Georgia Tech injury report
Submitted by jpg on 11/07/2008 - 10:11 <!-- BEGIN tags -->Tags:
ACC Now |
Georgia Tech |
Josh Nesbitt |
Paul Johnson
<!-- END tags --><!-- BEGIN content -->Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt will play against UNC on Saturday, at least according to the Yellow Jackets' injury report.
First-year coach Paul Johnson provides the minimum information under the ACC injury guideline. (Note: it's a guideline not a policy, hence there's no policing of the injury report.)
Tech lists only the players that are out for Saturday's game, no probables or questionables or even types of injuries. Nesbitt's not on the list.
Out: RT David Brown, LT Andrew Gardner, RB Quincy Kelly, WR Tyler Melton, CB Jahi Word-Daniels
In the big picture, the reciever and backup running back matter little to Saturday's outcome but Word-Daniels (hamstring) is one of the team's better corners and in addition to Gardner, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury, the other regular starting tackle David Brown, who missed the FSU game with
excess fluid in his spine, will also be out against the Tar Heels.
Nesbitt sprained his right ankle against Florida State and missed most of the second half of the Jackets' 31-28 win. Nesbitt has missed significant parts of two games and two entire games in GT's first nine games with ankle and hamstring injuries.
Nesbitt didn't play against Gardner Webb and GT narrowly escaped with a 10-7 victory, although Booker was QBing, not Shaw, who is Nesbitt's backup.
Last week GT was in control of the FSU game until Nesbitt went out, as they had put up 31 points and were driving in FSU territory when Nesbitt was injured. Shaw came in for Nesbitt, fumbled on the first play, and GT did not score the rest of the game.
For my money, it is tough to play Tech unless we have better confirmation of Nesbitt's health. It seems he has a grasp on Paul Johnson's offense, whereas the other QBs are struggling. Shaw played OK vs Duke, but that game was dominated by the GT D and Shaw only had 13 yards in 18 carries running the option.
UNC's record is somewhat deceiving, as they have been out first-downed this year 161-133 despite their 6-2 record. Despite this disparity from the line of scrimmage, the Heels could easily be 8-0, as they outplayed VT and UVA in their 2 L's. This team has playmakers on both sides of the ball and lives by the big play. Very good special teams as well.
Common Opponents:
UNC--VT Loss 20-17; GT--at VT Loss 20-17
UNC--at UVA Loss 16-13 OT; GT-- UVA Loss 24-17
UNC--BC Win 45-24; GT at BC Win 19-16
Besides GT's health, the biggest factor is that UNC is coming off a bye and Butch Davis has had 2 weeks to prepare for Paul Johnson's option attack.
I am leaning heavy toward UNC here as a small home chalk.
