Brandon Adams gives progress report on Georgia Tech defense

Georgia Tech nose tackle Brandon Adams speaks with media after practice October 8, 2018. (Ken Sugiura/AJC)

Georgia Tech nose tackle Brandon Adams speaks with media after practice October 8, 2018. (Ken Sugiura/AJC)

Count Georgia Tech nose tackle Brandon Adams among those who believes he’s getting the hang of new defensive coordinator Nate Woody’s scheme. Adams, who splits time with Kyle Cerge-Henderson, had one tackle for loss against Louisville this past Friday.

Adams also helped create a play that didn’t show up in the box score, pushing up the pocket which enabled defensive end Anree Saint-Amour to sack Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass in the third quarter.

“At first, you have to get rid of muscle memory from transitioning defenses,” Adams said. “Other defensive coaches want something a certain way, then you’ve got a new coach that wants it a different way. And you try your best to do it, but mentally and physically, you’ve got to get them to align to do what they want. And so now I feel like our bodies are clicking more. We know what to do and we don’t have to think so much.”

Adams likes his responsibility in the scheme to get upfield rather than to be stationary and fill a gap. Adams has 10 tackles for the season, which matches his season total for last year.

“I just feel like this defense has allowed me to just be a bull in the middle,” Adams said. “I can just push up the middle, and then on Friday, the quarterback tries to escape, Anree just comes cleans it up.”

Adams is also liking the rotation with Cerge-Henderson. Tech defenders have subbed more than they did previously with former defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

“The rotation is lovely,” Adams said. “When you get tired, you feel like you can’t go 110 miles an hour, someone else comes right in that can go 110 miles an hour. You catch your breath, go right back in, and so it allows for us to be fresh and make more plays.”