Oct. 30, 2010
By Jon Cooper
Sting Daily
Just because Georgia Tech is off this weekend doesn’t mean that Sting Daily isn’t thinking about football.
So until the Jackets come back on Thursday night, when they visit Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech in a nationally televised ESPN game beginning at 7:30 p.m., here are some little statistical tricks and treats to tithe you over.
Happy Halloween!
2 – The number of ACC losses and the number of games Tech stands behind Coastal Division leader Virginia Tech. They’re also one game behind Miami. The Jackets’ next two games are at the Hokies, then, the following Saturday, hosting the ‘Canes.
5 – The total number of points Tech is outscoring opponents in the first half (41-40 in the first quarter, 56-52 in the second).
17 – The number of points by which Tech is outscoring opponents in the third quarter.
236-189 – The total by which Tech is outscoring opponents.
6 – The number of points per game more that Georgia Tech’s defense allows than ACC leader Florida State. Also the Jackets’ rank in the ACC in scoring offense.
6 – The number of different receivers who have caught touchdown passes thus far in 2010. Stephen Hill (2), Correy Earls, Roddy Jones, Anthony Allen, Tyler Melton and Embry Peeples have all caught scoring passes from quarterback Joshua Nesbitt. That’s two more than caught TDs last year, when Demaryius Thomas had 8, and Peeples, Hill and Allen each had one.
8 – Georgia Tech’s ACC rank in rushing defense. They’re allowing 162.2 rushing yards per game. That’s up 11 yards per game from last season’s total.
192.0 – Opponents’ passing defense per game. That’s down 16 yards per game from 2009.
11. 4 – Orwin Smith’s team-leading yardage per rush. He’s got 266 yards on 23 carries.
73 – The season-high longest run from scrimmage by Orwin Smith at North Carolina on Sept. 18.
4 – The number of touchdowns on Tech opening drives this season. They’ve also scored two field goals. They’ve punted twice.
3 – The number of opening drives in which opponents got points — a touchdown and two field goals. Three times they’ve punted and twice the Jackets have forced turnovers.
4.1 – Joshua Nesbitt’s yardage per rush. He’s Tech’s most frequent ball carrier, with 160 carries.
4.3 – Opponents’ yards per rush thus far in 2010. That’s down from 4.9 last season.
15 – The number of rushing touchdowns allowed through eight games. Opponents had 17 all last season.
10.5 – Steven Sylvester’s team-leading tackles-for-loss total.
7.0 – Dominique Reese’s 2010 TFLs total. He had 2.0 in 13 games last season.
23 – The season-high number of rushing first downs by the Yellow Jackets against Virginia on Oct. 9. They totaled a season-high 26 first downs on the day.
4.0 – The season-high number of sacks recorded first at Kansas on Sept. 11, a total matched against Virginia on Oct. 9.
9.0 – The season-high number of tackles for loss, recorded first on Oct. 2 at Wake Forest then matched two weeks later against Middle Tennessee State.
26 – The season-high number of rushing attempts in a game, done twice, by Nesbitt, on Sept. 18 at North Carolina and again on Oct. 2 at Wake Forest.
31:25 – Tech’s time of possession per game, down from 33:49 last season.
42.0 – Georgia Tech’s third down conversions rate in wins (29-for-69). They’re at 38.1 percent (16-for-42) overall if you take away the wins against South Carolina State and MTSU.
32.6 – Tech’s third-down conversion rate in losses (14-for-43).
38 – Georgia Tech’s third-down conversion rate this season. That’s down from 52 percent last season.
40 – Opponents’ third-down conversion rate. That’s also down, slightly, from last season’s 41 percent.
41 – The number of “big plays” (plays over 20 yards) in 2010. That’s actually one more than last year through eight games.
29 – The number of opponents’ “big plays” in 2010. That’s down from 35 through eight games last year.
9 – The team-leading number of “big plays” by Nesbitt and B-Back Anthony Allen.
11 – The season-high for tackles set by ILB Brad Jefferson on Sept. 25 against N.C. State.
52-21 – Georgia Tech’s edge in points off turnovers. Tech has forced 13 turnovers and has turned it over 13 times.
91/66 – Tech’s red zone conversion and touchdown rates in 2010. Both are up from last year’s 81 and 65.
195 – The single-game, season-high for rushing yards by Anthony Allen against Virginia.
821 – Tech’s lead in rushing offense over their nearest ACC rival — Virginia Tech.
