Georgia Tech Football: Six takeaways from Jackets 52-14 loss to Clemson

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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 29: Running back Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Tigers’ football game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Memorial Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

No.3 The run defense needs a lot of work.

Yes, Clemson is by far the superior team and the more talented team, that being said, in no game should defense be surrendering over 400-yards of rushing on the ground. We’re not talking about facing a triple-option threat here either, the Jackets run defense last night was simply atrocious. Now, it probably won’t be as bad for the entire season as it looked on Thursday night but surrendering 8.4 yards per carry is just flat out unacceptable.

Now, Travis Etienne is a bona-fide Heisman Trophy candidate but his 90-yard run wasn’t the result of any amazing juke or cut-back. But was the result of the defense being 100% tricked into believing the ball was going around the to the far side, instead, a simple handoff from Lawrence to Etienne and with several strong blocks resulted in six for the Tigers. On his 48-yard touchdown run, it seems that the Jackets simply failed to diagnose the play in time as almost every defender was slow in getting towards the ball.

Outside of facing Etienne, the Jackets run defense was a little better against Clemson’s other running options. The rest of Clemson’s offense on Thursday night had 37 carries for 207-yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. It’s still a number you would like to see lowered going forward but it’s a bit more manageable. Either way, the Jackets will need to fix their mistakes quickly because once they get into the heart of their schedule, there are teams and running backs that will make them pay for their mistakes.

It was only game one of the season and game one of the Geoff Collins era and it was against the country’s top team but if there was anything glaring, it was that the Georgia Tech run defense has a lot to work to do this upcoming week before they take on the USF Bulls in their home opener next weekend.