Damon Stoudamire

Miles Kelly and Kyle Sturdivant

Kenny Blakeney Howard Coach former Duke player

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I read the tiebreaker rules correctly our best chance is:

Louisville: 6-2
GT: 6-2
UNC: 6-2

GT would go to the ACCCG based on the 3rd tiebreaker.
“3. Win percentage against common opponents.”

The common opponents would be UVA/Miami.

GT: 2-0
Louisville: 1-1
UNC: 1-1


Obviously have to find a way to beat Clemson, but assuming all 3 teams win out AND BC/VT lose 1 game each:

GT will face FSU in the ACCCG.

from rw.com

Class Of His Own: Even at an elite engineering school like Georgia Tech, he’s doing something with no known precedent. Meet redshirt junior Henry Freer, just your average starting FBS long snapper … who’s also pursuing his Ph.D.

Figured it was time for a new thread I have locked the other one.

World Series predictions? This thread can be used for discussion for all playoff teams, not just the Braves.

Sorry, Cubs fans. Maybe next year.

Brent Key was in a good mood today for the presser.

He spent time with his daughter Harper this week who had a birthday teaching her how to ride a bike he put together for her birthday.

Key said the big challenge this week is being as mentally and physically as tough as possible for the game on Saturday at Clemson. They have a good game plan that they have to go out and execute. He said the key will be sustaining that mental toughness for four quarters to be in a position in the game to come out on top.

I asked about freshmen who haven't played much or have their redshirt intact and if we could see any of them in these final three or hopefully four games. Key said that Gabe Fortson is the one who is ready to go in there and play on the next play if needed behind Weston Franklin at center. He said that Patrick Screws at OT is right there as well and ready to go and Benjamin Galloway the OG freshman got some work on PAT/FG last week and he is developing nicely as well and they are excited about him in the future. He hopes that they have enough depth and stay healthy that they don't crack the glass on other guys, but he said a guy like Evan Dickens is ready and has burned his shirt already and can play.

Key said the defense has to get lined up and just stop the run this week and handle their explosive shots that Clemson will take downfield as well. He said that Clemson did a nice job last week of mixing that in and they will have Will Shipley back so they have several capable running backs now spearheading their offense.

Key on Cade Klubnik said that he has good targets around him and they vary that tempo and can get moving at times. Klubnik keeps a level head on him even when they've gotten in some holes this season and he can move the ball within the offense. He said fumbles have been the biggest thing holding Clemson back all season and they held that in check last week for the most part.

Key said the Clemson defense is really good and is good everywhere on the field and it is mostly JRs and SRs that start for them and they have younger guys in the two-deep that are just as talented. They play a lot of guys upfront and they mix coverages in the backend between Man and Zone, he said the horses up front are really what makes their defense go and #54 (Jeremiah Trotter Jr.) that is really good along with #00 (Barrett Carter) that is also really good at LB. The safeties do their job in run support and cover well in the passing game. They mix the fronts and personnel and they'll play three-down fronts, four-down, Bear and they'll stem and move and do different things up front so it is a big challenge for the offense.

On having three starting safeties for two spots with CP Lee as the sixth man in hoops terms, Key said they can play with all three with one at the nickel or roll guys there and it is less tread on the tires for the guys back there and they all work well together and are all capable.

On Avery Boyd's season, he has come a long way and they saw glimpses of him in spring practice and they excited for him. He is a big man and can run and now he is starting to understand everything about the offense and they can use him in a lot of different positions on the field and be multiple with what he does and he can block, but he also has strong hands once he pulls it down and he can run with it after the catch.

I asked about the transformation of David Shanahan and Key said that Ricky Brumfield and the special teams staff have done a good job with him and he is understanding the game more and more with the more he plays not having had that HS football experience. He said that he is understanding situational football more and Key has a talk with him every game about how he feels about punting in various parts of the field and where the line is that he can coffin or down a punt inside the 10. He said he had two inside the 10 and another in the 20 last week and that when they cross the 50 he feels good about Shanhan's ability to pin teams if need be deep and play field position.

On injuries, he said that Ahmari Harvey is the biggest question mark, but everyone else was "practicing" today and tomorrow they will try to figure out who will be available or not. Harvey was able to run some today, but that will likely be a game-time decision. He said that is a position where they do have some depth fortunately but they'd like to have Harvey out there if he can go given how he has been playing.

