To end its three-game losing streak to Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech will have to find a way to move the ball and score on a defense that coach Paul Johnson called the best the Yellow Jackets have faced this season.
And the Jackets will have to do so at a point where the coach isn’t terribly enthused with the offense’s execution of its staple plays. At his Monday news conference, Johnson was critical of how Tech has run its option plays and vowed improvement this week in practice in anticipation of the Coastal Division matchup with the Hokies Thursday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“We’ve just got to work on it,” he said. “Rest assured, we’ll work on it this week.”
What isn’t working on the option? In Johnson’s perspective, how about close to everything?
In his first season as starter, quarterback Vad Lee has struggled making the correct reads on when to keep the ball or give it either to the B-back or the A-back. Johnson said that the interior offensive line hasn’t blocked well enough to create paths for the B-back. The A-backs and wide receivers haven’t blocked consistently on the perimeter, preventing 20-yard runs from turning into touchdowns.
Do not mind that Tech is 3-0, is ranked No. 10 in the country in scoring offense despite playing a slow tempo, and on Saturday managed to bungle its way to converting nine of 16 third downs while holding onto the ball for 40 minutes in its win over North Carolina. Broke is broke and Johnson had an explanation.
“We’ve got too much stuff going on,” Johnson said. “We’re doing too much stuff and we’re not good at any of it. That’s not the way I like to play.”
Asked to elaborate, Johnson said he didn’t want to reveal much of the game plan for the Hokies. He did say the number of checks — plays changed at the line of scrimmage — will be limited compared to past games.
“What we’ve got to do is refine what we’re doing and get good at what we do,” Johnson said.
Playing the Hokies doubtlessly accentuates Johnson’s requirement to play with more precision. Virginia Tech is ranked No. 5 in the country in total defense (233.3 yards per game) and tied for No. 28 in scoring defense (17.3 points per game). Georgia Tech is actually ranked No. 12 in scoring defense (11.3 points per game) and 11th in total defense (275.3 yards per game).
“They all can run, they’re very physical, the two inside guys are both 300-pound guys that have good feet and can move,” Johnson said, speaking of Virginia Tech tackles Luther Maddy and Derrick Hopkins. “And the rest of their guys, it’s like a bunch of athletes. They’re not overly big, but, man, they can run. They hit, (are) physical. And they don’t usually screw up. They kind of know what they’re doing.”
In the five games the Hokies and Jackets have met since Johnson’s hire, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s unit has held Georgia Tech under its ACC scoring average all five times and held the Jackets under its yards-per-play average four of the five times. Monday, Johnson gave Foster his due as a game-planner and in-game tactician.
Johnson said the Hokies play the same basic defense annually, but will adjust coverages and assignments.
“Bud does a great job,” Johnson said. “He’s smart. He can look at what you’re doing and come up with a scheme that makes it hard to do what you like to do.”
By Johnson’s standards, his own team is doing likewise.
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