internet died in Blacksburg. GT's last three rain games saw us run all over Georgie (2008), UNC (2009), and UVA (2009). I'm not worried about the rain. You guys should be.
6. Do you think the winner of this game will represent the ACC Coastal in Charlotte? What's your prediction?
I think VT has the inside track no matter what happens on Saturday but teams that have played GT usually follow it up with an egg (ACC teams 7-14 after playing GT). And UNC is next. We know what UNC did to VT in Blacksburg last year so you never know. I think VT wins but if GT wins, it could be a helluva finish in the Coastal Race.
