Virginia Tech Football: Georgia Tech Q&A Preview

Just one week removed from a nail-biting 24-21 victory in Durham, the Hokies are set to welcome Georgia Tech to Lane Stadium on Saturday. Paul Johnson's triple-option offense will once again be led by redshirt senior quarterback Justin Thomas, the Jackets' veteran signal-caller who is expected to play despite departing in the third quarter last week against North Carolina with an apparent upper-body/facial injury. To get some first-hand insight on Georgia Tech heading into this annual Coastal Division showdown, I spoke to Ken Sugiura, beat writer for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

JC: After a miserable 3-9 season in 2015, the Yellow Jackets have limped to a 5-4 record this fall, nearing a return to bowl play that may alleviate questions surrounding Paul Johnson's job. How hot is Johnson's seat in Atlanta? Have Yellow Jackets fans had their fill of the triple option, or is there confidence Johnson can get the program back to annually contending in the Coastal?

KS: I think it probably depends on whom you ask. I think there's some elements of the fan base that believe that the Yellow Jackets are doomed to be mediocre and that Johnson is the reason. They believe that he can't recruit the sort of players that Tech needs to improve beyond 6-7 wins, and that his offense is part of the reason why. Obviously, going 3-9 last year and this season's so-so results have had a lot to do with it.

But, I think there's also a segment of the fan base that recognizes that what he's done – two 11-win seasons and three ACC title-game appearances – hasn't often been achieved at Georgia Tech in the last 50 years and believe he is the right fit for the school and realize that the 2014 season was just two years ago. They think the offense suits a team that may never haul in four- and five-star recruits and that likely benefits from playing an unorthodox style to compete. Further, they recognize that the offense isn't the problem. ESPN rates Georgia Tech the No. 21 offense and the No. 109 defense. (Although Johnson is ultimately responsible for that, also.)

Ultimately, though, the athletic department's financial situation (a lot of debt and now payments owed to two former basketball coaches) and the size of his buyout means that he isn't going anywhere.

JC: Georgia Tech once again has a wide array of weapons in the backfield churning out rushing yards in Johnson's famed option offense. Outside of Thomas, who's the best of the bunch? Any under the radar backs you could see making an impact on Saturday?

KS: Particularly without B-back (fullback) Dedrick Mills (suspended for a violation of team rules), the Jackets' biggest impact player on offense besides Thomas is probably A-back (slotback) Clinton Lynch. Catching passes down the seam and on wheel routes and taking pitches on the perimeter, Lynch is averaging 10.6 yards per touch on 28 touches and has scored five touchdowns of 45 yards or longer. Wide receiver Ricky Jeune has developed in his second year as a starter and will be a part of the Jackets' attempts to take pressure off the running game. He doesn't get the ball often, but is pretty good at winning jump balls downfield.

Without Mills, the starter at B-back will be Marcus Marshall, who was Georgia Tech's leading rusher last year as a freshman. He's faster than Mills but Mills is probably better between the tackles.

JC: Georgia Tech's defense has really struggled of late under Ted Roof, surrendering 35 or more points in four straight conference games. What's plaguing the Yellow Jackets on that side of the ball, and what sort of adjustments do you see Roof making to turn it around?

A lot of things. Last week, North Carolina hammered Georgia Tech with 636 yards of offense and scored six touchdowns and two field goals on the nine drives that didn't end the halves. There have been problems with players getting lined up wrong, getting caught making changes at the snap and the infamous "eye discipline" (players watching the ball instead of their keys). However, I think a lot of it is that the defensive line is having trouble making plays, against the run and particularly in pass rush. Georgia Tech has 14 sacks, which is tied for 104th in FBS. Not surprisingly, the Jackets are dead last in FBS in third-down efficiency at 52 percent.

I think what you may see is more aggressive play – more (and heavier) blitzes and tighter coverage on the back end. Both, obviously, come with their risks, and I seem to recall the latter ploy not working so well for Pitt against the Hokies.

JC: With rover Terrell Edmunds suspended for the first half and Bud Foster's unit as a whole reeling a bit after two shaky performances, the door may be open for the Yellow Jackets to play spoiler in Blacksburg. The Hokies opened as 14-point favorites, but recent history of this rivalry suggests that line may be too high. What does Georgia Tech need to do to pull off the upset Saturday?

KS: I think it's the typical things – control the ball and turn possessions into touchdowns. Georgia Tech has had some red-zone problems the last two games. I think it's almost unavoidable that the Hokies will move the ball against the Jackets, but Georgia Tech has to kill at least a few possessions with third-down stops or turnovers. The 2014 team (one of only two to beat Virginia Tech since coach Paul Johnson's hire) got a huge lift, you may recall, from linebacker P.J. Davis' interception return for a touchdown.

JC: Time to put you on the spot: who wins Saturday, and why?

KS: I think the absence of Mills is really big. The offense kind of centers around its ability to crank out three- and four-yard carries from that position to set up the 3rd-and-shorts that it's so effective at converting to keep the chains moving. Without that, the degree of difficulty rises considerably. Also, while I believe the defense can play better – it has in spurts – there's not a lot to suggest that significantly improved play is forthcoming.

The game is funny, though, and Hokies fans know well from the Syracuse game that there are no foregone conclusions. If Georgia Tech plays at or near its peak and gets some breaks, the Jackets can undoubtedly leave Blacksburg with a win. It's just hard to see that happening, though.