Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas was critical of his play in the Yellow Jackets’ 17-14 win over Boston College Saturday in Dublin and indicated the urgency necessary to make improvements.
“It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great, either,” Thomas said. “It’s not good enough to put us in the position that we want to be in at the end of the season. I’ve got to continue to better.”
Thomas shined at game’s end, hitting pass plays to convert a 4th-and-19 and a 3rd-and-10 in the Jackets’ game-winning touchdown drive on their final possession. However, he also missed reads on option plays, part of the reason why Tech gained 119 rushing yards and averaged 2.7 yards per carry, the fifth and fourth lowest marks, respectively, in coach Paul Johnson’s tenure.
“I’ve got to be better with my eyes, seeing pre-snap, post-snap, all that,” he said. “And it’s something that I’ve got to keep getting in the film room and keep getting better at.”
Given that Thomas was making his 27th career start, it was unexpected that he would struggle with that facet of the game.
“I guess it could be first-game jitters or whatever, but I think the guys have enough experience, I have enough experience that we can go out there and execute and get better, and I think we’re going to,” he said.
Thomas ran 10 times for 16 yards. Last season, he averaged 40.7 rushing yards on 12.1 carries per game.
“Some of the plays that Justin made were incredible, but he missed some things, too, from an execution standpoint, and he’d tell you the same thing,” quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook said. “We need to operate at a high level. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t. That’s what you concern yourself with.”
