Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson came bearing praise and caveats.
Speaking Monday at his weekly news conference, he said that the Yellow Jackets are a fairly physical team that can run pretty well and defend the run, too. Toughness and strength in rushing offense and rushing defense — they may be Johnson’s three most prized traits in a team.
“Will we win every game? I don’t know, that’s why you play,” Johnson said. “But I think when we do the things that we do well and take care of the ball, we can be a tough out.”
The part about taking care of the ball is the rub, and is particularly critical for the Jackets’ Thursday night matchup with No. 8 Clemson. While Tech is on a three-game winning streak and playing some of its best defense in Johnson’s tenure, it has not been particularly effective in one category — turnover margin. Tech is minus-four for the season, tied for 92nd in FBS. Even over the three-game winning streak, the Jackets are minus-three — eight giveaways, five takeaways — and two of the takeaways were interceptions with the games in hand.
Said defensive coordinator Ted Roof, “We’ve got to do a better job there.”
With an explosive offense and a defense tied for fourth in the country in third-down conversion defense, Clemson doesn’t need help with extra possessions. The Tigers have profited when they’ve received turnover assistance. Since 2011, offensive coordinator Chad Morris’ first season on coach Dabo Swinney’s staff, the Tigers are 17-1 when winning the turnover battle.
This season, the Tigers are plus-nine, tied for 10th in the country. Last year’s Tech-Clemson game turned on a turnover. The Jackets led 28-27 in the third quarter and faced a fourth-and-1 on the Clemson 7-yard line. A botched center-quarterback exchange killed the play, returning the ball to the Tigers. Tech lost 47-31.
The Jackets have made considerable strides in tackling, limiting yards after contact. However, Tech has forced only 10 fumbles, recovering four. By comparison, Clemson has forced 16 fumbles, recovering eight. Roof said there isn’t a tradeoff between sure tackling and forcing fumbles.
“I think that, to me, it’s usually math,” he said. “It’s either contact at the ball or it’s population at the ball. We’ve been so close so many times the last few weeks, just haven’t gotten the takeaways that we need to get.”
Linebacker Quayshawn Nealy said improved pass rush and better execution of assignments, which the Jackets have demonstrated of late, will produce the desired takeaways.
“We’re so close to getting that ball out,” Nealy said.
Fumbles have hounded the Tech offense. The Jackets have put the ball on the ground 20 times, losing nine. The Jackets turned the ball over five times against Virginia and lost it twice against Pittsburgh on fumbles off of option plays.
While quarterback Vad Lee has run the option more effectively, quarterbacks and B-backs coach Bryan Cook said that his status as a first-year starter stopped being a valid explanation for his ball-security issues, “probably about four weeks ago. I think he’s frustrated with the ball security part of it, too. That’s something we’ve got to get better at.”
To have a chance at an upset, Tech will have to swim upstream and overcome its turnover deficiencies against a team that has made it a strength.
“We just know we have to get it,” defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu said. “That’s a column we have to fill up as a defense.”
Etc.: Johnson said Monday that he expects offensive tackle Ray Beno, who has missed the past four games with a foot injury, to be available against Clemson, although he likely won't start. … A-back Robert Godhigh was named to the list of candidates for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the top former walk-on in the country. Godhigh has gained 708 yards from scrimmage this season on just 54 touches. Former Tech center Sean Bedford won the award in 2010. … Tech's Nov. 23 game against Alabama A&M was given a 1:30 p.m. kickoff time. The game will be broadcast online on ESPN3.
