To help with Georgia Tech’s anemic kickoff return game, coach Paul Johnson said changes will be made. In the past three games, the Yellow Jackets have returned 11 kickoffs that weren’t onside attempts or touchbacks. On average, they have reached the 22.5-yard line.
“We need to do something, try to get it back to the 20-yard line,” Johnson said Tuesday after practice. “It’s embarrassing.”
The problem appears to be blocking on the returns, as coverage teams have often had success beating blocks to reach returner Jamal Golden. In the Clemson game, Marcus Marshall also returned two kicks with not much more success.
“We’ve just got to make sure that we’ve got a return that’s feasible to run and we’ve got the right people out there trying to block and the right guy returning,” Johnson said.
Tech ranks 101st in the country in average return and 11th in the ACC at 18.8 yards. Last season, the Jackets were 47th at 21.76 yards. It is another facet of the team that has been faulty during its five-game losing streak, the longest in-season streak since 1994.
Tech should have chances Saturday against Florida State to run back returns. The Seminoles’ Roberto Aguayo has a touchback rate of 42.5 percent. FSU’s kickoff cover team is tied for 11th in the country, though, at 17.0 yards per return.
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