If Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh’s ability to stop Clemson comes anywhere close to his ability to pay the Tigers compliments, the Tech student body can plan to storm the Bobby Dodd Stadium field around 11:15 p.m. Saturday.
Groh said that the Tigers’ explosive playmakers and standout offensive linemen come close to matching the standard set by the dominating Florida State teams of the early 2000s that he faced as coach of Virginia. Quarterback Tajh Boyd clearly is having the best season of any ACC quarterback, he said. As for the Tigers’ team speed, Groh said, “Let’s just say we hope we don’t ever have to play a faster group than this. If we do, we’d probably have to take these scooters out there to cover them.”
It is hard not to be impressed with a team that — peculiar statistic alert — became the first ACC team since 1992 to score 56 or more points in consecutive games when the Tigers beat Maryland 56-45 and North Carolina 59-38 the past two Saturdays. A look at the Tigers’ five main offensive weapons:
Quarterback Tajh Boyd
A first-year starter, Boyd owns three of the top five passing yardage games in school history, all this season. He has a 24-3 touchdown-interception ratio and is sneaking into Heisman Trophy consideration.
Tech secondary coach Charles Kelly: “I’ve been very impressed with just how poised he is. He’s got a nice release, he’s got a very strong arm, can make every throw that there is. We’ve played against some good quarterbacks, and he’s one of the top that I’ve seen.”
Running back Andre Ellington
Tech fans may remember him for gashing the Jackets with touchdown runs of 55 and 42 yards in the first 17 minutes of last year’s Clemson victory. Ellington reached 1,000 career rushing yards in 151 carries, the second fewest in school history.
Tech defensive end Jason Peters: “One of the fastest guys out there. Moves well, cuts well. He’s a dangerous back the way he runs and helps set up his blocks.”
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins
He’s a potential All-American as a freshman. He ranks 20th in the country at 6.8 catches per game, and only two players ahead of him better his 15.2 yards-per-catch average. He has three receptions of 60 yards or more.
Groh: “There’s a lot of guys with speed, but a key to really being able to get the ball, either vertically or when the ball is thrown up there, is the ability to be able to jump on the run, and so this guy can jump on the run at full speed. As a result, even when defenders are running even with him, there’s no telling for the defender.”
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins led Clemson in receptions and receiving yardage last season as a freshman before ceding the No. 1 receiver role to Watkins. Still, his 4.6 receptions per game would be the highest on four ACC teams. He singed North Carolina on Saturday with nine catches for 157 yards and a touchdown.
Tech coach Paul Johnson: Hopkins “is a great player. He was the high-profile guy a year ago. They’ve got a lot of weapons.”
Tight end Dwayne Allen
Johnson predicted that Allen, 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, will be the first tight end taken when he enters the NFL draft. A junior, Allen is third on the team with 33 catches, including five touchdown receptions and six catches for 20-plus yards. He’ll be a handful for the Jackets, who have at times had difficulty covering tight ends.
Kelly: “He’s just like the receivers. He can adjust with the ball in the air. It’s not just a guy that they say, ‘Hey, we’re going to throw it to him right now just to keep you off-balance.’ They’ll throw it to him to make plays.”
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