The Georgia Tech defense did its part on first and second downs, and then fans at Bobby Dodd Stadium played their role by getting rowdy in anticipation of third-down stops.
But they kept getting silenced by yet another Kansas first down. The Jayhawks kept their drives alive and the score close -- at least for a while -- by converting seven of their first nine third downs. Two went for touchdowns.
Tech's defense eventually stiffened and the Yellow Jackets routed Kansas 66-24. But Tech entered the game next-to-last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in third-down stops and the slippage continued against Kansas, its first opponent from an automatic-qualifier BCS conference.
“We kind of came out there free-styling trying to do our own thing,” Tech senior linebacker Steven Sylvester said. “The type of defense we play, it's for us to do a specific job. If one person doesn't do their job the defense has the potential to break down everywhere.”
That happened frequently on third down in the first half. Tech stopped the Jayhawks on third down during their opening drive and forced a punt but then had trouble getting off the field.
Kansas converted three third-down chances on their first touchdown drive, including Darrian Miller's 10-yard touchdown run. Tech forced a three-and-out on the Jayhawks' next possession but, after taking a 14-7 lead, couldn't force a punt again.
The Jayhawks had four third-down conversions, all of them for five yards or longer, while tying the score 14-14 with a 13-play drive. Kansas quarterback Jordan Webb passed for a pair of first downs and then Miller shed two tackle attempts during an 11-yard touchdown run.
“I think we were just giving too big of a cushion [in pass coverage],” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “We were not giving [Webb] pressure and the guy was getting rid of it quick. But on a couple plays we would have stopped them if we tackled. In the second half we did a better job of getting them down.”
After the Jayhawks converted four consecutive third downs in the second quarter, Tech held them to 2 of 8 on third downs for the rest of the game.
Tech's defense was better on third downs once it switched to an alignment that featured two down linemen, four linebackers and five defensive backs. Sophomore Brandon Watts earned a sack the first time Tech used the package when Webb was forced to hold the ball.
The Yellow Jackets used the alignment again while stopping Kansas on consecutive third downs early in the second half. Tech scored on each ensuing possession to put away the Jayhawks.
But Johnson and Sylvester said the improved defense was more about attitude than strategic adjustments.
“Coach Johnson kind of challenged us at halftime and said this is the defense we are going to need to play especially next week if we want to be any good,” Sylvester said. “He just laid the challenge out there and thankfully we rose up.”
