Georgia Tech enters its matchup with No. 18 Tennessee needing more than a few nice drives.
If the Yellow Jackets are going to pull the upset, they have to finish possessions in the end zone. Field goals, as the film makes clear, won’t be enough.
The ground game showed some life even with the offensive line struggling to create clean lanes. Justice Haynes was the most productive of the bunch, piling up 70 yards after contact and breaking off three runs of 10 or more yards despite the lack of space.
According to Pro Football Focus, he also posted a 110.5 elusive score, a 78.5 pass block grade, and a 78.9 run grade. Malachi Hosley did his part too, finishing with an 83.3 elusive score while 15 of his 16 yards came after contact.
Both backs have enough talent to make something out of nothing, but Georgia Tech will have a tougher test with Arion Carter back for Tennessee in Week 2. To win, the Jackets have to handle that problem and run it better.
Alberto Mendoza may end up being the swing piece. Tennessee’s front is physical, the secondary looks solid, and the Vols can get after the quarterback, but Mendoza’s ability to extend plays gives Georgia Tech a real chance to keep drives alive.
Against Colorado, he worked through progressions, didn’t force anything he didn’t like, then bought time and found Jordan Allen downfield. That kind of improvisation matters in a game like this.
The numbers back up what the tape showed. Mendoza earned an 85.5 PFF grade, the highest on the team in the loss, and completed 74% of his throws.
His best work came in the intermediate game, where he went 5-for-7 on passes between 10 and 19 yards for 129 yards and a 92.3 passing grade. He also delivered in key moments, including a 42-yard strike to Dalen Penson.
Georgia Tech has reason to trust him when the pressure rises and the game tightens.
There’s also a clear opening at tight end. The Jackets didn’t lean on that group much against Colorado, using those players mostly as blockers to help the run game.
But the film suggests that could change, especially with Kevin Roche Jr. Roche Jr., at 6-foot-9 and 265 pounds, looks like a matchup Tennessee may not love if Georgia Tech chooses to feature him more in the passing game.
He caught four passes for 37 yards last Thursday night and appears to be becoming a reliable option.
Georgia Tech has more tight ends who can help, and the staff may need to find ways to get them involved. Against a Tennessee defense with aggressive linebackers that attack downhill, adding more receiving threats at tight end could matter. Those bodies come in different sizes and skill sets, and that variety can create problems for a defense trying to sort everything out.
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Signals Colorado Special Teams Changes After Week 1 Problems
Colorados Week 1 win over Georgia Tech came with a heavy special-teams imprint, from Daniel Gerlach drilling the go-ahead extra point to Boo Carter getting a blocked field goal that helped swing the game. Even in a victory, though, the Buffaloes left plenty to sort through in the kicking game, and Deion Sanders spent part of his weekly press availability revisiting why those units looked uneven despite the timely plays.
Sanders framed the issues as largely personnel-driven and said the staff has already adjusted in response, with an eye on both the kicking roles and the coverage groups. He also pointed to the need for cleaner practice work and better protection on kicks, a reminder that for Colorado, the margins on special teams are still very much a work in progress even after a game that had enough big moments to hide some of the cracks. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Defense Faces Early Test After Ugly Opener
Georgia Techs defense did not get the start it wanted in the opener, and the problems were easy to spot. The Jackets were pushed around on the ground, gave up nearly 200 rushing yards, and came away without the kind of game-changing plays that can cover up a shaky night. Against a Tennessee offense that can punish hesitation and mistakes, that puts even more attention on the players expected to steady things, including Daiquan White and Kelvin Hill.
Their individual performances only added to the concern, with both drawing poor grades after the opener, and White especially struggling in coverage and tackling. The bigger question now is whether the front can play with enough consistency to keep Tennessee from controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing Georgia Tech into a long night of chasing the play. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Faces A Huge Tennessee Test With Recruits Watching
Georgia Techs defensive front came out of the Colorado game with more questions than answers, and the timing is hardly ideal with Tennessee next on the schedule. The Volunteers bring a rushing attack that will stress any defense, so the Yellow Jackets know the matchup on the line of scrimmage is going to be front and center when they head into another major test.
Even with the setback, the program is still drawing attention from high-level recruits, a reminder that the bigger pitch around the Flats has not gone away. 2028 defensive lineman Tory Clark is among the recent prospects to keep an eye on Georgia Tech, and the Yellow Jackets are hoping the next run of home games gives them a chance to show both competitiveness and a place where players can picture themselves developing. [Read more 🡒]