Majority of readers as unimpressed with Georgia Tech football as I am | Adams

Most of my literary contributors agree with my unfavorable assessment of Georgia Tech football, which proves again that mediocre minds think alike. Mike went against the popular opinion, though.

He expects Tennessee's game at Georgia Tech on Sept. 12 to be close.

Mike writes: I am not so sure you are right with your conclusion that Georgia Tech will not be a challenge for the Vols.

Yes, the Yellowjackets did lose to a Colorado team that is primarily made up of players from the portal who have not played together previously. However, I think that LSU showed us that a team of transfers who have not previously played together can be pretty darn good.

I hope you are right, but I have my doubts.  I am expecting a fairly close game.

My response: This might shock you. But I have been wrong before.

However, Colorado Mark doesn’t believe I’m wrong about Georgia Tech. Neither does Steve.

Colorado Mark writes: The Tennessee offense should run up and down the field on Georgia Tech. The game will be over by halftime.

My response: Mike might be right that Colorado helped itself via the transfer portal after going 3-9 last season. But it’s not as talented as Tennessee.

The Yellow Jackets had to replace both coordinators and their quarterback after winning nine games last season. They look like a 6-6 team to me.

Steve writes: I concur with your assessment of Georgia Tech. I'll be surprised if Tech crosses midfield more than three times.

My response: Based on the lackluster showing against Colorado, Georgia Tech misses offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who left the Yellow Jackets to join Jon Sumrall's staff at Florida.

Jimmy writes: I left at halftime of the Tennessee-Furman game as I was closing in on a heat stroke. It all looked good, but Furman is basically a high school program.

I don’t think we’ll know what we have until the Texas game. If the QB pans out, I’ll be sending a “I told you so” email.

My response: I’m no doctor, but I encourage all fans to put safety first, and team loyalty second. Better to live to cheer another day.

Admittedly, as an animal lover, I was more concerned about Smokey XII than fans on game day – so concerned that I checked with the rookie mascot’s support team.

My conclusion: Smokey gets better medical care than anybody else in Knoxville. There’s a far better chance of 10 literary contributors having a heat stroke than Smokey having medical event on game day.

Mascot care obviously has come a long way since Smokey VI had to be hospitalized for heat exhaustion after a brutally hot September Saturday in 1991.

Doug writes: I know it was "just" Furman and I am sure Coach Heupel fully intended to keep things as vanilla as possible on offense against the Paladins, but I hope we see more diverse play calling against Georgia Tech and moving forward this season.

It has seemed to me as though our play calling and offensive play overall has regressed since Alex Golesh left. (Yes, I know I am nitpicking after scoring 56 points).

ADAMS: Remember when Tennessee football took out the trash vs Georgia Tech

My response: Nitpicking is encouraged in this space.

The caliber of your quarterback obviously factors into play calling. When Golesh was at Tennessee, the Vols had Hendon Hooker at quarterback.

Its next three quarterbacks – Joe Milton, Nico Iamaleava and Joey Aguilar – didn’t fit Heupel’s offense as well. Nonetheless, Tennessee has continued to average more than 38 points per game under Heupel.

Heupel was breaking in a new quarterback – true freshman Faizon Brandon – so, it makes sense that he would be more conservative in his play calling. Brandon's debut couldn't have gone much better. He established himself as a running threat, demonstrated a deft touch on deep throws, and protected the football.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Majority of readers as unimpressed with Georgia Tech football as I am | Adams