A handful of thoughts about Georgia Tech-Vanderbilt:
- The good news is that here it is only mid-September and the Yellow Jackets already have equaled their win total of a year ago (a modest three). And can you really see this team – barring another plague of injuries – going into a swoon anything like 2015, when Tech lost nine of its last 10? This team is showing signs of improvement not deterioration. You know, growing up, like it's supposed to.
- This bunch has some intriguing talent at receiver. That it mostly occupies the backfield is immaterial. Yes, yes, by all means give us more plays like the 81-yard catch-and-run to B-back Marcus Marshall and the 77-yard scoring connection to A-back Clinton Lynch. The forward pass can really be a friend to Paul Johnson and his triple option.
- Decent defenses baffle, and to honest, Ted Roof's is doing just that. It has me completely confused. It doesn't exactly throw up a stone wall, and it certainly isn't Tech's trademark. But then you look up and the other team has barely set a toe in the endzone. Granted, the offenses facing the Yellow Jackets to date haven't been particularly dangerous. The truer test comes Thursday in Clemson.
- Does Tech have a chance in five days against the Tigers? Of course. Clemson has been so unimpressive in the early going that it has fallen a few pegs from its preseason No. 2 perch. Tech has played well enough that it may yet show up in the "Others receiving votes" footnote at the bottom of the rankings. Strange stuff happens at Bobby Dodd when the sun goes down (ask Florida State). A win may be unlikely but Tech did nothing Saturday to suggest that it will be impossible.
- What was the story on that cowbell Paul Johnson was ringing after beating Vanderbilt? Do yourself a favor and read this quirky historical account by Andy Demetra in a Ramblinwreck.com.
