Georgia Tech vs Miami: Aftermath

Georgia Tech vs. Miami: Aftermath

Georgia Tech 17, Miami 33 Final

This was a pretty nice game to watch, one where there seemed to be more pressure on Miami to win than on Georgia Tech. I watched this game with the idea that maybe the winner here could be the favorite to win the ACC. While that is still possible, I am still not quite sure on that.

But what I am sure of is that the option that Georgia Tech runs may be quickly outdated. Remember that the coach came from Navy, and the option was common there. When he used it last year, it had marginal success, but is it possible that now the competition has adjusted to them?

To me, if you are going to run a triple option, then the quarterback has to have some legit threat to pass. We know from last year that this was not the case at all, as Josh Nesbitt had only two passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. We even saw this last week vs. Clemson, when the glaring problem of the triple option came evident. This does not seem to work against more quality teams and actually hurts when you’re down by more than 8 points.

But last night the game certainly looked like they were going to do a repeat of getting over 400 yards rushing against Miami. This was a revenge game for Miami, and also a very key game for several reasons. One, being embarrassed by Georgia Tech last year, two, in the midst of four very tough games, and three, the real possibility of their head coach’s job on the line.

Beating Florida State was crucial, but it was only the first of four big time games for the Hurricanes. They needed to win this game to make a solid statement for the ACC crown.

It was most important for Miami to stop the run… it’s what Georgia Tech lived by, and if they could stop that, it would force them to do what they are not good at…throwing the ball.

The first drive seemed to start out just like last year, with the Yellow Jackets moving the ball at will, but the Hurricanes managed to stop them from getting into the end zone, settling for a field goal. To Miami, this was a moral victory, even though they were down 3-0.

But the offence of Miami seemed to come alive with this new quarterback, Jacory Harris. I gotta tell ya, he looked like he knew the system every which way but loose. The Hurricanes moved the ball down the field and scored with a 40 yard pass, taking the lead at 7-3 by the end of the first quarter.

The plan for Miami seemed to be simple, if you contain Nesbitt and Dwyer, you contain the option. It seemed that the Hurricanes were willing to gamble that Georgia Tech could not throw the ball, because that was not their strength. However, the passing attack of Miami seemed to have the Yellow Jackets winded as they took a halftime lead of 17-3.

At this point, I believed Georgia Tech was half beaten, because to come back, they would either have to hope that Miami got lazy with the option, or would have to throw the ball. But Miami seemed dead set to stop the option at all costs, even if it meant being burnt on a few passing plays. Although there was some glimpses of the option working, it took some rare long passes for Georgia Tech to get back in. Still, near the end of the 3rd, quarter, the score was 31-14.

Then there was that odd safety penalty thing….

I am not quite sure what Coach Paul Johnson of Georgia Tech was so upset about here, and why it was directed at his kicker. GA Tech snaps the ball, it goes sailing over the kicker’s head into the end zone. The kid has only a couple of options; get rid of the ball or try to make something out of it. He decides to purposely kick it out the end zone, which is an automatic safety, rather than giving Miami superior field position or a touchdown should something crazy happens. Yet he is flagged for intentionally kicking the ball out, which still results in a safety.

Ok, fine. But why then was coach Johnson all hot at the kicker? Didn’t he do only what he had to do? It was quite likely it was going to be a safety anyway, if he had tried to be a hero and save the ball and try to kick it, it could have easily ended up inside the 10 or 5 yard line, almost guaranteeing Miami a touchdown or field goal. I just didn’t see what the kicker did wrong except save GA Tech some points.

So we go into the 4th quarter, and I see something else…early in the 4th, Miami inside the GA Tech 10 yard line, and Coach Randy Shannon opts to go for a field goal…

WHY?

With the score being 33-10 early in the 4th, I would not think it would be running up the score to try for one more touchdown. Yet I think Shannon, to his credit, was concerned about that, and even with his team inside the 10, he takes a penalty to back up and try for a field goal…and misses.

The problem here that Miami might need to fix is when you are beating a team, make sure you have the BEAT before you show mercy. The problem with this is that once you take your foot off the pedal, sometimes it is hard to find it again. And by missing that field goal, you offer the ball back to Georgia Tech with better field position, and you give them the slightest gleam of hope.

This is something Georgia Tech learned last week against Clemson, and it almost cost them the game. But now with a little light, the Yellow Jackets do the rare thing and get the passing game going, and nets a touchdown. Now the score is 33-17 with 10 minutes left…and Georgia Tech has some hope.

The onside kick does not work, but they would not have tried it unless they thought there was a chance they could come back. But the defense holds and Miami gets the ball back, but misses a second field goal…this gives Georgia Tech every thought that they just might make a game of it.

But Georgia Tech was contained by the Hurricanes, as Nesbitt could not get anything going, passing or running, and it choked any hope of them coming back. End the end, Miami wins…but we see that they have two problems. One, the kicking game, and two, the lack of a “killer instinct”.

This might come back to haunt them, especially with games vs. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma back to back. Is the “U” back…I am not completely convinced, but I like what I see.

As for Georgia Tech, I think they have been exposed and I think average teams will be able to set up a counter for that option, forcing Nesbitt to lean on his weakness, that of throwing. A bad team can’t stop Georgia Tech, but a decent team can seriously challenge them. Some people might think this option stuff is awesome, but without a good quarterback who can throw the ball, it makes them too one dimensional. At this rate, I can’t see 9 wins for them…maybe 7.

But we shall see as the season goes on…