As he reviewed the game video from Georgia Tech’s stunning win over Florida State on Saturday, defensive coordinator Ted Roof recognized something — his defense playing the way he knew it could play.
Until Saturday, the Yellow Jackets’ defense had shown glimpses of the potential held for it since last spring, but only that. With eight returning starters, the expectation was that the unit would improve upon its play of 2014 and give an offense that was starting over at the non-quarterback skill positions time to develop.
Over Tech’s five-game losing streak, though, the defense did not provide cover. In successive games against North Carolina, Clemson and Pittsburgh, the Jackets allowed 200 rushing yards or more. Against Pitt, Tech didn’t produce a single turnover or tackle for loss.
Saturday was different. The pass rush shook up FSU quarterback Everett Golson, who was sacked three times and threw a critical fourth-quarter interception (the Seminoles’ first offensive turnover of the season). Running back Dalvin Cook, in a spot to augment his Heisman Trophy candidacy, was limited to 82 yards on 17 carries. The Seminoles were inside Tech’s 11-yard line four times and had only 13 points to show for it.
It wasn’t spotless, but far better than previous results. Roof has sought all season to procure a four-quarter effort from his group; his players finally delivered.
“I think our guys did a good job of that the other night, responding to adversity and just kept fighting,” Roof said.
Saturday’s challenge at Virginia, for Tech as a whole but the defense in particular, will be to back up its play against the Seminoles with another winning performance.
“The things that have hurt us have been the inconsistency,” Roof said. “Because we’ve played good for stretches every game, but the inconsistency has hurt us. (We have) to be able to not let the inconsistent stretches last for two or three series, to be able to have a play and then respond to it.”
As ever, Roof will train the defense’s sights on stopping the run. Success may be more likely against Virginia, whose 3.66 yards-per-carry average ranks 111th in FBS. Under coach Paul Johnson, the Jackets are 42-8 when holding their opponent to 150 rushing yards or less. The Cavaliers have broken 150 only twice in seven games, although it was the past two games, including 205 in a five-turnover loss to North Carolina on Saturday.
By Saturday’s end, the Jackets likely will either ride gathering momentum into their open date or return home to lament the most perplexing defeat of the season.
“To get better, that’s the focus,” Roof said. “Just like it is when the outcome’s not like what you want. It’s the same focus, it’s the same goal moving forward, but it’s nice to have that (win) behind us to be able to build off it.”
The ideal scenario for the Jackets would look something like this — Tech turns a corner after the FSU game, sweeps its final four regular-season games (Virginia, Virginia Tech, Miami and Georgia) and its bowl game to finish 8-5. Even better, the five teams that beat Tech all finish strong to offer further validation to Tech’s defeats.
The young crew of running backs and receivers continue to improve, playing with sharpness and savvy by season’s end. Freshman offensive linemen Will Bryan, Trey Klock and Gary Brown likewise benefit from game snaps. And Roof’s defense bounces from the FSU game as though vaulting from a trampoline, stopping the run and avoiding big plays.
The senior class, which had hoped to lead the Jackets into the College Football Playoff, rides off with a different but entirely valuable legacy.
“No doubt about it,” cornerback and team captain D.J. White said. “We would love to be in a different position from what we are now. But that’s not the way it is right now. I think it’ll say a lot about this team if we can finish up strong and just take it one game at a time. If we can finish up strong, I think it’ll say a lot about the team’s perseverance and the fight.”
That said, White also recognized the danger of assigning the FSU game too much meaning or value. As they say, one game at a time.
“First of all, you love to win, but it’s crazy, because, yeah, it’s a confidence boost, but at the same time, it’s like, that’s not going to help you win the next game,” he said. “You can be confident and then go in and lay an egg because you’re too high off the last game. For us, we’re just trying to focus on Virginia. It was a good win, but we’re just trying to have our focus on (Virginia).”
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