With Saturday’s Pitt football matchup against Georgia Tech looming, The Pitt News spoke with the school’s student newspaper to provide some context about the 2015 2-4 Yellow Jackets’ squad.
Technique sports editor Joe Sobchuk answered some of The Pitt News’ pressing questions on Georgia Tech’s struggles, quarterbacks and injuries.
The Pitt News: Do you think the 2-4 start for Georgia Tech is a result of tough scheduling, or have the Yellow Jackets played poorly to merit that record?
TECHNIQUE: The team has certainly looked bad over this four-game losing streak, and they deserve their 2-4 record. Offensively the team is totally out of sync. Offensive linemen and A-backs are repeatedly missing their blocking assignments. [Georgia Tech Quarterback] Justin Thomas is making incorrect reads on the option on some occasions, and I suspect it is because he does not yet trust the youth and inexperience at the A-back position. Defensively the team is playing moderately well, but they are giving up far too many big plays. If the defense can focus on doing their jobs and sticking to their assignments, they should be able to limit the number of big yardage plays that they allow.
TPN: Justin Thomas has completed under 50 percent of his passes but has a 9-3 TD/INT ratio. How would you evaluate his performance thus far?
TECHNIQUE: I would say that Thomas is playing fine both throwing the ball and running the option. His main problem is that he does not have a great supporting cast around him. Sure, his passes could be more accurate and his decision making could be better, but he is the main reason the offense has any success at all. His two wide receivers from 2014 both graduated and were taken in the NFL Draft, and the offensive line has not been blocking nearly as well as they should be. Combine that with injuries and inexperience at both the A-back and B-back positions and it is no wonder why the offense has not put up the numbers that they did a year ago.
TPN: Pitt ranks sixth in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game. Do you think the Georgia Tech offensive line will be able to handle Pat Narduzzi’s aggressive defense?
TECHNIQUE: Honestly, I think Pitt will not have much trouble gaining penetration and slowing the option down for minimal yardage. With the relative lack of talent we have at wide receiver, teams have been stacking nine men in the box to stop the option, and the offense has been running nowhere against this look. I am not sure if head coach Paul Johnson or Justin Thomas trusts the receivers enough to audible to a passing play out of the option and hit one of them deep against single coverage, so for now the team is stuck with too many defenders ready to blow up the running game.
TPN: Georgia Tech lost running backs C.J. Leggett and Nate Cottrell and had Erinn Joe, Demond Smith and Chris Milton injured against Clemson. Which of these is the most significant loss?
TECHNIQUE: The Jackets will be feeling Chris Milton’s loss the most as his skill set at the cornerback position would have been helpful in trying to cover Tyler Boyd and the rest of the Panthers’ receiving corps.
TPN: Which player on offense and defense on the Yellow Jackets do you expect to make an impact on Saturday against the Panthers?
TECHNIQUE: In order for the Jackets to score enough points to win the game, Thomas will have to make a huge impact. He runs the offense, and so much of the team’s success is determined by how well the quarterback makes his reads and eludes defenders. Defensively, cornerback D.J. White will have a tall task in covering Tyler Boyd. With the injury to Milton, I expect White to be on Boyd for most of the game with safety help over the top. If he can keep up with Boyd and limit his catches and yardage, it will give Tech a much better chance at winning this game.
TPN: What’s your final score prediction?
TECHNIQUE: 27-24 Pitt.