Georgia Tech could turn to backup against Georgia

A few weeks ago Georgia Tech, head coach Paul Johnson was trying to find a way to get backup quarterback Matthew Jordan some playing time. Now the redshirt freshman could be on the verge of getting the start against the team's biggest rival.

It all depends on the health of starter Justin Thomas, who left Saturday's game against Miami in the first quarter with neck issues. Thomas did not return against the Hurricanes, and there's no guarantee he'll be available to start this week's season finale against Georgia. Johnson won't say until the injury report is issued Thursday afternoon.

If Thomas can't play, Jordan will get the start.

"He's a tough kid," Johnson said. "I think he's a decent runner. He throws the ball adequately. He's got to make better decisions than he did on Saturday, when to pitch it, when to keep, when not to throw it and when to throw."

Jordan rushed 28 times for 60 yards and scored one touchdown. He completed 4-of-8 passes for 59 yards. He fumbled six times, was sacked once and threw an interception. The 28 carries were the most by a Georgia Tech quarterback since Tevin Washington ran 32 times for 120 yards against Maryland in 2011.

"I thought he did OK," Johnson said. "He did some good things, but you have to value the ball. He made some critical mistakes. But I think he competed. He went out there and played hard and competed."

Jordan had flashes of indecision that were heightened when he made the wrong choice on a pitch and got an earful from his head coach on the sideline. Johnson said Monday he should have delivered the message differently.

"The first time he ran the option to the left, the turn up field, and he pitched it on the ground, and I got after him pretty good," Johnson said. "That's a pretty good indication when I got after him good that he won't ever turn it loose again. And he didn't for a long time. That's just human nature."

The same thing happened when Jordan decided to run on a play-action call, even though wide receiver Ricky Jeune was wide open.

"He gets a little pressure, and he pulls it down," Johnson said. "I yell at him, 'The guy's wide open. You've got to turn it loose.' Next time he turned it loose. The guy wasn't wide open. When you're dealing with young guys, you've got to be careful what you've asked for because you'll get it, right at the time you don't need it."

Since he was elevated to the No. 2 quarterback when Tim Byerly was injured in the second game, Jordan has gotten just as many practice reps as Thomas. Johnson explained how there are two offensive huddles in practice during the 20-minute option period and each unit _ one led by Thomas, the other by Jordan -- gets about 20-plus reps per practice.

"The twos get as much as the ones," Johnson said. "It's not like the ones are out there for 45 minutes and the twos don't get the same amount of reps."

Jordan was one of seven freshman who was on the field at the same time Saturday. The same is likely to be the case this week against Georgia.

"The effort hasn't been a problem," he said. "We've just got to be smarter about hanging onto the ball."

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Georgia Tech could turn to backup against Georgia ."