Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said two things have helped his team block two field goals this season.
The first block came in the win against Boston College. The second block came in the win against Mercer. The Yellow Jackets (2-0, 1-0 ACC) will try to go 3-for-3 when they host Vanderbilt (1-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday.
The first reason is simple.
“Guys understand how important it is,” Johnson said. “We make a big deal out of a blocked kick.”
That includes singling the players out in the team meeting and them receiving a game ball. Interestingly, on a defensive line that features several tall players, it was two of the shorter players that have blocked the kicks.
Rod Rook-Chungong, who is 6-foot-3, blocked the field against the Eagles. Kyle Cerge-Henderson, who is 6-1, blocked a 37-yard attempt against the Bears. It was Georgia Tech's 16th blocked kick since the beginning of the 2013 season, the most in FBS during that span. Tech is just one of eight teams that have blocked two kicks in the first two games.
The second reasons is, at least against a Mercer, the kicker and holder lined up 6 ½ yards away, instead of seven. So, Tech’s players didn’t have to go as far and the kicker had less space to get the ball up and over the hands and arms of the onrushing linemen. Plus, Johnson said he kicked it low and Tech got good penetration.
“We aren’t taking the play off,” defensive lineman Patrick Gamble said. “We keep rushing. That’s it. There’s no secret at all. We play it like any other down.
“The object is to hold them to less points. We take pride in that.”
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