The experience of the coaches and defenses trending in opposite directions will make for interesting subplots when Georgia Tech takes on Virginia Tech on Saturday in Blacksburg.
The Hokies, led by long-time coordinator Bud Foster, consistently field one of the more productive defenses in FBS. This season is no exception. Virginia Tech is allowing 20.2 points (fourth in the ACC) and 327.4 yards per game (also fourth in the ACC) and are one of the best at stopping opponents on third downs.
Georgia Tech, led by Ted Roof, is allowing 26.2 points per game (tied for eighth in the ACC) and 405.5 yards per game (ninth in the ACC) and has allowed almost 1,200 yards and more than 80 points in its past two games. It ranks the worst on third downs.
What is the difference between the two groups, other than results?
“They are really physical,” Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson said. “They run to the ball. They create a lot of negative plays. Historically, they have created a lot of turnovers, sacks and minus plays.”
Foster’s defenses have particularly good at those things when facing Tech.
Since Johnson took over the Jackets before the 2008 season, the Hokies are 6-2 with an average score of 24-21. Foster’s charges have held to the Jackets to averages of 238.6 rushing yards per game, with Tech reaching 250 rushing yards just once in the past five meetings. Tech has averaged 299.75 rushing yards per game since 2008. Also, Tech has scored 30 or more against every ACC team since Johnson was hired (except Louisville, which they haven’t played yet) except Virginia Tech.
The Jackets average 20.9 points per game against Virginia Tech and 30.3 against the rest of the ACC in Johnson’s tenure. The Jackets are averaging 27.2 points and 261.7 rushing yards per game this season, and the Hokies are allowing 125.8 rushing yards per game.
Johnson said Virginia Tech doesn’t do anything that other defenses don’t try to do. The difference is the Hokies’ level of understanding and the ability to execute, which Johnson said is a testament to Foster’s skill as a coach.
“I have a lot of respect for Bud,” Johnson said. “He does a great job coaching. Usually, our games if you find something they will adjust so it’s move, counter-move.”
Interestingly, what Virginia Tech arguably does best is what Georgia Tech does worst and is the one area of improvement that Johnson said would fix a lot of issues. That problem, as it has been for several weeks, is stopping teams on third downs.
Virginia Tech ranks the best in the ACC and fourth in FBS in limiting opponents to a 27.4 conversion rate. Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said the key is the Hokies are putting opponents in third and long situations and are able to get pressure on the down with three- and four-man fronts, which enables the secondary to play different combinations of coverages. At least 50 of the 137 third downs the Hokies defense has faced this season were at least 10 yards with opponents converting seven, according to www.cfbstats.com .
Georgia Tech ranks the worst in the FBS with opponents converting 52 percent of their chances because Johnson said his team isn't making plays of any type, whether in the front seven or in the secondary. They also aren't forcing as many third and longs as Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech has faced at least 23 third downs of at least 10 yards with opponents converting three, according to www.cfbstats.com .
“That creates most all of the problems,” he said. “It would solve a lot of that. What we are doing isn’t working so we have to try to do something else on third downs.”
The tenures of Johnson and Foster make for an interesting dynamic in this game.
Johnson said he doesn’t listen to those who seem to think that defenses have figured out his offense because ACC foes have seen it eight times now, while few ever say that about the schemes run by Foster, who has been the defensive coordinator in Blacksburg since the 1996 season.
“I don’t pay much attention to what people say unless I think they know what they are talking about,” Johnson said. “If that were the case, then nobody would be running a pro-style offense.
“Each team, each whatever has their own uniqueness. The bottom line is it comes down to execution, how you execute and who you are doing it with.”
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