On the LT rotation with Ethan Mackenny and Corey Robinson, Key said that they work that out on Fridays and 80% of that is scripted out ahead of time. He said it is a big ask to have a true freshman offensive lineman play every snap of every game all season and he struggled himself as a redshirt freshman with that mentally and physically in his day. Key said he is really proud of Corey and how he has come long as the season has gone along and strived and made strides and continued to work and that is paying off with more playing time now.

I asked him a question about what he will learn about his team mentally dealing with success after having the first back-to-back wins of the year, Key said,

"Y'all think we into that so much deeper than anyone else does, guys. I mean, it that's part of the reasons there are issues without players because of the external things they hear all the time. I mean, y'all, we overthink that crap. I'm telling you, it's about coming out every day and working as hard as we can that day to be the best version of ourselves. And we talked earlier in the week about being obsessed with winning. To be obsessed with winning means being the best version of yourself and taking advantage of every opportunity. I mean, what do you think guys are gonna go out and today we don't expect to win? We don't really want to play? That's bull crap. Like, oh, this week, they're not practicing. It's hard. No, it's a winnings contagious. How do you get that into your program? Continue to win there's nothing else."

Galloway made his debut in the UVA game.

Ethan Mackenny - 9
Eric Singleton - 8
Evan Dickens - 8
Jacob Cruz - 8
Taye Seymore - 7

Bailey Stockton - 2
Nacari Ashley - 2
Ashton Heflin - 1
Zion Taylor- 1
Benjamin Galloway - 1
Gabe Fortson - 1

Patrick Screws - 0
Elias Cloy - 0
Shymeik Jones - 0
Ezra Odinjor - 0
Nico Dowdell - 0
Steven Jones - 0
Bryston Dixon - 0
Malcolm Pugh - 0

My late father ran track and played football in high school, not a big guy by any means, started off in Kentucky and then the family moved to Atlanta where he finished HS at SW DeKalb in 1955. He was a notorious BS’er, but he always told a story of a Clemson football staffer inviting him to campus one time. He walked into Frank Howard’s office and he told my dad that they “eat boys like him for breakfast here at Clempsin.” He ended up on a track scholarship thanks to George Griffin and got out of Tech in 1959. The rest of our fandom story is history.
Maybe that’s why Clemson always ranked right behind UGA for him in terms of games and hatred. This was always one of his favorite games and has become mine as well—probably stirred on by the last 8 years. We’ve had some classics with these guys, some heartbreaks, some that we’ve dealt out. I know he took me to games before but the first vivid memory I can remember of being at BDS was the damn Woody Dantzler game. Anyways, I wanted to start a thread where we could share some of our favorite memories of this game.

Mine is relatively easy retroactively. We were there for the field storm in 2011, but the 2014 Clemson game would be the last GT win he saw in person (he passed in early 2016, and we were at losses in 2015). It also just happens to be the last time we won and we played them this late in a season IIRC. Enjoy:
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Good morning.

Thank you again for the prayers and messages the last few days. Back to the grind…

The defensive war room that l know everyone is itching for will be released on Thursday, November 9th.

Last week’s Q&A will now take place TOMORROW at 9:30.

Still working with Kelly about getting the chance to do a Q&A on YouTube, but at least the next two will be written format.

Excited for the week. Georgia playoffs are now officially underway.

RJ

Today in the 5:00 hour.

THE FLATS – On National Signing Day, Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach Nell Fortner announced the signing of four Yellow Jackets. The Georgia-rich signing class features four local natives to Atlanta.

Dani Carnegie – 5-9, Guard (Conyers, Ga./Grayson High School)
A four-star recruit by ESPN HoopGurlz, Carnegie is ranked the third-highest recruit in the state of Georgia and ranked No. 62 overall. A strong contributor at Grayson High School, the Conyers, Ga., native earned first team 6A all-State recognition by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2022. She was also an AJC honorable mention 6A all-State selection in 2021, and most recently, a 2023-24 Sandy’s Spiel GHSA Girls Class 7A Preseason All-State first team honoree.

Carnegie is tabbed No. 54 and No. 2 in the state of Georgia by Prospects Nation. She played AAU basketball for FBC Supreme Team with fellow signee, Wright. Carnegie chose Georgia Tech over Alabama, Baylor, Florida State, Louisville and Kentucky.

“Dani can score at any level in this game,” said Fortner. “She is a versatile player with her physical strength, ability to shoot the long-range three and ability to play the point guard or off-guard positions. She has a lot of tools right now and we will continue to add to her skill set as she goes through our program.”


