Georgia Tech offensive tackle Phil Smith’s two-game suspension has ended. Aside from Smith, the person most anxious for the Yellow Jackets’ game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Kansas might be his roommate.
Unable to attend the games, Smith watched the season’s first two games at home with his roommate, former Tech walk-on Geoff Greco. With the game streaming online, Smith could review plays instantly, which he did dozens of times to admire the offensive line’s blocks. Greco evidently does not savor a well-executed cut block the way his roommate does.
Said Smith, “He was just like, Play the game!”
Smith will be on the field Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, ready to deal out his own rewind-worthy punishment. For the suddenly stratospheric Tech passing game to proceed against the Jayhawks, Smith and his cohorts will have to continue their effective safeguarding of Tech quarterbacks. The line has been the foundation of Tech’s unlikely positioning as the nation’s most efficient passing team.
“They’re just protecting better,” coach Paul Johnson said.
It would have been hard to predict in spring practice, when injuries to offensive linemen and generally poor play kept quarterbacks running for cover on pass plays. And it would have been laughable last season, when Tech’s ratio of 10.5 passes per sack was second lowest in the ACC and constant pressure contributed to the Jackets’ 38.1 completion percentage, worst in FBS (formerly Division I-A).
Said Johnson, “It doesn’t do you any good to get behind people if you throw it over their head or don’t catch ’em or can’t get ’em off or whatever.”
Coaches tweaked the protection scheme, but the principal reasons for improvement contain little mystery. The three returning starters, including Smith, have more experience handling pass rushers. The linemen, who have dubbed themselves the “Goon Squad,” play with better technique and are committed to knowing their assignments.
Of the last, “it could have been a lot better last year, I’ll say that,” guard Omoregie Uzzi said. “We had a lot of problems last year that we’re trying to clean up this year and not repeat.”
Said Smith, “To me, I don’t think it’s any scheme or anything like that. It’s guys busting their tails, getting their feet right, using their hands well.”
Even Uzzi, a second-team All-ACC pick last year, said he graded out better in the first two games than he had all of last season.
Co-offensive line coach Mike Sewak emphasized that quarterback Tevin Washington and the receivers deserve credit for the success of the passing game — averaging 22.3 yards per attempt, best in FBS by eight yards, and leading FBS in passing efficiency.
But he also sees his linemen not panicking when defensive linemen shift just before the snap. They trust the scheme and their teammates enough to do just their assignment and not anyone else’s. They don’t lock on to a single defender when they’re supposed to pass him off to another lineman or “go chasing shadows,” in Sewak’s words.
“Those guys have done a better job of eliminating the tunnel vision, so to speak,” Sewak said.
After 26 pass attempts, which have yielded 17 completions, 579 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, the line has yielded one sack. Washington has had the time and confidence to stay in the pocket to launch deep balls to wide receiver Stephen Hill.
It bears mention that Tech has amassed its gaudy numbers against weaker competition, Western Carolina in the opener and Middle Tennessee State last Saturday. But then it would also be worth pointing out that last season, Tech was a combined 7-for-22 for 98 yards in games against South Carolina State and Middle Tennessee. The Jackets exceeded that yardage total with their first two passes of the season.
Regardless, the level of competition rises Saturday and will escalate again next Saturday when North Carolina, led by defensive end Quinton Coples, a projected first-round pick, visits Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“I think if we do our assignments like we have been doing and keep the confidence that we’ve had, we’ll be fine,” Uzzi said.
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