GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Georgia Tech at Louisville (Friday at 7 p.m.)
By Matt Winkeljohn | The Good Word
It may have become popular to obsess on the fact that it has been awhile since Georgia Tech has won a football game away from home, but the Yellow Jackets aren’t bothering themselves with that chatter.
They’re locked in on chalking up their first ACC win on Friday, and it just so happens that game will be at Louisville.
The Cardinals (2-3, 0-2 ACC) have struggled on both sides of the ball, and the Jackets (2-3, 0-2) are more concerned about extending that streak than snapping their run of six-consecutive road losses and seven-straight losses away from home, including last year’s season-opener versus Tennessee in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“You’ve just got to go play,” said head coach Paul Johnson. “It’s like I’ve said, it’s hard to win [ACC] games in general and it’s hard to go win games on the road. We don’t talk about that.
“I tell our team and, as coaches, we try to – I try to do it but sometimes it’s hard – you just have to turn off all the noise. It’s all it is – a distraction. Don’t worry about stuff you can’t control.”
Georgia Tech put together its most complete performance last Saturday with a 63-17 win over Bowling Green, in which the Jackets ran 51 fewer plays than the Falcons yet dominated in nearly every category. They did not turn the ball over, took it away three times, committed just three penalties and were not flagged a single time on offense.
In meeting Louisville for the first time ever, Tech will present the Cardinals with an offensive look that few if any Louisville defenders have played against, although defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has worked against Tech and similar versions of the offense run by other teams like Army and Navy.
The Cardinals have had problems against all offenses this season, ranking 75th nationally in total defense (385.8 yards per game) and 83rd against the run (168.8).
Johnson’s not so sure that his team’s offensive scheme will give the Jackets a distinct advantage because it will be new to Louisville defenders, but he kind of, sort of can see how it might – although he also reminds that Van Gorder is fairly familar with the offense.
“Possibly . . . ” the coach said. “It comes down to playing the game. All that stuff [about spread option vs. new teams] is blown way out of proportion, I think. Now, if you play a team that’s not used to coming off the ball and they’re used to catching and some of that? Yeah, it can be an advantage sometimes maybe.”