For the second week in a row, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson isn’t quite sure what to expect from the opposition defense.
Last week, Johnson said he couldn’t find any games in which Syracuse coach Scott Shafer had faced an option offense similar to Tech’s, leaving him uncertain about how the Orange would line up on defense. It did not impair the Yellow Jackets in their 56-0 win. This week, the defensive coordinator is familiar. Virginia’s defensive coordinator is Jon Tenuta, who was the Tech’s defensive coordinator 2002-07 under Chan Gailey. Tenuta, in fact, served as interim coach at the Humanitarian Bowl in December 2007 after Gailey was fired. Johnson watched the game from the press box.
However, examples of Tenuta’s work against the option are scant. He was on the N.C. State staff in 2010 and 2011 when the Wolfpack faced Tech, but he wasn’t the coordinator. Tenuta was at Notre Dame in 2008-09 when the Irish played Navy, but he was the coordinator only for the second season.
“I go back and watch a lot of games,” Johnson said. “We watch ’em all.”
Johnson does expect Tenuta’s trademark aggressive style. The Cavaliers lead the FBS in third-down conversion rate, at 26.6 percent, but also are tied for 103rd in plays allowed of 20 yards or more with 38.
No tweeting: Quarterback Vad Lee answered fans' questions Tuesday night on the athletic department's Twitter account, @GTAthletics. It actually was Lee's first time on Twitter in about a month. After receiving hostile messages on his personal account following his poor play in the Virginia Tech game, Lee decided to stay away from the site.
“I was just trying to be smart and get away from it before it becomes a distraction,” Lee said.
Lee said he probably will start to use his account again after the season. Among Lee’s responses Tuesday: His favorite restaurant in Atlanta is Mary Mac’s Tea Room, his biggest role model is his older brother and, in response to being asked if he was afraid of Georgia, “I might be a little scared of that mascot.”
Injury report: At his Tuesday news conference, Johnson said that linebacker Anthony Harrell (leg) is out for the season, confirming his comment on his Monday night radio show that "we've probably lost him for the year." However, he somewhat upgraded the status of offensive tackle Ray Beno's foot injury, describing him as "week to week" after saying Monday night that he would be surprised if he played again this season.
Wearing a walking boot, Beno did not take part in Tuesday’s practice, nor did center Jay Finch.
Johnson praised Harrell for his practice habits and perseverance.
“He’d been third team forever and rather than pout, he played on all the special teams. He kept coming to practice and working hard and fighting hard, and it’s a shame he got hurt because he was really starting to come into his own and being a good player,” Johnson said.
Stopping Virginia: Among the priorities for the Tech defense is stopping Virginia running back Kevin Parks, who as a junior already has 2,003 career rushing yards and has scored 22 rushing touchdowns. At 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds, he's a change from Syracuse's featured back, Jerome Smith (6-0, 226). Tech's defensive linemen will need to be mindful of staying in their assigned gaps.
“You have to be a little bit more disciplined, play your blocks, stick to them because as soon as you mess up, he can get through a crevice very easily,” defensive tackle Euclid Cummings said.
About the Author
