Georgia Tech demonstrated remarkable dominance on Saturday, but they faced a significantly overmatched VMI team. The Yellow Jackets allowed just 104 yards on 47 plays, averaging only 2.2 yards per play and recording three sacks. After their previous performance against Syracuse, it must have felt great for the defense to assert themselves from beginning to end, though they still have much to prove, starting this Saturday on the road against Louisville.
To be fair, we haven’t yet seen the Cardinals compete against a major power conference opponent. Louisville has easily defeated Austin Peay and Jacksonville State in their first two games, but Georgia Tech is a much stronger opponent than either of those teams. How much of a difference will that make? We’ll find out on Saturday.
With all due respect to Florida State, Georgia State, and VMI, Syracuse is the only team with a significant passing attack that Georgia Tech has faced this season, and the results were not favorable. Syracuse amassed 515 total yards, with quarterback Kyle McCord completing 32 of 46 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns. At least four receivers caught five passes each, and the duo of Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden combined for four touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets’ defense struggled to stop Syracuse and, notably, failed to apply any pressure. McCord had ample time to throw and delivered an outstanding performance. While the Georgia Tech defense has improved in some aspects, they now have an opportunity to demonstrate that progress in just a few weeks.
One could argue that Syracuse has more talented receivers and a better quarterback than Louisville, but the Cardinals still possess a strong passing game, largely due to their head coach, Jeff Brohm, who is among the best offensive minds in the country. It’s likely he observed the game against Syracuse and plans to exploit Georgia Tech in a similar manner, and he has the players to execute that strategy.
Transfer quarterback Tyler Shough has faced injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, he has shown potential as a solid quarterback. This season, he has thrown for 581 yards and six touchdowns while completing 68.4% of his passes. Leading receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, a transfer from Alabama, has 13 catches for 172 yards, and Jadon Thompson has two touchdowns. These players are poised to challenge the Georgia Tech secondary, and Brohm will position them for success.
When analyzing the matchup, it appears to favor Louisville. The Cardinals rank 19th in dropback success rate at 46%, while Georgia Tech’s defense ranks 112th in that category. Louisville is also 39th in expected points added (EPA) per dropback, whereas Georgia Tech is 94th in EPA allowed per dropback. However, it’s worth noting that Louisville has yet to face a formidable opponent, though their stats are impressive thus far.
Saturday’s game may hinge on Georgia Tech’s pass rush and how effectively their defense can disrupt the quarterback and create chaos. It’s important to note that Louisville boasts a much stronger running game than Syracuse, so they won’t rely solely on the pass. However, Georgia Tech’s run defense appears to have improved. The question remains whether defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci will need to utilize blitzes to pressure Shough, or if players like Romello Height, Sylvain Yondjouen, Kevin Harris, or others can generate pressure on their own.
The defense was a significant concern for Georgia Tech heading into the season. While there have been improvements in some areas, their performance against Syracuse’s passing game was disappointing. This Saturday presents a chance for them to face a solid offense and prove that their previous struggles do not define their season.
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