5 things to know before Georgia Tech-Pittsburgh

Jackets winning field-position battle

Georgia Tech’s clean play on offense and takeaway proclivities on defense, as well as the improved performance of the kickoff team, have given the Jackets an advantage in an area where they’ve not had one often in coach Geoff Collins’ tenure – field position.

Tech has had the better average starting field position in three of its four games this season after holding the advantage five times in Collins’ first two seasons. With Collins, the Jackets are 6-2 when it has the better starting field position and 2-16 when they don’t.

The Jackets are tied for eighth in FBS in average turnover margin at plus-1.3, with eight takeaways and three giveaways through four games. In the win over North Carolina, Tech’s three forced fumbles of quarterback Sam Howell – two returned deep into Tar Heels territory – helped generate an average starting position of its 42-yard line, the best in Collins’ tenure. The previous best had been set two weeks earlier against Kennesaw State, when the average starting point was its 41-yard line.

Kicker Gavin Stewart also has contributed by producing touchbacks on 63.6% of his kickoffs (14-for-22). Moreover, of the eight non-touchback kickoffs, six were fair caught and only two were returned, limiting the potential for big returns. Tech’s touchback percentage last season was 24.4%, second to last in the ACC.

Pickett a problem to solve

Defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker is loathe to offer any commentary that might incite an opponent, but he was a gusher of praise for Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, describing him as “one of the elite quarterbacks in college football right now.” Pitt is fourth in FBS in passing yards per game (386.5 yards per game) with a 16/1 touchdown/interception ratio, “and it is all because of Kenny Pickett,” Thacker said.

Thacker called him a “frustrating dude to compete against” – this is Pickett’s fourth game against Tech – and commended his feel for the game and ability to move around the pocket. Pickett is a combined 58-for-91 passing for 597 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions in three games against the Jackets, winning each start.

“Can’t overstate how good he is and how mature and how developed he is,” Thacker said. “He should get way more attention than he’s getting right now. He is top-notch. He’s playing better than any quarterback in the league right now.”

He paused before adding “Except for our guys, Jeff (Sims) and Jordan (Yates).”

Tech defense handling the job

Tech has held its first four opponents under 25 points. The last time the Jackets held four consecutive teams under 25 (in one season) was in 2014, when they defeated Virginia 35-10, N.C. State 56-23, No. 19 Clemson 28-6 and No. 9 Georgia 30-24 on their memorable run that culminated in an Orange Bowl title.

The last time that the Jackets held more than four consecutive opponents below 25 points was in 2008, coach Paul Johnson’s first season, when Tech’s first eight opponents all were held under that bar.

While Tech’s performance has taken a jump in the past two games since defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker moved from a 4-2-5 alignment to a 3-3-5, he said he didn’t want the impact of the scheme shift to be overstated.

“I think our identity has nothing to do with structure and has everything to do with how hard they’re playing and just the effort,” he said. “Just the violence, the physicality they’re playing with and the energy they’re playing with.”

Speaking to Pittsburgh media, Pitt running backs coach Andre Powell said that it’s “a typical Georgia Tech defense” in its high level of effort and that the scheme is unique in the ACC.

“We’re trying to work out the kinks, trying to get a hat on a hat, get a seam, protect the quarterback,” he said “It’s going to take a little bit.”

Tech greats feted

Tech will honor its newest inductees to its sports Hall of Fame during an on-field ceremony at halftime. The seven 2020 inductees, who were not able to have an in-person induction ceremony last year because of COVID-19, will also be presented. The induction dinner will be held Friday evening at McCamish Pavilion.

The eight 2021 inductees are Travis Bell (two-time All-ACC kicker in 2004, 2007) Agnus Berenato (women’s basketball coach 1986-2003), Derek Dietrich (All-American baseball shortstop in 2010), Irina Falconi (2010 national women’s tennis player of the year), James Forrest (most outstanding player of 1993 ACC men’s basketball tournament), Alphonso Jordan (three-time All-American triple jumper in 2009, 2010), Vance Walker (All-American defensive tackle in 2007) and Jen Yee (2010 ACC softball player of the year).

The 2020 inductees are Morgan Burnett (All-American safety in 2008), Chesson Hadley (All-American golfer in 2008), Amanda McDowell (2008 NCAA women’s tennis singles champion), Deck McGuire (2009 ACC baseball pitcher of the year), Aileen Morales (three-time All-AC C softball infielder in 2005, 2007-08), Gal Nevo (2009-10 ACC swimmer of the year) and George O’Leary (1998, 2000 ACC football coach of the year).

A gripping moment

The pregame meeting and postgame handshake between Collins and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi will be under particular scrutiny after their awkward handshake following Pitt’s 34-20 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Dec. 10. At the ACC Kickoff media event in Charlotte, N.C., in July, both coaches confirmed meeting there and making peace.

“That’s a long time ago, but I was just like, Hey, whatever happened, happened — no disrespect,” Collins said then. “We yukked it up and talked, so it was a good moment.”

Said Narduzzi this week to Pittsburgh media, “It’s over as far as I’m concerned. We’ll have a nice pregame talk. There will be nothing to that. He’s a classy guy, and I appreciate him apologizing. I know how tempers go. I didn’t take it personal. It’s just not how we’re going to do things any more, I hope.”