Georgia Tech’s offense hasn’t given the Yellow Jackets much to work with through the first two games. Through eight quarters, they’ve scored only two offensive touchdowns, and both of them came in the second half. That’s not the kind of start that can carry a team toward the standard Brent Key’s group wants to hit.
The first place the fixes have to begin is up front. Georgia Tech’s offensive line has already taken a beating, and the early returns have been uneven.
There have been moments that suggest progress, but the unit still hasn’t looked like the group it was expected to be. Last week, the line was constantly shuffled because of injuries.
Ethan MacKenny got banged up early and was out. Jameson Riggs was in and out with an injury.
Malachi Carney also exited, and Jordan Floyd stepped in.
That kind of turnover matters. The group has not consistently won at the point of attack, and the lack of continuity has shown up.
These linemen haven’t had much time together, and that usually takes a while to sort out even when everyone is healthy. With the injuries layered on top, it may still be some time before this unit looks truly formidable.
The slow starts are becoming a bigger problem than just the line itself. Georgia Tech still hasn’t opened a game with a touchdown drive, and too often the offense has stalled with early three-and-outs or drives that end short of the red zone.
That puts pressure on a defense that has actually done enough early to hand the ball back. Even after allowing nearly 300 rushing yards, the defense has gotten stops at the start of games.
But the longer it stays on the field, the more it eventually gives up scores and explosive plays. The offense has to do more to support it before games get away from them.
Brent Key’s best five need to be on the field together, and that’s where the repair job has to start. If Georgia Tech wants to look like the team it believes it can be, that line has to control the line of scrimmage, open lanes for the backs, handle assignments cleanly and keep the quarterback protected. Everything else flows from that.
There are also ways to help the offense find a rhythm earlier. Georgia Tech has to get points on the board quickly instead of settling for field goals or going backwards.
That means getting Alberto Mendoza and the run game involved right away. Some of the better rushing success has come when the Jackets worked the edges, letting Justice Haynes use his elusiveness and speed to create misses.
The backfield can do more, too. Hosley averaged over six yards per carry vs.
Tennessee but only got six touches, and he needs more opportunities, especially as a receiver, where he can create mismatches. Trelain Maddox also stood out because of how hard he ran on his touches.
He brings the physical edge Georgia Tech wants in its ground game and fits the identity the staff is trying to build.
Mendoza needs easier completions early, but they have to be throws the defense can’t read before the snap. Seam routes to the tight ends, slants to the quicker receivers and back-shoulder fades to the taller targets all fit that mold.
Getting Kevin Roche Jr. involved sooner could also pay off based on the plays he’s already making against defenses. With so many teams loading up to stop the run, the middle of the field should be there for Georgia Tech.
If the tight ends can start winning there, it can create more room for deep shots to Jordan Allen and Dalen Penson. That’s the path to an offense that starts clicking.
In Other News...
Georgia Techs Run Defense Has A Bigger Problem Than Fans Realized
Georgia Techs defense came out of the Tennessee game with plenty of questions, and the run game may be the loudest one. The Yellow Jackets gave up 45 points and a heavy dose of rushing yards, a troubling combination that pointed to problems well beyond one bad night. There were bright spots along the way, including Harris making a notable impact with a blitz that produced a tackle for loss, but those individual plays did little to change the bigger picture.
The concern now is whether the issue lies more with the personnel or the way the defense is being put in position to succeed. Linebackers Kyle Efford and E.J. Lightsey were singled out for breakdowns, and the broader critique reaches into coaching decisions and defensive alignment as well. For Georgia Tech, the unsettling part is that the flaws exposed against Tennessee do not look like quick fixes, which makes the run defense feel like a bigger problem than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Already Has One Troubling Question Before Mercer
Georgia Tech finally found the end zone late in the third quarter, but by then the game had already tilted heavily the other way. The defense was respectable early and gave the Yellow Jackets a chance to hang around, yet it steadily gave way as the night wore on, leaving the offense to chase the game with little margin for error.
Through two games, the bigger concern is less about one bad stretch than the broader pattern taking shape. The late-game choices were questionable, the offense never found enough rhythm to matter, and Mercer now arrives with at least one obvious issue staring Georgia Tech in the face before it can settle into the rest of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Bowl Hopes Are Already Under Serious Pressure
Two games into Brent Keys season, Georgia Tech is already in an uncomfortable spot. The Yellow Jackets have stumbled out to an 0-2 start, and the early problems have shown up on both sides of the ball, leaving little room for error as the schedule begins to open up.
National bowl projections have taken notice, with most outlets already leaning against Georgia Tech reaching postseason play and only one analyst still seeing a path there. Mercer, Stanford and Duke now loom as the kind of stretch that can either steady the season or make the climb to bowl eligibility far too steep. [Read more 🡒]