Following his worst day on the job in nine years, Ray Rychleski had some long hours in his office ahead of him. Georgia Tech’s special-teams coordinator accepted responsibility for three costly special-teams errors that helped Duke win its second game in a row over the Yellow Jackets on Saturday.
“We take pride in our coverage teams, and we let the team down,” he said. “I let the team down.”
The Jackets devoted time Monday to reviewing the special-teams breakdowns — a botched punt snap, a 69-yard punt return by Duke and a momentum-stealing 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown — and correcting them in on-field work. Rychleski said that he felt this bad after a loss only one other time in his 34-year career, as an assistant at Maryland (under former Tech coach Ralph Friedgen) in a 2006 loss to West Virginia, but was anticipating Saturday’s home game against North Carolina.
“The biggest thing is, don’t let three plays define a season,” Rychleski said.
Responsibility for the punt snap fell on the shoulders of long snapper Sean Tobin, who mishandled the wet ball in flying it over punter Ryan Rodwell’s head. The first-quarter punt return down to the Tech 1-yard line by Ryan Smith was enabled by Rodwell, with the wind at his back, outkicking his coverage and then three players missing tackles.
“He’s a little jitterbug, and don’t assume somebody else is going to make the tackle,” Rychleski said of Smith. “It takes all 11 guys.”
The kickoff-return score was caused by multiple players unable to fight off blocks and then Lance Austin, acting as a safety on the left wing, pinching in too far and allowing DeVon Edwards to break to the outside and outrace the Jackets to the end zone.
It was Edwards’ fifth kickoff return for a touchdown in his career. His career kickoff return average is third in ACC history.
Rychleski said he overthought the coverage. Kicker Harrison Butker typically kicks to the left side of the field, but switched to the right side to kick away from Edwards. Unfortunately for Tech, Edwards made a last-second flip with the other Duke returner and was in position to make the return.
“I give him credit, too,” Rychleski said. “But from my end, the ball should be on the 25-yard line.”
In Rychleski’s 17 games at Tech before Saturday, the best opponent field position after a kickoff (excluding unsuccessful onside kick attempts) was the opposition 46-yard line. The longest punt return had gone 34 yards.
“Nobody feels worse than me,” Rychleski said. “I’m lower than whale (expletive) right now.”
The challenges may be greater Saturday. Tar Heels punt returner Ryan Switzer has an ACC-record six career punt returns for touchdowns (tying him with Maryland’s Steve Suter, whom Rychleski coached). Kick returner T.J. Logan has two career touchdowns.
“Our specialists have got to step up even more,” Rychleski said.
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