Last Saturday, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson exploited a matchup in calling a play that produced a 73-yard touchdown pass on the Yellow Jackets’ first play from scrimmage against Middle Tennessee State.
Against Kansas, Johnson and the Jackets did it again. From last year’s game, Johnson anticipated the Kansas defense would heavily pursue motioning A-backs. On the first play, A-back Roddy Jones went left and brought the defense with him. Orwin Smith went right, taking the ball with him for a 95-yard touchdown run. Tech has scored on its opening play in each of its first three games.
“I thought all week that the counter play would be a good play,” Johnson said.
Johnson gave credit to Smith and wide receivers Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton. Hill flattened cornerback Isiah Barfield, and Melton ran interference the length of the field against cornerback Greg Brown to clear Smith’s route to the goal line.
Special teams better
Special-teams play, a weak spot for Tech through the first two games, improved. The highlight was provided by Jemea Thomas, who made a diving, over-the-shoulder catch to haul in Sean Poole’s first-quarter punt on the fly and down it at the Kansas 3-yard line.
Kicker Justin Moore also made his first field goal of the season, from 24 yards, and registered Tech’s first touchback of the season, which drew loud applause.
“It was good to see Justin kick the ball on kickoffs like he’s capable of,” Johnson said.
Uniforms arrive
A mid-morning delivery enabled Tech to wear its new home jerseys. After the home opener, when fans complained about the difficulty of reading the gold numbers on the white jerseys, the school ordered a replacement set with navy numbers. However, while half of the jerseys had arrived by Friday, the other half somehow ended up at a FedEx facility in Memphis. The two boxes of jerseys arrived just before 10 a.m., minutes before the call would have been made to wear the road uniforms instead.
First start for P. Smith
In his first game back from a two-game suspension for violating team rules, Phil Smith started at right tackle. Ray Beno, who had started in Smith’s place at left tackle, stayed in that spot. Tyler Kidney, who started the first two games at right tackle, served as No. 3 tackle. The three rotated in and out at both spots.
“They’re doing a tremendous job,” Orwin Smith said of the linemen. “Guys are making blocks, guys are getting cuts. Just love the effort they’re giving.”
Numbers
Tech has scored 178 points through three games, the third-highest point total through three games in school history, following the 1916 and 1918 teams. The 1916 team beat Cumberland 222-0 in its second game. The 1918 team beat Furman 118-0 and the 11th Cavalry 123-0.
Tech has outscored opponents 63-7 in the first quarter of its three games.
The school records that the Jackets broke with 768 yards of offense and 604 rushing yards were previously held by the 1948 team (706 yards vs. The Citadel) and the 1975 team (558 yards vs. VMI), respectively.
Etc.
Following Saturday reports that Pittsburgh and Syracuse have applied for membership to the ACC, the press-box announcer included updates from the Pitt-Iowa game when providing ACC scores. ... Saturday’s game captains for Tech were punter Chandler Anderson, A-back Embry Peeples and safety Rashaad Reid. ... The kickoff time of Tech’s game vs. North Carolina is scheduled to be announced by noon Sunday.
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