Gabbie Grooms – 5-9, Guard (Sharpsburg, Ga./Landmark Christian)
The 2023 AJC 2A Player of Year, Grooms has earned several accolades during her high school career, including Class A Private All-State second team honors in 2022. She also started the 2023-24 campaign receiving GHSA Girls Class 4A Preseason All-State first team recognition by Sandy’s Spiel.

A prolific scorer at Landmark Christian, amassing over 1,000-career points, Grooms was the Region 5 Class 2A Region Player of the Year in 2023. By Prospects Nation, Grooms is a four-star recruit ranked No. 55 overall, No. 14 at her position and No. 3 in Georgia. Grooms played AAU basketball for Southeast All-Stars, alongside fellow signee, Tianna Thompson.

“Gabbie has been around the game of basketball her entire life with her mother having a prolific playing career at Georgia and professionally,” said Fortner. “When Gabbie is on the floor, she has an energy about her game that is going to be very valuable to us. She is a strong downhill guard that can get to the rim or pull-up for the jumper.”



Tianna Thompson – 5-10, Guard (Mableton, Ga./The Galloway School)
Thompson helped The Galloway School to a 2023 state runner-up finish, helping propel her to earn preseason all-State first team recognition by Sandy’s Spiel ahead of the 2023-24 season. Having scored over 1,000-career points at The Galloway School, Thompson has earned AJC Class A Private All-State first- and second-team honors in 2022 and 2021, respectively. She has also been named the Region 6B Class A-DI Region Player of the Year in 2023.

Thompson is a four-star recruit by Prospects Nation, and is the top-ranked recruit in Georgia, No. 45 overall and No. 9 at her position. Additionally, Thompson is ranked No. 92 overall by Jr. All Star. She chose Georgia Tech over Auburn, Harvard, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. Her father, Rich, is a member of the 2001 Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, having been a member of the track and field team from 1988-91.

“Another legacy athlete with Georgia Tech connections, Tianna is an all-around basketball player,” Fortner noted. “She is a versatile player with speed and quickness alike Kara Dunn or Tonie Morgan, and that is exciting because we want to continue to grow our program in the vain of pushing tempo and being a versatile team, and Tianna adds to that.”



Chazadi “Chit Chat” Wright – 5-4, Guard (Decatur, Ga./Wesleyan)
A two-time all-State honoree by the AJC, Wright earned first-team 3A all-State in 2023 and first-team Class A Private all-State in 2022. She earned Sandy’s Spiel GHSA Girls Class 3A Preseason All-State first team honors ahead of the 2023-24 season. Wright has also earned Region 7 Class 3A Region Player of the Year honors, having scored over 1,000-career points at Wesleyan.

A four-star recruit by ESPN HoopsGurlz, Wright is ranked No. 79 overall is the fourth-highest recruit in the state of Georgia. By Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, Wright is ranked No. 3 in Georgia, No. 24 at her position and No. 74 overall. She is a four-star recruit by Prospects Nation and ranked No. 71 overall by Jr. All Star. Wright chose Georgia Tech over Boston College and Vanderbilt.

“Chit Chat is one of the most exciting point guards I have seen in a long time,” commented Fortner. “I can’t compare her to anyone because she is truly unique. She might be small in stature, but she is huge in heart and ability to play basketball. Her decision making, passing skills, ability to see the court and her high basketball IQ are going to be very important to us.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with this class that we are signing,” Fortner concluded. “These are four incredibly high-level guards that are skilled in so many different ways, which is exciting as a coach because you can do a multitude of things when they are all on the floor. We are excited about the future of Georgia Tech women’s basketball and what we are building here as we continue to grow this program.”

Looks like he could be transferring, if you believe the tea leaf readers.

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THE FLATS – Georgia Tech punter David Shanahan (Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland/St. Patrick’s Secondary School) is on the final watch list for the 2023 Ray Guy Award, which honors college football’s top punter.



Shanahan is averaging a career-best 44.0 yards per punt this season, with an impressive 36.7% being downed inside the opponent’s 20 yard line (also a career high). Due largely to the Yellow Jackets’ offense ranking 14th nationally (465.3 ypg), Shanahan’s 30 punts do not qualify for the official NCAA or ACC statistical rankings, but if they did, his 44.0-yard average would rank fourth in the ACC and 32nd nationally.



A three-year starter, Shanahan is the latest in a long line of premier punters at Georgia Tech. His predecessor, current Pittsburgh Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III, won the 2020 Ray Guy Award. Two Tech punters have won the Ray Guy Award in the 23-year history of the award – Harvin and Durant Brooks (2007).



