The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Georgia Tech – INSIDE SLANT
It’s gotten to the point where coach Paul Johnson feels his offense has to score every time it touches the ball. That’s how bad the defense is.
Tech has given up 40-plus points in three straight games for the first time in school history. The last time Tech gave up 40 points three times in a season was 1994. Those Jackets finished 1-10.
“Right now, we’ve got to play close to perfect,” Johnson said after the Jackets lost 47-31 at Clemson. “Clearly we have to score more points.
“We didn’t convert on a couple of fourth downs where we needed to get points that would have been big, and then we missed two field goals. When you do that, you’re not going to win too many games.”
Johnson said the defense played with more effort than it did in losing 49-28 at home to Middle Tennessee State, adding that “I think we played O.K. in spurts.”
It’s almost a given that defensive coordinator Al Groh will be gone after this, his third, season.
But the Jackets still have to play the rest of their schedule. They’re off this week before hosting lowly Boston College.
“We have to reset some goals, reset some things, and see if we can’t come back and do a little better,” Johnson said.
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NCAAF Team Report – Georgia Tech – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Jackets get a week off before hosting Boston College on Oct. 20. The Eagles are 1-4 after a heartbreaking 35-31 loss at Army on Saturday. It’s a great opportunity for Tech to stop the bleeding and earn its second ACC win.
–The Jackets lost to Clemson for just the second time in seven meetings. Tech still leads the all-time series 50-26-2.
–Tech has given up 138 points and more than 1,700 yards during its three-game skid. This is the first time in Tech history that the Jackets have given up 40-plus points in three straight games. Tech had not given up 40-plus points three times in a season since 1994, when it finished 1-10.
–Tech has its second three-game losing streak in the past three years. Before that, the Jackets had not lost three straight since 1997.
KEEP AN EYE ON: A-back Robert Godhigh ran four times for 61 yards (15.2 ypc) in the loss at Clemson. The 5-7, 188-pound junior is earning more opportunities because he’s an excellent perimeter blocker.
LOOKING GOOD: A-back Orwin Smith ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries (16.7 ypc). He also caught a 32-yard pass. But amazingly, for the second time in three games, Smith got tackled in the end zone for a safety.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The defense gave up a whopping 601 yards as Clemson QB Tajh Boyd threw for career-high 397 yards. Without a consistent pass rush, the Jackets were torched by WR DeAndre Hopkins, who caught seven passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Tech has yielded more than 1,700 yards the last three weeks.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Clearly, the first half of the season is not what we hoped for, not what we wanted. We have the back half to try and atone for that.” — Coach Paul Johnson, after his team fell to 2-4 with its third straight loss.
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NCAAF Team Report – Georgia Tech – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–QB Tevin Washington has run for 12 TDs in the last four games after getting two more in Death Valley. The senior finished with 104 yards on 16 carries while throwing for 144 yards and a score.
–S Isaiah Johnson led the Jackets with 14 tackles. He had two tackles for loss and a QB hurry.
–LB Jabari Hunt-Days had 13 tackles, two pass breakups and a QB hurry.
ROSTER REPORT
–K David Scully made just 1-of-3 field-goal tries against Clemson, hitting from 26 yards and missing from 37 and 45 yards. Scully is 3-for-5 on FGs this season.
–Freshman WR Anthony Autry made his first start and caught a 53-yard pass. Coach Paul Johnson said Autry earned the start with his strong play against Middle Tennessee State.
–B-back David Sims reclaimed his starting job and carried 10 times for 36 yards. Zach Laskey rotated in and got six carries, gaining 22 yards. The Jackets continue to get sub-standard production out of the B-back position.
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