The Clemson Tigers open up conference play this Saturday as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come to Death Valley, game time, 3:30pm. The Yellow Jackets (not to be confused with the Union High School Yellow Jackets) are 1-1 on the season, losing their opening game to Northern Illinois (NIU) , and beating Kennesaw State this past weekend. Yes, I said Northern Illinois.
This is the same NIU team that just lost to Wyoming in a shootout 50-43. GT racked up 429 total yards, including 271 rushing against NIU, but lost the game 22-21, so they can move the ball.
GT is led by quarterback Jordan Yates, who is playing in place of original starter Jeff Sims. Sims suffered a shoulder injury in the first game against NIU and probably could have played this past weekend, but they held him out another, getting him ready for Clemson. Yates has thrown for 389 yards and 5 touchdowns with no interceptions in the first two games. No folks, this isn’t the triple option any more as GT tries to come into the real world of college football. Freshman Jahmyr Gibbs leads the GT running game, racking up 155 on 29 carries but has yet to find the endzone. This is not the running game Paul Johnson ran in his tenure at Georgia Tech. WR
Senior WR Kyric McGowan is the leading receiver with 7 so far. It used to take 3-4 games for guys to get that many receptions. Gibbs is also a threat out of the backfield.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets are giving up 280 yards a game, albeit against not so good competition. They were supposed to dominate both of the teams on their schedule. GT has gotten four turnovers and gave up two fumbles in return, so they are good at not turning the ball over. Will they challenge the Tigers Saturday?
Georgia Tech started out 2-2 last year with losses against UCF and Syracuse, but victories over Florida State and Louisville before tackling Clemson. The game before Clemson rolled into Atlanta, GT beat Louisville 46-27, totaling 450 total yards, and getting three fumbles from the Cardinals. Little did they know what was to come the next week, falling to the Tigers 73-7. 73-7.
The Tigers put up 671 total yards, including 500 through the air, while yielding a paltry 204 yards to the GT offense. The Tigers gave up the ball twice on turnovers while the Jackets had three turnovers. 17 different receivers caught passes in that game, and 10 different runners carried the ball, even defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney carried one time for a one yard touchdown run. It was that kind of day for the Yellow Jackets.
This year does not promise to be that much better, even though you just don’t ever expect to put up a 73 on the scoreboard. GT is just not there yet after many years of recruiting for the triple option. Its going to take time. The Clemson offense will continue to improve, and the defense is, well, the defense and has not allowed a touchdown in 8 straight quarters. The lone TD was a pick 6. This could be one of those breakout games for DJ. Last week, Dabo played 102 players. I don’t know if he is going to reach that number, but he does like to play a lot of people. WIll GT put up a fight? Maybe for a quarter or even two, but……..
Clemson runs away with it, 48-13.
