North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Georgia Tech
10/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 4, 2005
NC STATE (1-2, 0-2) at No. 25 GEORGIA TECH (3-1, 1-1)
DATE: Thursday, October 2, 2005
TIME: Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. (EDT) Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA (55,000)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network: 6:30 p.m.
TELEVISION: ESPN
OPPONENT----Georgia Tech and NC State will be trying to rebound from disappointing losses when they square off Thursday night. The Wolfpack couldn't hold a 10-point second half lead and was beaten at home by North Carolina on September 24th. The same day, the Yellow Jackets were denied their first 4-0 start since 1990 by Virginia Tech.
The Hokies 51-7 rout at Lane Stadium started almost immediately and Jeff King was the spark. The tight end caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Vick and then blocked a field goal that turned into a 78-yard scoring run by D.J. Parker to give Virginia Tech a 14-0 first-quarter lead. By halftime, the margin was 24-0, but the Hokies were far from finished.
After Cedric Humes 4-yard TD run put Virginia Tech up 31-0, the Yellow Jackets finally scored. Reggie Ball threw a 59-yard pass to Calvin Johnson and then found Johnson again in the end zone from 11-yards out with 5:38 to play in the third quarter. It was the first touchdown allowed by the Hokies since the opening drive of the season against NC State.
With their shutout ruined, the Hokies defense retaliated. After Virginia Tech kicked a field goal, linebacker Xavier Adibi stepped in front of Ball's pass for Johnson and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. On Georgia Tech's next series, defensive end Chris Ellis did the same thing, taking the interception 29 yards. The two scores came just 26 seconds apart.
A 25-yard Brandon Pace field goal midway through the fourth quarter ended the scoring.
Ball, who sat out Tech's victory over Connecticut the previous week while being treated for viral meningitis, was not sharp and never had many opportunities to test the Hokies' secondary. He was under pressure all day and finished 11-of-27 for 143 yards before being replaced late in the game. Vick was 13-of-18 for a career-best 223 yards.
When he is healthy and making good decisions, Ball is one of the ACC's best and most mobile quarterbacks. This season the junior has completed 47 percent of his passes for 637 yards and 4 touchdowns while throwing 3 interceptions.
Except for senior tackle Brad Honeycutt (6-4, 315), the Jackets' offensive line is young. It's not huge either, but it is athletic and does a good job creating holes for one of the ACC's best tailbacks, P.J Daniels (5-10, 210). The redshirt senior is averaging 94 rushing yards a game and has also caught 6 passes. Daniels' back-up, redshirt sophomore Tashard Choice (6-1, 205), is averaging 4 yards a carry and has 2 touchdowns.
The receiving corps is led by 2004 ACC Rookie of the Year, Calvin Johnson (6-4, 230). The sophomore has caught 18 passes, 3 for touchdowns, and leads the ACC with 94.5 receiving yards a game. Johnson's size and skill makes him one of the nation's toughest receivers to defend. Senior Demarius Bilbo, a converted quarterback with size (6-3, 218), has stepped up his game and is also a potential big-play target. Johnson, Bilbo and possession wideout Pat Clark (5-11, 180, So.) account for 62 percent of Tech's receptions.
Defensively, Tech is experienced, aggressive and does a good job keeping opposing offenses off-balance. The Jackets throw many different looks at enemy quarterbacks and utilize a lot of zone blitz schemes. They are giving up 25 points a game and have been impressive against the run and on third down. Senior tackle Mansfield Wrotto (6-3, 310, Jr.) anchors a line that is helping to limit opponents to only 84 rushing yards a game and 28 percent third down efficiency. Veteran end Eric Henderson, a key defender, has missed the last two games with a right ankle injury.
Redshirt senior Gerris Wilkinson (6-4, 230) is a standout at middle linebacker and leads the team in tackles with 34 stops. His five tackles for loss ties him for team best with outside linebacker KaMichael Hall, a second-year starter.
Safeties Dawan Landry (6-2, 215) and Chris Reis (6-1, 215) are both seniors who are good at run support and pass coverage. The Jackets have intercepted 10 passes this season which ties them for No.1 in the nation. Landry and Reis have combined for three of those picks. Cornerbacks Dennis Davis and Kenny Scott are also veterans. Scott sealed last year's win over NC State with a 49-yard interception return for a TD in the final minute.
Tech's kicking game is led by senior Chris Woods who has returned 10 kickoffs for a 24-yard average. Redshirt sophomore Travis Bell, an All-American in 2004 when he converted 15-of-17 field goal attempts, is 5-of-8 this season, but has missed three in-a-row--all from inside 45-yards. On September 27th, Tech coach Chan Gailey told reporters that Bell was sore and needed some rest.
Senior Ben Arndt has dropped 9 of his 30 punts inside the 20-yard line while averaging almost 44 yards per attempt. Snapper Garvin Tarquinio (6-3, 250, Sr.) is a first-year starter.
NOTES: The Pack is seeking its first ACC road win since beating Maryland in College Park on October 16, 2004...Wolfpack quarterback, Jay Davis, who leads the ACC in passing yards per game (267), has passed for 200 or more yards in 10 of his last 11 games totaling of 2,575 yards and 13 touchdowns during that span... The NC State defense gave up 321 yards in its loss to North Carolina, the first time an opponent has gained 300 or more yards since Miami on October 23, 2004...In 42 games under Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta, the Jackets have held their opponents to less than 100 rushing yards 22 times. Tech is 17-5 in those games...In last season's 24-14 win over NC State, Tech held the Wolfpack to 57 yards rushing and recorded six sacks and three interceptions...A victory over Georgia Tech would mark the Pack's first win at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1988...In 65 games under Chuck Amato, the Wolfpack has entered the fourth quarter with the score differing by seven points or less 32 times...Pack linebacker Stephen Tulloch is averaging 13.3 tackles per game and has 15 tackles for loss and 2 sacks...Prior to Saturday's games, the Wolfpack and Yellow Jackets were the two most penalized teams in the ACC. Tech has been whistled for 35 penalties while State has 30.
INJURIES--NC State: CB Phillip Holloman (ankle sprain)-probable; CB Marcus Hudson (back strain)-probable; TB Darrell Blackman (ankle sprain)-probable.Georgia Tech:DE Eric Henderson (ankle)-probable; DT Joe Anoai (shoulder, ankle)-probable; TE Mike Matthews (ankle)-probable.
