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Georgia Tech Football: Three things we learned from Georgia Tech’s loss at Virginia

By Blake Silvers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 4: Head coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets watches a replay in the first quarter during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Scott Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 4: Head coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets watches a replay in the first quarter during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Scott Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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The Yellow Jackets have been a confusing team at times this season, and the loss at Virginia Saturday didn’t do Tech favors in a search for a post season berth.

With each and every game, much is learned about a team. On Saturday a few glaring truths were revealed by Georgia Tech (4-4, 3-3 ACC), both good and bad.

1. Tech IS the team we saw lose to a bad Tennessee team.

When the Yellow Jackets and Volunteers played what looked like an overtime game for the ages on Labor Day, it left both fan bases with more questions than answers. It turns out it was basically a pair of bad defenses fighting over a bone like a couple of stray dogs. Tennessee is now 4-5 with a coach on the hottest seat in America, and Tech might be lucky not to have faced a really good Central Florida team on the road or they may be sitting on the same record at the moment. As the Jackets rebounded from the loss to the Vols, it left fans frustrated about the blemish, but it turns out that high scoring team with a suspect defense is exactly who the Jackets are.

2. Fans should be excited about the future with TaQuon Marshall.

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On Saturday, TaQuon Marshall had one of his most balanced games of the season, throwing for 179 yards and rushing for 143. He accounted for three touchdowns for his Jackets and led another impressive performance from Paul Johnson’s option attack. Even in his questionable moments, fans should be excited with Marshall’s first year at the quarterback position and patient with his development in real games. Marshall has shown that he is somewhere between a big, gutsy runner like Joshua Nesbitt, and a a very skillful with his option reads like Justin Thomas. If healthy, Marshall should have an opportunity to finish this season strong and be a seasoned veteran by the end of spring practice.

3. Paul Johnson needs to improve as CEO of the Yellow Jackets.

Paul Johnson is in the midst of his 10th season at Georgia Tech, and there’s no question he’s a skilled and competent head coach. Johnson’s tenure, however, has been a roller coaster ride for the Tech faithful. Over the last three seasons or so, the Jackets have seemingly gotten very good at finding a way to lose games they should win. Losing football games after holding a solid lead, giving up last second field goals, and coughing up the football in the clutch have all been recurring themes of late. These failures ultimately fall on the head coach. A football program can’t make the next big leap unless these types of things are cleaned up.

Next: Georgia Tech Basketball: Okogie, Jackson suspended by Pastner

Georgia Tech will have an opportunity to rebound with a home game versus No. 13 Virginia Tech on Saturday, November 11. Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m. EST.