The meaning of Tech giving up 609 yards
Could Georgia Tech’s 609-yard meltdown have been an aberration? From one perspective (and probably many others), possibly, but most likely not.
In 2011, there were 22 games between BCS conference opponents in which one team gave up yardage within 25 yards either way of the 609 surrendered by the Yellow Jackets to Miami. Some defenses were torched multiple times, 16 teams in all.
Of those 16, 10 finished 81st or worse in total defense at the end of the 2011 season. The rest were Wisconsin (15th), Arkansas (47th), Oklahoma (55th), Missouri (61st), Clemson (71st) and Purdue (73rd). Tech finished 44th last season at 359.3 yards per game. Those six could be well explained by their opponents.
The opposing offenses, with 2011 rank in total offense, were No. 4 Oregon (vs. Wisconsin), No. 7 Texas A&M (Arkansas), No. 5 Baylor (Oklahoma), No. 12 Oklahoma (Missouri), No. 15 West Virginia (Clemson) and No. 14 Wisconsin (Purdue). It’s a lot of Big 12 offenses and defenses, though in some ways that makes Miami’s 609 number even more concerning. The Hurricanes hadn’t cracked 600 yards since 2000, and that was against McNeese State.
To provide a more apples-to-apples comparison, 10 ACC teams gave up 500 or more yards against in a league game last year – Boston College, Duke (twice), Maryland (four times) and Wake Forest (twice). They finished 70th, 92nd, 108th and 74th, respectively – all worse than Tech.
The point being, if a team gives up 500 yards or more, chances are pretty good that it’s not a fluke. A defense does not give up 609 yards (or 584 in regulation) by accident.
Further, there were few, if any, cheapies that Miami got against the Jackets. Besides the 65-yard pass play from Stephen Morris to Phillip Dorsett at the game’s outset, Miami’s longest play was 32 yards. And the 65-yarder was the product of excellent pass protection and an apparent mistake in the secondary, and not, for instance, a player tripping or running into an official.
(Speaking of which, in his Sunday teleconference, Miami coach Al Golden said that the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was called against Miami after an incomplete pass to Jeff Greene on Tech’s first scoring drive was “a sideline infraction.” Golden said that a side judge ran into someone on the Hurricanes sideline. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. I digress.)
The tenth team to give up 500-plus yards last year in an ACC game may come as a surprise. Virginia Tech surrendered 519 yards to … Miami. The Hokies finished 10th in the country in total defense despite getting trampled by the Hurricanes in Blacksburg, Va., in a 38-35 Virginia Tech win last October. Two weeks later, Miami gained 262 yards against the Jackets. If you’re looking for a glimmer of hope (if the blog comments are any barometer, I think many of you are looking for something a little pointier than a glimmer), there you have it. That said, Virginia Tech has a wee bit more of a track record than the Jackets do.
Where does that leave Tech? Unless this game does turn out to be the crazy outlier, improving pass rush is the start of a long list. The protection afforded Morris gave Miami’s wide receivers considerable time to work free of pass coverage.
“Part of it was good design, certainly, with (offensive coordinator) Jedd (Fisch) and the offensive coaches,” Golden said Sunday, explaining how Dorsett repeatedly ran free in the secondary. “Part of it was the protection that we were getting up front. Throwing 52 passes and not having a sack is excellent by any measure.”
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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186 comments Add your comment
Crazy Robert
September 25th, 2012
9:14 am
I submitted this when Paul was hired, and it keeps coming back to me. I attended the CarQuest bowl in Charlotte when Navy, under PJ, played Boston College. Navy had the lead, the ball and were driving with a little more than a minute left in the fourth quarter. If I remember correctly they were even in FG range, when for some unknown reason PJ called timeout. BC’s defense was on its heels, the clock was running and PJ called a timeout.
When play resumed Navy turned the ball over and BC, with Matt Ryan, drove and scored the winning points. That’s when I became skeptical about PJ and unfortunately I seem to have been correct in my opinion.
DOC 51
September 25th, 2012
9:32 am
Our TRADITION and BOWL GAME HERITAGE IS GONE THANKS TO CPJ AND CCG.DON’T bring up TULSA.CHAN COULD HAVE BEATEN THEM W/ the THIRD STRING.—(0-7)
TornJacket
September 25th, 2012
9:44 am
How many times does Al Groh have to PROVE his defense isn’t suited for Tech? No pash rush and no clutch. The defense has shown this year that they don’t know how to win games. When the game is on the line you kick it into another gear and play smart, unlike what we did in the game. His defense was crap at Virginia and its crap at Tech. We used to have GREAT defense, I mean we won games with Reggie Ball as our QB.
