How will the Jackets match up to the Irish?
If that was not the textbook definition of an emotional rollercoaster, I don’t know what was. When the Jackets managed to pull away, UNC fought back; a constant cycle of relief that transitioned into doom. This game held a significant amount of weight for the die-hard Tech community, as we were facing a former head coach who quite literally took Georgia Tech through their worst four-year stint in program history. All respect to Coach Collins, this was a great game, but boy am I glad you are gone and boy am I GLAD to beat you. This week, we return to Mercedes Benz stadium for a non-conference game against Notre Dame. This will be our toughest battle of the season, and it will test how disciplined and ready we are to play some tough, physical football. As we reflect on last week and prepare for the road ahead, here is What I Think I Know.
Revenge runs deep
Did I dream about the perfect way for this game to end? Yes. Was it better than anything I had dreamt of? Yes. For context, Jamal Haynes was a player that Geoff Collins had almost cut in 2022. Coach Key and running back Coach Norval Mckenzie gave him a chance, and he has been one of the most exciting players to watch in recent memory. Watching Jamal charge through the defense to score a 68-yard touchdown as the clock ran down was the icing on the most delicious cake you’ve ever had. Tech put on a running clinic, racking up 371 total yards, with Jamal Haynes having 170 of those. Haynes King had a season-high of 107 rushing yards, including a 20-yard touchdown run. The Jackets were able to run all over Geoff Collin’s defense, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, making it look easy. We have UNC’s number, and the running back room has been causing them nightmares for years. Revenge ran deep in Chapel Hill. 371 yards deep.
Last week I thought I knew Haynes King was hurt, now I know he is hurt
Having King listed as “day-to-day” is not exactly the best-case scenario for the Jackets. There have been rumors that King has either a concussion or a banged-up shoulder, but no one knows his status going into the Notre Dame game. Key has beaten around the bush a little bit, and knowing Key, we probably won’t know the starter until right before the game. If needed, we know that Zach Pyron can step up to the challenge. He led a comeback win against Virginia Tech in 2022 as the starter and has had a lot of time to develop and grow. The quarterback competition between King and Pyron at the beginning of 2023 was very close, and I think a lot of us thought that Pyron would be the starter. If King is out, we have a capable veteran backup to carry us through.
Penalties keep plaguing
Georgia Tech had seven penalties for 59 yards on Saturday, which was not the most disciplined game we have ever played. Game management and penalties felt like they kept punishing us in big moments. The discipline of this team has made me weary all year, and this week didn’t do much to make me feel better. We are going to have to play a well-coached, low-penalty game if we want to have a shot at beating the Irish.
Notre Dame has a fast defense… and an explosive offense
When I say this will be our biggest test so far… I mean it. Notre Dame has a stout defense and an offense that can put up points. When observing all defenses across college football, the Irish come in at 11th in total yards allowed, 6th in the nation in passing yards allowed, and 8th in the nation in scoring defense. This will not be the type of game where we can easily put up 30-40 points, especially if Pyron has to start and get used to the nature of the game. The O-line is playing outstanding football right now, and hopefully can physically challenge this Irish defensive front. On Monday, it was announced that star defensive back Ben Morrison is out for the year with a hip injury. Hopefully, this can allow for some uneasiness in the secondary and a chance for Pyron/King to air the ball out.
Our defense has also been impressive but must keep Riley Leonard contained on Saturday. Like us, Notre Dame relies on their run game while having a talented QB that can throw the ball. This Notre Dame offense has been very explosive, but also vulnerable. They scored 49 points against Stanford last week, but only 14 against Northern Illinois. They have improved since that game, but it will be interesting to see which offense the Jackets will face on Saturday. Against UNC we finally got the pressure and sacks that we had been wanting to see from the defense, now let’s see how that holds up against the Irish.
Go Jackets!