Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and his staff will evaluate the Yellow Jackets' linebackers and secondary this week, after Mississippi State ran up 487 yards total offense in cowbell-crazed Starkville on Saturday.
Johnson and defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said they weren't pleased with the lack of accountability by some players, as well as the missed tackles. The Bulldogs were able to run Anthony Dixon inside, and then take the option to the outside with equal effectiveness.
MSU gouged Tech's defense for 209 rushing yards and 278 passing yards in Tech's 42-31 win Saturday.
Johnson and Wommack said a lack of discipline and key recognition by the defensive ends, linebackers and cornerbacks enabled MSU quarterback Tyson Lee to get to the outside often with just a safety to beat.
Wommack chalked up some of the issues to the inexperience of freshmen unused to playing on the road in hostile territory. He said he wants to see fewer mistakes in practice this week as the coaches decide who will start Saturday's game against Florida State.
Poor kickoff coverage
The kickoff coverage teams will see so many personnel changes that Johnson declined to go into details. The Bulldogs returned one kick 89 yards for a touchdown and overall averaged 36 yards on kick returns. For the season, the Jackets are allowing 25.3 yards a return, ranking them 108th out of 120 teams.
Johnson said Scott Blair will continue to handle kicking duties, and Chris Tanner will kick field goal attempts.
Injury update
Free safety Cooper Taylor, who started the first three games, will miss his third game this weekend, Johnson said. The injury is healing, Johnson said, but he declined to provide details, citing privacy laws.
Jefferson honored
Georgia Tech middle linebacker Brad Jefferson was named the ACC's co-defensive lineman of the week for his performance in Starkville.
Jefferson, a junior from Wrightsville, tied a career high with eight tackles, including seven unassisted. He also forced two fumbles. He is second on the team with 27 tackles this season.
Seminoles seeing red
FSU coach Bobby Bowden pins most of this season's problems on the Seminoles' inability to score from the red zone. FSU is converting 76 percent of its chances inside the 20-yard line, tying them for 95th in the country with Georgia Tech, Baylor, Miami and Rutgers.
In Saturday's 28-21 loss to Boston College, FSU had four chances from the 1-yard line in the second quarter and couldn't score. The same thing happened from the 3-yard line in the Seminoles' 17-7 loss to South Florida the week before.
"We are simply leaving guys unblocked," Bowden said. "Simply turning loose the guys that can make a play. Sad thing is it's two games in a row that's happened."
The Seminoles bounced back to score twice from the red zone in the second half.
"Maybe we got it solved," Bowden said.
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