Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Key To The 2022 Offense
Move … the … chains.
It’s basic, but Georgia Tech has to start to take control of games again.
Back when the O was rocking and rolling under Paul Johnson, the option attack managed to own the clock, go on long, deliberate drives by owning third downs, and everything else flowed from there. When the offense struggled on third downs – like in 2015 – it all fell apart in a clunker of a campaign.
Being well above 40% on third down conversions was the norm under Johnson, but Georgia Tech has failed to get there in two of the last three seasons. Under 36% in seven of the last ten games last season, the offense has to stay on the field, and the defense has to …
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Key To The 2022 Defense
Take … the ball … away.
The offense isn’t going to light it up on a regular basis, but it can and should be functional. The defense has to give that O as many breaks as possible, and it has to create its own positive plays.
Georgia Tech forced multiple turnovers three times last year. It force three takeaways against Kennesaw State, North Carolina, and Miami – two of the three wins on the year – and just four in the other nine games.
The biggest problem was a secondary that generated just one interception – the other two came from LB Charlie Thomas. There were two picks against Kennesaw State, one against Duke, and that was it for the nation’s least efficient pass defense.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Key Player To The 2022 Season
QB Jeff Sims, Soph.
Name your player on either line who needs to step up and rock, and coming up with a big performer in the secondary would be great. However, the Yellow Jackets need Sims to be a bigger difference-maker … and healthy.
He was strong in the midseason, but he missed most of the first few games and missed the last three. He wasn’t always accurate, and he’s had a problem in his first two years with picks, he’s got the tools and talent to go along with the experience. With so many moving parts – and a new style of attack – it’s up to him to carry the team.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Key Transfer
RB Hassan Hall, Jr.
Jahmyr Gibbs is projected as a possible first round draft pick in 2023, but the team’s star running back is now doing his thing for Alabama. Dontae Smith is a good veteran back, but the Yellow Jacket offense needs more options and more pop to the ground game without Gibbs.
Buffalo transfer Dylan McDuffie will help – he ran for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns last year for the Bulls – and Hall is a reliable four-year veteran who ran for close to 1,300 yards for Louisville. This is his chance to breakout.
Georgia Tech Key Game To The 2022 Season
at UCF, Sept. 24
There are several ACC games that matter, but in terms of building up a better season and push for something decent – like a bowl game – coming up with early wins is a must. With Clemson, Ole Miss, and a trip to Pitt within the first five games, lose to UCF and it will likely be a 1-4 start – with the lone win coming against Western Carolina – without a big upset.
There are winnable dates on the slate, but coming up with four wins in the final seven games might be doable with a few breaks. Winning five of the last seven isn’t with four of the last five games on the road.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: 2021 Fun Stats
– 1st half scoring: Opponents 245 – Georgia Tech 143
– Red Zone TDs: Opponents 31-of-51 (61%) – Georgia Tech 18-of-37 (49%)
– Interceptions: Opponents 10 (returned for 154 yards) – Georgia Tech 3 for six yards
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