Tech defense by the numbers
Georgia Tech’s statistics from the first six games compared to the final eight games. A few words of comment below.
TOTAL DEFENSE
431.0 331.3
RUSHING YARDS, YARDS PER RUSH
163.3, 4.5 129.9, 4.1
PASSING YARDS, YARDS PER ATTEMPT
267.7, 7.2 201.4, 7.2
PASSING EFFICIENCY
128.3 132.0
YARDS PER PLAY
5.8 5.6
POINTS
30.2 26.9
POINTS PER POSSESSION
2.26 2.24
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY
47.8 34.1
POINTS PER RED-ZONE POSSESSION
4.5 5.2
SACKS PER GAME
1.7 2.3
TAKEAWAYS PER GAME
1.8 1.8
BIG PLAYS (20-plus yards from scrimmage) PER GAME
4.8 3.4
FOURTH-QUARTER SCORING
11.8 3.9
It’s interesting how similar some of the numbers are. For a story I wrote prior to the Sun Bowl, I noted that the yards-per-play stats were virtually identical (5.84 when Al Groh was defensive coordinator and 5.85 after the hire of Charles Kelly as interim).
In this chart, points per possession (which, arguably, is the most informative statistic about a team’s efficiency) is almost the same and yards per play is close.
But, a couple numbers jump out for their difference, fourth-quarter scoring and third-down efficiency. Tech’s inability to get off the field led to a lot of the Jackets’ problems in the first six games and ultimately played not a small role in Groh’s dismissal.
By getting off the field, Tech was more able to enforce its pace of play. Opponents ran 73.8 plays per game in the first six games, 59.6 in the final eight, a fairly staggering difference. Opponents averaged 13.3 possessions in Groh-coached games and 12.0 in games coached by Kelly. It isn’t much, but 1.3 extra possessions at 2.24 points per possession is three points a game.
Further, you could make a strong case that the second half of the schedule (4/7 if we’re going to be precise) was tougher.
Total-offense rank* of first six opponents, in order, not including Presbyterian: 82, 65, 37, 67, 8. (Presbyterian finished 110th in FCS. Yikes.)
Last eight opponents, in order: 99, 61, 120, 15, 56, 27, 22, 30.
That’s the second and third worst, but also four of the top five.
* Rankings through games of Dec. 29
All that said, and I realize I’m not the first to say this, but I think the defense passed the eyeball test more than anything, particularly in the final two games. The tackling was better, the play faster. We’ll never know what USC would have done with Matt Barkley at quarterback and without 30-mph winds. But we do know that Tech held an offense averaging 155 rushing yards per game to 98 rushing yards and fewer points and yards than it produced against Notre Dame with Max Wittek at quarterback.
There is no getting around that the BYU and Georgia (and North Carolina) games took place under Kelly’s watch, but the way the Jackets played in the final six quarters of the season was vastly better than how they played earlier in the season. For that, Kelly and his staff deserve credit.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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203 comments Add your comment
www
January 4th, 2013
10:52 am
good article, ken. lots of useful info.
www
January 4th, 2013
10:53 am
btw ken, i heard u on the radio while driving home last night and u acquitted yourself well. nice job.
92.9 the game, i believe.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
10:56 am
@GT Fan – Johnson has the best record in Georgia Southern history, largely thanks to Tracy Ham recruiting Adrian Peterson to play at Southern and all of the talent that he inherited from Tim Stowers and Frank Ellwood. So what, though. Johnson isn’t the coach at Southern, he’s the coach at Tech and he’s floundering.
And being tied for first in the ACC Coastal is kinda like winning the Sun Belt Conference, not that there’s anything wrong with the Sun Belt.
5150 UOAD
January 4th, 2013
11:01 am
“And being tied for first in the ACC Coastal is kinda like winning the Sun Belt Conference, not that there’s anything wrong with the Sun Belt.”
=======================================
All you can do is play the games scheduled and win the conference you are in………….to quote many a Dwag fan on their season.
Ho hum
January 4th, 2013
11:06 am
The way I see it…………. Kelley WILL be the DC next year. Why you ask? Well I see very little if any stability in the program. Tek is working under an interim AD.
It is almost a given that when a new AD is hired he will make changes. He will be asked to change the face of the football program and FILL the stadium (15,000 per game doesn’t work) and he will clean house. No good DC is going to want the job with the prospect of being canned in a year or two.
Ho hum
January 4th, 2013
11:11 am
Southern Troll is on to something. CPJ does well with OTHER coaches players and falls flat on his ugly mug when his players are inserted. CPJ cannot recruit on the level required to win big boy football.
Looks like CPJ is really pulling in the talent this year – NOT. Tek is so screwed…………….
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
11:18 am
@GT Fan – Wow, 2-0 versus Mississippi State and Vandy! Actually, Johnson only played Vandy once, and they were a dumpster fire at the time. The thrillers over FSU were nice but let’s be honest: the Seminoles were a shell of what they were when O’Leary’s teams faced them (6-6 in 2009).
