Winning on third down key
The game may hinge on Tulane’s performance on third downs. The Green Wave ranked 112th in the country last season in third-down efficiency (33.2 percent) and stayed in character against Duke in their opener, converting two of 14 third downs. The Tech defense, meanwhile, showed considerable improvement from its 2014 performance (114th, 46.1 percent) by holding Alcorn State to 2-for-16.
Tulane’s inefficiency led to Duke running 93 plays to 65 for the Green Wave. If the Yellow Jackets can even approach Duke’s effectiveness, it portends a long afternoon for the Green Wave defense.
Tulane coach Curtis Johnson said this week that his team will need to run the ball better and do so more frequently than against Duke, when the offense ran 23 times for a pitiful 25 yards. A better run game, among other things, will lead to more manageable third-down distances.
“I think they’ve got to try to run the ball some,” coach Paul Johnson said. “They couldn’t run the ball (against Duke) and then they got behind.”
More play for starters
After starters played about a quarter in the season-opening blowout of Alcorn State, Tech coaches expect and want more snaps for the starting players, in part to develop their “game shape.”
Coach Paul Johnson said he didn’t think the team’s conditioning level will be an issue, particularly if the defense can force punts. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof said he has tried to replicate game conditions in practice.
“We’ve done that, and it’s time to go play a game for a full 60 minutes,” Roof said.
Johnson and Roof both weighed the light load for starters against Alcorn State with the benefits of playing backups and not taxing starters. Starting with Tulane, the Jackets will play eight consecutive Saturdays, with their lone bye week of the season falling in early November. With a long week to prepare after the Thursday opener, Tech had an extra day of full-pads practice, and then cut back Wednesday.
“So what we wanted to do is make sure we’re fresh for the game,” he said. “It’s going to start a pretty long grind.”
The weather may not play a factor in testing the team’s endurance. On Thursday, the WSB-TV forecast for Saturday afternoon was a high of 80 degrees.
Mistakes to correct
Tech was dominant in its win over Alcorn State, but there was room for improvement. Coaches saw flaws in blocking — finishing blocks, taking on the right defenders and using proper footwork — as well as reads in the option game, route running, missed tackles and incorrect pre-snap alignment, among other things.
One particular focus for the defensive line is closing the pocket on quarterback Tanner Lee and not leaving him gaps to step into to throw or run.
Both to defeat Tulane but also to sharpen for the matchup next Saturday at No. 9 Notre Dame, the Yellow Jackets will need to see improved form in all aspects. Tech figures to see a particular jump from the freshmen who are playing, notably B-back Marcus Marshall, A-back TaQuon Marshall and safety A.J. Gray.
“My blocking, I can always work on my blocking,” TaQuon Marshall said, “and making somebody miss when I have the ball in my hands and allowing the people around me, when I’m blocking, to get yards.”
Tech coaches fans of Marley
If there is a player on the Tulane roster that coaches would love to pluck, it would probably be linebacker Nico Marley. Coach Paul Johnson praised his effort and productivity, calling him “a little Tasmanian devil out there.”
Marley had a career-best 15 tackles against Duke. He had a team-high 11 against the Yellow Jackets last year.
“That dang No. 20, Nico Marley, he enjoys the game,” offensive line coach Mike Sewak said. “He would play for free, I guarantee you. If you just said, ‘We’re going to play at 2 o’clock, he’d line up and play.’”
The grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley will have a key matchup with Tech center Freddie Burden, who likely will often be responsible for charging off the line and sealing off Marley in the run game.
“He’s a hard guy to block,” Johnson said.
Johnson also said that Tech coaches tried to recruit safety Darion Monroe out of high school.
Time for backup quarterback?
One of the underlying facets of Saturday’s game will be if and when backup quarterback Matthew Jordan gets into the game. Jordan became a focal point when quarterback Tim Byerly suffered a leg injury in Monday’s practice.
