Jackets set to face another top defense in Pittsburgh

ATLANTA -- With rugged defenses like Notre Dame, Duke and Clemson in the rearview mirror, the Georgia Tech offense could use a break.

Unfortunately, it isn't likely to get one this week.

The Yellow Jackets return home to find another nationally ranked defensive team standing in their way. Just when they think it might get a little easier, here comes Pittsburgh today to stand as the next obstacle between Georgia Tech and the end of a four-game losing streak.

"We've got a lot of young guys that have got to keep working, and it doesn't get any easier," Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said. "The sixth-ranked defense is coming in now, and it seems like we've played top 15 every week in defense."

Johnson wasn't really exaggerating. Pittsburgh fields the sixth-best defense in the nation against the run. The Panthers allow 84.8 yards per game on the ground and only 179.8 yards through the air, which ranks 27th. Their total defensive average of 264.6 yards allowed per game is No. 7 in the nation.

"They're a team that's one play away from being undefeated," Johnson said. "A 6-0 team (Iowa) kicked a 57-yard field goal on the last play to beat them. So it will be a huge challenge, but we get another opportunity to play and see if we can't get better."

A year ago, it was Georgia Tech's 56-28 win over Pittsburgh that helped the Yellow Jackets get the momentum started that carried them to wins in six of their final seven games. Georgia Tech scored 28 points in the first quarter against the Panthers and recovered six Pittsburgh fumbles.

But Pittsburgh appears to be much-improved on defense, with defensive end Ejuan Price leading the way on the front. The senior has 3.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and five quarterback hurries. The Panthers have 40 tackles for loss and 21 sacks, with linebacker Matt Galambos the leader with four sacks.

"They run their scheme extremely well," Johnson said. "They're well-coached, and they don't give up big plays. They don't do a lot, but what they do is very effective."

Pittsburgh will be tasked with solving the option attack of Georgia Tech, which ran for 465 yards against the Panthers a year ago. But the lineup has changed dramatically for the Yellow Jackets, who will be without A-back Broderick Snoddy and tackle Errin Joe this week. The only mainstay has been quarterback Justin Thomas.

Thomas has not been as effective this season as he was in 2014, partially because of the breakdown of the offensive line and partially because of the inexperienced backs. But Thomas has fallen prey to forcing some bad throws and bad checks in an effort to generate a positive outcome.

Thomas, too, went back to the drawing board this week. Johnson said Thomas had his best practice of the year Tuesday and is continuing to work hard.

"He has not probably truthfully played as well as he did a year ago, but a year ago, he was surrounded by a lot of older guys," Johnson said. "I looked out on the field Saturday at Clemson, and at one point we had five freshmen on the offense -- and that's guys who came in August, not guys who were early enrollees or whatever.

"So he's got to focus on doing his job and depend on those other guys to get their part right, and I think they will. They want to. It's just the lack of experience. And also we've played some really good teams."

But the option is something that Pittsburgh doesn't often see.

"It's unique because it's different than what you're seeing every week," Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "It's still football. You still need to get your Jimmies and Joes lined up where you need to defend. It's football, but it's foreign to your defensive players because they're seeing things they don't normally see."

Georgia Tech's defense will see a different look, too. After defending against a spread attack the two previous weeks, the Yellow Jackets will go against a team with a more traditional offense, one that utilizes multiple tight ends.

Although preseason All-ACC tailback James Conner was lost in the first game with a knee injury, the Yellow Jackets will face another solid quarterback in Nate Peterman. He has thrown for 760 yards and six touchdowns. Pittsburgh's top running threat is Qadree Ollison, who has rushed for 476 yards and four touchdowns. But when Virginia limited Ollison to 49 yards last week, Chris James stepped up to rush for 94 yards.

But Pittsburgh's biggest offensive threat is wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who is drawing comparisons with former Panthers great Larry Fitzgerald. Boyd, a 6-foot-2 junior, has 33 receptions and established himself as one of the conference's top playmakers. He's ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver by NFLDraftScout.com.

Boyd had seven catches last week against Virginia. He had nine catches for 137 yards against Georgia Tech last year. He is seven catches away from breaking the school's career reception mark of 202.

"(Boyd) is going to get his," Johnson said. "What you hope to do is limit the rest of the guys. If you limit the other guys, you hope he can't beat you by himself."

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Jackets set to face another top defense in Pittsburgh ."