Mistakes, some borne from inexperience, some from a lack of execution by those with experience, some from poor coaching, led to Georgia Tech losing to Georgia 13-7 on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“That game was a microcosm of our season,” coach Paul Johnson said.
Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas threw two interceptions, a bad one at the 1-yard line in the second quarter and one to end the game, and wide receiver Ricky Jeune lost a fumble. Georgia didn’t have a turnover.
“Anytime you lose the turnover battle like we have the last 2-3 games you are going to lose,” Johnson said.
But those were just the obvious errors. There were plenty more on offense and defense that prevented the Yellow Jackets from defeating Georgia in consecutive games for the first time since a three game sweep 1998-2000.
After closing to within 13-7 on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jeune with 2:46 left, Tech pinned Georgia at its 7-yard line with a clever pooched kickoff.
The Bulldogs lined up as if they were going to run to try to wind down the clock and create some breathing room. The Yellow Jackets lined up to play man to man, but someone turned loose tight end Jeb Blazevich. Open in the middle of the field, he caught a 25-yard pass. Two plays later, Georgia running back Sony Michel broke two tackles, reached the sideline finished a 19-yard run down to Tech’s 46-yard line.
Those were the final two mistakes to cap a day filled with them, including linebacker P.J. Davis being ejected after punching a Georgia player in the third quarter.
On offense, Tech drove into Georgia’s side of the field seven times, but Johnson said they couldn’t finish drives.
As an example, on fourth and one at Georgia’s 41-yard line in the first quarter, Georgia’s nose guard jumped offside but Tech’s center didn’t snap the ball. When it was snapped, nobody blocked defensive tackle James DeLoach, who dropped Thomas for a loss to end the drive.
Johnson said they repeatedly had success running a counter option, except for the fact that two of the pulling blockers would sometimes run down the field and not hit anyone.
“I don’t know if they ever blocked anybody,” Johnson said.
There were many examples of Tech’s offensive line not blocking either inside or outside, which is partially why they totaled just 194 rushing yards, more than 60 under their season average.
Johnson said mistakes can happen when inexperienced players are forced into the lineup. There were times during the game when Tech played at least six freshmen or redshirt freshmen on offense.
“All of it’s stuff I think we can fix, I think I can fix” Johnson said. “I’m bent on getting it fixed. I’m not going to go through this again.”
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