Jim 70
September 25th, 2012
9:52 am
Like Reggie, TW has a lot of heart, but he misses too many reads. Out if the acc race, but vad in, and any put days at safety, he isn’t doing anybody good riding the bench. And lord knows we need help on defense.
Offense is scoring enough points, needs to be better in q4 but the d needs to step up. Do we tire in q4 and not have depth to sub, or is it schemes. PJ needs to take a hard look at Al and the 3-4, but something needs to change.
Oh, we also need to do something in ot. Not only can’t we score, but we can’t stop the other team. Question – has any other team gone two straight ot games without scoring? Or is this a new record?
Jacket Detective
September 25th, 2012
10:04 am
It’s a simple matter.
I do not like our home schedule but went ahead anyway and bought season tickets.
I will just consider that a contribution to Tech until I hear Groh is fired.
I wonder how many millions did Virginia had to pay him to make him go away?
That should have been a huge clue not to hire him.
Did CPJ consider anyone else?
Hire a guy for the personell you have.
Not to provide yourself with a 2 year excuse.
Times up.
Jacket Detective
September 25th, 2012
10:09 am
Savings by staying home: gasoline, food (especially if bought there), and parking.
It is called cutting a loss.
Three OT losses of very winnable games could put in jeopardy my money for basketball season tickets.
Good riddance perhaps?
Seems like Tech has said that to quite a number of folks who have been voting with their feet.
ignition
September 25th, 2012
11:44 am
GT will be find they have to get the players.. And they coming..
Randy Carson, IMGT '83
September 25th, 2012
11:45 am
Interesting to see all Georgia fans chiming in on this thread.
Are you guys actually encouraging us to upgrade our coaching staff and recruit better players?
If we do, we might win a few more games…maybe even beat you from time to time.
Is that what you’re advocating?
Randy Carson, IMGT '83
September 25th, 2012
11:48 am
Maybe it’s time to invest in our future by having Lee start the rest of the season.
Waddya think?
Randy Carson, IMGT '83
September 25th, 2012
11:51 am
Jacket Detective-
Groh was fired by Virginia as head coach…that doesn’t mean he’s not a defensive guru.
I think the error we’ve made on defense is that the 3-4 requires better talent than we’re gonna get for the three down lineman positions. With Alabama’s players…no problem…but, we probably need to be going with four down.
Am I wrong?
GT Man
September 25th, 2012
11:59 am
Our chances of being the ACC champ are over, Georgia will destroy us as usual, Murray will look like a Heisman against Grohs pass defense and again, ( only because there are too many small calipher bowls ) we will wind up in a December small class bowl. Thanks PJ !!!!!!
Reg, the founder and glorious leader of the PFJ
September 25th, 2012
12:14 pm
Hey…no reason to be a hater…and I remember how I felt a couple of years ago when you guys won, and it sucked, but these are kids! No reason to kick THEM when things go wrong. Besides, game is better when we are equal or at least close…hard to feel good about beating someone 10 years straight…We like the challenge and it means more in the bragging rights if the game is consistently competitive (…and it has been pretty much). How great would it be for both of us to be in the top 5 at the end of November…
Jmonty
September 25th, 2012
12:23 pm
@ Randy, yes you are wrong!! The 3-4 does require talented players… In the NFL… In college it can still work. However; with that said… The 3-4 that “no show” runs is a joke. It’s far different than ANY 3-4 I’ve ever seen. It looks more like scare prevent defense added with confusion. The players are not lined up right, they are in position once the play occurs and they dont’ disguise blitz packages (when they do blitz). When you have a team down, you go for the kill… Not play scared and let them come back. I blame “no show” for the loses.. I mean missed tackles happen.. That’s just the nature of the game. However; when players are not remotely where they should be? That opens huge holes in the 3-4 scheme.. Which was very evident in the Miami game. CPJ needs to put his big boy pants on and just fire the idiot. I mean seriously?? What decent High School standout defense player would want to play for “no show”… That would be an automatic no career in the NFL. How many tech defenders went to the NFL with Tenuta?? More than Dummy Groh will ever put in. The team is in serious trouble and CPJ’s willingness to stick with Groh will end up costing both of them thier jobs. If CPJ wants to keep his job, he should seriously think about firing him and quick.