Shanahan and the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 4-2 ACC) return to action on Saturday when they visit Clemson. Kickoff is set for noon and the game will be televised nationally on ABC.

Taking a step back as the season has progressed, our losses look a lot less damning than maybe it seemed at the time, even including BG (which we still should have won, no question)...

Look at each:

Louisville - while we had a strong lead, and could have won that game, LOU is on pace to finish 11-1 and fight FSU for the ACC title.

Ole Miss - closer than the final score indicated, there's a clear path to a 10-2 finish (or 11-1 if they can upset UGA), and a major bowl game/top 15 finish.

Boston College - they've won 5 straight, and have a path ahead to 9-3 or 8-4 with losses to Louisville and FSU. They have definitely looked better as the season has progressed.

even BG... they've won 4 of 5 now and have at least 2 more likely wins on their schedule. There's no excusing that loss, but they're a better team than it seemed when we saw their schedule before us.


The BG loss will haunt this team, as we'd be 6-3 and have tons of confidence right now... but things ARE looking up overall, and the way these teams have played only adds to my overall confidence level.

Let's go take one from Clempson this week!

Dabo said they hope Shipley is back but was in green jersey Monday. Green is usually non-contact.

Safety Sheridan Jones and CB Jalyn Phillips both out vs GT. (Were out last week also, but both are starters)

I forgot my freaking bag and computer at home. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Side effects of being sick.

Their annual Military Appreciation game where they wear all purple. They are 25-4 all-time on Military Appreciation Day, winning their last 15 in a row. The last loss coming in 2007 from VT. But, IIRC, the last loss they suffered wearing all purple was 2009 at BDS. We beat them wearing all-purple that year and went on to win the ACC (beating them again). My guess is we wear either all white or G/W/W.

Having a little debate about this and I want to see what y’all think.

Where does King rank at this moment compared to the rest of the country?

The argument is that I believe King is a top 15 QB in the country… what do yall say?

Whole family is sick so won’t be able to go. Section 104 Row 16 Seats 12 & 13

PM me if interested.

So I’m rewatching the UVA game. About the 5 minute mark in the first quarter, the announcer said we lead the acc in takeovers? Did I hear that right or was the announcer wrong about it?

There’s been significant contact between DL coach Marco Coleman and EDGE rusher KingJoseph Edwards of Mill Creek.

Edwards is expected to be on campus for a practice at some point this week.

Just how serious things get will depend largely on that visit, but I can say for a fact that GT has his attention.
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Here are a few gifs i decided to breakdown to give an idea of what happened on field vs. UVA. These are used to give others a different perspective on how to watch football. I don’t do this to disparage players or coaches, but to give insight to GT enthusiast on what I’ve learned as a player and avid football fan.


A coaches dream game! A complete game but a game where a lot of teaching can be done in the film room




Faulkner use of motion has been excellent this season. Not only does it give the QB an indicator of zone vs. man coverage, but it’s a way to create mismatches. Here the jet motion pulls the LB back in the box & creates a 1v1 in the boundary for the tunnel screen. If #54 Williams gets this block on the CB, this may be a first play TD.



This is now 2 weeks in a row that CPL has vacated the middle a for TD. The safeties appear rolling down to the passing strength. Motion creates a 3receiver side meaning CPL is the middle safety. Also there is confusion btw the DE and LB on who has the flat.

I thought this was funny and shows why football is the ultimate team sport. One person not doing their job kills an entire play Everyone is zone blocking to the right except Williams. He goes left and the results is a TFL




Just your basic clearout route, 2 inside WR go vertical and ES13 on a dig. King finds the hole and delivers a dot but a drop by Singleton




If we ever can get the defense, to read and react down hill like this, we will be a tough team to beat. That’s the Tatum many have been expecting to see



You blitz for a purpose. Either to clog run lanes, attack specific pass protection schemes or to create a numbers advantage. I believe we may be the worst blitzing team in America. We just run into bodies and when we are free in the rush, we take the wrong angles. Tatum must rush to the QB up field and keep him in the pocket. This should be an easy sack


Excellent rush by #9 Kennard. This a good example of showing speed to power. Rushes upfield to get the OT to overcommit then use the power to knock him off balance to get inside for the sack. Reminiscent of the Reggie White hump move




I want you guys to cherish this play. I showed the synchronization it takes to be effective. This play illustrates the instincts needed to play football at a high level. This is G/T QB Counter. Usually on counter, the guard pulls to kick out the first edge threat and the tackle pulls around seals the first inside threat. Pay attention to how the Guard Tackle swap assignment within milliseconds vs the blitz and blocks this up perfectly for a big gain. Knowing EMac is true freshman doing this makes this play even more exciting.



