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So, Tech has 8 out of the Top 108 incoming freshmen in the ACC this class (rankings are dumb yadda yadda). What’s not great, Tech has 1 of the top 54 incoming freshmen in the ACC this class (<2%).
26 of the other 53 play for other Coastal teams.
11 - Miami
11 - UNC
3 - Pitt
1 - UVA (18th ranked recruit)
11 - Miami
11 - UNC
3 - Pitt
1 - UVA (18th ranked recruit)
17 of these 53 are going to your permanent crossover “rival”.
That leaves 10 to Atlantic teams:
5 FSU, 3 NCST, 2 BC
That leaves 10 to Atlantic teams:
5 FSU, 3 NCST, 2 BC
You’re ranked 11th in the ACC for the ‘21 class. If 2020 is going to be your high water mark for recruiting, you have to differentiate in how your program operates to have any kind of success against teams with better players than you.
Now, rather than trot out everyone’s favorite differentiating dead horse(s), you’ve got 2 options as I see it.
1) Develop your talent better than anyone in your division (Iowa State model)
2) Win the little things in an effort to tilt the Win% in your favor just slightly - penalties, turnovers, special teams, clock management, etc.
2) Win the little things in an effort to tilt the Win% in your favor just slightly - penalties, turnovers, special teams, clock management, etc.
Given the jury won’t be out for a while on how the current staff is at #1, we have to assume #2 is where you hang your hat if your in charge.
Media perception and swag don’t translate on the field.
Media perception and swag don’t translate on the field.
Now, how have we done on winning the little things this past season?
Penalty YPG - 119th
Turnover Margin - 111th
Blocked Kicks Allowed - 127/127(!)
Kickoff Return Defense - 61st
Kickoff Return - 85th
Punt Return Defense - 96th
Punt Returns - 102nd
Penalty YPG - 119th
Turnover Margin - 111th
Blocked Kicks Allowed - 127/127(!)
Kickoff Return Defense - 61st
Kickoff Return - 85th
Punt Return Defense - 96th
Punt Returns - 102nd
So, if you aren’t bringing talent at a rate equivalent to your peers / where you claim “we belong” in the ACC, aren’t doing the little things, and aren’t (at least not yet) optimizing your talent on your roster, then as my good friend Taylor Twellman would say:
This year is the critical year for Collins & Co. because if you’re operating without any sort of long term vision as it relates directly to on-the-field factors, you’re losing ground.
Mack Brown got it figured out. UNC is outpacing you.
Manny Diaz will always have a talent pool larger than yours.
Pitt somehow works despite their best efforts.
I’m anxious for this season already, and our schedule never does us any favors.
Manny Diaz will always have a talent pool larger than yours.
Pitt somehow works despite their best efforts.
I’m anxious for this season already, and our schedule never does us any favors.
In the past, aiming for 10 wins was a great target. Now, realistically, Georgia Tech can’t expect 8 wins when you have 2 national title contenders, ND and/or a stupid OOC opponent on the schedule.
The ACC is as middle class as it gets, especially with less successful eras at FSU and VT currently. But right now, it feels like Tech is being passed the longer we go without a concrete plan in place.
Another 3-9 season would be devastating and I can’t wrap my head around this team being bowl eligible. It could break the right way and we end up 6-6. I’d be ecstatic. But the numbers say we’re a lot further from where we think we should be. And that sucks.
Support the AT Fund. Endow scholarships. Make sure the studs in you house are where they are supposed to be before you put that 75” TV up on your wall to announce you’re high class. It’d be a damn shame to see it hit the floor.
