The Yellow Jackets say they’re a better team than what they showed in South Bend.
For Georgia Tech offensive lineman Shamire Devine, the loss against Notre Dame Saturday only increased his desire to win as the Jackets head into eight-straight conference games.
“Everyone’s upset because we just lost, so we want (to win) more,” Devine said. “If we played Duke (before Saturday), I would expect everyone to be flying around to prove that our mistakes from Notre Dame can be made up.”
Assistant coach Ray Rychleski said despite the team’s hardship in South Bend, he knows the No. 20 Yellow Jackets (2-1) can achieve a nationally recognized level of offensive power.
“I know we can be better,” Rychleski said. “I know this offense can be really good, and we have to do our part, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
In 2014, Rychleski’s first season with the Jackets as special-teams coordinator and offensive line coach, Tech’s offensive line and special teams were nationally ranked. Tech’s special teams led the ACC and were tied at No. 1 nationally in blocked kicks.
Rychleski’s offensive line was also ranked second nationally in 2014, allowing 0.79 sacks per game, and led college football in rushing, with 342.1 rushing yards per game.
“A tough, top-10 opponent on the road will get you ready for the rest of the season,” Rychleski said. “I think we got tested because we went from a certain level playing against opponents to a level here on the road in a tough environment and we didn’t handle it well.”
After suffering a 30-22 reality check against the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish, A-back Isiah Willis said every coach and player was disappointed with Saturday’s loss, but the next challenge awaits.
“We faced some adversity and took a (loss), but now it’s time to bounce back,” Willis said. “See what type of team we’re going to be in conference play and through the rest of the season.”
Quarterback Justin Thomas is moving on from Saturday’s loss by focusing on the Blue Devils, who have demonstrated they’re capable of beating the Jackets.
Thomas still remembers the Jackets’ 25-31 loss to Duke last season at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“(Duke’s) not going to be (much) different from what we saw last week,” Thomas said. “We have to go there with the mindset that we have to start well like we did the first two games.”
Devine said the offensive line is taking the loss against Notre Dame and applying corrections to face the Blue Devils, who lost to No. 17 Northwestern on Saturday.
“As an offensive line, we’ve learned that we have to echo the techniques called especially since Duke’s stadium, (last year) we couldn’t hear ourselves,” Devine said. “We have to be able to know and identify what the backers are doing or what they’re about to do. I think that was our biggest mistake.”
