Santucci's Tough Guys Are The Key

With Game #3 looming at Syracuse this weekend, Georgia Tech is looking to extend their strong start to the new season.

It's always tempting to focus on offensive production in college football, but for Tech, their newly- energized defense will likely be the linchpin to another victory.

In their first two games, the Jackets' D has looked far better than it did a year ago. There are some personnel changes, to be sure. But the presence of new DC Tyler Santucci is the biggest difference this season.

Last year Tech surrendered 437 yards/ game, yielding a whopping 29.5 points per game. Those fat numbers help explain how an offense stout enought to average over 30 points per game produced an overall team record only one game over .500 at 7-6.

This year, those defensive averages are way down--only 16.5 points and 325 yards per game. Of course, those numbers come from just two games. But the difference is compelling.

Santucci runs a base 4-2-5 but there is quite a bit of variety in how those positions are populated– as well as how the alignment is executed – from.play to play. The result so far has been enough confusion created to keep the opposing offenses off balance.

Along with those alignment options, Tech's defense has exhibited a higher level of plain old tenacity, as exemplified by one Kyle Efford. The sophomore middle linebacker leads the nation in total tackles with 23. Again, it's only two games, but there's nothing about Efford's game or his mindset that predicts a drop-off in his production.

" The tackles come from pure effort", said Efford after the win over Georgia State. " Just flying around".

That concise description fits what you see on the field. The Yellow Jackets held Georgia State on two fourth down attempts- one of which began with a first down on the Tech one yard line. That type of performance– in the clutch, or "bowing up" as Efford termed it--not only saves points but juices up the crowd, and the offense, for what comes next.

That type of performance stands in contrast to the 2023 defensive work, when Tech finished last in the ACC in yards surrendered. Last year, the scenario was often one of " bend- and- then- break". The home loss to Bowling Green was the most obvious example.

This year, so far, has been a different story. Saturday's game against Syracuse will bring a different type of challenge for Santucci's troops. Orange QB Kyle McCord was highly effective on the ground and through the air against Ohio in Syracuse's game one win.

The ability of Efford and histeammates to hold McCord at bay will be the primary determining factor in the game's outcome.

Patrick Conarro

RamblinSports.com