Sometimes you can block it up perfectly and other times, you just have to show folks that you are not Davis and is an athlete that make plays (IYKYK). King actually did this without following path of his blockers. He runs inside of the blocking guard and still scores basically untouched



Here is a #88 Biggers montage to show @Boger2337 that sacks don’t always equate to production or being disruptive as a DT




Batted pass 3rd down


Sled drilled the guard, disengaged, and made the TFL


Sprinting 8 yds downfield to get in an assisted tackle



Split zone run here. Poor LB play by not filling and allowing Scags to climb to him. Coach Stoudamire would appreciate this Great screen by Dylan to spring this run for a TD






RPO. Look at the difference in route by #12 Blaylock. This slant is a lot sharper than the one i criticized him on vs BC



Another great play building off the run game. UVA was playing a lot Cov 3 and a 3 beater that teams use to kill Thacker defense with is sending 2 routes thru the same zone. You got ES13 running a post to take the Deep CB out the zone and you would run wheel route in the cleared out zone aka Switch concept. Leonard deserved a better ball than this with the way he’s been blocking





The G/T scheme is multi-layered and serves a good purpose in modern football. One of the reasons it is popular in todays game is because of the “False Key Reads” the pulling OL should cause the LBs to flow hard toward the pullers direction. We attempted to give on this misdirection play but was unsuccessful bc the LB didn’t move and Franklin missed a cut block. I say all this to say, this is why I’m not a huge fan of PFF bc in theory this would appear to be negative grade on the OL when they actually did their assignment. If King kept it, it would be for big gain imo



Ball game. Great blocks by the TEs and WR. What a filthy dead leg by Haynes on for the TD

The players seem very focused this week. Not a lot of goofing around or playfulness ahead of the Clemson game. The media session was pretty dry as a result today with the players. Practice also ran a little bit longer than normal and they were not in pads today.

LAMILES BROOKS

On watching the Kobe Bryant video with the team on Sunday, It was really impactful, I pride myself on doing whatever it takes to win and doing whatever it takes to win. I don’t really care about anything else except winning when it comes to my team and my teammates. So it was a good video to see to get everybody in the right mind frame going into the week. We have a big challenge this week and hopefully that video will impact everybody and get everybody ready to play.

On the DBs this season and the progress, seeing what Jay King went through last year as far as his injury, Jay King was my host and to play along with CP Lee three-man wing rotation that we got going on is lovely.

On playing Clemson, I wouldn’t say that it brings out anything extra, maybe it brings out a little more this year than others, we have the expectation of winning, Clemson being our in conference rival brings out a little extra in everyone naturally.

On Clemson RBs, I wouldn’t say it changes my role, my role is to do whatever the DBs need to succeed and help the defense. Tackle running backs or covering guys, whatever happens we will be able to overcompensate to make things happen.

On beating Clemson, it is not different at all this week, it is a one game season and we prepare the same every week. We come out in practice and prepare the same way every week.

On the young guys, it is different for each one, last year we had CP forced into it. Eric Singleton is playing, Taye Seymore in our room is helping out and they could be one big mistake away from playing.

JORDAN WILLIAMS

On the Clemson being the best D they’ve face so far, I would probably say that. Coach tells us the best defense is the next defense, so we prepare for them like any other challenge. Just doing what we do for every other game.

On the OL playing well, we want to protect the QB and run the ball and we have confidence in each other, the success was going to come by the way we prepare and attack every day.

On playing RT next to Connor, me and Connor are good friends since he came in. On his visit I was with him. Our communication is pretty good and we’ve been working on it every day.

On Coach Wade, he puts an emphasis on knowing your assignment and if you mess up make sure you go 100% and they’ll fix it later. That is the biggest thing with the OL, just make sure everyone is playing fast and running to the ball and if they make a mistake make it at 100 MPH.

ERIC SINGLETON

On Clemson secondary, It is a very talented group like all the other groups, you have to prepare for the week and everyone has to ball out.

On the Clemson game meaning, I heard it means a lot and Coach Key talked about the record in practice and we need to go win.

On adjusting, getting hit was different from college to HS and that was an adjustment I needed to make.

On how defenses play him, of course if the defense knows someone is super fast they may not press, Clemson still presses a lot so we might see that.

On Kobe Bryant film, he just has the mentality that is the one you need to have you are dedicated to the sport and the grind.