Tech is off to a 2-0 start, but the team has a lot to work on going into the Vanderbilt game and ACC play. The team has struggled in several categories: running between the tackles, first and third down defense and pressuring the quarterback.
Tech has been forced by opponents to try and beat them on the outside so far this season. Boston College did an excellent job defending Tech’s B-back dive play, and against Mercer, head coach Paul Johnson primarily ran plays to the outside.
Teams are loading the box up in order to stop Johnson’s favorite play call. Tech’s two top B-backs are freshman Dedrick Mills and sophomore Marcus Marshall. Mills and Marshall had a combined 28 carries for 99 yards versus Boston College. B-backs accounted for 61 percent of carries in that game.
Against Mercer, Mills was suspended, and B-backs only accounted for 13 carries for 59 yards. Tech ran the ball 52 times against Mercer, and only 25 percent were B-back carries. That kind of shift in carries versus an FCS team is an alarming trend.
Some of it may have to do with Mills being suspended, but Saturday showed that Coach Johnson felt the team would have more success running plays to the outside. Johnson had commented on the offensive line’s struggles after the Boston College game.
Position battles have opened back up, and new faces got to play versus Mercer. Only having 13 carries to the B-back shows that the holes weren’t open for them and that Tech could use their speed to gain yards on the outside. A-backs accounted for 159 yards on 17 carries, so Tech was much more successful in that aspect of the running game. Sophomore A-back Qua Searcy led the way with a career-high 91 yards.
Tech’s next two opponents have very good defensive lines. Last year, Vanderbilt was the best in the country at stopping the run on third and short and had the seventh best stuff rate, which is the percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped for zero or negative yards. Clemson, of course, went 8-0 in ACC play.
Boston College had the number one stuff rate last year and held Tech to one of their fewest rushing totals in the Paul Johnson era. The major question on offense against Vanderbilt will be whether or not Tech will be able to run their the ball with consistency.
The lack of production and number of carries between the tackles shows that Johnson may believe this is an issue.
In defense, Tech held Boston College and Mercer to 14 and 10 points, respectively. Tech is 14th in scoring defense, but those numbers don’t tell the true story.
Yardage numbers and conversion rates show that Tech has been lucky to give up so few points this season. On first downs, Tech’s defense is giving up 6.67 yards per play, which is an abysmal number.
The reason this number is so high is because Tech plays a very conservative, “bend-but-
don’t-break” defense. Their defense gives up a lot of yards, with the hope of eventually having a few good plays in a row and forcing a turnover or a punt.
On first down, opponent completion percentage is 71.4 percent, and they are averaging 12 yards per completion. Mercer took advantage of Tech’s relaxed defense and had success on short passes to the outside and on screen plays.
Third-down defense has not been much better for the Jackets this season. Tech’s run defense has given up eight first downs on 14 third-down plays. Their passing defense has given up seven first downs on 18 plays. In total, Tech has allowed a third-down conversion rate of 50 percent, which ranks 110th of 128 in the FBS.
Opponents are having success moving the ball and sustaining drives because Tech is struggling to pressure the quarterback. Only junior defensive end Antonio Simmons has had success in that department, leading the team with two sacks. Tech needs more players to step up to the plate or, perhaps instead, the quarterback.
Overall, Tech’s defense ranks 76th in yards per play at 5.25 yards, which is better than last year’s 5.82. However, Tech hasn’t played teams known for their offense so far this season.
It’s quite the accomplishment that Tech is currently 14th in the country in scoring defense despite allowing so many yards per play. The “bend-but-don’t-break” scheme has worked for Tech so far due to forcing three turnovers, blocking two kicks and holding opponents to a red zone success rate of 40 percent this season.
Tech’s opponents this season have not taken advantage of their opportunities. Given that Tech held opponents to a red zone success rate of 83 percent last year and 79 percent in 2014, continuing at this pace is highly unlikely.
Tech will have to show a lot of improvement rushing the quarterback and limiting first down yardage to stop the highly potent offenses in the ACC.