UNC Football Scouting Report: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The North Carolina Tar Heels head south looking to steal a win from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The best way to describe the current Georgia Tech/North Carolina series is from a quote from the great Lou Brown:
"“Alright you guys, lets listen up. We won a game yesterday. If we win one today, that’s two in a row. If we win one tomorrow, that’s called a winning streak. It has happened before.”"
The Tar Heels have won three in a row against the Yellow Jackets and last season it wasn’t even close. UNC got out to an early 17-7 lead and never looked back, winning by a final score of 48-20.
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Mitch Trubisky threw for over 300 yards and Elijah Hood ran it 12 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns.
Those guys are both in the NFL now and this season the two teams are in different places. UNC is 1-3, while Georgia Tech is 2-1. Here is how the Yellow Jackets get things done.
On Offense…
For Georgia Tech, the offense begins and ends with the run. The Yellow Jackets run a triple-option offense which takes discipline to defend correctly. There is a reason they are ranked No. 1 in the country in rushing yards per game.
This season, that offense begins with quarterback Taquon Marshall. Marshall is fast and sneaky and everything that a Paul Johnson offense needs to be successful. Marshall is the leading rusher in the ACC with 386 yards in three games.
He also leads the ACC with eight rushing touchdowns.
Of course, an option offense only works if the team has someone to option the ball to and that’s where the B-Back comes in. This season, Georgia Tech’s best B-Back has be
en KirVonte Benson. Benson ranks fourth in the ACC in rushing yards.
With two strong runners that are both capable of putting up 100-yard games in the same contest, like they did against Pittsburgh, the Yellow Jackets’ offense is hard to stop.
That in turn eats up clock and wears out an opposing teams’ defense, creating more room to run. This is further helped by the Yellow Jackets converting third down attempts 54.5 percent of the time, which is also best in the ACC.
On Defense…
The Yellow Jackets defense is built on the strength of their offense. When the offense is rolling, the defense is well rested limiting yards and points.
The Yellow Jackets have only allowed 43 first downs through three games this year and are good at getting off the field. Georgia Tech’s defense has only been on the field for 39.9 percent of the teams’ playing time.
Compare that to UNC’s defense having been on the field for 53.6 percent of the time and you can see where the two teams differ.
Additionally, teams are also only 9-of-34 on third down attempts against Georgia Tech.
That 26 percent success rate is 14th best in the nation and just slightly more allowable than Duke’s defense, who held North Carolina to 19 percent last weekend.
Player to Watch…
Jonathan Smith. The middle linebacker got thrust into action with the loss of Andre Smith. In order for a team to stop the triple-option, they have to be disciplined, and that starts with sticking to assignments.
The middle linebacker is the key to this as he is telling the defense where to go. Stopping Georgia Tech in the backfield will force the team to turn to the pass and that moves right into the hands of M.J. Stewart, UNC’s best defensive player.
The Difference Maker…
Turnovers. The team that turns it over more times is most likely to lose this one. I know that is true in any game, but it’s definitely true here. The Yellow Jackets’ only loss came against Tennessee to open the season.
Despite clearly being the better team, Georgia Tech lost the game because of two turnovers that led to 14 Volunteer points.
Next: Three Coastal Division impact games in Week 5
If Chazz Surratt can avoid throws like he made against Duke, and the defense can get an interception or fumble, the Tar Heels might be able to pull off an upset in Atlanta.