Tech Falls to Clemson in 2022 Opener
Georgia Tech Succumbs to Dabo and Company 41-10 at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Labor Day
Georgia Tech opened its 2022 campaign Monday nite at the Benz, losing to Clemson by 31 points. That margin was not really a surprise. The visitors came to Atlanta as a 24 point favorite and lest anyone has forgotten, Tech did not score a single point in their last two games of 2021. There was however a mild surprise at how the game unfolded. Tech held Clemson scoreless into the 2nd quarter and trailed only 14-3 at the half, with one of those Tiger scores coming on a 5 yard “drive” after blocking a Tech punt. What’s more, the Jackets pulled to within 14-10 in the third quarter.
From there, the Tigers’ superior depth came to bear, aided greatly by another blocked punt and a total of ten penalties on the Yellow Jackets.
As has often been the case during the Geoff Collins era, you can read that storyline one of two ways. One way is to see reason for optimism in the 11 games remaining. The other is to lament the continuing pattern of underachievement that has characterized the Collins tenure– namely, penalties (10 for 86 yards), special teams follies (those two blocked punts) and yes, clock management issues from the head man (Tech used its final second half timeout with 13 minutes left in the game).
Much like last year, we don’t really know about the Tigers’ offense. Though he has obvious athletic talent, Clemson QB Uiagaleilei still looks a bit mechanical in his role. Was the Tiger offense bogged down by Tech’s play? Hard to know. Like 2021, we may not know for sure until a few more games are played.
We do know that Tech’s defense played well until it was worn down by Clemson’s depth. The Jackets had a moderately effective pass rush and unlike last year the secondary did not routinely allow yawning gaps in their coverage schemes. And except for the two blocked punts, the Yellow Jackets special teams did well. Jude Kelley hit a 45 yard field goals and barely missed from 50 on another. Gavin Stewart put each of his three kickoffs into the end zone, eliminating the adventures that have occasionally plagued Tech on kickoff coverage.
Perhaps most important was the overall play of QB Jeff Sims. His stats were not mind-boggling (23 of 36, with 1 TD and 1 INT) but his game was more measured under the guidance of new OC Chip Long and QB Coach Chris Weinke. Sims also led Tech in rushing, albeit with a paltry 42 yards on 13 carries (about half of which looked like called plays).
Sims’ lone pick came on Tech’s first play from scrimmage on a long ball that was underthrown under pressure. It was another “huh?”moment of play-calling– High risk and low reward. Especially when you consider that Tech had received the opening kick after Clemson won the toss and deferred. So 2 plays into a new season, Tech had aturnover .
Beyond that, Sims had only a few bad misses, and he also had 3 or 4 drops from his receiver corps. So the final score looked worse than the game felt. And in the name of player development, Dabo inserted his prize freshman QB into the game for the Tigers’ last possession. Cade Klubnick drove his offense smoothly down the field and finished the drive with his first college touchdown pass. It won’t be his last. He looked smooth.
Post-game, Tech Coach Geoff Collins cited the blocked punts and penalties and drops as the things that need to be “cleaned up”. Nobody disagreed with that assessment. With their next game in just 5 days, against a far inferior opponent, Collins’ crew will put that cleaned up operation on display at Bobby Dodd Stadium. In an odd way, playing Western Carolina is now its own big challenge for Tech. If the hints at overall improvement are accurate, Tech should win handily– and with a relatively clean performance. Anything short of that will heighten concerns about the overall direction of the football program on the Flats.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports.com
Missed 50 yrd fg