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April 28, 2006

Gailey Finally Gives Nix Play Calling Duties

Gailey announces that Patrick Nix will be taking over the play calling at GT effective immediately.

Picture the scene. It's the season opener. Notre Dame enters Bobby Dodd Richt Stadium for the first time in forever.

Charlie Weis, a man with multiple Super Bowl wins and a Heisman candidate QB, on one sideline calling plays for the high powered Notre Dame offense. On the other side, GT has a guy who can't count to four at quarterback and offensive coordinator. Yeah, I'll take my chances if I'm ND fans there.

Back in Feb. when this idea of Nix taking over the play calling at GT was first floated, I asked "why are GT fans excited about this." Nix is best known at GT for being the "mastermind" of the GT two minute offense.
Sorry, but hasn't the two minute offense been one of the things that Tech fans have been most unhappy with the past two seasons? Off the top of my head:

UGA vs. GT 2004: Nix loses count of the downs and tells Reggie to spike the ball on 3rd Down.

GT vs. NCSU: Tech calls timeout at the goalline followed by an INT. Instead of running one play and then calling a timeout.

GT vs. UGA 2005: Under two minutes, GT attempts zero passes to Calvin Johnson. Game ends on INT towards Bilbo.

It seems like the close games that GT has won have been with GT's defense on the field at the end. Games like Miami 2005. The biggest exception being the Clemson game in 2004; although, I'm not sure what role Nix played in the snap going over Clemson's punter's head.
I see this as a good thing. Gailey stayed within his uber conservative comfort zone and got a puppet with limited experience instead of looking for a talented/proven guy that would really open things up.

Good sign for UGA.

pwd

6 comments:

Dan said...

Get out of my head.

Seriously though, I'm glad that Gailey has given up play calling duties, but the cynic in me thinks the only reason he gave it up to Nix is that halfway through the season, when the playcalling looks it's being made by that retarded cousin everybody has in their family, Gailey will be able to put the failed experiment stamp on it and resume control.

Anonymous said...

I can see some real potential for GTU in this switch of responsibilities.

Instead of running TB off tackle, TB off tackle, screen pass, punt, GTU will really open up the playbook.

Nix will probably go fullback dive, TB off tackle, sweep, deep pass to CJ, punt. That will get more people involved.

Sadly, he will not have much affect on Reggie Ball's wild inconsistency, nor will he affect the torrent of obscenities pouring forth from the box seating area every time Reggie fails to convert a possession into a TD.

Anonymous said...

for those of you lacking in a sense of irony, I was using Reggie Ball/Patrick Nix math in calculating Nix's play calls.

If one guy who graduated from an engineering school and another one who is now in his 4th year at one can't count to four, why should anyone expect me to do so?

Dan said...

"Instead of running TB off tackle, TB off tackle, screen pass, punt, GTU will really open up the playbook."

What GT team have you been watching?

That third play should clearly be a fade route that lands somewhere in row 4.

Dan said...

Fake resume and by my suspicion being the primary driving force as to why we're on probation now aside, I miss old George. I had fraternity brothers that were football managers during the best of the O'Leary years. They had some of the funniest stories about him.

My personal favorite was after a practice the fellowship of Christian athletes is taking a moment of prayer to thank God for an injury free practice. O'Leary walks buy looks at them and says "God doesn't care if you get hurt. He only cares if you win or lose."

Theres also the time we ran into him and Friedgen absolutely smashed at Limerick Junction for St. Patty's day.

Nathan said...

O'Leary is a jackass of the highest degree, and someone questionable in his .. um .. "accuracy" in comments. That being said, he's a heck of a football coach and he won a crapload of games.

As for Gailey/Nix (Gix for short - and seriously, you think Gailey won't have "heavy input"?) ... this should be a moron proof offense this year. Solid offensive line? Check. Battering ram fullback? Check. Quality running back? Check. Playmaking wideout? Double Check. Scrambling QB? Check.

Seriously, I could pound it on the ground, roll Ball out a couple of times and let him run with it - throw in a couple of QB draws and then chuck the ball down the field a few of times per game to CJ to keep the defense honest.

My biggest problem is that our offense the past couple of years never caters to our strengths. We'll see if that changes this year with Gix at the controls - for some reason, I'm thinking no.

If Tech doesn't win 8 (or 9 with a bowl) games this year with the best team Gailey has ever had in Atlanta I'm going to be more than a bit pissed.

 
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