Georgia Tech’s defense has been a study in contrasts through three games: the numbers on one side of the ball look rough, while the other side has quietly turned into a real strength. The Yellow Jackets sit at No. 134 against the run, but they’ve been far better in the passing game, ranking No. 9 nationally and allowing only 124.7 passing yards per game under new defensive coordinator Jason Semore.
That split has defined the early part of the season, and it’s also made one player stand out as a possible difference-maker down the stretch. Taje McCoy has emerged as one of the clearest bright spots on the roster, and Georgia Tech looks like a different defense when he’s around the football.
McCoy announced himself in Week 1 against Colorado, piling up 11 tackles right away. He followed that with his best all-around showing yet against Mercer, where he posted four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Through three games, he has 19 total tackles and has brought the kind of energy the Yellow Jackets have been searching for on defense.
The pass-rush production backs up what the eye test shows. McCoy has posted an 82.3 pass-rush grade on Pro Football Focus through three games, and he’s been just as useful against the run while holding the edge and making stops.
Brent Key didn’t hold back when talking about what McCoy has meant to the team.
“Taje McCoy, what a pleasant surprise he's been for us as far as productive. The way he plays, the buy-in he has to the football team.
It's crazy when you go out and win a game, how different it is at practice. He's one of those guys that's contagious, the way he plays, and people see it.
They see the positive and the smile he has on his face all the time and how he goes about his business. Guys like that are really starting to rub off and affect others.
It's crazy.
You see that separation: the guys doing things right and the ones that are just going through the motions. Well, now there becomes a gap.
Now they don't have a choice. They either close the gap or get left behind.
But, you know, two TFLs, a sack, the forced fumble. I thought he played really well in the first three games.
He's played very solid for the first three football games. He's been one of the bright spots that I can point out on that side,” said Key.
Georgia Tech has already shown it can force turnovers and get after the quarterback, even while giving up 188 rushing yards against Mercer. If McCoy keeps playing at this level, he could become the kind of steady force this defense has lacked for a while.
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Brent Key has made it clear he wants more receivers involved, not just to spread the ball around, but to help build depth and chemistry as the offense settles in. Jaiven Plummer, Debron Gatling and Isaiah Fuhrmann have each chipped in to the passing game, and if that trend continues, what looked like Georgia Techs biggest early concern may wind up becoming one of its more useful strengths. [Read more 🡒]