The four consecutive losses to Miami are really concerning, particularly when you consider that Miami hasn’t been all that great recently and even Gailey owned the Hurricanes. The four losses to Georgia (in particular), four losses to Virginia Tech, and four bowl losses are reason enough for Johnson to be canned.
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
11:19 am
Thanks for your continued interest in GT football, Ho hum.
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
11:21 am
And with whom would you replace him, HRST?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:25 am
You jerks are the same ones who 2 weeks ago were claiming that SC would beat Tech by 4 to 5 touchdowns. I don’t care whether Barkley (sp?) played or not, he didn’t play defense for the Trojans, and he didn’t play on either line. They pretty much contained Tech’s outside game, but they couldn’t stop Sims and Laskey up the middle. Whenever they appeared to have something figured out, Johnson pulled something different out of his bag of tricks, and they Trojans had no answer for it. The fact is that Tech was the better team on the field Monday, and by far the better coached team. Deal with you effing bunch of losers.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:27 am
Sorry…..Deal with IT, you effing bunch of losers
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:31 am
Stein,
Southern Troll knows NOTHING of GA Southern Football. He’s too young to know that it was OC Paul Johnson who installed the T.O. at GA Southern back in the early 80s that Erk Russell used to win lots of games.
Then he fails to see what happened to GA Southern in Win column after PJ & Erk were gone, and what happened in the Win column at GA Southern (and Navy & GT) when PJ became HC at these schools.
I’d like to hear his suggestion for PJ’s replacement too….. What say you, Southern Troll??
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
11:37 am
@George Stein – I would like to see George O’Leary return, if not as coach then as AD. Of course, given his age and the circumstances surrounding his departure in 2001, that is probably unlikely. Ralph Friedgen might make a good choice, too. Then again, you have his age and health concerns, not to mention the results were mixed at Maryland.
To be fair to Johnson, I think his success at Southern and Navy were nice and we all appreciated what he accomplished during his time in Statesboro. I also thought he was a good hire at the time he replaced Gailey. A lot of people did. But we have to deal with reality – something’s clearly not working at Georgia Tech and Johnson’s record against the Yellow Jacket’s biggest opponents is pretty bad.
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:37 am
From Southern Troll …..
“largely thanks to Tracy Ham recruiting Adrian Peterson to play at Southern and all of the talent that he inherited from Tim Stowers and Frank Ellwood.”
Wow! I never knew Hamm (it has 2 Ms, BTW) was the RC as well as the QB (in PJ’s offense) during his time at GSC (Yes, HRST they were called GA Southern COLLEGE back then).
How many “cherry trees” do you have HRST?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:40 am
Somebody actually wants O’Leary the LIAR and CHEATER back??? Good grief, the level of stupidity amongst these bloggers is astounding!!!!
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:41 am
Supersize,
I guess their “USC didn’t want to be there” spin got worn out. Now I’ve seen them saying stuff to the tune of “30 mph winds is why GT won”
These guys better not let George Washington in their yards or their “cherry trees” are gonna get chopped!
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:42 am
@ GT Fan……I guess if one EXCUSE doesn’t work, you dig around looking for others. Apparently the wind only blew in Tech’s favor for 4 quarters.
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:43 am
Exactly, Suprsize.
I’m done with Southern Troll – A guy who thinks he knows so much about GT (and GA Southern) then solidifies his stupidity by saying he’d like O’Leary as GT’s HC!
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:44 am
@ GT Fan……even worse than that, he wants O’Leary as AD. O M G !!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:45 am
Some of these guys are not even bright enough to get into UGA
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
11:45 am
The whole “biggest opponents” thing bugs me. Bowl games are not relevant, whether we win or lose. We lost to VT this year, but we won the division anyway. Does Clemson count as a big opponent? Miami hasn’t done jack since they joined the conference. What makes them different than Carolina?
As for UGA, I’ve said before that they are enjoying the longest period of sustained success in their history. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do better, but at some point you have to give Richt a little credit, I think. It also means that they will eventually regress.
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:47 am
I wonder if HRST has his own computer, or if he’s at a Kroger or Publix job-kiosk computer?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:49 am
@ George Stein……I think that regression starts next Fall. After losing so many to graduation (assuming they actually graduate) or to the pros, with Garner now recruiting for Auburn (and I think he was the most valuable member of the UGA staff), and since they will finally have to play a representative schedule (Clemson, USCe, LSU, and an emerging Vandy), it could get pretty grim in the cesspool next year.
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:50 am
Exactly right, Stein. They love to cherry-pick Miami, VT, UGA & bowls, but leave out UNC, Clemson & FSU and the other S E C (is greater than the ACC) teams.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
11:51 am
@GT Fan – Actually, I know a good bit about Southern football. Erk Russell would have won with or without Johnson. I’m also quite aware of what happened to Southern after Johnson’s departure.
Johnson’s replacement (Mike Sewak) was a pretty good coach. He won two Southern Conference championships and made three playoff appearances in four years. Unfortunately, he ran afoul of Erk (fired his son). When Sewak’s 2005 team lost in the first round of the playoffs, AD Sam Baker fired him. Two first round playoff exits were the excuse but everyone knew the real reason.
