Michael Johnson OK with play on Tech defense

Defensive end Michael Johnson isn’t worried about his production. Neither is his defensive coordinator.

After three games, Johnson has six tackles, two of them solo. Johnson, a preseason all-ACC pick and a candidate for the Bednarik Award (given to the nation’s best defensive player), has half a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. He has not been credited with a quarterback hurry.

The numbers do not concern defensive coordinator Dave Wommack.

“I think he’s doing really well,” Wommack said. “It’s not always going to be the production. I don’t care what level you’re at, it’s not always going to be measured in tackles or sacks.”

Wommack said that Johnson has faced double teams “quite a bit.” It has been of benefit to the rest of the line. Tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker have 14 and 11 tackles and a combined eight tackles for loss. End Derrick Morgan has 11 tackles and three sacks, tied for the lead in the ACC.

Johnson did make a critical play against Boston College, dropping back into pass coverage to tip a pass that was intercepted.

“All that comes in bunches,” Johnson said. “You can go out in one game and not do anything and come out in another game and have a monster game. I know they’re coming.”

Johnson said that after leaving the first game of the season because of dehydration, he has played with less emotion in the past two games to conserve energy. With the problem solved, he wants to turn up his emotion.

“When I’m out there, just loose, jumping around, having a good time, it just gets out into more of a rhythm than when you’re just standing there, waiting on a play,” said Johnson. “That’s cool to do that, too, but I don’t play like that.”

A-back enlisted to hawk tickets

To help sell tickets for Saturday’s game against Mississippi State, the Tech ticket department enlisted the voice of A-back Roddy Jones. The redshirt freshman recorded a message that went out Tuesday to about 20,000 phone numbers of season-ticket holders and past ticket buyers encouraging them to come to Saturday’s game.

“I tried to [sound convincing],” said Jones with a laugh. “That’s kind of mind-blowing, to think that 20,000 people are going to hear my voice on their answering machine or something like that.”

About 44,000 tickets have been sold. Tickets are available at www.ramblinwreck.com/tickets.

Third-worst on third-down defense

The Jackets are allowing opponents to convert 44.9 percent of their third downs, a rate that is third-worst in the ACC. The Tech offense is converting at a nearly identical rate, fourth-best in the conference.

Johnson did not pinpoint any particular flaw that is allowing offenses to make first downs.

“It’s just a combination of things,” Johnson said. “I think if we continue to play good on defense, I think it’ll work itself out.”