Georgia Tech heads into Saturday’s home game against Mercer still chasing its first win, but the numbers are pointing squarely toward the Yellow Jackets finally getting one in the column.
ESPN analyst Bill Connelly’s SP+ has Georgia Tech projected to beat Mercer 35-14 on the Flats. The Yellow Jackets are also carrying a 91% win probability in the matchup, while ESPN FPI gives them a 92.8% chance to take care of business at home.
For Georgia Tech, this is less about style points and more about getting unstuck. The Yellow Jackets are 0-2 and have not yet found a rhythm on offense, which has produced only two offensive touchdowns through eight quarters. So far, a lot of the scoring has come from the defense and special teams, and that is not a formula that can hold up for long.
There were, however, some signs of life in the second half last time out. Brent Key said he saw the offense settle in a little better, even with the turnovers from Alberto.
"Well, I mean. I thought Alberto was in a pretty good rhythm.
Obviously, I know he had the two turnovers, but, you know, he'll grow from those. He'll learn from them.
But I thought the ability just to - we were spreading the ball around on the perimeter, you know, throwing some quick game, throwing some kind of intermediate-type stuff, and then kind of made a couple adjustments in the run game when they - seeing what they were playing.
And some of those worked. I mean, some of those were good things.
And we were able to take advantage of some of the things that we're doing. So just all in all, I mean, an offense is going to be better when you stay on track, when you stay efficient, when you're in manageable D&Ds.
If you're sitting there playing at second and 10, second and 12, the whole game, it's going to be hard to ever have a functioning offense. But we stayed ahead of the chains, I thought, better tonight than we did last week for sure,” said Key.
That kind of progress is what Georgia Tech needs to carry into Saturday, especially with ACC play looming. The Yellow Jackets need better play up front on both sides of the ball if they want this game to do more than just end the losing streak.
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Georgia Tech Offense Is Running Out Of Time To Find Answers
Georgia Techs latest loss only sharpened the concern around an offense that has not found its footing. The Yellow Jackets fell 45-24 to No. 18 Tennessee, their fifth straight defeat and their worst start since 1989, with quarterback Alberto Mendoza enduring a rough afternoon that included two interceptions and four sacks. The ground game never gave the offense much help, either, as the rushing attack finished under 100 yards for the second game in a row.
What has stood out most during this slide is how often Georgia Tech has beaten itself with execution issues and a lack of cohesion. There is still time to steady things before the next stretch of games, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. If the Yellow Jackets are going to change the tone of this season, the fixes on offense have to come quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has No Room For Another Letdown Against Mercer
Georgia Tech heads into its week three meeting with Mercer still searching for its first win, and the margin for error is already gone. Through two games, the Yellow Jackets have had trouble on both sides of the ball, especially against the run on defense and in getting enough done offensively, where the scoring has been limited to just two touchdowns.
Brent Key pointed to some encouraging offensive adjustments from the last outing even as turnovers kept the results from turning in Georgia Techs favor, and that is the part the staff will try to build on now. With momentum hard to find and the slow start already lingering, this matchup is the kind of game the Yellow Jackets need to use as a reset before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia's Oklahoma Test Could Say A Lot About The Bulldogs Ceiling
Georgias late-September meeting with Oklahoma already carries the feel of a measuring-stick game, even with plenty of football left to play before the Sooners arrive in Athens. The Bulldogs have looked to Gunner Stockton to steady the offense this season, while John Mateer has given Oklahoma a quarterback presence worth tracking, and the matchup adds another layer to a schedule that also includes Georgias immediate focus on Arkansas.
The setting only sharpens the interest, because this is not just another Power 5 nonconference date, it is a chance to see how Georgia stacks up against a familiar name it does not often see in person. The programs have met only once before, in a wild postseason classic, and a lot could be learned about the Bulldogs ceiling by the time this one kicks off on a national stage. [Read more 🡒]