Georgia Tech’s second half offered a clear look at what can happen when a defense crowds the line and keeps the offense guessing. With the two middle linebackers walked up with the defensive linemen before the snap, the look was designed to create confusion, and it did exactly that.
The linebackers backed out on the play, but the offensive line never seemed to sort it out. Guys were turning around looking for work while others got knocked around in the pile, and the whole thing looked disjointed.
That kind of pressure package isn’t foolproof, though. It can leave room for running backs to slip through for decent gains, and it also opens the door for the linebackers to drop back into coverage if the play turns into a pass. Still, the versatility is obvious, and it feels like something Georgia Tech could lean on more often.
Lincoln Keinholz was a big part of why this game stood out. It may not have been his flashiest stat line of the season, but he played with poise and made quick, smart decisions throughout his dropbacks.
When the situation called for it, he took off. When it didn’t, he stayed patient in the pocket and let routes develop.
One snap in particular showed that clearly. Keinholz realized he wouldn’t have time to get the ball to the running back out of the backfield, so he immediately chose to run into the pressure and escape the rush.
What stood out even more was that he stuck with the decision. Even after breaking the tackle in the pocket, and with his eyes briefly turned toward the back, he chose the simple answer and kept running for another big play.
Louisville was excellent on fourth downs, and this was a good example of how they attacked rather than just sat back and tried to read everything. Georgia Tech wasn’t trying to bulldoze its way through the middle all that often, which meant the defense had more to think about than just clogging the interior.
On one play, Georgia Tech used jet motion with a lead blocker, but there didn’t seem to be any real chance the ball was going to be handed off. The quarterback never made a read, and the lead blocker never really engaged anyone.
Tyler Thompson did a strong job of getting flat down the line as the unblocked defender, while Stanquan Clark shot the gap and got into the backfield to make sure the runner never had room to build momentum. When a defense forces that kind of disruption early, it has a real shot at killing the play before it gets going.
Keinholz’s running also revealed something else: he may be faster than he looks at first glance. Earlier in the game, there was some question about whether he was truly going full speed on scrambles when he had space.
This run answered that. You could actually see him accelerate once he realized he had a chance to get an angle on the safety chasing him.
That was one of the more interesting things about the game. Keinholz seemed to have a good feel for the field, which is impressive for a player who hasn’t seen much action since high school.
Just as important, he did a good job protecting himself when he ran more than usual. If Georgia Tech is going to finish the season the way it wants, it’s going to need those legs.
In Other News...
Louisville Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Lincoln Kienholz
Mississippi States Kamario Taylor reportedly finalizing a $7.5 million NIL deal to return in 2027 is the latest reminder of where quarterback compensation is headed, and it lands at a time when Lincoln Kienholz has become one of Louisvilles most important pieces. The Cardinals have seen Kienholz emerge as a top dual-threat quarterback, the kind of player who can change the ceiling of an offense and quickly become the center of attention well beyond campus.
For Louisville, the concern is no longer just what Kienholz can do on the field, but whether the program can keep pace in a market where elite quarterbacks are commanding massive money. His strong performance has only sharpened the spotlight, and the bigger question hanging over the Cardinals is whether they can put together an NIL package competitive enough to keep him in Louisville when other programs are likely to come calling. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Gets Encouraging News On A Key Weapon Before UNC
Louisville heads into its matchup with North Carolina looking to keep its winning streak rolling, and the offense got a timely boost in the process. Wide receiver Lawayne McCoy, who had sat out the previous two games with a knee injury, was listed as probable for the game, a welcome sign for a passing attack that has leaned on him heavily this season.
McCoy has been one of the Cardinals most important weapons, leading the team in receiving touchdowns and ranking second in receiving yards. His availability matters not just for Louisvilles chances of extending its run to five straight, but also for how the offense can stress a North Carolina defense that will have to account for him if he is cleared to suit up. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Can Dream Big But These Next Few Weeks Matter
Louisville has opened 2-0 and earned a No. 10 ranking, which is enough to let the Cardinals and their fans start thinking bigger than just a strong start. FanDuels numbers back up the early optimism, too, with Louisville carrying the third-best odds to win the ACC behind Duke and Virginia. For a program trying to reestablish itself among the leagues top contenders, that kind of positioning is a promising place to be this early.
The next stretch, though, will tell a lot more about how real that ceiling is. Memphis, Texas Tech, Texas, Michigan and Kentucky are all waiting in the non-conference schedule, a run that should reveal plenty about Louisvilles toughness before the ACC grind fully takes over. And when Duke and Virginia arrive late in the season, those games could end up carrying real weight in the league race, which is why these coming weeks matter so much for a team with big ambitions. [Read more 🡒]