25 days until Tennessee kicks off with Tech in Atlanta:
I've talked with both Tech's play by play voice and their color commentator and here are 25 things I've learned about the Jackets.
1. Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson really likes this edition of his team. He's compared them in pre-season camp to his Orange Bowl team from 2014. This is Tech's most experienced team since the Orange Bowl edition.
2. Tech won 9 games last year with a defense that struggled to get off the field.
3. How much did Tech struggle to get off the field in 2016? Well consider they ran the fewest amount of offensive plays at Ga Tech since 1965. That's 51 years of football!
4. This year's Tech team will be led by Mathew Jordan, a junior QB with limited experience.
5. Jordan served as Tech's short yardage QB in 2016 plus got a spot start in place of injured Justin Thomas. Jordan rushed for over 100 yds in a win over Va Tech.
6. In that win over Va Tech, Jordan failed to crack 100 yds in passing. Jordan is only 8-18 for his career as a passer for 205 yards. He has two INT's against 2 career TD's.
7. Tech likes their offensive line. This is a veteran group that plays within itself. The only position up for grabs is right guard. They're pretty much set everywhere else.
8. Tech's center actually lines up in a 4 point stance. Ole School. Fo' real.
9. Though the Jackets have a triple option offense, they have some weapons around their inexperienced QB. In fact, Tech had 12 plays last season of 50+ yards against D-1 competition. These #'s don't count empty calorie stats against 1-AA (FCS school).
10. Tech also had 19 touchdowns of 20 plus yards on offense in 2016. Not bad for a supposedly plodding triple-option offense.
11. Like Tennessee, Tech's biggest question mark defensively rests on their d line. They are thin up front and this has kept them from better things in recent years.
12. Tech top returning DE's had 1.5 sacks combined in 2016.
13. Tech saw the spread twice in 2016 with mixed results. They were gashed for 636 total yards by UNC including 353 through the air. Meanwhile they were successful in holding Va Tech to only 20 points but still allowed their opponent 6.7 yards per play.
14. Tech's strength on defense resides in their secondary. On paper this appears to be a real edge Tech could have in this game versus Tennessee if the Jackets can generate a pass rush.
15. Tech has huge shoes to fill with the graduation of their inside linebacker. They will be leaning heavily on Knoxville Webb product Matt Mitchell. At 6-2, 240 Mitchell would be a really nice addition to UT's line backing corps. He can really play.
16. Mitchell isn't the only Knoxville product on Tech's roster, West High School's Nathan Cottrell hopes to see action on offense.
17. Cottrell's career at Tech has been slowed by injury. He's currently running 4th team at 'A' back but figures to see some kick return duties. JJ Green is Tech's #1 option at kick returner.
18. Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson who serves as the team’s offensive coordinator works without a play sheet. He simply calls what he sees and scripts very little of his offense.
19. The key to stopping Tech on offense is penetration from the defensive tackles.
20. Tech color commentator Sean Bedford (an Aerospace Engineering graduate) believes that Tech's biggest worry from Tennessee will be TE Ethan Wolfe.
21. Tech's Defensive Coordinator Ted Roof in a 1987 graduate of Ga Tech. He was head coach of Duke when the Vols beat the Devils 23-6 back in 2003 in Neyland Stadium.
22. Speaking of Neyland Stadium, the last time Tennessee faced Georgia Tech was in Neyland Stadium in October of '87. I attended this game as a first year transfer student at Tennessee.
23. Tech's Stadium is named for a former Vol QB. Boddy Dodd played for the Vols back in the early 30's before embarking on a legendary coaching career at Tech that spanned 22 seasons where he went 165–64–8. Dodd also served as Tech's AD from 1950 until 1976. He spent 57 years in all at Tech. This VFL may have been TFL.
24. Tennessee has seemingly never fared well against a triple offensive football team.
25. Days away from kickoff and the inside word is that they're nervous about having EVERYTHING finished at Mercedes Benz Stadium. As we say around here, only at Tennessee.