Tennessee heads into Week 2 with plenty of momentum after a lopsided 56-9 win, and the Volunteers now get a much tougher test on the road against Georgia Tech.
That matchup comes with a sharp contrast in how the two teams looked in their openers. Tennessee rolled up 638 yards and barely had to lean on its starters for the full afternoon, a sign that the offense was firing on all cylinders even with backups getting extended run. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, came out of Week 1 with a painful loss to Colorado, falling on a late touchdown with 37 seconds left and then following it up with an offense that never really got going.
One of the more encouraging signs for Tennessee was DeSean Bishop. He didn’t get a ton of touches in the blowout, but he made them count, carrying the ball 14 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. That works out to 6.9 yards per rush, and the expectation is that he’ll be asked to handle a much bigger share of the workload this week.
Georgia Tech’s offensive output raises even more concern. The Yellow Jackets managed only 288 total yards against a Colorado defense that wasn’t supposed to be one of the stronger units in the country this season. On the ground, they were held to 1.7 yards per carry on 30 rushes, and that kind of inefficiency is a problem heading into a game against a Tennessee team that just showed how explosive it can be.
With those Week 1 results in mind, Tennessee looks positioned to control this game and separate from Georgia Tech. There are too many warning signs around the Yellow Jackets to feel good about them hanging around for four quarters.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Faces One Defining Problem Against Tennessee
Georgia Tech heads into its matchup with No. 18 Tennessee still sorting through the biggest issue that showed up against Colorado: whether the offensive line can hold up well enough to let the rest of the offense function. The Jackets have already made roster changes up front, and the staff is leaning on younger players to sharpen both the run game and pass protection before the stakes rise again.
Tae Harris has made the point plain, stressing that physical play at the line of scrimmage has to improve on both sides if Georgia Tech is going to be more than just competitive in a test like this one. Against a ranked opponent, the Yellow Jackets do not need perfection, but they do need more sturdiness up front than they showed last time out, and that remains the defining question as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has A Line Of Scrimmage Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Georgia Techs trip to Colorado in Week 1 offered an early look at just how difficult life in the trenches could become for the Yellow Jackets this season. Colorado second-year lineman Chauncey Gooden came away from the opener with the Outland Trophys National Player of the Week honor after a performance that stood out on both sides of the line, and his ability to work at offensive guard and defensive line was part of what made the Buffaloes so hard to sort out.
For Georgia Tech, the bigger concern is less about one award than the broader problem it pointed to. Gooden became only the second two-way player in the Coach Prime era at Colorado, and Deion Sanders said he earned that chance by first taking over one side of the ball. That kind of versatility can stress an opponent in a hurry, and it is the sort of line-of-scrimmage edge the Yellow Jackets cannot afford to overlook as they move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Techs Tennessee Upset Bid May Come Down To One Problem
Georgia Tech heads into its matchup with No. 18 Tennessee still sorting through the lessons from a loss to Colorado, and the biggest takeaway may be simple enough to identify even if it is harder to fix. The Yellow Jackets need better play on the line of scrimmage, both to keep their own offense on schedule and to avoid getting pushed around by a Tennessee team that can pressure games in a hurry.
Defending the Volunteers will be its own test, especially with the way their offense can force opponents to chase the game and lose control of the clock. For Georgia Tech, the formula is familiar: protect the ball, win the turnover battle and give its runners a chance to matter. If the offensive line gives the backs room to work, the Jackets can at least make this one interesting. [Read more 🡒]