Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson measured out praise for the secondary in small dosages this week.
The Yellow Jackets’ defensive backs have plenty to improve on. However, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that they’re all in their first season as full-time starters.
“But clearly, those guys have done a little better job than we did a year ago,” Johnson said.
While Tech’s defense has holes to mend before its game Saturday at Miami, the pass defense has held its own. The Jackets, ranked No. 22 in the BCS standings, have posted better numbers this season in key measurables than last year’s team through seven games. Opponents yards per game (174.4 to 195.6), yards per attempt (6.0 to 6.5) and completion rate (57.1 to 58.6) are improved. The passing yardage, at least, is skewed by opponents’ success running the ball against the Jackets.
“I think for the most part, they’ve done a pretty good job,” Johnson said.
The most obvious aspect of their play is the eight interceptions that Tech has collected, two of which have been cashed in for touchdowns. Cornerback Rod Sweeting was named ACC player of the week after taking an interception off of Virginia’s Michael Rocco 32 yards for a touchdown.
“I think there’s still some things he can still improve on, run force, intensity, but he’s had a knack of making some big plays, making some big hits,” secondary coach Charles Kelly said.
The Jackets have registered eight interceptions in 203 opponent pass attempts. At the end of the 2010 season, Tech had faced 365 passes and had the same number.
“Coach [Al] Groh’s always stressing turnovers and ball disruption,” Sweeting said. “I’m just trying to get my hands on the ball.”
It’s an incremental but important development for Tech. The Jackets’ secondary in 2010 — cornerbacks Mario Butler and Dominique Reese and safeties Mario Edwards and Jerrard Tarrant — left Tech with 104 career starts. Tarrant went to training camp with the New York Giants, and Butler made the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.
Their replacements, cornerbacks Sweeting and Louis Young and safeties Rashaad Reid and Isaiah Johnson, began the season with 18 games of starting experience. All except Reid have eligibility remaining after this season, and Young and Johnson are sophomores.
Perhaps the most solid part of the secondary’s game has been its ability to tackle the ballcarrier on completions, limiting big plays. Last year’s defense allowed 20 pass plays of 20 yards or longer through the first seven games, including four that went for touchdowns. The 2011 team has permitted 13 completions of 20 yards or more, one of which has gone for a score.
The weakest might be its run support. Particularly in the loss to Virginia, the secondary didn’t tackle well and didn’t consistently fence in runs to the perimeter.
“You look at it, the secondary is part of the rushing defense,” Kelly said. “Being able to make those plays to prevent those long runs and that stuff is one thing we’ve got to get better at to become a better team.”
The secondary will be challenged both in the run and pass Saturday. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris ranks second in the ACC in passing efficiency. Running back Lamar Miller is second in the league at 117.7 rushing yards per game.
More improvement may be necessary. “You want your guys to never be satisfied,” Kelly said.
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