Tech’s special teams falter against Clemson

Rodwell picked up the ball in the end zone and managed to kick it, but the low line drive slammed into Clemson’s Jadar Johnson at the 6-yard line and started to roll back toward the end zone. A Tech player tried to kick the ball again and missed as the ball rolled through the end zone for a safety to give the Tigers a 19-3 lead. Johnson was credited with the blocked punt.

It was the third consecutive game in which Tobin has misfired on a punt. Tobin was replaced by Casey Wilson on the next punt. He snapped without incident for the remainder of the game.

“We’ve … hopefully got that fixed moving forward,” Johnson said.

Tech’s special teams executed a fake in the second quarter that resulted in a first down. Wilson snapped the ball to upback Chase Alford on fourth-and-7 at Tech’s 40-yard line. Alford ran left for nine yards and the first down. Tech would later score its first touchdown.

When Tech did get a punt away, it didn’t go very far. Tech averaged 28.6 yards per punt on its first eight attempts.

In a 38-31 loss to North Carolina the previous Saturday, Rodwell dropped a low snap that allowed pressure to reach him. Rodwell was able to get off a 23-yard punt to Tech’s 44-yard line. The Tar Heels quickly drove the short field for a touchdown to cut the Jackets’ lead to 21-14 and snatch away the momentum.

In the 34-20 loss to Duke two weeks ago, Tech made several mistakes on special teams. A bad snap went over Rodwell’s head on a punt and eventually led to Duke touchdown. Poor punt coverage set up a 69-yard return to the 1-yard line. The Blue Devils scored a touchdown on the next play. Lastly, the Jackets gave up a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.