Big plays burning Georgia Tech's defense

ATLANTA -- One way the Georgia Tech defense needs to improve is in the area of big plays. The Yellow Jackets have succumbed too often, especially during the past four games, to those kinds of plays.

"The biggest thing is, we've got to eliminate the big play," head coach Paul Johnson said. "It's hard for the other team if you make them go 4, 5, 6 yards a play, but when you give up seven or eight huge plays over 20 (yards) every game, the results are going to be what it is."

Big plays are defined as those going for 25 yards or more. The Yellow Jackets allowed only three of those during their first two games, but they have allowed 20 during the past four games. They gave up six big plays the past two weeks in losses to North Carolina and Clemson. Four of the big plays against Clemson came on third down.

"You can't survive that way," Johnson said. "Especially when the offense isn't good enough to keep up."

The Yellow Jackets host Pittsburgh on Saturday as they try to snap a four-game losing streak.

YOUNG A-BACKS FILL ROLES

Clinton Lynch now finds himself one of the old men among the A-backs who are still upright, although he's a redshirt freshman who has just six games of varsity experience. He has worked his way into a role as a dependable runner and perhaps the best receiver among the running backs.

On Saturday against Clemson, quarterback Justin Thomas hooked up with Lynch for a 50-yard touchdown, one of the few highlights of an otherwise forgettable day. Thomas ran play-action, and Lynch found himself all alone, about 30 yards down the field. All Thomas had to do was deliver the ball and Lynch caught it for an easy score.

"I felt like I had to make a play," he said. "My team really needed it. I had to make the most of my opportunity."

Lynch has been making the most of his chances all season. He has rushed 17 times for 130 yards, a 7.6-yard average, and scored two touchdowns. He has caught four passes for 126 yards, a 31.5-yard average, and one touchdown,

Despite the losing streak, which has the Yellow Jackets scrambling to extend their streak of bowl appearances, Lynch is trying to remain positive.

"We can make it work. We can bounce back," he said. "In my mind, we feel like we can bounce back from anything."

Johnson said some of the team's true freshman backs are also starting to play well. He mentioned Mikell Lands-Davis and TaQuon Marshall.

"We've got to get them healthy and keep them out there for a little bit so they can get better," Johnson said.

Lands-Davis has six carries for 20 yards, as well as four receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown in two games.

"We didn't play him until the fifth game, but he's coming on. He's going to help us as a true freshman," Johnson said.

Marshall has rushed seven times for 44 yards and caught three passes for 76 yards and one touchdown in five games.

"TaQuon has been hurt as a freshman. I think he can do things," Johnson said.

Another true freshman is B-back Marcus Marshall, who led the team with 45 yards against Clemson. Marshall has rushed for 280 yards and two touchdowns in five games and will split time again this week with Patrick Skov, who leads the team with 323 yards rushing and five touchdowns. But Skov had only two carries against Clemson.

FIRST PITCH

The annual White-Gold intrasquad baseball series starts this weekend at Russ Chandler Stadium. It will be a good chance to look at the freshman class that's ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation by Perfect Game, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America.

That group includes four players who were drafted: right-handed pitcher Tristin English from Pike County, catcher Joey Bart from Buford, middle infielder Carter Hall from Wesleyan and right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hughes from Flowery Branch.

The pitching matchups are Zach Ryan vs. Ben Parr at 4 p.m. on Friday; Brandon Gold vs. Cole Pitts at 2 p.m. on Sunday; and Jonathan Hughes vs. Patrick Wiseman at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Admission is free.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 10:23 PM with the headline "Big plays burning Georgia Tech's defense ."