Georgia Tech is feeling a need for payback against Pittsburgh in its ACC opener Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, as the Panthers have won both games on last-minute field goals. The Yellow Jackets will have to take care of a number of objectives to secure a win. Here are three of the more critical ones.
1. Start quickly
In interviews Monday following the first practice of the week, both quarterback TaQuon Marshall and offensive lineman Will Bryan brought up the importance of getting off to a quick lead to assert control of the game.
“That’s where we’ve made mistakes the past two years,” Bryan said. “Let ’em stay in the game.”
Offensively, Tech has not done that thus far. Against Tennessee, the Yellow Jackets punted in their first two possessions and then the fourth. Against Jacksonville State, Tech scored three points in its first four series.
It has been a struggle for Pitt. The Panthers fell behind 14-0 in a 33-14 loss to No. 4 Penn State and 35-0 in a 59-21 defeat to No. 9 Oklahoma State.
2. Pressure (whichever) quarterback
A quick lead would likely put Tech in position to enact another key, pressuring whichever of the two quarterbacks that Pitt starts, either Max Browne or Ben DiNucci. Browne, a graduate transfer, has started the first three games, but coach Pat Narduzzi pulled him in favor of DiNucci in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State and had not named a starter for the Tech game as of Monday. The Panthers have been susceptible to pressure the past two games, giving up seven sacks while throwing four interceptions in 76 pass attempts.
Like most teams, takeaways are gold for the Jackets, who are 41-15 against FBS opponents in coach Paul Johnson’s tenure when forcing two more turnovers, according to sports-reference.com.
3. Limit mistakes
A message that Johnson likely is giving the team this week is to play cleanly after errors helped Pitt win the past two meetings. Last year, safety Corey Griffin read a pass play and went to knock down the ball but took a poor angle, Johnson said. Rather than force an incompletion, Griffin deflected the ball, which was caught for a touchdown. Pitt’s game-winning field goal was enabled by Tech getting stuffed on a fourth-and-1 when an offensive lineman did not space himself on the line properly, Johnson said.
One place the Jackets can make fewer mistakes is in its ballhandling. Tech has fumbled the ball six times in two games, losing two of them. Pressure will again be on the kicking game to take advantage of opportunities. After missing both field-goal attempts against Tennessee, kicker Shawn Davis made a 34-yarder and then converted a 40-yarder before Tech accepted a roughing penalty and took points off the board. But he also missed an extra-point try.
About the Author