1 4 GT
September 25th, 2012
12:23 pm
Buried my baby brother yesterday. GT lost another game they should have won. I loved my brother. I love GT. Right now, I can say my heart hurts more for my brother. Sorta puts things more in perspective. I don’t have the answers to the problems @ GT anyway. Coaches? Players? Offensive &/or defensive systems? Who knows? I know that back in the 70’s when my brother & I went to some of the games together, there was not an empty seat @ the stadium. More seats to fill too. Less seats to fill now & there are empty seats in all sections. I envision less attendance (20,000 range?) for the next game. Difficult situation for GT right now. A once proud & storied football program, the 1st school in America to play in the Rose, Cotton, Orange & Sugar bowls. Probably 2nd to Notre Dame in national prestige at one time. Where does GT go from here? The people in charge have some hard choices looming. I will support them, not matter what they do. But it makes so sad to see the demise of this once proud program. Selah.
Jmonty
September 25th, 2012
12:29 pm
@ 14 GT… My sympathies for you and your family. I lost a school mate and fellow Marine this past weekend.
With losing family and friends, a game seems so distant…
Jacket Attack
September 25th, 2012
12:44 pm
I would hope that most on this blog is not parents, coaches, or educators. If your that willing to bail on your team for a loss then go who cares! You are not here when the staff and the kids need you the most. You have to look at this as a upside. I looked on the clemson blog and yes there is some idiots wanting dabo fired at clemson for losing to flordia state. I will be there Saturday with my Georgia Tech gear on and yelling for the Jackets because there my team. I don’t think there needs to be a coaching change at all, thats just plain crazy. I would like to think that you all will support the team and go from there. I wonder if we finish 10and2 or 9 and 3 is that a bad year? Not with a young team it isnt. Oh yeah If I was a high profile kid coming out of high school and I read this and that trash Mark Bradley who we all know is a jobber and a Georgia Homer writes, then why would I want to come to Ga Tech if I watched the fans turn on me if we lost a game. We can’t win them all guys but we can win more than we lose and the great days will come stay on board and ride the ride i know your going to like it in the end.
Jmonty
September 25th, 2012
12:50 pm
@ Jacket Attack… Support is great.. But, I feel sorry for any kids being coach by “no show”. Not one will get a decent look from the pro scouts.. Not one… “no show” is a blooming idiot. As soon as CPJ fires him, the better GT will get. So, I respectfully disagree. I’m a fan, just like you. But, sometimes you got to call it like it is. I really only foresee a 7 win season. and that isn’t a given.
GTBEE
September 25th, 2012
1:15 pm
The problem is players and depth….not Al Grogh!
UGA runs the exact same system, but they have the personnel to do it right.
If anybody wants to be stupid and say that UGA’s D-coordinator is better than Al Grogh then you are just un-reachable and most likely will vote for Obama in the fall proving your ineptness.
Our defense played all day long with almost no substitutions to rest the key players. Just like the VA Tech game, our defense had rubber legs for the entire 4th qtr and overtime.
If CPJ had just kept on running Laskey up the middle, the clock would have expired and Tech would have the victory. CPJ is too bullheaded to stick with the successful plays that keep us in game and perhaps win us games.
Lastly,
I am sick of seeing CPJ punching kids in the chest or grabbing their jerseys while he berrates them dropping F- bombs with every other word out of his mouth. These poor kids are so afraid of screwing up, that all they just about do is screw up!!
I disagree with the masses……fire CPJ and put Groh over the team. Within two years, we will be signing 4 star talent and sending kids back to the NFL. Groh is a much better coach and I will guarantee that we will at least score in games that go into overtime!!!!!!
TeknocratNOTdemokrat
September 25th, 2012
1:26 pm
I do not doubt the veracity of CPJ or CAG, but they don’t have the tools with which to work. If we had some big uglies on the Oline to block the way the scheme calls for, we’d never lose – this offense, when played correctly, cannot be stopped. On the other side of the ball, we don’t have any big uglies either. I mean BIG uglies, that can stop the run (although they’ve done a better job of it this year – at the expense of a pass protection scheme) – secondary is non-existant (always has been – all the way back post O’Leary). CAG’s nfl D is not going to work for the Yellow JAckets; we don’t have the people to run it effectively. We do not have a smart enough QB to make his own decisions, nor does the O line block effectively, consistently. Not a hater, just stating facts. I love CPJ, I don’t particularly go for CAG’s approach, but to be honest, the 4-3 didn’t work very well either. We have some really exciting players, LAskey, Smith, et al, but nobody like Nesbitt to be the field general…not enough of this, not enough of that. I won’t give up, but it’s not going to be pretty from here on, unless somebody sets a fire under some select butts!
