Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
ACC
Georgia Tech was right in the ACC Coastal division title race down to the bitter end. They ended up a game behind Duke, but the Yellow Jackets made a nice run at the ACC Championship game despite a pretty tough schedule. Coach Paul Johnson’s option attack is difficult to prepare for and this is a team that some opponents could struggle to stop.
2013 Record: 7-5, 5-3
Coach: Paul Johnson
Coach Bowl Record: 3-6
Big Wins: 9/14 at Duke (38-14), 10/19 Syracuse (56-0)
Bad Losses: 9/26 Virginia Tech (10-17), 10/12 at BYU (20-38)
Strengths:
As long as the ball stays on the ground, Georgia Tech is in good shape. David Sims, Robert Godhigh and Zach Laskey are a great trio of backs. Sims, a senior, led the way with 846 yards and 11 scores. Godhigh added 694 yards and six trips to the end zone. He is also a fine pass catcher and actually led the team with 420 receiving yards. Laskey was the leading rusher in 2012 and reached the end zone eight total times despite not starting a single game. But, of course, it is quarterback Vad Lee that makes the option offense tick. The sophomore rushed for 489 yards and eight touchdowns and has done a very good job running the offense for a first year starter. On the other side of the ball, Georgia Tech ranked ninth in the nation in rush defense. Jeremiah Attaochu is a beast on the defensive line. He tallied 12.0 sacks and 15.5 tackles-for-loss. Adam Gotsis added 5.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles-for-loss. Those two are a big reason why the Yellow Jackets rush defense is among the best in the nation.
Weaknesses:
However, the pass defense leaves something to be desired. The secondary does help out quite a bit against the run, but the unit does not make many big plays. Nobody on the team picked off more than two passes and the team as a whole recovered just six fumbles. For a team that is not going to come back very easily due to their inability to throw the ball, turnovers are extremely important. Lee is coming off of his best passing performance of the year. Against Georgia he completed 11 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. It was not enough to beat the Bulldogs, but it is promising that Lee can do some passing if Georgia Tech finds themselves behind. Yet getting behind is not where the Yellow Jackets want to be.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: David Sims, RB, 846 yards
Passing: Vad Lee, QB, 1,414 yards
Receiving: Robert Godhigh, RB, 420 yards
Tackles: Jemea Thomas, DB, 73
Sacks: Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, 12.0
Interceptions: Five tied with 2
2013 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 311.7 (6th in nation, 1st in conference)
Passing Offense: 129.0 (118, 14)
Total Offense: 440.7 (44, 4)
Scoring Offense: 22.7 (32, 4)
Rushing Defense: 107.0 (9, 2)
Pass Defense: 243.5 (85, 13)
Total Defense: 350.5 (22, 3)
Scoring Defense: 22.7 (32, 4)
Turnover Margin: -0.3 (77, 12)
Sacks: 2.67 (26, 6)
Sacks Allowed: 1.08 (15, 1)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2012 Sun Bowl USC (21-7)
2011 Sun Bowl Utah (27-30)
2010 Independence Bowl Air Force (7-14)
2009 Orange Bowl Iowa (14-24)
2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl LSU (3-38)
2007 Humanitarian Bowl Fresno State (28-40)
*all team stats through 11/30
