After a game littered with missed tackles, the Georgia Tech defense honed in on tackling technique at its Tuesday morning practice. Defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker said that the idea of the second and third player to the ball arriving to push the pile back or bring it to the ground was emphasized.
Thacker was even personally involved in a drill in which linebackers tackled him to the ground, falling on a mat.
The Yellow Jackets gave up 491 yards of offense to Virginia Tech in their 26-17 loss Saturday, many gained after defensive players couldn’t bring Hokies players to the ground. The Jackets play at Miami on Saturday. The Hurricanes do not lack for elusive skill players, such as running back Jaylan Knighton and wide receiver Charleston Rambo.
Thacker mentioned a play in Saturday’s game in which a Hokies ball carrier was hit two yards past the line of scrimmage but managed to fall forward another six yards.
“I know that’s just six yards in a game where we gave up more than we’d ever want to, but that play was indicative that we showed (Tuesday) morning of what we’re trying to make sure that we always fight against,” Thacker said. “So like anything, when you get to Saturday, you play to the behaviors that you train through the course of the week. So we made sure that we absolutely addressed that and tried to put in practical things in practice and an emphasis to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
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