Jordan came to Tech in January 2014 as an early-enrollee quarterback and stayed in the position until this preseason, when he was moved to A-back to give him a better chance at playing time, as quarterback was secure with starter Justin Thomas and the dependable Byerly. However, with Byerly’s injury — coach Paul Johnson said it’s possible he could return this season — Jordan was moved back to quarterback this week to be Thomas’ sub.
Jordan played A-back in the season opener, but coaches likely would like to let him play some snaps Saturday, and possibly give him time with the first-string offense.
Hold onto the ball
A year ago, when Tech and Tulane played in New Orleans, the Yellow Jackets turned the ball over three times, twice on fumbles, in one of quarterback Justin Thomas’ shakiest games of the season.
After handling the ball less than cleanly against Alcorn State, it was on the forefront of the team’s mind again this week. Tech made vast gains in not fumbling last season, a critical element in the team’s success.
Freshman B-back Marcus Marshall also had the ball stripped from him, a fault in an otherwise standout debut. Thomas was more carefree with the ball on his 13-yard scoring run than quarterbacks/B-backs coach Bryan Cook would have preferred.
“Typically, two hands on the ball until you’re going to release the ball, and then when you scramble, just tucking the ball and keeping it tip up,” Cook said.
The last time they met
Last game: Sept. 6, 2014 at Yulman Stadium, New Orleans
Score: Tech 38, Tulane 21
Star of the game: In the debut of Tulane's new on-campus stadium, A-back Tony Zenon overcame an early fumble to run eight times for 62 with two touchdown runs in a career game. Zenon was playing his first college game in his hometown, which Hurricane Katrina forced his family to flee.
Stats that matter: Quarterback Tim Byerly scored two touchdowns, once coming in the game for quarterback Justin Thomas in a goal-line situation. … Tech turned the ball over three times and fell behind three times. … Game-time temperature was 89 degrees, heat amplified by the artificial turf.
Play of the game: After an interception by defensive back Demond Smith gave Tech the ball on the Tulane 30, Zenon cashed in the takeaway by taking an option pitch 19 yards to tie the game at 21. Tech never trailed again.
Quote of the game: "Like I told the team after the game, this is not the standard that I want to play at. It's not acceptable. We can play better than that." – coach Paul Johnson
By the numbers
49
Times that Tech has played Tulane, making the Green Wave the Yellow Jackets’ seventh-most common opponent. They’ll play again in 2018 (Atlanta) and 2019 (New Orleans).
2
Teams on Tech’s schedule that didn’t advance to a bowl or postseason game last year. Tulane is one, Virginia is the other.
13-7
The score of Tech’s 1948 win over Tulane at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the first time the Yellow Jackets ever played on television.
Gaining ground
After netting two rushing yards against Alcorn State, quarterback Justin Thomas is now 129 yards behind Reggie Ball for fourth place among Tech’s leaders for career rushing yards by a quarterback.
Quarterback; Seasons; Attempts; Yards
1. Joshua Nesbitt; 2007-10; 653; 2,806
2. Tevin Washington; 2009-12; 542; 2,225
3. Joe Hamilton; 1996-99; 501; 1,758
4. Reggie Ball; 2003-06; 495; 1,451
5. Justin Thomas; 2013-present; 226; 1,322
Coaching wasteland
Since the 1950s, Tulane has not been easy place to win. With one exception, the school’s past six coaches would testify to that.
Coach; Seasons; Years; Record; Pct.
Buddy Teevens; 5; 1992-96; 11-45; .196
Tommy Bowden; 2; 1997-98; 18-4; .818
Chris Scelfo; 8; 1998-2006; 37-57; .394
Bob Toledo; 5; 2007-11; 15-40; .272
Mark Hutson; 1; 2011; 0-6; .000
Curtis Johnson; 4 2012-present; 12-26; .316
Note: Scelfo became coach before the 1998 bowl game. Hutson was an interim.
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