The wolfpack is back. And perhaps the hangover of last year's defense is gone.
Georgia Tech's linebackers did two things on Thursday in the season-opening 63-21 win against Western Carolina that they rarely did last year: make plays and cause turnovers.
"It's like coach [Al] Groh says, we're a pack of wolves now," Inside linebacker Julian Burnett said. He led Tech with 12 tackles, including two for loss. "We're hungry for it."
Last year, their first in Groh's 3-4 system, the entire defense looked more like Labradors: fast and well-meaning but not aggressive enough. As a result, the Jackets gave up 371.6 yards and 25.2 points per game. During August's practices, players admitted that sometimes last year they weren't sure where they were supposed to line up or where they were supposed to go. Led by seniors Brad Jefferson and Anthony Egbuniwe, the linebackers made a lot of tackles, but too often they were three to five yards the wrong way down the field.
Outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu said the difference this year compared to last, is the players are confident after spending a full year in the system.
"We are fast athletically and fast mentally," he said. The Jackets gave up 301 yards on Thursday, but they were also on the field for 31 minutes, 47 seconds.
On the Catamounts' first series, outside linebacker Brandon Watts blitzed from the right edge of the defense and chased down Western Carolina quarterback Brandon Pechloff as he rolled to his right on third-and-nine at the 10-yard line. Watts stripped him of the ball and inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy, playing in his first game, recovered it at the 5-yard line. The Jackets scored one play later.
Attaochu, an outside linebacker tabbed with the necessary size and speed to flourish in Groh's defense, sacked Pechloff for a seven-yard loss on a third-and-six play at the 27-yard line to drive the Catamounts out of field-goal range in the first quarter.
"We came out and did what coach wanted us to do and that's be disruptive and run to the ball," Attaochu said.
Two WCU series later, inside linebacker Daniel Drummond, making his first start, caused a fumble with a big hit on Jacoby Mitchell. Attaochu recovered the loss ball on the Catamounts' 41-yard line. It was Western Carolina's second turnover in the first half. The Jackets created 21 turnovers all of last season. With a short field, the Jackets scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession.
B.J. Machen wrapped up the performance with an interception in the fourth quarter.
It wasn't all perfect. Coach Paul Johnson said the linebackers need to work on their pass coverage.
"There are things you can't do as you ratchet up the competition," he said.
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