Tech gets thinner on O-line, gets gifts from South Florida

Georgia Tech evened its record at 1-1 with a 14-10 win over South Florida on Saturday. The Bulls’ point total was the fewest for a Yellow Jackets FBS opponent since a 33-7 win over North Carolina in 2017.

Five observations from the first win of coach Geoff Collins’ Tech tenure:

Worries on the offensive line: Tech suffered inju- ries where it could perhaps least afford it when left guard Mikey Minihan and center Kenny Cooper both left the game in the first half with what appeared to be leg inju- ries and did not return. As a position group, the offensive line might have the least depth and experience on the team (Minihan himself played only four snaps as a redshirt freshman last season), and both had done well in the opener.

Offensive tackle Jack DeFoor subbed for Mini- han, a walk-on center came in for Cooper and two-way lineman Jahaziel Lee played left tackle. DeFoor’s good work Saturday at a differ- ent position spoke to the cross-training work that line coach Brent Key has done. However, the fact that the remaining four “above the line” linemen played minimally, if at all, highlights the depth situation.

The severity of the injuries wasn’t immediately known. The timing could have been worse, as Tech plays FCS Citadel Saturday.

Charitable partner: The Jackets were the beneficiaries of considerable help from across the field Satur- day. South Florida committed nine penalties. Many were critical, starting from the first (a pass interference that kept alive Tech’s first touchdown drive) to the last (a targeting penalty on the Jackets’ final drive that essentially sealed the game). By comparison, Tech was flagged only twice for the second game in a row, an area that appears to be a strength.

The Bulls were fairly care- less with the ball, particu- larly running back Jordan Cronkrite’s fumble on the goal line. Beyond that, with the Jackets playing the run well, South Florida averaged 4.8 yards per play in losing its eighth consecutive game.

Charlie Thomas shines: On a day when the entire defense performed well, line- backer Charlie Thomas was probably Tech’s most effec- tive player of the game, lead- ing the Jackets with nine tack- les, matching his career high, with a career-high two sacks and a forced fumble. (Safety Tariq Carpenter was also a standout with a number of open-field tackles.) Thomas made a key stop on Tech’s goal-line stand, a one-onone tackle of quarterback Jordan McCloud on second- and-goal that was just shy of the goal line. Cronkrite fumbled on the next play.

He also made an important tackle in the fourth quar- ter, using “incredible leverage,” in Collins’ words, to corral McCloud in the open field on a third-and-6 short of the marker.

Quarterback spot still muddy. Offensive coordina- tor Dave Patenaude would like one of his quarterbacks to grab the job. Given the opportunity Saturday, Lucas Johnson was unable.

After playing one series against Clemson, Johnson got the start and played the majority of the game, starting seven of the 12 possessions and subbing in on a few others. He was 11 for 17 passing but amassed only 45 yards. That’s 2.6 yards per attempt, when 7.0 might be considered average. His best play might have been a 12-yard scramble in the third quarter to pick up a first down deep in Tech’s end.

“I feel like we’re all starting to put the pieces together a little more, but there’s still a lot more we can do,” Johnson said.

After playing most of the Clemson game, Tobias Oliver played less, although he returned the opening kickoff and lined up at slot receiver in a package with the third quarterback, James Graham. (The two ran the triple option together.) Oliver led the Jackets’ 76-yard touchdown drive at the end of the first half, scoring on a 7-yard run, that ultimately provided the winning margin.

Graham made Tech’s best throw of the game, a 20-yard strike to slot receiver Ahmarean Brown on a third-and-10 in the third quarter.

Practice matters. The distribution of playing time and Collins’ comments after the game drove home his emphasis on practice in determining playing time.

While evaluating the quarterbacks, Collins said that Johnson had “a really good week” in practice, throwing the ball well and commanding the offense. “Those kind of things in this program are rewarded,” Collins said.

The decision to play kicker Brenton King over Wesley Wells was also based on last week’s practice, Collins said. A small firestorm erupted on social media when King was used on a 51-yard field goal in the first quarter and missed.