Georgia Tech defense was solid but big plays were key in Irish win

ATLANTA -- If there was a bright spot for Georgia Tech in last week's loss, it might be the defense. Aside from two long plays, the defense acquitted itself fairly well.

Notre Dame had 457 yards of total offense. Notre Dame's 215 yards rushing was skewed by a 91-yard run. Their 242 yards passing was skewed by third-down passes of 36 and 46 yards. Notre Dame had 64 plays that averaged 4.4 yards and two plays that averaged 64 yards.

"The thing we take away from the week was the big plays," defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. "Big plays really hurt us. If we want to be the type of defense we set as our goal, we've got to eliminate that. Not that big plays don't happen in a game like that and Notre Dame is a good football team, but when you make mistakes they cost you."

Roof said he was encouraged by the way the players responded to the loss with enthusiastic and energized practices this week. Georgia Tech opens ACC play Saturday.

"We want to build on the positives, get mistakes corrected, and now it's a matter of going back and doing it," Roof said.

More expected from Skov

It seems like Patrick Skov has met every expectation since he arrived from Stanford, but head coach Paul Johnson is looking for more.

"He gets the tough yard. He runs hard," Johnson said. "He needs to open his eyes and run better. He gets tough yards, but it's more to it than that. It's not just a bull in a china shop, not how many people you can run into."

Skov has rushed for 188 yards and five touchdowns in three games.

Skov took almost all the carries at B-back last week. Marcus Marshall, who ran for 221 yards in the opener, had one carry against Notre Dame for zero yards. Marcus Allen did not play.

Georgia-heavy roster

There are 16 Georgians on the Duke roster. Most of them are true freshmen or redshirt freshmen. The exception is Deondre Singleton of Dacula, who is coming off perhaps the best game of his career last week against Northwestern.

Singleton, a junior from Archer, was Duke's top tackler against Northwestern with 12, including seven solo, and one quarterback hurry. In three games, he has 15 tackles.

Junior safety DeVon Edwards from Alcovy in Covington had 11 tackles (three solo, eight assists) and intercepted a pass against Northwestern.

In three games, he has 19 tackles and one sack.

Will Monday, a senior punter from Flowery Branch, punted 11 times against Northwestern for a 55-yard average, including a 71 yarder. Marquies Price, a freshman defensive end from Peach County, had two tackles against Northwestern. That now gives him three tackles in three games.

Other Georgians on the roster are: freshman wide receiver T.J. Rahming of Powder Springs, freshman wide receiver Keyston Fuller from Griffin, freshman cornerback Jeremy McDuffie from Snellville, freshman safety Jordan Hayes from Grayson, junior running back Zach Boden from Atlanta, junior cornerback Grant Hall from Buford, freshman defensive tackle Zach Morris from Ringgold, freshman offensive tackle Christian Harris from Collins Hill, freshman guard Jake Sanders from Carrollton, freshman defensive end Taariq Shabazz from Kennesaw Mountain, freshman defensive end Trevon McSwain from Labert and sophomore defensive tackle Mike Ramsay from Smyrna's Walker.

Time set

Kickoff for the Oct. 3 game against North Carolina will be 3:30 p.m. and will be shown on ESPNU. The game is the centerpiece of the school's annual Family Weekend celebration.

Three starters out for Jackets

Georgia Tech will be without three starters on Saturday against Duke. A-back Qua Searcy (ankle), defensive lineman Pat Gamble (head) and wide receiver Michaeal Summers (shoulder) are all out. Defensive lineman Rod Rook-Chungong (shoulder) is questionable.

Duke will be without tight end Dan Beilinson (leg) and guard Cody Robinson (upper body), while linebacker Chris Holmes (leg) and safety Jake Kite (leg) are questionable.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Georgia Tech defense was solid but big plays were key in Irish win ."