NVAJacketsfan
September 25th, 2012
4:18 pm
You have to put a big part of this on the offense. If they could of had 1 or 2 drives of 5 minutes or over in the second half Miami wouldn’t have had the ball long enough to rack up all that yardage
DIT
September 25th, 2012
4:20 pm
Hang in there tech Faithful. I still say that you beat Clemson AND NO, I don’t drink. You will have 3 loses at most at years end. Your coaches will pull it together. Clemson does not have an answer to your running game as long as CPJ sticks with it. A couple of defensive plays and the confidence is back up.
Y’all are still dangerous!
BigTimeTECHFan
September 25th, 2012
4:41 pm
One thing about Tech, even when they lose they are still awesome.
Upsets do happen in football, and Tech has been upset twice. No big deal, Tech is still the best team in the south, if not the country,
Tech will roll after Clemson game, which I’m calling a toss up, Tech will win out. That includes beating UGA to cap off the season.
Born2Buzz
September 25th, 2012
4:47 pm
I think Al Groh knows how to coach D but he was completely caught off guard by the no huddle from Miami. How is that possible. And what I couldn’t understand (and never have with Groh) was how you have guys on the field that stop Miami on 1st and 2nd down and then you pull them off the field on 3rd down. Hey, Miami threw the ball 52 times, so they were passing on 1st and 2nd down A LOT! Groh just over-thinks things. Leave your best NT & LB in the game on 3rd down. By the end of the 4th Qt the entire D was just spent, maybe from running back and forth to the sideline.
And I think we all agree that the time is NOW to see Vad Lee on the field. TW has been a great kid and is a example of the kind of student-athlete we are all proud to see at Tech, but we know what he can do and what he can’t do. He can’t beat the big boys or win a close game. He’s had 21 games to show us that. Let’s move on to a kid that can at least make the other team worry that he can throw a pass.
Even though we only lost 2 games in OT, it was kind of the same thing we’ve seen for the last 1-1/2 years. The next 3 weeks are a crossroads for CPJ. I don’t know what to thing of CAG, but “bad” and “needs to move on” are what mostly come to mind.
Born2Buzz
September 25th, 2012
4:51 pm
GTBEE, you are delusional.
superDawg
September 25th, 2012
5:03 pm
Man you tekies are a bunch of whiners!
Mike S.
September 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
@GTBEE – I agree that the problem is the talent, but I disagree about Groh. Tenuta was able to recruit just fine and put an aggressive D on the field. Groh is supposed to be a good recruiter, so why is there no indication of talent on the roster?
I think Johnson’s system is the root of the problem. How would anyone properly prepare this team on defense when the best offensive players are option guys? There arent any WRs on this team that can run routes like they do in pro-style or spread systems. The RBs are not as physical as the competition. The QBs cant even dream of simulating the likes of Aaron Murray, Taj Boyd, etc. Thats not even touching the physical nature of many of these offensive lines. Everyone is calling for Groh’s job, but you cant prepare guys without the speed, strength, and athleticism to line them up against.
Mike S.
September 25th, 2012
5:20 pm
@superDawg – unlike the “Dawg Nation” who is so supportive of Mark Richt when he had a couple of down years right? Richt’s the best thing since the Walker days under Dooley, and UGA fans were going to run him out as recent as a year ago.
Mike S.
September 25th, 2012
5:21 pm
I also agree that punting in the 4th is the right call. That’s giving them the game for sure if you dont make it, which many pointed out was the case in OT.
superDawg
September 25th, 2012
6:11 pm
ms I never ever posted a negative post regarding Mark Richt.In fact I have always suppoerted Coach Richt and always will.NUFF SAID!GO GEORGIA BULLDAWGS!!!
superDawg
September 25th, 2012
6:12 pm
and TUCK FECH!
superDawg
September 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
and I spelled TUCK FECH right.
Izzan Cross
September 25th, 2012
9:02 pm
Can I get another triple cheeseburger and supersize the fries so I can be slower and fatter.
mola roller
September 26th, 2012
12:33 pm
I thougt I would never say it but Paul Johnson is in way over his head. He has no clue as to how to fix the problem. In 1-AA he never had a defense at GSU. He could just outscore everyone to win. Against the big boys you cannot do that and PJ has not and will not figure it out. Just don’t renew his contract when it is up and find a decent coach that knows how to win. The whole thing is a farce.
Broom
September 26th, 2012
12:37 pm
Remember, it’s a bunch of teenagers we’re talking about here. Keep some perspective.
Marietta Heating
September 26th, 2012
4:45 pm
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Tech secondary leaving Miami game behind | Georgia Tech
September 27th, 2012
11:04 pm
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