Sewak’s departure was followed by two really spotty HC hires (Van Gorder and Hatcher) with the Eagles going 21-23 in four years. Since Jeff Monken arrived, the program has been rejuvenated.
JM
January 4th, 2013
11:51 am
3 points per game may not have been a big improvement, but If GT had that stats in the first 6 games, they would have avoided 2 OT games and had 2 more victories.
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:52 am
Supersize,
Had Nebraska beat them it would already be grim by many Dawg fans’ standard. Or it would’ve been b/c UGA “didn’t want to be there”
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:54 am
OMY, he is precognitive too — “Russell would have won with or without Johnson.” And just how can anyone possibly know that that is true?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:54 am
LOL @ GT Fan
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:55 am
JM,
Put the Clemson game in the win column too if GT’s could’ve played 3rd D like they did vs. FSU & USC. Clemson was 13 for 19, and had 93 offensive plays to GT’s 60.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
11:55 am
@GT Fan Idiot – Tracy Ham was on staff at Southern for a short while before returning to the CFL. He stated in an interview that he personally recruited Peterson.
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
11:55 am
I’m not so sure, Supersize. Georgia had a young offensive line this year and will only be better next year, and Gurley could probably play on Sundays right now. I think their defense will require time, but they aren’t devoid of players. Richt has done a nice job of building a program, not a team. Whether Murray comes back or not (I think he will, and he should) will not matter.
GT Fan
January 4th, 2013
11:57 am
Amazing isn’t it, Supersize.
“Erk would’ve won with or without PJ” (i.e. PJ’s T.O.)
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
11:58 am
I think that HRST should change the “R” in his name to “repugnant” or “retarded”
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:00 pm
@ George Stein, I hope you’re wrong. I definitely think the more difficult schedule next year is going to hurt them, and hurt them early.
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
12:00 pm
Not to be that guy, but can we not use retarded as a pejorative?
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
12:02 pm
Perhaps, SS. A young defense won’t help, but we play them in November, when the kids won’t be kids anymore.
Augusta Jacket
January 4th, 2013
12:03 pm
I am a CPJ supporter, as SS and several others on this blog can attest. That being said, The continued losses to UGA, VT and Miami are disturbing. Specifically this years loss to what proved to be a very beatable VT team. The last 44 seconds of that game and overime were a nightmare and pretty much indicated exactly where this season would go.
But lets get real here. CPJ is here for a couple more years at the minimum (barring the wheels completely falling off next season) and for all you who would can him because of his recruits, exactly where would that get us? We would bring in a coach to run a more traditional offense with offensive recruits ill equipped (as you say) to run it? Basically you sign GT over to 3-4 years of losing football.
Personally, with the exception of a couple of the Miami games and one UGA game, our offense was not the problem. The fact that Mark Richts grandma could sit in the pocket for 8-9 seconds and wait for coverage to break down is. We generated little to no pass rush and God help us trying to stop the run. Bad defenses kill you, and ours has been worse than bad. If it weren’t for the fact that CPJ’s offense is capable of eating so much clock we would probably be much worse off.
Either way, we have one staff position open. Hire a recruiter and give him whatever title he wants.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:05 pm
@ George….I apologize. I tried to find a more acceptable word to use, but I couldn’t think of any. But remember, the word does not have to be understood as an insult to the truly disabled ones among us. I know that it has in recent years become “politically incorrect.” But I didn’t intend it to be taken that way. Again, I apologize.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
12:06 pm
@Supersize – You’re consistently the stupidest, most ill-informed poster on here. And that’s saying something. What was that you dropped on us last week? Johnson was hired to be DC at Southern or some similar idiocy.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:07 pm
@ AJ….well put
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
12:07 pm
I think I agree with Augusta.
Fair enough, SS.
George Stein
January 4th, 2013
12:09 pm
I think he was hired to be a defensive line coach, HRST. Someone can probably check me on that, but do recall hearing that was his original position in, like, 1985 or something.
1 4 GT
January 4th, 2013
12:09 pm
Can we say that HRST’s engine has a retarded spark or timing?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:09 pm
Thanks, George !!!
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:11 pm
@ HRST……Johnson WAS hired as D-line coach by Erk. I mistakenly claimed it was DC. But he DID coach the D-line at Southern, either before, or in addition to, his offensive duties.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:12 pm
@ Augusta Jacket…..check your email
Supersize that order, mutt
January 4th, 2013
12:13 pm
Someone who wants O’Leary as AD calling somebody else stupid. WOW, does that take gall or what?
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
12:13 pm
Wow! Throwing O’Leary under the bus is really low, even by delusional PJ-supporters’ standards. The only coach since Dodd to beat UGA three times in a row and the guy that pulled the program out of the Bill Lewis ditch is now a liar and cheater because he padded his resume when he was a young coach. I’m sure he’s the first coach ever to have done that!
Newsflash: plenty of Tech fans would trade Johnson to have O’Leary back.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
January 4th, 2013
12:18 pm
@Supersize – Shut up, moronicus. You were repeating some drivel you heard and then tried to argue with me when I called you out on it.