Georgia Tech passing game vs. Georgia secondary
Georgia’s secondary, the team’s defensive liability, would seem to get a reprieve this week. But that may be the key test, since big plays, especially on third down, have been the problem. The Bulldogs have shown they’re capable of being caught napping, and Georgia Tech will surely try to find them asleep.
The Yellow Jackets could almost care less about passing. If they get ahead early, don’t expect to see them go to the air hardly at all. In last week’s 30-20 win over Duke, Georgia Tech passed just seven times, completing only two passes. Sophomore receiver Stephen Hill, the supposed heir apparent to departed Demaryius Thomas, has been less than impressive overall this season, as drops have defined his year more than catches. He hopes to have turned the corner, however, as his tough 79-yard touchdown reception last week looked more like the player many around the Flats have been waiting to see.
Georgia Tech running backs vs. Georgia linebackers
This is where experience should help Georgia. Inside linebacker Akeem Dent and outside linebacker Justin Houston have seen the triple option twice already, and everyone else in the unit at least saw it last year. Houston has made his name on pass rush, but he’s underrated against the run, and will be able to use his edge speed. On the other side, Cornelius Washington and Darryl Gamble have a good blend of size and speed, they just have to react well to the pitch.
B-back Anthony Allen has already rushed for more than 1,000 yards, while quarterbacks Tevin Washington and Joshua Nesbitt have combined to surpass the plateau, as well. Running is where the Yellow Jackets hang their hats, and they do it well. Leading the nation with an average 319.4 yards per game, the Yellow Jackets should be able to move the ball well, even on Georgia’s heralded group of linebackers. The key will be how well the Bulldogs react to the outside pitch to A-backs. Two years ago, they couldn’t handle it, and A-back Roddy Jones ran for 214 yards and multiple touchdowns to cap an emotional Yellow Jackets comeback. Last week, Duke took away the pitch game, opening up Allen to rush for 165 yards into the middle of the field.
Georgia Tech offensive line vs. Georgia defensive line
For two weeks, Bulldog coaches have been teaching their players to get ready for the cut block. Could that fact that nose tackle DeAngelo Tyson and the ends are undersized actually help in this instance, allowing them to rely on their speed to react to blocks?
The Bulldogs have very seldom faced the Yellow Jackets’ low-cutting, shin-busting style of blocking, and have admittedly had trouble replicating it in practices the past two weeks. How well they handle the blocks could dictate Georgia Tech’s success in the rushing game. It has been ironic that while the Yellow Jackets are the nation’s top rushing team, their up-front blocking has been questioned all season by Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, who believes his tackles, like most other position groups, have been hot and cold this year.
Georgia passing game vs. Georgia Tech secondary
This is probably A.J. Green’s last game at Sanford Stadium, and it certainly is senior Kris Durham’s. The pair of tall receivers figure to get plenty of looks from QB Aaron Murray, whose bruised sternum and knee will be tested early. Look for Murray to try to get the tight ends and other receivers involved, too.
Johnson has called A.J. Green the “best player” the Yellow Jackets will face all season. With a secondary that has had success limiting some of the ACC’s best receivers this season, Georgia Tech’s defensive backs are not liable to give up too many long passes deep downfield. Screens, however, like one that resulted in a 79-yard touchdown reception by Miami’s Leonard Hankerson, have confounded them all year. If Green catches numerous passes in space, the Yellow Jackets could be in trouble.
Georgia running backs
vs. Georgia Tech linebackers
Washaun Ealey had a career game in this game last year, but he and Caleb King failed to build on it this season. Georgia’s strategy last year was to ride the two tailbacks and keep the Yellow Jacket offense off the field, but Mark Richt was blunt this week that based on the season so far, they’ll be hard-pressed to do it again.
It is no secret that Ealey and King have had trouble staying on the field and running the football this season. It likewise is no surprise that together, they torched the Yellow Jackets for 339 yards in last season’s win in Atlanta. Georgia Tech’s four-man linebacker rotation is well aware of the danger of the elusive ballcarriers, and will do what it can to squeeze the middle of the field and prevent either from enjoying a big evening. Facing a run-oriented offense in the preseason should help the Yellow Jackets linebackers, who as of late, have mostly held opposing rushing offenses in check.
Georgia offensive line vs. Georgia Tech defensive line
After a rough start, Georgia has found a combination of six linemen it’s comfortable with, and the result has been a more fluid performance. The main job Saturday figures to be pass blocking, namely to keep Murray from aggravating his injuries.
All season, the Bulldogs have been facing big, meaty SEC defensive lines, most recently contending with the likes of Auburn and hefty tackle Nick Fairley. The Yellow Jackets’ three-man group, by comparison, is not very large and has struggled to make plays this season. After a strong spring, Jason Peters hasn’t been as impressive as expected at defensive end, while tackles Logan Walls and T.J. Barnes have amassed very few tackles. The Bulldogs could have their day with a mostly undersized line, giving Murray time to pass.
Georgia Tech return units vs. Georgia coverage teams
Georgia’s kickoff and punt coverage remains among the best in the nation. The Bulldogs have 13 touchback kickoffs, and when opponents return it they’re only averaging 19.9 yards per return.
Kick and punt returns have been problem areas for the Yellow Jackets as they have averaged just 21.2 yards per kick return and 6.2 per punt. The kickoffs don’t worry Johnson as much as the punts, as he and special teams coordinator Charles Kelly have tried all kinds of schemes to get punt returner Jerrard Tarrant blocks to get into space. Last season, Tarrant had two punt return touchdowns -- by the second game of the year. He has none in 2010.
Georgia return units vs. Georgia Tech coverage teams
Georgia’s Brandon Boykin, the program’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards, is third in the SEC with a 25.7-yard per return average. The punt returns have been a bit more erratic, but that’s partly due to Branden Smith missing several games with a concussion.
While the Yellow Jackets have struggled on special teams all season, their coverage units have actually been fairly successful. On kickoffs, opponents are averaging just 19.0 yards per return. One of the keys to their success on kick coverage has been Macon native Julian Burnett, who Johnson has called a “heat-seeking missile” looking for stops to make.
Kickers
Blair Walsh missed the cut for the Groza Award finalist, but he’s still 18-for-21 on field goals this season, with two from beyond 50 yards. Drew Butler is a finalist for the Ray Guy award, given to the nation’s top punter. He’s averaging 41.9 per punt, with 18 of his 43 being downed inside the 20.
Scott Blair will be handling all of Georgia Tech’s kicking duties for the second time this season. It worked out well for him against Duke, as he had a pair of punts that went further than 40 yards and made all three of his field-goal attempts--each from beyond 40 yards. The primary place-kicker -- both punters Sean Poole and Chandler Anderson were hurt last week -- is 15-for-17 this season.
Coaches
Richt is assured of coming back next year, assuming nothing unforeseen comes up. But some of his assistants could be coaching for their survival, with the exception of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and his guaranteed three-year contract.
Johnson is in unfamiliar territory this season, coaching a team that has undergone a three-game losing streak. It was only the second time in his 14-year head-coaching career that he went through such a stretch. Expect the coach to get his players fired up for this game in much they fashion they were for the last game they played in Athens.
-- Seth Emerson and Coley Harvey
