The game that was
Against the 94th-ranked rushing defense in the country, Georgia Tech managed a season-low 211 yards of offense in a 24-7 loss to Miami on Saturday at Sun Life Stadium. Mistakes and poor execution on offense and special teams sent the Yellow Jackets to their second consecutive loss after six wins in a row to open the season. Tech fell to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the ACC.
What we learned
1. The defense rallied. Defensive coordinator Al Groh and his players deserve credit for their best game in ACC play this season. The 262 yards they surrendered was a season low for the Jackets. Tech gave Miami running back Lamar Miller little room to run and repeatedly had players free to bring him down near the line of scrimmage. The Jackets will need to be even sharper next Saturday for Clemson.
2. Nothing special about special teams. A source of concern even before the season began, special teams mistakes discolored the Jackets' season opener and have continued to do so. Saturday's miscues -- including a fumbled punt return into the end zone, a 13-yard punt and a misplayed kickoff -- were the latest in a series of kicking-game errors that have cost Tech repeatedly. More than halfway through the season, it's hard to expect considerable improvement.
3. Washington inconsistent. There is always more to the story with quarterback play -- protection, route running, playcalling and, in Tech's case, run blocking. As coach Paul Johnson put it Saturday evening, "It's not fair to put all this on" quarterback Tevin Washington and rightfully so. That said, Washington is a leader of the offense and its primary ballhandler. This season, he's now had as many subpar games as standout ones, four each. Washington's potential is clear, but calling his recent play an aberration would be, at the least, generous.
Loose ends
Tech fell out of the top 25 after a five-week run in the polls. The Jackets are 30th in the Associated Press writers poll (20th last week) and 27th in the USA Today coaches poll (19th last week). ... Center Jay Finch and backup quarterback Synjyn Days both required the attention of trainers after injuries Saturday, but Johnson had no further information on either after the game. Finch was on crutches with a lower-leg injury. No new information was available Sunday. ... After opening the placekicking job last week, Johnson kept Justin Moore as the first-string kicker for Saturday. He did not attempt a field goal and made his only point-after try of the game. ... Tech, which trailed 21-7 at halftime, has overcome a halftime deficit of 14 points or more just three times in the past 30 years.
Numbers game
28
The number of points Tech has scored in its past two games, the lowest combined output in back-to-back games in Johnson's tenure.
Sound bite
"Nothing that I can see that I can fix. If I did, I would fix it." -- Johnson on Washington's struggles
What's next?
The Jackets will face undefeated Clemson (8-0 overall, 5-0 ACC) in their toughest matchup of the season to date in an 8 p.m. kickoff at Bobby Dodd Stadium. ABC will broadcast the game, which will share national coverage with the USC-Stanford game. Saturday, the Tigers walloped North Carolina 59-38 as quarterback Tajh Boyd threw five touchdown passes, the Tar Heels turned the ball over six times and Clemson ran up 35 points in the third quarter.
About the Author
