Georgia Tech hopes to add explosive plays to efficiency

Total; 5; 19; 10

Rush; 2; 9; 5

Pass; 3; 10; 5

THIS SEASON’S BIG PLAYS

vs. Wofford

Yards; Play; Situation

71; Justin Thomas to DeAndre Smelter pass; First-and-10

65; Thomas to Broderick Snoddy; Second-and-6

vs. Tulane

Yards; Play; Situation

41; Tony Zenon run; First-and-10

vs. Georgia Southern

Yards; Play; Situation

63; Charles Perkins run; First-and-10

57; Thomas to Smelter; Second-and-9

This season’s Georgia Tech offense looks a lot like the previous seasons under coach Paul Johnson. The formations are mostly the same, the plays are mostly the same and the number of wins remains similar.

But within this year’s results are some differences.

The big plays — runs or passes of at least 40 yards — are missing. Last season, Tech had 19 rushing or passing plays of at least 40 yards (1.5 per game), and in 2012 they had 21 such plays. This season, only five plays have covered that minimum distance (0.8 per game), none in the past three games.

However, the offense is still efficient, if not explosive. Whereas last season’s team averaged 3.4 plays of at least 25 yards per game, this season’s team has averaged 3.2 per game.

“We need to hit some more big plays,” Johnson said.

What has led to the differences this year in the lack of plays of at least 40 yards?

There are several factors: the quality of the defenses Tech has played, how defenses have played Tech, downfield blocking, simply missing plays and the skill sets of the players on offense.

Johnson said Virginia Tech traditionally fields a good defense to explain why the Jackets didn’t have a play longer than 40 yards in that game, which the Jackets won. The next game against Miami turned into a grind-it-out affair that limited the opportunities the Jackets had for big plays.

The Jackets had at least three chances — two pass plays and one run play — to convert big plays in Saturday’s loss to Duke, but couldn’t execute, either with downfield blocks or in the passing game.

Fixing that downfield blocking is as simple as improving the angle of the block or continuing to go after someone who is down so that they can’t get up and make the tackle. Just two of the five plays of at least 40 yards were rushes: one apiece by Tony Zenon and Charles Perkins.

“We are hitting plays. We are just a step short of busting through,” said B-back Zach Laskey, who has averaging 4.96 yards per carry this season.

This season’s team doesn’t feature the same types of players who were responsible for some of the big plays in previous years. There’s no Demaryius Thomas or Stephen Hill at wide receiver, though this year DeAndre Smelter has averaged 22.5 yards per catch and has two of the three big pass plays. There is no Orwin Smith at A-back, though Zenon has averaged 5.36 yards per rush and Synjyn Days 4.92, B.J. Bostic 6.2 and Deon Hill 6.3.

Neither Days, Bostic nor Hill has a run of more than 19 yards. Smelter’s average without his longest gain is 19.2 yards.

This season’s team seems built to sustain drives, as evidenced by Tech’s top ranking among Division I teams in converting third downs (58.9 percent).

“Whatever the defense gives you, we can definitely take advantage of,” wide receiver Darren Waller said.

The problem the team has when it needs to come up with a quick game-changing play in a big moment, such as in Saturday’s loss to Duke, it hasn’t found that go-to player, such as Thomas or Hill or B-backs Jonathan Dwyer or Anthony Allen or an A-back such as Smith.

While not having that type of player may be something to bemoan, Tech’s offense is still rolling. In fact, it may be the most best in the past few years.

The Jackets have averaged 5.74 yards per carry and 6.47 yards per play. The rushing average is tied with 2011 for the highest in the past six years. The yards per play is the second-highest average behind 2011 for the team in the past six years.

“We’re OK,” Johnson said when asked to describe the identity of the offense. “I think we can get a lot better.”

The Jackets will get a chance to try to make a few big plays against North Carolina, whose defense seems to be good for whatever ails an offense.

The Tar Heels rank among the worst FBS teams in total defense, giving up an average of 505.8 yards per game, including 186.2 rushing with a conference-worst 12 touchdowns. They are ahead of only SMU in points allowed (42 per game).

If that form holds, Tech may get several opportunities to create important moments.

“This team … we have a lot of playmakers,” Zenon said. “Once everybody does their assignments right I feel like we can make plays.”